By TCN News,
Aligarh: As Jamia Millia Islamia has been accorded minority status, a renewed campaign for the same status to Aligarh Muslim University is gearing up with India’s most read Urdu Journalist and Group Editor of Urdu daily Rashtriya Sahara Aziz Burney putting the demand before the Central Government at a symposium here on 6th March 2011.
“The role of the Muslims during the freedom struggle could not be spelled correctly due to which they are in poor conditions presently. The history has overlooked many truths which demand honest documentation and that must be brought before the masses too’ said Aziz Burney. He was speaking at a symposium titled Meezan organized by the Literary Club of the General Education Centre of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) today on Sunday.
While demanding restoration of the minority status of AMU, Burney said the institution has played vital role in the development of Muslims and nation building, so the Central Government should take positive steps in restoring the minority status of AMU.
He also criticized Central and state government for double standard with Gujarat Muslims.”The nation should not have double laws and all citizens must be treated equally” he added.
Addressing the symposium, Yusuf Ansari, Head Editor of Channel One, said that the media has spread an image of orthodoxy about any bearded Muslim and consequently all Muslims have come under shadows. He pointed out that not only Muslims but their festivals and cultures are also being targeted.
He, however, said that one of the main reasons for this behavior is communication gap. So, Muslims must establish communication with others.
Director of UGC Academic Staff College Prof. A.R. Kidwai said that historians have enlarged the orthodox image of Muslims which was depicted in the English literature in 13th century and a negative thinking has overlapped Muslims.
Coordinator, General Education Centre, AMU, Dr. Shakeel Samdani said that Muslims have golden history but lack of will to take lessons from failures is the main reason behind their downfall. He cited examples of Tipu Sultan and Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and appealed to the Vice Chancellor of AMU to establish a Chair in the History Department on the name of Tipu Sultan.