By TCN News,
Aligarh: Dr. Masood Akhtar, a US based AMU alumnus, has donated a sum of Rs. 1 million (US $16000) to the Aligarh Muslim University. The donated amount has been transferred to the Alumni Fund established by AMU.
Responding to a call by the AMU Vice Chancellor, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Zameer Uddin Shah to establish 100 “Smart Class Rooms” equipped with modern teaching tools, Dr. Masood Akhtar of Madison, Wisconsin made this contribution, probably one of the largest cash contributions by USA-based alumni of the University. The donated funds will be used to establish a Smart Classroom in the Department of Botany where Dr. Akhtar pursued his PhD in 1985. Dr. Akhtar is an energy entrepreneur and over the years has founded a number of companies. He is currently serving as the President of three companies.
Dr. Masood Akhtar.
Dr. Shaheer Khan, one of the founding members of the Aligarh Muslim University Alumni Association of Northern California, USA thanked Dr. Akhtar for the generous donation. He said that this act of philanthropy will inspire other alumni to contribute to their alma mater.
AMU Vice Chancellor recently attended the XII Annual Convention of the Federation of AMU Alumni Associations as a keynote speaker and chief guest which was held Houston, USA in June 2013. Gen. Shah also visited several cities across USA and appealed to alumni of the University to make substantial contributions to their alma mater as the university required an endowment of Rs. 100 Crore over the next five years to conduct various developmental works which cannot be undertaken merely from the funds provided by the government. In an open letter to the alumni spread all over the globe, the Vice Chancellor called them as “custodian” of AMU and said it was “payback” time for them to their alma mater.
Dr. Tahir Husain, President of the Federation said that the Federation and its member associations supported the Vice Chancellor’s effort to improve infrastructure in the university.
The Vice Chancellor, Gen. Shah thanked Dr. Masood Akhtar and the Alumni Association of Northern California for the generous help. He assured that their contributions will be appropriately acknowledged and complete transparency will be maintained in management of the endowment.
Link:
http://www.amualumni.org/