– Shakilur Rahman
New Delhi, Mar. 6: A day-long meeting of Urdu Development Organization (UDO) was held here under the chairmanship of Dr. Syed Ahmed Khan. In the presidential address, he said three major Muslim institutions of the country – Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) and National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL), have been stalled. These institutions impart best education and training, playing an important role in the development of the country. Dr. Khan demanded that heads of these three biggest Muslim institutions should be appointed sooner than later.
He said three names were sent to the President for the Vice-Chancellor of AMU in November last but no decision has been taken yet while the minority status of AMU is being debated and a lawsuit is pending in the court. Eliminating AMU’s minority status would affect the education and development of Muslims.
However, the court has observed that AMU has been of national importance and an institution can be a major institution of national level even if it is of minority character. “Let the case be under the process, but due to non-appointment of VC, all academic activities of the university have been hampered. The government has to take some steps in this regard,” he added.
Similarly, the appointment of Vice-Chancellor of JMI is also pending. In this regard, the government has shortlisted five names based on interviews with 30 candidates and the name of any one of them is yet to be announced.
The third important institution is National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL), a nodal agency for the implementation of Urdu-related Government schemes and programs. On September 27, Professor Sheikh Aqeel Ahmed resigned as Director of the council; since then the institution has been in limbo. At present, Prof. Dhananjay Singh, who is also head of an institution as well as professor of English at JNU, has been assigned the charge of NCPUL. Obviously, all the work related to promotion of Urdu language and literature will remain stalled until a permanent director is appointed.
Dr. Khan stated that a committee for the Council has been formed. But this committee is of no use until the director and vice-chairman are appointed. The government formed a selection committee to appoint a director on February 1, in which 6 candidates were interviewed, but decision is yet to be taken. Similarly, the post of Council’s vice-chairman has been vacant for last three years; the government needs to pay attention to this as well.
Dr. Parwaz Uloom also urged the government to make progress in this regard as soon as possible and appoint heads of these three important institutions soon. Once general elections are announced, these issues will be left behind due to the code of conduct and the functioning of these big institutions will be badly affected.
Dr. Lal Bahadur said the government has given the slogan of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishwas,’ so there is a need to take more care of minority institutions than before.
