By Md. Ali, TwoCircles.net
New Delhi: There is an urgent need for Muslims to think beyond Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) and establish more universities in order to alleviate educational backwardness of the community, said the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Dr. K Rahman Khan.
He was speaking at the seminar on “Minority Education Rights: New Challenges” here in New Delhi organized jointly by the Millat Bedari Muhim Committee(MBMC) Aligarh, the Aligarh Movement Monthly Magazine and Jamia Urdu Aligarh on 27th November.
K Rahman Khan making a point, on the stage from L to R Hamidullah Bhat, Dr. Waseem Akhter, Nafisa Ali, Farhat Ali and Prof. Razaullah
While accepting the importance of the minority character of AMU and JMI, Dr. Khan also pointed out that these two universities are not sufficient to fulfill the educational needs of such a vast community like Indian Muslims.
Union Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khursheed joined Mr. Khan in asking Indian Muslims to think beyond AMU and JMI.
“Sitaron ke aage jahan aur bhi hain (there are many more worlds beyond stars)…” said the minister.
Mr. Khursheed said that “government doesn’t provide minority character certificate to any institutions; either they are minority institutions or they are not. It only recognizes them as one.”
Salman Khursheed speaking at the seminar
“The matter is in the Supreme Court and I was given to understand by the HRD minister who is a bigger lawyer than me, that the apex court will validate the minority character of AMU,” said the minority affairs minister.
Mr. Khursheed informed the audience that the issue of minority character of JMI is with the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI) and soon the commission is going to take a call on the issue.
In his veiled criticism of the general habit of Muslim organizations to discuss minority rights in seminars which are usually dominated by Muslim audience and participants, Mr. Khursheed said that “they are like preaching to the choir.”
The need of the hour is to go out and discuss the issue of minority rights among “our Non Muslims brothers.”
Leave complaining attitude
Dr. K Rahman Khan also called upon Indian Muslims to “leave the complaining attitude and introspect on why even after more than 60 years of independence they are still one of the most backward communities in India.”
Finding fault with the complaining attitude of Indian Muslims at their perceived sense of “victimization” and discrimination, this chartered accountant turned politician from Karnataka observed that unless Indian Muslims don’t consider themselves as the “second majority” of India, things won’t change.
“Government is not a provider but a facilitator. Why do we complain all the time about the failure of the government? When will we empower ourselves through education?” asked Dr. Khan.
Right priorities
Mr. Khan appealed to the community leaders to “set the priorities right” and stop talking about “non issues” like the protection of Personal Law, which has already been given legal protection.
“Its high time we should stop wasting our time in talking about non issues and instead we better start campaigns for the empowerment of our community through education,” said Dr. Khan.
Pointing out that “no body had stopped us from opening our own universities” Mr. Khan said that “had we utilized our Awkaf properties which are worth millions or millions, we could have established hundreds of universities.”
On this occasion the Vice Chancellor of the Integral University, Lucknow Syed Waseem Akhter was bestowed upon the “Aligarh Movement Award-2010” by Dr. K Rahman Khan.
Winners of Sir Syed essay writing competition-2010 were also awarded by the Minority Welfare Minister.
Highlighting the importance of basic education, Jasim Mohammad, editor of the Aligarh Movement magazine said that basic education for the community is much more important than higher education which can not be achieved without government support.
Prof. Razaullah Khan, president of MBMC, Farhat Ali Khan, OSD Jamia Urdu, Dr. M. Hamidullah Bhat, director of NCUPL and celebrity Nafisa Ali were the other speakers at the seminar which was an attempt to bring scholars, policy makers and intellectuals on one platform to discuss challenges to the minority education rights in India.