Dr. Kéchichian, a senior fellow at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies in Saudi Arabia, known for his expertise in Islamic studies and Middle Eastern affairs responded to questioned posed by a JNU’s PhD researcher. He said, “If you decide, of your own will, to follow the Hanbali school, the unitarian traditions… I didn’t use the term ‘Wahhabi’ because that’s a pejorative term”.

He explained that labeling someone as “Wahhabi” can be seen as an insult, as it oversimplifies and misrepresents the beliefs of individuals who are simply practicing Muslims.

According to Dr. Kéchichian, to call someone “Wahhabi” disregards their identity as a believer who follows specific traditions rooted in the teachings of Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab, a 18th century revivalist, who emphasized the concept of Tawheed, or unity of God. “You might not agree with the unity quest, that’s fine. He believes it, and he doesn’t want you to believe it. You are free to accept or reject it”, he remarked.

The discussion took a broader turn as Dr. Kéchichian explored the exposure of Indian Muslims to different Islamic interpretations, particularly through interactions with Saudi Arabia and its cultural milieu. “Whether or not an Indian Muslim goes to Saudi Arabia and is influenced by these outlooks is a personal choice,” he noted. “It’s up to the individual to decide whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing”.

While Dr. Kéchichian is not a Muslim himself, he underscored the significance of tolerance and respect for all religions. “What I have learned is to be tolerant and respect all religions”, he affirmed, encouraging a nuanced understanding of faith and belief systems.

The five-day workshop, was part of the Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN) at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). It attracted top scholars and PhD candidates eager to explore contemporary issues related to Saudi Arabia and its cultural dynamics.

The Embassy in New Delhi tweeted in Arabic, “On the occasion of the International Day of the Arabic Language, the Cultural Attaché in the Republic of India held a symposium at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi entitled ‘The role of the Kingdom’s government and its institutions in serving the Arabic language at the global level’.

The symposium was opened by Saudi Ambassador to India, His Excellency Saleh bin Eid Al-Hussaini, in the presence of Professor SC Jarkoti, Vice President of the University. The cultural attache Professor Dr. Khaled Barqawi, and a number of university professors, academics, and those interested in the field of Arabic language, were also present.

Meanwhile, in Saudi Arabia, King Khalid University and the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language collaborated to host a celebration at Al-Faraa University City with the subject “The Contribution of the Arabic Language to Human Civilization and Culture”.

The King Khalid University president, Faleh bin Rajallah Al-Sulami, welcomed the Kingdom’s efforts to support the Arabic language because of its significance as one of the pillars of the Kingdom’s 2030 Vision.