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The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
House panel looking to pursue quota for Muslim OBCs in AMU, Jamia Millia Islamia
A parliamentary panel on the welfare of Other Backward Classes will meet with officials of the Education Ministry and representatives of Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Millia Islamia over measures taken by them to secure representation of OBCs in admissions and employment this June. The meeting schedule for the Parliamentary Committee on the Welfare of OBCs noted that on June 13, the above-mentioned representatives of the Union Ministry and the minority institutions will be expected to give 'evidence' on the measures they have taken to secure the representation of OBCs in their universities, both in admissions and employment, along with measures taken for their welfare. Sources aware of the agenda for the meeting have told The Hindu that the parliamentary committee intends to pursue a quota for Muslim OBC communities within these minority institutions, both for admissions and in employment. A member of the panel told The Hindu, 'The panel understands that these are minority institutions that do not provide for quotas for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and OBCs. But the question that the committee feels the need to ask is why these institutions do not have a specific quota for Muslims who fall under the OBC socio-economic category.' Currently, the AMU has no reservation policy for admissions or employments based on religion or socio-economic category. JMI has a reservation policy for admissions under which a 10% quota is reserved for Muslim OBCs and STs but does not have a reservation policy for SCs, STs and OBCs in employment as per a Parliament reply. The parliamentary committee is currently chaired by Bharatiya Janata Party's Satna MP Ganesh Singh. While the AMU has no reservation policy for admissions or employment apart from the quota reserved for students who have studied in schools run by the AMU, the JMI implements a reservation policy in admission to courses, which was notified in 2011. As per the JMI reservation policy available on their website, the university reserved 30% of seats in each course for candidates who are Muslim; 10% is reserved for Muslim women; and a 10% quota is reserved for Muslim candidates from either OBC or ST backgrounds. Apart from this, the JMI has quotas earmarked for Persons with Disabilities and internal students of Jamia. According to the reservation guidelines of the university, the JMI is exempted from implementing the quota for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), introduced in 2019. In response to a question in Parliament on teacher recruitment at the JMI, Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar on April 2, 2025, said: 'JMI does not implement the reservation policy for SC, ST and OBC considering itself minority institution.' Mr. Majumdar added, 'Presently, the matter of minority status of JMI is sub-judice in Hon'ble High Court of Delhi.'
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
How Ali Khan Mahmudabad's ancestors helped establish AMU
A senior assistant editor with the Times of India, Mohammed Wajihuddin writes about Muslims, their issues, hopes and aspirations. Committed to upholding inclusiveness, communal amity and freedom to dissent and debate, he endeavours to promote peaceful existence. A passionate reader of Islam, he endeavours to save the faith from the clutches of the jihadists. An ardent lover of Urdu poetry, he believes words are the best weapons to fight jingoism. LESS ... MORE Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad, arrested for his remarks on Operation Sindoor by the Haryana police on Sunday (May 18) from his residence in Delhi, comes from a family which has championed education and helped form great institutions. The state of Mahmudabad near Sitapur in UP has played a pivotal role in establishing several institutions of higher education. Given Prof Mahmudabad's pedigree, it is not surprising that he valued and values education, earning degrees from a clutch of highly reputed universities, including Cambridge. While many scions of erstwhile princely states and royal houses diverted their inherited properties to heritage hotels and clubs and spent their time wining and dining, Mahmudabad thoughtfully invested time and resources in education. Perhaps he is paying the price for being brutally honest in expressing his views, the hallmark of a scholar who has cut his teeth in the corridors of academia. It may not cut much ice with the enemies of education, scholarship and rational thinking, but history records that one of Mahmudabad's ancestors, Maharaja Sir Mohammad Ali Mohammad Khan of Mahmudabad (1878-1931) played a key role to make Lucknow the capital of United Provinces (later Uttar Pradesh). He was one of the founding members of Lucknow University and had donated Rs one lakh before the university was founded in 1920. Not many know that he passionately championed the cause to turn Mohammedan Anglo Oriental (MAO) College into Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). After he became a trustee of MAO College in 1906, Mahmudabad donated Rs one lakh to the College funds created to make it AMU. In my book 'Aligarh Muslim University: The Making of the Modern Indian Muslim', I have mentioned the crucial role Raja of Mahmudabad played in getting MAO College turned into AMU. After Sir Aga Khan gave a slogan 'now or never' for the Muslim University at the Muhammadan Educational Conference at Nagpur in December 1910, the campaign to collect funds received a major boost. After Aga Khan and Shaukat Ali toured India, collecting an amount of Rs 4,00,000, it was Raja of Mahmudabad who led from the front in the Muslim University's cause. He, along with Viqarul Mulk, Aftab Ahmad Khan and Maulana Shibli (he has quit MAO College but joined the movement for the Muslim university), toured Punjab and Sind, shoring up support, monetary and moral, for the proposed university. Raja of Mahmudabad also headed the committee to prepare the draft for the university which was submitted to Harcourt Butler, education member of the Viceroy's