Dalai Lama bestowed with U.S Congressional Gold Medal

Oct 18 : Keeping aside China’s fury U.S. conferred its highest civilian award to Dalai Lama on Wednesday.

He was given standing ovation by the President and members of Congress, he stood with all his grace and dignity dressed in his orange robes.

The magnetic charm of his personality was felt by everybody, and Bush came out to praise this self-exiled monk.

The spiritual leader in his speech said that he felt the sense of regret pointing towards China’s reaction and anger on his visit to U.S.

In his appeasing tone he congratulated China on its dynamic economic growth, and insisted China to embrace transparency.

He joked his decision to address the august gathering in English saying that it’s been like his English examination in front of dignitaries and scholars.

He said that he is not seeking independence from China but he wanted a meaningful autonomy for Tibet.

He said “Today, I wish to share with you all my sincere hope that the future of Tibet and China will move beyond mistrust to a relationship based on mutual respect, trust and recognition of common interests.”

It was the first time since the Buddhist spiritual leader fled into exile in 1959 that a sitting U.S. president met with him in public, and the ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda marked support for him from America.

Bush said "Americans cannot look to the plight of the religiously oppressed and close our eyes or turn away,"

He added "And that is why I will continue to urge the leaders of China to welcome the Dalai Lama to China. They will find this good man to be a man of peace and reconciliation."

Both the leaders have met thrice before but this meeting was a low key as possible in the circumstances, with the meeting held at White House not at the Oval office.

Bush told that he had informed President Hu Jintao of China, when they met recently in Sydney, that he would be meeting with the Dalai Lama. Later, in his remarks under the Capitol Rotunda, the president urged the Chinese to do the same.

China retaliated against the award and pulled out of a meeting this month at which world powers were to discuss nuclear issue of Iran. It also canceled an annual human rights dialogue with Germany, displeased by Chancellor Angela Merkel's meeting last month with the Tibetan spiritual leader.

Dalai Lama, who won Noble Peace Prize in 1989, has led a non–violent protest against Chinese regime.

The spiritual leader also met Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer last month and Australian Prime Minister John Howard in June. He will meet Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper this month.

Some political scientists believe that this will send a clear message to Chinese Government to carry dialogue with Dalai Lama, as Bush has insisted Chinese Government to enter into a dialogue on the longstanding issues with the Spiritual leader.

Congressional Gold Medal is the nation’s highest and most distinguished civilian award. This was first awarded in 1776 to George Washington. The medal is given in recognition of lifetime achievement and outstanding services.

Interesting and unique about this medal is that each medal is different to specifically commemorate the person and achievement for which the medal is awarded.