26 December
2020
When
‘grandiose gate’ and ‘history capsule’ become the marker, for the centenary
celebration of an institution whose founder spent the entire ounce of his being
to extricate the people, for whom the institution was established, from these
very gullible tactics of the then campradar, evaluating the progress of the
institution during that entire century, particularly in the light of the
founder’s teaching could be anybody’s guess.
Mere
pompous centenary celebration ‘doesn’t make a university’, and particularly so,
if the extravaganza of the illusory celebratory impulse is mediated during a
global pandemic. Moreover, when the retirees of the institution, who gave the
productive years of their entire lives, to the building of the institution
whose centenary is to be celebrated, have to make do with only half of their
pensions during the tough times of this deadly pandemic, even a call of
celebration of any sort would be anything but a tribute to the institution and
the founder. Mere bricks and mortars are not what constitutes a university. A
university is known by the values it upholds, the culture it develops and the
elan with which it promotes its foundational principles.
It is
really a time for self-introspection and therefore, rather than ‘celebration’
the AMU fraternity would do well to seriously introspect AMU’s contribution in
arenas lying both in its immediate set of priorities in terms of university’s
excellence and its broader long term mandate with respect to the development of
minorities.
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Read: PM Modi at
AMU: Concrete Action Should Follow Laudable Thoughts
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The
increasingly myopic academic administrators particularly since the last few
terms have failed to take head-on the festering problems, hibernating since
long in such a minority institution. Though it might seem a bit too harsh a
criticism of a minority institution mainly, when in the post liberal public
education milieu, Indian universities as a whole leave a lot wanting in terms
of their functioning. Yet, being a minority institution, it must be remembered,
AMU can’t afford the luxury of ‘erring’ on the points other of its ilks easily
‘can’ and comfortably get away. Being associated with minorities, more so a
religious one, in this time of populist right wing upsurge, it cannot fail.
Therefore, eternal vigilance, perennial alertness, closer scrutiny and being
cautious of the long term impact of each and every move, for a minority
institution is not just required but a fait accompli for its survival and
sustenance.
This is
never to suggest, bogged down by the incessant right wing slurs, AMU should in
anyway feel intimidated. The purpose here is to reaffirm the faith in the
founding ideas of this institution brilliantly espoused by the founder and
later enriched by visionaries and freedom fighters like Zakir Hussain.
AMU was to
be a practical experimentation of Sir Syed’s idea of utilising the liberatory
potential of education arising out of the basic Islamic principle of ‘Iqra’,
and ‘Amr bil Maroof Wa Nahi Anil Munkar” (commanding right and
forbidding wrong), emanating from Prophets exhortation for adherents of Islam
to, ‘stop with hand, if they see any wrong or injustice being done. If not
capable enough to do that, say it loud and wide that it is wrong, If they can’t
do even that, at least assume in their heart that it is wrong. But this is the
last stage of Islam’, meaning by, even tacit support of wrong or injustice by
adherents of Islam carries the danger of their loss of faith, and Gandhi ji’s
vision of ‘the Good of the Last Man You Have Ever Seen’ enunciated in
his talisman, symbolising Indian civilisational ethos of care and fellow
feeling. That is why concepts like AMU had been a hope not just for the newly
founded nation state of ours, coming out from a torturous colonial past, but
with the successful functioning of AMU as a place for inculcating modern
scientific spirit and culture of scientific rationality along with adherence to
Islamic values, had emerged as a model for other countries in similar
situation.
In the
light of this, AMU unfortunately cuts a sorry figure, if accounted for on the
scale of the existing nepotism, provincialism, elitism, unenterprising
attitude, promotion of mediocrity and the likes prevalent within the campus.
Under the current epoch of the brazen anti-Muslim tirade all over, which as all
the existing signs foretell, are going to assume even more lethal proportions
in coming years, our university can’t afford to continue with, ‘but these
things happen elsewhere’ too attitude.
The very name
of the university carrying Muslim in its nomenclature makes it a special
target, for even slightest of divergence. Things like internal breeding,
nepotism, obligatory appointments, extremely local nature of contract
allocation, acquire additional gaze. Extra liberal use of the ‘emergency
powers’ which has been specially provided to the university for emergency
situation, by the university authorities for expedience sake, may no longer
continue to elude the ‘strategic gaze’. The ‘Five Yearism’ syndrome which
unfortunately seems to have captured the imagination of current times and over
ambitiousness of those who matter, with their penchant for instant result, by
any means, are traits which are disastrous for any institution. For an
institution like ours, they may prove to be more lethal.
Universities
are not just places for teaching and research. They are meant to be spaces to
act as ‘role model’ for the society. AMU seems reluctant to take a leading role
on such issues where it could precipitate positive domino effect in the
society.For example, providing more visibility to women by having them in
decision making process. But the near absence of women from relevant high
ranking academic-administrative positions in the university underlines the
obvious. Similarly, urgently required intervention in terms of robust academic
and popular narrative from AMU on important issues, also remains seriously
amiss.
