August 03, 2022: Tushar Gandhi, great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi with Trustees of Friends of Tibet Foundation and staff members of Men-Tsee-Khang, Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute of HH the Dalai Lama (Kerala Branch) at Kadavanthra, Kochi, Kerala, India. (Photos: Ramesh Kumar PS)

Kochi, Kerala: Tushar Gandhi, great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, Father of the Nation, and Kasturba Gandhi was in high spirits to proceed to the Friends of Tibet + Men-Tsee-Khang Centre in Kochi after presiding over memorable events in Kochi city at the Rajagiri Business School and more than one and a half-century old Maharaja's College, Ernakulam, which aroused in him immense emotional feelings about Bapu. While addressing a gathering of students, faculty members, and alumni, he said he "felt blessed to get a chance to sit on the same wooden staircase at the Maharaja's College steps where Mahatma sat 95 years back on October 11, 1927, during his visit to the grand old College established by then the Maharaja of Kochi."

During his visit to the Rajagiri Business School (RBS) to inaugurate 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' event, Tushar Gandhi addressed a huge gathering of students and faculty members with his message of 'True Nationalism' and Non-Violence. He also launched the third phase of the 'Spreading Masks' campaign, a philanthropic initiative of The Mask Lab (a Control Print venture) and Friends of Tibet Foundation which has distributed more than a million facemasks free of charge in several Indian states. Tushar Gandhi also donated 'Free Mask Gift' boxes to Shri Cebil Joseph (President, Rotary Club of Cochin Smart City) and to Shri NK Pavithran and Smt Vani Varma (Changampuzha Nagar Resident's Association) for further distribution in their localities.

Similarly, Tushar Gandhi was quite pleased to proceed to visit the Friends of Tibet-supported Kerala branch of Men-Tsee-Khang, Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute of HH the Dalai Lama, a prestigious institution re-established by His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama 61 years ago in India soon after the Chinese occupation of Tibet.

The Men-Tsee-Khang Tibetan Medical Team headed by Dr Sonam Palmo along with Nyima Tsering and Tenzin Norzin gave Tushar Gandhi a warm welcome and made him relax and comfortable by serving him the traditional Tibetan welcome drinks. He instantly liked the ambiance within and the premises of the Institution in the heart of Kochi city which is located in the central part of Kerala, convenient for patients to come by all modes of conveyance from any part of the state as well as from the southern districts of other states. A traditional lunch was also served to Tushar Gandhi and to accompanying Trustees and well-wishers of the Friends of Tibet Foundation.

During his visit to the Tibet centre in Kochi, Tushar Gandhi, who is also an advisor to fot donated an autographed copy of his latest book "The Lost Diary of Kastur, My Ba" to the Friends of Tibet Library. Suresh Babu from Friends of Tibet Foundation presented him with "The Tibetan Saga for National Liberation", a well-researched book on Tibet's struggle for its lost freedom, authored by Pranjali Bandhu, Professor at the Vivekananda Chair, instituted at Mahatma Gandhi University Kottayam.

During the visit to the Tibet Centre, Tushar Gandhi was so elated when he was invited to plant a neem sapling — being the favourite tree of his great grandfather Mahatma Gandhi, near the welcome gate of Dr KS David Villa aka Kolady where the Friends of Tibet + Men-Tsee-Khang Centre is situated in Kochi. Friends of Tibet associates accompanied Shri Tushar Gandhi to Kochi Airport, concluding his two days of eventful visit to the state which drew immense media attention and coverage with a variety of distinguished functions.

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August 2, 2022: During the 'Deeksharambh 2022' at the Rajagiri Centre for Business Studies, Rajagiri Valley Campus, Kakkanad, Kochi, Kerala, Shri Tushar Gandhi, great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi & Kasturba Gandhi launched the third phase of 'Spreading Masks' campaign in the city, a philanthropic initiative by The Mask Lab + Friends of Tibet Foundation. Tushar Gandhi also handed over 'Free Mask Kit' to Maharaja's College, Ernakulam; Rotary Club of Kochi Smartcity and Changampuzha Nagar Resident's Association.