These words of Barack Husain Obama at the joint address to the Congress in today's 21st century depicts something that Sir Syed Ahmad Khan had deciphered way back in mid 19th century.
Living this dream of Sir Syed every year and every minute is the historic Aligarh Muslim University which held its 59th Annual Convocation on June 7, 2009, where it also conferred Honorary Doctorate Degrees on Music maestro, the master of silence between the notes A.R. Rahman and scholar, critic and master of Urdu language Professor Gopichand Narang.
The Convocation was addressed by Mr. Gopalkrishna Gandhi, Governor of West Bengal as a Chief Guest.
The University awarded 2725 Bachelor degrees, 1490 Masters degrees, 291 Ph.D. degrees and D.Sc. to Dr. Mansoor Ahmad Siddiqi of Botany at the Annual Convocation which saw a six percent increase in the Master degrees and remarkable 90 percent increase in the number of Ph.D. degree awarded.
Prachi Mehndittra, a MBBS pass out bagged 14 gold medals, the highest ever won by any student, that too a girl, in the history of AMU.
In his acceptance speech, Professor Narang pointed out that Aligarh Muslim University is not merely an institution or a University; rather it is the shining chapter of the history of Urdu language and literature and the candid testament of the dreams of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan.
Overwhelmed with the honour, which regarded as the greatest of all conferred by Madinat-ul-Ilm (AMU – City of knowledge), Professor Narang exemplified the meaning and beauty of Urdu language in his carefully crafted words.
Speaking in chaste Urdu, Professor Narang said, "Taj Mahal is supreme among all our buildings, if there is any language that can be called the Taj Mahal of all languages, it is undoubtedly Urdu with its aesthetic beauty and sublimity".
Professor Narang said, "if I bear any identity today, it is Urdu. It bears the truth of more than one thousand years of our composite culture that has shaped our identity". Referring at all attempts to paint Urdu in the light of 'exclusivity and dogma', Narang said that it is the time that we should understand that Urdu is the language of many faiths and stands for plurality.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, Professor P.K. Abdul Azis while lauding Professor Gopichand Narang's contribution to Urdu language said that he had blazed a new trail in Urdu writing and had transcended many borders. Professor Azis described Professor Narang as a "true India's Cultural and Literary Ambassador".
Professor Azis mentioned that Professor Narang always raised his voice against parochialism, religious fanaticism and social injustice. He had firmly maintained all along that Urdu has been the conduit language of inter-faith harmony and has severed as a bridge between Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims for centuries. He considers Urdu as one of the finest products of our composite literature.
(Dr. Rahat Abrar)
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