Department of Law, AMUMC organised an extension lecture on the theme Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, The Aligarh Movement and the Aligarh Muslim University on 28 November.
Prof. Shakeel Ahmed Samdani, Dept. of Law and Estate Officer (Gazetted) AMU Aligarh, was keynote speaker of the extension lecture. The programme started with the recitation of the verses of the Qur’ān by Mr. Aboobaker, a student of Law.
Director, Dr. H. Abdul Azeez, welcomed the guests and thanked Prof. Shakeel Ahmed Samdani and Dr. Ubaid Siddiqui for their efforts in finishing strike.
Prof. Samdani explained the contributions of the founder of Aligarh Muslim University. He told the audience that it was the commitment and sincerity of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan which played a crucial role in the establishment of Aligarh Muslim University. Sir Syed was the first Indian educationist who had visited England and had keenly studied Oxford and Cambridge Universities and their models before he had established MAO College. He was the first to make education globalised in India.
He further added that to understand the educational policies of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, we have to understand the failure of First War of Independence (popularly known as Indian Mutiny) – 1857. After its failure Sir Syed did not revolt or give up hope but embarked upon a definite mission. He decided to empower his community with education to fight back and recover the lost grounds. He executed this holy task in a manner that has no other example in history. He not only devoted himself to this mission but successfully mobilised a vast majority of Muslims and Hindus alike to realise it. He did succeed in preparing a generation of Indians which not only fought with the British in pre-independence days but also participated in nation building in post-independent India.
Prof. Samdani further said that the establishment of MAO College accelerated the process of education in India and a large number of educational institutions were established throughout the country.
Underlining the lesser known aspect of Sir Syed’s life, Prof Samdani pointed out that he was instrumental in enactment of Stamp Act, 1882, (Registration of Documents and The Kazis Act, 1880, in British India). The Kazis Act empowers the state government to appoint Kazis for the purpose of desiring local Muslims with solemnisation of marriages, etc.
Sir Syed himself was from legal background. It was due to that reason he understood importance of the legal education at that time when in fact nobody had given much importance to it.
Pointing out to the moral courage of Sir Syed, Prof Samdani pointed out in his Asbab-e-Baghawat-e-Hind that one of the big reasons behind revolt was that Indians were not involved in the administration and judiciary. Today we need the same strategy. We cannot achieve our goals and rights by shouting on streets but by adopting legal and constitutional ways.
He reminded the audience that the Aligarh Muslim University is not only an institution but a movement which was aimed at spreading education not only in India but all over the world. In this connection, it should be noted that the former Vice Chancellor Prof. P.K. Abdul Azees took a monumental step by starting two new Centres at Malappuram and Murshidabad.
Prof. Samdani told the gathering that the present Vice Chancellor Lt. Gen (Rtd) Zameer Uddin Shah has tried his best to achieve wider mission of Sir Syed. During his tenure, the campus is very peaceful and academic atmosphere is prevailing. The students of the university are succeeding in different competitions. He has also given a new direction to the Aligarh movement by establishing Kishanganj Centre in Bihar and B.Ed courses were introduced at Murshidabad and Malappuram Centre. He has strengthened the two existing Centres and provided all support. This noble work of Lt. Gen (Rtd) Zameer Uddin Shah will be inscribed in golden letters in history.
It is indeed heartening to note that the present VC has recognised the need for good schooling of Muslim students and has decided to open the Sir Syed Public School in every district of Uttar Pradesh to provide quality education.
Prof Samdani expressed the view that our Constitution is a model document and India will always remain a secular state. Indian Muslims have been given adequate rights by the Constitution and they should not only respect but must avail these rights. He said that we can rightfully take pride in our Constitution.
Dr. Ubaid Ahmed Siddiqui, Asst. Professor, Dept. of Anesthesiology, AMU also spoke on the topic. He stressed the need for AMU Malappuram Centre to become a Model Centre. He expressed the hope that this Campus would be the torch bearer for educational upliftment of Indian Muslims. He also promised to convey the various issues of students and staff members to University administration.
Vote of thanks was presented by Mr. Shahnawaz Ahmad Malik, Asst. Professor, Dept. of Law, AMU, MC. Ms. Ramsha Tanwir, a student of Law, anchored the programme.