By TCN News,
Aligarh: “Aligarh Muslim University shall never forget the services of Maulana Shibli Nomani who served this institution for sixteen years during its early period as a confidant of Sir Syed and AMU will consider establishing a chair to perpetuate the memory of Maulana Shibli Nomani and Khwaja Altaf Husain Hali”, said AMU Vice Chancellor Lt. Gen. Zameer Uddin Shah while addressing at the inaugural session of two-day National Seminar on “Shibli and His Times”, organized by the Department of Urdu, AMU. He said that Shibli’s contributions will always be remembered.
General Shah said, “We will be celebrating Sir Syed’s bicentennial birth anniversary in 2017 and the University is planning to make this occasion a big celebration”. For this, a committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Professor A R Kidwai, Director, UGC Academic Staff College and several programmes have been initiated to this effect, General Shah added.
AMU Vice Chancellor releasing a book at the Shibli Seminar
The Vice Chancellor said that he was not against difference in opinion but there must be a nicer way to voice dissent. We should maintain Aligarh Tehzeeb even when we are in opposition, he pointed out.
Gen Shah hoped that papers presented during the seminar will succeed in bringing to the light various aspects of Shibli’s life and contributions.
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Ishtiaque Ahmad Zilli, Director, Darul Musannifeen, Shibli Academy, Azamgarh said that this century will mark Shibli’s revival and this seminar is another step in this direction. He said that Shibli is considered to be the pioneering scholar of modern times who worked as a bridge between the modern and classical literature.
Professor Zilli said that Shibli’s arrival at Aligarh was a great historical event. He became a confidant of Sir Syed and worked with him for the development of the MAO College. Sir Syed even provided a small residence to Shibli in the premises of his house.
Professor Zilli said that Aligarh had an important place in Shibli’s life and Shibli and Darul Musannifeen were in fact extensions of Aligarh Movement. He said if Darul Musannifeen has a library in future, it will be named after Sir Syed. He pointed out that Shibli was the person who initiated teaching of Quran in MAO College.
Earlier, welcoming the guests, Professor Syed Mohd. Hashim, Chairman, Department of Urdu said that Shibli shared the vision of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan as he also made efforts to establish centres of studies with special focus on creating intellect.
The seminar was formally inaugurated by Prof. Abdul Sattar Dalvi, former Chairman, Department of Urdu in Mumbai University. In his speech, Prof. Dalvi stressed on creating scientific approach and making better arrangements for children’s education. He said that nineteenth century was a century of intellectual revolution and Maulana Shibli’s ideas will always be relevant in scholarly pursuits.
Professor Zafar Ahmad Siddiqui highlighted the objectives of the seminar and Dr. Shahabuddin Saqib conducted the programme.