By TCN News,
Aligarh:A book, titled Criticism and Counter Criticism published by Viva Books and edited by Dr. Mohammad Asim Siddiuqi and Prof. Abdur Raheem Kidwai was released by the Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Zameeruddin Shah, Vice Chancellor, AMU at the UGC Academic Staff College, AMU.
This book is a tribute to the three doyens of the English Department, AMU Professor Asloob Ahmad Ansari, Professor Masoodul Hasan and (Late) Professor Zahida Zaidi.
L-R: Prof. Kidwai, Prof. Hasan, Gen. Shah, Prof. Jairajpuri, Dr. Siddiqui and Dr. Reshma at the book releasing ceremony at Academic Staff College
In his presidential remark the Vice Chancellor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Zameer Uddin Shah pointed out that books about Criticism and books, which get criticized, always catch the attention of readers.
Professor Abdur Raheem Kidwai talked about the glorious tradition of teacher-taught relationship of Aligarh Muslim University. In his special address Professor Shamim Jairajpuri, Founder Vice Chancellor of Maulana Azad National Urdu University, highlighted the need to give a boost to research activities in the university. He also recalled the time when teachers were always available for giving guidance to students.
While introducing the book, Mohd. Asim Siddiqui outlined the new standards of Criticism in today’s time. He said that criticism today tries to break away from empiricist-idealist paradigm and attempts to look even at old texts from a fresh critical perspective.
The reason is that meaning of a text is not fixed. This book, he informed the audience, is divided into four sections namely “Revisiting the English Canon”, “The American connection”, “On to the counter-canon and “Aligarianonia”. The last section evaluates the English Criticism produced at the Aligarh Muslim University.