By Zafar Iqbal for TwoCircles.net
Washington, D.C: “A simple scholarship to a deserving student can change the destiny of the individual,” said Ms. Seemi Qadri addressing the audience of over 200 assembled Aligs and well-wishers of the Aligarh Movement at the iftar organized by the Aligarh Alumni Association of Metro Washington (AAA) to raise funds for the Scholarship Program of the association on Saturday, the 21st August, 2010.
Razi Raziuddin on microphone. Seated left to right—Bilal Naved, A. Abdullah, and Masood Farshori
She emphasized how an award of a scholarship can change the destiny citing examples of outstanding personalities like Nobel Laureate Abdus Salam, former president Bill Clinton, show-biz icon Oprah Winfrey, and a few others who excelled in their field of endeavor because some one provided them an opportunity. Ms. Qadri, a successful IT specialist, is the daughter of Shakila Raza and the late Mr. Ahmad Raza, who had devoted his retired years to reshape the scholarship program.
Dr. Rafat Husain, Director of Administration of the Scholarship Program, who recently visited some of the recipients of the scholarship at Aligarh, said that he had emphasized to them that scholarships were not a charity but an investment in the future of the community and the recipients were expected to invest in the next generation when they become earning members of the society.
Dr. Razi Raziuddin presented recent data on the financial health and status of the program and briefly explained how the program was being administered and used to benefit the needy students at the university. He stated that, in 2009, 190 students at the AMU received scholarship under this program. He emphasized the significance of the newly started Feeder and Coaching Centers Programs and informed that 350 student in fourteen districts of UP, Bihar, Uttarakhand, and Assam received stipends/scholarships through this program.
A view of the audience busy in iftar.
Mr. Virendra Singh described his experience with the Pardada-Pardadi Educational Society of India he had started a few years ago and explained how the society has successfully helped educate hundreds of underprivileged children of Muslim and other communities. He said that the greatest challenge he faces is to keep the Muslim girls in school when they reach puberty age. He thanked the association for the financial assistance through the feeder program that has helped him to give incentive to such girls to stay in school.
Miss Arshi Siddiqui, a rising star in the community with a lineage to Alig parents, emphasized the significance of scholarship in educational uplift of deserving candidates. Similar sentiments were expressed by Dr. AquilurRahman and Mr. Tufail Ahmad. Mr. Ahmad narrated how his father, who was a school teacher, had convinced him that supporting educational needs of deserving children was nobler than giving money for any other cause. Dr. Saeed Khan expressed that for continuous success of the program there was a need to involve younger generation. Dr Fazal Khan, the past president of the association and the current president elect of the Federation of the Aligarh Alumni Associations, echoed similar feelings. He said education is the only way to empower our community, which is lagging behind in all walks of life. Because of the lack of the education they miss many opportunities the present day India presents.
A special feature for the past few years in the iftar-dinner program is the participation of younger generation, including former students of the University who have also been one of the beneficiaries of the scholarship program. This year’s selectee Ms. Areej Faiz. Areej was one of the recipient of AAA Washington Scholarship at AMU has now joined the George Washington University Law School under an exchange program with the AMU. The association was instrumental in developing the memorandum of understanding between AMU and GWU thru the good offices of Frank Islam. Areej acknowledged her indebtedness to the AAA and her benefactor, Mr. Frank Islam for initiating such a program and providing financial support.
Left to right—Zafar Iqbal, Mustafa Hashmi, Azeem Khan (seated), Mohammad Rashid, Sikandar Khan, and Tahir Khan.
Dr Abdullah, Chairman of the Scholarship Committee made the final appeal for donation. He said that the transparency of the entire process of the scholarship program and the integrity of the people involved in management of the program have earned the respect and confidence of the donors. They have been very loyally supporting the program and we thank them for their generosity.
He also said that while we are engaged in fund raising for a very noble cause, many of us have plight of the flood victims of Pakistan. This is one of the worst natural disaster mankind has experienced in recent history. Since our association does not have a distribution net work in Pakistan, we urge you to please donate generously to the agency of your trust. We will make a similar request for donation through our mailing list.
The Association had a very successful evening receiving over $60,000 from the generous supporters of education. This would enable the association to support many more scholarships and stipends for Feeder and Coaching Centers Programs.
The function opened with the recitation of a Qur’anic sura and its translation by two young girls, Amna and Ammal Hussain. President Masood Farshori welcomed the guests and youngster Bilal Naved, served as an excellent master of ceremony. Mrs. Shakila Raza appreciated community’s participation and contribution that is helping the needy students in the very rightful way and thanked the volunteers for their dedication and untiring support. The iftar-dinner program was coordinated by Dr. Rafat Husain.
[Photos courtesy: Dr. Rafat Husain]