RIYADH, 27 January 2007 — India’s Federal Minister for Steel, Chemicals and Fertilizers Ram Vilas Paswan has said that he will propose to the speaker of the Lok Sabha (lower house of Parliament) that a photograph of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan should adorn the Central Hall of Parliament along with those of other national leaders already on display.
He said this as the chief guest at the Sir Syed Day function of Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association Riyadh (AMUOBA) here on Thursday night.
Paswan also called for the creation of Indian Judicial Service similar to other administrative services, such as IFS, IAS, IPS, etc. with reservations for Muslims and Dalits (backward classes). Such a move, he pointed out, was necessary in the interest of fair treatment in the disposal of cases against minorities.
The presence of Muslims in judicial and police force, he said, could go a long way in safeguarding their interest as well as life and property. In this context he cited the case of the recent communal riots in Gujarat which were engineered by some elements who pitted the Dalits and Muslims against one another. His enquiry revealed that both Muslims and Dalits had amicable relations among them till the mischief-makers sowed the seed of discord between them that erupted into riots.
Paying tributes to Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, the founder of the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental School, which subsequently became the Aligarh Muslim University in 1920, Paswan advised Muslims to pay greater attention to English for their own advancement. “Learning Urdu would only qualify them for jobs in Madarasas,” he observed.
At the same event, India’s Ambassador M.O.H. Farook appealed to well-to-do Muslims to adopt at least one student from the blue collar families, since 80 percent of the 40,000 NRI students in the Kingdom were unable to pay their tuition fees.
Besides Paswan and the Indian ambassador, Khan Ghufran Zahidi, former minister in the North Indian state of Utter Pradesh, and Qurban Ali, consultant Doordarshan were also present.
Qurban Ali called upon Muslims not to be entirely dependent on the government for their uplift. He quoted the example of Kerala, which has 100 percent literacy, while the state has four international airports.
He said the fact that Indian Muslims were educationally backward was documented by William Hunter in 1877 when he pointed out that less than 1 percent of Muslims had college education. It was Sir Syed who pulled them out of intellectual stagnation with his launch of the Aligarh Movement.
The former BBC journalist called for introspection in the community, so that there could be reorientation in their outlook.
Referring to his suggestion for adopting students from the low income group, Ambassador said a revolving fund could be set up for the payment of tuition fees to the students from the vulnerable segments of NRIs. He also urged Paswan to use his good offices in the creation of such a fund, to which the federal government could also contribute to help NRI students tide over their financial difficulties.
Speaking on behalf of AMUOBA, President Dr. Misbahul Arfin said that at least four more universities on the pattern of AMU should be set up at four new campuses at different locations in India, out of which at least two should be in northern India.
A memorandum submitted to Paswan also called for the abrogation of a communal clause in the Indian constitution under which article 341 imposed by presidential order in 1950 bars Muslims and Christians from SC / ST reservation due to their religion. “We demand the inclusion of the Dalit Muslims in article of 341 of the constitution and publication of white paper explaining reasons behind the reservation,” the memorandum said.
Sohail Ahmed, vice president AMUOBA, introduced the speakers and acted as emcee.
