THE ALIG

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Patron: Abdus Salam Qureishi

President: Shaheer H. Khan

President Elect: Akram Khan

Secretary: Shahla Khan

Treasurer: Suhail Farrukh

Member Executive Committee:

Membership: S. Anwer Hasham and Farrah Khan

Scholarship: Asim Salim and Sohail Talib

Activities: Amtul Suhail

Public/Media Relations: Nihal Khan and Bilal Qidwai

Web and Internet: Naved Husain and Asim I. Haque

The second Sir Syed Day celebration in the Bay area was held on Saturday, November 7, 1998 at The Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California in Oakland. It was attended by nearly 250 alumni and well-wishers of the Aligarh Muslim University from across northern California.

After dinner the program started with a recitation from the Holy Quran. After the opening remarks by M.C. Shahla Khan, the President of the association Mr. Nihal Khan welcomed the guests and in his short speech he paid tribute to Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. Next speaker of the evening, Dr. Shaheer Khan announced the launching of Sir Syed Scholarship program. He emphasized that the scholarship program is an important objective of the association. The audience was urged to help the needy and bright students to achieve their educational goals.

Akram Khan gave a lively speech on the humorous aspect of Aligarh's hostel life. He entertained the audience with the recital of Urdu translation of "Jack and Jill" and "Humpty-Dumpty".

Mrs. Amtul Suhail spoke of the life of Sir Syed and Aligarh movement. She spoke with great confidence and conviction and was applauded by the audience. Naushi Gilani, followed with a talk on the life of Sir Syed, his writings and his efforts in establishing the university.

Dr. Hasan Kamil was the chief guest and last speaker of the evening. He was presented with a bouquet by Unsa and Umme-Hani. Dr. Kamil thanked the organizers and applauded the efforts of the association.

The highlight of the celebration was the Tarana-e-Aligarh chorus. With inspiring background music the Tarana brought back fond memories of Aligarh.

After a brief tea break, the second phase of the program, an international Mushaira began. Popular and prominent Urdu poets from India, Pakistan, and USA displayed their best If the presence of audience is any indication of the success of a program, Sir Syed Day Mushaira was a big success, as religiously and ethnically diverse audience remained glued to their seats until almost 2 in the morning.

AMU Alumni Association (AMUAA) of Northern California launched it's Sir Syed Scholarship program on the occasion of Sir Syed Day in November 98. An appeal was made for donations and the initial response is very encouraging. The Association will award fellowships to meritorious and needy students at the Aligarh Muslim University. Special scholarships tailored to the specific needs of the sponsors are also being established. Individuals are requested to donate generously to support the scholarship program. Please address all inquiries to scholarship committee.

To obtain a copy of the above cassette, please contact the association: AMUAlumni@hotmail.com

This group is created for the Aligs and the well-wishers of the AMU to share their thoughts and news about the university and its alumni around the world. It is intended to establish a viable and effective communication among AMU Community. There is no restriction on the topics that can be discussed, however, it is requested that common ethical norms be followed and articles/announcements relevant to the AMU Community be posted and discussed on this network.

Group Moderator: amunetwork-owner@egroups.

Please contact:

AMU Alumni Association of Northern California

726 Marlin Ave., #2

Foster City, CA 94404, USA

Tel/Fax: (650) 574-5814

Akram Khan

(408) 296-5226

NEW YORK :The Aligarh Alumni Association Of New York Tri-State am celebrated life and work of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan the founder of the Aligarh Muslim University in India, on Saturday, October 31 which was held at the Nassau Community College in Garden City, New York. It was attended by about 300 people, mostly professionals from India and Pakistan.

The initial part of the celebration was a panel discussion on Sir Syed Ahmad s educational social reform movement. The panel consisted of four eminent scholars in the field. Asad Ur Rahman, formerly of Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, was the moderator. The first speaker was Professor Hafeez Malik of Vilanova University. He spoke on the support for Sir Syed’s movement, especially in the Punjab. The second speaker was Professor Abdulaziz Sachedina, Professor of the Islamic Studies at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia. He spoke about Sir Syed’s deep belief that religion should be a personal devotion to God and it should be above worldly considerations. He emphasized Sir Syed’s rational approach to religion, his forceful and convincing speech was applauded enthusiastically and repeatedly. Professor Sachedina was followed by Dr. David Lelyveld, the Director of Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies at Cornell University. His well-known book, "Aligarth’s First Generation: Muslim Solidarity in British India" was published by the Princeton University Press and reprinted by Oxford University Press. The title of his speech was "Father’s and Son’s," which was about the contribution that Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and his, illustrious son Syed Mahmud and his grandson Sir Ross Masood made to the development of the Mohammedan Anglo Oriental College, which later became Aligarh Muslim University. The last speaker was Dr. Abidullah Ghazi, Director of the Iqra International Educational Foundation, Chicago. Dr. Ghazi, who spoke in Urdu, covered a wide range. He especially dealt with the difficulties Sir Syed faced in promoting his progressive ideas in country that was extremely conservative. He spoke about the achievements of this great man in creating a Muslim middle class, with a modern forward-looking attitude.

