Mansoor Ilahi and Abdullah, TwoCircles.net,
Aligarh: Regional Urdu Teachers Association Aligarh in collaboration with Noor Jan Samiti and National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language organised a one day seminar on “Role of Mohd. Ali Jauhar in promotion of Urdu and problems of Muslim minorities”.
Speaking at the seminar Chief Guest Padmshree Prof Akhtarul Wasey, Vice-chairman, Delhi Urdu Academy said that whatever he is today, that is just because of Aligarh. He owes his indebtedness towards the alma mater and the soil of Aligarh as it is his own city and he is not a guest here. He expressed his sincere thanks to Dr. Shakeel Samdani and Kr. Naseem Shahid for having inviting him to this seminar.
Dr. Shakeel Samdani adressing the seminar
He said that the formula of three languages should be implemented and the provision of choosing one between the Sanskrit and Urdu should be abolished. He stated that Urdu is the language of all and it is incorrect to attach it only to Muslims. He said that languages are like sisters and they are not co-wives. He highlighted the issue of Security of Muslims Youths and said that fast track courts should be established for the fair and speedy trail of the accused and if they are proved innocent, government must compensate to them. He made clear; that guilty must be punished and innocent must be freed.
He said that Ram Manohar Lohia and Chaudhary Charan Singh were not the opponents of the idea of imparting compulsory Urdu education up to class 8, in fact they were strong advocates of this idea. He also said that Hindi alone cannot lead towards prosperity and it requires the support of Urdu and English both.
While addressing the seminar, Guest of honour Dr. Shakeel Samdani, renowned scholar cum orator and Senior Faculty at Dept. Of Law, Aligarh Muslim University elaborated the host of problems faced by Muslims. He said that the major problem that Muslims are facing today in UP is the security of its youth, and in past three months there had been two tragic incidents which has multiplied this threat, the earlier one was the brutal murder of Shaheed Ziaul Haque, and the recent one is the death of Khalid Mujahid in mysterious circumstances while he was in police custody. The Samajwadi Party Government which last year rode on the aspirations of Muslim youth and swiped the elections has miserably failed to protect the life of Muslims, what to talk about property and their other belongings.
L-R: Shakeel Samdani, Naseem Shahid, Akhratul Waise, and Guddu Pandit
Highlighting the apathy of the Government with regard to primary education of Muslims, Dr. Shakeel Samdai said that today Muslims are ready to send their children to school. They are now very eager to provide education to their children but the Luke warm response of government machinery towards minorities is a major impediment in this regard. Expressing his concern over this issue, he said that Muslim students are not able to get admissions in schools and in high quality private schools they are not able to afford its fees because of their economic backwardness, and this is because of absence of reservation policy for Muslims. He said that Muslim children are even not able to reap the benefits of RTE because of the insensitiveness and irresponsible behaviour of elected representatives. They are not doing anything to take the benefit of 25% quota which is reserved for the marginalised sections of the society.
Referring about the special centres of AMU, Dr. Samdani said that this was a commendable step on the part of the University to spread the light of education and today the two established centres are running successfully and the process of starting the third one is in full swing and as soon as the grant from the government will be made available, the classes will be started. He even mentioned about the present VC, Lt. Gen Zameer uddin Shah and his initiatives which he has taken to restore the glorious traditions of AMU and placing the University on number one slot among institutions of higher education and he called upon the Alig Fraternity to cooperate with him in fulfilling this noble endeavour. He also emphasised that in every house, at least one Urdu newspaper should be read, as it will connect us to our issues, which are generally raised by Urdu Media. He said the Muslims should try to strengthen the Urdu Media and news websites run by Muslims, so that their issues and causes are raised in a befitting manner. He also stressed upon the unity among Muslims.
Besides, the seminar was also addressed by the MLC Vivek Bansal, who in his speech assured all sort of cooperation from his side to the office bearers of Urdu Teacher’s Association. Bhagwan Sharma alias ‘Guddu Pandit’ MLA from Bulandshahar also spoke on the occasion and said that he will forward all the demands and grievances of the Association to the State Government.
Earlier welcoming the guests the President of the Association Kr. Naseem Shahid said that the association is fully committed for the welfare of Urdu teachers and in the past also, the association has worked rigorously to sort out problems of Urdu teachers. He said that association will work with full dedication for the upliftment and nourishment of the Urdu language. Secretary of Noor Jan Seva Samiti, Nizamuddin proposed the vote of thanks, while Owais Jamal Shamsi conducted the program. On this occasion, a souvenir on Karwan-e-Urdu was released by the guests.
The seminar was attended by a large number of social activists, political leaders and teachers including Dr. Obaid Iqbal Asim, Er. Pervez Ansari, Abdul Qadir Khan, Hashim Ansari, Sabih Kamal, Gulzar Ahamd, Khushro Sb, Suraj Singh, Mansoor Ilahi, Secretary, Sir Syed Awareness Forum, Abdullah Samdnai, Vishnu Saraswat, Kavita Yadav, Gram Pradhan, Nishish Jaar, BSA, Aligarh, Mujahid Sherwani , Dr. Jafar Dariq, Mrs Sabiha Kamal, Musharaf Mahzar.