AMU with
its founder’s special emphasis on ‘Tarbiyat’ meaning principles to follow for a
meaningful life, will not just do a disservice to the founder but will actually
destroy the nation’s trust reposed in it too, if it fails to resist the
compelling temptation of the neo-liberal ethics, which among other things blind
the decision makers, to look beyond what seems the obvious, in the immediate
context. Weighing everything in terms of immediate profit and loss, doing
things not for some higher aims but to manage ‘constituencies of different
sorts’, selectively focusing on issues within the university weighing their
pay-off potential in terms of immediacy of result, keep postponing the urgent
call for reforms in areas considered ‘potentially uncomfortable’, etc., may
further weaken the university in the long run and make it more distant from its
founder’s dream
Whereas we
keep extolling Sir Syed’s journalistic forays for reform within the community
and championing of the cause of the promotion of scientific temper through easy
to understand language, but in reality, do a great disservice not just to his
legacy but to ourselves too when we miserably fail to at least pay a lip
service to his ideals. A cursory look at the regular themes appearing in
Tahzeeb-ul-Akhlaq (the social reform journal he started on the pattern of the
Spectator) for a decade will honestly apprise the existing state of affairs.
The
performance of University Press and the Public Relations Office of the
university are, if not lethargic then not encouraging too in any sense of the
term. Academic contribution from AMU to counter the increasing rise of
Islamophobia worldwide is yet to cross the threshold. If one thing we can learn
from Syed’s long struggle for his community and in turn the country, it is his
firm belief in the cause of justice and fairness with dignity and self-respect
along with lending a helping hand to anyone
who is in need.
Mention may
be made of his support in saving the lives of some British families when they
were caught, at a time when his own family members were dehumanised by the very
triumphant British forces. His writing of ‘Asbab-e-Baghawat-e-Hind’ ,
boldly telling the empire of its follies when many shied away from mincing
words in front of the powers that be, as also his many other such actions, may
act as a pertinent reminder to the current custodians of his legacy, if at all
they are really interested to keep him relevant. Not to speak of the ‘politics
of convenience’ so shamelessly applied by those in leadership position of the
Alig community, including the vast majority of teachers and students of AMU,
they have brazenly failed to uphold Syed’s legacy of tirelessly working to
sanititise the prevailing narrative, which habitually misrepresent and
disempower the minorities and the marginalised.
Syed’s
writing of Khutbaat e Ahmadiya and his continuous write up for
Christian-Muslim understanding, his liberal, sometimes even extra liberal too,
interpretation of religious texts etc., were all part of his strategy to not
let the bigots of that time win the war of perception. In the current post
truth era, the AMU fraternity would have done well to take cue from this aspect
of Sir Syed’s strategy. AMU’s conspicuous absence from the mainstream narrative
on issues of importance, for whatever reasons, can never go in line with Sir
Syed and his missions’ spirit.
More so, if
AMU still considers itself, to be a continuing movement for Muslim reforms,
which in all earnestness it must, if it considers itself custodian of Syed’s
legacy, it must not shy away from publicly discussing the issues specific to
the minorities and other marginalised - issues like internal democracy, the
management of Waqf, issues of women, growing Islamophobia worldwide etc.,. In
the recent vilification of Muslims during the pandemic or the latest
‘Bureaucracy Jihad’, AMU’s silence would be seen as abdication of
responsibility and may justifiably too, be considered as hovering around
criminal-negligence. For those proudly underlining ‘Tarbiy’ and culture
and not just simple ‘educational degrees’ as their USP, remaining silent on
such important issues , puts a serious question mark on their claim.
The times
of pandemic, indeed confronts us with immense challenges. AMU with its vast
network of Alumni associations in almost all important cities of not just the
country but the whole world, may have acted as a role model in reaching out to
the needy. In many Indian cities, for example, the administration by
collaborating with the District Alumni Associations, might have reached to the
needy students during such a testing times. But unfortunately, the vast network
of alumni network, despite their immense potential, barring a few notable
exceptions remain more content with one day Sir Syed Dinner or yearly
Mushairas. Pandemic, thus, did provide a chance to AMU fraternity to showcase
its unique potential and contribute, and am happy to underline few people
associated with the university did come forward with their much appreciated
initiatives but institutional support exemplified by the leadership, which
would have accrued the much needed positive optics for the institution, was not
just amiss but was severely lacking.
When
dialogue and interaction give way to one sided monologue and the university
space becomes a place where the academic administrators have to resort to
extraordinary measures (emergency provisions) for the normal functioning of the
university quite often, when conversation among and between the stake holders
of the university take the form of ‘news’ from outside media outlets, when
things pertaining to the university are decided not with the formal
stakeholders of the university in mind, but the outside optics it will entail,
under such a situation, the university may be progressing by the current
standard of the populist swing, but the founder of the institution Sir Syed
would never approve of such a progress.
