Women’s College observes Founder Day

Aligarh: Small bouquets, casket sprays and wreaths were placed on the graves of Aligarh Muslim University’s Women’s College founder, Padam Bhushan, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and his wife Begum Waheed Jahan to observe the Women’s College Founder’s Day and the wedding anniversary of the College founder and his wife.

Speaking after the floral tributes, Prof Naima Gurlez (Principal, Women’s College) said: “Sheikh Abdullah pioneered female education in India by dedicating life to enlighten and empowering women.”

She added that Sheikh Sahab, who is fondly, remembered as Papa Mian made invaluable services by starting a school for girls in the Upper Fort area of Aligarh. The school later shifted to Civil Lines area and developed into the present day, Women’s College.

“Papa Mian championed the cause of female education at a time when it was considered a taboo and later his wife, Begum Waheed Jahan carried forward the female education movement,” pointed out Prof Naima.

She paid floral tributes with Prof Ghazala Naheed (Provost, Abdullah Hall), Amna Malik (Principal, Girls High School), Naghma Irfan (Principal, Senior Secondary School-Girls), Umra Zaheer (Superintendent, Abdullah School), Prof Imrana Naseem, Dr Ahsan ullah Fahad, Dr Shaista Parveen, Dr Sarwar Sajid, Dr Ali Imran Usmani, Dr Mansoor Alam, Dr Raza Abbas and Dr Furqan Sambali.

Dr Abrar Ahmad (Theology Section, Women’s College), Maulana Imtiaz Alam (Theology teacher, Girls School) and Hafiz M Shariq conducted the supplication ceremony by reciting the Holy Quran.