Appeal to Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of AMU Aligarh
Most humbly, an alumnus of this great Alma matter would like to draw your kind and sincere attention towards the noble cause, which you are putting forward with zeal and fervor from day one since you have graced this unique centre of learning. You are well aware of my serious concern (besides a host numerous other alumni all over the globe) towards the overall affairs of the institution through my close interaction in policy planning and its implementation. I am extremely thankful for your outright and courageous leadership in pushing forward my agenda (regarding Academic Reforms at AMU vide publication “Challenging Task Ahead for AMU” in January 2008 issue of Islamic Voice). In this regard your preparatory visit to US (during first/second week of August 08) had been a landmark beginning culminating into celebration of just concluded unique event “Global Alumni Meet”. The whole global intellectual society is looking forward as special expectations out of your these efforts. The said process initiated in the name of Academic Rejuvenation is highly challenging and delicate one where utmost precaution and restrain has to be observed. No doubt, quantum of requirement of quality modern education has increased manifold. Hence, it is quite essential and urgent to establish and expand exponentially the educational infrastructure to provide quality modern education at reasonable cost to the community children all over the country. Hence, it is an excellent idea to establish five regional centers of AMU to cater the basic needs of providing applied, modern and professional education at the national level. Following are a few suggestions and precautions to be observed in the process of expansion and set up of new infrastructure:
Since present day AMU administration and faculty members are being widely charged and criticized (through various forums including the media) for their substandard output as well as narrow and parochial approach because of the known factors like INBREEDING IN FACULTY RECRUITMENT PROCESS (during the past few decades) as well as carrying out Obsolete and Outdated Syllabi where the entrepreneurship and innovativeness in majority of the faculty members is lacking to cope up the challenging requirements of compatible and competitive education at world class standard. Under the existing set up and mind set of the majority of teachers of AMU, it will be a cumbersome process to maintain and establish world class standard of the parent institution as well as of the new centers. The means of information and communication has advanced so much that our each and every activity and output is being closely observed and widely projected. Hence, in real sense the establishment and recruitment process has to be absolutely fair and based on global competitiveness. As being C.E.O. of the world’s largest community educational establishment, you command a unique respect amongst Muslim Community globally. At the same time, you are equally responsible to lead and deliver to the best of expectations of the whole Muslim world in particular and the secular Indian Nation in general. However, the building and infrastructure can easily be established from generous donor agencies and available resources, but the most important requirement will be to deploy persons of proven Ability and Integrity in the administration and faculty positions. In this regard, I had already communicated you a few points and suggestions (through my write ups and reminders) to achieve better output and maintain transparent establishment which are as follows:
AGENDA FOR OVERALL ACADEMIC REFORMS:
Syllabi up gradation to match the world class Indian institutions like IITs, IIMs, IISc Bangalore, VIT Vellore, ISI Kolkata, J.N.U., D.U. etc,
Effective coordination with National Research Institutions and Nodal Agencies for specialized lectures through its resource persons. For specialized Research/ study purposes, a few satellite centers should be established likewise for Marine Biology: Marine Aquarium & Research Center (ZSI) Digha (W.B.),
Developing modern innovative teaching methodology by promoting Group Discussions, Projects Assignments, counseling by peer groups, class attendance has to be given an incentive as well as teachers’ performance has to be rated through electronic device (online) by the students,
Regular short term refresher courses and interactive sessions for faculty members with support of outside elite institutions,
Faculty recruitment has to be through Global Advertisements with attractive packages for short term assignments. Inbreeding in faculty recruitment has to be absolutely stopped,
Special derive for more research funding for innovative researches through Ministries, Government Departments and Corporate Houses should be explored. Periodical monitoring of Research output in terms of quality Research Papers, Invited Lectures, Patents filed, Invited Foreign visits, National and International Awards and Recognitions,
Monitoring thoroughly students’ activities in residential halls by promoting Group Discussions, improving Communicative Skills and Academic Interactions within the small groups inside the hostels,
Revamping of Coaching and Guidance Centre to make it more effective for services’ competitive examinations as well as important Admission Tests by interacting with country’s top coaching institutions and its specialists/experts/ professionals,
Campus Recruitment Cell has to be well managed with more avenues for the Academic and Professional courses’ pass outs,
A permanent cell namely Alumni Cell/Foundation Centre has to be established for strengthening Global Academic interaction and Infrastructure Development.
