Mao thought of me as his son: Dalai Lama

He told the Andrew Marr Show on the BBC: He Chairman Mao appears to me as a father and he himself considered me as a son. We had very good relations. The only problem was that on many occasions,when official dinners were held,Chairman Mao always used to bring me to his side.

The Dalai Lama added: So then as per Chinese tradition,Chairman Mao himself would use his chopsticks to put some food in my plate. So in a way it was a great honour,but in a way I feel little fear8230;he used to cough too much,a chain smoker,so I might get some germs laughing.