HRD Minister speaks in a Symposium on “Educating and Mainstreaming of Indian Muslims” at Jamia

Jamia Millia Islamia,New Delhi:

A National Symposium on “Educating and Mainstreaming of Indian Muslims” was organized by Muslim Youth for India and Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi The symposium was held on February 2, 2015 at Ansari Auditorium at 2.00 PM. Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, Hon’ble Minister of HRD was the Chief Guest while Mr. Zafar Sareshwala, Chancellor, Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) was the Guest of Honour. The symposium was presided over by Prof. Talat Ahmad, Vice-Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia.

 Several distinguished speakers participated in the Symposium. Prominent among them were  Prof. Akhtarul Wasey, Commissioner, National Linguistic Minorities Commission, Mr. Yusuf Nadvi, Mr. Tanvir Ahmad, former Chairman, Haj Committee of India, Ms. Asifa Khan, Mr. Akhtar Ali Farooqui, a senior Sr. IPS officer and Prof. Mujtaba Khan.  The hall was packed to capacity much before the commencement of the programme, which gave evidence of the enthusiasm and expectations that the audience, comprised mainly of students, has from the HRD minister, Smt. Smriti Irani.

 The Symposium began with Maulana Yusuf Nadvi’s speech which carried the message of Islam for education and the quest for knowledge. He exhorted the students to remember the original message of the Prophet and the audience could be seen responding to his ideas positively. Mr. Tanvir Ahmad, former Chairman, Haj Committee of India also gave a thought provoking speech in which he claimed that the Revolt of 1857 can be regarded as an event when the Muslims were mainstream and there was no distinction between the Muslims and Hindus as at that time they all regarded themselves as “Hindis”. This was prior to the impact of the British policy of “Divide and Rule”.

 Prof. Akhtarul Wasey also gave an impassioned speech which left the audience mesmerized and also evoked a warm response from the HRD Minister, Smt. Smriti Irani.  Comparing her to first Education Minister of India Maulana Azad, and also calling her a “mother – educator”. He made a strong appeal to her to nurture the Muslim population of India towards a bright and educated future.

 The programme concluded with Smt. Smriti Irani’s address to the audience in which she expressed her confidence in the students of Jamia to carry forward the education policy of her Ministry which has its thrust on “Education for All”. The Minister spoke eloquently on character building and said that no field of education is complete without the building of character and a strong sense of service to the under-privileged and the motherland.  She also assured the representatives of the Madrasa system present there that her Ministry have  taken all the necessary steps towards modernization and strengthening of the Madrasas of India. It was obvious that the Minister was very popular with the students and Faculty of Jamia even as the event came to a close with the presentation of bouquets to the Minister and Mr. Zafar Sareshwala, Chancellor, MANUU by the students of JMI.

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