This year’s budget was historic in the sense that the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee announced allocation of Rs 25 crore each for the two campuses which A.M.U has planned at Murshidabad in West Bengal and Malappuram in Kerala. Though total estimate of these campuses is about Rs 2,000 crore but for the time being the Central Government has allocated Rs 25 crore each. In fact A.M.U has plans to establish total five such centres. Three other campuses will be located in Pune (Maharashtra), Katihar (Bihar), and Bhopal (M.P). But Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra governments have lagged in acquiring required land for the campuses. While West Bengal government swiftly arranged 355.67 acres land in Jangipur sub-division of Murshidabad district and Kerala government also acquired 400 acres land in Malappuram.
Aligarh Muslim University had sent proposal for setting outside Aligarh campuses to the Ministry of Human Resources Development. The HRD Ministry had requested to all five state governments to acquire 250-300 acres of land but state governments of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Bihar failed to take any positive steps in this regard. It is a matter of analysis, why these three governments failed to act despite positive opportunities of developing educationally backward areas which will ultimately benefit these states. Madhya Pradesh is currently ruled by BJP, hence it may be said that the government has preferred ideology over development but in Maharashtra and Bihar non-BJP governments are in power, why they lagged behind is a matter of grave concern. Spreading education is a holy mission and it should not be considered by any coloured prism.
If any section of Indian society or state government has misunderstanding about these centres, they must take into account secular history of A.M.U itself where a large number of non-Muslim students study and live side by side their Muslim brothers. Educational policy of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, founder of A.M.U was based on four specific points: advancement of modern knowledge, maintenance of Islamic principle, an effort to carry the Muslim public opinion with him and cooperation with all other communities particularly the Hindus. Sir Syed observed, “The MAO College (which later on became A.M.U) is a means to national progress. I do not mean by nation, only Muslim. I include in this term, both the Hindus and Muslims. It is true that the college was set up primarily to ameliorate the condition of the Muslims but both the Muslims and the Hindus are students of MAO College and both equally partake of the education.”
A.M.U centres outside Aligarh are the brainchild of the present Vice-Chancellor, Prof. P.K Abdul Azis. Since he took over vice-chancellorship of A.M.U, he is continuously carrying on Sir Syed’s mission in different ways. When Sachar Committee Report effectively documented educational backwardness of the Muslims of India, Prof. Azis embarked upon a massive plan to address educational backwardness of Indian Muslims. He introduced a number of academic and administrative reforms within the campus and went ahead with his conceived idea of centres. Fortunately all competent bodies of the University namely Academic Council, Executive Council and the Court approved the proposal. Muslim concentration districts in five states were identified. Prof. Azis himself persuaded the project by making contacts with Chief Ministers and high officials of the respective states. His efforts have begun paying rich dividends now.
Allocations made in the budget for A.M.U centres in Murshidabad and Malappuram will become an effective tool for uplifting both the neglected areas. Murshidabad has 65 per cent Muslim population and according to central government’s own data, the district is the poorest in the country. Sixty per cent of the people belong to below poverty line. No proper educational system exists in the district. Due to starvation hundreds of people have lost their lives. The other area proposed for centre of A.M.U is Malappuram. It has functional educational infrastructure due to heavy investment made by expatriate Indians but still higher educational facilities are missing. A.M.U centre in this district will enable poor students to pursue higher studies at low cost. In a way the exercise of setting up outside Aligarh campuses is in tune with Sir Syed’s mission.
The educational mission of Sir Syed must be seen against the backdrop of the failure of the first War of Independence (1857) with its disastrous consequences for the Muslims. Sir Syed realised that for the survival and progress, it was absolutely necessary to equip themselves with modern education. Initially he was opposed but without dejection, he went ahead with his plans. Likewise, A.M.U V.C Prof. Azis also took up massive plans to spread education among Muslims and deprived classes and faced opposition from some vested interests. He too continued his journey to modernising the A.M.U without any bias or grudge. Expansion of A.M.U in five states will ultimately benefit our coming generations and the history will record achievements of Prof. Azis in golden letters. The efforts of Prof. Azis deserve appreciation by all those who believe in the establishment of a social order based upon justice, liberty, equity and fraternity
We must not forget words of former President of India, late Dr. Zakir Hussain that, “The way Aligarh participates in the various walks on national life will determine the place of Muslims in India’s national life. The way India conducts itself towards Aligarh will determine largely the form which our national life will acquire in future.” Therefore, Indian citizenry and political parties irrespective of their ideology should support A.M.U Vice-Chancellor Prof. P.K. Abdul Azis who is engaged in moulding and shaping the mind, character and conduct of hundreds of thousands of students. A.M.U campuses outside Aligarh will further enlarge this creative and dynamic mission.