By Akmal Husain, Sr. Scientist / Deputy Director, Marine Biology Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Chennai (T.N.) 600 028, email: akmalhusain13@yahoo.com,
Cell Nos.: 09003173400, 09434939702, 9455721616
Proposal for New Projects at AMU Aligarh
Upgrading Publication Division: The university publication division engaged in publishing regular periodicals like …………… may be upgraded by adding new academic publications like Text Books, General Books as well as a few regular Scientific and Academic Journals. The vast talent of accredited faculty members (working as well as retired members) will be better utilized in this exercise. For this purpose, a full fledged directorate of publication may be established in university.
Establishment of School of Environmental Sciences with multi/inter disciplinary approach: Viewing the importance of Global Biodiversity Conservation and micro level environmental/ecological concern, it is imperative to establish a full fledged faculty of Environmental studies wherein Environmental Management, Biodiversity Conservation and concerns, Ecological disasters etc can be studied in coordination with Scientific, Engineering, Social Science aspects in holistic manner. A.M.U. being enriched in all related academic subjects is a very suitable place for establishing such institution mainly for the short term diploma courses, Post Graduate as well as Ph D level programs for pursuing new challenging opportunities before the mankind.
Revamping of Coaching & Guidance Center: Although this center is formally functioning since over three decades, but very little achievement has been made from the well established but poorly managed infrastructure. It is quite essential that a panel of competent and experienced faculty members should be incorporated as Advisors/Councilors for respective subjects. Such Advisors should be rewarded monetarily and in the career advancement for their sincere contribution. The Director of the center should be a full fledged responsible/accountable post with vast experience and special aptitude on the subject. Stress should also be given for guidance and support for outside academic and professional studies pursuits at reputed institutions.
Upgrading General Education Center: Scope and area of interest for the activities under this centre should be increased to make better output in respect of creating more job-oriented courses for which to interact with outside institutions and resource persons, an Officer on Special Duty may be deputed for the purpose.
Utilizing Academic Expertise & Services of Retired Faculty Members: Services of Highly accredited retired faculty members (most of whom are settled in Aligarh) can be honorably utilized for effective guidance to the both the students and younger faculty members in pursuits of competitive and interdisciplinary studies by forming various think tanks.
Akmal Husain Sr. Scientist / Deputy Director, Marine Biology Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Chennai (T.N.) 600 028, email: akmalhusain13@yahoo.com,
Cell Nos.: 09434939702, 09003173400, 9455721616
http://islamicvoice.com/January2008/
Muslim & Education
Challenging Task Ahead for A.M.U.
By Akmal Husain
Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) is passing through the great challenging phase of its history. For the entire Muslim community of this continent, it is quite challenging to tune up the famous Oxford of the east which was one time excelling in imparting the advancing educational and cultural requirements of the community in particular and the country in general. AMU had always been the torch bearer of the society even during the horrible days of independence movement accompanied by several communal disturbances. Since the past two decades, there had been emergence of new areas of professionalism in academic world, but AMU could not cope up with situation arisen due to global competitiveness in modern academic and professional streams. It is therefore, high time to introspect for such a vital issue as it has already lost a lot of talent in shaping the proper destiny of talented modern youths.
Significant achievements had been done in respect of normal functioning of the university by the consistent efforts of University authorities (with the cooperation of the State as well as the Union Government) which has resulted in a well planned time framed routine Admission and Examination process, completion of examination results and the convocation etc. The residential strength of the students and related infrastructure had been tremendously increased in the past few years. Also, a few new valuable streams had been added to the existing departments and faculties. But the quality and potential of the academics has taken backbench in respect of comparatively poor output and marketability of the students. Still highly sought streams like Microbiology, Biotechnology, Fashion designing/technology, Information Technology, Molecular Biology etc are still missing as the full fledged departments. It is quite amazing to express the harsh reality that our pass outs are hardly securing significant positions in the All India competitions like UPSC exams for Civil Services, Engineering Services, Medical Services, Forest Services, Defense Services etc including the very insignificant performance in National level Scholarship tests conducted by UGC & CSIR. Also, the mobilization for campus recruitment of pass out students of Engineering, Business Management, Tourism Management is also lacking for the better career security and future prospects. The concerned faculty members and the top University authorities should aim seriously in this regard. Thus, once a student enters into a stream, it must be heartfelt & painful concern of the faculty members and University authorities to fully ensure the academic and career concern of the promising students. Otherwise, there will be chaos in a large section of the students as well as bad name to the institution and overall betrayal to the students’ poor parents who send them here with lot of expectations.
