By Naheed Mustafa, MMN,
‘He said if it happens there will be four times more boys following the girls.’
(Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University Lt Gen Zameer Uddin Shah)
Denying library access to UG girls by AMU VC is an ‘insult to daughters’.
(Shrimati Smriti Irani Minister of Human Resource Development)
The statement made by the Vice Chancellor of Our University makes a rampant alarm that Aligarh Muslim University Women student are denied to access Maulana Azad Central Library which is regarded as second largest University Library of Asia with more than 11.5 lakh books/documents.
Before we become rational or judgmental about the access of Maulana Azad Library we have to analyze certain facts which is pertaining to the accessibility/non accessibility exponential of Library
1. Does statement made by the vice chancellor was sexiest, discriminating, insulting to women ?
2. Does the Maulana Azad library do not allow any girl in the vicinity of Library ?
3. Does Women’s College library is so small where under Graduate Girls cannot access it?
We all know that we are living in competitive era where female and male are rivals of each other to get good courses, employment, status and the statement made by the VC of AMU is misinterpreted because he clearly said if girls of Women’s College enter in the library then automatically boys will follow them four times because it boost them to learn more in the female chauvinism verses male chauvinism. Although the girls of all professional courses, masters ,research scholars are allowed to access it with an equal opportunity like boys even if the girl is new to the library then staff or senior boys /girls help them. There are 2700 registered women users of central library and I witness it as the best place to study for girls in a silence zone and beautiful ambience where boys and girls unitedly study in different sections of library whereas in research section first two rows are reserved for girls so that they have easy access in front rows and during exams library filled with boys and girls like a bee hive and all have to rush early to get the seat. If the girls of women’s college that really undermine the rights of other fellows of university because they have no option to study as women’s college library. Womens College also has a library with 1300 seats and full of books/newspaper/study material which is sufficient for a graduate student so another question strikes me when everything is available at my home then why should I struggle for 3kms away from my home to study when i have no vehicle or any protective force to help me when anything mishap happen me on the way because AMU campus is not confined in boundaries like other universities and outsiders have equal access to the Roads as students have. I do not condemn statement of my alma mater because whatever he said that for our security as a father think to protect a daughter from all turmoil’s of life.
I am surprised that why a fussy statement is lime lighted where the big achievements of Aligarh Muslim University during Zamiruddin Shah Regime never been publicized by any media, minister, activist, corporate lobby where he makes outstanding changes in AMU (2013-2014) some of them sharing with you.
1.Bridge Course for Deeni Madaris( Duration One year)
Graduates possessing Aalimiyat and fazilat degree from different madaaris will get admission into bridge course after entrance exam that will train them to become eligible for Masters degree that make madaaris student equivalent in progress to other students.
2.Centre for African & Brazilian studies
M.Phil/Ph,d is offered to students possessing masters degree that will give broader framework to study international relations of different countries especially BRICS nations.
3. M.Sc in Remote sensing and GIS technology in collaboration With ISRO and DRDO .
Graduates can apply and give a new dimension to the students to grasp the latest technology of geographic information system (GIS) is a computer-based tool for mapping and analyzing feature events on earth. Remote sensing is the art and science of making measurements of the earth using sensors on airplanes or satellites.
5. AMU Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College among top 15 colleges.
6. Faculty of Law ranked 6 among India best law Colleges.
However nobody looks back at the alumni of AMU who makes us proud to be an Indian, Abdul Ghaffar Khan (Frontier Gandhi), Dr.Zakir Hussain (Former President ofIndia), Syed Hamid Ansari (present Vice President on India), Syeda Taimur (First and only lady chief minister of Assam), Dhyan Chand (Hockey player), Javed Akhtar (Lyricist), Javed Usmani (IAS topper), Naseeruddin Shah(veteran actor) and many who will join the league later.
Everyone slanders AMU with different slogans on a small bit even in other Institutions like JNU where 3 rape cases in 2014 by JNU research scholars never been in the headlines of newspaper ,DU professor arrested for demanding sexual favors from his student, self immolation by DU employee due to sexual harassment by principal etc etc. I am wondering such news never got the attention of national and international media but if a single incidence of harassment happens in AMU which is not proved that will shaken up the whole country while urgent notice has been served to the Vice chancellor that he limits the constitutional freedom of girls in the University.
This modern era constituting of liberalism, intellectualism, and rationalism where everyone has the right to equality but with certain safeguards that is granted by our constitution. So, the matter of concern is not debating on small issues but to inspire the intellectual freedom of youths to be applied in constructive legacy of education and technology rather to transmitting phi’s phi’s like Hindi serials. We know where we stand and all countries are in pace to become more developed but we are busy in condemning each other while we have to be more united instead to mumble-jumble with each other for no reasons that will not only degrade the status of Aligarh Muslim University but will convey a message to the world that this minority Institution in the world as a piece of flesh eaten up by all the vultures and that will really a blot on the sanctity of secularism of India that reflects the spirit of Unity among all the distinct religious identity.
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Naheed Mustafa is a Research Scholar (Faculty of Law),Aligarh Muslim University
Gender segregation is an effective tool to combat the rampant sexual harassment epidemic in our country. Those who oppose it because it is an Islamic practice must rethink over it. You oppose a good practice and lot of people suffer because of ur mindless opposition.
Gender segregation is just a fantasy. It can never happen and has never happened in any civilization. This is an invention of some irrational ulemas/religious scholars but is not feasible in the present world. Most of the ulemas who advocate it follow double standards. Their preaching is different for others but when it comes for application on their kith and kins their approach and action changes. This is a harsh reality of our society and we will have to accept it.
Why don’t the VC come with a solution such as expansion of library with the help of HR ministry if required.
He has made a mockery of himself by his remark that boys will crowd chase women.
He has not only insulted girls but also shown amu boys in bad light.
Girls have same rights as boys VC comments are biased and condenmable. .
As HRD minister said that this is an insult to Daughters and urgent notice have been served instead immediate fund should be given for library expansion.
If the govt is not giving funds then how is the university running.
Now a new controversy, Ban of Times of India in the AMU campus.
The VC of AMU is acting in a non democratic way. He shouldn’t have banned the Times of India in the campus. AMU is not a personal property of any Vice Chancellor, it is run by the govt. of India with the tax payers money.
Learned VC making mockery of the male students here. Yes, in certain Muslim countries they are treating their females as sex object, please don’t do this here. Give equal opportunities , they can learn to respect each others in Indian way. Don’t dicriminate one section of society using religion, remember women are not sex object without any right of their own.