| Rokiah Mahmud |
THE Indian High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam Nagma M Mallick yesterday presented 38 pieces of Islamic calligraphy to Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) in a ceremony.
The donated artworks are enlarged photographic reproductions of original artworks from the Rampur Raza Library in India, which has a repository of over 300 rare works of calligraphy, miniatures and manuscripts.
In her speech, the high commissioner said that the contribution was a “privilege, as the magnificent artworks display a union of creativity, artistic ability and piety – one aspect of the shared cultural heritage between India and Brunei Darussalam.
“We first displayed these artworks at the Exhibition of Islamic Calligraphy, which we hosted at the Malay Technology Museum in November 2017. This is a gift from the government and people of India, for the students of UNISSA to enjoy. It is a gesture of friendship from our government to the Government of Brunei Darussalam.”
Rector of UNISSA Dr Haji Norarfan bin Haji Zainal, meanwhile said that the university was both honoured and “delighted to have been chosen to host the works”.
“The close relationship between Brunei Darussalam and India has thrived, especially over the recent years. UNISSA has established memorandums of agreement with six higher education institutions in India, five of which were signed in February this year during our visit to India and made possible by the kind hospitality of the Government of India.”
Dr Haji Norarfan then touched on the mutual exchange programmes between the two countries. “Our students have also been granted the learning opportunity to visit India last January and May, when they participated in the ASEAN-India Students’ Exchange Programme,” he said.
“This September, we will welcome the Vice-Chancellor of Hyderabad’s Nalsar University of Law Professor Dr Faizan Mustafa to join us in celebrating the upcoming convocation, and to deliver a special lecture for our students in the Faculty of Syariah and Law.
“UNISSA is also pleased to have hosted our friends from India. Our first student from India successfully graduated last year, with a PhD in Usuluddin; and currently, UNISSA is home to two professors from India – in our Faculty of Syariah and Law, and the Faculty of Arabic Language.”