After dinner six speakers spoke a bout their experiences while they were students at the Aligarh Muslim University.

The audience was waiting eagerly for the Mushaira, which followed. The Aligarh Alumni Association had invited some well-known Urdu poets from India, Pakistan, Canada, and the USA. Poets from India were Irfan Siddiqui, Nawaz Deobandi, Masroor Usmani and Waseem Barailvi. While Qasim Pirzadaa came from Karachi, Pakistan.

The need for a nodal agency to keep in touch with the former students of the university has been felt for a long time. During the visits of the present vice Chancellor, Mr. Mahmood-ur Rahman to USA and other countries, the alumni associations reiterated the demand for effective contact with the university administration. The Vice Chancellor has ordered the establishment of a Center for Alumni Affairs, a press release said.

The main objective of Alumni Center would be to keep lively contacts with the Alumni and organize functions to suit their collective interests. The directory of all concerned will be prepared with a view to establish the required linkage. It will also be the duty of the center to apprise the alumni of the academic developments in the university and bring them in close contact with the promising students so that the future prospects of the young students improve significantly. The problem confronting the university will be realistically communicated to the Alumni and they would be encouraged to visit their Alma Mater as and when it may be convenient to them. Organization of meaningful lecturers and reciprocal visits will also be an important objective of the center.

Aligarh Old Boys may wish to know that my book, Aligarh's First Generation, originally published by Princeton University Press in 1978, has been reprinted in paperback by Oxford University Press. It is available through the web services of Barnes and Noble and Amazon. The work is a history of the M.A.O. College in Sir Syed's time.

David Lelyveld

Cornell University

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

It is a matter of great satisfaction that after some initial hassles during 1995-96, the academic normalcy and peace has returned to the campus of Aligarh Muslim University. Considering the dimension of recent disturbances instigated by vested interest of some mischievous people, this achievement of the present Vice Chancellor Mr. Mahmoodur Rahman will be recorded as a big contribution in the annals of the University.

Most of us very well know that the founder of this glorious institution late Sir Sayed Ahmad Khan was on of those who refused to acknowledge the British as the only cause of problems facing India. He could see through the social fabric and arrived at conclusions, which were slightly ahead of his times, although it was in itself wonderfully timed. That was no reason why he had to face brickbats in greater number than the bouquets. But despite this he never lost sight of his goal and pursued it with remarkable conviction. The Aligarh movement culminated into the establishment of the Mohammedan Anglo Oriental College in 1875. Sir Sayed was deeply disturbed by the poor rate of literacy among Muslim masses and his entire endeavors were aimed at the resurgence in them as regards to science and modern education.

The establishment of the University can be tracked down to an important era in our national movement. The war of independence had bludgeoned into an evolution of consciousness. The nation was under siege and this predictably led to enormous enterprise and Sir Sayed with his farsightedness could very well envisage the urgent need of education for Muslims of India.

Ever since, the University has grown in size and the stature as well. The growing streams of knowledge have been successfully represented in the campus so much so that now altogether there are 16 faculties and over 135 departments and centers of learning. Except the discipline of Pharmacology almost all prevailing branches of arts, science, social science, commerce, law and technology have been established in the University. Centers of Biotechnology, Tourism, Agriculture, Computer Science Dentistry and Wildlife Sciences are the fields, which are craving for greater attention.

Aligarh can easily be identified as a miniature India. Its cultural diversity is reflected in the mini-culture of students hailing from various nooks and corners of the country. To quote the present Dean of Students Welfare, Dr. Ozair Ahmad, "AMU being a residential university has an amalgam of both academic and residential life in which both Taleem (education) and tarbiyat (upbringing) go together". The very fact that there are almost 18,000 students living in hostels gives the campus a unique outlook in which the interaction between all components of the University exceed beyond the level of the classroom. The teacher and the taught often get together in the form of a warden and ward.

In an age when Cola lords have invaded other campuses, Aligarh has resolved to stay away from the craze of consumerism. Makeshift dhabas are still the favorite 'remdez-vous' for the students and an Annual Exhibition is celebrated with great pomp and gaiety. Trendy wears are no more a head turner in the campus and girls drive their vehicles with the same comfort as anywhere else.

