Movement for AMU Kishanganj centre gaining momentum

By Mudassir Rizwan, TwoCircles.net,

Patna: With the state government of JDU-BJP alliance seemingly putting the issue of Kishanganj Special Centre of Aligarh Muslim University in the cold storage, movement for the AMU branch in the most backward district of Bihar is gaining momentum as students groups as well as political parties are stressing the demand.

Two days after the Bihar Zone of Students Islamic Organization of India organized a sit-in near Gandhi Maidan in the heart of the state capital, a bigger demonstration was organized at the same place by the Joint Movement for AMU Special Centre on 29th March.



Politicians from different parties holding sit-in in support of AMU centre in Patna


Addressing the demonstrators, Feroz Ahmad, Patna High Court advocate and president, Surjapuri Development Organisation said the Central Government and Aligarh Muslim University have already given nod to open AMU centre in Kishanganj, but there is little progress on the issue as the Bihar government is not providing land for the campus.

Members of the Joint Movement for AMU Special Centre included many organizations like Surjapuri Development Organisation, Kullaiha Development Organisation, Bihar Madrasa Old Boys Association and SIO. Senior Urdu Journalist Ashraf Asthanvi was also there in support of the demand.

Not only Muslims but Hindus are also in favor the special centre and the support is coming not only from Kishanganj but all over Bihar, said Ahmed, an active member of the Joint Movement.



Political parties including RJD and Congress are also giving their support to the movement.

Addressing the gathering, RJD MLA Abdul Ghafoor said “we are here to support the movement. RJD is also with you and all party members are as well.” India is a democratic country. If government is not giving their support then public should come forward. If AMU center will open in Kishanganj then it will be proud of Bihar not only for Kishanganj but for whole Bihar as people of entire Bihar will get benefit from the center in Kishanganj, he added.

“Muslim as well as Hindu and other communities will get benefit. This movement is not form only one community but it is for whole community. Everyone should come and give their support to this movement. Bihar govt must give land in Kishanganj. In Nalanda 450 acre land has been given and I heard that 500 acre land given to Film Director Prakash Jha. So why aren’t they giving even 250-300 acre land in Kishanganj for AMU center?” said Ghafoor.



Students from various colleges and universities holding the sit-in in support of the AMU centre


Yuman Hussain from Kishanganj, who runs Azad India Foundation in the district, said: “We should get our right to get education anyhow. If government does not accept our demand then I will come out to support the movement.”

The organizers demanded the Bihar govt to give land for the AMU campus as soon as possible. Otherwise, they warned to intensify the movement. They announced they will organize dharna at Zila and bloc level and even will launch Chakkajaam and rail roko movement.

Others who spoke on the occasion included Md Anis, Coordinator, Joint Movement for AMU Special Center, Dr BH Khan, Spokesperson of Bihar Congress Minority Committee and Adv Raghib Ahmed, Patna High Court.

Time to stand up to resolve our problems: Inamdar

By Manzar Bilal and Mudassir Rizwan, TCN,

Patna: There have been lots of meetings to know about our problems. It is time to stand up to think that now we can solve our problems. When we start work, we will get confidence and then we will move on toward success. We should think how to implement our own agenda but unfortunately we expect that from government. These views were expressed by eminent educationist from Pune, Mr P.A. Inamdar.

He was speaking at a program entitled Talim and Talim Ki Tanzeem organized by Rahmani Foundation of Munger at Haj Bhawan here on 27th March.



P.A. Inamdar


Speaking on the topic, Inamdar said RTE act has changed the situation of the country. “We should not spend our money on establishment of new schools because it has become the responsibility of government through RTE Act. Yes that money we should spend on education and not on building of schools because education has become business, and so, our children need huge money to pay fees for higher education,” he said.

“We must learn computer and technology because it is the need of our time, otherwise we will remain behind everyone. We are giving computer education to poor children of slums in Pune. We are running 15 centers for the purpose,” he said.



L-R: Ajmal Farid, P.A. Inamdar, Ahmad Ashfaq Kareem, Dr Lutfur Rahman, Shafi Mashhadi & Manzar Jameel


A huge amount of government for minority will come in near future, so have we any plan to receive that amount for betterment of Muslims? One person in every district of state can change the picture, he said and promised to work for the Muslims in Bihar but urged to work as ‘the thing that is better for our own children that is for the community also.’ We need quality to rule the world and not majority as we know that we ruled the country when we were in little number, he added.

Addressing the audience, Prof. Dr Lutfur Rahman said that a community needs to get excellence in education to get honor and power in the world. “But today we are worst in education so how can we progress?” said former MLA and noted Urdu Journalist Rahman.



Maulana Wali Rahmani and others



There are many Muslims who are wealthy. If each of them takes responsibility to afford education of one child then picture will be quite different. Similarly, those who do not have wealth but have knowledge they can play good role by following the ‘Each one, Teach one’ principle.

Ajmal Farid, Editor, Patna Urdu daily Qaumi Tanzeem said that Islam is religion which gave much importance to education. This is evident from the first wahi (revelation to Prophet). “Till Muslims were taking this message seriously they were in the front at every level, but now Muslims are lagging behind only due to ignoring the message.”



Audience


Ex- IAS Shafi Mashhadi said that Muslims are 15 million in the state of Bihar but out of them only 40% Muslims are literate the rest are illiterate, and only 20% Muslim women in the state are literate.

In Bihar there are only few Muslim NGOs that are working for Muslim welfare. So, need to establish sincere NGOs because we know that government are implementing welfare schemes through NGOs, he said.



Audience


Muslims intellectuals and elites are really culprits for this sorry condition of the community because they did not perform their responsibilities in this regard, he averred.

The program was presided over by Ahmad Ashfaq Kareem while Maulana Wali Rahmani was the patron of the program.

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