Young Saudis come to India to narrow cultural divide

ejazr

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Young Saudis in India to narrow cultural divide - Arab News





Former president of India and world-renowned nuclear scientist A.P.J. Abdul Kalam congratulated Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah on his initiative to achieve world peace through promoting dialogue among followers of various religions and cultures.

"King Abdullah is a great man and the entire world has great respect and appreciation for him," he said.

Abdul Kalam was delivering an advanced scientific lecture on stem cells on Thursday at the grand conference hall of the Indian School of Business (ISB) in Hyderabad, capital of the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

Several prominent figures, including Ajit Rangnekar, dean of ISB, Yousuf bin Trad Al-Saadoon, undersecretary for economic and cultural affairs at the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and several leading scientists and experts in stem cell research attended the function, held as part of the Saudi-Indian Youth Forum.

In his opening speech at the session, Ajit Rangnekar welcomed the Saudi youths attending the forum and expressed his delight at their academic and scientific standards. "Saudi Arabia is a peace loving country, and the Saudi youths act as messengers of peace for King Abdullah's interfaith initiative," he said.

Al-Saadoon, who led the Saudi youth delegation, thanked Abdul Kalam and conveyed to him King Abdullah's greetings and appreciation. He said the Saudi delegation's visit comes within the framework of establishing cultural, educational and humanitarian bridges with nations of the world in line with the principles of the Islamic faith.

The visit aims to enable Saudi youths to convey a message of peace and love to all peace-loving people in the world. The delegation is comprised of 26 young Saudi men and women students from all regions of the Kingdom.

On his part, Atul Negi, professor of the University of Hyderabad and supervisor of the Indian youth delegation attending the forum, described King Abdullah's dialogue initiative as a call for global peace.

"The initiative involves a number of issues that are of concern for both Saudi and Indian youths. It is considered as one of the best means for mutual understanding and exchange of knowledge and culture in addition to offering appropriate solutions," Negi said in his speech.

Hamid Ali Rao, India's ambassador to the Kingdom, said the idea of the Saudi-Indian Youth Forum is aimed at promoting better understanding, fostering enduring friendships and exchanging experiences and information between youths in the two countries.

In a statement to Saudi Press Agency, he said: "This visit is sponsored by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs in coordination with the Indian Foreign Ministry within the framework of King Abdullah's initiative for dialogue between the followers of cultures, civilizations and religions," he said.

While welcoming the delegation to India, the ambassador said the Saudi youths would interact with their counterparts in India.

"The objective of the visit is to further promote growing Saudi-Indian relations and benefit from the Indian experience in the field of communications and information technology. It is hoped that the activities of the forum will provide an opportunity for young Saudis to interact with their Indian counterparts and outline common ideas and perceptions," he said.

The theme of the visit is communications and information technology and taking advantage of it in the economic and social welfare areas. The forum is the fourth in a series, three of which were conducted earlier in China, Brazil and Germany. The delegation is visiting three premier Indian cities of Hyderabad and Bangalore, which are major IT hubs, in addition to the capital city of New Delhi where its members will tour IT and communication facilities, academic and technological institutions, research centers and places of cultural and historical importance.

As part of the forum, Al-Saadoon said there would be dialogue and debate sessions focusing on the latest trends and developments in the field of technology and how to utilize technology to confront current challenges.

At the conclusion of the forum, the youths will send a message to King Abdullah, Indian President Pratibha Patil and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon outlining their hopes, aspirations and recommendations to promote youth contributions, he added.

The Saudi team arrived in Bangalore, the second stop in their three-city tour, yesterday evening.
 

ejazr

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Just some follow up news on this youth visit

Saudi youth visit Indian satellite centre

A 40-member youth delegation from Saudi Arabia, led by the kingdom's Deputy Foreign Minister Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah visited the satellite centre of the state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) here Monday.

The delegation, comprising 34 students from secondary schools to college level and six media personnel, were briefed about the highlights of the Indian space programme and applications over the past five decades. "The Saudi youth evinced keen interest in the activities of the Indian space agency and participated in a lively inter-action with a team of scientists on the occasion," a senior ISRO official told IANS here.

The delegation was also taken on a tour of the facilities and the permanent exhibition displaying the various models of satellites and launch vehicles. The youth are on a 10-day visit to India since March 22 to promote bilateral relations in the field of science and technology and for a firsthand account of the developments made by Indian institutes and universities.

