Mehboob Alam/New Delhi

In the two-day international conference at Jawaharlal Nehru University, JNU, New Delhi, news portal  Awaz The Voice, Arabic, was praised for its pioneering effort to connect the Arabic-speaking people and the Indians.

Speakers appreciated the Awaz-the Voice, Arabic for making its presence felt in such a short time. 

The Center for Arab and African Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, organized a two-day international conference from 7 May, on 'Modern Saudi Literature'. 

The event brought over 50 researchers, academicians, experts, and People interested in Saudi Arabian literature, representatives of various Arab countries, and many researchers and people interested in Arabic literature from various universities in India.

 The conference reviewed topics related to modern Saudi literature and national identity. Apart from this, the speakers expressed their views on national, social, and political issues, the influence of media and technology in the dissemination of Saudi literature, women in Saudi literature, children's journalism literature, and other interesting and important topics.

 In the inaugural session of the conference, Professor Dr. Rizwan Rahman, Director of the Center for Arab and African Studies had a word of praise for Awaz-the Voice' for its cooperation in organizing the conference. 

The seminar in progress

The editor-in-chief of ' Awaz-The Voice ' Atir Khan and his team present on this occasion were appreciated by the speakers.

Rizwan praised 'Awaz-the Voice Arabic for being the first comprehensive Arabic news website of its kind in India. He said that the news website was launched recently and had made an impact in a short time.

In his address, Professor Dr. Mujibur Rahman expressed happiness that the Center has taken many initiatives to serve the Arabic language and literature. Over the years the Center has organized many conferences and seminars. The Center even organized several online conferences during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mujib Al-Rahman said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has emerged over the last 50 years as a destination not only for Islam and Muslims but also for modern Arabic literature. “The Kingdom has hosted many global events and  efforts have been made to expand the Arabic language and Arab culture by taking initiative and this trend is continuing.”

Al-Sharif Muhammad Radhi Naja, Professor of Northern Frontier University in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in his keynote address, expressed his views on the current state of modern Arabic literature in poetry and prose in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

Atir Khan said that Indian-Arab relations have existed since pre-Islamic times. With time, relations have remained strong in various fields. He also said that the news website Awaz-The Voice has emerged as the best Arabic-language news website in India.

Among the dignitaries present on the occasion were Deputy Saudi Ambassador to India Zadi Nayef Al-Raqqas, Vice Chancellor of the University Prof. Dr. Deependra Nath Das, Acting Dean of the School of Language, Literature and Cultural Studies, Professor Dr. Akhlaq Ahan.

Many Arabic language professors and representatives of various colleges and universities in India also participated.

The academic sessions were co-chaired by Arabic language professors from various universities such as Jamia Millia Islamia University, Indira Gandhi National Open University, Delhi University, Zakir Hussain College, Aligarh Muslim University, Assam University, Guwahati University, Calicut.

Through this conference, a platform was provided to researchers, and academicians from India and Arab countries to discuss the latest developments in modern Saudi Arabic literature. The objective of the conference was to raise awareness about the importance of Saudi Arabian literature in the modern era and to promote the development of Saudi writers. 

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The objective was to present the works of A.K., to introduce him to his style and literary vision, and to discuss his contributions. The conference concluded with the reading of the recommendations by conference coordinator Dr. Jar Nagar.