JULY 14, 2019 • THE WEEK 3LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
HIS HOLINESS the Dalai Lama turns into a child
when he sees a beard. He cannot let luxuriant
facial hair pass. He must tug at it. Must. Th ere are
numerous instances when he has done this, and
on the receiving end have been rabbis, imams,
monks and everyone from our own Baba Ramdev
to English comedian Russell Brand. In Kerala, it
was a cause for much laughter when the Dalai
Lama reached for the beard of His Holiness
Baselios Mar Th oma Paulose II, the Catholicos of
the East. A widely circulated photograph showed
them seated on a stage and in deep conversation,
and the Dalai Lama playing with the metropoli-
tan’s full, silver beard.
His playfulness and humour are often mistak-
en these days, when political
correctness is the fi rst rule.
His comment in 2018 that
refugees in Europe must be
educated and encouraged
to return to their homelandsattracted a lot of heat. He later clarifi ed that most
immigrants, including the Tibetans, consider
the country they left behind as home. So, when
conditions improve, they should return to rebuild
their homeland. Asylum is always a short-term
solution.
When he appeared on MasterChef Australia
in July 2011, the Dalai Lama quietly reminded
everyone of who he actually was. Contestants on
the show were given only two restrictions: vege-
tarian food, and it must come from the heart. Th e
Dalai Lama ate everything put in front of him, but
refused to rate the food. “Whatever I get I accept,”
he said. “As a Buddhist monk it is not right to
prefer this food or that food.”
Despite being a much sought-after speaker, he
has stated clearly on his website that he does not
accept speaking fees. Th is when everyone from
new age gurus to former US presidents make a
small fortune from the lecture circuit. Th e last big
headline about Barack Obama was about him
being paid $4,00,000 for one speech in 2017.
I had the honour of hosting the Dalai Lama at
the International Press Institute’s World Congress
in New Delhi in 2001. I found him to be warm
and humorous, kind and humble. So, it gives me
great pleasure that he chose to speak to Senior
Special Correspondent Namrata Biji Ahuja on the
60th anniversary of his arrival in India. Interest-
ingly, our last cover on him will turn 25, come this
September. Th at interview was by Deputy Bureau
Chief Vijaya Pushkarna, and he spoke about the
growing appeal of Buddhism in the west.
Let me also take this opportunity to introduce
our new columnist, Navtej Sarna. Some intro-
ductions are unnecessary, as in this case. But, do
bear with me. An author, translator and former
diplomat, Sarna was India’s ambassador to the
US and Israel, and high commissioner to the
Court of St James’s. He will be writing a monthly
Last World column. Please join me in welcoming
him into our pages.
Have the rains reached you, dear reader?
Th e dark clouds are eluding me and my city. I
am waiting for it. For dusk at high noon. For a
million racing feet on my roof. For liquid silver to
fall from the heavens. Th e only unpleasant part,
perhaps, is the arrival of the mosquitos. Which
brings me back to the Dalai Lama. “Do you think
you are too small to make a diff erence?” he asks.
“Try sleeping in a room with a single mosquito.”(Below) During the IPI World
Congress in Delhi; (right) cover
of the issue dated Sep. 4, 1994