Aligarh Muslim University
It is very unfortunate that the India's most prestegous University of the sub-continent, the pride of Muslims in India, was established by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan saheb in 1875 first as school which later became the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College and finally became the Aligarh Muslim University in 1920 and the university was granted the status of the Central Univerity by the act of the Parliament. We have been reading very disturbing news in the news papers and watching the news on the news every now and then about some disturbance or the other in the university which shakes the entire muslim community all over the world. The Aligarh Muslim University is among the world one of the most respected universities and this university has produced some of the best leaders, philontrophists, doctors, sportsmen etc. For the last few years, the problem of security has emerged as a potential threat to the very existence of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). The recent closing down of the university third time in four years in sine die is a matter of concern. In spite of the praiseworthy efforts by the university administration the problem remains unresolved. The approach to tackle the problem is not in multi-dimensional framework. The study of the various interlinked factors is essential to understand the true nature of the security threat to the university.
The biggest security that AMU has had for a long period of time is the faith of the people towards this university as a “movement” started by the well wishers of the community for the social, educational, and political advancement of the Indian Muslims after 1857. For this reason no one used to think to damage the university at any level. But I feel that due to eroding sprit of Aligarian and love towards the university, this movement has been turning into a mere “Government Institution”.
For a movement people sacrifice a lot, serve without any interest and even spend millions for the betterment. Now this is a central government university, the emerging trend is to rob it as much as possible. No working culture, no sprit to serve, no responsibility towards the youth of the community, the motto is to get salary without work, create chaos in the campus to save own skin from the class teaching, crush talents to conceal own inability and employ own kith and kin on various posts, start crying if any one reminds them their duty. Are not all these a security threat to the very existence of the university?
The spirit of Aligarh that used to be started with “we” has been changed into “I”. No group work, no collective efforts, no brotherly love but the self interest effort and chanting slogan of regionalism to serve own vested interest. Would such approaches carry the Aligarh movement in the 21st century to serve the marginalized community of Sachar committee?
My interaction with the different groups of the students, the managment and the Court members have given me a true insight without being prejudice or partial t anybody, I personally feel and am of the strong opinion that the spirit of positive criticism seems to be completely absent in AMU today. If anyone tries to bring the drawback or offers constructive suggestion he’s considered the enemy and obstacle in the smooth running of administration. Many cases of suspension and rustications of the students and staffs in the past are the result of positive criticism. In any official meeting most of the participants remain mute spectator or yes-man rather than an active participant. And the reason is the intolerant attitude of the head towards the active positivist criticizer. In my opinion if AMU accepts the norm of positive criticism in all a sphere, many of the major problems would evaporate.
As we all know that there are some section of the media which is patronised to defame the muslims, their institutions and project them in the eyes of the world as a terrorist. But the majority of the media in our country is independent and report the facts. The present day some so called print and the electronic media which is under the control of the communalists has created negative image of the university in the mainstream of the nation. The undue interferences of media in the campus as compared to other universities played an important role in maligning the university and the students. The report of the Times of India about the university and the sting operation of the electronic media in the case of Prof Siras questions the role of media about AMU. The role of local media to highlight every petty issue on front page and no reporting or even back page reporting about the achievements of the university and students succeeded in projecting university as a center of anti-nationals and hub of criminals. The irresponsible statements of the office bearers of the university on certain issues also brought bad name to the university. Can any university in such negative media attention survive long to be a well acknowledged center of learning?
For the last few years, the group wars and media fight among the university staff degraded the university image among the Indian Muslims. The strength of the university is the unquestioned silent support of the Indian Muslims and the worldwide settled alumni of AMU. Every media coverage of internal fight and corruption makes them to bow down their head in shame and distance from the causes of the university. There seems to be a conspiracy to defame the University and malign its image by the vested interests.
The AMU is so important and so dear to Indian Muslims not due to as a center of learning but as a centre of training and vision making for the community. The people related to AMU should know that they are respected because of AMU has respect among the people. Their very much existence depends upon the existence of AMU. Their identity is due to AMU. Without AMU they are nothing but a person like other institutions of India.
