RIYADH, 20 October 2006 — Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to India, Saleh Al-Ghamdi, was the guest of honor at a celebration held by the Aligarh Muslim University on Tuesday to mark the university's establishment by its founder Sir Syed Ahmed Khan.
"The ambassador thanked the Vice-Chancellor of the University Naseem Ahmed for inviting him to participate in Sir Syed celebration. He noted the role played by the university in educating the Muslim community in India," said a Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in New Delhi statement that was sent to Arab News.
He also mentioned the visit by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to the university during his historic visit to India in January. The visit opened new areas of cooperation between India and the Kingdom. During his visit, the university awarded King Abdullah an honorary doctorate for his numerous efforts to unite the Islamic world. He also recalled the historic visit made by the first Saudi head of state to the university in 1955 when King Saud visited the university. He was given an honorary doctorate in law.
In his address to the faculty members of the school, King Abdullah pointed out the importance of practicing a "tolerant Islam." He also said that Islam's image should not be tarnished by a group of extremists who have hijacked it from its principles.
King Abdullah had also announced 500 scholarships for Saudi students to pursue higher studies in India during a meeting with India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi. Saudi Higher Education Minister Dr. Khaled Al-Anqari is expected to visit India on Nov. 6 to discuss with Indian officials the special scholarship program.
Al-Ghamdi had earlier attended the inauguration of the first Saudi school in New Delhi along with the Indian Minister of Human Resource Development Arjun Singh on Sept.21. The school, which is Saudi owned and managed, will mainly enroll sons and daughters of Saudi and Arab diplomats, besides children of Arabs working and living in India.
Aligarh Muslim University is one of the oldest and largest universities in India where 28,000 students from India and a number of other countries pursue their studies. The Sir Syed Day function is an annual event marked by the university to celebrate its establishment by its founder in the mid 19th century. The event is attended every year by prominent Muslim personalities, as well as students and members of faculties. The first Indian Prime Minister the late Jawaharlal Nehru was the first to attend this function as chief guest after India got its independence in 1947.
