thesilkroadtoday
Today, researcher Abdel Nasser bin Moussa submitted his dissertation in fulfillment of the requirements for the PhD in Arabic Language at Bharathidasan University in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu (South India). The dissertation, entitled “The Social and Cultural Impact of Travel Memoirs in Arabic Literature, with Special Reference to Ashraf Aboul-Yazid (Ashraf Dali)”, was supervised by Dr. Mahboob Ali Khan, Assistant Professor in the Department of Arabic (Master’s and Research Programs) at Jamal Mohamed College (Autonomous).
The study approaches travel literature as a central literary genre in Arab culture—one that goes beyond recording geographical facts to reflect shifts in social consciousness, contribute to the formation of mutual cultural images, and influence the collective imagination. The researcher highlights the sociological and cultural dimensions of travel memoirs, analyzing their epistemic functions, their role in documenting civilizational interaction, and their capacity to transmit human experience across time and space.
A dedicated analytical section examines the work of writer and traveler Ashraf Aboul-Yazid (Ashraf Dali) as a contemporary model who has revitalized travel literature by combining literary narration with a transnational cultural vision. The dissertation traces key features of his travel writing, including openness to the Other, the deconstruction of stereotypes, and the use of travel as a tool for cultural dialogue and bridge-building among peoples.
Distinguished by a balanced scientific methodology, the dissertation draws on Arabic and foreign sources, offers close textual analysis, and integrates theory with practice. The supervisor praised the study’s originality and scholarly value, affirming its contribution to contemporary studies of Arabic travel literature and its social and cultural impacts.
The dissertation was submitted in January 2026, under registration number BDU 2120602779002, marking a significant addition to Arabic literary studies within Indian universities.
