Promises To Donate Original Manuscripts Of Rare Documents To Egyptian National Archives
His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, today pledged to rebuild the Scientific Complex in Cairo that was partially destroyed by fire during the recent riots.
His Highness also pledged to donate rare manuscripts, maps, and a book titled “Describing Egypt” to the National Archives of Egypt that were burnt earlier this week during the riots.
The announcements came during His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan’s address on Dream 2 TV Channel last night, when he expressed his anguish on the riots in Egypt and the subsequent damage to national monuments of global standing.
His Highness added: “The Scientific Complex and the National Archives are monuments that represent the cultural heritage of Egypt. They serve to play an important part not just in chronicling the country’s rich history, but also as a rich resource of information for generations to come. It is our responsibility to restore these pillars of knowledge to their former glory.
“The gesture to rebuild the Scientific Complex and donate original manuscripts from my personal library is in acknowledgement of the relationship Sharjah has shared with Egypt. I recall a visit of an Egyptian delegation in 1954 that helped us lay the foundations of higher learning in Sharjah. Our gratitude for that knowledge exchange cannot be quantified. We also cannot forget Egypt’s crucial support to Kuwait during the 1991 Gulf War. Through our offer to rebuild and restore the country’s monuments, we hope to express our appreciation for the continued synergy we share.”
During his interview, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi offered insight into the documents that have been destroyed in last week’s fire. These include the original manuscripts of journals that were printed in 1860 as well as maps from the private collection of Prince Youssef Kamal, a descendant of Mohamed Ali of the Ottoman dynasty. The rarity of the books is authenticated by the fact that a portion of them are only found in the Madrid National Library in Spain.
His Highness said: “I have authorized a team to draw up a list of books that were destroyed. During the period that the complex is getting restored, I will make sure that these books are sourced from my Grand Library and donated to the Egyptian archives. I have also directed a team to ensure that no books in the archives are exposed to pilferage and are kept in safe hands. Work on the restoration of the Scientific Complex is anticipated to be completed early next year.”
The Egyptian government has granted land behind the Scientific Complex in Ain El Sira that will be used for the construction of a resource house for stocking parliamentary and municipal documents in safe custody.
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