Alumni children attend ‘Kashish Programme’
Aligarh : Meandering through the sprawling lush surroundings and manicured lawns of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) was akin to walking down memory lane for Amber Beg and Rida Khan, young medical students from USA and Kingdom of Saudia Arabia respectively.
After all they grew up listening to stories of AMU emanating from the innermost recesses of the hearts of their parents, who are university alumni—and now after completing the ‘Kashish Programme’, a two-week Winter School under the mentorship of Prof Tamkin Khan at the Department of Obstetrics And Gynaecology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC), Amber and Rida have bonded with the alma mater of their parents.
Amber’s Washington based parents, Dr Sadia and Dr Shujaat Ullah were medical students at JNMC; while Rida’s Father, Farhan Ali Khan completed MFC from AMU and later shifted to Riyadh.
“My parents described the beautiful setting and buildings at AMU and the venerable professors whom they listened to with rapt attention during student days. I am sure that much has changed since their student life, but I still got the idea”, said Amber.
Rida pointed out: “My father is indebted to AMU in many ways—academic, co-curricular and social. He speaks fondly of how the university’s calm and serene atmosphere left a profound influence on him”.
In the final presentation of their work, these children of alumni stated: “Observing the patient care at JNMC and the community bonds amongst the attending staff and residents is a remarkable experience”.
They added that the stay in AMU made them relive the indelible and priceless memories of their parents.
Extending greetings to Amber and Rida for completing the Kashish programme, Prof M U Rabbani (Dean, Faculty of Medicine) said, “More and more children of alumni should join the Winter School, Kashish Programme in the Medicine Faculty”.
He thanked the Alumni Affairs Committee of the University for bringing the two girls to the alma mater of their parents.
These Winter School programmes are run by a select few world class universities to connect with the children of their alumni, remarked Prof Rabbani.
Felicitating Amber and Rida in a special ceremony, Prof M M Sufyan Beg (Chairman, Alumni Affairs Committee) said: “Kashish is one of the flagship programmes of the Alumni Affairs Committee along with the Aligs Academic Enrichment Program in which the visiting Alumni impart training to the current students in different areas of expertise.
“This Winter School aimed at strengthening the bonds with the families of the alumni was initiated by the Vice Chancellor Prof Tariq Mansoor in 2018 and since then the project has been under the care of Prof Sufyan Beg, Prof M Mobin, Dr Nadeem A Tarin, Prof Tamkin Khan and Dr Salma Shaheen”, said Dr Faiza Abbasi (Convener, Kashish Programme).