On Monday (January 11) the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led NDA government has declared its stand in the Supreme Court of India that Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) could not be given the status of a ‘minority’ institution. Attorney general Mukul Rohatgi told a bench of Justices J S Khehar, M Y Eqbal and C Nagappan, that the ‘Union of India’ has taken the stand that AMU is not a minority University. In response, the bench has directed government to file an affidavit on the minority issue and set the next date for hearing on April 4. As soon the conversation between Attorney general and Supreme Court Justices made public, the AMU administration, faculty, staff and students were in utter shock. Similarly, the AMU alumni in India and abroad were also highly disappointed over the stand of Central government, expressed their feelings in various way.
As an AMU Alumnus, I am quite upset with government's stand and expressing my cocern over the recent developments related to long drawn demand of ‘minority’ status for the University. It's a well-know truth that AMU is one of the most prestigious Central University of the country, which has been also ranked as in institution of national importance by an Act of parliament, hence it deserves special attention from government as well as people of country. However, there is a misconception about the University that it offers education only to Muslims, but in truth, Hindus and students of other religious faiths also enrolled in AMU. Particularly in the courses like M.B.B.S and B.Tech the comparative percentage of Muslims – Hindus students is approximately 50-50 percent. AMU must not be seen as an institution of particular religious faith, but this is also a fact that this University has greatly helped the Muslim community in disseminating good quality higher education.
As the Justice Rajinder Sachar Committee 2005 has already brought forward the truth that the Muslims of the country are very backward and deprived in the key development indexes like health and sanitation, infant mortality rate, employment including education. AMU gives a big hope to the community battling with scores of issues. The adequate infrastructure, hostels, faculty buildings, state-of-the-art laboratories for research work along with comparatively less fee structure altogether make AMU first choice for the financially weak Muslim students. Many alumni of AMU originally belonging to economically weaker families have efficiently represented the country at national and international levels, which is a positive aspect for developing India.
If AMU gets a ‘minority’ institution status certainly there would be significant growth in literacy rate of the Muslim community, which would also be an add-on for the national literacy percentage and all round development of the country. I think by giving reservation to Muslim students in a fair percentage of seats at AMU encouraging results may be gained. It would be altogether beneficial for India in long run, as the country is eyeing for ‘Vision 2020’ and 100 percent literacy.
Although the apex court has not given the final decision on minority tag, but the issue somehow has come as a shocker for Muslims dreaming for higher education within their reach. The Centre may be having valid points for withdrawing minority tag from AMU, and as of now it may appear a right decision. However, the factual data especially the 'Sachar Committee' quite clearly recommends for the need of AMU like institutions for improving the socio-economic condition of the Muslims in the country. Hope the Centre would reanalyse its decision for the larger interest of deprived citizen of India.
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