New Delhi: Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, was today conferred an honorary doctorate by the prestigious Jamia Millia University here.
Jamia Vice Chancellor Najeeb Jung had earlier spoken to Ministry of External Affairs seeking clearance for the event against the backdrop of a media report that the MEA was blocking the university's move keeping China's sensitivities
in mind ahead of Premier Wen Jiabao's India visit next month.
Beijing, however, appears not to be much bothered about the issue, with embassy officials here maintaining that "it is an academic decision and not a government decision."
"I got this degree without (undertaking) study. It is sometime good. Without much effort, I received various degrees from many universities," the Dalai Lama said in a lighter vein as he addressed the gathering after receiving the honour.
Describing Islam as a "very important" religion, the Tibetan leader said he has "firmly" defended it since 9/11 as it was "absolutely" wrong to generalise the whole faith just because of "few mischievous" persons in the community.
"Since September 11 event, I stand firmly in defending Islam because due to few mischievous people from Muslim community, on their behaviour, generalisation of Islam is something negative, it is absolutely wrong," he said.
"Mischievous people... among Hindus also they are, among Jews also they are, among Christians also they are, among Buddhists also they are... so we should not generalise Islam due to few mischievous followers of the religion," he said.
He said that he received various degrees from many universities but he felt "honoured" by receiving the degree of Doctor of Letters from "an Islamic University".
Promotion of religious harmony was one his commitments, the Dalai Lama said. He said 20th Century was the "century of violence" and suggested, "we must make 21st century a century of dialogue (for peace and harmony)."
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