By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, Oct. 30: His Holiness the Dalai Lama will present the Abdul Kalam Sewa Ratna awards at the Chennai Trade Centre in Tamil Nadu on Nov. 9.
The 80 year old Tibetan leader will leave for Chennai on Nov 8 to present awards at the event the following day. He will address students at the IIT Madras on Nov. 10 and will then fly to Delhi to participate in a 2-day conference on Quantum Physics and Madhyamika Philosophical View organized at Jawaharlal Nehru University from Nov.12-13.
He will receive an honorary Doctorate degree from Lovely Professional University on Nov. 14 and then reach back to Dharamshala the following day, said his Secretary Chemi Rinzin.
The Abdul Kalam Vision India Movement started the awards to recognize distinguished contribution of individuals and organizations to tree plantation, de-addiction, reviving water bodies, providing safe drinking water and creating green campuses, villages and cities.
The organizers invited the Tibetan leader to present the awards as they believed the deceased former Indian president and His Holiness shared common ideology of peace and prosperity.
Dr. Kalam’s advisor for over a decade, V. Ponraj, said that the at least 10 lakh entries from individuals and organizations were received for the awards. The tree plantation category alone has 7.08 lakh entries from across the country. Nine organizations had sent entries for rehabilitating 72,040 persons through de-addiction programmes.
The state’s Chief Minister JayaLalithaa is also expected to be at the event.
Dr. Abdul Kalam, known as the ‘Missile man’ of India for his pioneering work in ballistic missile and launch technology, served as the 11th President of India. He passed away on July 27 this year while delivering a speech to students in Shillong.