Council, at Shimla in May 1911. Butler favoured the cause by writing to J P Hewett, lieutenant governor of the United Provinces, that 'Muslims should be given their university.' Butler visited Aligarh in November 1919 and hopes for university revived. Mian Mohammed Shafi, an old Aligarh loyalist and an education member in the government of India, lobbied for the Muslim Education Bill. And, on September 14, 1920, the Aligarh Muslim University Act (1920) was passed. AMU was inaugurated on December 17, 1920 with a brief function at the Strachey Hall (many of today's AMU students may not be aware of it, but this is the venue which has hosted kings and princes, rajas and nawabs, governors and eminent scientists and historians over the decades and it is here that Sir Syed Ahmed Khan got the bismillah or initiation to education of his grandson Sir Ross Masood done in the lap of Sir Syed's good friend Raja Jai Kishan, sending a strong message of communal harmony). Raja of Mahmudabad became AMU's first Vice-chancellor with Sultan Jahan Begum, ruler of Bhopal, becoming its first chancellor (she has the distinction of being the first chancellor of an Indian university). Significantly, it was Raja of Mahmudabad who persuaded Muslim leaders like Mazharul Haq and Dr M A Ansari to accept the Muslim University on the British government's terms. Earlier, a group of leaders, including Ali Brothers (Maulana Mohammad Ali and Shaukat Ali) had demanded that AMU be given the power of affiliation of a network of Muslim institutions, but London rejected it. So, Raja of Mahmudabad, after the government passed the Benaras Hindu University Bill in 1915, felt pressure from other leaders and persuaded Muslim leaders to accept the Muslim university as per the government's conditions. Mohammed Ali who would play a crucial role in establishing Jamia Millia Islamia University at Aligarh in 1920–it moved to Karol Bagh in Delhi in 1925 and subsequently to Okhla–never reconciled to the establishment of AMU on the terms of the British government. He did not attend AMU's inauguration and lodged his dissent in response to Raja of Mahmudabad's invitation. Mohammed Ali wrote, and I quote from my book: 'I am painfully aware that it is not, as you stated, The long-cherished dream of the Muslims, that 'has at last been realised… Surely Raja Sahab, this was not the university of your dreams any more than mine, nor can we call this the 'achievement of grand and glorious undertaking' to which you and I had both set our hearts.' In these trying times, Prof Ali Khan Mahmudabad should draw courage from his forebears, especially Raha of Mahmudabad, AMU's first VC. Tons of ink have been spent in eulogising AMU for which establishment Raja of Mahmudabad made tireless efforts, but perhaps none surpasses what eminent surgeon and AMU alumnus Dr Naseem Ansari said. He wrote: 'People consider Aligarh as the idol house of Islam. The light here that burns was brought from Taxila, Athens, Cordoba, Baghdad and Oxford.' Do not dismay, O Professor. You are not alone in this fight. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Himalayan river basins face escalating landslide threats, Jhelum most vulnerable, warns study
Dehradun: A comprehensive new study, led by researchers from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Jamia Millia Islamia, and King Saud University, reveals that vast areas of the Himalayan river basins are under serious threat from landslides, posing grave risks to both lives and livelihoods. The study identified the Jhelum river basin as the most vulnerable, with nearly 900,000 hectares of agricultural land and over 37,000 hectares of built-up areas at risk. The Kali and Ganga river basins were also found to be high-risk zones, with more than 287,000 hectares and 140,000 hectares of agricultural land exposed to potential landslides respectively. Published in the journal 'All Earth', the research was conducted using advanced machine learning techniques combined with geospatial data to map highly vulnerable zones across the region. Researchers used Support Vector Machine (SVM) models to predict landslide susceptibility based on a range of natural variables, including terrain, rainfall, vegetation cover, and forest fire activity. Led by AMU's Zainab Khan, the team also factored in population density, land use, and terrain features for a comprehensive risk assessment. "Policymakers now have a map of risk. What they need next is a roadmap of response," said Khan. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch Bitcoin và Ethereum - Không cần ví! IC Markets BẮT ĐẦU NGAY Undo "This study not only identifies where the risks are greatest, but also why. That makes it a vital tool for proactive governance." In the Jhelum basin alone, over 2.3 million people are living in areas classified as "high" or "very high" risk. Similar patterns were observed across the Indus, Yamuna, and Ganga basins, highlighting the widespread nature of the threat, as per the study. Using a method called SHAP (Shapley Additive Explanations), the study identified runoff, forest fires, the number of nearby streams, and stream power index, which is a measure of the erosive power of flowing water, as the biggest contributors to landslide risk. These were followed by factors like steep slopes, how wet the ground tends to stay, and vegetation health and density. While factors like elevation and geology played a relatively minor role, the study emphasised the significant impact of forest fires on slope stability. Fires not only destroy the vegetation that binds the soil but also create a water-repellent layer that increases runoff, accelerating erosion and slope failure. The impact of landslides on infrastructure and agriculture are catastrophic as it can block roads, damage crops, and bury homes, hampering both local economies and emergency response efforts. In densely populated valleys and foothill zones, even moderate-risk areas can suffer devastating losses due to the concentration of people and assets. For instance, the Yamuna river basin has over 100,000 hectares of vulnerable agricultural land and more than 10,000 hectares of urban settlements at risk. The Sutlej and Giri basins also face high landslide risk, with thousands of hectares of land and tens of thousands of residents exposed to potential danger. The researchers recommend targeted mitigation measures, including afforestation, slope stabilisation, and restrictions on construction in high-risk areas. They stress that the integration of early warning systems and community-based disaster preparedness is critical to reducing the toll of landslides in the future.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
