‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ at AMU
Aligarh : Exhibitions on freedom fighters, lectures on the Indian National Movement, campaign for all households to hoist the Tricolour, tree plantations, essay and poster contests and other programmes continue to roll out in the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) to follow the calendar of events—marking the Nation-wide ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations.
At the university’s Centre of Advance Study, Department of History, a series of events including lectures, book exhibition, seminar of research scholars and tree plantations were conducted to celebrate the Independence Day.
In the first lecture series of the Department of History; the invited speaker, Prof Mohamed Quamrul Hooda Faridi (Department of Urdu) discussed the contributions of poet Hasrat Mohani, who coined the slogan ‘Inqilaab Zindabad’.
“Hasrat Mohani was jailed by the British for his active role in the freedom movement”, he said.
Prof Hassan Imam (Department of History) paid homage to the martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and stressed that the incident changed the course of the Indian National Freedom Movement.
Prof M Waseem Raja (Department of History) spoke on the different paradigms of Indian Struggle for Independence.
Presiding over all the lectures, Prof Gulfishan Khan (Chairperson, Department of History) shed light on the roles of women in the freedom struggle by speaking on the contributions of Hasrat Mohani’s wife and Bi Amma.
She called the Jallianwala Bagh massacre a blot on the face of the British Empire.
In another lecture series at the Department of History; Prof Mohd Ashiq Ali (Department of Hindi) delivered a talk on ‘Chaudhri Yaseen Khan Mewati and Chaudhri Abdul Hai: Their Contributions in Freedom Struggle’, Prof Parwez Nazir (Department of History) delineated the role of ‘Subhash Chandra Bose and his Associates’ and Yogesh Yadav (Department of History) discussed ‘Understanding Satyagrah and its Relevance in National Freedom Struggle’.
Prof Gulfishan Khan presided over the programme.
Dr Anisa Iqbal Sabir extended the vote of thanks, while Dr Md Nazrul Bari delivered the welcome address in both lecture series.
Later in the research scholars seminar at the Department of History; Mir Hussain Naqvi presented a paper on ‘Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and his Idea of Freedom Struggle’, Bindusar gave an account on ‘Swatantrata Sangram me Dalition ka Yogdan’ (Role of Dalit community in Freedom Struggle) and Md Umar Faruque read from his paper, ‘Resistant from Margin: Rani Gaidenliu and the Anti-Colonial Movement in Manipur’.
A Book Exhibition of biographies, autobiographies and other printed works including several volumes and tomes in the Hindi, Urdu and the English languages featuring contributions of freedom fighters and great leaders of the Indian National Movement was also held at the Department of History.
Prof Asmer Beg (Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences) inaugurated the exhibition with Prof Gulfishan Khan.
The exhibition also displayed books on freedom struggle written by the past and present faculty members of the Department of History.
Saplings of various plants were also planted in the adjoining lawns of the Department of History.
“The restocking of healthy trees at the Department was a part of a massive university-wide, tree plantation drive to observe the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav,” said Prof Gulfishan Khan who planted trees with faculty members, students and the non-teaching staff.
An essay-writing competition on ‘India’s Struggle for Independence’, a quiz on ‘The Facets of Indian Freedom Struggle’ and a patriotic poetry session also took place to celebrate 75 years of Indian Independence at the Department of History.
Similarly, in the Independence Week celebrations at the Department of Anaesthesiology, J N Medical College (JNMC); Dr Basit Ali and Dr Deeksha Singh won the first and second prizes respectively in the slogan writing contest on ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’.
Dr Umar Sherwani won the competition for portraying them as freedom fighters. Dr Farhat Bari stood second.
Prof Shahla Haleem felicitated the winners with her newly published book.
“Dr Manazir Athar’s talk on the ‘Freedom Struggle’ was a major highlight of the celebrations,” said Prof Qazi Ehsan (Chairman, Department of Anaesthesiology).
Dr Nazia Tauheed conducted the programme.
Meanwhile, in the week-long ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ programme and ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations of the Department of Physics; faculty members, students and staff members were asked to represent the National integrity—signifying hopes and aspirations of the Indian people by hoisting the National Flag at their residences.
Faculty members and students posted selfies with the National Flags on social media.
In a discussion session on ‘Indian Freedom Struggle: Thoughts and Remembrance’ at the Conference Hall of the Department; Prof B P Singh (Chairman, Department of Physics) spoke on the importance of the ‘Har GharTiranga’ campaign and outlined activities for the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations.
The idea behind the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ initiative is to invoke the feeling of patriotism in the hearts of people and promote awareness about the Tricolour, said Prof B P Singh.
Prof M Sajjad Athar talked about ‘India’s Economic and Scientific Development: As Envisioned by the National Movement’.
He explained how the British Empire exploited the economy and disturbed the social harmony of the Country.
Prof I A Rizvi expressed views on ‘India Before and After its Independence’.
Dr Abbas Ali delivered a talk on ‘Freedom Struggle and the Love for the Country’, Dr S S Z Ashraf recited patriotic Urdu couplets of Josh Malihabadi, Dr S K Gupta discussed ‘Contribution of Surayya Tyabji in designing the National Flag’, Dr N Alam recited Rabindra Nath Tagore’s poems, ‘Freedom’ and ‘Where the Mind is Without Fear’ and Sachin Kumar read his self- composed poem, ‘Bharat’.
Dr M Rafi Alam extended the vote of thanks.
‘On-the-spot painting/drawing and essay competitions’ on the theme ‘Unity in Diversity’ and ‘India – Before and after 1947’ also took place to mark the occasion.
A brief visual account of the partition of undivided India was exhibited on-screen in line with the ‘Partition Horrors Remembrance Day’.
Faculty members and students of the Department of Physics also planted tree saplings in the department premises and nearby areas on Independence Day. The tree plantation programme was conducted in coordination with the Department of Land and Gardens.
Dr M. Rafi Alam, Dr Raktim Abir and Dr Haider Hasan Jafri conducted the event.
A total of 122 events of the Faculty of Unani Medicine took place to mark the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations.
Prof F S Sheerani (Dean, Faculty of Unani Medicine) informed that outreach programmes and health camps were conducted by various departments of the Faculty of Unani Medicine in different Aligarh based schools and AMU schools.
“Ajmal Khan Tibbiya College, Institutional Committee of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ completed the events within the stipulated time”, pointed out Prof Rubi Anjum (Nodal officer, Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and Chairperson, Department of Tahaffuzi wa Samaji Tib).