photos: Ayman Barayez To commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, the Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture, Embassy of India, Cairo, organised a magnificent function last week at the Artistic Creativity Centre in the Cairo Opera House Complex. The event was graced by Director of the Cultural Development Fund Mohamed Abu Seada, Ambassador of India R Swaminathan, Turkish Ambassador to Egypt Huseyin Avni Botsali and his Chinese counterpart Song Aiguo, as well as Bangladeshi Ambassador Mizanur Rahman. Several foreign ambassadors, senior Egyptian officials, artists and media personalities attended the event. After introductory remarks by Director of the Indian Cultural Centre Suchitra Durai, and wife of the Indian ambassador, on Tagore and his multifaceted personality and his historic contribution to Indian literature and culture. The renowned Egyptian sociologist, economist and writer Galal Amin gave a captivating talk titled "Remembering Rabindranath" on his own personal recollections from Tagore's writings and its influence on him. This was followed by a melodious rendering of Rabindra sangeet (music composed by Tagore) by members of the Bangladeshi community in Egypt led by Qudsia Huda. Last Sunday, world renowned Nobel Laureate Ahmed Zewail paid a visit to Al-Ahram Establishment and met with Al-Ahram Chairman of the Board Labib El-Sebaai and Al-Ahram Editor-in- Chief Abdel-Azim Hammad at Mohamed Hassanein Heikal's Hall. During his visit, Zewail renewed his invitation for the foundation of 'City of Zewail for Science and Technology' in which 21 of international figures will participate in the funding of the project. Al-Ahram poet Farouk Gowaida ; Al-Ahram Weekly Editor-in-Chief Assem El-Kersh ; head of the Egyptian Writers' Union Mohamed Salmawy ; Al-Beit magazine Editor-in-Chief Silvia El-Naqadi and journalist and television presenter Ahmed El-Meslemani, head of the Political and Strategic Studies Centre Osama El-Ghazali Harb, Al-Dimocratiya (Democracy) magazine Editor-in-Chief Hala Mustafa were present. Culture Minister Emad Abu Ghazi, Korean Ambassador to Egypt Jong-Kon Yoon, and Chairman of the National Library and Archives Mohamed Saber Arab, inaugurated a "Window on Korea" at the General Authority for National Library and Archives in Bulaq, Cairo. Jong-Kon said Egypt was chosen to establish "Window on Korea ," the first project of its kind in the Arab and African regions. photo: Abdel-Hamid Eid The Egyptian Cinema Oscar Festival honoured an assembly of actors in its 32nd round including Ezzat El-Alaili, Mahmoud Yassin, Nabila Ebeid, filmmakers Dawoud Abdel-Sayed and Mohamed Abdel-Aziz. Among the attendees were head of the Cinema Production Committee of Media Production City Mamdouh El-Leithi.
