Sachar Committee Report Makes Ripples

In a symposium organised by Sir Syed Awareness Forum of Aligarh Muslim University to discuss the findings of the Sachar Committee Report, Maulana Fazl-e-Rahim Mujaddidi, Rector Jamia Hedaya, Jaipur emphasised that after revelations made by the Sachar Committee, Indian Muslims should chalk out a plan to develop themselves and must not look towards the government…

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June 10, 2022

In a symposium organised by Sir Syed Awareness Forum of Aligarh Muslim University to discuss the findings of the Sachar Committee Report, Maulana Fazl-e-Rahim Mujaddidi, Rector Jamia Hedaya, Jaipur emphasised that after revelations made by the Sachar Committee, Indian Muslims should chalk out a plan to develop themselves and must not look towards the government for encouragement and aids.

He said that Sachar Committee Report is a mirror of the real status of Muslims in India. Muslims, in the post-independence India, are lagging behind every other community. He reminded the students and teachers of the University that in the past also different committees were set up to study the socio-economic condition of Muslims. The hard fact is that we remained confined to discussing the findings and failed ourselves in planning our future on a long term basis. He called upon the younger generation to rise to the occasion and change the destiny of the community.

Dr. Shakeel Samdani, President of the Forum, pointed out that the findings of the Sachar Committee are grounds enough for providing reservation for Muslims but there are some major hurdles in the way. If the government is unable to remove all those hurdles then the best way is to earmark a specific quota for Muslims, i.e. within 27% reservation umbrella of the Mandal Commission. That quota should be logistically proportionate to their population and must be implemented in letter and spirit both. Besides, all the recommendations made by the Sachar Committee should be implemented immediately. The Government must take an important step for setting up one university each in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal on the lines and pattern of Aligarh Muslim University. The step will be instrumental in the overall development of the Muslims, he added.

Prof. M. Saud Alam Qasmi, Chairman Department of Theology, and member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, stated that Sangh Parivar always labels Muslims as anti-national. They have questioned Madrasa education system also. But Sachar Committee Report has exposed and nullified their accusations.

Prof. Akhlaq Ahmad, in his keynote address, said that the government policies should be in conformity with the Constitution of India otherwise they won’t stand the test of judiciary. He said that reservations should be given without any discrimination on the basis of religion. He further said that Sachar Committee has proved that an overwhelming majority of the Muslims are socially and educationally backward.

Presiding over the function, Pro-Vice Chancellor of AMU Prof. Saleemuddin recalled the contributions made by the Muslims in the freedom struggle but data of the Sachar Committee has not done justice to them. He advised educated Muslims to come forward and direct their energies towards empowering Muslims educationally.

Renowned sociologist, Prof. Jamal Siddiqui, said that Muslims should participate in the democratic process of the country by voting. That will build pressure on the politicians to think and act on the problems of the Muslims.

Dr. Muhib-ul-Haq, a renowned human rights scholar forcefully demanded that the government must ensure justice to Muslims in providing relief and reservation for the OBC Muslims in the Mandal Commission. A major section of the Muslims will get benefit, if Muslim OBCs are provided with their due share.

Prof. Amina Kishore, Principal of Women’s College said that Muslim Women must struggle for their rights. Dr. Abdul Waheed, Director CEPECAMI, pointed out that the government had made a breach of trust by not implementing the recommendations of the Gopal Singh Commission.

Dr. M. Shahid, former Secretary AMU Teachers Association blamed the government for the plight of the Muslims and demanded a Muslim quota of 27% as fixed for OBCs.

Mr. Arshad Ghazi, Director ASAS, said that we should analyse what Muslims themselves have done to develop their society. In fact they remained shamelessly aloof from their problems and failed to act in a positive manner.

An important decision has been taken in the symposium for constituting a delegation of the teachers of AMU which will call on UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for an early implementation of the Sachar Committee Report.

The symposium registered a forceful awareness within the AMU community on the need to unite and demand the immediate implementation of the Sachar Committee Report so that the community as well as the nation may develop in a true democratic way.¨