Aligarh Muslim University

Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) was established by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan in 1877. Sir Syed Khan was the first who proposed the two-nation theory of India for Hindus and Pakistan for Muslims. In 1876 he said “I am now convinced that Hindus and Muslims could never become one nation as their religion and way of life was quite distinct from each other”.He also said he had rather have the English government rule India forever, “Everybody knows something or other about these powerful kingdoms of Europe. Everyone will admit that their governments are far worse — nay, beyond comparison worse — than the British Government. It is, therefore, necessary that for the peace of India and for the progress of everything in India, the English Government should remain for many years — in fact forever!”

The institution was established to impart modern education for Indian Muslims without compromising on its Islamic values. Initially it was called as Mohammedean Anglo-Oriental College but was renamed Aligarh Muslim University in 1920. It was first affiliated with University of Calcutta but in 1885 it’s affiliation was moved to University Allahabad

Many noted personalities in India and abroad are alumni of AMU. Former President Dr. Zakir Hussain, former Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Bollywood personalities Naseeruddin Shah, Javed Akthar, Marxist historian Irfan Habib, former India Hockey great Zafar Iqbal, former Maldives President Mohammed Amin Didi, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Mansoor Ali, former Prime Minister of Pakistan Liaqat Ali Khan, etc. The Alumni are spread far and wide from Pakistan, Bangladesh to Maldives, Uganda, Tanzania, the UK, Argentina, etc.

In 2018, a BJP leader raised the issue of why Mohammed Ali Jinnah’s still displayed in the University. Jamat-e-Islami Hind President Maulana Syed Jalauddin Umari refused to bow down pressure and defended the decision saying Jinnah was given a Lifetime Membership. Ministry of HRD clarified that the matter will be taken up only if it is escalated in a written compalint to the Vice-Chancellor. In 2018, Students Union of AMU raised objections to President of India’s presence in the Convocation Ceremony. Vie-Presdient of the AMUSU Sajad Subhan Rather said “If something adverse happens during the visit then the VC and the President will themselves be responsible for it”. Meanwhile, Times of India reported that AMUSU secretary Mohd Fahad said that local MPs, MP’s, RSS activists will not be allowed inside the campus as their presence will ‘saffronise’ the institution. Six AMU students were served noticed by UP Police under sections 107 and 108 of CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure). They are former AMU Students’ Union (AMUSU) vice-president Mohd Nadeem Ansari, Mohd Junaid Ahmad, Adnan Aamir, Jayad Shervani, Rao Faraj Waris and Imran Khan.

AMU continues its minority status despite it being against the Constitution as ruled by Supreme Court and Allahabad High Court. In 2018, the then Vice-Chancellor banned girl students from wearing T-shirts and jeans while visiting the library, to the more recent ‘Tera mera rishta kya, La ill Allaha” ( What is the relation between you and me, La ill Allaha), “Hindutva ke kahbar khudenge AMU ke chathi per” ( We we will bury Hindutva in the heart of AMU), “Hinduon se azaadi” (Freedom from Hindus). They have just 1% students who belong to SC/ST category and 0.25% teachers who belong to SC/ST category. Extremism and fundamentalism has long been happening and AMU and people to same religious and intellectual ideology.

More recently, AMU almuni have been involved in anti-Hindu activities. An AMU “scholar” joined terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen and two students from AMU are suspects in 2017 train blast. In May 2020, Op India reported a former non-Muslim student of AMU Rajeshwar Singh accused some Hindu haters and Islamic supremacist in AMU threatening to kill Hindus students by posting intimidating messages along with screenshots of their social media posts. During anti-CAA protest, many Islamic fundamentalist students of AMU took revenge by harassing Hindu students of AMU. Many AMU students and alumni ran a vile campaign against Indian Hindus in Gulf countries for social media posts supporting CAA. They termed it as Islamophobia and were fired from their jobs and in extreme cases denied medial care during Corona crisis.

In May 2020, two AMU students Sheikh Arfat and Shakib Rasool Bhat posted Pro-Pakistani messages on social media platform. In January 2020, anti-CAA and Islamic extremist Sharjeel Imam gave a speech in AMU campus calling to cut-off Assam and North-East from India using the chicken-neck (Siluguri corridor) among chants of ‘Naare e Takbeer, Allah ho Akbar’. AMU alumni and Newslaundry journalist Sharjeel Usmani was arrested on 8th July 2020 for social media posts proclaiming ‘Sharhrukh’ as a hero to stand up to Hindus. ‘Shahruk’ fired 8 rounds on Delhi police during anti-Hindu Delhi riots.

Former AMU Students Union President and current PhD student of Sociology, Faizul Hasan gave a hate speech threatening Hindus saying Muslims can destroy anything if they wish to:

In the month of July, a Hindu girl studying in AMU and supporting Indian government’s Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was harassed by Muslim students where on social media. Fellow muslim students threatened her and would be forced to wear a ‘brass hijab’ as soon as the university re-opens after Corona virus lockdown.