Among the universities represented were: Princeton University, the University of Manchester, the Lebanese American University, Notre Dame University, Lebanon, Arab International University, Damascus, and the University of Sydney, and the University of Adelaide, Australia.
This conference celebrated the achievement of the leading Lebanese Arab-American intellectual and man of letters, Ameen Rihani. It highlighted the relevance of his original ideas to our times. The conference provided a shift away from the barren paradigms of the “clash of civilizations” by focusing on Rihani’s positive contributions, particularly in the context of cultural relations, and mutual understanding between peoples and cultures. This conference inaugurated a worldwide series of cultural activities to celebrate the centenary of The Rihani Essays Ar-Rihaniyyaat (first published in Arabic in 1910), and The Book of Khalid (1911), the first English language novel ever written by an Arab author.
The conference highlighted Rihani’s contribution and the contemporary significance of his prolific writings (Arabic and English) particularly in initiating joint perceptions between the Arab world and the West.
Over 15 scholars participated in the conference including professors of Middle Eastern Studies, Modern Arabic Literature, Modern English-American Literature, History, Political Science, and Social Sciences; among the major speakers were:
Samer Akkash, Middle Eastern Studies at Adelaide University, Australia, highlighted the fact that Rihani stood out as a visionary thinker who attempted to transcend the religious divide in order to emphasize the common purpose of Arab enlightenment.
Safdar Ahmad, Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Sydney, drew parallels between Rihani and Mohammad Iqbal, the Indian poet and philosopher. The paper sorted out similar themes including the spirituality of the East and the materialism of the West.
Fadia Alshehri, translation studies, University of Sydney, discussed the translations methodologies she experienced in translating selected Rihani texts from Arabic and English.
Youssef Choueiri, modern Middle Eastern History, University of Manchester, UK, confirmed that Rihani’s vision of the world went far beyond bridging East and West, by blending diverse cultures into a new synthesis that construct a new civilization.
Nuwar Mawlawi Diab, linguistics and English literature, Lebanese American University, emphasized Rihani’s call for religious tolerance in order to reject dogmas and accept what the mind deems logical and convincing. With tolerance Rihani hoped to overcome ignorance, and fanaticism.
Todd Fine, social research studies, Princeton University, demonstrated that The Book of Khalid represents the Arab dynamic contribution to the American heritage, and considers that Arab American relationships are not but a loving platform for cultural synthesis.
Nijmeh Hajjar, Chair of the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Sydney, elaborated the writings of Rihani on the role of intellectuals focusing on history and education as forces for social and political change. She considers that Rihani was a champion of revolutionary change.
Vrasidas Karalis, modern Greek literature, University of Sydney, addressed Rihani’s experience of making his text a space of convergence and divergence, a space of semantic collision that leads to new meaning and new articulation. Karalis compares between Rihani and Tagore in creating a new Oriental modernity.
Ali Mahafzah, modern Arabic history, University of Jordan, focused on the social and political reform as well as on modernity in Rihani’s works, with the objectives of creating an Arab national awareness in all the regions of the Arab World during the early four decades of the twentieth century.
Naji Oueijan, English literature, Notre Dame University, Lebanon, discussed the poetic art in the book Ar-Rihaniyyaat explaining the significance of Rihani’s approach to the “Spirit of Language”. The paper presented Rihani’s critical views of poetry emphasizing the intellectual connection between poetry and nature, and poetry and society.
Ahmad Should, Honorary Associate of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Sydney, presented Rihani as a pioneer in supporting the Palestinian rights, peace, and justice in the Holy Land. The paper discussed Rihani’s humanist vision for Palestine. Two decades before 1948 Rihani foresaw and warned against the looming catastrophe (nakba) in the holy land and appealed to the world to take heed.
Ameen Albert Rihani, vice president for Academic Affairs at Notre Dame University, Lebanon, analyzed major thoughts in Ar-Rihaniyyaat such as “The Great City”, “The Most Exalted Prophet”, “In the Spring of Despair”, “”Trinities”, and “The Spirit of Language”. These thoughts have their roots in other Rihani works in English and Arabic.
The proceedings of the conference will be published during 2011, the year of the centennial of The Book of Khalid and after one year of the centennial of Ar-Rihaniyyaat.