Aligarh has always successfully blended extremist tendencies and will continue to do so. A Miladun-Nabi congregation is often followed by a University Film Club presentation in the same Kennedy Auditorium (obviously with a different set of audience) and vast Sunni gathering for Eid prayers calmly gives way to a relatively small Shia jamaat at the University mosque. The place is known to have contained the rightist and the leftist components within its vast canopy of tolerance and sensibility.

Like any other campus the AMU has its darker side too. Regionalism has very strong presence here and this causes too much of groupism especially among students. Unwanted affiliations of language and domicile asserts themselves time and again and lead to occasional upheaval. This is extremely unpardonable going by the very essence of its composition and the motive of creation. Like in any other society, the best way to assert one's individuality is to recognize the individuality of others. This applies equally to an educational institution.

There are a number of factors that lead to this phenomenon. The family background of the students, the kind of ethos they inculcate and the kind of environment created in the campus, All contribute to this development. Yet another factor which determines the general behavior of students in a campus is the amount of interest their guardians show in them. Truly speaking, there are only a few who really follow up the progress of their wards. The very reason that the child can take care of his own after entering a hostel should not suffice for any serious guardian especially these days when many students enter the University at a tender age.

Another obvious shortcoming in AMU has been the lack of research work. Higher studies have also been more or less reduced to a quantity product with decreasing focus on quality of education. This definitely is a two-way process in which students and the teachers should share the blame as any academic excellence has to be achieved through the teacher and taught relationship. This probably is the reason why we fail to contribute much with respect to inventions at the national and international levels. The effort on the part of the student in attaining their goal is largely missing and the natural outcome is moderate success that is confined to individual level. Though, more or less, it is a national phenomenon; the community looks towards AMU with a different perspective. The campus has been through some of the turbulent times, but fortunately it did come out stronger every time. The legacy of late 70s and early 80s continued in its fresh spade of violence that erupted in the 90s. It is not that ours is the only place where some hooligans brandish a gun without much provocation. There are places which are worse than ours, but there are also those which are better, and there should be no ambiguity in this regard. In any institution there is no substitute for discipline and Aligarh is no exception.

Things are definitely looking up with the advent of new era in which the discipline is not a prerogative but an eventuality and there is absolutely no room for complacency. If the general atmosphere has improved, it needs to be made more conducive to academic excellence. To quote one of the serious students in the campus, "the atmosphere is just right for reforms and the bus should not be missed".

Reformation in Aligarh can run in a bewildering number of directions. But the best possible method of including a renaissance will be to revive the spirit of freedom movement. The relevance of this movement means many things to many people and its real spirit without the campus. This promises to enhance the spirit of Aligarianism too, which has really lost its meaning the recent times. During the course of my field studies and constancy in the country and abroad, I have the opportunity of visiting many universities and find the AMU's environment quite conducive for good education and learning. Despite the unfortunate occasional skirmishes, the AMU remains one of the outstanding universities in the country/world.

No Vice Chancellor alone can be successful in weeding out the campus. A multi-sectarian approach has to be taken in which the teachers, who are most important and long lasting component of the system, should play a major role. The teaching should not be regarded only as a profession but a mission as well. The guardians of the students should also keep track of the activities of their wards. Undoubtedly majority of students, teachers and other staff members at AMU want a peaceful and academic atmosphere but unfortunately on most troublesome occasions they remain merely a silent spectator. This attitude has to be changed to maintain a long lasting peace and sustainable academic system. In a few years time we will be entering into the 21st Century. Let the well wisher of the AMU to do some introspection and prepare to lead the University to the next millennium with new hope and promise.

"So far as Muslims of India are concerned, one can assert without fear of contradiction that the man who played the most important role in this struggle is the presiding spirit of this university. The battle was fought here in Aligarh and Aligarh is the visible embodiment of the victory of the forces of progress.

Here developed the new school of research, interpretation and reconstruction of Muslim thoughts. The 19th century marked the period of renaissance for the Indian spirit and Aligarh was one of the center of such renaissance.

It is true that with the death of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, Aligarh lost many of its distinctive features. Though the college was raised to a university, it could not revive the traditions of its early glory. Nevertheless, you must remember that this glorious heritage is yours and it is for you to revive the past splendor of Aligarh. The inscriptions which has been carved on the walls of your Strachey Hall may fade with the passage of time, but the inscriptions which Aligarh has written on the modern period of Indian can never fade.

