The Dalai Lama Embraces Jawan Who Escorted Him Into India in 1959

Das was among five jawans who escorted the Dalai Lama to India in 1959.

It was an emotional moment for the Dalai Lama, who met Naren Das after 58 years. (Photo: PTI)

Nearly 58 years after he escaped from Tibet, Spiritual leader Dalai Lama on Sunday embraced Naren Chandra Das, one of the five jawans who escorted the Buddhist leader on his journey across the Himalayas to India.

The Dalai Lama embraced the retired jawan at an interactive session organised at the 'Namani Brahmaputra' River festival by the Assam government in Guwahati.

Thank you very much.... I am very very happy to meet such an old member of the Assam Rifles who guarded and escorted me to India 58 years ago. Looking at your face, I now realise I must be very old too.

Dalai Lama, Spiritual Leader

Dressed in his Assam Rifles uniform, 76-year-old Das, later told PTI that he escorted the Dalai Lama as his armed guard in 1959, two years after joining the force in 1957.

At that time, he was posted at Lungla near the China border after completing his training at Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, he said.

Guards of Assam Rifles Platoon no. 9 had brought the Dalai Lama from Zuthangbo and handed him over to five of us at Shakti. We brought him to Lungla from where he was escorted on his onward journey to Tawang by another group of guards.

Naren Chandra Das, Retired Jawan

Asked whether he had any interaction with the Dalai Lama during that journey, Das said that they were not allowed to talk or interact with him. "Our duty was only to guard and escort him during a part of his journey." He said he was overwhelmed by the warmth in his embrace.

Asked what the Dalai Lama whispered in his ears while they embraced, he replied, "He was happy to see me." The Dalai Lama also presented silk shawl to the guard.

Video Editor: Ashutosh Bhardwaj