People differ in their language, race, nationality, class, religion and all. This is what makes people unique. A culture is collectively influenced by these factors and is the way people live. It is a lens with which people evaluate everything around them.
Today, with the advancement of technology and globalisation, it is impossible to stay isolated and it creates a platform for the global communities to exchange their cultures. When cultures join together, people tend to learn from one another and it helps to understand different perspectives. After all, it helps to dispel various negative stereotypes and personal biases on various issues, ideas, concepts etc. It provides an atmosphere conducive for personal, societal and national development.
When we take a look at the societies of the most developed nations, it is clear that they are culturally diverse; a key reason for development. Qatar is one of the most powerful and economically rich nations in the world. Its society is culturally diverse; it embraces cultural diversity much closer as it’s important for sustainable development. Qatar, under the wise leadership of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and its various institutions has been making huge strides to nourish its diverse culture. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Qatar signed in 2011 with Unesco, to promote the diversity of cultural expressions and a dialogue among cultures, is one among the many measures in this regard.
Going by the words of the Minister of Culture and Sports H E Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali at the 7th St Petersburg International Cultural Forum in Russia, Qatar has a unique culture and that all its individuals believe in the value of diversity and multiculturalism, pointing out that there are more than 150 nationalities in Qatar, which reflects the culture of coexistence among nations.
The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra’s concert held at the St Petersburg Forum under the theme “28 different cultures, one tune”, reflected the cultural diversity and contributed to the creation of a single cultural edifice representing common values and one human civilisation.
The Minister pointed out that the issue of cultural diversity in Qatar is not a slogan but a reality that is being promoted, adding that Qatar is hosting the Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue, which contributes to building dialogue among different civilisations and cultures.
The Ajyal Film Festival organised by the Doha Film Institute is a noble move to enrich its rich cultural diversity as it provides an opportunity to exchange cultures among all film professionals around the world to produce and showcase their films.
All in all, culture matters. A culturally diverse society is a national asset, for which Qatar can ever be proud of.
