By TwoCircles.net News Desk,
New Delhi: A three-day international seminar on Indian Archives and Libraries as Source for the History of Arabian Peninsula began today at Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi. Before the formal inauguration of the seminar, Vice-Chancellor Najeeb Jung welcomed Hassan Faisal Trad, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in India and the delegation consisting of scholars from Saudi Arabia, who have come to participate in this seminar.
The Centre for West Asian Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia has organized the seminar from 6-8 October. Prof. Anwar Alam, Director Centre for West Asian Studies gave the welcome remarks on this occasion while Dr. H.A. Nazmi, Seminar Convener reflected on the background and rationale for organizing this seminar. Hassan Faisal Trad, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia was the chief guest during the Inaugural Session. He noted the growing relationship between India and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He specifically highlighted the importance of the visit of King of Saudi Arabia to India, who was invited as a chief guest on the occasion of the Republic Day in 2008. He also attached great importance of the Honorary Degree that was conferred by Jamia Millia Islamia on the King of Saudi Arabia in 2008. Since then, he noted, the relationship between India and Saudi Arabia has prospered and strengthened.
Dr. Ebraheem Al-Batshan, Cultural Attache, Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Delhi delivered the key note address on this occasion. He stressed that this international seminar, the first of its kind being organized in India, would go a long way in strengthening ties between the two countries. His speech mainly focused on the historical dimension of the relationship between India and Saudi Arabia.
Dr. Abdullah Arraqeebah, Director, King Abdul Aziz Foundation for Research and Archives, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia welcomed the idea of organizing this seminar and stressed the importance for greater cooperation between the Archives and Libraries in India and in Saudi Arabia.