The Dalai Lama is my idol, says Jawed Habib

Name: Jawed Habib, founder, Jawed Habib Hair and Beauty Pvt Ltd

Idol: Dalai Lama

Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, loves teaching people about the importance of compassion as the source of a happy life. There's never a picture of His Holiness without a smile on his face. Jawed Habib, the hair stylist, met the Dalai Lama in 2014 in Dharamsala, and says that in a world that's filled with competition, deadlines, status symbols and climbing ladders, his encounter with the Dalai Lama left him feeling "fortunate and blessed". And yes, his smile is contagious.

Habib says, "I have always admired the Dalai Lama and wanted to seek his blessings. So, when I was in Dharamsala promoting hair education, the Home Ministry asked me whether I would like to meet him. Without a moment's hesitation I said yes."

Recalling the meeting in detail, he says, "I was escorted by a monk-attendant, along an outdoor walkway leading to an inner meeting area. Surprisingly, His Holiness was waiting to greet me on the sidewalk. He was bowing and beaming. I felt he was indeed happy to see me. It was as if I was reuniting with a dear and long-lost friend."

While Habib and the Dalai Lama did talk about education, what struck Habib was his sense of humour. "When you are in his company, you experience incredible energy," Habib says.

And that's one of the reasons why since returning from Dharamsala, Habib has put up pictures of the Dalai Lama across his offices. "The pictures remind me of something he said. Human affection is an example that no matter how powerful one individual is, his or her survival depends on others. This experience has helped me look forward to a bigger and better life filled with hope."