Organising an educational conference that too with an ‘International’ tag is quite challenging job. And, if you are organising this in an educationally backward area of Kishanganj it becomes somehow a daunting task. However, accepting the big challenge the Human Chain, a non-government organisation (NGO) formed by people of Seemanchal organised a large scale conference named as ‘International Educational Conference’ at Sontha High School situated under Kochadhaman block of Kishanganj this past week on December 11, 2016. Organised under the chairmanship of Hazrat Maulana Mohammad Wali Rahmani, General Secretary All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Amir-E-Shariyat Imarate-Shariya, Bihar & Jharkhand the conference witnessed the presence of many luminaries representing various fields, and directly and indirectly connected with education. On the other hand, despite chilling winters around 5000 people gathered to listen the experts with high enthusiasm. The views / opinions of experts propelled the thought for 'Educational Upliftment' of Seemanchal. It also left a major impact in the minds of the crowd present at the venue for giving due attention to quality education.
After the formal inauguration of the one-day conference, Mr. Tanweer Alam, President, AMUOBA, Maharashtra spoke about the scope of AMU centres and its prospects for states like Bihar and Maharashtra. Mr. Irshad Ahmad, President, AMUOBA, Delhi carried ahead the talk about the importance of education for upliftment of the society and specifically mentioned about the role of AMU. In the keynote address Er. Mohammad Aslam, President, Human Chain thanked the guests for attending the conference despite the chilling winter weather. Highlighting the theme and need of organising such conference in the remote area of Sontha, Mr. Aslam said that it’s need of the hour. Describing the socio-economic condition of the Seemanchal, Mr. Aslam put several demands before the guests such as establishment of NCPUL Regional Centre and computer centres in the region, opening of secondary level boys / girls school from Wali Rahmani, starting of bridge courses by AMU for Madarsa passed students, establishment of schools by AMU, opening of branch of Al-Falah University, etc. In fact, Mr. Aslam compelled the guests to think about the dismal condition of Seemanchal with his though-provoking and quite emotional speech.
In response the guests reciprocated in a positive way on demands of Mr. Aslam, and given the nod to fulfill them in due course of time. In his presidential address Maulana Wali Rahmani said that the organisers have brilliantly assembled the people from various fields and organisations, and also intelligently put before the demands for welfare of the common people. My organisation has 300 acres land at Sitalpur in Kishanganj in which we have the plan to establish educational institutions, said Maulana Rahman. He also urged from Human Chain to work in the region for bringing positive change in the society.
AMU Pro Vice-Chancellor Brig (Retd.) Syed Ahmad Ali in his speech shared the facts about the Kishanganj Centre of AMU including the scarcity of funds. It worries me a lot while I think about fund starving AMU Kishanganj Centre, and I was a bit hesitant to pay a visit to Kishanganj since it’s difficult to face the teaching and non-teaching staff associated with the Centre. It’s a big concern for me as well as AMU administration that the faculty, staff and students of AMU Kishanganj Centre are facing challenges due to lack of funds. We are making persistent efforts to get the funds from Centre and I am hopeful that before the end of 12th Plan i.e 31st March, 2017, AMU Kishanganj Centre would get Rs 136 crore, said Mr. Ali with an optimistic approach. Meanwhile, expressing his concern over the less number of enrolment of locals in MBA and BEd courses run at Kishanganj Centre, he said that AMU is a national institution and the students (candidates) from this region must raise their levels to crack the entrance test conducted for the respective courses. Highlighting the bridge courses started by AMU 3 years back for Madarsa pass students, Mr. Ali said that the outcome is very encouraging. Every year 100 students from Madarsa background after going through the test get enrolment in one-year bridge course and most of the students qualify for main-stream courses like MBBS, BTech, B.Sc / BA, MBA, etc. offered by AMU and other educational institution of the country offering higher education. Similar bridge course may be started at AMU Kishanganj Centre in the coming time, added Mr. Ali.
Further, Prof. Irteza Karim, Director of NCPUL (National Council for Promotion of Urdu Languages) and also the co-organiser of the conference started his speech in a lighter way by putting a serious question before the audience. He asked, do you people know the meaning of ‘idaarah’ (institution) and ‘Iraada’(determination)? Prof. Karim asked the people to raise their hands for both the words and based on the responses received he explained the terms in details which impressed all. After his engaging as well as impressive speech, Prof. Karim made a big announcement about establishment of computer training centres of NCPUL one each at the radius of 5 km in the region of Seemanchal. As per the norms of NCPUL the computer centres can be established by the educational institutions like colleges, schools, madarsas, etc., non-government organisations. Interested institutions fulfilling the eligibility criteria may submit the application after March 31, 2017 i.e by the start of next financial year, said Prof. Karim. We offer certificate courses at the computer centres of NCPUL under the supervision of trained teachers. The enrolled students at NCPUL get first-hand training in computers usage of various softwares such as Microsoft word, excel, etc. that can provide job opportunities starting from Rs. 7000/- per month in different organisations, added Prof. Karim.
The announcement made by NCPUL director was hailed by the gathering as well as Human Chain President Mr. Aslam. We are thankful to Prof. Karim for accepting the demand of Human Chain and we are sure that the establishment of computer centre would bring a big reform in the region of Seemanchal.
All speakers praised the efforts of Human Chain to organise the conference along with sharing their views on the topic and expressed their concern about the meagre literacy percentage in the region of Seemanchal. The conference concluded with the speech of Kishanganj MP Maulana Asrarul Haque Qasmi who admired Human Chain President Mr. Aslam for his efforts to organise the event and concluded with the hope to see educational reform in the district and neighbouring areas.
The conference organised with the theme ‘Universities, NCPUL, School and Madarsas: Connections, Promotion and Opportunities” was attended by Brig (Retd.) Syed Ahmad Ali, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Dr. Abdul Ghafoor, Minority Affairs Minister, Govt. of Bihar, Prof. Irteza Karim, Director, NCPUL, Mr. Ahmad Ashfaq Karim, Chairman, Katihar Medical College, Mr. Jawwad Ahmad Siddiqui, Chancellor, Al-Falah University, Faridabad, Mr. Syed Mohammad Qutbur Rahman, President, AMU Alumni Forum, UAE, Shaikh Matiur Rahman Madani, Chairman, Tauheed Educational Trust, Professor Suhail Sabir, Chairman, AMU Alumni Affairs Committee, AMU, Aligarh, Dr. Rashid Nehal, Director, AMU Kishanganj Centre, Mr. Irshad Ahmad, President, AMU Old Boys Association, Delhi, Mr. Junaid Haris, Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi, Mr. Tanweer Alam, President, AMU Old Boys Association, Maharashtra, Maulana Asrarul Haq Qasmi, MP, Kishanganj, Mr. Mujahid Alam, MLA, Kochadhaman, Mr. Syed Mahmood Ashraf, President, JDU, Purnia, Mrs. Ruqaiya Begam, Chairman, Jila Parishad Kishanganj, Prof Zainul Abidin, Prof GY Anjum and many other dignitaries.
The programme was compared by Human Chain members namely, Dr. Khalid Mubashshir (General Secretary, Human Chain and Asst. Professor, Jamia Millia Islamia), Mr. Minnat Rahmani (Secretary Human Chain, and President Minority Cell of Congress) and Mr. Tauqueer Alam.
The programme was compared by Human Chain members namely, Dr. Khalid Mubashshir (General Secretary, Human Chain and Asst. Professor, Jamia Millia Islamia), Mr. Minnat Rahmani (Secretary Human Chain, and President Minority Cell of Congress) and Mr. Tauqueer Alam.
