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 (4th 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.
