New Delhi:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday spoke to the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama to convey greetings to him on his 86th birthday. Taking to his official Twitter handle, the Prime Minister wrote: 'Spoke on phone to His Holiness the @DalaiLama to convey greetings on his 86th Birthday. We wish him a long and healthy life".

On his birthday, the Tibetan spiritual leader said that he has taken full advantage of India's freedom and religious harmony and is committed to reviving ancient Indian knowledge.

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk. He is the spiritual leader of Tibet. He was born on 6 July 1935, to a farming family, in a small hamlet located in Taktser, Amdo, northeastern Tibet. At the age of two, the child, then named Lhamo Dhondup, was recognized as the reincarnation of the previous 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso.

PM Modi has highlighted India’s Buddhist heritage while engaging countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. However, similar warmth was not visible between Mr. Modi and the Dalai Lama in the past, obviously because of Chinese sensibilities.

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