By Abdul Basith MA, TwoCircles.net,
Chelamala, Malappuram: Kapil Sibal, the Union Human Resource Development [HRD] Minister in his inaugural speech of the AMU Malappuram centre assured adequate funds for the future plans and developments of the centre. He said this in reply to a demand made by the Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in his presidential address. Sibal replied to Chandy saying “Paise ki zaroorathi hei tho, hamaari tharaf se koi Kamee he nahi hogi”.
Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal addressing AMU Malappuram centre inaugural on 24th. Dec. 2011
Citing that the centre is being built on a scenic high altitude hilly area he said, “We are now far close to Allah”. He said it is the great visionary Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s dream being fulfilled now. Speaking on the relevance of the centre he noted, “When the epic tree of AMU grows, its saplings will be spread throughout the country, two of those saplings among those five initiated are now being sawn, one here in Malappuram and another in Murshidabad”.
He said the Keralites are too close to his heart and named the centre a vital necessity as he noted, “Talim ka symbol har Pradesh mein hona chahiye, aur bina talim koi desh aage nahi chal saktha”. The real asset can’t any way be those materialistic wealth achieved and instead should be the knowledge gained, and universities are thus sources for the worthiest of treasures, he said.
Kapil Sibal in his inaugural address brought to notice the fact that, out of 100 students in between the age group of 18-24, only 15 gets in to colleges or universities in our country. He said the statistics are far ahead in Europe and America at around 70 and 40 respectively. He said this needs to improve and AMU Malappuram centre is a step towards taking this number to at least 30 by around 2020. Talking on the necessity of bringing up Muslim girls upfront, he said pointing at the volunteer girls “Bacchiyam tho yaham sabse aage dhik raha he, ab aap desh ke bi aage aana hei”
The foundation stone for the administrative block was laid by Minister of state for HRD E Ahamed. The Malappuram district comes under his constituency and said it is his leader late Mr. Panakkad Syed Muhammedali Shihab Thangal’s [Indian Union Muslim League] passionate desire being fulfilled through this inaugural ceremony here. He quoted Shihab Thangal’s desperate request to the then union minister Fatimi, long back when he was here for a convocational ceremony at Pattikkad Jamia Nooriya. He called this an important step towards the emancipation of the Muslim community. Pointing at the attempts to alienate them he said, “Muslims indeed being a national minority are the ones born here and for sure will be buried here itself.”
Kerala Chief Minister Mr Oommen Chandy delivering presidential speech at the inaugural of AMU Malappuram centre on 24th. Dec. 2011
Chief Minister Mr Oommen Chandy in his presidential address thanked the previous LDF government for its initiative on starting the centre. He assured the state government’s full support for the further developments of the centre.
The website of the special centre was inaugurated by State Minister for Industries PK Kunjalikkutty. He called it the happy moments of Manjalamkuzhi Ali (local MLA of Perinthalmanna constituency] and E Ahamed [local MP of Malappuram constituency] and said that it is up to us to completely involve in the further developments of the centre as it until now have came through tough and turbulent conditions.
The electricity plant related to the campus was launched by State Electricity Minister Aryadan Muhammed. As he felt the solar and wind energy sources are plenty in this hilly region, he said that he will be soon sending the Agency for Non Conventional Energy and Rural Technology [ANERT] officials to the place as to assess whether it is possible to produce non-convectional energy here, so as to make the centre self sufficient with regards to energy needs. He said two third of the expense for this project will be afforded by the state and union governments jointly.
AMU Vice Chancellor PK Abdul Azis and Union Minister of state for HRD E Ahamed
AMU Vice Chancellor, Prof. PK Abdul Azis while presenting his report said that AMU centre will have a prime eye on the badly needed requirements of the region like a women’s polytechnic and vocational college. He said that by 2012-13 with the funds sanctioned, this dream too will be made real. He said besides the government funds AMU needs to raise its own funds by making people actively involve in its further developments.
He expected the centre to win a place for Malappuram in the global map of higher education. The classes for first batch of MBA and LLB have already started at a temporary centre, set up near the new campus with strength of around 240 students. He said with the construction of a temporary shed being completed and works in progress in almost 10 acres of the land out of the total allocated 336 acre land, by 2012 Feb-March everything will be shifted to here from the present rented buildings in Perinthalmanna town.
A section of the audience at the inaugural of AMU Malappuram centre
Besides being grateful to Congress lead governments in the state and centre he was all the way thankful to the previous LDF government in Kerala and West Bengal for the initiatives they undertook for the centres in Malappuram and Murshidabad.
AP Anil Kumar, Minister for welfare for schedule classes, backward classes and tourism; ET Mohammed Basheer, MP and former educational Minister of Kerala; MI Shanavas, MP and member of AMU court and executive council; Manjalamkuzhi Ali, MLA of the place; Mrs Zuhara Mampad, President, Malappuram District Panchayath; S Veerankutty, President, Aliparamba Grama Panchayath were all present for the function and gave their speeches on the occasion. However, LDF leaders kept themselves away from the functions accusing the Congress and IUML of hijacking the whole credit, though most among the guests in their speech took care to admire the initiatives undertaken by LDF.
The inaugural function started with recitation of holy Quran that too with verses from Chapter “Iqra)”, which asks believers to seek knowledge. Volunteers then presented bouquets to the chief guests. The welcome address was given by PK Abdul Rab, the state Minister for Education. Vice chancellor PK Abdul Azis presented the AMU memento to Kapil Sibal and Oommen Chandy. Other Guests too were presented with mementos by the chief academicians and staffs of AMU. Prof VK Abdul Jaleel, the University Registrar proposed vote of thanks. The function got dispersed with the university choir group singing the university song and later the National Anthem.
At Saturday’s function, Sibal also laid the foundation stone for the new campus. 13 more courses will be started soon besides those three courses being taught at present. Admissions will be based on a national level entrance test. Five hostels for men and three hostels for women would come up soon.