14th Dalai Lama's 74th Birthday

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The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, turned 74 on the July 6th. He has lived a large part of his life as a plain, simple monk, spending his time praying and meditating. His life was literally turned upside down in 1951 when the Chinese army invaded his homeland of Tibet.

In 1959, there was major protest in Tibet over the Chinese occupation and the Dalai Lama was forced to flee his country and seek protection in Dharamshala, India.

He was the head of the unrecognised Tibetan government and was given the status of a diplomat which helped him to seek help for his cause.

In 2008, the Dalai Lama said that he was going into a kind of semi-retirement, and would not be campaigning so much around the world. Apparently he felt that it was better for Tibet if he moved aside and let the younger men take over the struggle.

In 1989 Tenzin Gyatso was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent struggle to free Tibet.

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