"if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people" on100 years of secular education

 BY:- Huma Baby (Hardoi): Jimmy Warsi (Houston, Texas)    

For 100 Years, Jamia Millia Islamia made an unwavering belief in an education rooted in creativity, values and intellectual curiosity. A modest beginning on October 29,1920 at Aligarh, U.P University was founded on the beneficence and tenacity of its founding members -- Shaikhul Hind Maulana Mahmud Hassan, Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar, Jenab Hakim Ajmal Khan, Dr.Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari, Jenab Abdul Majeed Khwaja and Dr.Zakir Hussain  with a firm belief and passion in the transformative power of education for students, the community and beyond.

The concept was to build a national institution with values--- excellence, integrity, progressive education and nationalist ideals to students from all communities, particularly the Muslims to guide them today and will endure as entering a bright future.

Jamia(university) was supported by Gandhi ji and Tagore with the hope that it could shape lives of hundreds and thousands of students on the basis of shared culture and challenging world. Jamia tops central university in government ranking is marked by immense sacrifices by its dedicated staff, students and host of anonymous prominent individual tireless efforts.

Jamia Millia Islamia is proud of its past and the prospects of its future. The journey of growth from a humble beginning in the pre-independence India to a profound ranking central university offering modern day integrated education from Nursery to Research in specialized areas are the outcome of its Founding members clear vision in spite of numerous challenges faced yet “built up the Jamia Millia stone by stone, and sacrifice by sacrifice” as very well said by Sarojini Naidu, the nightingale of India.

Turning the golden pages of history under colonial British Raj, two major factors played massive role that contributed towards birth of Jamia. The political climate in 1920 exposed both factors (A) Anti-colonial Islamic Activism and (B) Pro-Independence aspirations together with Mahatma Gandhi who was working tirelessly towards bringing a change in India. The Anti-Colonial Activism was inspired by the Khilafat Movement and the Pro-Independence factor was motivated by the non-cooperation movement of the Indian National Congress and as both factors worked in tandem it created the highest level of energy to lay the foundations of Jamia Millia Islamia. An outstanding compliment from Rabindranath Tagore called it “One of the most progressive educational institutions of India”.

However one more story is a legend of foundation of this university.

SN Banerjee sent a letter to, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, founder of AMU referring the purpose of forming an organisation, INC, in 1885.

 Badruddin Tayyab Ji and Mr Banerjee said in this letter that they did felt that it would be incomplete without Sir Ahmad's presence.

the letter was read before Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, and he asked Mohisin, "You must have heard of mutiny 1857." He replied, 'yes!'; "but I have seen it with my own eyes"

Mohisin added," You have written in Asbabe-Baghawate-Hind that indian should be included in the viceroy's council." Sir Ahmad said, “But they are not talking of nomination by the viceroy. They want to fight against the government. These people are talking of election. Bengalis are learning English for 100 years and made good progress. we can't make such demands on the rulers. If we will do, we will lose all that we have gained since 1857."

"Those who want to fight for their rights can do so! We will continue to educate our children," Sir Syed Ahmad Khan replied to the reader.

  Sir Syed Ahmad Khan's not attending in the meeting of forming Congress party; it figured them to birth an indigenous secular university in Aligarh.

Dr.Zakir Hussain, once said.”the movement of Jamia Millia Islamia is a struggle for education and cultural renaissance”. That’s how exactly Jamia evolved and laid path for Indian Muslims not only to focus on Islam, as a religion, but also project national culture for common Indian. This became a huge step towards laying grounds among Indian Muslims that true religious education beside promoting patriotism it would help in national integration among Indian muslims offering them opportunities to proudly take part in progress of India, which will play its global role for peace and development. The perceived vision to establish Jamia was to lay such a common curriculum for Indian muslims considering future challenges and prepare students to be masters of future.

Jamia Millia Islamia today besides being a Beacon of Hope is also a torch bearer of modern ideas and innovations. Jamia stands tall with the promises and commitments of the founding fathers in realizing the vision to create or be part of human universe that offers inclusiveness, Equity, Fellowship, Justice and Peace for all. Jamia continues to serve the nation with it’s quality education, teaching and research through competent and skilled human resources that would inspire physical and human environment. Jamia is striving to become a world renowned teaching cum research institute by adapting best national and International practices through partnerships with reputable institutions of excellence both domestically and globally. Commitment to offer cutting edge learning experience with technology, global competitive education, intellectual freedom and critical research opportunities are the current priorities.

Today Jamia Millia Islamia, is considered a complete unit of distinctive layered education system offering Under-Graduate, Post-Graduate, M.Phil / Ph.D and Post-Doctoral education. Jamia has Nine faculties of learning, Thirty Eight teaching and research departments and over Twenty Seven Centers of learning and research that attracts the brightest minds nationwide to realize their potential.

In recent times, facing numerous challenges and struggles of past 100 years, Jamia undoubtedly has made remarkable success for the year 2019-2020 by achieving Number One ranking out of Forty Central Universities nationwide. How well said by imminent award winning Padam Shree scholar Professor Akhtarul Wassey “Celebrating 100 Years of journey is not the final destination rather Jamia must continue it’s journey further. Administration and its teachers are the backbone of today’s ranking and success achieved by Jamia Milia Islamia.” He further humbly appealed to Ministry of Communications and Education, Government of India, to release commemorative Postal Stamps for Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University (4^th ranking Nationwide) on the celebration of successful 100 years.

Another prominent Engineer and proud Alumni of Jamia Millia Islamia, Mr.Ahmed Mubeen resident of Koel Bagh Colony, shared his views and stated “ Jamia Millia Islamia has achieved  the commitments of the founding fathers in realizing the vision. Jamia has outstanding record and succeeded in establishing through education required harmony between cultures, religion and the most important factor Patriotism.

“If You are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people”.

Jamia Millia Islamia has completed 100 years of its presence and has crossed a long journey. As we say there is always room for improvement with this in mind, Jamia needs to keep growing from strength to strength.