The mushrooming of tea stalls and roadside dhabas attract a large number of students to waste their time just sitting aimlessly for lengthy period of times. The university administration should device some norms/restrictions such that students may utilize their maximum time in studying and being involved in futuristic career prospects by means of interactive meets both in the Department and in the hostel other than just the routine curriculum activities. Efficient and well managed/guided career guidance is quite necessary for every stream for which talented professionals are needed.
It has been noticed that even the Research fellowship examinations conducted by U.G.C. & C.S.I.R. had become the nightmare for most of the bright students of so many departments. This has resulted into decimal intake of Research pursuits. Such sign clearly suggests the downfall of academic standard, which has given a shameful name amongst the elite Universities, which was not the case two decades ago.
This is the right time for taking a few hard steps in order to bring back the past glory and to stand firmly with pride amongst the top most prestigious institutions of higher learning. Since very little has to be done for administrative matters, the important segment remains that of attaining academic excellence. For any academic centre and institution of advanced learning, it is required to stand ahead in the academic output & matching the requirement of job industry. Such key issue involves: 1) Upgrading the syllabi (in all streams) as of global competitiveness, and 2) Employing the most talented and better result oriented faculty.
Syllabus upgrading and updating has to be an important & continuous process wherein expert group for each subject and stream has to be made responsible by studying and incorporating the latest syllabus being adopted by the world class institutions. Hence it requires rigorous exercise which has now become easier due to advent of internet service. The syllabus has to be framed in a very careful manner such that our students should not suffer due to the latest developments (in a particular subject or stream) while they go to pursue further advanced studies or during employment. Once syllabi match the objectives of bodies like U.P.S.C., U.G.C, C.S.I.R. etc, then only students will be able to perform better for key positions. To begin with, it will be wise to match our syllabi with that of premier Indian Institutions like: I.I.Ts., I.I.Ms., I.I.Sc. Bangalore, J.N.U. etc.
Faculty is the backbone of an institution, better the talent and virtue, finer will be the output. Hence it is the first and foremost duty of the Government machinery and the University authorities to deploy highly talented academicians and professionals to carry out the most delicate and important role of the society as the better teacher gives better citizen and so a better nation. Since in all religious scriptures, teachers had always been highly regarded due to their matchless responsible position, during these days also, teachers are highly paid monetarily in regard to their working time slot.
The University authorities and the Ministry of HRD, Government of India should develop a device through which only the best and befitting talent must be engaged for such highly responsible job. The fresh products of the same institution (AMU) should not be immediately offered faculty positions (irrespective of their outstanding academic performance). If they are so much capable, they should first earn the experience at coveted institutions elsewhere. This trend is being strictly followed in elite institutions like I.I.T., I.I.M. etc. There should be provision for time framed contractual positions (with lucrative benefits) for the extraordinary scholars working abroad in the well reputed institutions/universities. Faculty recruitment advertisements should always be global through international journals and e mailing. The substandard older faculty members may better be engaged in administrative and peripheral works. Another harsh measure is to trim the surplus & useless faculty members by some meticulous device in phased manner.
In order to establish such unit, detailed studies of institutions like I.I.Ts., I.I.Ms, I.I.Sc. etc may be carried out. The key functions of this unit will be to update and improve syllabi, teaching methodology, commitment and concern of the faculty members for the overall academic wellbeing of students through interactive sessions with outside institutions, nodal agencies, industry and the Government run Scientific and other academic bodies. The syllabi should be tuned up for job oriented and market ready profile. Emphasis should be given to invite national and international scholars of fame and activists (of various disciplines) for delivering thought provoking key addresses for stimulating the faculty and students together. To maintain high standard and dignity of the University, attempts should be made to invite Nobel Laureate for the key functions like Convocation (instead of political personality). Frequency of arranging national/international level conferences/symposia should be increased for wider academic interactions. Industry sponsored researches should be encouraged through upgraded Research Centers at the pattern of C.S.I.R. & I.I.Ts. etc.
