“ALLAMAL INSAANA MAALAM YALAM”- ‘Taught the man that which he knew not’ is the motto of Jamia Millia Islamia. Jamia Millia Islamia derives its name from Urdu language in which Jamia means university and Millia means national. The Jamia has an identity and a unique charter of its own. This university, born out of the Indian national movement and patriotic fervor, was founded at Aligarh in 1920 as an alternative, when government institutions were boycotted by the Indian people. It was established with an expressive purpose of purifying education from the social and national impurities. The story of its growth from a small institution in the pre-independence India to a central university located in Qarol Bagh New Delhi- is a saga of dedication, conviction and vision of a people who worked against all odds and saw it growing step by step. This university was established by the nationalist Muslims however it operates as a secular centre of education in its character and approach. The prominent founders, who established Jamia stone by stone and sacrifice by sacrifice were Moulana Mahmood Hassan, Hakim Ajmal khan, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad Ansari and Abdul Majid Khawaja. Jamia Millia Islamia is considered as one of the most prestigious nationalist institutions in India and probably only one of its kinds to have survived gamut of financial crisis and political opposition and has still managed to emerge as one of the best university in India. It is worth to mention here that during British rule, the degrees awarded by Jamia were not considered as valid, but with the passage of time and extensive work of Jamia, it was accorded the status of central university by a special act of parliament in 1988 were in all degrees, diplomas and other courses awarded by Jamia got world wide recognisation. Today it has 9 faculties, 39 departments and 33 research centers who are steadily engaged in translating the vision of its founding fathers in to reality. Jamia Millia Islamia is a fascinating mixture of tradition and modernity which strives to preserve traditional values, yet at the same time is conscious of and is responsive to the demands of modernity. Born out of the sacrifices and commitments of various social and political activists, this institution starts its journey out of ragged tents in the small town of Aligarh in 1920, eventually came to be recognized as a central university in 1988. Jamia Millia is a mixture of two words, “Jamia” and “Millia” which means “university and national” respectively in Urdu language. This university was established by the nationalist Muslims however it operates as a secular centre of education in its character and approach. The story of its growth from a small institution in the pre-independence India to a central university located in New Delhi – offering integrated education from nursery to research in specialized areas is a saga of dedication, conviction and vision of a people who worked against all odds and saw it growing step by step. Rabindarnath Tagore has rightly remarked Jamia Millia, ‘as one of the most progressive educational institution in India.’ From the date of its establishment to current times, contribution of Jamia Millia in the field of education and social and national life is unmatchable. Under the British rule, two dominant trends joined hands together and contributed towards the birth of India’s one of the reputed institution, Jamia Millia Islamia University. One was the anti- colonial Islamic activism signified by the ‘Khalifat’ and the other was the pro- independence aspirations of the politically active section signified by the ‘non-cooperation movement’ of the Indian national congress.
The basic drive to establish Jamia Millia was very much political in nature than educational. It is worth to mention here that throughout the political crisis and during the fight for an independent India, Jamia Millia participated in the ‘Bardoli Satyagraha’ and sent volunteers to motivate people to fight for the freedom of the India. Though Jamia Millia came in to existence for national awaking among Muslims however it turned out to be an institution for which ‘sir syed’ and ‘Molvi Mahmood Hassan popularly known as Wiqar-ul- Mulk has aspired. Sir Syed’s dream was to establish an educational institution which will provide modern sciences and English literature through Urdu as a medium of instruction. Mahmood Hassan had suggested the establishment of a university namely Jamia Millia in 1912 which would help us in making arrangement for all sought of ‘Quranic’ education. Though the scheme was presented by him after the government refused to ‘Aligarh Muslim University’ to affiliate the other institutions. So it is evident from the view’s of sir syed and Mahmood Hassan that a self financed institution of higher learning should be established, where modern Arts and science had to be taught through the Urdu medium and which had to be free from government control. This proposed institution was, in their opinion, a better response for the challenges of western knowledge and culture. This institution should provide best of the modern Arts and sciences to the Indian people and at the same time should be hub of Islamic learning and culture. In 1920 Mahatma Gandhi calls upon the nation to join hands with the freedom movement of India to strengthen the non-cooperation movement to boycott all the institution run by the British govt. and education was important among them. Pointing out to these institutions Mahatma Gandhi remarked, “That these institutions are giving us clean and clear milk with a mixture of poison in it”. Responding to Gandhi’s call to boycott all educational institution supported or run by the colonial regime, a group of nationalist teachers and students quit Aligarh Muslim University, protesting against its pro- British inclination which helped to harness creative energy and the subsequent making of Jamia Millia Islamia. On Friday 26thof October 1920, Moulana Mahmood Hassan laid the foundation stone of Jamia Millia Islamia at M. A. O collage mosque at Aligarh. Inaugural ceremony was attended by Hakim Ajamal khan, Dr. Mushtaq Ahamad Ansari, Moulana Mohmad Ali, kahawaja Abdul Majeed. The foundation committee of Jamia Millia was formed on 22ndof November 1920. On 22ndNovember 1920 Hakim Ajmal khan was elected the first chancellor of Jamia. Mohmad Ali Jawar became Jamia’s first vice chancellor, as Allama Iqbal could not accept the offer made through Gandhi. Though in the same year central khalifat committee passed the resolution that Jamia Millia Islamia was an independent institution and had nothing to do with politics but its students and teachers remained very active workers of khalifat cause. In 1922, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad Ansari realizing the need of a truly independent Jamia induced the well wishers of the institution to raise funds for it. When the central khalifat committee seized its financial assistance to Jamia in 1923, the Jamia found itself in helm of financial crisis. As the crisis loomed large, Hakim Ajmal khan, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad Ansari and Abdul Majeed khawaja – the first trio- supported by Gandhi shifted Jamia from Aligarh to Qarol Bagh in New Delhi in1925. Gandhi boosted the morale of Jamia by saying, “the Jamia has to run. If you are worried about its finances, I will go with a begging bowl.” In 1925, Dr. Zakir Hussain, Dr Abaid Hussain and Dr. Mohmad Mujeeb decided to serve Jamia. They provide a new zeal and enthusiasm to the institution. In 1928 Hakim Ajmal khan passed away and first stage of development of Jamia came to an end. Dr Zakir Hussain who became its vice chancellor in 1928 worked hard to resolve the financial crises that Jamia faced after the death of Hakim Ajmal khan. On1st march 1935, the foundation stone for a school building was laid at okhla. In 1936, all institutions of Jamia, except Jamia press, the Maktaba and the library, were shifted to the new campus. The basic emphasis of Jamia was on evolving innovative education methods that led to the establishment of a teachers college (Ustadon ka madrasa) in 1938. On 4th June 1939 Jamia Millia Islamia was registered as a society. In 1962, the University Grants Commission declared the Jamia as a ‘deemed to be university.’ In December 1988, by a special act of parliament, Jamia Millia Islama was made a central university of India and many new courses and programs at under graduate and post graduate levels have since been added. Today Jamia Millia Islamia is considered as one of the most prestigious nationalist institutions in India and probably only one of its kinds to have survived gamut of financial crisis and political opposition and has still managed to emerge as one of the best university in India. The Jamia has synthesis of modern university and aesthetic and inspiring campus for conducive and liberating academic environment and unlimited freedom of imagination, all which is required to mould the young Indian generation today. Even today the Jamia is consistently striving to create an institution where education converges with the demands of the present and happy conference.
(The author is Research fellow at United Nations world peace institute. The views, opinions, facts, assumptions, presumptions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and co-author only but aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”.)
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