Tibetans launch 'Thank you India'

Amid growing border tensions with China, the exiled government of Tibet on Thursday launched a year-long 'Thank you India" campaign to mark the 60th year of the arrival of the spiritual leader Dalai Lama to India. President of Central Tibetan Administration Dr Lobsang Sangay said His Holiness was followed by tens of thousands of Tibetans who escaped to India. "Since March 1959, India has been a second home for Tibetan people, and Indians have provided profound support for the Tibetan struggle for preservation of culture, identity and language," he said.

Dalai Lama first stepped on Indian soil on March 31, 1959. "It was in exile that he found freedom, thanks to the compassionate underpinning of the hospitality and generosity extended by India.

60 Indians from Arunachal Pradesh will start off a peace march on March 17 to signify the date. The march will culminate in Delhi on March 31. "Tibetan people across India will observe the year 2018 with a series of Pan-India events to express gratitude to the Government and people of India," said officials.