UAE National Library and Archives Delegation Visits Jamia Hamdard
A high-level delegation from the National Library and Archives of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) visited Jamia Hamdard yesterday to explore opportunities for academic, cultural and knowledge partnerships between the two institutions and to further strengthen the longstanding educational and cultural ties between India and the UAE.
The delegation comprised H.E. Dr. Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, Vice-Chairman, National Library and Archives, UAE; H.E. Dr. Abdulla Majed Al Ali, Director General, National Library and Archives, UAE; and Mr. Farhan Hasan Ali Hasan Al Marzooqi, Advisor, National Library and Archives, UAE. The delegation was accompanied by Professor Zikrur Rahman, Former Indian Ambassador and Founding Director, India Arab Cultural Centre, New Delhi.
The visit provided an opportunity for the distinguished delegation to acquaint itself with the academic environment, library facilities, collections and areas of cultural and historical significance at Jamia Hamdard. Particular attention was given to the rich manuscript and rare book collections of the HMS Central Library, which represent an important part of India’s intellectual and cultural heritage.
During the visit, the delegation held a meeting with the Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, Professor M. Z. Abdin, and senior officials of the University. Welcoming the delegation, Professor Abdin highlighted the close and longstanding relationship between Jamia Hamdard and institutions in the UAE. He expressed the hope that the visit would pave the way for closer institutional collaboration and meaningful exchanges in the areas of education, research, manuscripts, libraries, archives, digitisation and preservation of cultural heritage.
Professor M. Shahar Yar, Director, IQAC, Jamia Hamdard and Dr. Akhtar Parvez, University Librarian, Jamia Hamdard made presentations providing an overview of Jamia Hamdard and the HMS Central Library. The presentations highlighted the University’s academic profile, its library and information resources, and its significant collections of rare books and manuscripts, as well as ongoing initiatives for their preservation, digitisation and wider scholarly access.
The delegation also visited the Hamdard Archives and Research Centre and the HMS Central Library and had an opportunity to view its collections and facilities. Discussions during the visit focused on possible areas of cooperation, including manuscript preservation and digitisation, knowledge sharing, academic and scholarly exchanges, library and archival practices, and collaborative cultural initiatives.
The visit was marked by a shared recognition of the importance of preserving and promoting the rich intellectual heritage of India and the Arab world and of making such heritage accessible to scholars, researchers and future generations. The interaction also reaffirmed the potential for closer collaboration between Jamia Hamdard and the National Library and Archives of the UAE in areas of mutual academic and cultural interest.
The visit concluded on a positive note, with both sides expressing their interest in taking forward the discussions and exploring concrete avenues for institutional partnership in the future.
