World

Tibetans protest French museum’s exhibition renaming amid allegations of Chinese pressure

Tibetans are actively protesting the French museum Musee Guimet’s decision to rename sections of its exhibition from “Nepal-Tibet” to “Himalayan World,” according to a report by Le Monde, a French daily newspaper. According to information, despite repeated campaigns calling for a correction, the museum has stood firm in its choice.

In a post on X, Voice of Tibet also raised the issue stating, “Tibetans and supporters protested Musee Guimet in Paris on Sunday, over its refusal to correct a ‘historical distortion.’ The museum renamed parts of an exhibition from ‘Nepal-Tibet’ to ‘Himalayan World’ after reported pressure from Chinese authorities, as noted by Le Monde.”

The controversy has garnered significant attention, with advocates arguing that the change undermines the distinct cultural and historical identities of Tibet and Nepal. Notably, another museum, Quai Branly, previously apologized for replacing “Tibet” with Beijing’s preferred term, “Xizang.”

According to the Tibetan Review, a monthly journal, on September 25, the Musee du quai Branly in Paris issued an apology and committed to restoring the name “Tibet” on its displays, replacing the China-imposed term “Xizang.” In contrast, the Guimet Museum of Asian Arts has faced significant criticism for not making a similar change, despite pushback from scholars and protests from Tibetans and their supporters.

Tibetan review said that while the Quai Branly acknowledged its mistake, the Guimet Museum defended its decision to use the term “Himalayan World,” claiming it was part of a broader reflection. This change aligns with China’s mandate to replace “Tibet” with “Xizang” in official documents, a move aimed at asserting that the traditional identity of Tibet, as recognised globally and by its own people, no longer exists. The term “Xizang” specifically refers to the region designated by China as the Xizang Autonomous Region.

Musee Guimet, officially known as the Musee national des Arts asiatiques Guimet, is a museum located in Paris, France. It specialises in Asian art and culture, housing an extensive collection that spans various countries, including India, China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia. Founded in the late 19th century by Emile Guimet, the museum showcases a diverse range of artifacts, sculptures, paintings, textiles, and religious objects, reflecting the rich artistic traditions of Asia.

ANI

Ani service

Recent Posts

Musk’s Starlink will be given 3rd satcom services licence after Airtel and Jio: Scindia

Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday said Elon Musk's Starlink will be the third…

54 minutes ago

Gilgit-Baltistan turmoil deepens amid Land Law backlash

Gilgit-Baltistan is witnessing a deepening political and human rights crisis that observers warn may mirror…

1 hour ago

Trump suspends entry of new international students enrolled at Harvard, cites national security risks

By Reena Bhardwaj In a significant move invoking national security concerns, US President Donald J.…

7 hours ago

India showcases world’s largest DRR financing system at UN disaster platform in Geneva

Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, PK Mishra, highlighted India's robust Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)…

7 hours ago

India elected to UN’s Economic and Social Council for term 2026-28

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday announced that India has been elected to the…

7 hours ago

Trump signs order to ban travel to US from 12 nations, partially restricts entry of nationals from 7 nations

US President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation to ban entry of individuals from 12…

8 hours ago