By TCN News,
New Delhi: The 3-day seminar on “Indian Travelogues’ Accounts on the History and Culture of Arabian Peninsula”, where more than 25 papers on travelogues of eminent scholars including Maulana Abul Hassan Ali Nadwi and Allama Syed Sulaiman Nadwi were presented, concluded on 23rd Jan. 2011 at India Islamic Cultural Centre in New Delhi.
The seminar, organized by Cultural Attaché, Embassy of the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, New Delhi in collaboration with Global Research Academy, New Delhi, was inaugurated by Faisal Hassan Trad, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, New Delhi.
The love shown for Kingdome of Saudi Arabia by Indian Hajis in their travelogues is incomparable, Faisal Trad said. The Keynote Address of the seminar was delivered by Prof, Akhtarul Wasey Vice Chairman, Delhi Urdu Academy, who pointed out that the seminar is the first of its kind as we are going to see the Arabian Peninsula through the observations of the Indian Haj pilgrims while till now we were in the habit of seeing India through the eyes of Arab travelers.
During the three days, over 25 papers were presented covering almost entire aspects of the main theme of the seminar.
The first reading session was held on 21st Jan. 2011 afternoon under the chairmanship of Prof. Isteyaq Ahmad Zilli in which three papers were presented on the travelogues of Jalauddin Jahaniyan Jahan Ghasht, Impact of Global Social Changes on the Saudi Society in the light of travelogues and a review of Safar-e-Hijaz, the travelogue of Maulana Abdul Majid Dariaybadi.
Other famous travelogues on Arabian Peninsula discussed through papers in six sessions included: Abdul Haq Muhadith Dehlavi’s travelogue “Zadul Muttaqin”, Sultan Jahan Begum’s travelogue “Rozatur Riyahin”, travelogues of well-known scholars Kalim Ajiz and Shefta, “Haramein Shareefain”, travelogue of Maulana Abul Hassan Ali Nadwi and the travelogue of Allama Syed Sulaiman Nadwi.
At the end of the seminar, a 3-member committee of the seminar comprising Prof. Ishtiyaq Ahamad Zilli, Prof. Mohammad Aslam Islahi and Prof. Zubair Ahmad Farooqi made the following recommendations:
1-The proceeding of the seminar be published after proper editing.
2-An annotated bibliography of travelogues be prepared and published.
3-Arabic and English translation of the Selected Travelogues be published.
4-A series of Seminars on similar relevant topics be alternatively
organized in Kingdom Saudi Arabia and India.
5-Possibilities of exchange of such material between Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia and India be explored and necessary steps in this regard be
taken.
6-A joint committee be constituted to conceive and plan such seminar
in the days to come.
7-Possibility of extending assistance to the scholars wishing to do
research work on this topic be explored.
8-Manuscripts on this topic available in various in Indian Libraries
be identified and steps be taken for their preservations.