AMU Organizes All India Essay Competetion, First Prize 25,000 INR

Photo Curtsy: Matsyuki 

As part of the celebrations of the 193rd birth anniversary of its legendary founder and an outstanding social reformer, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, the Aligarh Muslim University would hold an All India Essay Writing Competition for university and college students in English language on the topic “Sir Syed’s vision of empowerment through character building and modern education”.

Entries are invited only from bonafide students of universities and colleges. The essay must be sent to the Public Relations Office by September 25, 2010. There are three cash prizes including first prize of Rs. 25,000, second Rs. 15,000 and third Rs. 10,000. Besides state level toppers of the aforesaid competition will also be given a sum of Rs. 5,000 as consolation prize. The prizes shall be presented on the occasion of Sir Syed Day celebrations on October 17, 2010. All prize winners shall be provided boarding and lodging alongwith one close relative. The first, second and third prize winners will be given both ways AC II class railway fare and state level toppers will be given second sleeper fare.
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The essay should be submitted on A4 size paper in double space typed on one side, should contain at least ten pages and not exceed sixteen pages duly forwarded by the head of the educational institution. A soft copy is also required. Information about the vision and mission of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan is available on the varsity website www.amu.ac.in.

AMU Vice Chancellor, Professor P K Abdul Azis has urged the Vice Chancellors of all Universities to encourage the students to participate in competition.

Winner Of All India Essay Competition 2009

 Meet The winners of the very same competition in 2009.

Happy Indepence Day By: Zartab Jafri

 As we are in Pursuit of celebrating 64 years of Independence from British Empire, a thorough introspection is required to see whether we should really celebrate it!!!

Today when you go to elite or a middle man they will talk about India's progress in various sectors and the emergence of India as a powerful nation who can compete with any other nation in the world in fields of Space Research, missile technology, softwares, skilled manpower, medical services,media, telecom, Engeering solutions,and so forth so on...the list is endless...

But go to the poor or common man and there Reality Bites!!! When we have progressed so much in these sectors then why the poor and common man are still suffering..the answer lies within the corrupt system of our beloved country...

Mahatama Gandhi once said that "I would go to the length of giving the whole congress a decent burial, rather than put up with the corruption that is rampant."

This outburst of Mahatma Gandhi was against rampant corruption in Congress ministries formed under 1935 Act in six states in the year 1937. His Followers and so called nationalists ignored his concern over corruption in post-Independence India, when they came to power. Over Sixty years of democratic rule has made the common man so immune to corruption that they have learnt how to live with the system even though the cancerous growth of this malady may finally kill it.

The history of corruption in post-Independence India starts with the Jeep scandal in 1948, when a transaction concerning purchase of jeeps for the army needed for Kashmir operation was entered into by V.K.Krishna Menon, the then High Commissioner for India in London with a foreign firm without observing normal procedure. But like always he has been given a clean chit and has been inducted into the Nehru cabinet as minister without portfolio.

In 1950, A.D.Gorwala, an eminent civil servant was asked by Government of India to recommend improvements in the system of governance. In his report submitted in 1951 he made two observations: “One, quite a few of Nehru's ministers were corrupt and this was common knowledge. Two, even a highly responsible civil servant in an official report as early as 1951 maintained that the Government went out of its way to shield its ministers” (Report on Public Administration, Planning Commission, Government of India 1951)

Other Well Known corruption cases which surfaced post indepence are Mudgal case (1951), Mundra deals (1957-58), Malaviya-Sirajuddin scandal (1963), and Pratap Singh Kairon case (1963),Fairfax, HBJ Pipeline,HDW Submarine deal,Bofors,Rs.2500 crore -Airbus A-320 deal with France involving kickback (1990), Harshad Mehta security scam (1992), Gold Star Steel and Alloys controversy (1992), JMM bribery case, Hawala scam of Rs. 65 crore,Urea scam (1996),.....list is really long and recently Commonwealth Games corruption case is making continous headlines........But the biggest question is that what our Government is doing to check such cases...the answer is pathethic " Nothing", apart from sacking few scape goats, the big fishes always gets a blessing hand on their head and they walk away scott free....Leaders like Laloo Prasad Yadav, Jayalalitha, George Fernandes, Bangaru Lakshman, Sukhram, Sharad Pawar, Suresh Kalmadi, Mayawati, Late Narsimha Rao, D Raja, George Fernandes...they all have been involved into corruption cases but they are still enjoying their lives despite of eating billions or trillions of Tax payers money ..and the most important thing is that these leaders represents almost all the main national parties.

