The Centre of Adult and Continuing Education, Aligarh Muslim University in collaboration with renowned Hindi literary magazine Vartaman Sahitya, organised a programme on “Various Aspects of Female Education” to mark the centenary celebration of International Women’s Day at Aligarh on March 14. On this occasion, the book Muslim Female Education: From Veils to Moon by AMU Public Relations Officer, Dr. Rahat Abrar was released.
Commenting on the book, eminent Hindi critic and former Head, Department of Hindi, Prof. Pradeep Saxena said the book written on a serious subject in easy language does not only seek to make an entry in the elite class but also satisfies the quest for knowledge on the issue among common people. Prof. Saxena said the colonial mentality and ideology is the biggest hindrance in social development, which does not allow history to be analysed rationally. The movement initiated by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan sought to free education from the colonial dogmas along with the promotion of modern education, he observed.
Prof. Saxena said Dr. Rahat Abrar has written a very informative book on the Muslim female education citing the history of Aligarh Movement that witnessed the contributions of numerous Muslim women of high order.
While presiding over the programme, former Principal of AMU Women’s College and former Director of Women’s Study Centre, Prof. Zakia A. Siddiqui said the killing of female child before or after birth is still prevalent in our society. The dowry devil is rampant causing destruction of a number of families and female education in India is still a toddler. There is an urgent need of another Sheikh Abdullah who could revive female education movement in order to bring complete awakening in the society, she observed.
Editor Vartaman Sahitya, Dr. Namita Singh said women need to be self dependent economically in order to be empowered.
The Director, Adult and Continuing Education, Dr. Mah Seema Masood highlighted the features of informal mode of education and urged the people to adopt a positive outlook to be optimistic in their efforts.
The Chief Guest and MLC, Mr. Vivek Bansal observed that discrimination against women is an international phenomenon, yet India presents the brightest side of the picture that the President of Indian republic and Lok Sabha speaker are women and it has had a woman prime minister too. Mr. Bansal said that women have to be educated for all round development of the country.
Eminent social worker and educationist, Mr. Harnarayan Singh said a national survey should be made to find out how women’s social status is largely determined by their economic condition.
Conducting the programme, Mr. Ajay Bisaria said that different social organisations could lead a national movement for female education. He also recited the famous couplet of great poet Majaz. On this occasion, Salma Kanwal recited a poem dedicated to women.
The vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. Rajiv Lochan Shukl.