Jamia Ph.D nod for Dalai Lama

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has approved Jamia Millia Islamia's proposal to award an honorary doctorate to the Dalai Lama, a month after it had controversially rejected it for fear of China's adverse reaction. Charu Sudan Kasturi writes.

The Ministry of External affairs (MEA) has approved Jamia Millia Islamia's proposal to award an honorary doctorate to the Dalai Lama, a month after it had controversially rejected it for fear of China's adverse reaction.

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Stung by criticism after HT first reported the matter (MEA drops Dalai Lama Ph D, HT, Oct 22), the government has now paved way for the Dalai Lama to receive the honorary doctorate on Tuesday.

HRD minister Kapil Sibal will personally hand over the honorary doctorate. "All the necessary clearances from the highest levels of the government have been obtained," a source confirmed.

The MEA had told the HRD ministry that a central university awarding an honorary doctorate to the Dalai Lama would have been inappropriate when there were heightened tensions between India and China in the past few months.