New Delhi, July 20 (IANS) The Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) Wednesday conferred its first ever Nishan-e-Azad title on Faisal Hasan Trad, ambassador of Saudi Arabia to India, for his signal contribution to the growth of the 91-year-old university, one of the country's oldest.


"We acknowledge the role played by him in fostering closer education ties between Jamia and institutions of higher learning in Saudi Arabia whereby several Memorandum of Understanding were signed and many successful visits made including those by heads of state," Jamia Vice-Chancellor Najeeb Jung told IANS.

"He (Trad) is a rockstar among the diplomatic corps," he added.

Jung said the varsity - which became a central university by an act of parliament in 1988 - had developed a deeper bond of friendship with Saudi Arabia in Trad's tenure and he intended to trengthen the association.

"Efforts have been made by (Najeeb) Jung to bring this university to an international level and I have tried to support him because education spreads peace and knowledge," said Trad to a packed house after receiving the honour at the M.A Ansari auditorium.

"We will witness more cooperation between Jamia and the universities in Saudi in times to come," he added.

Speaking on the issue of Jamia getting a minority status, Trad said it would definitely help Muslim students who aspire to get educated.

"The minority status is indeed a big support for our Muslim brethren," he said.

According to Jamia, the title of 'Nishan-e-Azad' has been instituted in the memory of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first education minister of independent India.