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The chief of the Tibetan government-in-exile defended the Dalai Lama on Thursday, telling reporters that video footage of the Tibetan Buddhist chief kissing a boy and asking him to “suck my tongue” was probably promoted on-line by pro-Chinese language sources.
“It wants no clarification as to who would achieve from maligning the picture, the status and the legacy of His Holiness,” mentioned Penpa Tsering, the top of the India-based Central Tibetan Administration. “Contemplating the size and extent of the orchestrated smear marketing campaign, the political angle of this incident can’t be ignored.”
Video of a Feb. 28 public occasion close to the Dalai Lama’s residence in Dharamsala, India, has sparked on-line criticism during the last week. It prompted an announcement of apology from him on Monday.
The clip exhibits the boy at first asking the 87-year-old for a hug throughout a ceremony during which the Dalai Lama blessed greater than 120 college students who had simply accomplished a abilities coaching course.
He then factors to his cheek and says to the boy “first right here.” The boy kisses the cheek and provides him a hug. Then the Dalai Lama motions to his lips and says “right here additionally,” and kisses the boy briefly on the lips.
He then stands proud his tongue and says “and suck my tongue.” With laughter within the background, the video exhibits the boy sticking his tongue out earlier than withdrawing it, and the Dalai Lama did the identical.
In Tibetan tradition protruding one’s tongue is usually used as a conventional greeting, and could be seen as an indication of respect or settlement.
The boy, Kiyan Kanodia, was interviewed by Radio Free Asia simply after the occasion. Requested how he felt after assembly the Dalai Lama, he mentioned he felt blessed with “constructive power.”
“I simply can’t specific how good it feels. It was a extremely good expertise assembly him,” he mentioned. “You’re feeling very constructive power and there’s lots of constructive power in you while you get blessed by him.”
Kanodia’s grandfather, Basant Bansal, made related remarks to RFA. Bansal is the chairman of the M3M Group, a actual property firm in India whose philanthropic arm sponsored the abilities coaching course.
Antics, pranks and joviality
Tibetan officers have discovered that the preliminary instigators for making the video go viral on social media have been pro-Chinese language, Tsering instructed reporters on the Overseas Correspondents’ Membership of South Asia in New Delhi.
Tsering listed the various methods the Dalai Lama has been bodily affectionate with folks he meets – together with political leaders.
Cuddling, holding somebody’s nostril, taking part in pranks and in any other case partaking in jovial interactions have all been all a part of the Dalai Lama’s public repertoire, Tsering mentioned. That features touching foreheads, which he did with the boy on the February occasion.
“That’s the best honor, from a Buddhist perspective,” he mentioned. “All of those are a part of His Holiness’ antics.”
The comment in regards to the tongue “was meant to be for the amusement of others” within the room, Tsering mentioned.
“The private integrity of His Holiness has by no means been in query in 87 years, so how can folks go judgment on one incident?” he requested. “We all know how grandfatherly affection could be. However this went slightly past.”
NGO desires an investigation
Tsering identified that the boy’s mom was seated close by through the occasion and didn’t have any complaints. Neither did any of the scholars, he mentioned.
Nonetheless, the chief director of a Delhi-based little one rights group, Haq: Heart for Little one Rights, mentioned that “no customized or conventional or spiritual observe that leads to violation of kids’s rights is appropriate.”
Bharti Ali instructed RFA in an electronic mail that she is fearful in regards to the boy’s security, particularly now that the video has acquired a lot consideration. The incident “requires essential investigation and motion,” she added.
“We can’t on the one hand educate protected and unsafe contact to youngsters and on the opposite permit inappropriate actions to be handed off as playfulness,” she mentioned.
Tsering requested that anybody who’s disturbed by the circulated footage watch video of the whole occasion to know the tone of the occasion.
“We’re certain you’ll be capable to differentiate between lust and love,” he mentioned.
Edited by Malcolm Foster.
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