The world has never been in greater turmoil. Protests and regional armed conflicts threaten world stability on a daily basis. And so it is with deep hopes that things will look brighter in the future that Buddhists in Syracuse, who have been deeply disturbed by the troubled state of affairs in the world, have joined others across the world in extending congratulations to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for having won the Mahatma Gandhi peace prize. Lobsang Wangyal has reported for the Tibet Sun "Dalai Lama receives Mahatma Gandhi peace prize."
Ila Gandhi, grand-daughter of Mahatma Gandhi, has presented the "Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Peace and Reconciliation" to Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. Ila Gandhi, who is chairperson of the Gandhi Development Trust in South Africa, travelled to Bodh Gaya to present the award. The Dalai Lama said in his acceptance speech that Mahatama Gandhi followed the path of non-violence to gain freedom for India.
He went on to say that he too had adopted the path of non-violence as the means for the Tibetan freedom struggle. "The Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Peace and Reconciliation" was created in 2003 to mark the centenary of a newspaper, Indian Opinion, published in South Africa by Mahatma Gandhi. The award was established in memory of Mahatma Gandhi, who began his socio-political life in South Africa. South African anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela and Myanmar democracy crusader Aung San Suu Kyi have been past winners of this prestigious award.