The on going war cry against corruption, which is nothing but a mad fight to replace one corrupt system by another is not going to transform the beleaguered nation to a sustainable social order.

Criminalisation of politics is another facet of corruption. N.N.Vohra, Union Home Secretary in his report (1995) on this issue observed:- “A network of mafias is virtually running a parallel Government pushing the state apparatus into irrelevance. Quoting some ‘DIB’ sources, he added, “….there has been a rapid spread and growth of criminal gangs, armed senas, drug mafias, smuggling gangs and economic lobbies in the country, which have over the years developed an intensive network of contacts with bureaucrats, government functionaries at local level, politicians, media persons and strategically located individuals in non-state sector. Some of these syndicates have also international linkages including the foreign agencies.”

Corruption is just one of the many Evils which a common man is facing today, corruption has lead to bribery and the biggest of all is the beaurecracy itself, though it has been considered as a bane throughout the world but still it is being practised so religiously in our country that a common man gets entangled into the web of it and the only way to come out of it is to resort to bribery and became a member of the corrupt system.

Another evil which emerged since independence was communalism as so many people lost their lives to this demon. Communal riots spread due to many factors ranging from political interests, economic factors, Hindutva & Radical Islamic Groups...etc..

Major Communal riots which took place post Independence are Kota ( 1953,1956), Jabalpur ( 1961), Rourkela, Calcutta, Jamshedpur (1964),Hatia,ranchi( 1967),Karimganj, Assam ( 1968), Ahmadabad ( 1969), Bhiwandi, Jalgaon, Mahad, Maharashtra( 1970), Nonari & Sajni, UP ( 1972), Varanasi ( 1977), Sambhal & Aligarh, Up & Hyderabad, AP ( 1978), Jamshedpur, Bihar ( 1979), Moradabad ( 1980), Biharsharif ( 1981), Meerut ( 1982), Baroda ( 1982),Hazaribagh, Malegaon & Hyderabad ( 1983), Bhiwandi ( 1984), Delhi (1984),Ahmedabad ( 1985,86),Meerut( 1987), Indore ( 1989),Kota ( 1989), Bhadrak, Orrissa ( 1989), Gujrat ( 1990,1991, More than 1400 Communal incidents happened during this period in Gujrat alone), Jaipur, Jodhpur, Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra, Delhi, Hailakandi in Assam, beawar in Maharashtra ( 1990), Bhagalpur ( 1990), Patna, Indore, Hyderabad,Karnataka ( 1990), Benares ( 1991), Sitamarhi, Surat, Mumbai (1992), Bhopal ( 1992), Madras ( 1995), Gujrat ( 2002),Solapur (2002), Malegaon (2005,2009).....list seems to be endless....
Is this we wanted out of our Independence??????????

Between 1995 and 2005 over 150,000 farmer suicides were reported in India and the number grows at a disturbing rate of 10,000 per year ( BBC 2008).....Desperate indebtness was found to be the prime reason behind most of the suicides, deeper analysis though revealed that indebtness was merely a symptom. The suicides were a manifestation of growing distress in Indian Agriculture. Stagnant Technology, rising input prices, weakning support systems and declining profitability have all made cultivation a highly risky and un-remunerative enterprise, threatning the lively hood of farmers,particularly the small and marginal ones. Green revolution in India only benefitted the rich peasants whereas the poor farmers suffered all the times...

Is this we wanted to happen In Independent India...

These are just few factors which are frustating a common man...!!!

This is certainly not a dream seen by our selfless freedom fighters and this is not what they wanted to give a common Indian....

I Hope and Pray that some sense will prevail and we will curb all these evils with the course of time!!!

Happy Independence Day to ALL!!!
The above article is contributed by Janab  Zartab Jafri Saheb. It is from his blog Thoughts. The views expressed are solely that of the author.

