DHARAMSALA: Himachal Pradesh Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Saturday, November 19, felicitated Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama with the Gandhi Mandela Award at a ceremony in Dharmasala.

The Gandhi Mandela Foundation constituted the award in honour of those who have worked to advance the principles and ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela for the sake of world peace and freedom.

The award serves to identify the global leaders who inspire citizens for peace, unity & freedom.

"Non-violence and compassion are necessary for world peace and both these qualities have been ingrained in Indian culture for thousands of years," on the occasion, the Dalai Lama said.

"Any issue can only be resolved via conversation and peace, he said, adding that in order to achieve world peace, "we must practise non-violence and compassion." These two ideas serve as life's compass ".  He expressed his gratitude to the charity for giving him the honour. 

As an international peace ambassador whose honour it is to advance Indian culture and beliefs, the Governor stated that His Holiness "is possibly the most deserving person in the world today for this prize." He expressed his gratitude for bestowing honour the Dalai Lama. 

Arlekar said, the Dalai Lama offered two principles: nonviolence and compassion, which are required in the modern world as they are more effective than the Army's might.

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