Activities of the IOS Chapters
ALIGARH CHAPTER
Lecture on Reform of Police
Having felt the need of reorganization and reform of police force in India – Dr. Raveend Y.R. Khwaja, a physician by profession, settled in UK and Chairman, United Kingdom Citizens Congress and International Islamic Peace Congress, Norwich, UK, chose to speak on “Adoption of the International One Cadre Police System is the only Remedy for Counteracting the Total Failure and Fiasco of the Present Four Cadre Colonial Police System in India” at 5.00 p.m. in the premises of the Institute of Objective Studies, Aligarh Chapter on March 4, 2004 which was attended by students and teachers, former judges, advocates and social activists.
The speaker and the audience were welcomed and introduced by Mr. Mohammad Serajuddin Khan, assistant coordinator of the Chapter.
In his lecture Dr. Khwaja explained his concept of police, the method of police recruitment and their mental and intellectual training. A warm discussion took place after discussion.
Symposium on International Women’s Day
Aligarh Chapter of the Institute of Objective Studies, New Delhi, while observing the International Women’s Day, organized a symposium on “Violence and Injustice Against Women” in its premises at 5.30 p.m. on March 8, 2004 which was convened by Prof. (Mrs.) Shad Bano Ahmad, former chairperson, Department of Sociology, AMU, Aligarh and presided over by Dr. Shakti Rais Ahmad.
Coordinator of the Chapter Mr. Mohammad Muqim welcomed the speakers and the audience and said a few words about the occasion on which this event was organized.
Prof. Shad Bano Ahmad, convener of the programme, welcomed the speakers and the audience and requested Dr. (Mrs.) Shakti Rais Ahmad for chairing the session. Dr. Shakti said that there are ten papers which deal with such issues as violence against women, injustices, legal rights, social status etc. She, then, requested the first speaker Dr. Zoya Zaidi, a physician, to present her paper on “Women Through the Ages: A Profile of Violence and Injustice”.
The speaker dwelt at length on the problems faced by women of our times with special reference to the atrocities and violence against women, sati, child marriage, child abuse, infanticide, trafficking etc.
Dr. Daud Salim Farooqui was the second speaker who spoke on “mother and the child: violence and emotion”. He emphasized the need of checking child abuse be it physical, mental or sexual. According to him child abuse can be checked effectively by the parents and the mother can play a vital role in this concern by providing necessary guidelines to the girl child.
Dr. Nemat Ali Khan, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, AMU, Aligarh gave an account of violence against women and said that about 50 to 60 percent women are subjected to physical violence of one or another kind. In his paper “Crime Against Women: A Sociological Study” he gave statistics about the reported cases of rape in different states of Indian Union and advocated death penalty for this grave crime.
Dr. Shahnaz Hashmi, formerly associated with the Department of English, AMU, Aligarh, spoke on “honour killing: honour or dishonour”. The speaker was of the view that usually in an unorganized marriage the girl is killed and on one pretext or the other this killing is called honour killing whereas this type of killing must be considered simply murder and a crime against women.
Dr. Faizan Mustafa, Associate Professor, Department of Law, AMU, Aligarh presented his views on “recognizing domestic work as work: joint property rights for the wife”.
Mrs. Samina, Lecturer, Department of Sociology and Social Work, AMU, Aligarh presented her paper on “justice and injustice within the family” and quoted some cases of injustice committed against women living within the four walls of a house by their own family members.
Dr. Masooma Khatoon, associated with the Centre for Women Studies, AMU, Aligarh presented a paper: “A Study of Family Violence in Aligarh” wherein she reported the incidences of violence perpetrated by not only male members of the family on women living in the house but even elderly women of the house did not lag behind in committing atrocities and violence against their own female relations. She recommended that for an effective check on violence against women, both men and women must come together and join hands to eradicate this evil.
Mufti Zahid Ali Khan, Reader, Department of Sunni Theology, AMU, was of the view that religious teachings with regard to Nikah, Talaq and Khula etc. are not heeded to in the present dayworld. According to him the dependent, poor and downtrodden women are most vulnerable to violence. Dr. Zahid spoke on “are we practicing what the Quran preaches?”
Dr. Atia Abid, Associate Professor, Department of English, AMU, Aligarh presented her views on the old women of our society and said that without bringing awareness of their rights and duties, without economic independence and without networking of women and the right thinking men, empowerment of women would not be possible in any society. She presented a paper entitled “Stark Reality: The Plight of Old Women”.
Prof. Azra J. Ahmad of Department of Paediatrics, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, AMU, Aligarh presented a paper entitled “The Deprived Girl Child: Nutrition and Health” and said that the practice of discriminatory behaviour of parents and other relatives against girl children must be stopped for healthy growth of girl children.
“Violence Against Women: A Psychological Perspective” was the title of paper presented by Prof. Hamida Ahmad, ex-Chairperson, Department of Psychology, AMU, Aligarh.