The Saudi ministry of foreign affairs organised the forum's visit to Hyderabad, Bangalore and New Delhi. "The objective is to promote growing Saudi, Indian relations and benefit from the Indian experience in the field of information and communication technology. The forum hopes to enable the youth to learn from other cultures as well as foster friendly relations between Saudi and the Indian youth," Saudi embassy official Badr Algarni said in a statement on the eve of their visit.

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India's technological progress impresses Saudi delegation



A 40-member Saudi youth delegation visited the charitable Narayana Cardiac Hospital and Indian Space Research Organization here Monday and talked to the hospital's doctors and senior ISRO officials.

A spokesman for Narayana said the Saudi government is seeking the hospital's help in setting up a telemedicine center in Riyadh to provide remote health care to its citizens.

As a pioneer in using telecommunications and information technology to provide clinical health care remotely, the privately-run super-specialty cardiac hospital uses telemedicine to administer affordable medical treatment in distant areas.

"Exposure to the working of telemedicine at our facility and its multiple benefits impressed the medical students in the delegation who discussed its operation with our chairman Devi Prasad Shetty during an interactive session," the official said.

The youth delegation also went around the hospital's sprawling health city and saw firsthand its pediatric facility where children, including infants, are treated for cardiac ailments.

"At the pediatric ward, the Saudi youths interacted with doctors, house surgeons, nurses and some young patients and enquired about the facilities and the nature of treatment for heart ailments," the spokesman said.

The delegation is on a 10-day visit to India which started on March 22 to promote bilateral relations in the field of science and technology and for a firsthand account of the developments made by Indian institutes and universities.

Dr. Yousuf Al-Saadoun, undersecretary at the Foreign Ministry for economic and cultural affairs and head of the delegation, said Narayana Hrudayalaya was selected for the visit to make delegates aware of the blessing of health and how poor heart patients are given treatment there free of charge.

At ISRO the delegation, comprising 34 students from secondary schools to college level and six members of the media, were briefed about the highlights of the Indian space program and applications over the past five decades.

"The Saudi youth evinced a keen interest in the activities of the Indian space agency and participated in a lively interaction with a team of scientists on the occasion," said a senior ISRO official.

The delegation was also taken on a tour of the facilities and the permanent exhibition displaying the various models of satellites and launch vehicles.

R.S. Bhatia, group head for planning and development at ISRO, said his organization has started cooperating with King Abdulaziz City of Science and Technology in Riyadh.

"There are 13,000 workers at ISRO, and about 80 percent of them are specialized scientists," Bhatia said, adding India has launched 65 satellites for various purposes.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized the team's visit to Hyderabad, Bangalore and New Delhi.

"The objective is to promote Saudi-Indian relations and benefit from the Indian experience in the field of information and communication technology," said Saudi Embassy official Badr Algarni. The program aims to enable youths to learn from other cultures and foster friendly relations between Saudis and Indians.
 

ejazr

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The MEA did a feature on the Saudi visit in their last months India's Perspectives magazine
MEA ::Incredible India charms Saudi Youth



They love Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai. Bollywood and Indian food rule their hearts. And equally fascinated are they by the monuments, culture and India's new success story, the IT industry. The group of 26 students from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who were on a 10-day visit to India for the Saudi-Indian Youth Forum, relished each and every moment of their India trip.

Alanoud K. Bin Khuthaila, a graduate from medical school, was in for a surprise when she landed in India. Advised by friends and family to take vaccines and medicines to save herself from dreadful diseases in India, and told about the poor sanitation facilities, Alanoud was worried about her trip. But her fears were put to rest the moment she landed – India was nothing like what she had been made to believe by people who had visited decades ago. "I was impressed by how developed India is. Both Bangalore and Hyderabad and now Delhi are so green. The buildings, both new and old, are amazing. But more importantly, the people are so warm and nice," she gushes. Waad Saud Al Dossary, a first year student of Law, agrees and says, "It's a new world. India is another world. I was told that we will see only poor people everywhere but that's not been the case. I have just loved everything here."

After an informative trip to IT hubs Bangalore and Hyderabad, where they visited among others, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and telemedicine centre at Dr Devi Shetty's Narayana Hrudayalaya hospital, Delhi was their last stop. At the concluding session of the forum, they got an opportunity to interact with India's Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed. The youth delegation from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and India jointly presented their visions and proposals aimed at bolstering bilateral relations with a special focus on encouraging cooperation in the fields of communications and IT. Both sides have also proposed joint solutions in science, medicine and technology fields, especially making available medical services to remote regions with the help of advanced technology and e-health services.

In a letter to the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon, one of the representatives of the youth delegation said, "Our language is the future. We want to utilize today's technology to improve lives."

