Westland Books has launched Eternal Light: The Life and Legacy of the 14th Dalai Lama, a new biography of the Tibetan spiritual leader written by senior journalist and biographer Dr Arvind Yadav.

The book, which has been blessed by the Dalai Lama, traces his journey from his childhood in Tibet to his emergence as one of the world’s most prominent advocates of compassion, peace and non-violence.

The book was released at the Constitution Club of India in New Delhi in the presence of former Union minister and author Dr Karan Singh. The event also featured Padma Shri Prof Ngawang Samten, former diplomat and author Pavan K. Varma, and Yadav.

Born as Lhamo Thondup in Tibet in 1935, the Dalai Lama was recognised at the age of two as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama. He assumed political responsibilities at a young age amid the political upheaval in Tibet and, following the 1959 uprising in Lhasa, came to India.

He later settled in Dharamshala, where the Tibetan community in exile developed its political, cultural and religious institutions. Over the decades, the Dalai Lama has also worked to preserve Tibetan Buddhist traditions and draw international attention to the Tibetan issue.

He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for advocating non-violent resistance and has since emerged as an international voice for dialogue, compassion and peaceful resolution of conflicts.

According to Westland, Eternal Light examines several key episodes from the Dalai Lama’s life and seeks to provide greater context to events that have often been contested, misunderstood or insufficiently documented.

Speaking at the launch, Yadav said the book was written not only as an account of Tibet but also as a story of “compassion, resilience and humanity”.

“His Holiness the Dalai Lama is not merely an individual, but a force. Through truth, compassion and non-violence, he has shown the world that preserving one’s identity does not always require a fight; sometimes, simply holding on to oneself is the greatest victory,” he said.

Dr Karan Singh, delivering the presidential address, said compassion was increasingly important in a world marked by conflict and suffering.

“Today, the one thing the world is missing is compassion. The message of His Holiness the Dalai Lama reminds us that compassion means feeling the pain, poverty and suffering of others. We must recreate that sense of compassion and understanding in our own lives and in the world,” he said.

The launch began with a Long-Life Prayer led by Geshe Chopa Tenzin Lhadron, followed by reflections on the Dalai Lama’s life and legacy.