Foundation stone ceremony of Sir Syed Mission School on Gandhi Jayanti

On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, the foundation stone of Sir Syed Mission School and Aiwan-e-Sir Syed proposed by Sir Syed Foundation Lucknow at Hardoi Road was laid by Professor Syed Muzaffar Iqbal, former Pro Vice Chancellor of Integral University, Lucknow. The event was managed by the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys’ Association Lucknow. A large number of AMU alumni and fans of Sir Syed attended the program. The program started with the recitation of the Holy Quran by Qari Nauman. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Guest Professor Syed Muzaffar Iqbal said that this step taken by AMU Old Boys Association Lucknow is very important. True tribute to Sir Syed can be paid only when educational institutions are established following the path shown by him. On this occasion, he praised Lucknow’s famous surgeon Dr. Muhammad Mubashir and his wife Dr. Uzma Mubashir and said that they have donated this land for a noble cause which will have great results in the future. It will prove to be a factor of success not only in this life but also in the hereafter. Professor Muzaffar Iqbal also said that setting up an educational institution is not an easy task, there will be many difficulties in this path but an excellent institution can be established if the responsible people follow the path of Sir Syed and work with honesty, good intentions and dedication.

President of the Association, Professor Shakeel Ahmed Kidwai, while welcoming all the guests, said that laying the foundation stone of this institution on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti is indeed a tribute to both Sir Syed and Mahatma Gandhi. He also said that both Mahatma Gandhi and Sir Syed have not been understood properly and it is important that we promote the mission of these two great personalities in which lies the welfare and development of the country and society. If we are true patriots then we all should strive together to maintain the secular structure of our beloved country. Paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, he said that Gandhiji had given Sir Syed the title of Prophet of Education.
Dr. Suhail Ahmed Farooqui, Secretary of Sir Syed Foundation Lucknow, said that AMU Old Boys’ Association Lucknow had been making efforts for this mission for a long time. It seems that this work was to be done by an alumnus of AMU, so Dr. Mubashir came forward and provided his valuable land for this project. Dr. Farooqui also said that building an organization is not an easy task and like Sir Syed, we all have to try to involve as many people as possible in this campaign and seek their help and in this regard, there will be  obstacles and problems.  We have to be mentally prepared to face and resolve them together.

Program coordinator and Honorary Secretary of the Association, Engineer Syed Muhammad Shoaib said that the month of October is very important for all the countrymen and its importance increases in this month for the Alig community also. While Gandhiji’s birthday is celebrated on 2nd October, Sir Syed’s birthday on 17th October is also widely celebrated at the international level every year as Sir Syed Day. Gandhiji visited Aligarh on 25th October in 1920 and at that time he was also honoured with life membership of the student union. Giving details of the proposed project, he said that the cost of Sir Syed Mission School and Aiwan-e-Sir Syed, to be built on this land with an area of 4,000 square meters, is estimated to be around Rs 20 crore. It will be built in two phases with public donations. This school will be affiliated to the I.C.S.E. Board, New Delhi. Professor (Dr.) Saudul Hasan, Member C.I.S.C.E., was present on the occasion and he assured that as much assistance as possible will be obtained from the Board at New Delhi.

Dr. Muhammad Mubashir, Chief Trustee of Sir Syed Foundation, Lucknow, in his address said that it is the duty of all the alumni of Aligarh to carry forward the educational mission of the founder of AMU and in view of this, we made a small effort. It is important that an educational institution be established whose doors will be open to the weaker sections of the society, and it is not a big deal that today’s school takes the form of a university tomorrow, but we will have to keep fighting for it. Those who addressed the meeting included Kaleem Shikoh Advocate, Naushad Ahmed Hardoi, Maulana Syed Iqbal Umri Chennai etc. Engineer Muhi Bakhsh Qadri expressed his feelings in the form of poetry. Famous social activist Abdul Nasir Nasir announced all possible support for this project. The vote of thanks was given by Shahla Haq, Joint Secretary of the Association. The program concluded with the University Tarana and the National Anthem.

Among the dignitaries present on the occasion were Maulana Abul Irfan Mian Firangi Mahali, Imam of Eidgah Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali, Shah Ainul Haider Alvi Zia Mian, Sajjada Nasheen Astana Kazmiya Kakori, Professor Abbas Ali Mehdi Vice Chancellor Era University, Shafqat Kamal former IAS, Engineer Muhammad Matloob Khan, Tariq Ghauri former IRS, Moeed Ahmed former minister, Aftab Ahmed Khan former IG CRPF, former judge Badrudduja Naqvi, prominent scientist Dr. Qamar Rehman, prominent intellectual Dr. Masudul Hasan Usmani, Dr. Uzma Mubashir, famous poet Wasif Farooqui, Tariq Faiyaz, Arshad Azmi, Dr. Nuzhat Hussain, Engineer Naseem Bilgrami, Tabassum Kidwai, Dr. Waqar Baig, Dr. Muhammad Atiq, Dr. Syed Muhammad Shariq, Engineer Arun Kumar Mathur, Tariq Siddiqui, Engineer Muhammad Gufran, Anwar Habib Alvi, Atif Hanif, Madhav Saxena, Sheikh Muhammad Tariq, Shazia Farooqui, Hussain Ahmed, Qais Mujeeb, Dr. Iram Diba, Muhammad Naeem Ahmed, Parvez Mahmood, Danish Usmani, Muhammad Muzammil, Abu Omama, Dr. Atiq Ahmed Farooqui, former CEO of Shia Waqf Board Muhammad Naseer Hasan, Nisar Fatima Rizvi, Haji Muhammad Musharraf, Moinuddin, Rafat Naseem Siddiqui, Shabi Wasim, Arshad Khurshid, Analp Chandra, Muhammad Khalid Ishu were present.

Er. S M Shoaib

Honorary Secretary

AMU Old Boys’ Association Lucknow