Z.K. Faizan and Muhammad Adeeb were referring to the historic Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) while speaking at an event organized in Jubail on Friday by the university’s illustrious alumni to remember the university’s founder Sir Syed Ahmad Khan.
Faizan, convener of the AMU Action Committee, and Adeeb, a member of Parliament, have in recent days launched a political campaign against the dilution of the university’s Muslim character and the launching of new centers in other states. They have met with considerable success on the political front. However, they readily admitted that the odds were heavily stacked against those who want to see the university in the form and format as envisaged by its legendary founder.
Faizan was particularly critical of the Indian government’s decision to allow AMU centers to be opened in other places. “The creation of these centers simply means that whatever money is budgeted for AMU will now be distributed among the parent university and the new centers,” he said. “When the parent university itself is having budgetary problems why is the government burdening it with more centers?” he asked.
According to him, the government can set up new universities rather than creating centers affiliated with AMU. “One of the most important aspects of our university is its residential status. That should not be tampered with,” said Faizan. “This is a conspiracy.”
He said AMU was established for the well being of the Muslim community. “Its minority character was abolished by the government in the past and now the formation of these centers will deal a body blow to the university,” he said and explained the reasons behind his opposition.
Faizan’s fear was that the new centers will have preference for only meritorious students. “Muslims are lagging behind in all fields, especially education. And if merit is to be the only criteria in the new centers then what good will come of them for us Muslims?” he wondered. “So why do we need these centers? Let them open up new universities and studious Muslims will compete there and will have their share.”
Faizan, who is a Supreme Court lawyer, said there has been a campaign of calumny against them. “We are being projected as outsiders. We are the ones who, during our student days, have fought for the preservation of the university’s unique Muslim character. We went behind bars for the mission that was started by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan.”
Adeeb said the whole idea of creating new centers stemmed from a political wrangle between two ministers of the previous Congress-led government. “The whole controversy was a result of a turf war in 2004 between then Human Resources Development Minister Arjun Singh and Minority Affairs Minister A.R. Antulay,” he said. “Antulay wanted to create three new universities on Muslim lands that were in disuse. Arjun Singh did not like the idea and insisted that his ministry should be tasked with the project. He then came up with this weird suggestion that three AMU centers should be opened up instead of three universities. That is where all the problems arose,” said Adeeb.
“Muslims of India should realize the depth of conspiracies that are being hatched against them,” Adeeb warned. “Those, from within the community, who are attacking us should know that the creation of the new centers will spell doom for AMU,” he said. “We should fight for 50 percent reservation for Muslims in the university and the restoration of the university’s minority character.”
Adeeb sounded pessimistic at times and not without reason. “Our leadership can be easily bought. Much of our problems stem from a bad and corrupt leadership. And what is most unfortunate is that Muslims themselves are passive and rudderless.”
Talking to Arab News on the sidelines, he said the government has been made aware of the implications of the new move and that it has promised to restore the university’s minority character and roll back the affiliations of the new centers. “The new centers will be declared as independent entities, which is what we are calling for.”
Among the prominent alumni who were present at what is being described as the best Sir Syed Day in Saudi Arabia were Anis Bakhsh, Nadeem Tarin, Mukarram Ali Khan, Meraj-ul-Arfin Ansari, Wajahat Farooqui, Anis Malik, Nafis Tarin, Mushir Alam Siddiqui and Rahat Sultan.
