By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
Moradabad: A delegation of the American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin (AFMI) visited Badayun and Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh to explore establishment of educational institutions there. The team was invited to Badayun by Dallas-based businessman Mr. Naved Syed. Syed, who hails from Badayun, and his family are planning to build a degree college in the area in memory of his late cousin.
Badayun, once a center of learning, has fallen off the high path of learning. Now illiteracy and poverty are commonplace there. Of late, however, darkness of illiteracy has begun to shrink. The number of Muslim students, especially girls, is growing. Many of them, however, are unable to further their studies for lack of financial resources and
institutions in the area. There are virtually no affordable transportation facilities in the area. Pressed by the situation, many parents stop sending their children and force them to earn livelihood.
Realizing the genuine need for a degree college in the area, Syed is setting up a nonprofit trust to build the Asim Siddiqui Memorial Degree College. He has already acquired land at a central location. Efforts are also on to get the college affiliated with the Rohilkhand University.
The AFMI delegation comprised of the organization leaders including Mr. Ali Quraishi (President), Dr. Nakadar (Trustee), Dr. Shakir Mukhi (Former President) and Mr. Mohammed Ayub Khan (Secretary). The team met with local educationists, community leaders and citizens to discuss the prospects of the degree college.
The AFMI delegation also visited the small village of Asmauli in Moradabad district. The village has an inter college and a high school built by NRI businessman Mr. Abdul Jaffar. On the occasion of the AFMI visit, a public function was organized to honor top scoring students. The winners were given away with cash awards on behalf of both AFMI and Mumtaz Foundation. Awards were presented by the District Magistrate and Rajya Sabha Member Mr.Munquad Ali.