Recalling good old memories! Splendid exhibition on Qatar-India cultural ties inaugurated in Doha
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Doha, November 4: ‘Qatar, India and the Gulf: History, Culture and Society’ exhibition organised in Qatar is catching the eyes of the people from across the world. The exhibition, which is part of the activities of Qatar India 2019 Year of Culture, was inaugurated last week and will last for the next three months. It exhibits thousands of years of connections between India, Qatar and the Gulf.
The exhibition gives visitors an opportunity to learn about the history of relations between India, Qatar and the Gulf region through the exhibited and illustrated materials on different aspects of the two cultures. The visitor can explore the history of navigation between India and the Gulf, pictures of ancient dhows, and the history of trade between the two sides before the discovery of oil, along the Gulf exports to India. Through pictures and collections, the expo features the impact of cultural exchange and how an Indian Gulf community was formed with the spread of Islam in India as well as linguistic influence between the two sides. It also highlights the publication of some Arabic books in India, the most important of which is the poetry of Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani.
The ‘Qatar, India and the Gulf: History, Culture and Society’ has accounts that highlight Kashmiri shawls and teakwood from India, from where they were exported to the Gulf. The dhow industry has got a special mention at the exhibition, noting that it played a crucial role in enhancing India’s relations with Qatar and the Gulf.
“The exhibition is an attempt to make the younger generation aware of the long historic relations between the two regions and the ways in which these ties were developed. It will revive the good old days and further result in strengthening bilateral ties with Qatar,” said P. Kumaran, Indian ambassador to Qatar.
The exhibition features a collection of heritage library from Qatar library and from Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al-Thani Museum (FBQ Museum). It also presents digital materials from the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the British Library, the national gallery of paintings and the royal collections trust in London, the Middle East Centre Archive at Oxford University, the Louvre Museum in Paris, the National Museum of Art and History in Amsterdam and others.