Aligarh: For the first time in the history of 5 decades, a Prime Minister has participated in the program of AMU. Earlier in 1964, the then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri addressed the convocation of AMU.
Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College became Aligarh Muslim University on 1 December 1920 following a Gazette notification. On 17 December the same year, AMU was formally inaugurated as a university.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing the centenary celebrations of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) through video conferencing. He also issued a stamp on the completion of 100 years of the university. Modi said, “We must not forget this power of diversity, nor let it get weakened. We should work together to ensure that spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat’ grows stronger day by day in the campus of Aligarh Muslim University.”
Education reaches everyone equally
“The new education policy has taken into account the needs of the students. Today’s youth is finding solutions to new challenges. This aspiration of youth has been given priority in the National Education Policy. Now students will have the freedom to take their decision. There were 16 IITs in 2014, now there are 23. Today, there are 20 IIMs. Education reached everyone equally, this is what we are working for,” said PM modi.
When it comes to nation, religion should not matter
“I also have some expectations from the youth. AMU has tremendous strength. There are 100 hostels here. They should plan to find and bring freedom fighters into light who have remained unnamed so far. If we get suggestions from AMU for strengthening self-reliant India, then nothing would be better than this. There are different religious sentiments in the world and are not denied. But when it comes to nation, these should not matter. The thoughts and philosophies are not denied but these should be kept at bay when it comes to the development of the country. There is no destination that we cannot achieve together”- PM Modi.
Politics can wait, Development can not
“We have to work on a common ground. All 130 crore countrymen will benefit from this. Youngsters can do this. We have to understand that politics is an important part of the society. There are elements in the society that uses politics and distort everything. Politics can wait, Society can wait but development of a country cannot wait. The poor, deprived cannot wait long. Much time has gone in the name of differences in previous governments. Together, we have to create a new self-sufficient India”- PM Modi.
Emphasis on Higher Education for Girls
“The number of Muslim girls in the AMU has increased to 35%. There should not be discrimination on the basis of gender, everyone should have equal rights. This was inherent in the founding of AMU. Earlier it was said that if a woman is educated then the family gets educated. This has deep implications for family education as well. Women have to be educated so that they can secure their future. Economic Independence brings strength. Then, whether it is about giving direction to the house, society or to giving direction to the country, it is important to encourage more and more enrollements of female students”-PM Modi.
The dropout rate for Muslim daughters has come down from 70% to 30%
“There was a time when the dropout rate (drop out of studies) of Muslim daughters in the country was more than 70%. This situation remained the same for 70 years. It was under these conditions that the Swachh Bharat Mission started. The government built toilets on mission mode. The dropout rate, which was 70%, now stands at 30%. Earlier Muslim daughters used to drop out of education due to lack of toilet, now this is not happening,” said PM Modi.
Ayushman Scheme for All
80 crore people were given food in the corona virus period without any discrimination. The Ayushman scheme started without any discrimination. One alumnae reported that 100 million toilets in the country benefited all. These toilets were built without any discrimination.
AMU gave people New thinking
PM Modi said that he often meets AMU alumni during foreign visits “who very proudly say they’ve studied from AMU”. “Wherever in the world they go, AMU alumni represent the rich heritage and culture of India…In its 100 years of history, AMU has crafted and polished millions of lives, giving them modern and scientific thinking and inspiring them to do something for the society and the nation.”
The PM invoked AMU’s founder Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and said he believed that the growth of the country was above people’s caste and religion.
AMU library has manuscripts of the Quran and also translations of Ramayana and Gita
“Just a few days ago I received the letter of Chancellor Syedna Saheb. He talked about supporting vaccination. With such thoughts, we are facing pandemic like Corona. People say that AMU is like a city. Mini India is visible among many departments and millions of students. Hindi-English and many languages are taught along with Urdu. The Quran is also accompanied by the Gita and several texts of the world,” said PM Modi.
Research here gives new energy to the culture of the country
“The research done here on Urdu, Arabic and Persian languages, research on Islamic literature, gives new energy to the culture of India. This power of diversity should never be forgotten or weakened. We should work together to ensure that the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat’ grows stronger day by day on the campus of Aligarh Muslim University,” the PM said.
No one left behind because of religion
“Sir Syed had said that the greatest duty of the people who care for the country is to work for the people, irrespective of their religion, caste. Just as it is necessary for every organ to be healthy for human life, similarly development of society is necessary at all levels. The country is moving on the same path,” said PM Modi.
PM Modi further said, “The country is marching forward on the path where every citizen would get the benefits of development happening in the country without any discrimination. The country is on the path where every citizen should be rest assured about their constitutional rights and their future. The country is on the path where no citizen would be left behind because of their religion and everyone would get equal opportunities so that everyone can fulfil their dreams. Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas is the mantra behind it.”