Discussing story of Qatar’s founder

By Anand HollaStaff ReporterIt’s the inspirational story of a tireless visionary who founded a nation that has been constantly attaining new heights in prosperity and progress. Sheikh Mohamed A J al-Thani’s insightful book Jassim the Leader: Founder of Qatar warrants greater awareness, and is therefore, rightly the subject of a book discussion by Qatar National Library (QNL), next month.Open to all, the book discussion on “a little-known story of the creator of the modern state of Qatar” – to be conducted in English – will be held from 6.30pm to 8pm on October 14 at the TV Room, HBKU Student Center, Education City.QNL says, “This book talks about the extraordinary life of Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed bin Thani, the leader and the founder of Qatar. The book describes how Sheikh Jassim was able to unify the tribes, control the regional conflicts and establish a consolidate state in Qatar. It also sheds light on Qatar’s history from the foundation to the present time, being a unique country with the world’s highest GDP per capita.”Qatar’s former Minister of Economy and Commerce, Sheikh Mohamed A J al-Thani’s compelling biography of his grandfather, the celebrated founder of modern-day Qatar, is about sacrifice, hardships and the courage of a true leader. Launched two years ago, this was al-Thani’s second book after The Arab Spring and The Gulf States: Time to Embrace Change – an in-depth study of the region’s demography, security and provision of food and water.A note to the book says, “Qatar in the 1830s was a fragmented region, a desert peninsula without security or borders, where coastal communities depended on pearling for survival, while constantly at the mercy of tribal raiders. Sheikh Jassim’s background in this precarious environment led to his understanding that the gap between tribal settled peoples must be bridged, and then to his harnessing of regional conflicts to create a unified Qatari state. Skilfully allying with Ottoman forces to fend off the British, Jassim established power in the newly rebuilt capital, Doha, eventually becoming the first leader of the new country.”The note further adds, “Little known outside Qatar, Sheikh Jassim’s extraordinary achievement cannot be understated. By the time of his death on the eve of the First World War, both the Ottomans and the British had recognised Qatar’s autonomy, and the way was open for the country he had created to move steadily forward to its enviable economic position today.”During the launch of the book in September 2013, Sheikh Mohamed al-Thani had pointed out that besides being courageous and persistent, Jassim had a genuine affection for the Arab people and went to villages and performed various charity works in different places. “He was instrumental to our independence and it is my pleasure to share his great story with the wider public,” Sheikh Mohamed al-Thani had then told Gulf Times, dedicating the book to his father who told him the story when he was a little kid.On December 18 every year, Qatar celebrates its National Day in commemoration of Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani.