I met Dalai Lama today!

I always wished to meet the Dalai Lama at least for once in this lifetime. The Nobel Laureate for Peace and one of the world's most respectful leader in the present time is indeed any intellectual or educated person' biggest wish. He is viewed as the biggest threat by China.

Never thought I would meet such a great personality like that. Suddenly and so unexpectely. But I did!!!

My Director at the Morarji Desai National Inst. of Yoga (MDNIY), my new workplace, suddenly called for me today and directed me to escort Swami Dr. Parmanand, Vice Chancellor of Ram Krishan Mission University, from India Habitat Centre at Delhi's Lodi Road.

I was irritated to do such kind of unjouralistic work for the first time. I visited the place and after a bit of search, finaly located him at the sixth floor of Guest Building of India Habitat Centre.

I knew he was to attend some function here with Tibetan's Spiritual Guru Dalai Lama. But I least expected both of them would be having lunch together. I tried to approach Swami ji after they were done with their lunch. But he was busy with other guests present on the occasion.

Suddenly , I notice Dalai Lama was also leaving the place. Everyone was standing in line in his honour to say bye to him. I noticed him shaking hand with a Tibetan butler even, who bowed before him in deep respect for his country's God.

I was hesitant till I saw the Great Dalai Lama even shaking hand with that butler without any discomfort. Suddenly , I gathered courage and clicked him through my mobile. And, the moment he turned towards me as he approached the door, he noticed me standing there with a big smile.

He came closer to me and perhaps believing me to be one of the guests in that dining hall, bowed as a Buddhist courtesy to accept my greetings too. He held my extended hand for three to four seconds firmly with his large and Dunlop-palm and said: "Thank You Very Much" with a smile on his face. Both of us bowed to each other while holding each other's hands and he left the place.

He left me without words!

Never expected the most wished thing could happen just like that ever. That too Dalai Lammmmmmmmaaaaaaaaaa!!!

Life in Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) is a distinct experience altogether from Asian News Internatinal (ANI), the news organisation I worked with for over five-and-a-half years.

It revolves around a Director and Yoga. Others exist here as non-entites. Most of the people that I have come across here are happy doing what they have been doing for ages.

Though it's an autonous organisation but the style of working here is typically Sarkari. Except for a committed Director, most of the people are unusually content with their work and happy to ensure that they are not facing the music for any of the assigned responsibilities. Everyone here passes the buck on other and the other person on some other.

I have been given the charge of a learning centre for yoga, a dream project of the Director Dr. I. Basavaraddy. He wants results and remains busy pushing people here to justify their salaries. People fear him for the simple reason that he demands results.

He talks straight on the face but still maintains respect while speaking to anyone.

Thank God you made me quit ANI on a good note......
(the original piece will be posted later)

Yes, I quit Asian News International (ANI) finally on Nov.15, 2010. That was my last day there. I was myself in a doubt, whether I would ever be able to see or imagine myself living beyond working at ANI ever.

My decision surprised many of my well-wishers as they learnt that I quit to join as media consultant at Morarji Desai National Inst. of Yoga (under Depart. of AYUSH), Ministry of Health. It felt surprising also because I opted to not explore or utilise the available options of working in TV channels or rival News Agency and even Economic Times!)

I know I disappointed many a people as much I disappointed the journalist in me. But , at the same time, my decision did delight all those who knew about the untenable circumstances I was working in for such a long time.

It will not be complete truth, if I said that I changed it for the sake of new opportunity.

It is worth mentioning here about the work profile I was assigned in ANI to evaluate my worth for Print Media section of ANI.

In the last five years, I was made the sole incharge of Feature stories of ANI's print media section, the incharge of late evening shift happened two years ago.

On the last day, as an ANI employee, my profile comprised being responsible for Jammu and Kashmir's stories, North East stories, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh stories, writing Ministry of External Affairs's Exclusive Feature stories, handling all political, and international stories related to President, Prime Minister, and External Affairs Minister's foreign visits, Sports (Commonwealth Games's opening ceremony and closing ceremony related all stories).

Ashok Dixit, my immediate boss and News Editor, threw a farewell lunch for me at a fantastic hotel in Green Park and my main boss that I respected the most all these years, Mr. I. Ramamohan Rao, threw another farewell party at the renovated Karnataka Sangha, in R.K.Puram after two days. The gesture of both the bosses touched my heart immensely.

It was a farewell worth remembering forever for its sincere gesture. Honestly stating, I least expected it !.

Regards
Chaudhary Sandeep Datta