By Mekha Mohan

Kochi: It could be a pleasant surprise to all here in Kochi.  Dalai Lama, the septuagenarian spiritual leader of millions of Buddhists across the globe is scheduled to arrive in the international port city of  Kochi on September 4, 2010,  for a day.  The monk, during his brief stay in the city, is scheduled to be felicitated by a host of organizations.

During the day the Spiritual head of Tibet is slated to deliver the inaugural lecture on  Beyond Conflict to Reconciliation: The Challenge of the 21st Century at Catholic Renewal Center, Ernakulam, organized by  by International Association for Religious Freedom.

The four-day seminar on religious freedom will have social and religious leaders from all over the world to attend. About 600 peace-makers from across the globe are expected to take part in the Congress to discuss issues such as religion and human rights.

The Dalai Lama will also give a private audience to Friends of Tibet and address a gathering of Friends of Tibet members.

A series of traditional Tibet programmes are also organized to welcome the spiritual leader.  Friends of Tibet in association with Kashi will hold an exhibition of selected cartoons on the Tibet issue (1950-2005) and the tumultuous Indo-Chinese relations by renowned Indian cartoonists at the Kashi Art Cafe, Burgher Street, and Fort Kochi from August 29, 2010 till September 04, 2010. The selected cartoons are from some of known cartoonists of our times – Shankar, Ranga, OV Vijayan, RK Laxman, Ravi Shankar, Mario Miranda, Rajinder Puri, Prriya Raj, Yesudasan, Nanda Soobben, Abe Gowda, Kaak, Madhu Omalloor, Balu, Thommy, Ponnappa, Morparia and Prakash Shetty.

The introduction and text of the ’Indian Cartoonists on Tibet’ are by Claude Arpi, Tibet expert, who has authored several books on Tibet.

Friends of Tibet is also organising an exhibition of historic photographs on Tibet, thee Dalai Lama and artifacts from Tibet. The pictures will also be on display at The Gatway  Hotel of Taj at Ernakulam on September 04, 2010. The artifacts including coins and currencies from the then Independent Tibet, a radio used by  the Dalai Lama in the 60s, the Banned Tibetan National Flag from occupied Tibet, rare Photos of the Dalai Lama etc will be on display at Ernakulam city from September 1-3, 2010.