PROF. AHMAD SAJJAD, a septuagenarian, is former member of Markazi Majlis-e-Shoora (Central Advisory Council) of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind. In an interview with DR. WAQUAR ANWAR he recalls his early life, education, association with Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and Idara Adab-e-Islami Hind, travels abroad, and personal library, and names the persons whose impression he has borne during the different phases of his life. Excerpts:
Tell us about your family and education.
I belong to Mohalla Sohdih in Bihar Sharif (now headquarters of district Nalanda, Bihar). The father-in-law of my grandfather was actively associated with the movement of Syed Ahmad Shaheed Barelvi. He was associated not merely as a sympathiser but was a close associate, energetic supporter, and a fund provider of the movement. My primary education was completed at a seminary named Monirul Islam in Bihar Sharif.
Maulana Ali Hussain Asim started a movement for education, organisation, independence of the nation and Islamic brotherhood in Bihar Sharif. For that purpose he got his younger brother Master Mahmood Ahsan quit his job and started a school in a rented accommodation in Mohalla Khasganj where students from different parts of the town used to get free tuition. So after the education in the seminary where I was learning Urdu, Persian, Islamic Studies and other subjects I got a chance of becoming a part of this educational movement of Maulana Asim Bihari.
I got admitted to class seven in Soghra High School, a prominent educational institution. Passed matriculation therefrom, did my Intermediate first year from Nalanda College and second year from Barh College. I got admission in Patna College for BA (Honours) course where I was honoured to be taught and be close to literary stalwarts like Akhtar Urainvi, Jameel Mazhari, Kaleemuddin Ahmad, Zakiul Haque, and Nawab Karim. Qazi Abdul Wadood was also in Patna those days; he advised me to write my Ph.D thesis on Ghulam Ali Ishrat Barelvi. My thesis was comprehensive enough and the examiners, instead, granted me D.Lit. degree.
Your social and active life…
I am talking about late-fifties when there was no organisation for students under the auspices of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH). Dr. Ziaul Huda was the local Amir of Patna and Anisuddin Ahmad was the state president. I was bestowed with an opportunity of their company and was benefited by their guidance. I started attending the meetings of JIH along with my friend Dr. Maqsood Alam Siddiqui who was an Arabic (Honours) students those days. At times we also attended the Qur’ānic discourses (Dars-e-Qur’ān) by Maulana Khabbir.
After passing Masters Examination, I joined Samastipur College as a lecturer. I also became a worker of JIH and was active in propagating its message. Later I became lecturer in Ranchi University through commission and joined Ranchi College. I became Head of the Department of Urdu in the college and afterwards Head of the Post Graduate Department of the University and also served as the Dean, Faculty of Humanities.
At the time of my joining Ranchi College there was no arrangement of Honours classes. I strived for it and got it approved. Later I struggled and pursued for Masters Classes and research facilities and was successful in these edeavours. It was all possible because of the active support of my students.
At that time Islamic Development Bank, Jeddah, decided to launch a scholarship programme and it discussed with me through correspondence for about one year and a half and collected information about expensive courses in different Indian universities and the dates when those courses begin. They used to put different questions which were replied back. Then they launched a scholarship programme forming a committee comprising their officers and a representative from African and the other from South Asian countries. I was nominated the South Asian representative for a term of three years. Thereafter they extended my nomination for further three years. Thus I represented South Asian nations and attended their meetings every year from 1981 to 1986. I am satisfied that that thousands of boys and girls were benefited from that scholarship and several billions, not merely millions, of rupees were disbursed in this process for the noble cause.
The scheme is continuing and is bearing fruit. I feel contented and am thankful to the Almighty Allah for this, that I was instrumental in approval of the scheme and played a role in its application. IDB has two committees; one for scholarship and the other for institutional aid and both were functioning under the same secretary. Although I was not a member of the institutional aid committee, the secretary used to ask me to give recommendations on the files of institutional aid requests too! I could play positive roles in provision of grants to many institutions in India – Alhamdulillah.
You have been associated with Idara Adab-e-Islami.
