By Muslim Mirror News
New Delhi, February 12: Hakim Ajmal Khan was such a unique ambassador of unity in diversity and communal harmony that nobody doubted his character, credibility or intention and that’s why he presided the sessions of Muslim League on one hand and that of Hindu Mahasabha on the other, said Dr. Najma Heptulla, Hon’ble Union Minister of Minority Affairs.
She was inaugurating here the two-day ‘National Seminar on Hakim Ajmal Khan’s Multidimensional Personality and Enduring Contributions’ organized by Hakim Ajmal Khan Institute for Literary and Historical Research in Unani Medicine (Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), Ministry of AYUSH) in collaboration with Jamia Millia Islamia. She further said that Hakim Ajmal Khan left behind a legacy of developing and promoting our indigenous knowledge and science and we need to extend that legacy. It would be a great tribute to Hakim Sahib if we update our indigenous medicine system according to the current needs and take his Tibbi mission forward by conducting scientific and need-based research. She also advocated for inclusion of Hikmat in school curriculum.
Prof. Talat Ahmad, Vice-Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia said that Hakim Ajmal Khan was a multifaceted personality and a versatile genius who played pivotal role in the establishment and development of Jamia Millia Islamia and other academic institutions. He emphasized that Jamia and CCRUM should jointly initiate research in such areas where the two institutions could establish themselves as leaders. He further said that it was a proud moment for Jamia to join hands with CCRUM in the organization of the seminar to mark the 148th birth anniversary of Hakim Sahib.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. G.N. Qazi, Vice-Chancellor, Jamia Hamdard said that Hakim Ajmal Khan has been one of the pioneers of Unani Medicine. He indeed laid a great path for modern scientists to look into the chemical constituents of various herbs used in traditions medicine in India. He was not only a Hakim and a freedom fighter, but also a great institution builder and it was Hakim Abdul Hameed who accomplished many of his works that he could not complete in his life.
In his keynote address, Prof. Altaf Ahmad Azmi mentioned that besides being a great healer, Hakim Ajmal Khan was a renowned scholar of Arabic and Persian literature and a prolific writer. He made immense contribution to educational advancement of the Indian Muslims and upliftment of Unani Medicine.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Prof. Rais-ur-Rahman, Director General, CCRUM stated that there is a need of extending Hakim Ajmal Khan’s legacy of unity in diversity, patriotism and research and development (R&D) in indigenous systems of medicine. He complained that the contributions of Hakim Ajmal Khan didn’t get due recognition in independent India and urged that the Government of India should confer Bharat Ratna on Hakim Sahib. He further said had Hakim Sahib not brought Ayurveda and Unani systems under one roof, the Govt. of India could not have thought of organizing different indigenous medicine systems under AYUSH. He stated that following the steps of Hakim Sahib, the CCRUM has, since its inception, been making sincere and well-planned efforts in research in the areas of survey and cultivation of medicinal plants, drug standardization, clinical research and literary research in Unani Medicine.
On this occasion, the dignitaries released Souvenir & Book of Abstract of the seminar, special issue of CCRUM’s scientific Urdu journal Jahan-e-Tib on Hakim Mazhar Subhan Usmai and three other publications. A special book entitled ‘Nishan-i Ajmal’ by Dr. Mohammad Fazil and Dr. Fakhre Alam was also released on the occasion.
Recognizing their contributions to the causes of Unani Medicine, the CCRUM also conferred posthumous Lifetime Achievement Awards on Hakim Mazhar Subhan Usmani and Prof. Isthiyaq Ahmad. The Lifetime Achievement Award was also conferred on Prof. Abdul Jabbar Khan whereas Hakim Khurshid Ahmad Shafqat Azmi, Hakim Wasim Ahmad Azmi and Dr. Shariq Ali Khan were felicitated with Appreciation Awards.
During the two-day deliberations, over 50 papers would be presented on different aspects of multidimensional personality of Hakim Ajmal Khan.