By Angela Taylor
June 4 – A photograph of the Dalai Lama, taken down from the walls of Aberdeen University after a Chinese student complained about it, has been re-hung following calls from the public.
The Press and Journal revealed last month that the picture, showing the head of state and spiritual leader of the Tibetan people after the University had awarded him an honorary doctor of law degree in 1993, had been removed from a wall and was being stored in an office.
A university spokeswoman confirmed yesterday the picture had been re-hung in the spot it had previously occupied, in response to calls from the public demanding it restoration.
David Lindsay, of the Tibet Support Group Grampian, was among those who complained about the removal. He has received a letter from the university confirming the photograph is back on the wall.
“We are really pleased it’s turned out the way it has and I think the university is quite surprised by the number of people writing to them protesting about it” he said. “The photograph is going to be liberated. They (the university staff) have obviously seen the error of their ways.”
A university spokeswoman said the picture had been re-hung earlier this week. She was unable to say how many complaints were made about its removal. She said previously “The university respects the Dalai Lama’s position as the head of state and spiritual leader of the Tibetan people and honoured him with an honorary degree of doctor of laws in May 1993.
“The university is conscious of the need to show consideration to all members of its student and staff community from all cultural backgrounds”
The picture is on the walls of the registry corridor in the administration building on Regent Walk. The picture may be moved to another part of the university for the long term. Where it will eventually hang is under discussion.
It was taken down with all the other pictures hanging in the corridor when the lobby was refurbished. None of the pictures were put up again. Aberdeen University has 334 Chinese students and no Tibetan students.
China has occupied Tibet since 1951. The Dalai Lama fled the country along with tens of thousands of followers in 1959 after a failed uprising. The 1989 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize now lives in Dharamsala, in northern India.
