Sham-e-Muzakara

Mr. Bilal Ahmad Mir, a Ph.D. Scholar at department of Sociology and Social Work, AMU, Aligarh and an awardee of the IOS scholarship initiated a discussion on “Socio-Historical Account of Kashmir Problem” in the premises of the Institute of Objective Studies, Aligarh Chapter on February 22, 2003.

The speaker traced the history of Kashmir before and after partition of India and its accession to India. He said that the vested interests and lack of political will are the real obstacles in solving the Kashmir problem.

Symposium on Issues and Problems of Child Labour in Aligarh

A Symposium was jointly organized by the Institute of Objective Studies, Aligarh Chapter and Aligarh Students Social Welfare Association in the Lecture Hall on February 24, 2003. The symposium discussed “issues and problems of child labour in aligarh.

Miss Fozia Rehman, a student of B.A., LL.B., AMU, Aligarh conducted the programme. It started with recitation from the Holy Quran by Mr. Mohd. Adeel, a student of B.A. (Economic), AMU.

Coordinator of the Chapter, Mr. Mohammad Muqim, while welcoming the participants, the audience and the president of the session highlighted the seriousness and harmful effects of child labour menace with particular reference to Aligarh and said that for fighting this evil not only in Aligarh but elsewhere as well there is urgent need for united efforts of child welfare organizations, NGOs, students forums and government organizations.

Prof. Mohammad Shabbir, Faculty of Law, AMU, Aligarh, while giving introductory remarks, informed that Aligarh had been placed fourth in UP by a survey conducted by UNICEF in 2001 which, according to him, was a matter of concern. He emphasized the need of child development projects particularly with regard to their mental and physical growth.

Mr. M.Z.M. Nomani, a lecturer at Department of Law, AMU, Aligarh, touched the legal aspects of the child labour problem and emphasized the need of proper implementation of the rules meant to check child labour and different child welfare schemes of the Union as well as state governments.

Dr. Abdul Matin, Reader, Department of Sociology and Social Work, AMU, Aligarh shed some light on social aspects of the child labour problems and said that the problem of child labour was not given serious attention even by institutions and organizations dealing with child labour problems. According to him even the reports of various commissions appointed on child labour problem are not based on facts and are far away from the actual position.

Dr. Daud Salim Farooqui, a scholar of Psychology, presented his views on the exploitation of all kinds of working children and suggested some remedial measures.

This symposium was presided over by Prof. Shah Mohammad Waseem, former Chairman and Dean of the Commerce Faculty, AMU, Aligarh who informed the audience about the number and status of working children in various localities of the old city and civil lines areas and said that those who are in a position to do something in favour of these working children should come forward and contribute their bit in whatever manner they could.

Panel Discussion on Indian Muslims

The IOS, Aligarh Chapter organized a Panel Discussion on Issues and Problems of Indian Muslims and their solutions on February 18, 2003. A number of scholars were invited to pin point the main causes that hamper the over all progress of the Muslim community in contemporary India. They  were also asked to suggest some possible remedial measures which can be put before the government bodies and NGOs for their consideration.

The first programme in this series dealt with the ‘Revival of Leadership Among Muslims’. In his introductory remarks, the Coordinator, Mohammad Muqim pointed that no worthwhile researches have been done to locate the Muslim’s problems in India on the priority basis. As a member of the community, he said, our prime duty is to chalk out a strategy with reasonable arguments which can be effectively carried out in solving the Muslim problems in India. He informed the participants that the Institute of Objective Studies has consistently been engaged in research activities in this direction since the last one and a half decade. He said now it was time to be more specific in identifying the problems and ignore the irrelevant issues. He invited the experts to focus both on the local issues as well as the issues relating to the general concern of the Indian Muslims.

