JEDDAH, 3 June 2006 — India’s Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh said yesterday that he was optimistic about India striking a close rapport with Saudi Arabia.
“I’m hopeful of close cooperation between the two civilizations and also between the two peoples at industry, trade and education levels,” he said at a luncheon hosted by the Consulate General of India in association with Saudi Indian Business Network at Crowne Plaza Hotel.
In the course of his visit to Riyadh and Jeddah, he said, he had noticed tremendous interest in the community to promote bilateral ties at all levels.
“I’m deeply impressed by the interest shown by NRIs here,” he said, referring to non-resident Indians.
“And education will primarily benefit from this, as education has always occupied a very crucial and central position in the history of India,” he said at a meeting organized by Urdu Academy at the International Indian School-Jeddah auditorium on Thursday night. He was hopeful that Urdu Academy’s proposal for observing India’s first Education Minister Abul Kalam Azad’s birth anniversary as “Education Day” would be given due consideration.
He pointed out that India’s ancient universities like Nalanda and Taxila attracted scholars from China and other countries. “And that tradition continues.”
Three of the most important Indian universities — Madras, Calcutta and Delhi — were established 150 years ago and they have greatly contributed to promoting higher education in the country. “We’ve decided that these universities should join hands and draw education plans in the 21st century,” he added.
