It could well be called an "extraneous noise", using a recently coined phrase, when Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) leaders claim that without the generous donation of land by Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) alumnus Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh, the university's existence would have been impossible. For it is well known that AMU was established much before Raja Mahendra Pratap’s birth. The land, given on a lease of Rs 2 per year by Raja Mahendra Pratap, undoubtedly proved to be a big help in the extension and expansion of the varsity. AMU has a long list of donors and illustrious alumni who have generously contributed to the cause of setting up a University at Aligarh. However, it is not possible to commemorate all of their birthdays, as their number figures in thousands.
The latest controversy created by the local BJP unit in the name of Jat leader Raja Mahendra Pratap or Peter Peer Pratap is unfounded and baseless. This time RSS and BJP have not done their home work well. In a hurry to create a controversy at AMU, they have wrongly selected a very secular and left-leaning leader who always advocated the doctrine of communal harmony and peace, something that seems to be diametrically opposite to the world view propounded by the saffron outfits.
AMU has never been a platform for political clashes as we see now. It has always promoted the feeling of universal brotherhood and development of the nation. The root of this well-orchestrated drama lies somewhere else. Such politically immature efforts by communally extremist forces to demolish the secular fabric of this great seat of learning and education would have larger ramifications, and may lead to student unrest.
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AMU has been well-known for its progressive outlook, since its very inception, which is now being termed as ‘regressive’ by the fascist forces. The latest controversy seems to be nothing but yet another in the long series in the agenda of the saffron brigade to disfigure the cultural ethos of this minority university by seeking to polarise the mindset of secular minded people of India in their favour. The hit-and-trial method by various Saffron outfits ever since the formation of the BJP government at the centre is targeted to malign and tarnish the image and reputation of the varsity inch by inch.
The varsity’s minority status has been a hot issue of public discourse for quite some time. The matter is still pending in the Supreme Court of India, which has never yielded to any political pressure from any of the political parties, be it the Congress or the BJP. The political gamesmanship going on in the corridors of Delhi is intended to work towards dropping ‘Muslim’ from Aligarh Muslim University. Instead of exercising a sobering influence on such controversies, the government seems uninterested to make its presence felt. Nevertheless, it needs to be reiterated that AMU cannot be taken hostage by any political party or outfit to realise its vested interests. AMU has strongly and vehemently shunned any political interference in its internal matters, policies and affairs.
We seem to be focussing over just one side of the coin, making a lateral observation every time an issue pertaining to the Aligarh Muslim University comes to the fore. Just a fortnight ago, AMU was downcast by highlighting the fact that the female students of the varsity were not allowed membership of the university’s Central Library known as Maulana Azad Library. Injustice, oppression, tyranny, exploitation, discrimination, inequality, bias are just a few allegations levelled against the AMU. The list is rather endless. It’s high time the women come out of the lengthening shadow of the negative forces, and taking them as a cue turn the so-called oppression into an opportunity to outshine their male counterparts.
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Perhaps it needs to be repeated that not even a minute fraction of resources made available to the male students remain inaccessible to their female counterparts. Still the allegations of oppression and discrimination persist, only because we don’t rubbish them completely. Being a male member of the society and a student of the varsity, I too should take the onus of not being able to spread, so far, the true picture of how equal girls and boys are on the campus and how deep-rooted and intertwined is the notion of equality in our culture. Irrespective of gender, education makes us become civilised which then makes humans a fit unit of society.
A recent media report amazed me when it said that AMU’s Cultural Education Centre (CEC), established to inculcate co-curricular and personality development skills, has never witnessed a female office bearer. It was even more surprising to learn that the writer is an alumnus of the varsity. Let me put some facts on record. While I was the secretary of the club for short evening courses, a branch of CEC, other branches or clubs of the CEC were headed by female secretaries. The Literary Club of the CEC witnessed a hat-trick of female secretaries, namely Nazia Y. Izuddin from Kerela, Samrah Fatima from Kanpur and Maria Salman from Meerut. Such hollow and baseless claims of people need to be shown up to be what they are in order to safeguard the larger interest of the varsity.
Almost eight years back a self-styled pseudo-activist tried creating a similar media storm over the alleged issue of ‘moral policing’ on AMU campus. Various political parties and other affiliated organizations joined in the campaign against the varsity. Eventually, it took a delegation of around 10 students who happened to be all girls, from AMU to visit the JNU campus and address a live and huge press conference, thereby rebutting each and every allegation.
Debate can continue on other similar nitpicking aspects. But, should the champions of gender liberty, freedom, and equality impose their ideology on our way of life by disrespecting it? Will they do the same vis-à-vis fundamental rights of their fellow Indians irrespective of caste, religion or class? Even a learned person, by missing respect for diversity of culture can do serious harm to harmony of diversely cultured India in the name of liberalism.
It is high time to join hands together and save AMU from untoward controversies. AMU doesn’t stand for Muslims alone. A good number of students practicing different religions study here. The myth that AMU favours Muslim students and discourages and neglects the rest must be done away with. We must not forget the fact that the very first graduate of AMU was Shri Ishwari Prasad.
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The philosophy of the great founder of the varsity, Sir Sayyed Ahmad Khan must be kept intact. He said, “Hindus and Muslims are two eyes of a beautiful bride. If any one of the eyes is harmed, the entire beauty of the bride shall be marred”. AMU belongs to India and therefore it becomes a moral obligation of each Indian to promote what is in the larger interest of the varsity, and curtail to the fullest what is against its dignity and honour.
Irfan Khan, a freelance journalist and an RTI Activist, is pursuing Ph.D in Film Studies from the Department of Journalism & Mass Communication, Aligarh Muslim University.
