An Overview of Maha Dharna for AMU Centre Kishanganj

The beautiful district of Kishanganj has witnessed something unusual on October 12, 2011. In fact, since the Independence of India the north-eastern district of Bihar has never gathered at one place for any cause. However, the 12 th October of 2011 has added a new chapter in the history of Kishanganj and Seemanchal, around 3 lakh people come together under the banner of ‘Kishanganj Education Movement for AMU Special Centre’ to protest against the Bihar Government.

The Dharna begun at around 10.30 am in the morning ended in 14 hours as the rail and road blockage paralysed the life in North East part of India. Finally after getting assurance from the Bihar Government for resolving the land issue within 45 days, the Dharna was called off by MP Maulana Asrarul Haque, who was also leading the movement. All are very happy by seeing the unity among people and have hope that the land transfer for the establishment of AMU Special Centre will be sorted out in the given time period.

Below are the highlights of the Maha Dharna with important incidents

- Led by Kishanganj MP Maulana Asrarul Haque a committee was formed with the name ‘Kishanganj Education Movement for AMU Centre’ in August / September 2011.

- Former Principal of Nehru College, Prof Haneef Alam was appointed Convener of the committee, while Wasiqur Rahman was selected as the President

- The committee also had designated Patrons, namely Maulana Asrarul Haque (MP - Kishanganj), Akhtarul Iman (MLA - Kochadhaman), Dr. Jawed Azad (MLA - Kishanganj), Touseef Alam(MLA - Bahadurganj), Ghulam Rabbani (MLA – Uttar Dinajpur), Ali Imran Ramz (MLA – Uttar Dinajpur) and Naushad Alam (MLA – Thakurganj, later withdrew from the committee due to joining JD (U)

- Besides the Convener and Patrons, the committee has appointed Joint Conveners and Executive Members, namely Dr. Shamim Akhtar, Gholam Shahid, Advocate Nirmal Prasad, Prof. Mansoor Alam, etc.

- The committee members did extensive meetings and decided to submit a memorandum to DM Kishanganj asking Bihar CM Nitish Kumar to provide required land to AMU

- On September 12, 2011 the committee met DM Kishanganj and submitted the memorandum, in which they had asked the Bihar CM to resolve the issue within 15 days.

- A warning was also given, if the matter is not resolved within time frame, the committee will organize grand dharna.

- Meanwhile, after submitting the memorandum the committee organized dozen of ‘AMU awareness campaign’ around the district of Kishanganj and neighbouring districts including Uttar Dinajpur.

- September 30, 2011 – Delhi based AMU Centre Co-ordination Committee represented by working professionals and students from Bihar organized a ‘National Conference on AMU Centre’ at India Islamic Cultural Centre in New Delhi.

- The conference was attended by AMU VC Prof P K Abdul Azis, Kishanganj MP Maulana Asrarul Haque Qasmi, Kochadhaman MLA Akhtarul Imaan, RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, renowned Journalist Aziz Burney and around 500 people.

- After the conference the committee declared to support the movement under the banner of ‘Kishanganj Education Movement’ and also requested the gathering to join the Maha Dharna at Kishanganj from October 12, 2011.

- The conference left a positive note and it got coverage from national media especially Roznama Sahara, Jan Satta, Dainik Bhaskar, The Hindu, and Press Trust of India (PTI)

- October 9, 2011 -Kishanganj Education Movement didn’t get any reply from the Bihar Government and Symbolic Dharna begun from 9th October, 2011 which went till 11th October, 2011

- Students, youths and elders including women with children took part in Symbolic Dharna. Memorandum was also submitted to DM Kishanganj by male activists and women as well.

- October 12, 2011 – Lakh of people from Kishanganj, Katihar, Araria, Purnia, Uttar Dinajpur, Saharsa, Khagaria, Supaul and other parts of Bihar gathered on historic Ruidhasa Maidan, and after brief session all gathered on NH 31 before District Collectorate to protest against the Bihar Government

- Guwahati – Kolkata Rail Route was blocked, the NH 31 was also blocked by the protestors.

- All through the day the political leaders and speakers delivered thought provoking speeches. Prominent among them were Congress MP Deepa Munshi Das, NCP Leader Tarique Anwar and TMC MLA Ashfaq Karim Chaudhary.

- About 1500 kms away from Kishanganj, a group of hundred students and working professionals did dharna in front of Bihar Bhawan in New Delhi under the banner of AMU Centre Coordination Committee. After shouting slogans against Nitish Kumar and Bihar Government, the committee had submitted a memorandum addressed to Bihar CM in the office of Resident Commissioner.

- At around 5 pm the leader of dharna Maulana Asrarul Haque declared to end the protest and said to give the government a memorandum to resolve the matter under a fixed timeline.

- However, people who have gathered to fight for their cause denied to accept the suggestion of MP Kishanganj, and told that they are ready to sacrifice their lives for AMU Centre

- Finally, after short discussion the MP Kishaganj announced to extend the Dharna for unidentified period till the Bihar Govt provide the required land as per norms of AMU

- The enthusiastic protestors were fully determined to anything for the cause and around 10 PM some news channels flashed the issue as ‘Breaking News’. Later on the news of Rail and Road blockage became the breaking news of many national news channels, namely IBN7, Zee News, NDTV, Live India and Sahara Samay.

- October 13, 2011 – Around 12.30 am after a meeting with Purnia Division Commissioner Brijesh Malhotra on behalf of Bihar Govt in DM office, the Kishanganj MP along with Kochadhaman MLA, Bahadurganj MLA and other key leaders of the dharna announced that the ‘Bihar Government is ready to provide the land to AMU VC as per norms of the University.

- The protestors were demanding to get the written assurance from Bihar Government. However, the leaders of the movement ensured that they have faith over high level talk.

- Now the Bihar Govt has got 45 days time to resolve the land issue. If the promise is not made, the Kishangaj Education Movement for AMU Special Centre will again sit on hunger strike.

- October 13, 2011, an FIR was lodged by the Indian Railways against the key members of Kishanganj Education Movement and 500 unknown protestors under many acts for causing the loss of crores and disturbing the rail movement.

On the whole, the episode of dharna for AMU Special Centre in Kishanganj ended with many positive notes, and it had given birth to a new spirit of ‘fighting for the cause’ among the people of Seemanchal and Bihar.