PARVIN SHERE: The Lady of Light

PARVIN SHERE: The Lady of Light

By: Dr. Maqsood Jafri (New York)

Though I have never met her, I became familiar with Ms. Parvin Shere of Winnipeg, Canada, through her poems on her web site. Family of the Heart of Canada has also played a vital role in introducing her to their members. Recently she sent me her two books for my comments. She is equally good at English and Urdu. Her English and Urdu prose are excellent, but she writes poetry in her mother tongue of Urdu. Thomas Carlyle has stated that one should write in the language that one imbibes with the milk of mother. Parvin Shere is much attached with her mother, and she has published a full book in the memory of her sweet mom. "Kirchian" (Fragments) and "Nihal-e-Dil Par Sahab Jaise" (Raindrops on Parched Land) are her marvelous artistic creations. She is a beautiful lady with beautiful hand, heart, and mind. Both the books contain her poems and paintings. What she wrote, she painted. She is a poet, painter, and vocalist. She has proven her distinct entity in oil paint and presented them in a coffee table book format. She has won many international awards. Her pencil sketches are poignant. She uses color combinations and beautifies the scenes with her florid fervor. Her visual and poetic art captivates the hearts and captures the minds. The intense emotional tinge is blended with philosophical messages. At a place she writes, "The purpose of any art is to foreshadow a greater reality. The challenge for the artist is to capture the aura of the unseen." She has really captured the speedy moments passing like surging billows of mood and created poems and drawn paintings superbly.

Ahmed Faraz opines about her art, "Parvin Shere, I think, is a goddess of the Greek mythology, equipped with one heart, two eyes and four hands; each holding a pen, a brush, a musical instrument and a torch. Color, light and fragrance emit from every joint of her fingers. Her heart, inflamed with passions for human sufferings, keeps her restless. But the very flame does burnish the words of the artist and elevates them to the level of the gods." Ahmed Faraz considers her a light. She brightens the dark paths of life with the beams of her intuition, compassion, love, sacrifice and intellect. This is the reason I also call her the lady of light. Like all genuine and true artists she is restless. She furbishes her art with her heart blood and renovates the innovative spirit with the flame of imagination. She portrays her art with the gaudy and gorgeous colors of sublime ingenuity. No artist can touch the zenith of excellence poising in the stale dome of redundancy. The mind of a great artist flows like a surging billow with the swift and swelling upsurge and upswing to find an eternal destination.

In her poems, we find the frequent usage of the poetic devices like simile, metaphor and conceit. Her sharp sensibilities are the outcries of her hypersensitive soul. She poses great creative power and pathos. She is equally excellent in both genres. As a poet, she enjoys the natural gift of using musical, melodious, and mellifluous words, and as a painter she creates a penchant panorama with colors emanating a kaleidoscopic view. "Kirchian" (Fragments) is her first poetry book published in 2005 and its' second edition was published in 2008. The second book of her poetry/paintings titled “Raindrops on Parched Land" was published in 2010 from India. Both the books have been translated into English by able translators. In these books she has transfused her personal grief into universal grief. Reflecting an anguished soul, her poems and paintings mirror the intensity of personal pain amalgamated with the woe of the poor, the needy, the neglected, the oppressed, the aggressed and the down-trodden ones. She deeply feels for the disparaged and deprived people world over without the discrimination of country, color, class and creed. In the words of William Wordsworth, "The poet is sensitive like a barometer." She is very sensitive to injustices, inequalities and inhumanities.

Dr. Sara M. Mckinnon, commenting on Parvin's artistic accomplishments observes, "She is an artist of inner vision, and her works thus also reflect subject matter that is personal and political." About the creation of "Fragments," Parvin herself states, "'Fragments' is an expression, a voice, an echo, a reflection of my encounter with a materialistic world, hungering for power, at war with itself, ruthless in its pursuits of power, and yearning for wealth; it straddles the poor, the weak, the down-trodden. Wittingly or unwittingly their blood, sweat and tears pay the price of the essence of life. In these callous surroundings, all one can hear is I, me and myself; and all can see is a reflection of our own egotistic self." This statement of the writer candidly shows that she understands the human tragedies inflicted on humans by capitalism, feudalism, colonialism and imperialism.

Parvin Shere, profusely emotional and heart-wrenched on the human travesties and tribulations, shrieks on such human travails, and shifts her personal pang into cosmic pain, and severely pines on the pains of others. She is not lopsided. She stands on ground with both feet. She does not limp on the slippery ground of the hard and harsh ground realities. We also find a strong passion of revolt in the poems of Parvin against the political, economic and social injustices. The poem titled "Iraq" depicts her sloth against imperialism. As earlier mentioned Parvin maintains an equilibrium between progressive and modern movements as for as the content is considered. She is neither the victim of subjectivism of the modernists, nor falls a prey to the objectivity of the progressives. On the side of diction, she does not cut her relation with the classical idiom. She has continued the sweet style of great Urdu poets such as Mir, Ghalib, Iqbal and Faiz. The sweetness of her diction is the fruition of her Persianized idiom. Her diction is classical with novice content.

