By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Bhopal: “In India there are two Taj Mahals, one is there at Agra and the other being at Aligarh. The one at Agra was built by Mughal emperor Shahjahan in memory of his beloved wife and the one at Aligarh was built by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan to improve the educational backwardness of the Muslim community, while the former one is the symbol of past and latter one is the insignia of our future,” said Prof. Saud Alam Qasmi, Dean Faculty of Theology, AMU & member All India Muslim Personal Law Board, (AIMPLB), while delivering the keynote address at a symposium on ‘Sir Syed’s View on Residential life of University’ cum Certificate Distribution Ceremony.
The programme was organized by Sir Syed Awareness Forum, (SSAF), at Aligarh Muslim University, (AMU), Aligarh.
Brig. Syed Ahmad Ali presenting certificate in Sir Syed Awareness Forum function in Aligarh
He added that the students should know that how they have to talk and behave. Their conduct should be adorable. He urged the members of the forum that the motto of their lives should be ‘Qurbani’ (sacrifice) and not the ‘Biryani’ (luxuries ). At the same time he requested the Pro-Vice Chancellor to take concrete steps in ensuring that the forum is allowed to conduct similar programs in various halls of residences, so that the students can be made aware about Sir Syed’s teachings.
Delivering the presidential address Prof. Zakia Siddiqui, former Principal, Women’s College, AMU, said that it is a matter of great satisfaction that the Forum under the dynamic leadership of Dr. Shakeel Samadni has organized such a wonderful program. She congratulated Dr. Samdani for organizing program on the life of Sir Syed for the first time in the history of Aligarh exhibition. She prayed to the Almighty for the success of Dr. Samdani’s noble endeavors and requested everybody to support him in carrying out the mission of Sir Syed. She also urged Dr. Samdani that the forum should distribute some booklets containing information on the life and works of Sir Syed, Sheikh Abdullah and Begum Nawab Sultan Jahan of Bhopal, the First Chancellor of AMU, to the Students when they take their admissions from the next session which was duly endorsed by Dr. Samdani.
Speaking at the function, Brig. (Rtd.) Syed Ahmad Ali, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, AMU, said that it is through values a man can built his character and can distinguish between good and bad. Since 1970’s & 80s the erosion of values started and it has continued till date. He said that the whole life of Sir Syed was an example of values. In his whole life time he nurtured and preserved the human values and his life is a living example of this.
Brig. Ali said that the charter of objectives on which the Forum is working are very important from the view of preserving the composite culture of our country. He said that the spirit of tolerance will strengthen the social fabric of India and Sir Syed was an ardent advocate of this philosophy.
Expressing his happiness about the activities of forum, Brig Ali said that he is happy to know that the forum is entering tenth year of its formation and throughout it has tried to create awareness about the vision and mission of Sir Syed. He asked the members of the forum to revive the age old traditions of A.M.U. by wearing Sherwani and learning the ‘Tarana’ by heart. He also expressed his happiness that AMU has got 9th rank among Indian higher educational institutes by the prestigious Times Magazine, UK and called upon the Aligarians to work hard and put AMU on first rank.
President of the Forum, Dr. Shakeel Samdani said that it has been 10 years, when the Forum was established and since then it is creating new milestones one after another. The credit of organizing a program on the life of Sir Syed for the very first time at Aligarh exhibition also goes to the forum. He said that Sir Syed always gave preference to “Tahzeeb” over “Taleem” (education), as without education a person can survive but without culture nothing will be left. Dr. Samdani said that the forum is fully committed to its charter of objectives and will leave no stone unturned in accomplishing them.
Dr. Samdani appreciated the efforts of the Pro-Vice Chancellor in ensuring transparency in the universities administrative matters. He added that the forum will always stand behind the University administration for the cause of University in particular and ‘Millat’ in general.
Prof. Asmat Beg, Director , Residential Coaching Academy, AMU said that we should try to promote our culture and should preserve it, as it through this only our uniqueness can be maintained. He also emphasized on adding ‘values’ to our culture.
Dr. Javed Akhtar, Director Finance, ACN Group of Institutions, said that he will bear all the expenses of the publication of the booklets proposed by Prof. Zakia, provided the Forum should take up this task. He also congratulated Dr. Shakeel Samdani for having organized such a successful program.
IP Singh ‘Josh’, Additional District Judge, Aligarh, Prof. Zakaria Siddiqui, former Dean, Faculty of Law, AMU, Prof. NAK Durrani, ex-Media Advisor, AMU & Chairman, Department. of Mass. Communication; Prof. Humayun Murad, ex-Proctor & Controller, AMU; Dr. Abdur Raheem K, Chairman, D/o Museology, AMU distributed the certificate to the participants.
Earlier, welcoming the guests, secretary of the Forum, Mansoor Ilah said that the seed sown by Dr. Shakeel Samdani way back in 2004 has now become a fruitful tree and he promises that he and his team will strive for nothing less than best for the accomplishment of the charter of objectives of the forum and assured the Pro-Vice Chancellor that the forum will always be supporting the University Administration for the cause of community.