Prof. Humayun Murad requested the Chairperson, Prof. Ahmad Shahid Khan to take up the issues related to the revival of leadership in Muslim community its absence is the main reason of inactiveness both at the community and national level. He then asked who the Muslim should follow? Is there any need at all to follow any leader? These questions were raised at the initial level of discussion. It was felt that since we have no trusted personalities like Maulana Ali Mian or Qazi Mujahidul Islam Qasmi, we need to focus more on this issue. Prof. Amanullah Khan pointed out that the immediate problem at present is to identify the main agenda for uplifting the community and in this context effort should be made to chalk out the prime issues for the new leaders or for the would be leaders.

Prof. Ahmad Shahid Khan was of the view that the communities generally seek an ideal person while choosing their leaders, be it developed or non developed society. In a democratic set up like that of India it becomes rather more easy to make a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ leader. Muslims in India must accept the reality of the current situation and take gradual steps in this direction. Should they choose a visionary leader for the welfare of the community or a leader simply guided by the public sentiments for the sake of his own self-interest. The following points emerged from the discussion:

1.        The speakers stressed on the training of young and able persons on the basis of factual information for the future leadership of the Muslim community in various fields of life.

2.        While discussing the types of training that will be helpful in solving the problems of Muslims in India the participants admired the leaders who have intellectual prowess who can be strong in arguments with communicative skills in raising the Muslim problems in India.

3.        Since training institutes are already working on this line in Europe and the US, such academic institutions must be opened in India also.

4.        It would, however, be more practical for Muslims to search a capable leader from the leaders of existing political parties.

Educational Problems of Indian Muslims

The second panel discussion was held on February 25, 2003 which focused on “Educational Problems Facing the Muslim Community in India”, in which a number of scholars participated. The participants classified the issues in two broad categories: (1) Problems related to school education and (2) problems related to Madrasah education.

While reviewing the nature of unawareness and the need of imparting basic education to the younger generation, the participants urged to demand for educational upliftment and the health care of their children. The participants felt that even our academic institutions and colleges are of below standard in comparison to the institutions run by non-Muslims. Our main concern should be to find out the nature of educational drawbacks. The following points emerged from the deliberations:

1.        In the education institutions run by Muslims, there is a general complaint of unscientific attitudes in teaching and learning, unrevised and out dated courses and their inability to adopt current topics/disciplines particularly in social sciences and natural sciences.

2.        The participants raised questions as why Muslim educated +2 students as well as graduates are not good in their performance. A survey in this regard must be conducted to find out the reason of this drawback.

3.        There is also a need to evaluate the teaching and research activities among the Muslim academics and institutions and also examine as why the Muslims are still accustomed to the traditional way of thinking and are not changing according to the current time.

4.        Though the participants agreed that deeni Madaris and Modern School should be evaluated at differing scale they, however, unanimously said that a baseline is must for each one so that the younger generation can survive in the contemporary system of learning.

5.        The discussants suggested in this regard to carry out investigative research to find out the nature of placement of Madrasa-going students as well as those enrolled in the public schools and Muslim-run colleges. This will help in restructuring and updating the course syllabi.

6.        Since the knowledge and skills are prime objectives of education, it is also vital to know the ratio and the percentage of young Muslims applying these tools in their life. Further, whether our Madrasa system is competent enough to impart such type of knowledge-based skills?

7.        It was critically observed that Madaris are run on ideological ground and hence they are the major factor in dividing the Muslim community in various sects and factions and this often results in destructive divisions. On the contrary, some participants objected that since Madrasa are charitable institutions, not taking any aid from the government, it is highly unjustified to interfere in their system of education.

8.        The participants also felt that unless our religious ideology is not changed, our educational quality can not be improved. In fact, this was the arguments some one hundred years back that inspired Sir Syed to introduce the new educational curriculum for Muslims in India.

At the end, the Coordinator of the Chapter asked the participants and experts to chalk out a detailed strategy which can be adopted in the Muslim-run academic institutions, so that knowledge, wisdom and skills could be developed among Muslim students. Moreover, there should also be some mechanism so that these institutions could be appraised, reviewed and rated.

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