AMU Aligarh Reopens On 1st December 2009: Press Release

The Vice Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University, Professor P.K. Abdul Azis today announced that the university will be re-opened on December 1, 2009.

The classes in the Faculty of Medicine, Unani Medicine, Engineering & Technology, Management, Life Sciences, Biotechnology, Agriculture and Class XII and all University maintained school from Nursery to Class X will be started on December 1, 2009. This will facilitate 3443 residential students to return to their halls and hostels. Classes for Faculty of Science, Commerce and Law will commence from December 4, 2009. Whereas the Classes in Faculty of Arts, Social Science, Theology along with XI and Diploma in Engineering will be starting from December 8, 2009.

Addressing a press conference at Press Club of India, New Delhi, Professor Azis said that arrangements will be made in all the Halls of residence to receive the students two days ahead of the date of commencement of their classes.

University’s Proctor and Dean Students’ Welfare will arrange 24 hours transportation to the students from the Bus Stand and Railway Station to their respective halls of residence. Provosts will also keep open the Dining Hall and other facilities to welcome the students and facilitate their smooth accommodation in the respective hostels.

Backdrop of the agitation: Vice Chancellor, Professor Azis said that the University was closed on October 30, 2009 in the backdrop of a murder of a student, Mr. Shahnawaz Alam on October 25, 2009 over a motor cycle parking row outside the campus.

The decision to close down the University was taken in a Consultative Meeting after long deliberations. The Deans of the Faculties, Principals of the Colleges, Local Members of the Executive Council, Senior faculty Members and other functionaries unanimously recommended the closure of the University in order to avoid eruption of violence and police intervention. Earlier two groups of teachers were sent to persuade the students to vacate the busy Delhi-Howrah railway track blocked by them to return back to the campus. On 25th night itself soon after the dead body of Mr. Shahnawaz was brought to the Hospital the Vice Chancellor visited the Medical College Hospital and appealed to agitating students to remain calm and peaceful. He again met the agitating students at the Administrative Block gate the next day afternoon and explained the initiatives taken to address the problem. At different point of time various groups of teachers tried to negotiate a settlement and on 29th October about 150 senior teachers went to the dharna site and interacted with the students in order to persuade them to withdraw their agitation but all efforts went in vain.

Professor Azis said that the dharna, disruption of classes, highly provocative speeches, false rumours and allegations, name calling and pretentious rhetoric made by the agitating students supported by outside elements including former Student Union leaders and some political workers who visited and delivered inflammatory speeches at the Dharna site has surcharged the atmosphere and on 30th October morning University had no other option left than to declare closure in order to avert any major crisis.

Winter Vacation: Consequent to the abrupt closure of the University and in order to minimize the loss of working days, the University has declared winter vacations from November 16 to November 30, 2009.

Disciplinary Action: The University has agreed to the demand made on behalf of agitating students by certain well wishers of the University that the students involved in the dharna should not be victimized. Although the students are under suspension as per the university regulations, the University assured them that no one will be victimized for participating in the current dharna. All students so exonerated will be required to submit the undertaking that they will fully observe the University’s Code of Conduct.

Restoration of AMU Students’ Union: Considering the extremely criminalized activities of the Students’ Union leaders in collusion with outside elements during 2004-2007 in AMU, the University community has its own apprehension about sustaining a peaceful academic environment in the campus once the Union is revived. However, considering the need for a democratic platform for students, the University will examine afresh the restoration of the Students’ Union.

A High Level Committee will be appointed soon to examine the modalities of operationalising the Lyngdoh Committee Report. The Committee will be asked to submit its report within three months.

Grievance Redressal: The University already has a representative body called ‘Students’ Grievance Redressal Committee’. This Committee consists of toppers (boys and girls) from each course. The Committee at the Departmental level also consists of the Chairman, a senior most Professor, a senior most Reader and senior most lecturer. This Committee meets regularly in the Department and grievances raised by the students are addressed at this level.

The Vice Chancellor holds University level Grievance Redressal Committee two to three times per year. This year, Vice Chancellor has held a meeting of Students’ Redressal Committee for nine hours.

All grievances related to halls of Residence and the various Department of Studies were immediately followed up.

In the context of the present situation, the Deans’ Committee has gone to the issues raised by students and addressed them on a priority basis. Accordingly, the canteen facilities have been extended to 12 O’clock in the night in the Halls. Common facilities for heaters and iron boxes will be provided in all the Halls of residence.

