The BA Celebrates the Centenary of Dr. Tharwat Okasha
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The Bibliotheca Alexandrina organizes an intellectual gathering entitled “Tharwat Okasha… Between Politics and Culture” on Thursday, 1 April 2021, at its headquarters in Alexandria. The event will witness the participation of Dr. Moustafa Elfeki, Director of the BA, Dr. Inas Abdel Dayem, Minister of Culture, Dr. Zahi Hawass, former Minister of Antiquities, and Dr. Ahmed Okasha, Presidential Advisor on Psychiatry.
The meeting will focus on the major cultural project launched by Dr. Tharwat Okasha, the pioneer of the cultural renaissance in modern Egypt, during his two terms as Minister of Culture from 1958 to 1962, and from 1966 to 1970 respectively. With unyielding determination and perseverance, Dr. Okasha laid the foundation for a solid cultural life in Egypt, based on a progressive scientific strategy and an open future vision. He also carried out the mission of establishing a number of leading Egyptian cultural institutions, which remained vibrant and effective to this day. Moreover, the meeting will tackle the “Democracy of Culture” – a fair, humanitarian and cultural message for which Dr. Okasha advocated and manifested in his project of erecting multiple cultural palaces throughout Egypt’s different regions and provinces.
The event will shed light on Dr. Okasha’s historic role with regard to the process of salvaging the monuments of Nubia as a result of the construction of Aswan High Dam. He succeeded, in a diplomatic and cultural mission, to attract the attention of the UNESCO and several countries around the world, and won their support in this unprecedented challenge. This endeavor led Egypt to pursue building the High Dam, while preserving the eternal monuments of Nubia, which represent an integral part of the heritage of humankind.
In addition, the meeting will highlight Dr. Okasha’s enriching original and translated publications in the fields of arts and culture.
It is worth noting that the BA is organizing a musical concert, performed by the BA Symphonic Orchestra, as part of the Library’s celebrations of Dr. Tharwat Okasha’s centenary.