By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net
Bhopal: The Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, (AMU), Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis while presenting “Aligarh Declaration 2009 on Educational Agenda for the Muslims” at the valedictory session of the two-day National Seminar urged the Muslims community to focus their energy to convert itself into a totally literate and skilled community with a sizeable portion pursuing higher and professional education to launch itself into the leadership position.
The Muslim community should raise itself as a population brimming with self-confidence, character and value-orientation and should be endowed with a vision of National Welfare and development in order to integrate itself with the national mainstream, Prof. Azis stressed.
More than one hundred delegates from all parts of the country representing Muslim NGOs and educational institutions participated in the deliberations.
According to Dr. Rahat Abrar, Public Relations Officer in AMU, the national seminar called upon the governments in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Assam wherein live over 55% of India’s Muslims to emulate the policies and schemes from States, such as Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, to expand the scope of pro active policies to make it inclusive and enable all communities to access higher education (including professional education) in order to ensure equitable share in investments being made in this sector to quicken the pace of economy.
Whereas in deliberations held in the two-day Seminar, it was the unanimous view of the delegates and participants to re-launch the “Aligarh Movement”, which was originally conceived and given shape by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, the founder of the Aligarh Muslim University, to be called as “Aligarh Declaration” presenting a National Agenda for the Educational Advancement of the Muslim community as a mandate by AMU Act under Section 5(2)(c).
It may be pointed out here that Aligarh Muslim University has been empowered under Section 5(2)(c) of AMU (Amendment) Act 1981, to take all necessary steps for the Promotion of Educational and Cultural Advancement of Muslims of India. The Aligarh Muslim University envisages a national role for promoting the educational aspirations of the minorities, more especially the Muslims of India.
Being a Central University of international repute, AMU intends to establish a strong bond and an enduring academic linkage with minority managed educational institutions and to create a networking environment so that the synergy created could be of immense benefit to the educational institutions in India.
The seminar has also urged the Government of India to enact a new Central Legislation to clarify and to implement Article 30(i) more effectively. This will remove the present need for frequent litigation on every issue related to minority rights.
The seminar called upon the Muslim community to launch “A Waqf Movement” for getting all Waqf Properties free from all encroachments. The Waqf properties may be used for yielding ample financial resources for launching the massive educational projects across the country.
The seminar appreciated the efforts of AMU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abdul Azis who is making all out efforts for educational and cultural uplift of the Muslims. ([email protected])