Author: Prabin Kalita
Publication: The Times of India
Date: April 3, 2017
URL:   http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31804&articlexml=When-the-spiritual-head-met-his-saviour-03042017009024

The Dalai Lama met a retired Assam Rifles havildar who had escorted him from the border to safety when he escaped from Tibet in 1959. The Tibetan spiritual leader's eyes turned moist when he held the hands of Naren Chandra Das (79) to his chest on Sunday. Das, who retired as a havildar, is the lone survivor of the seven Assam Rifles personnel who had first received the Dalai Lama on Indian soil.

This was their first meeting since the Tibetan leader sought refuge in India 58 years ago. Speaking at the programme as part of the Namami Brahmaputra festival, the Nobel laureate said, “Looking at the old soldier who brought me from the border safely , I realize that I too have become old now.“ The Dalai Lama was 23 and Das a year younger when they met for the first ti me on the McMahon line that runs between India and Tibet.

Das, a native of Balipara in Assam's Sonitpur district, said, “I was posted at Lumla, far from the border. One night we were woken up by the subedar and were told to have our food quickly. Six of us led by Gurung went to Shakti that we reached after trekkingone full day.”

“We were armed with .303 rifles. On March 31, we started our return journey to Lumla, escorting the Dalai Lama and his 20 bodyguards. We ran all the way to keep pace with the Dalai Lama who was on horseback,“Das added.