By Dr. Syed Ahmed for TwoCircles.net,
Imphal: The Manipuri Muslims Online Forum (MMOF), an online group of Manipur Muslim diaspora spread across the globe, felicitated meritorious Manipuri Muslim students who got ranks in the High School and Higher Secondary examinations 2011 and Pre-Medical Test (PMT) or MBBS/BDS Entrance Examination 2011 conducted by Manipur government.
The felicitation function for Muslim rankers in the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) and Higher Secondary Examinations (HSE) besides PMT or MBBS/BDS Entrance Examination was held on 19th June 2011 here at the compound of the Muslim Girls’ Hostel, at Hafiz Hatta, which was only a few months back inaugurated by UPA Chairperson, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi.
Dr. Baharuddin giving the key-note address
The function was graced by A. Halim Chowdhury, IAS (Retd.), Chairperson of Manipur State Minorities Commission as Chief Guest, and Mrs. Laaljan Begum, former member, Manipur State Commission for Women as Guest of Honour. A.R. Khan, IAS, Principal Secretary (Labour and Employment), Government of Manipur, presided over the program.
The function was attended by Muslims leaders, government officials, social workers, college and school teachers, students and ulema.
M. Baharuddin Shah, executive member of the Manipuri Muslims Online Forum and a College Lecturer, gave the key-note address. He presented a brief introduction of MMOF. The online forum was formed recently (through Facebook) and, as of now, it has more than 400 members – mostly young Manipuri Muslims students, research scholars, young defence personnel, civil servants, doctors, engineers, college teachers, among others – from across the globe, including 8 administrators. He offered gratitude to Abdul Gaffar, a Manipur native presently in Delhi, for taking the initiative of opening the forum.
Felicitation of a girl who cleared the PMT, 2011
Baharuddin said the purpose of the online forum is for Manipuri Muslims to know each other and share information that concerns the Manipuri Muslims, and also discuss socio-economic and political issues that concern the community. He also said that the forum also gives admission and career guidance to students and job-seekers respectively, and the forum is trying to enlarge its activities by organizing literary programmes which will include debate, quiz and essay competitions.
A. Halim Chowdhury said that the Muslims in the state should realize the importance of modern education and the Muslim parents should also encourage their girls for higher education.
Mrs. Laaljan Begum, among the first generation of Manipuri Muslim women who took to modern education in the early 1970s, narrated the challenges that she and her friends faced in getting higher education. Former Principal of G.P. Women’s College, Laaljan Begum said that she feels very happy and proud to see many Manipuri Muslim girl students clearing high school, higher secondary, medical and engineering exams over the recent years. They have made not only their parents proud but also the community, she added.
Felicitation of a boy who cleared the PMT, 2011
A.R. Khan, in his speech, said that he is happy to see many meritorious Muslim students from the state clearing tough exams over the years, but sad to see that still now only a few and well-off Manipuri Muslims are serious about giving their children quality education and are able to afford the costly fees for tuition and coaching, which are today very essential for clearing the tough and highly competitive matric and higher secondary exams or the medical and engineering exams. The majority of the poor Muslims are still not much concerned about educating their sons and daughters and it becomes the responsibility of the learned Muslims to make them aware of the importance of modern education, he added.
Mohd. Mustafa, who teaches at an educational institution managed by the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and was invited by the forum as special guest, said that he has been giving admission guidance to those Muslim students from Manipur who came to AMU or colleges of Delhi for admission. Mustafa, who also hails from Manipur, shared the information about the admission procedures and other opportunities offered by AMU to students.
The function concluded at the felicitation of the Muslim rank holders in the HSLC (3) and HS (2) Examinations, 2011 and the PMT (13), 2011.
There were in all 13 Muslim candidates (7 girls and 6 boys) who cleared the PMT, 2011 conducted by the Medical Department, Government of Manipur. It is the highest number so far. For many years Muslim students failed to clear this test. It is in the recent years only that Muslim students managed to clear the test mainly due to their hard labour, encouragement from parents and reservation of seats (4%) for the community. In the recent recruitment drive of 401 Medical Officers by the Manipur Public Service Commission 12 Muslim candidates were selected.
The following students were felicitated at the function:
High School Leaving Certificate Examination, 2011
Conducted by Board of Secondary Education, Manipur (BOSEM)
1. Samina Heibokmayum (21st rank), daughter of Md. Sayed Ahmed of Lilong, student of Islamic Baby English High School, Lilong
2. Khullakpam Sunil Khan (23rd rank), son of Md. A. Hassan of Oinam Sawombung, student of Little Master English Higher Secondary School, Oinam
3. Iqbal Hussain (24th rank), son of Md. Abdul Majid of Lilong Haoreibi Makha Leikei, student of Little Master English Higher Secondary School, Oinam
Higher Secondary Examination, 2011
Conducted by Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur (COHSEM)
1. Md. Raeesh Khan (16th rank), son of Md. Najir Khan of Keibung
2. S. Noor Rahman (16th rank), son of S. Kasim of Thoubal Wangkhem
Pre Medical Test, 2011
1. Noorjahan (21st rank), daughter of Haji Md. Jalaluddin of Lilong Turel Achouba Ubakthong
2. Nashima Begum (26th rank), daughter of late Md. Abdul Rahman of Lilong Uku Maning
3. Sabera Banu (29th rank), daughter of Md. A. Rashid of Porompat
4. Halima Khilzi (30th rank), daughter of Md. Meihuddin of Hatta Minuthong
5. Md. Ayub Ali (36th rank), son of Md. Alimuddin of Lilong Haoreibi Mayai Leikei
6. Oinam Azmir (40th rank), son of Yusuf Ali of Oinam Sawombung
7. Buyamayum Bidyarani (43rd rank), daughter of B. Itocha Shah of Hiyanthang Palak
8. Ishaq Ali (64th rank), son of Rashid Ali of Moijing Lamkhai
9. Anjila Shahni (93rd rank), daughter of Md. Jahiruddin of Lilong Heinoumakhong
10. Md. Iquebal Ahmed (97th rank), son of Md. Abdul Salam of Oinam Sawombung
11. Syed Rubina (100th rank), daughter of Syed Haider Ali of Paona Bazaar Masjid Road
12. Chesam Rafiuddin Shah (106th rank), son of Tayeb Ali of Irong Chesaba Makha Leikei
13. Md. Mirza Abbas (117th rank), son of late Bashira Begum of Lilong Ushoipokpi