AMU celebrates Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav-related events with dedication and enthusiasm

 

ALIGARH : The Aligarh Muslim University institutions and offices, including colleges, departments of studies and schools are celebrating various Pre-Independence Day events under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, initiated by the Government of India, to get the young students acquainted with the great historical events that finally led to the independence of the country on August 15, 1947.

The AMU City Girls’ High School organized an interactive session for the students with a medical professional and a school alumna, Dr Iram Alam, on “Health and Wellness”, marking the “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav”.

Dr Alam, who is working with the BLX Max Hospital, shared her memories of school days and motivated the students to follow their dreams and work hard to achieve them. She urged them to learn, revise and recall, her mantra for success in life.

Dr Mohd Alamgir, Principal, welcomed the guest speaker.

The National Service Scheme (NSS) organized a Prabhat Pheri at the dawn of the day on August 14 from the university’s Centenary Gate to Baab-e-Syed.

Dr. Arshad Husain, Programme Coordinator, NSS administered a pledge, “Panch Prana”, to the participants, including programme officers, office staff and student volunteers.

The Centre for Skill Development and Career Planning, Women’s College, AMU organized events to celebrate the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and Meri Mati Mera Desh, marking India’s presidency of the G-20 summit.

On this occasion, the Panch Prana pledge was taken by the staff, trainers and students.

The centre also organized a competition on Indian Outfit Illustration, inspired by the national flag ‘Tiranga’. A total of 23 students of the Fashion Illustration Course participated in the event. Prof. Nigar Zuberi was the special guest, and the event was judged by Ms Ikra Salim, Women’s Polytechnic.

Ms. Sajida Parveen won the first prize while the second and third prizes went to Ms. Areeba Hasan and Ms. Habiba Nadeem, respectively.

Prof Naima Khatoon, Director of the Centre, urged the students to participate in the national events with vigour as it will help spread the love for the nation among the common people and instil the spirit of patriotism. The events were coordinated by the Student Counselor, Dr Samreen Hasan Khan.

The AMU ABK High School (Girls) held several events as part of the “Meri Mati Mera Desh” and “Har Ghar Tiranga” campaigns and observed the ‘Partition Horrors Remembrance Day’. The events included a special morning assembly, a Panch Prana pledge, a selfie with Tiranga, a Partition Horror exhibition, a plantation drive and an art exhibition displaying models and charts made by the students.

At the Abdullah School, “Meri Mati Mera Desh” campaign was observed with a special focus on “Jan Bhagidari” under Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and India’s G20 presidency.

The staff and students took a pledge as per the “Panch Prana” under the Meri Mati Mera Desh campaign and participated in the plantation drive led by the Superintendent of the school, Ms Umra Zaheer, who also administered the pledge.

At the Department of Botany, the faculty members and students took a “Panch Prana” pledge to express allegiance to the spirit, “Meri Maati Mera desh”.

Meanwhile, under the observance of ‘Partition Horrors Remembrance Day’, the Department of English, in collaboration with the Raleigh Literary Society, organised an awareness programme to observe Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, as mandated by the Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Education, Government of India.

A documentary film was screened about the horrors of partition and the agony and suffering of millions that it caused. The documentary was aimed at imbibing the viewers with the spirit of solemnity and remembrance of the horrors of partition.

In his address on the occasion, the Chairperson of the Department, Prof Mohammad Asim Siddiqui stressed the importance of Partition Horrors Remembrance Day and underscored its special significance for students of literature and humanities.

The Coordinator of the Raleigh Literary Society, Mr Danish Iqbal highlighted the relevance of partition horror stories in literary studies across various Indian languages.

The postgraduate students Sidrah Noor and Mohd Ashhar Ali presented poems on the subject and a choir performance was made by a group of students including Mohammad Bilal, Asra Tariq, Warisha Ahmad, Aaisha Babar, Dimple Singh, Adeeb Sultan and Fariha Kafeel.

The Partition Horrors Remembrance Day programme was held at the Centre for Professional Development of Urdu Teachers (Urdu Academy) with mass participation of teachers, non-teaching staff, research scholars and students.

Highlighting the relevance of the programme, Prof Quamrul Hooda Fairid, Director of the Centre, said that the programme is aimed at remembering the sufferings of the common people during the partition days as a large number of families were displaced and many people perished in the partition process. He said the programme will help enhance the spirit of unity, peace, and personal empowerment by instilling a sense of belongingness in people.

A number of books and photographs related to the freedom struggle and partition were put on display at an exhibition.

The centre also held events including the Panch Prana pledge, quiz and a lecture on Meri Mati Mera Desh by Dr Rafiuddin.

The Department of Home Science organized a sensitization programme to make the new generation aware of the horrors of the partition. Dr Saba Khan underscored the sufferings of the people during the partition days and highlighted the role of freedom fighters in dousing the fire. An audio-visual presentation on partition horrors was made by Iram Naz.

The Women’s College observed the Partition Horrors Remembrance Day with the ‘Fine Arts Section’ and the ‘Women’s College Literary Society’ screening an exhibition curated by the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) and Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA). The exhibition was presented by Dr Mushtaq Wani.

Ramsha Rafat, Basra Hasan and Aqsa delivered speeches on the partition horrors, while BFA students Saima Arshi and Aliza Zameer presented paintings by some renowned artists, depicting the pain and agony of the partition.

The Centre of Advanced Study, Department of History, Aligarh Muslim University organized a one-day Seminar on the theme “Partition Horrors Remembrance Day”. The Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Asmar Beg was the chief guest.

Dr. Lubna Irfan introduced the theme of the seminar while Prof. Gulfishan Khan, Chairperson recalled the stories regarding the horrors and tragedies people witnessed during the partition.

Prof. Asmar Beg focused on finding positivity amid the darkness of hatred and strife. Dr Saifullah Saifi, Dr Gulrukh Khan, Prof. Waseem Raja, Dr Akhtar Hasan and Dr Yogesh Yadav presented thought-provoking talks analyzing the patriarchal perspectives that fuelled violence against women during and after the partition.

A digital exhibition prepared by the Indian Council of Historical Research and Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts was projected in the Audio-Visual Room of the department, along with the display of books and documents related to partition.

At the Aftab Hall, an exhibition was held to mark the ‘Partition Horrors Remembrance Day’. Prof. Ali Athar (Department of History) delivered a guest lecture highlighting the agony, sufferings and pain of millions of people who suffered during the partition days.

Earlier, Dr Salman Khalil, Provost, welcomed the guest speaker and underlined the relevance of remembering the sufferings.

At the Ahmadi School for the Visually Challenged, the ‘Partition Horrors Remembrance Day’ was observed by an exhibition of photographs through digital media.

The Principal of the school, Dr Naila Rashid said that the exhibition reminds us of the largest displacement of the human population in the last century, which also claimed the lives of a large number of people.