Baseless Rumours: During the last two years, the University administration has not suspended or rusticated any student for violation of code of conduct rules. The propaganda that hundreds of students have been suspended by the University is totally baseless and designed to create ill will towards University authorities by some individuals and others whose design is political. It is an attempt to malign the University. The tranquil and peaceful atmosphere was vitiated by rumour mongering and hate-mails issued by a few students sitting on dharna. University has refuted all the allegations. The allegation that the University has collected several lakhs of rupees as fine is a blatant lie to mislead students and the general public. The present Hall administration is only trying to establish the rule of law and in accordance with the already existing rules imposing fines as a means of reform rather than vengeance. In the current academic year out of 11000 plus students only 29 students in all the 18 Halls of residence were fined.

The propaganda that the Provosts of various Halls of residence have taken very harsh and dictatorial action on a large number of students living in various halls is also baseless. It is pointed out that out of nearly 11000 students living in various Halls, only 14 students have been shifted to NRSC for gross violation of code of conduct rules during the current academic session.

Dharna at Jantar Mantar, Delhi: The agitating students do not have the support of the AMU students. Some agitating students were misled and taken to Delhi by vested interest groups and this act of shifting of dharna has been viewed by University community as a step devoid of any logic that ultimately tarnish the image of the alma mater.

Peaceful and tranquil atmosphere to be sustained: The University wants to move in a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere. The University feels concerned that the innocent boys are misled by the vested interests and the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Azis appealed to everyone to allow the University to work as a centre of excellence rather than converting into a political battle field. Everyone should remember that it is an institution of national importance of the country and the country has great hopes in the contributions the AMU is going to make in the coming years.

Achievements during the last two years: The University was brought back on the academic track after the turmoil of 2007 with the relentless efforts of the University community. Some of the landmark achievements were:

·       AMU has ranked as one of the top ten Indian Universities in scientific research publication in the country.

·       Information Communication Technology (ICT) was raised from 0.5 mbps to 144 mbps and each department of study, Halls of residence and Colleges have been provided with computers and internet connectivity.

·       A Digital Resource Centre has been established in the Maulana Azad Library enabling access to online catalogue.

·       Five Special Centres of AMU in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Kerala have been proposed at a cost of Rs. 2000 crores. The Government of West Bengal, Kerala and Bihar have already come up with the required land. The Govt. of India has sanctioned Rs. 25 Crore each for the West Bengal and Kerala Centre. A committee is preparing detail blue print.

·       The upgradation of J N Medical College to the level of an institute of Medical Sciences at an estimated cost of Rs. 150 Crore is in the process of advance stage

·       Two new Halls of residence have been inaugurated.

·       Astroturf has been provided with a cost of Rs. 4 Crore to AMU to produce better hockey players.

·       45 students were admitted to IIT's in 2009; 4 students selected for Fulbright Fellowship.

·       25 students were selected in Judicial services.

·       A chaotic and criminal campus brought back to normal functioning.

·       Rule of law established.

·       Modern security system is underway to improve the security in the campus.

·       Building contracts given to CPWD to remove middlemen and brokers.

·       Government of India rules strictly complied with

·       Hostels - all illegal occupants were removed; room allotted to bonafide students.

·       Issued ID cards to all students and staff

·       An atmosphere of academic rejuvenation created - 391 Ph.D's in 2008-09.

·       UGC Grant of Rs. 185 Crores for XI Plan was on all time record for the University.

·       Participatory and academic-centred management by involving active and eminent teachers.

·       MoUs with Foreign Universities in USA, Iran, Australia, Muscat; students getting foreign scholarships.

·       Sir Syed Ahmad Khan International Award instituted; Prize money: Rs. 5 lakhs.

·           Admission tests extended to different states to expand the national character of AMU.

·       Setting up of Students Grievance Redressal Committees involving the best students of each class; Multi-tier consultations at different levels.

·       Admission tests made more transparent; OMR Sheets returned to candidates; largest number of candidates applied in 2009; peaceful campus is cited as the main reason.

·       Several new courses launched: Islamic Banking and Finance, Nanotechnology, Biodiversity Management, Remote Sensing and Ecology Management etc.

