Exhibition at QNL sheds light on Qatar-India relations

The ongoing ‘Qatar, India and the Gulf: History, Culture and Society’ exhibition at Qatar National Library (QNL) explores thousands of years of connections between India, Qatar and the Gulf region.
The event was opened at the library on Thursday and forms part of the ongoing Qatar-India 2019 Year of Culture.
The exhibition envisages commercial, political and trade ties along with linguistic similarities. It also highlights relations in terms of cuisine.
Further, 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 opening ceremony included talks by Dr Sohair Wastawy, executive director, Qatar National Library; P Kumaran, Indian ambassador to Qatar; Aisha al-Attiya, head of Years of Culture at Qatar Museums; Kees Wieringa, director, Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum; and Dr James Onley, director, Historical Research and Partnerships at the library.
“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,” Kumaran told Gulf Times.
The Indian envoy stressed that the Qatar-India 2019 Year of Culture has been a fruitful initiative as it has opened new avenues of co-operation in various sectors. He added that several events are on the list and they will be held across Qatar.
Guests were treated to a musical performance by members of Qatar’s Mappila community from the Indian state of Kerala.
Sulaiman Rashed, a library visitor who attended the opening ceremony, said: “The content of the exhibition is very interesting because it highlights ties and cultural similarities between the people of Qatar and India. Everyone in Qatar, especially youth interested in the country’s history, should find this exhibition very informative.”
Rajan Ismael, another visitor to the exhibition, added: “It is fascinating to open this exhibition at the library, a place that welcomes people from all nationalities, backgrounds and interests. It is the best setting to learn about the historical relations between India and Qatar, and the cultural wealth of both nations.”
The exhibition runs until February 2020.