Sir Tom calls on the Dalai Lama :: Lobsang Wangyal.com

Reportage – 2005

Sir Tom calls on the Dalai Lama

MCLEOD GANJ, India, 21 February 2005

When the the Dalai Lama and Sir Tom Farmer met in Edinburgh last year, the former extended the latter an invitation to visit Mcleod Ganj. Sir Tom kept the promise and arrived in Mcleod Ganj on the 20th of February and the two met the next day.

The meeting between the two, which went on for about two hours, didn't have any special agenda. "It was a chit-chat in general," he says.

Sir Tom admired the Dalai Lama for his openness. "The Dalai Lama is an open person. He does not hold boundaries for people from different religious or regional backgrounds."

Sir Tom with friends - Rigden, Nigel, Victor and Charlie

While speaking with the Dalai Lama, he offered to sponsor a Tibetan to study in Edinburgh. Also Charlie Miller, a celebrated hair stylist, offered to train a Tibetan in his profession.

The other two companions were Nigel, his son-in-law, and Victor Spence, General Secretary of Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association and the co-founder of the Scotland Tibet Association.

The four-member party arrived in Mcleod Ganj amidst a fresh snowfall and had to walk about two kilometres to their hotel as the roads were blocked by about one foot of white blanket.

"It's February so snow is not unusual", says Sir Tom.

Sir Tom enjoying 'Momos' at a hawker near the temple of the Dalai Lama

Right after checking-in at his hotel, the tourists visited the town. After purchasing a hat and a pair of gloves, Sir Tom started his charity by handing out some money for milk to some street children and gave some change to an old disabled man.

The party stayed in Mcleod Ganj for three days and then left for Amritsar for the Sikh Golden Temple. Prior to their arrival in Mcleod Ganj, they had visited the Taj Mahal. "It was awesome. I could just sit there for hours and look at it," Sir Tom said.

His list of places to visit included Varanasi and Mother Terresa's centre in Calcutta before he leaves for a week's skiing tour in Switzerland.

Sir Tom is one of Scotland's leading and most highly respected entrepreneurs. He is also known as an ardent and inspiring speaker on topics such as leadership, motivation and teamwork and how employees could be motivated to deliver "customer satisfaction and delight".

It was Sir Tom's first visit to India.