Message to IFIH Received from

the Secretary to

His Holiness the Dalai Lama

 

“This is to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 13, 2001 addressed to His Holiness the Dalai Lama regarding your intention to set up an International Forum for India’s Heritage. Although His Holiness has not had the time to go through the notes you had sent, His Holiness feels the concept behind the forum, as explained in your letter, is similar to what he has believed in. Whether it is the Indians, Tibetans or others if we are concerned about the preservation of our cultural heritages we ourselves must make the effort. If we ourselves can retain our cultural values then we do not need to fear about cultural invasions from other cultures. This is also one of the objectives of your International Forum for India’s Heritage. His Holiness also likes the idea that this will be a forum for eminent and respected Indians to come and act together.

 

“Your idea of introducing the basic values of the Indian heritage in the Indian educational system is also an idea that His Holiness shares. His Holiness believes that if we have to preserve and cultivate human values and our cultural heritage we need to do this from the very beginning which is from the homes and educational institutions. I am therefore happy to inform you that His Holiness supports your idea about the International Forum for India’s Heritage.”