Although, sufficient infrastructure development works had been carried out in the recent past, but there is always scope for strengthening facilities and creation of new establishments which require enormous funds. A.M.U. being comparatively old institution has produced large number of alumni who have excelled and earned reputation all over the globe in various fields. This is high time to establish a centre for coordinating with these elite and generous personalities to contribute for the ongoing efforts in this regard. For instance, I.I.T. Kharagpur through such unit called Technology Foundation Centre has attracted huge funds through its alumni which could bring out new Departments & Centers like Vinod Gupta School of Management, G. S. Sanyal School of Telecommunications and the newly started Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law. Such efforts can be carried out here also with better expectations. Above all, we require serious introspection and a firm commitment to revolutionize the whole set up with sincere and honest deal without compromising all sorts of personal interests for the only cause of Academic excellence.
The author is an alumni of AMU and is currently Senior Scientist/Deputy Director, Marine Aquarium & Research Centre, Zoological Survey of India (Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India) at Digha (W.B.) 721 428. email: akmalhusain13@yahoo.com,
Phones 03220266311 (Office), 03222255873 (Residence), Mobile 9434939702
Observations during my recent visit to AMU:
During my recent visit to the Alma matter (to appear in interviews for the coveted posts of Registrar and Controller of Examinations (held on 20th June 2009), I have encountered some interesting observations. As my continuing concern for the institution, I found an opportunity to interact with lot of faculty members, students and a few court and Executive members during my stay there. It was a unique opportunity to meet a large number of luminaries who gathered during the court meeting notably among them are: Prof. R. P. Singh (Ex VC Lucknow University, formerly at IIT Kharagpur & a friend of mine, who has induced me sense of uprightness during our association at Kharagpur), Prof Imtiaz Ahmad (a well known name amongst Indian Sociologists), Hafiz Rasheed Ahmad Choudhary (Senior Lawyer at Guahati High Court), Syed Shahabuddin (Ex MP), Parliamentarians Mr. Mohammad Adeeb, Moinul Hassan, Raashid Alvi Esq. besides Dr Mairajuddin Ahmed (Ex UP Minister), Nadeem Ahmad Faruqui (young and enthusiast alumni) etc.
I shared views with these people on academic reforms agenda and the future of AMU in meeting the challenges of imparting world class education. The major reason is that most of the teachers are not willing to adopt innovativeness in learning and teaching methodology. The use of IT network is a distant reality, as significant No. of teachers have not yet adopted computer technology. Despite all round reforms initiated by the visionary Vice Chancellor, very little is in pipeline as teachers are fighting for their vested interest, instead of community service with zeal. The pity is that employees (both teaching & non teaching) at the campus often consider campus as centre of employment rather than learning & imparting education and advancing the community.
It is also surprising that hardly any court member had given serious thought on worsening academic standard and suggested remedial measures. Despite heavy infrastructure and best facilities in libraries, laboratories, instruments, academic departments, everywhere the means are underutilized. Most of the libraries (including Central library) are not computerized (even indexed). There is a great challenge to revamp the whole administrative and academic system to harness potential of students utilizing the vast resources which are uncared & badly managed. Faculty members are only interested in administrative positions like Hall Provost, warden etc but never give sufficient attention and time to justify their responsibilities. This century is different to the previous ones as today’s currency is education and innovativeness. Hence we should give serious thought to the issue of wide ramification. Demand of the time is that today AMU needs to be cloned in every state of India to bridge wide gap or else to suffer heavy backlash.
Sir Syed Ahmad Khan: Personality for all times
Nature takes care of all the odds and eventualities on this beautiful planet. A boost to our motherland had been the appearance of extraordinary personalities at all times who strived hard for the eradication of social, cultural, educational & political inequalities. Nineteenth century was significant from the point of view of numerous conflicts on socio-religious and cultural aspects mainly because of deep rooted political conspiracy of the British Raj. Like Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Madan Mohan Malviya, Sir Syed Ahmad Ahan was in fact the morning star of intellectual resurgence of the time having relevance even today & leaving far reaching consequences of social Development of the Asian Muslim community. He responded like a seismograph to the upheavals of new age. Sir Hamilton Gibb & Great Poet Dr Sir Iqbal observed about his far reaching impact on socio-cultural / intellectual developments in Asia.
