Dalajlama - Havel - Praha 1990 (2025)

This bilingual Czech-English book documents the first visit to Prague by the 14th Dalai Lama, a recently awarded Nobel Peace Prize winner, at the invitation of newly democratically elected president Václav Havel. Photographers Stanislav Doležal, Radovan Boček, Gabina Fárová and Petr Lukáš captured both official events and more private moments, while Saša Neuman, who planned the visit as the president’s secretary and later took part in all the Dalai Lama’s subsequent visits to the Czech Republic, provides short stories accompanying many of the photographs. Conceived as the story of the beginning of an extraordinary friendship between two important figures during a decisive period in modern history, the book recalls that both men were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in October 1989, which was awarded to the Dalai Lama. After the Velvet Revolution, Václav Havel became president in December 1989 and mentioned the Dalai Lama in his New Year’s address. Following Havel’s personal invitation, the Dalai Lama visited then-Czechoslovakia for several days in February 1990. Published thirty-five years after that first visit, the book presents photographs of public meditations, meetings with representatives of the churches, and authentic scenes from Lány and various places in Prague. The accompanying texts identify the people and places visited while offering concrete stories and anecdotes from the trip, recalling without nostalgia or pathos the importance of that moment in modern Czech history, the mood of society and the ideals offered by newly won freedom. Humanity, freedom of speech and a strong sense of moral responsibility connected Havel and the Dalai Lama, whose friendship grew through mutual respect, long philosophical discussions and a shared sense of humour.