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How Good Is Your General Knowledge 1

Questions

1. What does the Prefix Mac as in Mc Donnel Hostel or Mac Donalds indicate?
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3. Lata mangeshkar has sung the maximum number of duets with this singer.
4. Who is the father of Indian Dentistry?
5. Who is the first Indian Woman ever to reach the third round of Grand Slam?
6. Who strengthened India's Nuclear power and is also known as the Missile Man Of India?
7. Which Indian singer's song was used as the soundtrack of the movie Ghost World.
8. African country where the office of the First Lady is promoting "No Sex For Singles" as the best AIDS prevention policy.
9. Which country had the same PM 8 times?
10. What was the speed of Wroght Brothers airoplane in 1904?
    

Answers

1. Son
2. Ram Mohammed Thomas
3. Mohammed Rafi Sheb
   
4. Dr. Rafiuddin Ahmad (Alig.)
5. Sania Mirza
6. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
7. Mohammed Rafi Sheb
8. Uganda
9. Italy
10. 32.6 miles / hour
    

The Committee of Deans AMU Submitted Its Report

The Committee of Deans constituted by AMU Vice Chancellor Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis to examine in detail the grievances of the University students has submitted its report yesterday and the Vice Chancellor has issued orders to take prompt action as suggested in the Deans’ report.

The grievances of the students covered a wide sphere of residential life and academic activities of the University. The demand for restoration of Students Union, to 24 hours canteen facility, lack of proper parking space in residential halls, absence of additional electric points in hostel rooms for mobile charging, heater and ironing clothes, raising of boundary wall of IG Hall, construction of road from Qila road to the Department of Wild Life Sciences, installation of water cooler in the corridor leading to the Department of Persian and Sanskrit, internet facility in the departments, installation of photocopy machine in the seminar libraries, removal of jammers and use of mobile in Maulana Azad Library were some of the common issues the students brought to the notice of the committee.

The students also emphasized the need for keeping book issue section of M A Library open on Sundays, more computer units in the Computer Centre, increasing dining hall timings, training of proctorial guards to properly behave with the students, canteen facility in each hall, allowing food facility to the wait listed students in halls, common menu of food in all halls, campus placement for all the students completing master courses and increasing students’ interaction with the Vice Chancellor.

They also demanded allowing parents and relatives of the students to meet and stay with their wards for two-three days, reducing application fee for PhD courses, promotion of freedom of expression in all halls of residence especially in girls’ halls, improving cleanliness in toilets of the hostels, speeding up the construction work of auditorium at JN Medical College, construction of mosque and the common room at Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Hall, increased stipend for interns, modification in the composition of grievance committee allowing students to elect their representatives and the raids by university administration should not be made only in hostels.

While expressing his firm belief in the democratic values, Prof. Azis ordered for the fast and early solution to the genuine grievances of the students in line with the glorious traditions of the University.

The grievance redressal committee report states that the surprise visit of the Vice Chancellor, Proctor, DSW or the Provosts should not be considered as raid. Its main purpose is to interact with common students and to prevent anti-social elements and unauthorized persons to take shelter in the University. Such regular visits were in the interest of the students.

The report exhorted the Deans, Chairmen, Provosts and other functionaries to look into each and every grievance of the students and work for their solution expeditiously in order to put everything in order before the re-opening of the University.

The committee asked the University Engineer to prepare estimate for the construction work where necessary. Similarly the finance department has also been asked to prepare an estimate for meeting out the demands of the students that have financial implications. The report has however indicated that the work having financial implications may require approval of the concerned bodies.

Regarding the creation of additional electric points and use of heater in hostel rooms, the MIC, Electricity has been requested to consult the provost of halls to arrange two additional points for heater and one point for ironing clothes for every 50 students. The committee also suggested installation of electric meters to monitor the consumption of electricity used for this purpose.

On installation of water coolers, increase in the number of computers and availability of latest editions of text books in the Maulana Azad Library the Deans Committee directs the concerned authorities to resolve the issues on fast track basis. The demand of allowing use of mobile in the M A Library and removal of jammers was however was not favoured in the larger interest of the majority of students who need tranquility while studying in the library.

The issue of Students’ Union was also examined and the committee observed that the University stands by its commitment to restore academic environment in the campus as a priority and that the Students’ Union shall be restored as per the recommendations of Lyngdoh Committee when a conducive atmosphere is created.

To endure better security for the students the Committee asked the Proctor of the University to depute adequate security on the road leading to Allama Iqbal Hall from behind the University Polytechnic and the road behind the Architectural Department. The Proctor was also requested to conduct special training programmes for the security personnel of the University to sensitize them on the skills required for dealing with the students. The committee observed that if needed special workshops and training sessions may be arranged for this purpose.

