By Phuntsok Yangchen
DHARAMSHALA, April 18: The Nobel Peace Laureate and South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu arrived earlier this morning on a five day visit to Dharamshala, home of the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the last 55 years.
The Tibetan leader, accompanied by Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, received the Archbishop at the Gaggal Airport. The only other person whom the Tibetan leader personally received at the airport was former Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu said that he is “so thrilled” to be with his dear friend His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Speaking to reporters, Desmond Tutu said he has come to sit together (with the Dalai Lama) and just enjoy the friendship and talk about “joy”. The two champions of peace and non-violence will collaborate on a book on Joy.
“Often things and people try to keep us apart but the love that we have for each other and the goodness of god’s universe ensures that we will meet,” Tutu told reporters.
The Dalai Lama has been denied visa to enter South Africa thrice in the last six years, drawing public outcry by South Africans who see it as a betrayal of the commitment to human rights embraced by their government since the end of apartheid 20 years ago.
Dalai Lama expressed his happiness over Desmond Tutu’s visit and said that he is looking forward to this meeting.
The two Nobel Laureates will appear together at a public event initiated by Tutu to honor the Tibetan leader on his turning 80 this year.
