Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH — The alumni of New-Delhi-based Jamia Millia Islamia at the weekend celebrated here the 97th Foundation Day of their premier institution of learning with great enthusiasm, passion and fervor.
Asif Rameez Daudi, a Jamia alumnus and presently a faculty at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz university and chairman of the managing committee of India International School Jeddah, was the chief guest and L. Ramnarayan Iyer, seasoned journalist and executive editor at Saudi Gazette, was the guest of honor at the event organized by Jamia Millia Islamia Alumni Association (JMIAA), Jeddah & Western Region.
The program commenced with the recitation of some verses of the Holy Qur’an by Farzan Ul Haq, vice president of JMIAA-WR.
Chief guest Daudi nostalgically shared his experience of school days in Jamia with a special mention of Khalid Saifullah (the then head master). He laid great stress on the need to acquire education and develop necessary skills through whatever available means. He promised to be the part of the association in future.
Guest of honor Iyer described Jamia’s role in the restoration of culture and restoration of minority’s right. He clarified that Jamia’s minority status does not mean that the institution was only for Muslims. The institution is open to other deprived sections as backward classes, Dalits, schedules castes and so on.
Iyer specifically mentioned the role of former vice chancellor Prof. Mushirul Hasan, who with a progressive approach and farsight started and developed many academic sections in the university.
He also lauded present Vice Chancellor Prof. Talat Ahmad’s administrative efficiency.
Prof. Ahmad’s visionary approach, he said, has been helpful in developing EQ (emotional quotient) in Jamia students. EQ, Iyer said, was as important as IQ (intelligence quotient) in the overall progress and honing the personality of a human being.
In his welcome address, Dr. Intakhab Alam Khan, president of JMIAA-WR, emphasized on the vision and mission of Jamia from the time of its inception. He contended that there was a huge difference between the objectives of JMI and other leading institutions including Aligarh Muslim University and Bananas Hindu University as JMI was established as a non-cooperation movement.
He said: The focus of education was primarily on mother tongue as medium of instruction and craft education which JMI implemented through the then Teachers Training College which started in 1938 under the philosophical influence of Mahatma Gandhi and the patronage of Dr. Zakir Hussain. Jamia, Khan said, now is a nice combination of both traditional and modern education with increased ranking at both national and international levels.
A documentary on JMI was projected for all to share the growth and development of Jamia as an institution.
Prior to the main program, alumni’s kids took active part in some cultural and literary activities.
The program was dexterously and proficiently compered by Mrs. Sadiqa Tarannum, senior IISJ teacher. Her one-line interjections interspersed with apt Urdu couplets stole many a heart at the event.
The event’s success would not have been possible without active support and sincere efforts from Mohd. Zaki, general secretary of JMIAA, Dilnawaz (treasurer), Farzan Ul Haq (VP), senior executive committee members Afzal Khan, Nadeem Alam, Athar Rizvi, Shamim and others.
A vote of thanks was proposed by the president of the association who expressed his deep sense of gratitude to the chief guest and the guest of honor. He also thanked all the office bearers of the association for their active participation in the association’s activities.
The program concluded on an optimistic note, and was followed by a sumptuous dinner.
