Respected Sir,
I very clearly remember the first time I actually interacted with you sir, it was a conference at our Engineering Auditorium. You were with H’ble Dalai Lama and yet you took out time to shake hands with me – a fresh undergraduate student at Jamia Millia Islamia, of which you were the Vice Chancellor then. The first thing you asked me after a casual intro, was what do I intend to do after my graduation and like most of the students for whom you stand as a role model I replied “I wish to join Administrative Services and become like you sir” you smiled back with a note “Aspire Big”.
During our routine discussions of what should be one’s approach towards making himself capable enough of managing the administration, Najeeb Jung Sir was the first mention. Your approach to empower the community, ensure discipline and to maintain a healthy environment at the campus was quite often an interesting subject to talk about. We very keenly observed your moves as the Vice Chancellor of the varsity as every step of yours gave a good lesson to derive from. Be it your decision to distribute “The Hindu” newspaper at Jamia School, so that the students take up news and stay up to date equipped with the newspaper that is best known for IAS aspirants. Your strict nature on maintaining minimum of 75% attendance was yet another step that taught us the need to have discipline and punctuality in our lives. Your concern towards having an environment that is socially aware, under you Jamia organized huge cycle rallies that had a social message to spread, indeed taught us the need to be active both academically as well as socially.
It was under you that students from Jamia started to build their positions in the country’s most prestigious positions. No doubt for them as well you are an ideal for sure.
Sir, the lessons we learnt under you, of having aspirations, being dedicated, remain honest and committed are indeed priceless.
The day you were appointed as the Lt.Governor of Delhi, it was a moment of “wry” for me. On one hand you were leaving the Vice Chancellorship of Jamia which made the moment sad, but on the other hand It was great to see such efficient administrator being given the opportunity to administrate country’s capital.
But with the recent political developments in Delhi, I doubt sir, the lessons you shared with us seem to be at stake. I don’t intend to make any political statement since I am a no one to do so, but sir we miss seeing our Jung sir standing with the people whatever consequence it would have. We haven’t yet lost hope, we do hope to have Jung sir administrate Delhi in his style that had always impressed us, free of all political pressures. You surely can and I am sure you surely will ! Jai Hind
Daud Arif