It is the Central Government’s biggest affirmative initiative to impart quality education to educationally most backward minority (Muslims), said Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, Union Minister for Finance, while laying the foundation stone of Aligarh Muslim University’s Murshidabad Centre at Murshidabad on November 20. It is first ever biggest extension of any Central University to spread education to the people who needed it most.
Mr. Mukherjee hailed AMU’s decision to start its centres across the country and said that the starting of Murshidabad Centre will certainly wipe out the ignorance and make the Muslims empowered through education. It is the day of jubilation and it is not the occasion to make new announcements.
Union Finance Minister said the Murshidabad Centre is a respectful tribute to AMU’s founder Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and Nawab Shamsul Jahan Begum, ruler of Murshidabad who relentlessly pursued the cause of female education, especially modern education. He hoped the Centre will soon become a hub of modern education.
West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said the creation of this Centre will add a new chapter in the history of higher education in West Bengal. The state has 18 universities and Murshidabad will soon become the 19th of the state. He said AMU has always stood for secular and liberal values and it has played a vital role in the propagation of modern education.
Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs & Water Resources Pawan Kumar Bansal said the concept of inclusive growth relentlessly pursued by the UPA Government cannot be achieved till education is imparted to every citizen of the country. The setting-up of AMU’s Murshidabad Centre is aimed at it. He said AMU has a long and glorious tradition of imparting higher education to all sections of society and it is a matter of great joy that AMU is being set up in the land of Tagore.
Union Minister for State for HRD, D. Purandeswari, said today’s function marks the first step in the direction to establish a new centre of AMU and the establishment of the centre will cater to educational needs of the marginalised and deprived section of the country. She hoped the Murshidabad Centre would transform into a full-fledged University in the coming years and will live up to the hopes and expectations of the people of West Bengal by providing quality education and research of international standard.
Welcoming the guests, AMU Vice Chancellor, Professor P.K. Abdul Azis said it is the momentous moment in the long history of AMU to go beyond the confines of Aligarh reaching out to the people living in different parts of the country through its new centres. He said that creation of the centre is the most appropriate homage to Sir Syed Ahmad Khan who wanted to spread education all over the country simultaneously. Prof. Azis said the new centre will start BALLB and MBA classes with an intake of 60 students each in the first week of January 2011 and it will start many new courses in coming years. He hoped the centre will have more students in near future and it would attain the status of a University.
Minister, Higher Education, Government of West Bengal, Shri Sudarshan Roy Chaudhary welcomed the guests and said the Centre of AMU will enkindle a new hope among the people of West Bengal.
Mr. Moinul Hasan, MP and Member of AMU Court also spoke on this occasion.
AMU Vice Chancellor, Professor Abdul Azis presented mementoes to the dignitaries. A large gathering including Mr. M.A.A. Fatimi, Former Union Minister of State for HRD, Maulana Wali Rahmani, noted scholar and Adhir Ranjan Chaudhury, Member of Parliament attended the programme. AMU Registrar, Prof. V.K. Abdul Jaleel proposed a vote of thanks. AMU Tarana team presented University Tarana and National Anthem.