By TCN News,
Aligarh: Even when the row over admission of girls to the main library is still fresh, the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) is hit by yet another controversy. AMU vice chancellor has written to Smriti Irani, the union minister for HRD, regarding the BJP’s plans to celebrate birth anniversary of Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh on December 1 inside the AMU campus.
BJP declaration two days ago that it wants to celebrate Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh’s birth anniversary evoked strong political reactions. Even the AMU Teachers’ Association has expressed serious concern over politicisation of the AMU campus on the issue of celebrating 126th birth anniversary of the Raja.
AMU VC Lt General Zameeruddin Shah (retd) on Thursday wrote to Irani and appealed that AMU does not want to get involved in politics and that the “University needs the Ministry’s earnest support urgently as there is a serious threat to the law and order.”
“The plan of certain elements at Aligarh to celebrate ‘Raja Mahendra Pratap Day’ inside the AMU campus on December 1(his anniversary) has potential of leading to massive student unrest on the AMU campus,” the AMU VC said in the letter, a release said here.
The reasons argued by what AMU called “these elements” is that Raja Mahendra Pratap donated large tracts of land for the establishment of AMU and that he should be honoured accordingly. But Shah pointed out that the University acknowledged that it was 1.221 hectares (3.04 acres) land that was leased out by the Raja in 1929 at R2 per annum. “(But) besides him, there were a large number of donors. The bulk of land was procured from the British government which was in the process of closing down the Aligah Chhawani (cantonment) from which Sir Syed got 74 acres,” Shah said and attached to the letter a list of all donors to the AMU.
“In view of the threat of disturbance from these people claiming to be affiliated to various political parties / outfits, another political outfit opposing them has joined the fray and announced that they would not allow the rally to be held,” the letter said.
Describing how a meeting was held between the representatives of the two sides on November 25 along with the VC, the release said, it was then agreed to hold celebrations at Tikona Ground leased by the Raja. “But very next morning, certain political outfit wanted to change the venue and demanded that the meeting be held inside the AMU city high school. This will lead to confrontation,” the release added.
The Vice Chancellor also pointed out that families of other donors (what to say of those who have given land on lease) have jumped into the fray and also want celebrations for their ancestors, who were donors. AMU celebrates only the Sir Syed (founder’s) Day and cannot have a myriad of celebrations, he said.
Meanwhile, the AMU Teachers’ Association (AMUTA) too has expressed serious concern over politicization of the AMU campus on the issue of celebration by vested interest and irresolute handling of the situation by the University administration.
“There are certain forces, who have nothing to do with Raja Mahendra Pratap, are deliberately trying to communalize the situation by issuing irresponsible statements on the matter only to gain political mileage out of it,” said Dr Aftab Alam, honorary secretary, AMUTA.
“The Raja was a revolutionary social reformist and the erstwhile Jan Sangh had opposed him when he contested the 1952 Lok Sabha election as an independent candidate. BJP, the new avatar of Jan Sangh is falsely claiming the legacy of ardent secular freedom fighter, who was opposed to the communal politics,” AMUTA said in a release.
The AMU teaching community also expressed its “deep hurt by the so-called secret meeting between RSS leaders and the Vice-Chancellor” and said, “The University has always stood with secular and democratic values and has vehemently opposed communal and fascist forces. The university community cannot forget the conspirators of demolition of Babri Mosque and perpetrators of heinous crime against Muslims in Gujrat and Muzaffarnagar.”
The AMUTA, the release claimed, is also opposed to the idea of celebrating birth anniversary of any individual in the University under pressure of a political party merely because incidentally that party happens to be in power at centre. The teacher’s body also feels that “the University administration has issued conflicting statements on the contribution of Raja Mahendra Pratap adding fuel to the controversy,” the release said, adding, “The AMUTA views the whole controversy as a well designed conspiracy to trample the autonomy of the University, which teachers’ body strongly condemns.”