By Dr. Syed Ahmed, for TwoCircles.net,
Imphal: Manipuri Muslim Online Forum (MMOF), a facebook forum, launched its website, www.mmofmanipur.org and also released a quarterly newsletter titled, mmof spur, at a function held at Hotel Classic, Imphal, on 13 January 2013.
The function was attended by MLA Md. Fajur Rahim, Chairman of Islamic Research & Dawah Centre Sirajuddin Sheikh, Deputy Secretary of Education (S), Taxation and Adult Education Abdus Salam, as Chief Guest, Guest of Honour and President respectively. The gathering was attended by members of MMOF, Muslim intellectuals, Government officials, representatives of civil organizations and students.
Dignitaries and MMOF team
Giving the key-note address, Admin MMOF Nasir Khan introduced the Forum, highlighted the activities taken up by the Forum since its inception and the projects that the Forum intents to take up in the future.
In his speech, Abdus Salam emphasized the importance of education in shaping the future of our community. Appreciating the Forum’s efforts, he said the website and quarterly newsletter will be very helpful in giving information relating to admission, jobs, career options and scholarships to the students.
Addressing the gathering, Md. Fajur Rahim emphasized the need of ‘collective effort’ to bring the Muslim community on the path of development.
The newly launched website stated the purposes of the Forum thus: “MMOF website is an interactive forum for every human being who really wants to do something for the under privileged community. The entire Muslim community, like anywhere in the world, is facing numerous challenges and is standing on a cross road and is poised to move forward with belief and determination leaving the forces of darkness behind. The road ahead is not smooth and the journey will not be easy but with young educated and well off people made by education and with the knowledge so gained, we will succeed in creating a better future for generations to come in this troubled state”
It added, “We urge all Manipuri Muslims living anywhere in the world be the torch bearers of change play their due role in the society and make this world a better place to live with dignity and justice for all. In this endeavor, we have emancipated from just a Facebook group to a website which in itself is a great achievement.”
The Forum is a non-profit, apolitical group formed by Manipuri Muslim students and professionals, across the globe, who are driven by ideas and willpower to serve and uplift Muslim community, in particular, and Manipuris, in general.
This group is a platform for all Manipuri Muslim scholars, think tanks and people, from different walks of life irrespective of their financial/social status, to participate in empowering Manipuri Muslims to enable them fight for their rights, and live with dignity as enshrined in the Constitution of India. We aim at achieving this through education.”
Releasing the newsletter
MMOF, since its formation in 2010, has accomplished a number of programmes promoting education and humanity. The website mentions, “Programs such as Felicitation of class X, XII toppers, MBBS qualified students, Quiz are some of the landmark achievement we have done without any assistance from the Government. These are some of the confidence building measure we have set off for the student community. Other programs such as the Short term training in vegetable and food processing, and bakery products for sisters are our endeavor to make our sisters independent, self sustainable live.”
As a part of its humanitarian work, the Forum, in December, 2011 extended financial help to the family of Md. Kora, the rickshaw puller who was killed in a bomb blast on 30 November 2011 by raising the amount from among its members.
On 27 May, 2012, the Forum conducted Career Counseling for Class X and XII passed out students at G.P. Women’s College, Imphal.
The Forum, in collaboration with Dr. Healthsmith, New Delhi, conducted its First State Level Quiz Competition on 24 June 2012 at Lilong Haoreibi College, Lilong. More than 400 students took part in the competition.
The Forum intents to take up educational, health and research oriented programmes, like parent counseling, book distribution to students from poor families, second State Open Quiz Competition, skill development lecture, blood donation and health camp, village profiling to identify the socio-economic conditions of Muslims in Manipur, among others.