By Abdul Kalam Azad, TwoCircles.net,
Guwahati: Char Chapori Sahitya Parishad, Asom’s Guwahati City Committee convened a condolence meeting on the sad demise of renowned Islamic reformist and secular activist Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer on May 22, 2013 at office premise of monthly magazine ‘Balichanda’ at Hatigaon, Guwahati.
The meeting was presided over by Char-Chapori Saihtya Parisad, Asom’s president Hafiz Ahmed and was graced by a good number of distinguished personalities and admires of Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer.
Assam Chapter of All India Secular Forum’s chief conveyor Dr. Dilip Bora while speaking on the meeting said “Secularism is no longer a constitutional provision; it has become a struggle and Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer was leading that struggle”.
Another speaker Dr. Monirul Hussain of Gauhati University while mourning the demise of Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer remembered their friendship. Dr. Hussain said that Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer had an excellent communication skill; his writings are so simple and understand by common people, while his arguments are strong. Dr. Hussian also appealed to uphold his approach to “Celebrate the diversity”.
“Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer will always remain a symbol of anti-communal struggle to build a humane society for us’’ said Kamal Kumar Medhi, General Secretary of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti. He also urged to start a campaign to promote Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer’s life and work among the masses of the state.
Hafiz Ahmed, President of Char-Chapori Sahitya Parishad, Asom also expressed his grief. He informed that Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer was the advisor to Char Chapori Sahitya Parishad, Asom and always encouraged to fight and communalism. He emphasized, “Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer had written at least nine books on woman empowerment and interpreted woman’s position in Islam to minimize the misunderstanding”.
The meeting adopted a numbers of decisions to carry forward the legacy of Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer. Representative of at least six organizations, including KMSS (Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti) have agreed to work together to uphold Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer’s principles. Whereas Char-Chapori Sahitya Parishad, Asom decided to institute Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer memorial award to be conferred to the distinguished activists for their endeavors to uphold secularism, role of law and democratic value. Char-Chapori Sahitya Parishad, Asom will also publish a book on his life and works as well as will organize memorial lecture.
Mohammed Alauddin, retired IAS officer, Fazlul Karim Kasimi of Jamiyat Ulem-e-Hind, Hazi Firoz Bhuyan of Sramik Sangstha, Asom, Asraful Islam, advisor to Gauhati University Minority Student Welfare Forum also spoke on the condolence meeting.