By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: The 9th convocation of Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University) – one of the most sought after three higher education institutes for Muslims in India, Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Millia Islamia other two – was held today at the university campus in New Delhi. The program began with recitation of Holy Quran and then Vice Chancellor opened the convocation saying Bismillah Al-Rahman Al-Raheem – the Muslim traditions. But when names of gold medalists were called the community students were lagging much behind.
While Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Millia Islamia are struggling to retain minority status to ensure 50% seats for Muslim community students, Jamia Hamdard enjoys a sort of minority status and 50% seats are reserved for minority students in almost all departments. But are the community students getting 50% of gold medals and Ph.D. degrees also. No, at least not at today’s convocation when more than 110 students were given gold medals and Ph.D. degrees. Of 67 gold medalists, Muslims were 27. And of 46 Ph.D. degree claimants, Muslims were 20. Reservation is not panacea, many would say.
L-R:Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Vice Chancellor GN Qazi, Infosys Technologies chairman N.R. Narayana Murthy
A total of 46 Ph.D. degrees were awarded to recipients from different disciplines like Islamic Studies, Management, Pharmacy, Allied Health Science, Medicine (Unani) and Science. As many as 67 toppers in different courses were awarded gold medals and a total of 1430 students were awarded degrees for various courses imparted by the University.
Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee as chief guest and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit and Infosys Technologies chairman N.R. Narayana Murthy as guests of honour graced the occasion.
Delivering the convocation address, Pranab Mukerjee paid rich tributes to the founder of the Jamia Hamdard Padamshree late Hakim Abdul Hamid whose great vision, single minded dedication and philanthropy led to the setting up of this unique seat of higher education and research. He showered a lot of kudos upon him and recognized his role in emancipating the backward Indian especially Muslims through education.
Mukherjee lauded the academic initiatives undertaken by Jamia Hamdard, and emphasized on the need of grooming young minds in the field of science of technology for better role playing in the nation building. “Your country needs your services in the area of health and other fields. You have to live up to the expectation,” said veteran Congress leader addressing several hundred young students.
Saiyid Hamid, Chancellor, greeting Mukherjee while Dixit and Murthy look on
Chief Minister Sheila Dixit and Infosys Technologies chairman N.R. Narayana Murthy were honored with D.Litt. (Honoris Causa).
Sheila Dikshit expressed her privilege and profusely thanked the university for conferring the honour on her. She also reminisced about her along association with this university and promised all her support for the current and new endeavours to be initiated in future. She also promised to lend her support for 100 acres of land for another campus of Jamia Hamdard in the National Capital Region.
N. R. Narayana Murthy in his highly motivational speech lauded the efforts of the founder and appreciated the progress which the university has made in a short span of 20 years. He extended his greeting to the recipients of the various degrees and encouraged them to contribute towards the development of the nation.
Faculties taking out parade
While apprising the audience about the performance of the University the Vice Chancellor GN Qazi emphasized upon the unique genesis of this university and highlighted the various milestones achieved by it. He emphasized on the fact that Jamia Hamdard is a shining example of public-private partnership wherein it is contributing immensely to the development of society. He further delineated the various areas of research and education in which the University is continuously putting its efforts. He also elaborated upon the newer courses including an MBBS course proposed to be launched soon under the name of Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research.
Saiyid Hamid, Chancellor, and Naushad Alam, Registrar of the university were also present.