Call to preserve Arabic manuscripts

MALAPPURAM: ASHRAF PADANNA

Scholars have urged the government, voluntary organizations and academia to evolve a comprehensive plan for preserving Arabic manuscripts.
The demand came in a resolution adopted at the end of the Fiesta Arabia, organized by Ma’din Academy which runs a number of religious and general educational institutions in the southern Indian state of Kerala, as part of the United Nations’ World Arabic Day celebrations here.
“In India, there are umpteen number of valuable manuscripts and collections of old documents in Arabic in Waqf institutions, Masjid libraries and in the collections of private individuals. But, it is sad that there is no facility for preserving, categorizing or publishing them,” it said.
Prof. K.V.Veeran Moideen (Kerala’s contributions to Arabic poetry), Dr. N. Abdul Jabbar (Impact of Arabic Language and Culture on the Development of Culture and Education in India), Dr. P. Ahmed Saeed (Influence of Arabic on Keralites), Dr. P.P. Abdul Latheef Faizi (Arabic Language studies in India) and Prof. Aboobacker (Translation of Arabic manuscripts in India)  presented papers on various topics related to Arabic language and literature at the event.
“The universities in the country should create more opportunities for comprehensive studies on manuscripts and it should be included in their syllabi so as to make people aware of in this regard,” the resolution said.