Tsering Dhundup
DHARAMSHALA, Oct 25: A coalition of more than 140 Tibet advocacy organizations has confronted Paris’s Musée Guimet over its controversial decision to replace references to “Tibet” with “Himalayan World” in its exhibitions, accusing the museum of complicity in China’s cultural erasure efforts.
In a letter delivered Thursday to Museum President Dr. Yannick Lintz, the coalition demanded the institution restore the use of “Tibet” in its exhibitions, arguing that the current terminology effectively censors Tibet’s distinct cultural identity and tacitly endorses China’s occupation of the region.
“This is not just a matter of semantics,” stated Rashi Jauhri of the International Tibet Network. “By prioritising China’s propaganda over historical accuracy, the museum is actively betraying every patron that walks through its door.”
The controversy displays ongoing tensions surrounding Tibet’s cultural representation in international institutions. Tibet, which was invaded by China in 1950, is currently ranked among the world’s most repressed regions by Freedom House, with severe restrictions on civil liberties and political rights under the repressive occupation of the Chinese authority.
Critics argue that by adopting the term “Himalayan World,” the museum is conflating distinct cultural traditions of Tibet, Bhutan, and Nepal, effectively obscuring Tibet’s unique heritage. The museum’s approach appears to contradict the International Council of Museums’ Code of Ethics, which emphasizes accurate representation and appropriate consideration of represented groups.
Tenzin Namgyal of Students for a Free Tibet France expressed particular concern about the museum’s lack of engagement with the Tibetan community, noting that “Ms. Yannick Lintz’s refusal to enter into dialogue with the Tibetan people” is especially troubling given their direct connection to the artefacts in question.
The campaign has gained additional significance following a recent victory at Paris’s Musée du quai Branly, which reversed its use of the term “Xizang” in favour of “Tibet” for its Tibetan artefacts after public protest.