Future historians will discover in Aligarh one of the main sources which has contributed to the evolution of modern India. Your duty today is to revive those old traditions and to create in your university an atmosphere of research and inquiry into all the spheres of knowledge."

(Contributed by: Dr. Razi Raziuddin)

17 December 1920: Inauguration of the Muslim University. Her Highness Sultan Jahan Begum, Wali-e Bhopal appointed as the first Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University. Sir Ali Muhhamad Khan, Maharaja of Mahmoodabad took over as the first Vice-chancellor of the University.

(Contributed by: Dr. Razi Raziuddin)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The author is the director of Association of Indian Muslims, Washington, DC

It is well known that the Aligarh Muslim University was founded as a school in May 1875 that transformed into the Mohammedan Anglo Oriental College in January 1878. While Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was the moving spirit, the prime saint of the Aligarh Movement, he was ably assisted by several pioneers who dedicated themselves to the cause of the establishment of the MAO College. Much has been written and spoken about Sir Syed Ahmad. Here is some information on the 27 close associates of Sir Syed Ahmad, the saints and apostles of the Aligarh Movement. Of the 27, six were Englishmen and twenty-one were Indians. The following is a chronological listing of these pioneers arranged in the descending order of the year of their birth.

1. Raja Jai Kishan Das (1832 -1905): Moradabad (UP); Sessions Judge; Co-president and secretary of the Scientific Society.

2. Khawaja Mohammad Yusuf (1832-1902): Aligarh; Lawyer; Secretary Scientific Society.

3. Maulvi Nazir Ahmad (1833-1912): Delhi; Famous author of many Urdu books, teacher, Deputy Collector; Trustee, MAO College.

4. Maulvi Samiullah Khan (1834-1908): Delhi; District & Sessions judge; Right hand man of Sir Syed in the Aligarh Movement; Even though funds were sparse he took major initiative in founding the MAO school & college.

5. Syed Raza Hussain (1836-1892): Gaya (Bihar); Municipal Commissioner; Philanthropist, Educationist; Helped found MAO College.

6. Mohsinul Mulk Mahdi Ali Khan (1837-1907): Etawah (UP); Financial & Political Secretary, Hyderabad state; Revided Tahzibul Akhlaq and Aligarh Institute Gazette; Secretary MAO College; Responsible for very substantial increase in enrollment, donations for College.

7. Altaf Husain Hali (1837-1914): Paniput (Punjab); Famous Urdu author & poet, disciple of Ghalib; teacher at the Anglo-Arabic College, Delhi; Major supporter of the Aligarh Movement reform among Muslims; Assisted establishment of MAO College.

8. Viqarul Mulk Mushtaq Husain (1841-1917): Amroha (UP); Senior officer in Hyderabad state; Secretary MAO College; Helped raise huge funds; Pioneer in involving common Muslims in MAO College and retaining the Indian identity of the College in British India.

9. Maulvi Chiragh Ali (1844-1895): Basti (UP); Scholar, Political Secretary Hyderabad state; Contributor Tahzibul Akhlaq.

10. Syed Mahmood (1850-1903): Delhi; Son of Sir Syed Ahmad; First Indian judge of Allahabad High Court; Secretary MAO College. Provided major support in the development of the MAO College and later the scheme to develop the college into the university.

11. Jadav Chandra Chakravarti (1850-1920): Allahabad; Renowned Professor of Mathematics at MAO College; Registrar MAO College.

12. Faiyaz Ali Khan (1851-1922): Jaipur; Nawab; Member Imperial Legislative Council; Chairman MAO Board of Trustees.

13. Maulvi Wahiduddin Salim (1858-1928): Paniput (Punjab); Scholar and teacher; Editor of Aligarh Gazette, Muslim Gazette, Zamindar.

14. Maulana Shibli Naumani (1857-1914): Azamgarh (UP); Famous scholar, author in Urdu & Persian, Historian; Professor of Arabic & Persian at MAO College. Secretary Anjuman Taraqqi Urdu & Nadwat ul Ulema. Founded Darul Musannafeen, an Urdu think tank.

15. Mohammad Ishaq Khan (1860-1918): Delhi; Nawab, son of Nawab Shefta (Ghalib's famous disciple); District and Sessions Judge; Secretary MAO College, President All India Muslim Educational Conference.

16. Maulvi Aziz Mirza (1865-1912): Delhi; Educated at MAO College; Organized one of the fist strikes at MAO College in 1988. Judge Hyderabad High Court, Distinguished Writer; Trustee MAO College. Father of Dr Babur Mirza, Head of Dept. of Zoology, AMU.