That's something Mohamed Awad Al-Qahtani, an Information Systems student, sincerely would like to do. "If we can use the technology available and improve the poor people's lives, we can do our bit to make this world a better place," he says. His most memorable moment during the trip was a glance at former president APJ Abdul Kalam, he says with a wide smile.

Kholoud K.Ben Bakr, an Information Systems student, believes that the amazing education that Indian students receive will go a long way in making India shine. "That apart, I am left amazed by the harmony which exists despite so many religions here," she says, before rattling of all the Shah Rukh Khan movies that she has seen. Among them, she says, 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' remains her favourite.

Albara Mohammed Al Ohali, a software engineering graduate who now works with Google in Dubai, summed up his and fellow students' experience. "Incredible India!"
 

ejazr

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And the recently held Saudi-Indian Youth forum event held in Riyadh that happened on Thursday


Saudi-Indian Youth Forum's achievements highlighted - Arab News

Riyadh: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized at its headquarters in Riyadh the closing event of Saudi-Indian Youth Forum on Thursday.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Nizar Madani, Undersecretary for Economic and Cultural Affairs at the ministry Yusuf Al-Saadoun, head the Saudi delegation to the forum, and Indian Ambassador to the Kingdom Hamid Ali Rao attended the ceremony. It wound up this year's series of forums held in three premier Indian cities in March. Members of the 26-member Saudi youth delegation to the fora also attended the event.

The forum were in held on March 23-31 in the light of the historic initiative taken by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to achieve world peace through promoting dialogue among followers of various religions and cultures. The theme of this year's forum — which was the fourth in a series, three of which were conducted earlier in China, Brazil and Germany — was communications and information technology and taking advantage of it in economic and social welfare areas.

Madani highlighted the significance of holding youth forums with the aim of promoting the message of peace, brotherhood and dialogue among the younger generation in the Kingdom and other countries in the world as well.

Al-Saadoun appreciated the active participation and fruitful interaction of young Saudi men and women with their Indian counterparts. He lauded the delegation members for their excellent performance and top level of standard while representing the Kingdom in the largest democracy in the world. Al-Saadoun thanked all those who contributed to making the forum a resounding success.

A video show highlighted the forum's activities as well as the impressions of the Saudi delegates during their visit to the IT hubs of Hyderabad and Bangalore as well as New Delhi. On behalf of the delegates, Muhannid Dawood presented a comprehensive report about the activities of the forums held earlier in response to the interfaith initiative of King Abdullah. The report also contained extensive coverage of the delegation's visit to India, its meeting with Indian leaders and IT experts, and tour of leading institutes in the IT, science and medical fields.

Dawood also drew attention to the joint message issued by the youth delegations in which they commended leaders of India and Saudi Arabia, besides presenting their visions and proposals aimed at bolstering bilateral relations with a special focus on boosting cooperation in the fields of communications and IT and exchange of knowledge and expertise on youth-related issues. The youth forum had also issued a second message addressed to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon in which they outlined their hopes, aspirations and recommendations to promote youth contributions as well as their call for achieving world peace.

Mazen Darab, another delegate, spoke about the Saudi e-trade portal initiative called Kawthar.com to make available basic needs for needy people across the world. Maya Al-Dosari, another delegate, briefed the delegates on a telemedicine initiative.

The Saudi delegation, consisting of students, media persons and youths from different walks of life, interacted with prominent Indian figures, including former President and world-renowned nuclear scientist A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, as well as ministers, senior officials and executives especially in the fields of communication and IT. The team, which began its tour on March 22, visited three cities as part of promoting interactions in the field of science and technology.
 

ejazr

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Here is a video about the trip taken by Saudi youth forum to Hyderabad, Bangalore and Delhi. It is an interesting 20+ minute clip that is the first of its kind done with any other country by the Saudis.

 
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ajtr

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Narrow cultural divide or to spread wahabbism?take you own pick.
 

ejazr

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@ajtr,

Please contribute to threads rather than one liners that you are doing all over the forum. Have you watched the entire video that I posted above. Its a 24+ minute video and you have just made a comment after 3 minutes.

If you want people to take you seriously, then please contribute seriously as well.
 

Godless-Kafir

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I watched the whole documentary, it was nice to see such exchanges and no imposition of opinions on each other.
 

Singh

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Normal Saudis are generally awesome people. Its the very rich islamists who are an issue.
 

vayu

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Excellent video.
Here is a video about the trip taken by Saudi youth forum to Hyderabad, Bangalore and Delhi. It is an interesting 20+ minute clip that is the first of its kind done with any other country by the Saudis.

 
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