Thekchen Chöling, Dharamsala, India - Today, His Holiness the Dalai Lama conveyed his congratulations to B.S. Yediyurappa on his once again becoming the Chief Minister of Karnataka.
“I trust that under your leadership the people of Karnataka will see prosperity and progress,” he wrote. “I particularly hope that you will strive to improve the lives of the less privileged people in the State.
“Last April marked the 60th anniversary of our life in exile. As you know, over 30,000 Tibetans reside in Karnataka State, perhaps the largest number among Tibetans in exile. In fact I attended a special function in Bengaluru last year to thank the state of Karnataka and its people for their friendship and support. I am proud to state here that our main Centres of Learning, based on the Nalanda Tradition of Ancient Indian Wisdom, have been re-established in Karnataka.
“This has been made possible thanks largely due to the most generous response to an appeal by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru from then Chief Minister S. Nijalingappa, who I had first met when I came to India in 1956. May I, therefore, take this opportunity to express again, through you, our deep appreciation to the government and people of Karnataka, for the warm and friendly support shown Tibetans who have been settled there.”
His Holiness concluded his letter by wishing the Chief Minister every success in meeting whatever challenges may lie ahead.
