Life and times of the Dalai Lama

Spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, the Dalai Lama has turned 76 today. Recognised as the fourteenth Dalai Lama when he was just two-years-old, he frequently states that his life is guided by three major commitments: the promotion of basic human values or secular ethics in the interest of human happiness, the fostering of inter-religious harmony and the welfare of the Tibetan people, focusing on the survival of their identity, culture and religion.

Here's a look at the life and times of one of the world's most respected and most loved political and spiritual leader. (Photo Courtesy: www.dalailama.com)

The charismatic personality of the Dalai Lama has made him a popular figure in many parts of the world. His increasing popularity helped him draw much support for Buddhism, its belief and the Tibetan resistance movement across the world. (Photo Courtesy: www.dalailama.com)

The Dalai Lama was born to a farming family in Taktser, Amdo and was named Lhamo Dhondup.

His parents were small-scale farmers and had two daughters and four sons including Lhamo. (Photo Courtesy: www.dalailama.com)

When Lhamo Dhondup was barely three years old, a search party that had been sent out by the Tibetan government to find the new incarnation of the Dalai Lama arrived at Kumbum monastery, which was close to Lhamo's village.

Several indications like floating images in the holy lake of Lhamo Lhatso guided the team towards the young boy. (Photo Courtesy: www.dalailama.com)

The team then assured the identity of the fourteenth Dalai Lama by introducing Lhamo to a number of things that had belonged to the Thirteenth Dalai Lama, together with several similar items that did not.

In every case, the infant correctly identified those belonging to the Thirteenth Dalai Lama saying, "It's mine. It's mine." This more or less convinced the search party that they had found the new incarnation. (Photo Courtesy: www.dalailama.com)

According to Buddhist belief, the current Dalai Lama is the reincarnation of the Thirteenth Dalai Lama who was reborn to continue his important work, instead of moving on from the wheel of life. (Photo Courtesy: www.dalailama.com)

In 1939, near the town of Bumchen, Public Declaration of the Official Recognition of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama took place.

In 1940, he was taken to the Potala Palace, where he officially became the spiritual leader of Tibet. The separation from his parents was a rather unhappy sight for him. (Photo Courtesy: www.dalailama.com)

At the age of six, he began his Monastic education. The curriculum was same as that for all monks pursuing a doctorate in Buddhist studies. When he was 23, he sat for his final examination in the Jokhang Temple, Lhasa.

The Dalai Lama passed with honors and was awarded the Geshe Lharampa degree, the highest-level degree equivalent to a doctorate of Buddhist philosophy. (Photo Courtesy: www.dalailama.com)

The year 1950 saw the Dalai Lama assume full political power after China's invasion of Tibet in 1949.

On 17 November 1950, His Holiness was officially enthroned as the temporal leader of Tibet in a ceremony held at the Norbulingka Palace. (Photo Courtesy: www.dalailama.com)

On 23 May 1951, the historic 17-Point Agreement was signed by the Tibetan delegation and the government of the newly-established People's Republic of China.

The declaration affirmed Chinese sovereignty over Tibet in Peking.

In 1954, The Dalai Lama went to Beijing for peace talks with Mao Zedong and other Chinese leaders, including Deng Xiaoping and Chou Enlai. (Photo Courtesy: www.dalailama.com)

The year 1950 brought a sweeping change in the political scenario of China and Tibet.

In March 1959, Tibetans took to the streets following the suppression of the Tibetan national uprising in Lhasa by the Chinese troops. (Photo Courtesy: www.dalailama.com)

With fears surrounding his safety in the tense scenario, the Dalai Lama fled from Tibet to India in exile with thousands of followers through the Himalayan region on an epic 15-day journey on foot. (Photo Courtesy: www.dalailama.com)

On March 17, 1959, the Dalai Lama, crossed into India. He was allowed to form the Tibetan Government in exile by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Since then he has been living in Dharamsala, which is the seat of the Tibetan political administration in exile. (Photo Courtesy: www.dalailama.com)

On April 16, 1961, His Holiness met Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India in New Delhi. (Photo Courtesy: www.dalailama.com)

Following his exile to India, he made several visits to Indian cities including Bodh Gaya (Bihar), Varanasi, Delhi, Mumbai and Mysore.

On September 24, 1967, His Holiness met Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India in New Delhi. (Photo Courtesy: www.dalailama.com)

In 1979, His Holiness made the first contact with the Government of the People's Republic of China ever since he went into exile in 1959. (Photo Courtesy: www.dalailama.com)

Continuing his peace efforts, Dalai Lama delivered the historic Five Point Peace Plan on September 21, 1987 pointing towards the restoration of peace in the region of Tibet, to the members of the US Congress for Tibet in Washington, D.C. (Photo Courtesy: www.dalailama.com)

Since 1959, the Dalai Lama has been honored with over 84 awards for his efforts towards peace, non-violence, inter-religious understanding, universal responsibility and compassion.

On December 10, 1989, His Holiness was conferred the highest of all awards ‘The Nobel Peace Prize' for his extensive work contributing to world peace. (Photo Courtesy: www.dalailama.com)

In the beginning of the 21st century, the Dalai Lama made landmark visits to America, meeting Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton on separate occasions during their respective terms. (Photo Courtesy: www.dalailama.com)

The year 2001 is considered to be a milestone by the Dalai Lama, the Fourteenth. It was in this year that the first direct democratic election was held by the Tibetan people for the post of Kalon Tripa (Senior Minister) in the history of Tibet. (Photo Courtesy: www.dalailama.com)

A renowned personality, both by his position and his aura, The Dalai Lama has always emphasised on the principle of peaceful co-existence and non violent negotiations. (Photo Courtesy: www.dalailama.com)

The Dalai Lama has written more than 72 books including “Freedom in Exile”, an autobiography.

“No one had any idea that I might be different than an ordinary baby. It was almost unthinkable” quotes the autobiography. (Photo Courtesy: www.dalailama.com)