The committee of Deans suggested the concerned chairmen of departments to take appropriate measures for ensuring internet facilities to the students and pointed out that the advancement of information communication technology in the University has been a core agenda of the Vice Chancellor Prof. Azis and the University has already achieved great success in providing high speed internet facility to every department and halls of residence to enable the students to access the online information.

Displaying a favourable attitude to the demand of providing canteen facility in every hall and increasing the timings of the University Canteen, the Deans’ committee suggested that the provost of the halls should make all necessary arrangement to start canteen in their halls up to 12 midnight. It also said that the timings of University Canteen may be increased to a little more after due consultation with the contractor.

It was suggested that the reduction of fee for PhD application form may be put into the agenda for next Academic Council meeting. The matter pertaining to the stay of parents or relatives with their wards for two-three days, the committee stated that the parents may be allowed to visit their wards and provision of their stay be made in the University Guest House. The students were advised to apply for the guest house facility for their stay on the usual terms and conditions of the University. It also recommends setting up of a visitors’ room in halls of residence by the concerned provost to avert any inconvenience to the visitors.

Various Delhi University Students Join AMU Students Protest

Students from AMU were sucessful in gathering support for their cause from the students of Delhi University, JNU and Jamia Millia Islamia. The dharna that started on Nov 3 at jantar mantar has accumulated a massive strength now.
The VC declared sine die closure of the university on Oct 30 th. The students were ordered to vacate the premises within 48 hours. 19 students have already been declared out of bounds.
The students are demanding, restoration of academic session and resignation of VC.

AMU Administration Press Release

The Deans of Faculties and Principals of Colleges of Aligarh Muslim University have urged the agitating students and teachers to call off their agitations and create a conducive atmosphere for the reopening of the University as soon as possible. The appeal was made after the meeting held on November 8-9, 2009.

The University has decided to declare the winter vacation from November 15 to minimize the loss of working days. It was also resolved to re-open the University in a phased manner by giving priority to students belonging to the faculties of Medicine, Unani Medicine, Engineering and Technology, management and +2 second year. Although there was no mention of any particular date for the reopening of the University, however it may take place in the first week of December providing the agitating leaders of students and teachers work for a conducive atmosphere in the campus for such a decision, sources said. The meeting of Deans also endorsed that the code of conduct and discipline rules 1985 be applied in all cases of indiscipline.

The meeting has also decided to organize parent-teacher meetings in all the faculties and schools to create a conducive environment for smooth functioning of the University.

AMU Vice Chancellor, Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis while discussing the issues relating to the agitation carried by the AMU Teachers’ Association, said that he had a fruitful interaction with office bearers of Teachers’ Association and some other teachers belonging to the other segment. The Vice Chancellor has appealed to all of them to cooperate in maintaining the dignity and image of the University.

AMU Vice Chancellor Prof. Azis has appealed to the Teachers’ Association to withdraw their dharna and assured them that the latest representation received from Tariq Islam will be given due consideration.

Prof. Azis also stressed that in meetings held in the campus teachers should maintain highest degree of decorum true to the traditions of AMU. The Executive Council will meet on November 21 and 22, 2009 to review the situation and take follow up action, he added.