What I have learnt from my interaction and the assessment of the situation that the security problem for the university is not from the general students who are passing their exams every year but are from those who are unsuccessful. These unsuccessful students not only create problem at every level but get involved in those activities which are against the interest of the university. They are used by some vested interest to create chaos and insecurity in the campus. We can minimize the security threat of the campus by checking the students who are failure and involved in breaching of the university security.
In the light of above problem the need of hour is to remove all those hurdles by encouraging residential faculties at different points, give concession to the teaching staff and residential warden in HRA. The policy of constructing more residential halls for the students should now be stopped. The University should not be turned into a guest house or Sarai but it must remain a training center. The outdated courses should be removed or merged in related department in phase wise manner. The opening of one man faculties should be discouraged.
Another very disturbing fact and the reason for a great concern is that the Contracters has a nexus with soem kingpin in the administration and this is another group that is posing threat to the security of the university as for the last few years the dealing in real estate has emerged as a lucrative business. The large and valuable properties of the university are in the greedy eyes of the builders, dishonest officials and the land mafia. The nexus among these elements also limits the free and fair functioning of the University. This is not in the interest of the University to have vast properties under department of waqf and properties under a Member-in-charge (MIC). The MIC already has other responsibilities, having no time for the better planning of the properties. It was only during the time of former vice-chancellor Mr. Mehmoodur Rahman that this department worked very actively and recovered the lost properties of millions of rupees. The solution of this problem is the restructuring of the department of the properties under head of the Properties Officer (PO) with legal back ground. The publishing of the detail of all properties of the university after five years (after end of tenure of every vice-chancellor), the enclosing of all the open land, and planning to use the land of the university in the better ways are some another measures to check the security threat of the university. The studenst union always played an important role in security of University properties by bringing the issues related to the properties to the university administration.
The construction and repairing of the building in the university has also emerged a business of million rupees. The dubious role played by the building department in collusion with the contractors and suppliers make university buildings vulnerable. The unplanned construction in the campus is another matter of concern. The quality and expertise in construction and repairing has been compromised if one sees the background of the contractors who have been assigned responsibilities to construct or repair the building. Why is there such negligence attitude towards historical building of the University? The nexus among the different factors should be checked in time. Otherwise there would be very much problem for the university in the era of a week administration in future.
In the light of above discussed points, the need of hour is to adopt a precautionary policy of security rather than the policy of post event tackling of the situation. The egoistic and revengeful attitude should be discarded for the sake of the university. The role of the students associated with various political and non-political parties should be investigated. As the problems of security are in multi-dimensional frame work, the approach should also be in multi-dimensional to improve the security condition for peaceful academic environment of the university.
However, I am happy to learn that the University would now re-open on 18th March 2011 and I hope that the students and the all responsible concerned authorities would maintain the sanctity of the University which is very important as our identity in India and abroad. I know many Algarians and the city of Hyderabad is having the Aligarh Old Boys Association which is very active. The prominent student of the AMU in 1960's from our city was the Chief Editor of Rehnuma-e-Deccan Syed Vicaruddin saheb who has dedicated his life in the service of the community and I may not be wrong if I say that the urdu has always lived in his home and the very style and the content of his news paper, he never compromised on his principles. Thats the greatest qulaity of an Algarian. I may mention here that my respected father Janab Mohd.Khaleelur Rahman saheb, M.P. was the member of the AMU court from the Parliament for 6 years years and during his tenure as the member of the court, I had the privilege of visiting the university and interacting with the then VC Janab Hashim ALi Akhter saheb if I remember correctly, and this association of my father with the University has always kept me mentally and spiritually connected with the University. Another daring and former Students Union President Janab Mohd.Adeeb saheb is again a very humble person and always thoughful about the community and especially about the educational empowerment of the muslims. He is a daring and fearless orator.
The irony of the situation is that we fight among ourselves. I am happy that the VC has announced that the university will be re-open on May 18, 2011.
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