RESIDENTIAL CHARACTER OF AMU IN JEOPARDY

[Voices are raging in favour and against the AMU VC’s decision to establish Satellite University Centres in West Bengal, Bihar and Kerala. Life Watch presents here the view of Dr. Nafees Ahmad (Retd. Professor of Opthalmic Biochemistry) on the issue.]

Voices are being raised and forceful arguments being made against proposed satellite AMU Special Centres. But most of the AMU Alumni seem indifferent on this issue. To me, this is an issue to be taken up very seriously by the well wishers and Alumni of AMU. I remember well and there are still so many persons alive who are a witness to the long struggle fought by the AMU Action Committee, starting from 1965 to 1980, for the restoration of Minority and Residential Character of AMU. The present Act of 1981 was accepted by the Action Committee under protest for the reason that the Act thought guarantees the residential character yet it doesn’t accept AMU a Minority Institution in clear terms, to be governed under Article 30 of the Constitution.
The issue of Minority Character is still pending before the Supreme Court. As far as the Residential Character is concerned, we on our own are giving it away by establishing the so called Satellite University Centres. The proposed AMU centres at Kishanganj, Murshidabad and Mallepuram etc. may provide political mileage to the ruling parties or to the over enthusiastic VC, who may gain sympathy in the ongoing Visitor’s enquiry against him for his financial and other irregularities but this shall be suicidal for the very existence of AMU. The very first sentence of the act says “Whereas it is expedient to incorporate a teaching and residential Muslim University at Aligarh, and to……”. It was for this reason that the clause 2(9A) was added to the Act by the founders of the University, which reads “To establish within a radius of 25 km of the University Mosque such Special Centres, Specialized laboratories or other units for research and instruction as are, in the opinion of the University, necessary for the furtherance of its objects”. This leaves no room for the establishment of centres/campuses beyond this limit.
Unless the University is technically declared a Minority Institution in letter and spirit, it can neither reserve seats for Muslims in AMU nor in the Special Centres/Campuses. The Muslim predominance in the University at present is maintained because of internal- and certain other quotas. It is not because of priority admissions to Muslims. Hown then Muslim majority in the satellite centres can be guaranteed? Recently Mr. Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister, Bihar, came out with a statement to satisfy the Sangh Parivar, who were agitating against the proposed AMU Campus in Kishanganj. He said, as published in so many newspapers, that there will be no Muslim reservation in this centre. The VC too issued a similar statement. After this the agitation was withdrawn. Is there still any doubt about the intentions behind such a move? Can one observe the contradictions? How funny it looks that the Government of India declares to establish these centres/campuses for educational uplift of Muslims whereas Mr. Nitish Kumar and our Hon’ble VC say there shall be open competitions for admissions just like in other institutions and no priority to the Muslims shall be given.
The old lot of very sincere and committed AMU Alumni, under the able leadership of Dr. AJ Faridi, Qazi Adeel Abbasi, Mr. Shafiqurrahman, Mr. Zafar Siddiqui, Dr. Ishtiaq Husain Quraishi, etc. fought their best for the restoration of the Minority and Residential character of the University. During this long struggle dozens of anti-Muslim riots erupted causing the loss of hundreds of Muslim lives and crores of their property. Hundreds of Muslims were thrown behind bars. Our VC who comes from Kerala may not be aware of these sacrifices. The above leaders were very far sighted. They knew that the dilution of the residential character means opening the doors of affiliation for the local colleges with the University, which shall defeat the entire purpose of AMU. Therefore, following the footsteps of the founders of the University, they too insisted for the restoration of the clause 5(9A) in the University Act. Now our VC, ignorant of repercussions, is going to practically abolish this condition. Alas! None of the above leaders is alive today. Had they been alive they would have certainly been on the roads to oppose this move tooth and nail. Shall we not take up the cause now?
I may agree that the present central government sincerely wants educational uplift of Muslims. It can establish these centres under independent management and/or upgrade the existing Muslim colleges, spread all over India, for the purpose instead of establishing these under the management of AMU and endangering the basic character of the University. Simultaneously the Government could also have amended the AMU Act suitably to declare AMU a Minority Institution governed under Article 30 of the Constitution, which it has failed to do.
The former Vice Chancellors of AMU and those who have remained associated with the administration know very well that AMU, having over eighty hostels at the campus, about hundred departments of studies, several colleges and schools, has become unwieldy to properly manage, administer, maintain discipline and academic standards. The whole system needs thorough revamping if we really want to have exemplary discipline and academic standards worthy of a premier National and International institution. The VC, though an academician, has utterly failed to concentrate on this prime issue. His main thrust is on money oriented schemes, be it needed or not such as C.C. TV, over expensive repair of VC lodge, various constructions through outside agencies etc. How does a VC who most often remains out of station and has no time to concentrate on such issues, visualize to properly administering the Centres on day to day basis situated so far away from Aligarh?
The VC could have called a meeting of the former Vice Chancellors, concerned academicians and legal experts to have a thread bare discussion before proceeding on this important but very critical issue. Instead, he seems to have made it a prestige issue and wants to get it implemented at any cost. He looks least bothered about the Minority or residential character of the University. His concern to the Minority cause is evident from the fact that the University has failed to appear before the Supreme Court on three consecutive hearings in February, 2010 without any leave application by the University Counsel and the said counsel is still continuing.
I believe that the disrespect to the VC amounts to disrespect to the University. But under the circumstances I am left with no option but to express my feelings with a heavy heart. I feel extremely sorry for these comments against our VC but I clearly see our Alma Mater being in peril with the steps he is very hurriedly taking without giving a sincere thought.
(By Nafees Ahmad)
(Life Watch invites views of teachers and students of AMU and other concerned citizens on the aforementioned subject. Kindly mail your views to lifewatch@rediffmail.com)