Press Release from the AMU Students Struggle Committee

The 30 students of Aligarh Muslim University Students Struggle Committee are still sitting on dharna since 1 November, 2009 at the Jantar Mantar, New Delhi with the hope that the Hon'able Minister of HRD and PMO would intervene in this issue and end this deadlock for the interest of this institution of national importance and the university which offers the only hope for the minority education in India.
Recently the students were visited by Mr. Kaukab Hameed from the parent Old Boys Association who expressed full solidarity with the agitating students and asked them to drop the demand for the removal of the Vice-Chancellor and assured that he would work earnestly for the immediate reopening of the university, and that university take no action against any agitating students and immediate representation of the students through elected AMUSU, in the AMU Court and AC as mentioned in the AMU Act. When students painfully complained about the systematic campaign launched by the AMU administration through its PRO by sending bogus reports in the media houses in contravention to the statements issued by SSP, Aligarh to defame the meritorious students sitting on Dharna as anti-socials and criminals and such endorsement by some Old Boys Associations in their resolutions, Mr. Kaukab Hameed said that the students must be assured that the parent Old Body is with them and as students did not damage a single penny of university property, they deserve all the praises for such historic peaceful agitation.
The students were also visited by Minister of State for Tourism, Govt. of India Mr. Sultan Ahmad on November 7 , 2009 who sought the intervention of Prime Minister Mr. Manmohan Singh and Minister of HRD Mr. Kapil Sibal in an official statement issued by him. Date: 08/11/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/11/08/stories/2009110857900300.htm
On November 7, 2009- For the first time Sir Syed Day was organized at the JNU and was attended by many distinguished Old Boys and other important personalities. The JNUSU started a signature campaign on the behest of the struggling AMU students for the immediate intervention by the Visitor of AMU to end this deadlock and provide campus democracy to the students of AMU also condemning the action by the AMU administration for coming down heavily on the students agitating peacefully under the ambit of article 19 of Indian Constitution. More than 100 old boys and other important personalities including media persons, journalists, retired IAS officers and other luminaries signed that petition for the students.
On November 8, 2009- JNUSU in its on going programme to express solidarity with the struggling AMU students who even after facing lots of difficulties still remain at the Dharna site for the justice towards the entire AMU students community, hold a public meeting at the Tapti Hostel Mess at 10 pm.
This Public Meeting was attended by 200 JNU students who were affiliated to almost all the student bodies' i.e AISA, NSUI, SFI, DSU etc. The inaugural address was given by the JNUSU President Mr. Sandeep Singh who mentioned about his personal visit to AMU during this agitation and his interaction with the common class going students where he found a deep seated anger against the entire AMU administration for their high handedness with the student community for the past few months. He also stated that JNUSU is a responsible Student Union body praised by entire intellectual community of India which only after going into facts and figures expressed full solidarity with such peaceful democratic movement of AMU students. He laughed off the fact that some students were suspended for "spoiling peace by inviting JNUSU leaders at the campus" and termed AMU a dystopia for the students where no democratic voice can be raised. He also criticized AMU administration for all the fee hikes. JNUSU is now planning to extend this signature campaign among the distinguished personalities of India.
From the AMU Students Struggle Committee, Mr. Irfan Khan of Phd Mass Communication and Md. Adil Hossain of M.A(Prev)Mass Communication represented at this Public meeting and they stated about the systematic oppression by the AMU administration led by this Vice-Chancellor along with facts and figures collected from the RTI revelation by Md. Adil Hossain and how this murder spark the entire students agitation with an overall attitude towards administration. It was stated by them that how article 19 of the Indian Constitution ( freedom of speech, freedom to assemble without arms) has no meaning at the campus and how students are being booked by draconian rules of the Proctor. Md. Adil Hossain also lamented on the fact that the entire left and right lobby of AMU is now with this Vice-Chancellor and students without any support just fighting for the student causes. They also stated about the ignorance of UPA administration towards the affair of an institution with minority character and established the fact how without campus democracy there is a systematic approach by the Govt. to muffle the voice of the active and liberated Muslim youth community of India. The closure of AMU in 2 and half years and the deep seated reasons behind this crisis demands a thorough inquiry that what's the loophole in the system that instigate students time and again against the AMU administration and AMU administration without addressing such root causes find solace in repressive measures.
In the Presidential Address, Prof.Chaman Lal of Dept of Hindi, JNU and an Executive Member of JNU Teachers Association expressed all solidarity and assure to mobilize JNU Teachers Community for the cause of agitating students after hearing their grievances with all facts and figures and the continued oppression by the AMU administration. He advised the AMU Vice-Chancellor to go on leave till the enquiry is going on against him following the natural principle of justice. Prof Chaman Lal also lamented on the fact that how Vice-Chancellor act like feudal lord in universities and everything they decide term as in controversial "good faith". He stated such students' crisis is a commonplace now a days in India and Govt. of India is total ignorant to such issues which will literally hamper the academic future of India. He said that when many university authorities and respective Governments banned students union at the campus citing reason that it may improve the academic atmosphere there, after many years it is proved that nothing has been changed and no visible academic improvement can be seen. He praised the AMU students' community for their peaceful mode of agitation and congratulated those students who went on to hunger strike saying that when someone take the last resort to give oneself systematic pain to touch the moral of an erring person, the internal strength rises and make that human more compatible for this world. He advised students to be politically aware to know the sinister designs to exploit them. He said students must know that even if they are not interested in politics, politics is always interested in them.


Adil Hossain
M.A. (Prev) Mass Communication
Media Coordinator
AMU Students Struggle Committee