Idara Adab-e-Islami was developed by Meem Naseem. He went to the USA and this was a serious blow to the literary movement. Ibn Fareed was named its chairperson but he was hit hard by his own familial problems and this affected the Idara. I was elected in the Markazi Majlis-e-Shoora of JIH in 1981 and I could serve the Islamic movement from that platform up to 2007. I was given the charge of Idara Adab-e-Islami Hind in 1981. The Idara was in bad shape, a passive existence. In order to activate the institution I got its constitution recast and roped in the persons like Dr. Nejatullah Siddiqi, Prof. Abdul Moghni, Syed Hamid Ali and Tayyab Usmani. I utilised the long vacations during summer and Puja days for this purpose. It was almost three months every year. I planned extensive tours during these vacations and activated the Islamic literary movement. I impressed upon the editors of newspapers and magazines in regional languages to ignite literary activities in their respective languages. I used to say that Idara Adab-e-Islami should not be taken as Idara Adab Urdu! Hence, this resulted in branches of the Idara in Kannar, Telugu, Malayalam and other languages. I requested these editors to earmark at least two pages in their periodicals for constructive literary work. Hence, this was accepted and I understand that the practice continues till date. I got chance of revitalising the Idara Adab for about 9 to 10 years.
It is said that Islamic literary movement was reactionary and it fizzled out with the demise of progressive literary movement. Do you agree?
I do not agree with the contention that Islamic literary movement is reactionary in nature. Syed Abul Ala Maudoodi from day one decided to utilise the double edged capability of literature – creativity (takhleeq) and aesthetic sense (Jamaliat) – in the services of the Islamic movement. Besides, Islamic elements are ingrained and imbibed in the Urdu literature. It is like blood flowing in the veins of Urdu literature. We became passive not because our so-called rivals from the progressive movement became dead or dormant. Ours is our own failure relating to the lack of interest and effort. Imagine our plight that we could not felicitate the contribution of literary giant like Prof. Abdul Moghni. The seminar we organised was lacklustre and the articles we could bring out on him were not worthy of his contributions.
You are leading an active life even after retirement.
I had the habit of book collection and at one stage I felt that some specific arrangement should be done for the safety of this precious collection. I discussed this issue with the members of my family and we decided to create one charitable institution. This resulted in the formation of Markaz-E-Adab-O-Science. This charitable institution is now a full-fledged educational movement and besides a library with rich collection of books we have extended our services to various activities and 625 students are under Training in MCA, BCA, CIC and MBA, I.T Diploma, Degree Courses under the auspices of IGNOU, MANUU and Ministry of HRD Government of India.
I visited several countries. I was invited to Pakistan several times. Once I went there with a delegation of Idara Adab-e-Islami comprising Intizar Naeem, Hafeez Merathi and Dr. Hasan Raza. In all these travels I was presented books and also purchased and collected books and monographs. All such books are now part of Sajjad Library. It is my lifetime collection, my prized possession, and their numbers exceed 17000. Ours is the biggest library in Jharkhand and it is richer than that of Ranchi University.
Your trust is controlled by your family members.
My trustees originally comprised my family members. Now we have trustees of different faiths, Hindus, Muslims and Christians. We have Vice-Chancellor and Registrar and several other talented persons of high calibre available in and around Ranchi in the trust. I am myself devoting my energy and time after my retirement from service fully to these activities.
What are your areas of special interests?
My interest lies in research, literary criticism, education and Islamic studies. I have all through my life devoted myself to these areas of activities.
Which personalities impressed you most?
In my childhood I was impressed by the personality of Allama Mashriqi and was attracted towards the Khaksar Movement. The other person who impressed me most was Maulana Asim Bihari. He could mix with persons with all age groups and was a close friend of children too. I have done extensive research work on him and got it published in a book spanning more than 700 pages. Later the literature of Syed Abul Ala Maudoodi attracted me and I joined the Jamaat. I was a member of its Central Advisory Council for 28 years and this gave me the opportunity to associate with persons like Maulana Abul Lais Islahi, Maulana Sadruddin Islahi, Syed Hamid Ali and other top leaders. However, the person whom I revere most is Maulana Sirajul Hasan; his simplicity, affection for others and down-to-earth manners have an everlasting impression on me.