The magazine has been published by the Indian Embassy in Egypt for the past six decades and its commemorative issue was celebrated at a ceremony here yesterday.
Organised by the Indian embassy, the commemoration ceremony held in Zamalek was attended by India's ambassador to Egypt Sanjay Bhattacharyya with Egyptian Minister of Culture Helmi el-Namnam being the Chief Guest, besides a large number of diplomats, thinkers, writers, university professors.
"Sawtul Hind devoted much effort in recording the deep connections at the social and popular level between the people of our two countries. It noted how our ancient civilisations grew around noble rivers far apart but were united by the seas. It observed how our relations swelled with trade, economic and scientific exchanges," Bhattacharyya said.
Sawtul Hind, whose first edition was published in 1952, is and continues to be an interface between India and Egypt and the Arab world at large, by collating information on both countries political cooperation, economic engagement and cultural ties.
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"This year, as we celebrate India@70, marking 70 years of our independence and 70 years of diplomatic ties with friendly Egypt, we also commemorate the 500th edition of Sawtul Hind," Bhattacharyya said.
The Minister also said that the magazine was first established at a time when Egypt and India were experiencing political changes and has witnessed the strong relations between former Egyptian President Gamal Abel Naser and India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru as well as former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and former Egyptian President Anwar el-Sadat.
"Sawtul Hind is a great magazine, one who follows its first issues will notice that some of its writers were Egyptian writes Tawfik el-Hakim, Abass Mahmoud el-Akad, Ahmed Kasem Goda and a number of big writes at that time," the Minister said.
Oriental Music group from the Egyptian Ministry of Culture performed at the ceremony.