Mere words without action will be “dishonesty”, claims a doctoral student of AMU
By Mumtaz Ahmad Numani,
On October 17, 2014, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) celebrated the 197th birth anniversary of its founder Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. The celebration is always meant to be symbolic to recall and remind ourselves his powerful vision and mission. Can we exactly recall what is it that we commemorate? Most probably yes. It is after all, ‘education’. It is/was the education of political, social, economic and cultural studies to enlighten the citizens, but more than that ‘Muslims’ of the sub-continent.
Needless to say, it is basically a medley of many things rolled into ‘one’. As a political leader, a social reformer, a religious thinker and as a builder of institutions, Sir Syed has left deep impressions on the sands of time. It is said that “No wise man has a policy. A policy is the blackmail levelled on the fool by the unforeseen.” Therefore, it won’t fail us to identify and then to attach that ‘politics missing ethics was not his cup of tea.’
He was diligent, industrious and an asset to all. Thus, it was basically education, social reform, religious thought, history, philosophy, science and journalism that he carried on and on. And, ‘education’, he perceived and rightly so, was the sole medium to fulfil the agenda of social reform. That he succeeded.
Thus to keep his ‘vision’ and ‘mission’ intact, Aligarh Muslim University administration has always been at front showing soft corner towards the ‘world communities’ [whether Muslim or Non-Muslim] especially at times of difficulties. It has maintained a record for doing the best on humanitarian grounds whenever and wherever needed.
Jammu & Kashmir as an example in the recent past is a case in point. When we, students of AMU, mostly from J&K, heard about the devastating widespread floods in Kashmir, we in our separate groups were deeply touched with a feeling of sadness, something we had never experienced. In that horrible situation, every one of ‘us’ was now completely involved in invoking upon Allah for His help. Actually, the only hope we could conceive was hope from ‘Above’. And below, to give it a thought, we immediately called a meeting.
In rush, our opinions tracing an appropriate solution were quite different yet relevant. The scene was that: many of us had become emotional but rational in relevance. It was in this ambience that two young boys joined us saying that we need to send medicines, boats and lifesaving jackets. Thank God! At least, this made it easy to finalise that we need to collect money in abundance to purchase all these items immediately. But on hearing this, a young boy abruptly and emotionally cried: “Do we go to beg?” One more followed him immediately. “No, we are not going for that my boys,” replied an elderly. “Who says it is begging. How it has come to your mind now.”
“Almost one—third population of Kashmir is under water. It is a ‘natural disaster’. And natural disasters do come often without informing human. It’s all right.”
Interestingly, the words of the elderly changed the mind of that boy including the others, who led different volunteer groups later for collection. And the elderly was none other than Dr Manzoor Ahmad Gatto, who often takes lead in these hour(s) of crisis.
Suddenly and certainly we needed to speed up the process for collection, thus every one of us knew it. Each doctoral candidate from J&K was pressed to donate Rs 500 minimum at that moment. When the call for collection subsequently spread among the local and the other students, they rushed, joined our groups eagerly and passionately. People within the campus and far from the campus approached us for donation. Their gentle behaviour and nice cooperation made us feel easy.
Besides, our effort also bore fruits when the Aligarh Muslim University Teacher’s Association (AMUTA) decided to donate one day salary (almost an amount of Rs 1.5 crore) of teaching and non-teaching staff to the needful. In addition, the AMU students also pressed hard to donate the amount of ‘Sir Syed Day Ceremonial Dinner’ (almost an amount of Rs 50 lakh) for the rehabilitation of the displaced people in Kashmir. This way the students missed having ‘Sir Syed Day Ceremonial Dinner’ willingly. This way or in some other way, the AMU as an ‘Institution’ survives the unending mission as a tribute to its great grand founder.
May be, because, Sir Syed once said: “O my dear children, when I undertook the task of establishing this institution, I was criticised, even abused all around, and I got aged before my age, I lost my hairs, I lost my eye-sight but not my vision”.
No question? This is what he does practically.
Bottom-line: Thus, the word(s) of our great grand founder of Alma Mater reminds and necessitates us that we deliver our duty.
Postscript: Unfortunately, at the end, none of ‘us’ seems to be honest especially when we wilfully claim the whole credit to foster and glamour our political agenda in future. The truth of the truth is that: people affected often in these cases are happened to be misused and misguided.
We wish, the amount, even in little, that is (yet) to go from AMU (as already has been decided officially months back) should go via proper channel, and thus would reach to the deserving flood affected needful victims only. (Disclaimer: TCN could not independently verify the claim.)
Any delay further in this case would speak ‘dishonesty’. And any commemoration of October 17 would fail us to deliver.
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(Mumtaz Ahmad Numani is a doctoral candidate at AMU, Aligarh).