She is committed to reformation. She is a philanthropist and a social activist. She unmasks the social evils such as poverty, illiteracy, bigotry, backwardness, bloodshed, violence and human miseries. She is a great humanitarian. Her painting titled "The Fare Wall" depicts the agony of a mother who has to give away her child. The poem titled "No Exit" mirrors the disappointments of failed and seized life. Her exuberant creative talent is demonstrated in both the books written by her. Eighty percent of her poetry comprises free verse, but it does not lack the poetic charm. Her ghazals, few in number, are mighty and impressive. Ghazal is the core, cream, crest, and crown of Persian and Urdu poetry as it is accommodative and absorbs the modern trends.

As a feminist, in male dominated and patriarchal societies, she revolts against male chauvinism. Her poems titled "Illusion and "Disposable" are the protests to the female exploitation and discrimination. The latter poem is a sarcastic condemnation of the so-called free Western culture where the women are mere toys in the hands of the capitalists. She presents women as sexually exploited, purchasable commodities. The poems titled "The Last Station" and "House for the Old" also slap on the dirty face of corrupt capitalist society consisting of the materialistic proclivities, narcissism and rotten human relations. She is a feminist but of her own way. She wants freedom for women that can grant their honor and safety.

Her second poetry book titled "Raindrops on Parched Land," like her "Fragments," is also a panorama of scenes and senses. This entire book has been written on the subject of mother. She has idealized and idolized the concept of mother. She was five years old when her father died. Her mother raised her like a father. She cared and caressed her daughter. She selflessly brought her up and became the symbol of sacrifice. When she died, Parvin got shattered and scattered. This collection comprises fifty poems with their paintings on a single theme of mother that shows the sharp and exceptional acumen of the poet's poetic creative talent. Parvin possesses massive abilities to transfer poetry into paintings and paintings into poetry. At times while reading these poems and seeing these paintings, it becomes difficult to decipher in which field she wields supremacy; in poetry or in painting. She is remarkably splendid in both genres. As these poems have been written in the separation of mother, Parvin, about the greatness of mother in the preface of the book, writes, "Like a flower on a cactus, a fountain splashing out from the bosom of a burning stone, a drop of cool air on the lips of a burning wind, a peaceful melody in a jungle of screams, a blanket of sunlight on a shivering body in the peak of winter, a shower of dew kisses on the parched lips of the Earth, a cloud providing shape; this is what she is-- this is what is Mother! That cannot be explained-- only felt." The mother is a protector. In these poems we find the intensity of passion and pathos for mother who holds your finger and rescues you from troubles. The Preface of the book is very mighty, impressive, moving and full of sorrow on the separation of mother. The poet has lost the torch which showed her the path of peace, protection and prosperity in the dark deserts of life. Though it is a personal loss, it emits universal sparks. She has turned her personal woe into universal woe. The poet, who took soothing shelter under the shade of mothers' benignity fells like a fallen leaf from that shady tree and is lurking and lurching in the scalding heat of the scathing sun. She is so in love with her deceased mother that in the state of hallucination she finds the spirit of her mother around her. In the state of desolation, she hears the voice of her dead mother who addresses her likewise:

"My child---look, I am still here, close to you,

just for you,

just for your eye sight,

just for your touch,

just for your hearing,

open your third eye,

you can still see me, feel me, hear me."

This long poem ends with a message. The poet ends with these golden words uttered by the soul of the departed dear one:

“Bear life with wisdom and tolerance.

Have courage because you are a mother, too."

The concept of third eye is spiritual. It is beyond physical senses. The poet receives the message of hope and courage from the deceased mother but beautifully immortalizes and universalizes this message. Parvin is deeply agonized on the death of her mother as she has lost the canopy. Her poem titled "The Canopy" depicts her feelings of bereavement. She writes that mother cannot die. Mother is mother. She is everywhere. About "Motherhood" Parvin Shere writes, "Motherhood is the word that runs like a river in every vein as love, sacrifice and selflessness."

With great dexterity, her artistic sublimity emerges in these poems. How successfully she could create fifty poems on a single subject. Wahab Ashrafi, while commenting on this book, aptly remarks that "Raindrops on Parched Land" is a mellifluous epic on motherhood. In a poem titled "Lullabies," she expresses her dreamy vision. Whether it is a reverie or the state of inspiration, in either case the poem depicts the mind set of an engrossed and obsessed poetess infatuated in the love of her mother.

