Much had been said and written on Aligarh Muslim University’s so-called “Minority Character.”The demand for the Minority Status could be traced long back to 1950s i.e. almost 30 years after the MAO College got its due recognition as The Aligarh Muslim University.
The 1857 Revolt had left the Muslims bereaved. Many had migrated to some foreign countries, and many were left poverty stricken, on roads, to await death and humiliation. Syed Ahmad Khan was one such man who was ready like his fellow mates to leave the country, for a better future. But when he saw the pitiable conditions of the Muslims in India, he changed his mind, and decided to stay back. In a country where reality was bitter than dreams he decided to dream, for a future which was as uncertain as the present. The best possible way to raise the status of Muslims was to impart English Education to them. Hence in 1863, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan laid the foundation of the Scientific Society, in Ghazipur. In 1877 the MAO college was established which later became the AMU, in 1920. Since then efforts were made to make the University a minority institution.
The Aligarh Muslim University was labelled as a “Pro- Pakistan” body, though a majority of its students had participated in the Indian war of independence. The list includes Dr. Syed Mahmood, Raja Mahendra Pratap, Ali Brothers, Maulana Hasrat Mohani, Tassaduq Ahmad Khan Sherwani, Nisar Ahmad Khan Sherwani, Rafi Ahmad Kidwai, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, A.M. Khwaja, Dr. Zakir Hussain, and the list is endless.
Because of the anti-Muslim wave in the country the boys who had already passed examinations with lower percentage of marks were hardly given admissions in other Universities and Colleges. Thus, deprived of the admissions Muslims wanted to be admitted in the AMU, which was the only institution to cope up with their demands. Therefore, they wanted the Minority Character of the University i.e. the autonomy of the University. The Muslim Press especially Radiance highlighted the demands for the Minority Character of the University and scores of articles of leading scholars were published highlighting the Muslim demands with sensible logic therein.
Muslim demand for the Minority Character was opposed by the Hindus who said that the University was founded by the Government under an Act and not by the Muslims. Radiance responded to this allegation and replied that almost all the Universities were created by the Acts of Parliament but the MAO College was the result of Sir Syed’s efforts, who after collecting money from all over the country founded the MAO College but hoped that in future the college would develop into a University. In view of such prejudiced ideas of the communalists, the Govt. of India, brought out an Amendments in 1951 and 1965 with some changes in the autonomy of the university. Mrs. Indira Gandhi promised to do something in favour of the University, but nothing concrete was done and it further led to the encroachment of its powers. It was resented by the Muslims and there emerged a demand for the declaration of the AMU as a “Minority Institution”.
The demand was just, because the University was the result of those innumerable efforts of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, who went from door to door collecting grants, from people so that the MAO College gets established. It is much clearer in the address that the College Committee presents to Lord Lytton, “And looking at the difficulties which stood our way, and the success which has already been achieved, we do not doubt that we shall continue to receive, even in larger amount both from the English Govt. and from our countrymen, that liberal support which was furthered over scheme, so that from the seed that we sow today there may spring up a mighty tree, whose branches like those of the Banyan of the soil, shall in their turns strikes firm roots into the earth, and themselves send forth new and vigorous saplings that this college may expand into a University whose sons shall go throughout the length and breadth of the land to preach the gospel of free inquiry of large hearted toleration and of pure morality.” This clearly depicts that it was the only motive of the Aligarh Movement to impart education and empowerment to the Muslims who were already too backward as compared to other communities.
The history of the University reveals that after the death of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan in 1898, a Sir Syed memorial Fund Committee was started and agreed money between the Committee and the Government officials was collected. On 16 Feb 1911 a committee was founded to draft a Constitution with Raja of Mahmoodabad, Syed Ali Bilgirami, Aftab Ahmad Khan, Sir Ziaudddin, etc. which called on Sir Harcourt Butler to present him a draft of the Constitution. Agreement and disagreement between the Government and the Constitution Committee continued which is a long history. Ultimately, the Govt. accepted the Constitution and the legislation was passed in 1920 upgrading the MAO College to the status of the University. The whole history of the University Movement goes to prove that it was through the Muslim efforts that the University’s plan was approved by the Government. The AMU was created by an Act of the Government like other Universities but it is the result of the long Muslim agitation, hence the Muslims demand for minority character is justified.
In a period of 60 years many Education Ministers have been assuring the Muslims to restore the Minority Character of the Aligarh Muslim University. Mr. Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1965 and Mr. Chagla afterwards assured the Muslims that there was not the slightest intention on the part of the government to change the essential and basic character of the University. These assurances continued up to 1971 when Mrs. Indira Gandhi at her Electoral Press Conference declared the AMU an institution established by the Muslim minority and this is a fact that the whole of the Muslim community was with Sir Syed Ahmad Khan in founding the MAO College which developed into the Aligarh Muslim University. If the Government brings out a will in favour of the Minority Character of the AMU, the Government would fulfil its promise made to the Muslims in the last 50 years.
In its long history, AMU has gone through many ups and down. It has been closed many times and every Vice Chancellor has faced one or the other problems during his five-year terms. Radiance on 22 November, 2009 editorial wrote that Indian educational scene is steadily improving and in most of the 300 plus universities peace prevails and concrete strides are being made to achieve academic excellence. Aligarh Muslim University has also been trying to outshine and share the excellence but unfortunately some elements do not allow it to achieve this. We do not subscribe to the theory that external conspiracies are responsible for all our ills. It has to be admitted in the light of bare facts that there are enough trouble shooters in the community itself who do great harm to its interests again and again.
N. Jamal Ansari in his article in Radiance, “What Ails AMU” (15 November, 2009) has written that Aligarians of goodwill are bound to be concerned over the fact that no Vice-Chancellor gets free hand in administering AMU. Groups having vested interests demand sometimes “academician V.C” and some other time “IAS V.C”. It is not clear what type of Vice-Chancellor they desire? Just within 15 years, AMU has been closed six times. Between 1995 and 2000 during the Vice-Chancellorship of Mahmood-Ur-Rehman, four closures took place. Naseem Ahmed had to resign just before completing his tenure. Harsh reality is that a small group has monopolised AMU and wants such a V.C who may play to their tunes. For achieving their goal, they exploit sentiments of students.
AMU must realise its place in the hearts and minds of Indian Muslims and try to live up to it and should come up as the premier centre of academic excellence and best human behaviour. Kaleem Kawaja has rightly said: Let Aligarh once again lead the Muslims of India in the growth of education and a better life for our people, just as it did 130 years ago. (Radiance, 5 December 2010)