Saudi Arabian Govt to help KU digitalize Arabic manuscripts

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Dr. Ebraheem M. Al-Batshan, Cultural Attaché of Saudi Arabian Embassy offered help from the Saudi Arabian Government to the library for procuring and digitizing Arabic manuscripts available in Kashmir. Dr. Ebraheem was speaking at two-day national seminar on “Contribution of Kashmir to Arabic Language and Literature” organized by the department of Arabic, University of Kashmir which concluded here today . Dr. Ebraheem said he was impressed with the arrangements and facilities of the library and showed keen interest in the manuscripts preserved in the Kashmir University Allama Iqbal Library. The chief guest said that he was impressed by the research papers of Kashmiri Arabic scholars and looked forward to their contribution in Arabic in future as well. In his presidential address Prof A.R Yousuf Dean Academic Affairs said that Kashmiri scholars have made tremendous contribution to the Arabic literature and the department of Arabic at Kashmir University is keeping this tradition alive by promoting scholarship in true sense. . He congratulated the department for organizing the seminar on such an important theme and assured all the help from administration in future endeavors. The seminar aimed at highlighting the development of Arabic language in Kashmir and focused on the contributions made by Kashmiri scholars to it was earlier inaugured by Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Riyaz Punjabi. The departmental annual journal “Journal of Arabic Studies” and other publications were released by the Vice-Chancellor and the chief guest at the inaugural session . The chief guest from Saudi Arabia very keenly attended the deliberations of the seminar and appreciated the presentations. The Head, Department of Arabic, Pz. Basheer Ahmad welcomed the guests , and lso presented a brief report of the activities of the department. He said that he is happy with the overwhelming response of the scholars in the conference. Dr. Shad Hussain faculty member of the department and organising secretary of the seminar who conducted the proceedings for all days described the seminar outcome as successful and said that the deliberations will be published in the form of a book . Dr Shad said that in all five technical sessions where held and 25 papers on different aspects of the theme related to Contribution of Kashmir to Arabic Language and Literature” were presented by scholars from within and outside the state. The presentations evoked lively discussions on the subject and all participants were unanimous that there was great contribution of Kashmir Arabic scholars to the Arabic language and literature .

The department of Arabic and the Saudi Arabian Embassy are likely to sign some Memoranda of understanding in near future which will help for better collaborations and student exchange programmes between the various universities in Saudi Arabia and Kashmir University.

PRESIDENT OF INDIA HONOURS KU INNOVATOR

Mushtaq Ahmad Dar, an innovator from Anantnag South Kashmir was awarded the first prize in State category by the President of India Smt. Pratiba Devisingh Patil for his innovations entitled 'Walnut Cracker Machine' and 'Tree/Pole climber which he had designed with the help of University of Kashmir. He received a memento, certificate and Rs. 25000 cash from the President of India. It is pertinent to mention that Mushtaq's innovations were developed and value added at University Instrumentation centre (USIC), University of Kashmir. The Tree Climber being manufactured by India Innovatix Ltd., Ahmadabad, will soon be launched in Power Development Departments of all the States including Jammu & Kashmir. Mr. Fayaz Ahmad, Collaborator GIAN Cell, University of Kashmir, was also awarded 3rd prize among media awards. He received a memento, certificate and Rs. 15000 cash from Dr. R. A. Mashelkar, Chairman NIF. The award was given to him at the Fifth 'Biennial Grassroots Technological Innovations and Traditional Knowledge Award Function' organized by National Innovation Foundation (NIF) at Dr. B. P. Paul Auditorium, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) Pusa, New Delhi. President of India Smt. Pratiba Devi Singh Patil gave away the awards to the winners. The award function was organized to honour and encourage grassroot innovators across the country. A total of 72 awards were given in 5 categories for Engineering, transport, energy, Agriculture and herbal practice related technologies. About 37000 practices/innovations and ideas from 31 States/Union trritories of India received for the award competition were screened by the Research Advisory Committee (RAC) of NIF. The RAC constitutes of Heads of the top R&D institutes of the country, Vice-Chancellors of various Universities and experts from Engg., Agriculture and Veterinary Colleges from all parts of India. Prof. G. Mohi-ud-din Bhat, Director USIC, University of Kashmir, and a member of the RAC, said that it was a challenge for the RAC to choose 72 winners out of 32000 participants. The winners were selected after a rigorous screening of the short listed innovations and the whole process took more than two years to finalize the list of awardees.