Mayor Aftab Pureval to meet the Dalai Lama in India, plans to invite him to Cincinnati

Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer
·1 min read
20
In January, the Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky Tibetan Association presented Mayor Aftab Pureval with a letter from the the 14th Dalai Lama. Now, Pureval is on his way to India to meet the Nobel-prize-winning Buddhist leader.
In January, the Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky Tibetan Association presented Mayor Aftab Pureval with a letter from the the 14th Dalai Lama. Now, Pureval is on his way to India to meet the Nobel-prize-winning Buddhist leader.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval is traveling across the globe to meet the Dalai Lama.

Pureval, who is of Tibetan and Indian heritage, was invited to India with a cohort of mayors. During his visit, he will invite the 14th Dalai Lama to Cincinnati, he said in a release.

The mayors and public figures joining Pureval include San Leandro, California, Mayor Pauline Cutter; Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer; former Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto; Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and Lonnie Ali, a philanthropist and widow of Muhammad Ali.

Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval was personally invited to India with a cohort of mayors for the opportunity to meet the 14th Dalai Lama.
Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval was personally invited to India with a cohort of mayors for the opportunity to meet the 14th Dalai Lama.

Politics:Politico Magazine profiles Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval

“I am honored to take part in this incredible opportunity to meet His Holiness and invite him to our bold, dynamic city,” Pureval said in a statement. “Having a global leader visit Cincinnati would be huge, and as the highest-ranking elected Tibetan American in the country, my meeting with him showcases our city’s commitment to diversity and growing the city equitably.”

The mayor will check in with his staff and City Manager Sheryl Long during his time abroad, the release said. Pureval is slated to return to the U.S. on Dec. 7.

The Dalai Lama sent Pureval a letter full of prayers and well wishes in January for the mayor's swearing-in ceremony. In the letter, the Nobel Prize-winning Buddhist leader offered support to Pureval, Cincinnati's first Asian American mayor.

The mayor left Sunday and is paying for the trip himself, according to his spokeswoman Helena Battipaglia.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval going to India to meet Dalai Lama