Born at Delhi on 17th October 1817 in a respectable family holding high position in Mughal Court, Sir Syed received early education from his mother Aziz - un- Nisan Begum. Thereafter, he studied Arabic, Persian, Mathematics and Geometry. The second phase of his formal education began at the age of 29 during the service of East India Company. In Delhi in 1841, he qualified for the post of Munsif and was posted in Mainpuri (UP). Working at various places (Mainpuri, Delhi, Moradabad, Bijnore, Ghazipur, Aligarh and Banaras) in judicial service, he retired from the post of Sub Judge in 1876, wherein in 1869 he was conferred title of Companion of Order of the Star of India during his visit to London where he had gone to study the English method of Education. After his retirement, he was made Knight Commander of the Star of India and was also taken on the Governor General’s Council.
Sir Syed was the gifted writer who developed acquaintances with the profession of letters at an early age by contributing to Sayyidul - Akhbar, one of the Pioneers of Urdu newspapers of India of that time. Among the famous works include Asarus – Sanadid, which was later translated into French in 1861 by Gracinde Tassy. In 1864, he was made Honorary Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society of London and in 1889 an Honorary Doctorate Degree was conferred by detailed revision of Aini-Akbari which was revised in 1855. After the Mutiny, he published Tarikh - Sarkash -i- Bijnore on account of the revolt in Bijnore. He also authored Asbab -i- Baghawat -i- Hind which was translated into English by Sir Auckland Colvin and C. F. Grahman under the title “The causes of the Indian Revolt (Agra, 1903). During his stay at Moradabad, he edited Tarikh -i- Firozshahi, which was later published by the Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal in 1862. On January 9, 1863, he founded a Translation Society for translating & publishing important European works in Urdu. From 1866, he started the famous weekly: Aligarh Institute Gazette as official organ of the Society.
A great crusader against the conservatism, orthodoxy, traditionalism and superstitions, he started the Journal: Tahzibul – Akhlaque (Mohammedan Social Reformer) on his return from England in 1870. The aim of the Journal was to ameliorate the social conditions of Muslims and to create liberal and progressive religious outlook. Articles of this Journal annoyed conservative community elements and brought considerable opprobrium on Sir Syed. In due course of time, the Journal made profound impact on social & religious thinking of Muslims. It also introduced a new style of Urdu prose.
Although contemporary Hindu brothers had adopted the western education enabling them to attain government services and economic prosperity, the Muslims however seemed to abhor western education, firstly because of their intense hatred for the British and secondarily they thought that learning of English language would weaken their religious faith and deeds. But Sir Syed was convinced that without learning Modern Sciences and European thoughts, the Muslims could have no future. He therefore set for himself the task of educational uplift of Indian Muslims. During his stay in England, he closely studied the British system of education by visiting the Cambridge and Oxford universities. On his home return, he speeded up his efforts for the establishment of an institution on the model of Oxford & Cambridge Universities. The Mohammadan Anglo Oriental College Fund committee was set up for this purpose. With this started the arduous journey of Sir Syed to start with the Mohammadan Anglo Oriental College (MAO) College at Aligarh on 24th May 1875. On January 8, 1878 foundation stone of College was laid by Viceroy Lord Litton. In the address presented to the Viceroy, the Academic and Moral ideal of the college was stated as “Free Enquiry, Large Hearted Tolerance and Pure Morality”. The MAO College gradually became the focal point of the Aligah Movement and played a key role in the intellectual and cultural regeneration of Indian Muslims.
The MAO College which later in 1920 developed into Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) which was defined by Sir Hamilton Gibb as first modernistic organization in Islam. Sir Syed Ahmad at the same time a scholar, a social reformer, theologian, educationist, politician, author and journalist contributed many essential elements to the resurgence of Modern India. He interpreted religion in terms of social service and emphasized the need of adopting the modern spirit of scientific quest. By establishing scientific society, he involved Muslims and Hindus equally to attract the latest inventions and discoveries of science to countrymen. In a speech delivered at Lahore on February 3, 1884 he spelled out the motives that lay behind the foundation of MAO College as “There is no distinction between Muslims and Hindus, I regard both the hindus and Muslims as my two eyes”. The tone of Tahzibul Akhlaque also left impact on Hindu minds. Lala Lajpat Rai in a letter to Sir Syed wrote “From childhood, I was taught to respect the opinion and teachings of white bearded Sir Syed of Aligarh. Your Social Reformer (Tahzibul Akhlaque) was regularly read out to by my fond father who looked upon you as no less than a Prophet of Nineteenth century”.
