Read an article by @lamatayub where she mentioned her grievances, stereotypes and the hypocrisies prevalent inside AMU campus in general and Women’s College in particular.
Though I agree with many of her concerns and as an AMU alumni she has all the right to criticize her institution. I only want her to analyze the complex role AMU is playing as an institution which is paramount to the education of the minorities in India specially Muslims and then come to a conclusion.
To rationalize our views, we must go into AMU’s pre independence history.
AMU was giving modern education and etiquette to its fellow students who were mainly from feudal lord families. Riding Club, Debate societies, Bearers & Dining Halls are some of the leftovers of its elitist and modern approach.
What happened afterwards? How AMU got trapped in a conservative cocoon?
My understanding is this:
AMU after being recognized as a Central University opened its gates to weaker, poorer strata of Muslims who are traditional to its approach, especially when it comes to girl’s education.
Now, think of a middle class Muslim family in Kishangunj district of Bihar or a family from remote Rae Bareli district of Uttar Pradesh. They will never let their daughters to go and study in Delhi and live in DU Hostel.
I am not justifying their fear but the reality is that they ‘fear’. They fear adulteration in their ethos, culture and religion.
In AMU they see a safety net. They know Girls are treated there as they treat them at home. No late outings, No western wears, No Boyfriends, more religious, in a nut shell more orthodox.
Now, when higher education in Muslim women is so poor, do you want AMU’s effort gets a setback because of these pretenses?
We will have to make our priority list first.
1. Education
2. Liberal and modern
I think, I will stick to education first.
Change in society is inevitable and AMU or any University campus will not be far behind. Eventually, liberal thoughts will take over the orthodox, but we have to take a very cautious approach. In being liberal and contemporary, we can’t afford to lose on girls from remote districts and towns of India whose higher education gets snapped just because they don’t have a girl’s college in their districts and they can’t be sent to some other cities to live in a hostel on their own.
Perhaps that’s the reason why Asrarul Haq Majaz wrote in Nazr-e-Aligarh that
“har aan yahan sehba-e-kuhan, ek saaghar-e-nau mein dhalti hai”
Here old Wine gets new goblet.
Hence, AMU is trying to do a balancing act and therefore it’s important that AMU gets its minority character because AMU is more than just a University. It’s a bridge between orthodox and liberal modern Muslim society.
😜
