By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Bhopal: Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha K. Rahman Khan has made a strong plea for re-launching the Aligarh movement for the empowerment of Muslims.
The movement needs to be launched with vigour in the backdrop of the Sachar Committee report, Khan said while inaugurating a two-day national seminar on “Minority Education in India: Issues of Access, Equity and Inclusion” on Saturday at Kennedy auditorium in Aligarh organized by the Centre for Promotion of Educational and Cultural Advancement of Muslims of India, Aligarh Muslim University.
Khan urged the minority community to take new initiatives to address the vital issue of their educational backwardness. Muslims should not repeat the mistake of always seeking help from different quarters and crave for sympathy. They have to stick to the principle of self help if they want to change their destiny.
He also urged the Muslims to draw an agenda for the next ten years to attain self-reliance in education and serve the country through education. Muslims should plan to establish at least one university in each state in the next ten years. They should also plan towards achieving excellence in our educational institutions.
He also suggested establishing a large network of secondary schools of excellence in addition to the Government schools, i.e., at least one school for every 10,000 families. “We should plan and establish skill development centers, polytechnics and technical institutions all over the country”, he stressed.
Khan pointed out that the Muslim community in India is not helpless. “We have the resources, we have the abilities and expertise, what we lack is unity. The Muslim Community is a vibrant community and hard working and is contributing significantly for the country’s GDP growth and its contribution to GDP saving is around 10 per cent of the total GDP savings of the country, which will be around $33 billion” Khan informed.
Justice M.S.A. Siddiqui, Chairman, National Commission for Minorities Educational Institutions, said that the Constitution of India has special provision of minority and Article 30 recognizes minorities’ right to education. Speaking as a guest of honour at the seminar, he urged the Muslims to pay more attention to professional education if they want to redeem their future.
“If any minority institution finds any difficulty in getting affiliation and no objection certificate from the states it can approach the Commission”, Siddiqui.
Noted Urdu Journalist and Member of Parliament Mr. Ahmad Saeed Malihabadi while delivering the felicitation address said that Aligarh has played a dynamic role in propagating education among Muslim minority and it will continue to provide intellectual leadership to Muslims across the country.
Delivering the presidential address Prof. P.K. Abdul Azis, Vice Chancellor, Aligarh Muslim University, said that AMU strives for building up a class synergy in the minorities across the country. Sir Syed’s vision and mission has become very relevant today, he said. He asked the students of Aligarh Muslim University to set up educational institutions.
Prof. Azis said that Muslims should also take concrete steps in utilizing 4000 crores of rupees being spent by the Central Government in the Muslim dominated districts. “The revelation of the Sachar Committee reminds that we cannot wait any longer for an education revolution to occur among Muslims”, he concluded.
Welcoming the guests, Dr. Abdul Waheed, Director, Center for Promotion of Educational and Cultural Advancement of Muslims of India (CEPECAMI), said that deliberations of the seminar would set the agenda for minority education.
Prof. M. Amanullah Khan proposed vote of thanks and Dr. Shakeel Samdani conducted the programme. ([email protected])