In photos: rare glimpses into the life of the 14th Dalai Lama

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Tenzin Geyche Tethong was initially reluctant to write a biography of the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, even though he had worked in His Holiness' Private Office for four decades. Readers must be thankful that he gave in in the end, considering the result is a handsome illustrated volume, offering rare glimpses into an exceptional life. In this photograph, for instance, relief floods the Dalai Lama’s face as he arrives in India in 1959 after an arduous journey across Tibet, and is greeted with a khatag, or offering scarf. Credit: Tibet Museum.

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Tethong weaves his personal experience of the Tibetan struggle and the story of generations of his family's involvement with the Dalai Lamas into his narrative. It is rich with historical details and anecdotes. But above all, it comes vividly to life through powerful images, such as this one of the Women's Day Uprising on 12 March 1959, On that day, a spontaneous gathering of 15,000 women from all regions of Tibet flocked to an area below the Potala palace in Lhasa, the winter palace of the Dalai Lamas, in a remarkable act of bravery. The leaders were later imprisoned or executed. Credit: Tibet Images Collection of Jane Moore.

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The 14th Dalai Lama's journey began much earlier, though, in the 1930s, when, as an infant, he was singled out as the living incarnation of his predecessor. In this photograph, one of his earliest, taken at the age of four at Kumbum monastery in 1939, His Holiness is holding on his lap a Gospel of St. John card presented to him by a visiting missionary. Credit: Archibald Steele, in A.T. Steele Papers, Arizona State University Libraries, Special Collections.

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In the early years of his exile in Dharamsala, India, the Dalai Lama had two Lhasa apso dogs, Senge (‘lion’) and Tashi (‘good fortune’). Here Senge sits at his feet in the sitting room of Swarg Ashram. In Tethong's portrait many such intimate moments shine through. Courtesy: Tendzin Choegyal and Rinchen Khando (John Faber).

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The Dalai Lama travelled to Karasjok in Northern Norway, after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, at the invitation of Ole Henrik Magga, first president of the Sami Parliament. The Sami are an indigenous people who, like the Tibetans, are intent on keeping their culture and language intact. Their discussions were followed by a reindeer-led sleigh ride, to the delight of His Holiness who had not seen a reindeer before. Credit: Wikimedia Commons (Harry Johansen).

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His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking to nuns from several nunneries who had just concluded their annual winter debate sessions at the Tsuglakhang in Dharamsala, 2013. Tethong notes the spiritual leader's effortless savviness in interacting with people of different faiths from across the world. Courtesy: Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

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During his early days in Dharamshala, Tethong says he used to be disappointed with the lack of interest about Tibetans among the media and political leaders in India. It was His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama's tireless campaigning and unique presence that changed the indifference into lively engagement, But the battle is far from over. "Unless China becomes more free and democratic, it wouldn't be possible for Tibetans to achieve their rightful goal," Tethong adds. The cover of 'His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama: An Illustrated Biography', published by Roli Books, Rs1,295.

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Xander Johnson (L) of Bagel Tours takes the Messenger family from San Francisco around Midtown Manhattan to sample some on New York's finest bagels. Bagels are as synonymous with New York as pizza and the Statue of Liberty. Although there is no official count of New York's daily bagel production, Sam Silverman, chief executive of the trade group Bagelup, estimates there are about 500 specialty shops across the city's five boroughs. The ring-shaped bread has evolved and been reinvented since its arrival more than a century ago thanks to Polish Jewish immigrants.  ((Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP))

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The inside of a bagel preparation room is pictured during a Bagel Tour around Midtown Manhattan. Rainbow bagels are pictured here. Balinska points to the 1960s as the period when bagels attained broader popularity beyond the Jewish community. Innovations such as the rotating oven enabled bakers to significantly increase output. That led to the arrival of shops touting 'hot' bagels directly to consumers; before, they were only available wholesale.Central players in the further ‘bagelizing’ of America were the Lender brothers, who successfully mass marketed the frozen bagel -- pre-sliced, of course -- in the 1960s, expanding nationwide by 1977.  ((Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP))

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Ashley Dikos, wife of Bo's Bagels owner Andrew Martinez, shows cream cheese and salmon bagels at Bo's Bagels. ((Photo by Yuki IWAMURA / AFP))

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Andrew Martinez, owner of Bo's Bagels, boils bagel dough before his store opens in New York City.  ((Photo by Yuki IWAMURA / AFP))

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Andrew Martinez, owner of Bo's Bagels, points to fresh bagels at his bakery. While there is debate over just when the first bagels appeared in New York, historians agree that the bread originally arrived in the city in the late 19th century. By 1900, the industry had already expanded to 70 bagel shops, although working conditions were 'terrible,' according to Maria Balinksa's book, 'The Bagel: The Surprising History of a Modest Bread.' Balinksa chronicles a triumphant 1909 baker strike that upgraded pay and working conditions, helping to propel the broader labor movement in the early 20th century. Over the years, bakers began coating bagels with toppings including salt, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, onion and garlic.At Bo's Bagels, all of these play second fiddle to the ‘everything bagel,’ which includes a smattering of all these toppings. Bo's sells more everything bagels than all of the other types combined, said owner Andrew Martinez. ( (Photo by Yuki IWAMURA / AFP))

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Children watch a 2-wheel robot perform at the annual World Robot Conference at the Etrong International Exhibition and Convention Center on the outskirts of Beijing on 17 August. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

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Visitors watch a robot dog Cyberdog developed by Xiaomi at the Beijing World Robot Conference (WRC) 2023 in Beijing, China, on 17 August. (REUTERS)

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Visitors look at the remote control robots perform. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

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A man uses a mobile phone to take a picture of a robot kitten at the 2023 World Robot Conference. (WANG Zhao / AFP)

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A visitor touches robotic fingers during the annual World Robot Conference at the Etrong International Exhibition and Convention Center on the outskirts of Beijing, on 17 August.  (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

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Visitors look at a remote control robot perform a walk during the annual World Robot Conference. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

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Human like robots and robotic faces that mimic human expressions displayed at the conference on 16 August. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

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A robot developed by Data Robotics displays throws a basketball at the Beijing World Robot Conference (WRC) 2023 on 17 August. (REUTERS/Tingshu Wang)