I am a son of India, says Dalai Lama

Bengaluru: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Tuesday described himself as a “son of India” and the country a ‘guru’ for his people who are its ‘chelas’ (disciples).

The 81-year-old Nobel Laureate, whose visit to Arunachal Pradesh last month had angered China, also called himself the messenger of ancient Indian values and knowledge.

The Dalai Lama was speaking at the state-level seminar on ‘Social Justice and B.R. Ambedkar’ where he said deprivation from social justice in the name of caste was not from religion, but was due to feudal systems that existed in our societies.

“India is a guru and we are chelas (disciples), we are reliable chelas, because we have preserved your ancient knowledge. I also consider myself as the son of India as every part of my brain cells are filled with ancient Indian knowledge and my body is because of Indian rice and dal,” he said.

The religious leader has been in India since 1959. He crossed the border into India after an epic 15-day journey on foot from Lhasa over the Himalayan mountains.