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Aligarh: “Nations that
ignore changes remain backward in every walk of life”, said Mrs. Mohsina Kidwai, former Union Minister and Member, Rajya Sabha
while addressing the 195th birth anniversary of the founder of
Aligarh Muslim University, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. She said that the
education today had been fully transformed and change was the
destiny of the world.
She urged the University to establish
separate colleges for providing higher studies in Management
Hospitality and Paramedical sectors. She said that the Institute
of Nursing in J. N. Medical College should be elevated to the
status of a college providing degree courses in nursing studies.
Referring to Sir Syed’s efforts to give a new outlook and
understanding in place of traditional and conservative ideas, she
exhorted the University community to adopt a rational and
scientific thinking that would enable them to bring changes in the
society in accordance with the contemporary challenges.
Paying rich tributes to the great social reformer, educationist
and statesman, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, Mrs. Kidwai said that Sir Syed
was not only a Muslim benefactor but he was a boon for the whole
country and his services in spreading modern education are
unforgettable and unparallel. She said that Sir Syed showed a new
path of educational and intellectual development to the nation. He
wanted the education that would provide enlightenment and not
merely a degree, she added.
Mrs. Kidwai said that every generation has its own liabilities and
issues. The previous generation had the responsibility to get the
nation rid of slavery of British but the present generation has a
multitude of issues that we ought to resolve and pave the way for
development for our next generation.
The Chief Guest, recalling her days in Aligarh when she was a
student of the University, said that the memories of Aligarh have
always been dear to her and she often remembered her teachers who
always treated her with great affection and love. She said that
whatever she was now, was the charisma of Aligarh. She said that
his elder brother too had been a student of this University and
the Captain of AMU Riding Club.
Addressing the grand commemorative function held at the Athletics
Ground, the Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, Lt. Gen.
(Retd.) Zameer Uddin Shah said that Sir Syed dedicated all his
life for the promotion of secularism, universal brotherhood,
critical enquiry and scientific temperament and the Aligarh Muslim
University stood as a living embodiment of Sir Syed’s mission.
The Vice Chancellor said that although Urdu was our mother tongue,
English was the language of daily life earning. He urged the
students to achieve excellence in English to attain best
opportunities in their career.
He said that the development of Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College
was his first priority and he was committed to enhance the
residential facilities in University hostels by raising the food
and hygiene standard. He said that the residential facilities in
the University were adequate only for seven thousand students
while more than twenty one thousand students were living on the
campus.
The Vice Chancellor assured the students that he will always be
available to listen to their genuine grievances and their problems
would be resolved before they asked for it. He said that the
University was meant for the students and their betterment was
paramount.
General Shah said that a number of development initiatives have
been taken by his administration and remarkable changes will be
witnessed in the University in the next five years. He said that
the University website has been redesigned and the new website
will be launched later today. He appreciated the hard work and
dedication of the team of teachers responsible for redesigning of
the website.
Earlier, welcoming the guests, the Pro-Vice Chancellor, Brigadier
Syed Ahmad Ali said that the celebration was a tribute to the
great soul of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. He said that the whole Aligarh
fraternity should resolve to give their best to make the
University, number one university of the country. This will be the
real tribute to the founder of the University.
Prof. A. R. Kidwai, Director, UGC Academic Staff College and Prof.
Qazi Afzal Husain, Director, Urdu Academy also spoke on the
various facets of the personality of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. Ms. Saba
Parveen of Women’s College represented the students community in
expressing opinion about Sir Syed. On this occasion, the chief
guest Mrs. Mohsina Kidwai gave away cash prizes and certificates
to the winners of All India Essay Writing Competition held on Sir
Syed’s vision and the establishment of new centres of AMU.
AMU Registrar, Group Captain Shahrukh Shamshad proposed the vote
of thanks while the Coordinator of General Education Centre, Dr.
F. S. Sheerani conducted the programme.
Earlier in the morning, a Quran reading session (Quran Khwani) was
held at the University mosque after the Fajr prayer and a floral
tribute was paid at the Mazar of Sir Syed. Later, the Vice
Chancellor inaugurated the exhibition of books and photographs of
Sir Syed at the Sir Syed Academy organized by it in collaboration
with the Maulana Azad Library. The Vice Chancellor, General Shah
also inaugurated a grand book fair at the lawns of Zakir Husain
College of Engineering and Technology organized by the National
Book Trust of India with the cooperation of Aligarh Muslim
University.
An exhibition of books and photographs on Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and
Papa Mian Sheikh Abdullah, the doyen of female education in India,
was inaugurated by Her Excellency Mrs. Milena Santana Ramirez,
Ambassador of Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to India at the
Women’s College Library.
The most eloquent part of the Sir Syed Day celebrations was
holding of gala dinners at various residential Halls of the
University where several distinguished personalities from
different walks of life graced the function as chief guests. The
Vice Chancellor and Pro-Vice Chancellor visited different halls of
residence to witness the most memorable event, the Sir Syed
Dinner.
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