By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
Faizabad : The American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin (AFMI) held its zonal conference on January 3rd, 2008 in the historic town of Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh. The theme of the conference was “Striving for Educational Empowerment.”
In his keynote address, Chief Guest Mr.Ghiyasuddin Siddiqui, chairman of Uttar Pradesh Minorities Commission, urged the Muslim community to be proactive in claiming their legitimate rights and to abandon lethargy and inaction. He stressed on the need to combine mainstream education with morality and ethics. Commenting on Muslims’ attitude towards Urdu, he said that during his first six months in office for six months he did not receive any petition in Urdu. He said no amount of governmental aid can help the community if remains inactive.
More than seven hundred educationists, social workers and students from several districts of the state including Faizabad, Sultanpur, Ambedkar Nagar, Basti and Bahraich attended the program. At the program, meritorious students and dedicated teachers were honored with trophies and cash awards. The local residents described the conference as first of its kind for the Muslim community. So far no such program was held in the area for the encouragement of Muslim students and their teachers.
AFMI President Mr. Ali Quraishi presented an overview of AFMI activities in Faizabad since 1989. He said that what began with the adoption of a few schools has now grown into a full fledged project with a network of schools in the area. AFMI has currently adopted 23 primary schools in Faizabad where 3618 students are now studying. While concentrating on the spread of literacy amongst Muslim students, the schools also have 900 students of other faiths on their rolls. The schools are served by 137 qualified teachers. He promised all possible support for further expansion of the project.
AFMI trustee Dr. A.S. Nakadar exhorted the gathering to revive the former image of Faizabad as a centre of learning by shining and excelling in educational pursuits. He urged the community to shun sectarianism and factionalism and work unitedly for the betterment of its members and the nation. He said diseases can be inherited but not poverty and illiteracy and that the community as a whole should undertake immediate measures towards their alleviation.
Mr. Shafi Lokhandwala, AFMI member from Detroit, made a presentation on the current and future career trends in India and abroad. He appealed to the students to concentrate on their studies and make wise career choices.
Mr.Mohammed Ayub Khan, AFMI’s secretary, said that the Muslim community should come out of its defeatist mentality and face the challenges head-on. He said there is no reason why Faizabad which had produced leading luminaries in the field of arts like Insha Allah Khan Insha cannot produce an Albert Einstein or a Bill Gates. He urged the community to get its priorities right in order to uplift itself.
The AFMI leadership later made a visit of its sponsored schools and interacted with the students and teachers.