HC upholds appointment of AMU's 1st woman vice-chancellor
AGRA: Dismissing all petitions that challenged the selection process, Allahabad high court upheld the appointment of professor Naima Khatoon as the vice-chancellor (VC) of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) on Saturday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Khatoon, who earlier served as principal of women's college in AMU, became the first woman to hold the VC's post in the varsity's over 100-year history, reports Mohammad Dilshad. HC division bench of Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Donadi Ramesh found no procedural lapses, asserting the selection process adhered fully to the AMU Act, statutes and regulations. The court also emphasised the symbolic and progressive nature of her 'historic appointment', calling it a 'major stride for gender representation and constitutional values in academic leadership'. Khatoon says HC ruling reaffirmation of democratic values The HC division bench of Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Donadi Ramesh further recognised that the 'final discretion to appoint the VC lay with the 'visitor' of the university — the President of India, and no allegations of mala fide were established at that level'. The court had reserved the verdict on April 9 after hearing arguments from counsels representing the petitioner, AMU and the central govt. The petitions were filed in late 2023 by Prof Syed Afzal Murtaza Rizvi of Jamia Millia Islamia, Mujahid Beg from AMU's medicine department and retired AMU prof M U Rabbani. They had raised objections after Khatoon, wife of then acting VC Mohd Gulrez, was 'shortlisted' for the post. After HC's decision, Khatoon, said, 'I've always had the highest regard and faith in our judiciary. This verdict is not just a personal vindication, but a strong reaffirmation of institutional processes and democratic values in our higher education system. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Let this judgment inspire confidence among all stakeholders and reaffirm our shared mission to uphold the university's legacy of knowledge, justice and progress.' In Nov 2023, controversy erupted after the AMU's executive council shortlisted 'five eligible names'. An AMU professor wrote to the President, claiming 'the process of selecting a new VC was not followed'. The 'AMU court' then forwarded three names, including that of Khatoon, to the ministry of education and the President, and the matter also went to HC.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
HC bins plea challenging appointment of AMU VC
Prayagraj: The Allahabad high court on Saturday dismissed a writ petition challenging the process of appointment of Prof Naima Khatoon as the vice-chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University . The petitioner, Prof Mujahid Beg, had challenged Prof Khatoon's appointment on the ground that her husband, Prof Mohammed Gulrez, was the acting AMU VC and had presided over the key meetings of the executive council and the university court where his wife's name was recommended for the university's top post. Prof Beg further claimed the meetings were manipulated to secure the selection and appointment of Prof Khatoon. Earlier on April 9, a bench of Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Donadi Ramesh had reserved its judgment in the case. The court has also consolidated two additional petitions filed on the same issue and both were decided in Saturday's judgment. Dismissing the petition, the bench observed: "We have noticed that qualification of Prof Khatoon to be appointed as the vice-chancellor is not an issue. Her ultimate selection is by the Visitor against whom no allegation of bias is made. She was erstwhile Principal of Women's College of the University." "Merely because her husband was acting as vice-chancellor and had presided and participated in the meetings of executive council and university court, which also recommended her name, in addition to others, for appointment as VC cannot be a ground to interfere with her appointment as the first woman VC of the university," it added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch Bitcoin và Ethereum - Không cần ví! IC Markets BẮT ĐẦU NGAY Undo T he court further noted: "Though, we are of the opinion that Prof Gulrez Ahmad ought not to have presided and participated in the meetings, yet, considering the nature of appointment process and the limited recommendatory role of executive council and university court in making of appointment of VC, we are of the considered view that participation of Prof Gulrez Ahmad has not vitiated the selection proceedings." The court further said: "We hold that discretion exercised by the Visitor in appointing Prof Khatoon as the AMU VC from a panel of three names recommended by the university court merits no interference." Regarding the qualifications of Prof Khatoon, the court said she possesses qualifications for appointment to the post of VC. "For well over a century no woman has ever been appointed as (AMU) vice-chancellor. Appointment of women as VC of a premier institution of higher learning sends a message that the constitutional objective of advancement of the cause of women is being promoted. In such circumstances, the question is as to whether this court would unseat the first woman VC of AMU only because her husband had presided over the meeting of executive council and university court, which included her name in the panel to be sent to the Visitor? The answer has to be a definite no." Khatoon, who completed her PhD in psychology from AMU, was appointed as a lecturer in the same department in 1988 before being elevated to professor in 2006. She continued there before being appointed the principal of the Women's College in 2014.
