AMU pays rich tribute: When addressing the students and faculty, Justice Attau Rahman Masoodi, eminent jurist and senior judge, Lucknow Bench, High Court of Judicature, Allahabad, said, “The direction of the journey must be towards a collective goal because it is not the beginning that tends to determine an institution’s success or failure, but the objective.”
In support of his position, Justice Masoodi cited the Indian Constitution, remarking that the very first words of the Preamble exhort the people of India to abandon the self-assigning notions denoted by ‘I’ and advance towards the goals established by and for ‘We’.
“Today it is important to gauge the fact that whether every one of us as an individual or an institution could be able to become part and partial of a large collective self” , he stated.
Justice Masoodi, recalling his 1985 visit to AMU as an admissions applicant, attributed his decision to pursue legal studies to his brief stay on the AMU campus, during which he received the finest advice and hospitality from senior students.
The guest of honour, Retired IAS officer, Former Vice Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia, Mr Syed Shahid Mahdi, who is also an AMU alumnus, vehemently denied the allegations on Sir Syed of being a creator of the two-nation theory or a separatist, by quoting a news story printed in a newspaper published in February 1884 from Lahore, in which an Arya Samaj Deputation
Mr. Mahdi emphasised that this aspect of Sir Syed’s character must be investigated and brought to the public’s attention.
Mr. Sanjiv Saraf (Founder, Rekhta Foundation) stated that Aligarh and Urdu are synonymous to him, and when he first considered working for the promotion of Urdu language and literature, Aligarh was the first location that came to mind as having the most and best resources.
He stated that the venerated columns of Aligarh tell the stories of numerous Urdu poets and writers, and that many Urdu masterpieces originated in this region.
Mr. Saraf pointed out that progressive poetry originated in Aligarh long before the birth of the progressive movement, and that the seeds of purposeful poetry germinated during Sir Syed’s time as a consequence of his struggles with Urdu prose.
Dr. Laurence Gautier (Centre De Sciences Humaines, New Delhi) recalled Sir Syed as one of the most prolific individuals she had met. As one of India’s most influential reformers, she stated that Sir Syed’s impact has been monumental not only for Muslims, but for the entire nation.
Ms. Gautier remarked that the defining characteristic of a great reformer is that they leaves behind a body of work that stimulates debates and can be expanded upon by his or her successors. In establishing a school for females, which later became the renowned Women’s College, Sheikh Abdullah and his wife did not merely imitate what Sir Syed had done; rather, they continued his legacy in light of changing circumstances.
AMU pays rich tribute to its founder Sir Syed Ahmad Khan
In his presidential remarks, Vice-Principal Prof. Mohammad Gulrez congratulated the AMU community around the world on this momentous occasion, noting that this day is a celebration of a man’s vision, determination, commitment, efforts, and contributions.
“For Sir Syed, hope lay in strategy, and strategy was strength, strategy of no confrontation but of dialogue, and dialogue based on a wealth of knowledge and the art of articulation,” according to him.
Prof. Gulrez stated that Aligarh’s educational mission differed from that of other colleges at the time because it emphasised collective consciousness, a democratic perspective, and a radical intellectual awakening. Sir Syed desired that his students develop a process of thought, query blind obedience, distinguish between right and wrong, be fearless, have a profound sense of morality and tolerance, and possess a commanding personality.
According to the speaker, Sir Syed desired for Aligarh to be an intellectual and cultural centre that preserved the entire Indian heritage. Sir Syed’s commitment to social harmony, composite culture, inclusiveness, and collective development continues to govern the institutional conduct of AMU.
Prof. Gulrez reflected on the university’s accomplishments in recent years, observing that AMU has been ranked as the ninth best university in the country by the NIRF, the third best by India Today, and the sixth best by Times Higher Education for the year 2023. The AMU Mathematics department was ranked first in the nation and 137th in the world by US News and World Report in 2023.
He added that the university has made significant progress in implementing the National Education Policy – 2020 and has introduced new courses to make the learning process more innovative and industry-focused, such as M.Sc. Cyber Security and M.Sc.
The Vice-Chancellor exhorted the students to devote their mornings to the classroom and library, their afternoons to games and athletics, their evenings to healthy debates, to get a good night’s sleep, and to refrain from wasting time at dhabas.
Additionally, the Vice-Principal announced that Wednesday classes will continue to be cancelled.
AMU announces the result of the Sir Syed Essay competition
Mr. Mohammad Imran, Registrar of AMU, gave the opening remarks.
Chief Guest Justice Masoodi and Vice Chancellor Professor Gulrez presented awards to the recipients of the All India Essay Writing Competition on “Sir Syed’s Influence on Language and Literature” organised by the Public Relations Office in English, Hindi, and Urdu. The winners of the first, second, and third prizes in each of the three languages received a cash compensation of Rs. 25,000/-, Rs.
The Innovation Council and University Incubation Centre also honoured the In-House Students’ Research Convention champions for their innovative presentations.
Prof. Aysha Munira Rasheed (English Department) and Prof. Towqueer Alam, Dean of the Faculty of Theology, along with students Sumrana Muzaffar and Syed Faheem Ahmad, delivered speeches regarding the teachings, philosophy, works, and mission of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan.
Mr. Mujib Ullah Zuberi (Controller), Prof. Mohd Mohsin Khan (Finance Officer), and Prof. Mohd Wasim Ali (Proctor) were present in addition to other dignitaries.
Prof. Abdul Alim, Dean of Students’ Welfare, expressed appreciation.
The directors of the programme were Drs. Faiza Abbasi and Shariq Aqil.
Following the Fajr prayer, the day began with a Quran Khwani (Quranic Recitation) at the University Mosque. Prof. Gulrez, along with members of the University’s faculty and administration, deposited flowers at Sir Syed’s Mazaar (grave).
In addition, the Vice-Chancellor inaugurated the ‘Exhibition of Books and Photographs’ about Sir Syed Ahmad Khan at Sir Syed House. The exhibition was organised jointly by the Sir Syed Academy and the Maulana Azad Library.