As I call her the Lady of Light, she sees light, emits light and shows light to others. She sees light at the end of the tunnel. She is optimist. She loved and respected her mother and yearns to be loved and respected by her siblings in old age. It is not a business-like mentality. It is a lesson for all generations to care and caress the parents and look after them as they looked after you when you were a suckling. She desires to take the strayed race to the right path. She intends to take humans out of darkness of modern Western culture and guide them to the road of respect for their elders. By doing so she universalizes her grief and derives strength out of temporal and temporary grief. The grief of the misguided youth is the permanent catastrophe and needs to be reckoned.

In the end, it can be said that Parvin Shere is the vital voice of our age. Her commitment to poetry, painting and music has given her a unique posture and position in the rank and coterie of her contemporaries. Her poems such as "The Greatest Grief," "A Tragedy," "True Friends," and others depict her deep passion for social revolution and personal grief. Her poems on her two sweet sons Feraz and Sheraz are the replicas of deep love of a mother for her sons. As a daughter she loves her mother, and as a mother she loves her sons. This twofold love further depicts the love for all humankind. She is the poet of love and the lady of light.
Other Relevant Posts:

1. Parvin Shere's "KIRCHIAN"("FRAGMENTS") Awarded Best Book By Adabi Culture Of Varanasi

2. Just A Drop From The Ocean By: Parvin Shere

3. Parvin Shere's oil painting titled "Journey" selected by the Manitoba Society

4. AHMAD ADAYA URDU MARKAZ INTERNATIONAL AWARD 2010 TO PARVIN SHERE

 

 

 

Department of Lands and Gardens Launches Plantation Drive

On the onset of monsoon, Department of Lands and Gardens of the Aligarh Muslim University has launched new plantation drive in the University campus by a green cover around.

Prof. Shan Mohammad, Director, Sir Syed Academy, Prof. Ainul Haq Khan, Dean, Students’ Welfare, Prof. Mohd. Anis, Member-in-Charge, Lands and Gardens and the Public Relations Officer, Dr. Rahat Abrar today planted saplings at the Sir Syed House premises.

Mr. Jamal A. Kuraishy, Manager, Lands and Gardens said that the Department has decided to plant hundreds of saplings in the University premises.

The Executive Council Reinstated Immediated Submission Of Report

The Executive Council of the Aligarh Muslim University reinstated Dr. Tanzeem Fatima, Lecturer, Department of Law pending the submission of final report with immediate effect.

The Executive Council has also included the charges made by Dr. Tanzeem Fatima and re-constituted the enquiry committee to complete the process of enquiry. The expanded committee will have Prof. C. P. S. Chauhan as convener in addition to existing member Prof. Mohd. Zubair Khan, Prof. Iqbal Pervez and Prof. (Mrs.) Arunima Lal. The committee included Prof. Ashraf Malik, Principal, J.N. Medical College and Prof. Zakia A. Siddiqui, Member, Women’s Cell as its additional members.

The Executive Council has approved the recommendation of enquiry report submitted by Enquiry Committee headed by Prof. (Mrs.) Hamida Ahmad. The Enquiry Committee has accepted that Dr. Tariq Islam, Reader, Department of Philosophy has now submitted an authenticated copy of his manuscript and proof of his possessing 56.8% marks. In the light of the Supreme Court’s observation that defendant has secured more than 55% marks and that after the degree having been awarded by the University to the defendant, nullifying the equivalence would be turning the clock back causing grave injury.

The Executive Council has approved the decision of the Vice Chancellor for termination of the services of Mr. Mohd. Ayyub, former Senior Laboratory Assistant (Stores), Department of Pathology, J. N. Medical College due to his frequent absence from the duty and leaving the station without sanction of leave and prior permission and also failing to submit his reply.

He has filed a writ petition in the Allahabad High Court against the orders of the Vice Chancellor. The High Court disposed off the aforesaid writ petition with the directive that the petition has an alternative remedy of filing an appeal against the order under Section 36-B of the AMU Act.

Considering the appeal filed by Mr. Mohd. Ayyub, the Executive Council has approved the decision of the Vice Chancellor.

After considering the draft proposal for amendments/additions in Statutes 16(3) for the conduct of meetings of the Executive Council, the EC approved the amendment that if the quorum is not present in adjourned meetings of the Executive Council within half an hour from the time appointed for holding meeting, the members present shall form a quorum and proceed with the agenda items.

The meeting of the Executive Council has also approved the proceedings of the meetings of the Finance Committee held on August 8, 2010. The Executive Council deferred the Mathew Commission Enquiry Report to the next meeting of the Executive Council.

Fifteen members attended the meeting of the Executive Council.