Millennium anniversary of Ibn-e-Sina celebrated

Preston University and the Society of Asian Civilisations on Saturday jointly organised an international conference to observe the millennium anniversary of Abu Ali al Husain Ibn-e-Sina (980-1037), the foremost Islamic mathematician, philosopher and physician of Azerbaijan.
Ibn-e-Sina was one of the greatest intellectuals of his time. He is known mainly in Western world by the Latinised name of Avicenna. 'We gain power and spiritual strength by building and restoring the heritage of famous historical personalities because they are examples of scientific devotion and symbols of national pride, said Azeri Ambassador, Oybek Arif Usmanov, in his address as the chief guest at the symposium.
Abu Sina lived in Bukhara in the 11th century and gave science great treatise such as 'Al Kannun fi-tib' (The laws of medicine) and expanded the scientific knowledge that was available in medical science of his time, the ambassador added. Ambassador Usmanov observed that the Silk Road passing through Pakistan had played tremendous role in promoting the culture and sciences among the people.
Thus Ibn-e-Sina, a great scientist, with encyclopaedic knowledge has left mankind a heritage, and is a bridge linking the East and the West. The ambassador disclosed that the International Ibn-e-Sina Foundation of his country has established a scientific school to study cultural and scientific heritage of the scholar. This school has concentrated on the upbringing of children to keep them away from drug addiction and the devastating effect of HIV-AIDS.
Prominent scholars from Azerbaijan, Egypt and Pakistan will read papers at the conference which will be spread over two more working sessions, including the inaugural session.
Among those present at the dais was Professor Emeritus Ahmad Husain Dani, one of the foremost anthropologist and cultural historian. He did not speak in the function due to ill health. Later, Dr Dani spoke to Business Recorder, and remarked that whenever he went on a journey to the Central Asian Republics or Azerbaijan, he made it a point to visit the mausoleum of Ibn-e-Sina and offered Fateha.
Dani saw the symposium as an effort to bring the two peoples of Azerbaijan and Pakistan much closer and to share the knowledge of Muslim heritage to inspire them. Professor Tashmirza Khalmirzaev and Professor Ibrahim Ansaruddin, from Azerbaijan and Professor Nabeel Foli and Dr Ahmad Jod, from Egypt and Dr Muhammaed Hamid were leading speakers at the working sessions.
Professor Tashmirza Khalmirzaevm, who teaches Urdu up to Masters level class at the Institute of Oriental Studies at Tashkent University, started a conversation with Business Recorder where Dani had left it. He said that he is initiating Azeri students in the knowledge of Pakistan as well as Urdu. We celebrate Pakistan and Iqbal Day and encourage our children to recite poems of Iqbal and other literary giants of Urdu languages.
He said recently he had published a dictionary of Azer language in Urdu through the courtesy of National Language Authority of Pakistan. Preston University Vice-chancellor Anwar Hussain presented the welcome address at the international conference. He said the University has dedicated itself, in addition to higher learning, for organising conferences as a contributing endeavour to national development.
Later Z.A. Qureshi and Professor Razia Sultana gave a resume of the activities of the Society of Asian Civilisations. The inaugural ceremony concluded with the presentation of University's shield to Azerbaijan Ambassador Oybek Arif Osman, who reciprocated by giving a gift of the book 'Investment for the Future'. The book has been written by Ambassador Osman.