Aligarh July 22: A five member team of Aligarh Muslim University led by AMU Vice Chancellor Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis paid a three-day visit to Kolkata and Murshidabad and discussed various issues relating to establishment of the AMU Centre at Murshidabad with the Chief Minister, Minister of Higher Education, Finance Minister and other officials of the West Bengal.
In a meeting with the West Bengal Chief Minister, Budhadeb Bhattacharjee, Prof. Abdul Azis explained that the University will replicate AMU Model that blends school system with that of higher and professional education including provision for girls' polytechnic and a Women's College. The Aligarh model also reflects modern education and secularism as its philosophical ethos. The Vice Chancellor presented a memento of Sir Syed's photograph inscribed on it to the Chief Minister.
The Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has welcomed the AMU move to establish the Murshidabad Centre and promised all possible help including financial assistance. The Chief Minister informed that it is he who has requested the Union Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherji to provide a financial package to the AMU's Murshidabad Centre so that it can become operational. He urged that the new Centre should also reflect the culture of the region.
The AMU team which comprised of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis, Prof. Pervez Mustajab, Controller of Examinations and Admission, Prof. N. A. K. Durrani, Media Advisor, Prof. Ikram Husain, former Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Technology and Prof. Jawed Akhtar, Dean, Faculty of Management Studies also held discussion on various parameters with Minister for Higher Education, Mr. Sudarshan Roy Choudhury and Finance Minister, Dr. Asim Kumar Dasgupta of West Bengal government present along with the Principal Secretary for Higher Education Mr. Satish Choudhury Tiwari and Alia University Vice Chancellor Dr. Syed Shamsul Alam.
While addressing a Press conference soon after the meeting, Mr. Sudarshan Roy Choudhury said that the AMU system of education will contribute meaningfully towards the educational upliftment of the region. It will retain its distinct hallmark that combines school education with higher education. The new Centre in the due course of time have the potential of becoming an independent University.
Prof. Ikram Husain and Prof. Jawaid Akhtar presented an extensive PowerPoint presentation that covered the profile of the University, the vision, its philosophy, its history, its current status and the roadmap for the proposed Murshidabad Campus.
Minister of State for Minority Development and Madrasa Education, Mr. Abdus Sattar hosted a lunch to the visiting team and held discussions on the problems of minorities' education and the challenges ahead. He has welcomed the establishment of AMU Centre and volunteered all help to the University to translate the proposal into reality.
Prof. Abdul Azis while thanking the overwhelming response the University is receiving from all quarters in the state of West Bengal said that if the state government transfers the land free from any encumbrances within a month, the AMU will start its operation from 2010-2011 session. It may likely to begin with Secondary or Higher Secondary level and subsequently will introduce other levels in a phased manner, and all these after conducting a survey of the educational need of the region. Prof. Azis further pointed out that there is no reservation for Muslims presently in AMU. The institution keep its doors open for all communities irrespective of caste, creed and religion.
The Old Boys Association of Kolkata hosted a dinner at the Grand Oberoi Hotel. It was attended by about 40 prominent old boys. Mr. Waquar Ahmad Khan, General Secretary, AMU Old Boys' Association of Kolkata has expressed happiness on the AMU decision to establish its special Centre in Murshidabad and said that this step will go a long way in the direction of empowerment of the most marginalized social class of our country.
While addressing the issue, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Azis urged the old boys to work at the grassroots level and establish schools of all kinds including primary, secondary and senior secondary so that a feeder system for entry into the AMU's Murshidabad Centre is in place for the larger benefit of the deprived community. The grand edifice of AMU stands on the act of the generous philanthropy of the community of yesteryears and to build a world class AMU Campus in Murshidabad. The present community and the old boys should replicate the philanthropy of similar magnitude, he added.
Accompanied by the Principal Secretary, Higher Education, Mr. S. C. Tiwari, the team visited Murshidabad and held discussion with Mr. Pervez Siddiqui, District Magistrate and other officials of the district including block officials of the proposed site.
Mr. Pervez explained in detail the location and its distances from the highway, Railway Station and other locational logistics and said that currently the land is owned by Farakka Barrage Project Authority and hence getting it transferred to AMU will not be a major constrain. Mr. S. C. Tiwari informed that the government of West Besngal has already written to the Central Government that the two pieces of unused Farakka Barrage land together comprising 302 acres was identified by the State government to be transferred to the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India and from it to AMU.
The Aligarh Muslim University team visited the spot of the land identified by the Govt. of West Bengal situated in Suti (Jungipur). The land belongs to the Central Government as part of Farakka Barrage Water Project. Besides Mr. S. C. Tiwari, Principal Secretary Education, Mr. Pervez Siddiqui, District Magistrate and other District and block officials, Mr. Moinul Hassan, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and a resident of Murshidabad who has played a decisive role in favour of setting up the Murshidabad Centre also accompanied the AMU visiting team.
The team inspected the proposed site and made note of the important details including its proximity to National Highway No. 34, Railway Station and the security and other logistics related issues.
The three day visit of the AMU team has borne fruitful results as it has reinvigorated the State Government's interest and commitment to the education of minorities in general and in the AMU Murshidabad Centre in particular. It has generated a great deal of goodwill among the concerned officials involved in addressing the issue of the proposed Centre. The visit has kindled new hope and enthusiasm among thousands of AMU Alumni spread across West Bengal.
A host of prominent leaders of the community met Vice Chancellor Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis and extended all support for the AMU expansion initiative. They included Mr. Saud Alam, President, Milli Council, Mr. Haroon Rashid of Al-Falah Mission, Political Activists Mr. Mohammad Sohrab, Ex-MLA of Murshidabad and Member of Parliament of Kishanganj Mr. Asrarul Haque and others engaged in promoting education and empowerment of the excluded social class.
(Dr. Rahat Abrar)
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