Those who participated in the discussion, asked questions or gave observations and shared their view points with the speakers were Dr. H.R. Chighani, former Director, Khuda Baksh Public Library, Patna, Prof. M. Hamiddin associated with the Mechanical Engineering Department of the Aligarh Muslim University. Prof. Surayya Husain, ex-Chairperson, Department of Urdu, Mr. Mohd. Bahauddin, Engineering Faculty, Dr. Naima Khatoon of Psychology Department.
Prof. Shad Bano Ahmad thanked the participants and the audience.
Mr. Mohamamd Muqim, Coordinator of the Chapter proposed the vote of thanks to the audience, participants, IOS staff members and the Convener of the Symposium, Prof. Shad Bano Ahmad.
The symposium suggested the following measures to ensure a better deal for women in the country:
1. Women’s economic independence and educational upliftment must be ensured to combat violence against them.
2. Misuse of women to sell consumer products should be stopped and treated as a crime.
3. Honour killing is a humiliating terminology and therefore such killing should be stopped and treated as murders.
4. “Domestic work” by wives should be recognized as work and wives should have joint property rights in matrimonial properties.
5. Women (mother, daughter along with wife) must be given their share in agriculture properties.
6. The recent J & K Bill should be withdrawn
PATNA CHAPTER
Certificate Distribution Ceremony
A certificate distribution ceremony was held in the IOS Patna Chapter on March 11, 2004 as a mark of appreciation for the services of students of different universities in holding the one-day workshop on ‘Inter-Community Interaction’ held at Patna on April 6, 2003. Dr. M. Manzoor Alam, Chairman, Institute of Objective Studies, New Delhi presided over the function. Dr. Sohail Ahmad Khan, Chairman, Bihar State Minority Commission was the Chief Guest. Dr. M.A. Quddus, Co-ordinator, IOS Patna Chapter highlighted the role of the two luminaries in creating a think tank and social action platform to solve the problems of the weaker sections and the minorities in India.
Dr. Sohail Ahmad, Chairman, Bihar State Minority Commission, while delivering his talk as Chief Guest, highlighted the role of the Institute of Objective Studies, Delhi headed by Dr. M. Manzoor Alam in creating a nucleus both at the intellectual as well as social levels to fight the problems being faced by the weaker sections in general and the minorities in particular. He appreciated the spirit of the students to find time for social work in addition to their studies especially at a time of invasion by media for self-indulgences. However he advised them to be alert about their primary duty of study and therefore maintain a balance between study and social work: primary is primary and secondary is secondary, he remarked. Once the balance is maintained the students shall, Insha-Allah, create a place in society as a professional etc. as well as acquire fund of experiences through social work, said Dr. Khan.
Dr. M. Manzoor Alam who presided over the function while addressing the students, highlighted the two factors: the youthfulness of the students in terms of the mind and the body. The mind desires to climb the height of knowledge while the body desires to be strong. Wherever a reasonable balance is not maintained between the two, one becomes weaker either in mind or in body. The young audience who have assembled here for receiving their certificates for the social work appear to be stout and strong in body and seem to possess a sound mind also which is reflected through their certificate. Now the youths may use themselves in rowing with the waves of time or changing the waves themselves. The former category does not make any contribution beyond own-self while the latter does make contribution to the welfare of the society. Most of the students sitting here belong to the discipline of commerce that is connected with interaction, business and globalisation. The present unethical environment of business and trade which is going on unchecked is a cancer for the society. anyone of you who succeeds in containing the present unethical trend of business shall become Waqt ka Sikandar (the hero of the time) within ten years Insha Allah because he has succeeded in changing the waves of time. You may face difficulties in pursuing your aim. But you will be able to boldly face such difficulties provided your mind and body are in perfect co-ordination. Now you have to decide whether you want to take advantage of the flowing Ganges (Bahti-Ganga mein hath Dhona) or cleaning the Ganes on which the present day governments are spending crores of rupees. The present unethical aspect of business is like flow of dirty water in the Ganges. You may take the challenge for cleansing the river.
The Institute of Objective Studies provides a platform for developing moral values among the youth so that they are able to take big decisions in life. Such moral values will develop humane attitude in them. Such a high quality value is urgently needed today for the unity of India. The fire of hatred ignited by the self-seeking politicians has engulfed the entire country in which the weaker sections and the minorities are the worst sufferers. The students of the Institute of Objective Studies, once they take a resolve to flight the hatred psyche, no mischievous power within and around us shall stop them from implementing their resolve. Those who have shown their determination to fight the demon of hatred shall succeed, Insha-Allah. The word Insha-Allah has great power of achievement because it means putting efforts and praying for the blessings of Allah for making one’s efforts fruitful, said Dr. Alam.
Dr. S.E. Rab moved a vote of thanks and the meeting ended with dua.