Kozhikode: Calicut University Arabic department has received an unexpected gift from the United Arab Emirates.
Nasser al-Dhaheri, the award-winning author, journalist and photographer from Abu Dhabi, has gifted the department Rs 10 lakh worth of books. Recently the author was at Calicut University to attend an Arabic seminar. During that seminar, he promised the University he would donate books, thereby creating a vast library for the Arabic department. The books were purchased from the recently held Sharjah International Book Fair.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Arabic department head Dr. Moideenkutty A.B, said that the books touched a wide range of topics including language, literature, sports, research methodology etc. “Usually the donations to the Arabic department are mostly religious texts and connected books. However, according to Nasser al-Dhaheri, all kinds of books will help to promote knowledge and the books he donated are on various subjects. Over 90 percent of these books are in Arabic,” he said.
Nasser al-Dhaheri was here for an International Arabic seminar on India-Arab Literature with special focus on UAE literature.
“He even took one of our research scholars to Sharjah to select the books. Nasser al-Dhaheri said that these books are just the first installment! So we are hoping that more and more books will come to our library thereby strengthening our resources,” Dr Moideenkutty added.
The department is also planning to sign an agreement between the University and Nasser al-Dhaheri for further books.
“In the UGC NAAC assessment, the books will definitely help us to get more points. For UGC requirements, MoUs are important and we are trying to get the approval of the Syndicate for signing a MoU with Nasser al-Dhaheri for more books,” Arabic HOD said.
