Dalai Lama says Mao considered him a son

Recalling his “very good” relations with Chairman Mao Zedong, the Dalai Lama on Sunday said that he considered him “as a father” and that the late Chinese leader considered him “as a son”.

The Dalai Lama, who is on a visit to the UK for public talks and appearances, recalled an interesting anecdote of the time when he was living in China and was on good terms with Chairman Mao.

He told the Andrew Marr Show on BBC: “He (Chairman Mao) appears to me as a father and he himself considered me as a son. (We had) very good relations. The only problem was that on many occasions, when official dinners were held, Chairman Mao always used to bring me to his side”.

The Dalai Lama added: “So then as per Chinese tradition, Chairman Mao himself would use his chopsticks to put some food in my plate. So in a way it was a great honour, but in a way I feel little fear... he used to cough too much, a chain smoker, so I might get some germs (laughing)”.

The Dalai Lama, who fled to India in 1959, said that older Tibetans wanted him to return “as soon as possible before their death”, but other politically sensible people believed that under the present circumstances, he should remain outside in a free country.