Ambitions
of some over enthusiastic so called Muslim leaders from various quarters of AMU
fraternity, impatient to break into the mould of new power brokering Muslim
elite with the power to bargain at the cost of average Muslim citizens’
aspiration, reminiscent of earlier era, should be discouraged at all costs. No
one should be allowed to trade-off the hope which AMU still elicits among the
weak and marginalised particularly from the minority sections.
If the
founder’s idea had honestly been followed, during these testing times of
pandemic, rather than expending considerable time and energy in useless
celebration, the entire university machinery would have geared itself
whole-heartedly towards lessening the harmful impact of the pandemic; orienting
itself towards developing better pedagogies for the special times, increasing
the reach of education through innovative means by utilising its widespread
alumni network, providing education at doors etc, but sadly the vision required
for such urgently needed interventions are strikingly absent. The current fad
of ‘packaging’ and ‘repackaging’ ‘showcasing the past achievements or the
current result of earlier works’ in high decibel and cleverly opticised media
glare, hitherto the trait of the corporate culture, gaining acceptability on
the political plane of the country, has unfortunately slowly seeped deeper into
the university set-up too. Our university, though unique in many sense and by
withstanding the test of times has even developed resilience of a novel kind,
but the compellingly temptation of the current fad seems to sweep it off its
feet this time.
It may be
worthwhile to recall the Gandhian wisdom distilled through AMU’s history of
trials and tribulations. Whenever the university is in doubt, it should judge
its action on the touchstone of the twin principle of ‘Sir Syed’s idea of
utilising the liberating impulse of education for the cause of upholding
justice and fairness’ and the Gandhian idea of the ‘welfare of the last
person’. All else are mere gimmicks, optics and theatrics which may get some
brownie points to some people in the short term but history proves to be a
ruthless judge always.
It is a
patent truth that the universities are not sacred spaces, they don't exist in
isolated terrain and so they can’t remain immune from what is happening
outside. Universities have a duty to dispel passionate intensity of any sort
and certainly they must discourage certitude of all kinds be it ‘over
enthusiastic optimism’ or ‘perpetual pessimism’. Universities, particularly in
a situation like this must tread its course, as Gramsci suggested, in another
context, with a judicious mix of both the ‘pessimism of the intellect’ and ‘the
optimism of the will’
When such
carefully crafted ‘opticised’ theatrics of ‘celebrations’ are enacted in the
political plane of the country, though condemnable but they may be accounted
for in the light of the populist sway which the current epoch witnesses the
world over. However, when a university space becomes an arena of a politics of
this sort, it is not just pathetically sad but pathologically mischievous.
Minority
institutions of higher learning and an institution whose very name carries
‘Muslim’ with it, need to be immensely cautious of the historical legacy it
carries and as such due care must be taken so as not to let the immediacy of
the ‘short term pragmatism’ mar the more than a century of its ‘distilled
wisdom’. Amateur pragmatism based on short sighted vision may prove to be a
poisoned chalice in the long term.
The idea of
transactional relationship, the ethos of trade-offs, the notion of reciprocity
etc may work well in this era of triumphant neo-liberal ethics, in terms of
personalised behaviour, or in view of running a business start-up and the
likes. Universities, institutions even for that matter states, particularly
with long histories run on long standing ethos, built consensus and long held
principles, because what makes institution resilient to the vagaries of time
are its principles. The sooner, the AMU fraternity realises this, the better it
will be. Sir Syed’s tomb has long back echoed the wise counsel worth repeating
here
Tu Agar
koi Mudabbir hai to Sun Meri Sadaa
Hai
Dileri Dast e Arbaab e Siyaasat ka Asaa
(Listen to
my advice if you are any statesman
Courage is
your support if you are a leader of men)
Arz e
Matlab se Jhijhak Jaana nai Zeba Tujhe
Nek hai
Niyat agar teri to kya Parwa Tujhe
(Hesitation
in expressing your purpose does not behoove you
If your
intentions are good you should not fear anything)
Banda-e-Momin
Ka Dil Beem-o-Riya Se Paak Hai
Quwwat-e-Farman-Rawa
Ke Samne Bebaak Hai
(The
Mu’min’s heart is clear of fear and hypocrisy
The
Mu’min’s heart is fearless against the ruler’s power)
The counsel
carries a timely warning too which could be abandoned at its own cost:
Paak
Rakh apni Zubaa, talmeez e Rahmaani hai tu
Ho Na
Jaaye Dekhna Teri Sadaa Be-Aabroo
(You are a Divine
pupil! Keep your tongue immaculate!
Beware,
Lest your prayer’s call remains unanswered)
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Syed Tahseen Raza teaches at the Department of Strategic and Security
Studies, Faculty of International Studies, Aligarh Muslim University, India.
His most recent book ‘United States and Pakistan in the 21st Century:
Geostrategy and Geopolitics in South Asia, Routledge, 2020’, has been quite
well received.