By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
New Delhi: Pasmand Intelelctuals’ Forum (PIF) which describes itself as ‘a small informal group of activists, journalists, and intellectuals who deliberate on the issues concerning pasmanda’ has criticized the process that will select the next Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI).
Current VC or Shaikhul Jamia is Prof. Mushirul Hasan, whose term is coming to an end this month. A Search Committee comprising of Justice Saghir Ahmed, Syed Hamid, and Prof. Yashpal have submitted a panel of five names and submitted it to the President Pratibha Patil.
Afzal Amanullah, Prof. Mushirul Hasan, Prof. Faizan Ahmad, Najeeb Jung and Mohammed Shakeel Ahmad are in the running to be the next Shaikhul Jamia.
PIF, in an open letter sent to the President Mrs Patil has criticized on the failure of the search committee in including not even one name from non-ashraf Muslim communities.
The open letter, circulated in various online forums says that the “marginalisation of Pasmanda Muslims from state and community-controlled institutions is an issue that perhaps needs to be urgently addressed.”
The letter alleges that an IAS officer of UP cadre, Anis Ansari, who belongs to a “pasmanda” community was not included int ehe panel though he is an equally qualified candidate. In his capacity as Secretary Agriculture, he has experience managing Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology.
Prof. Mushirul Hasan is the current Vice Chancellor appointed in 2004. Since his appointment he has started a number of institutions and led the student and teachers community in the aftermath of Batla House encounter which put dark shadows on the university.
PIF letter allege that his non-inclusion in the panel of names is only due to “caste discrimination of the worst order.”
Calling it the process of democraticisation, PIF wants not only the panel but also the Search Committee, and the Executive Council and other administrative bodies of Muslims institutions like JMI and AMU to be made “socially representative” but including more people from “pasmanda” communities.
Members of PIF includes: Mr. Ashok Yadav (Patna), Noor Hasan Azad (Patna), Mohd. Hishamuddin (Patna), Raza Abbas (Aligarh), Dr. Mohd. Sajjad (Aligarh), Khalid Anis Ansari (New Delhi), Qasim Ansari (New Delhi), Naresh Kumar (Lucknow).
PIF demands that the process of selection of Jamia VC be re-initiated.
Link:
http://www.jmi.nic.in/