By TCN News,
Aligarh: “The Aligarh fraternity – students, teachers and well wishers, needed to prepare for the future, to march in step with fellow citizens, to contribute in adequate measure to public good and to benefit from it fairly. The emphasis needed to be on what came by right, rather than through concessions and largesse”, said Vice President of India and an alumnus of the Aligarh Muslim University, Mr. M. Hamid Ansari while addressing the inaugural function of the Prof. K. A. Nizami Centre for Quranic Studies at AMU.
The Vice President said, “My visit today, nevertheless, is occasion specific. It is to formally inaugurate the Centre for Qur’an Studies, established in memory of the late Professor Khaliq Ahmad Nizami sahib. I do hope that in the years to come the Centre would contribute significantly to Qur’an studies and become a locus for institutional links with similar centres elsewhere in the world. The occasion also brings to mind two aspects of the Aligarh Muslim University that need to be recalled. It is, in the first place, a university or a place of higher learning in the fullest meaning of the term. It has, secondly, a specific association with the study of the civilization of Islam.” He said that neither of the above was possible without acquisition of knowledge. It also demanded quality in the world of today wherein standards were perforce global.
Mr. Ansari said that an Aligarian needed no excuse to return to the AMU Campus to revive memories, recollect moments of joy, introspect on all that might have transpired then or since. He said our gratitude to Sir Syed was often a ritualistic exercise. Some, but not many, remembered the three distinct yet interconnected aspects of his work. He established an institution of modern education, he initiated a scientific society to help educate his compatriots into the achievements of modern sciences, and he called for a deepening of the understanding of faith in the context of our times. Each required hard work, an open mind and the attainment of excellence. Aligarh contributed to it in good measure but could have done more.
Mr. Ansari observed that when we introspect, we need to be candid. Did ‘we slacken in our quest for quality? Have we kept pace with the changing requirements, nationally and internationally?
“Some years back when I had the honour of heading this great institution, a casual conversation took place with a group of students who had come out of the University mosque after the Friday prayers. There are three things, I said, done by anyone coming for prayers: Wuzu (cleanliness), punctuality, and lining up in discipline. I enquired why these practices were not observed daily life outside the mosque. The answers, I am sorry to say, were evasive. All of us need to think about this dichotomy and its implications for the work we undertake in this institution. Do we measure up to the required’ standards in terms of inputs’ and outputs? How can we improve our performance? Our task today is to give a practical shape to the ideals and aspirations expressed in the Tarana sung by us here and in all corners of the world”, observed the Vice President.
While presiding over the inaugurating function, AMU Vice Chancellor, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Zameer Uddin Shah said that this Centre would promote the study of Indo-Muslim civilization and culture. He hoped this Centre would be a bench mark in the University.
General Shah said that the Quranic Centre would provide an ICT facility and complete online network and its own website with equipped laboratory.
Referring to the remarks of Dr. Zakir Husain, general Shah said that “future of the nation would largely depend on the treatment India metes out to Aligarh”.
In his welcome address, Professor Ahtisham Ahmad Nizami, Director of the Quranic Centre said that the centre has been named after Prof. K. A. Nizami who served this University for over four decades in different capacities. He authored more than fifty books.
He said that the Centre will have links with other institutions of Islamic learning and forging cooperation and bounds all around that will lead to better understanding of the Islamic thought and shall contribute to tolerance, peace, coexistence and friendship which is global concern today.
AMU Registrar, Group Captain Shahrukh Shamshad proposed a vote of thanks. Dr. Shariq Aqeel conducted the programme.