Sir Syed’s concept of Nation was most notable aspect of his sociopolitical thought. It was as significant as it is today and will remain for ever. Maulana Azad used to say that if the Hindus and Muslims of India had understood the spirit of teaching of Sir Syed and followed it, the whole course of recent events would have taken a different turn. National Integration is an ideal with us. With Sir Syed, it was a reality of life. He did not have to strive for, it was a well established pattern & tradition of his family. When his Maternal Grandfather Nawab Fariduddin Khan divided his property among his sons, he gave equal share to his Diwan, Lal Muluk Chand whom he treated as one of his family members. When Sir Syed established a school at Ghazipur (UP) he invited Raja Dev Narain Singh and Maulana Mohammad Fasih to lay foundation stone: An expression of his anxiety to promote cordial relations between Hindus and Muslims. In MAO College he had special arrangements for the teaching of Sanskrit for which Pandit Kedar Nath was appointed. His sincerity was reciprocated by Hindus. When he went on a tour to Punjab, a village school teacher of Kartarpur Shri Ram Chandra presented to him a purse of few rupees which he had collected from the school boys. When some Muslims of Amritsar offered a gold medal to be given to a Muslim student who would pass the BA examination in first division, Sir Syed immediately offered a gold medal for a Hindu boy who may pass the BA in first division. It is not without significance that the first graduate of the MAO College was a Hindu.
Sir Syed believed in the development & progress of the Nation as a whole (the concept of inclusiveness). He out-rightly rejected sectarian and communal approach in all matters and advised people to develop a secular attitude of mind and said “It is the first and foremost duty of all well wishers of the country to strive for welfare of all people irrespective of their caste or religion. For, just as human life and its health, it is not possible without the soundness of all the organs of body. The prosperity of the nation is not possible without all round progress of the country”.
Sir Syed’d Educational ideals were revolutionary in spirit and dimension. He believed in mass educational programs and distained confining education to the elite. “Illiteracy and Ignorance, he used to say are like Epidemics unless the entire city is disinfected, nobody can save his home from the disease”. In olden times, theories could be framed and rebutted sitting in sequestrated place, now it is the experimental age. To prove or disapprove anything you have to be in laboratories. Though Sir Syed adopted the western system of education, he was not oblivious of its defects. In his “Strictures upon the Present Education System in India” published for private circulation in England in 1869, he pointed out the shortcomings of British Educational System as it functioned in India.
It is a matter of great pride that Sir Syed’s Educational Movement played significant role in the country’s freedom struggle: Maulana Muhammad Ali, Hasrat Mohani, Zafar Ali Khan, Dr Zakir Husain, Sheikh Abdullah, Rafi Ahmad Kidwai etc besides noted Mathematician Dr Sir Ziyauddin Ahmad, sportsmen Lala Amaranth, Inamur Rahman, Ghause Mohammad, Zafar Iqbal etc; revolutrionary leaders like Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh, Historians like Dr Ishwari Prasad and Professor Irfan Habib & Scientists like Dr S.Z. Quasim etc. This movement has by now attained full momentum and its breeds are getting spread over the spectrum of whole globe with the same zeal what Sir Syed kindled more than a century ago. Some poet has rightly quoted: Tum jo bade Mukhalif se na ghabrae uqab,Yeh to uthi hain tujhe uncha uthane ke liye.
Sir Syed thus stood for the dynamic movement of the society to the needs of the time, supremacy of reasons in all matters, worldly and spiritual liberty of conscience and freedom of expression, hard work and incessant struggle to make up leeway; secular approach in all spheres of human relationship and concept of “NATION” which overrode all parochial considerations. This way, he contributed many essential elements of modern Indian society one of its distinguished architects. The Englishman has rightly remarked as early as on November 17, 1885 that “His life strikingly illustrates one of the best phases of Modern Indian History”.
In July 1895, he met the most tragic incident of his life which shook Sir Syed to the roots of his being. So intense was the agony that it shattered his health completely. With continued deterioration in his health, he suffered a stricture of urethra on March 24, 1897. The disease proved fatal at 10 AM on 27th March, 1898. Though he is laid to rest in MAO College Mosque (AMU), but his message will remain echoing down the corridors of time. In present day situation and forever, Aligarh is and will remain the symbol of his ideals on so many fronts like “communal harmony, national integration, human rights, universal brotherhood and co-existence as fact of the Unity in Diversity”.
Akmal Husain: Sr. Scientist, Zoological Survey of India, 130 Santhome High Road Chennai 600 028
Cell: 9003173400, email: akmalhusain56@gmail.com, akmalhusain13@yahoo.com
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