THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: UAE Supreme Council member and Sharjah ruler Sheikh Sultan Bin Muhammed Al Qasimi has offered to set up an unit of the international driving training centre in Sharjah, in Kerala, offering international driving licences. In an interactive session following a lecture on ‘Sultan and Archives’ here on Tuesday, the Sharjah ruler also offered to have tie-ups with universities in Kerala for sharing the rich archives collection of Sharjah. “Information should be for everyone. One should not be miserly in sharing information. I am ready to share my archives with any univesity in Kerala,” said Mr Al Qasimi in reply to a query by a history student. Throughout his lecture Al Qasimi, who is also a historian, academician and author, also recollected the efforts he had taken in collecting archives.
During the interaction, he also offered to start a technical institute in Kerala to impart various vocational skills, apart from the driving institute. The technical institute could impart training in skills like carpentry and mechanics. The proposed driving institute could help persons take international driving licence from here before going abroad. Education minister C. Raveendranath, Local Self Government minister K.T. Jaleel and Chief Secretary K.M. Abraham were present. “We will be back to Kerala in an year to celebrate realisation of some of promises I gave during present visit,” said Al Qasimi as his official functions ended. He will reach Kochi on personal visit hosted by NRI businessman Yusuff Ali and will leave the state.
D.Litt honour for Mohanlal, Usha
Though it lost a chance to host the Emir of Sharjah as part of the D.Litt award ceremony due to various issues, Calicut University would host the next D.Litt award ceremony in its main campus at Thenji-ppalam in November. Actor Mohanlal and athlete P.T. Usha would receive the D.Litt degree from Kerala Governor, if everything goes well. The university is waiting for Governor’s approval for the date for going ahead with the ceremony.
It was in December, 2014, the Calicut University Senate decided to award D.Litt to P.T Usha along with Sachin Tendulkar, Mohanlal, E. Sreedharan and Emir of Sharjah Sheikh Sultan III bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi. E. Sreedharan reportedly refused the award over personal issues and Sachin Tendulkar too informed his inconvenience in accepting the award. Though the university made elaborate arrangements for hosting the Emir for the award ceremony, it was cancelled due to Vengara by-election code of conduct, security issues due to the lack of compound wall and Governor’s inconvenience.
“We are planning to conduct the ceremony for Mohanlal and P.T. Usha in the main campus in a grand way after Governor’s approval,” said a University official.Meanwhile, during a talk on archives, Emir of Sharjah Sheikh Sultan III bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi announced that the Sharjah government will aid in establishing a archives centre in a state university. Calicut University is planning to act early by submitting project soon.