17. Habibur Rahman Khan Sherwani (1866-1950): Aligarh; Nawab, Minister of Auqaf, Hyderabad state; first vice-chancellor, Usmania University; Helped found Shibli College, Azamgarh; Trustee MAO College; Donated his huge and priceless library to AMU.

18. Maulvi Abdul Haq (1869-1961): Meerut (UP); Scholar and author; Baba-e-Urdu; Graduate of the first class of MAO College; Established a translation bureau at Osmania university to translate world famous books in Urdu; Founded Urdu College in Karachi, 1958.

19. Khawaja Ghulam us Saqlain (1870-1915): Paniput (Punjab); Graduate of MAO College, Chief Judge Malear Kotla state, Member UP Legislative Council; Founder of AMU Duty Society; Social reformer; Father of Khawaja Ghulam us Saiyadain of AMU.

20. Shaikh Abdullah (1874-1965): Poonch (Kashmir); Graduate of MAO College; Lawyer in Aligarh; pioneer in the field of Muslim women's education. Established the women’s school at Aligarh in 1914 and developed it into the AMU Women’s College.

21. Aga Khan Sultan Mohd Shah (1877-1957): Delhi; Aga Khan III; President League of Nations (1937); Member Imperial Legislative Council (1902); Founder Muslim League; Made major contribution in developing MAO College into the AMU university.

22. Henry Siddons: Oxford graduate; first headmaster of MAO School (1875) and later principal of MAO College; Greatly helped in building high academic standard and overall education at MAO School/ College. Left Aligarh January 1884.

23. John Towle: Principal of MAO College 1909-1919. One of the most successful principals of MAO College. Left Aligarh March 1919.

24. Theodore Beck: President of Cambridge Students Union, Appointed Principal of MAO College 1883. Established the Siddons Debating Club at the MAO College. Worked hard to expand and improve the college.

25. Theodore Morrison: Joined MAO College as professor of English in 1889; Appointed principal of MAO College in 1899; President of All India Muslim educational Conference in 1904; Established the Proctorial system at MAO College in 1900.

26. Thomas Walker Arnold: A Cambridge graduate; Famous professor and scholar of Islam and Oriental studies; Joined MAO College as professor of philosophy in 1888. Major contributor in developing the Aligarh Tradition-synthesis of the Eastern and Western culture.

27. Walter Alexander Raleigh: Cambridge graduate; Professor of English at MAO College for 3 years; Established the Raleigh Society at the MAO College; Returned to England and later became professor of English at Oxford University.

Delhi's cabinet includes Parvez Hashmi who is an Aligarian. Parvez Hashmi has won the Okhla assembly seat for the second time, has done his master's in Chemistry from Aligarh Muslim University. Beginning his political career in AMU, he won the Okhla seat in 1993 as a Janata Dal candidate switching to the Congress later.

Dr.Rizwan-ul-Haque, a distinguished "Old Boy" of Aligarh Muslim University and an outstanding Environmental Scientist, passed away in Virginia, due to heart failure, on September 28,1998. He was only in his late 50s. Dr.Rizwan-ul-Haque, a native of Azamgarh, U.P., received his Ph.Ds., in Chemistry, from Aligarh Muslim University and from University of British Columbia, Canada. He was founder-President and Chief Executive Officer of a leading Environmental Consulting firm in the U.S., with nationwide offices and branches. Earlier he served as an Associate Professor of Chemistry, at Oregon State University, Oregon and a top Scientist at the Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. Author of over 70 journal articles and editor of two books, Dr. Haque served on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Environmental Sciences. In his death, Aligarh lost an able alumnus and Washington metropolitan area community lost a generous and noble member. He leaves behind a wife (Carol),a son (Rehan),a daughter (Alia) and a brother (Mohammed Rashid, himself an Aligarian).May Allah rest his soul in peace (Aameen).

For our next issue to be published in April 1999, we would like to invite articles from Aligs all over the world to contribute their articles and news items.

THE ALIG is extremely thankful to those who have contributed with their articles and news reports.

"There are two ways for achieving national progress and prestige: first, peace and tranquility in the country, secondly education and training amongst the people" -Sir Syed

Aligarh Muslim University

Jamia Hamdard

Talimabad, New Delhi

INDIA

Vice Chancellor's Office

Aligarh Muslim University

Aligarh-202001, (U.P.)

INDIA

Tel: 91-571-400 994

Fax: 91-571-400 087

Registrar's Office

Aligrah Muslim University

Aligarh-202001, (U.P.), INDIA

Tel: 91-571-400 220

Fax: 91-571-401 331

Email: nacae@amu.ernet.in

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Email: amusu@amu.up.nic.in