India Arab Cultural Centre (IACC), Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), organized a Special Lecture on Egypt: Society and Culture as I saw” on September 10, 2026 at 2:30 pm in the Conference Hall of IACC. Dr. Khalid Raza, Associate Professor, Deptt. Of Computer Science, Jamia Millia Islamia and ICCR Chair visiting Professor (2017-18) to Ain Shams University Cairo delivered the lecture. Dr. Ayat Saad Ahmed, Head of Educational and Cultural Bureau at the Embassy of Egypt in New Delhi chaired the event. Dr. Md. Aftab Ahmad, Director of the Centre moderated the lecture.
Welcoming the speaker and the guests, Dr. Ahmad introduced the theme and highlighted Egypt as not only a land of ancient monuments and historical treasures but also as a country with a vibrant modern society. He explored that Egypt is widely known for its pyramids, temples, tombs, films, dances and the River Nile. Dr. Khalid Raza as a speaker of the session shared his experiences of teaching Egyptian students and interacting with locals in markets and cafes testing their food habits and cuisines, vesting monuments, ports and social gatherings etc.
The speaker explored that the culture can understood by experiencing more the doing studies. He also explored that family plays an important role in Egyptian culture, and respect for elders and strong family relationships are highly valued. The speaker also described the warmth and hospitality of Egyptian people along with the traditional foods such as Koshari, Ful Medames, and various breads and desserts as examples of Egypt’s distinctive culinary culture.
Dr. Ayat Saad Ahmad as the chair of the event highlighted that Egypt should be viewed as more than the land of pyramids and pharaohs. It is a living society whose culture has developed through thousands of years of history and continues to evolve today. She encouraged the students to appreciate cultural diversity and understand other societies through direct observation and experience. She believed that social interactions, celebrations, and gatherings often reflect a strong sense of community and belonging. Highlighting Egypt’s relations with India, she said that India and Egypt have cooperated in areas such as education, literature, cinema, music, and the performing arts.
Indian films and music have enjoyed popularity among Egyptian audiences, while Egyptian literature, history, and cinema have attracted interest in India. Cultural festivals and academic exchanges have provided opportunities for people from both countries to learn about each other’s traditions.A number of faculty members, research scholars of various Centers and Departments of the University attended the lecture.
source : Jamia Millia Islamia