By TwoCircles.net News Desk,
Washington: “The status of Muslims in India would have been worst had Sir Syed Ahmad Khan not worked hard for empowerment of the community through education,” said Shamsur Rahman Faruqi delivering 34th Sir Syed Day Dinner organized by the Aligarh Alumni Association of Metropolitan Washington on Saturday, 24th October 2009 at the University of Maryland auditorium at Rockville, Maryland.
Faruqi, a leading Urdu literary critic and author of more than 20 books and innumerable scholarly research papers in reputed literary journals and magazines, was introduced by Dr. Moazzam Siddiqui. Mr. Habib Farooqi, the senior most Aligarian in the audience, presented a plaque to the chief guest on behalf of the association.
Faruqi expressed that the seed for communal divide in the Subcontinent was sowed by the erstwhile British rulers in India in the late 18th century by brainwashing people that Urdu language was for Muslims and Hindi was the language for Hindus. He opined that the partition of the Subcontinent was an extension of “divide and rule” modus operandi of
British occupiers.
He expressed that the commonly accepted explanation of the word Urdu—a language of soldiers—is not correct. This meaning of Urdu was perhaps tagged to subconsciously impress that speakers of this language were subscribers of warrior mentality.
Faruqi expressed that a lot of injustice has been done to India in the past few decades, but he was cautiously optimistic about the future of Urdu in India.
Shri Ali Anwar Ansari, a member of the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Indian Parliament) from Bihar, thanked the association for providing the opportunity to address the audience. He appreciated the efforts of Sir Syed for recognizing the importance and significance of education. He offered his help to the association in promoting the noble cause of improving the literacy rate.
The meeting started with the recitation of a Quranic sura by Dr. Ayub Yusufi followed by welcome address by the association’s president, Dr. Rafat Husain.
Dr. Zafar Iqbal eulogized Professor Shuaib Kidwai, who passed way on October 23, 2009. Dr. Kidwai, a respected member of the community, was association’s patron for many years.
The audiences were entertained by presentation of glimpses of the university’s culture by in-house talented artists organized by Dr. Razi Raziuddin. Mr. Mustafa Hashmi, dressed as Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, read excerpts from the speeches of AMU founder. Dr. A. Abdullah narrated light-hearted incidences reported about AMU culture by a number senior Aligarians. Ms. Sheeba Naved, Dr. Shakeel Ahmad and Ms. Nuzaira Azam recited the poems of 3 great poets of Aligarh, Moin Ahsan Jazbi, Majaz and Ali Sardar Jafri, respectively, in their beautiful voices.
President-elect of the association, Mr. Masood Farshori was the master of ceremony and he also thanked the chief guests, speakers, program participants, audience, and volunteers for making this event a success.