Watch: Happy birthday, Jamia! Varsity’s iconic journey (1920-2021)
Jamia Millia Islamia, an institution born out of the freedom struggle and non- cooperation movement completed 101 years of its establishment today.
The Foundation Day celebrations began today with a Guard of Honour to the Vice Chancellor Prof. Najma Akhtar by NCC Cadets at the forecourt of Dr. M. A. Ansari Auditorium of the university. After the Guard of Honour the Vice Chancellor unfurled the Jamia Flag followed by the singing of song ‘Ye Jamia Ka Parcham..’ by students. All Covid-19 guidelines were followed during the programmes.
The Vice Chancellor inaugurated an International Art Exhibition(Virtual and Offline) ‘InContinuum-Chiselling The Mind’ at MF Husain Art Gallery where 101 exhibits from USA, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Zealand, UAE, Bangladesh and 27 Central and State Universities of India were displayed.
One of India’s leading contemporary artists Anjolie Ela Menon was the Guest of Honour on the occasion. She had an interactive session with teachers and students of the Fine Arts Faculty.
DSW Prof. Mehtab Alam welcomed the Vice Chancellor and other guests inside the Ansari Auditorium. After the inaugural function, students of Jamia Schools presented cultural programs which were attended by the Vice Chancellor, Guest of Honour Anjolie Ela Menon, Registrar Dr. Nazim Husain Al Jafri, DSW Prof. Mehtab Alam, Chief Proctor Prof. Wasim Ahmad Khan, Deans, Heads of Departments, Directors of Centres, School Principals, teachers, non-teaching staff, students and alumni of the university. NSS volunteers were managing the function inside the auditorium and were reminding the people to properly wear masks and follow social distancing norms.
During her address the Vice Chancellor highlighted the achievements of the university in the recent past and said: “Our beloved JMI now figures among the top six universities of the nation with much improved International Rankings. I believe this is the most fitting tribute to the noble founders and architects of Jamia. A huge round of applause for the devotion and vision of the great noble souls.”
Prof. Akhtar further said that with its modest beginning in 1920, Jamia has made a very prominent growth in every area of learning and education for all sections of the society. It has always embraced the idea of promoting the growth and advancement of women so that they can successfully face the battle of life in their own manners. So it provides its girl students all the opportunities to fulfill their aspirations and cultivate their interests. As a result, hundreds of girl alumni of Jamia have distinguished themselves in various spheres of life, proving their efficiency as academicians, administrators, magistrates and so on.
The Vice Chancellor also said the university is focusing on foreign collaborations, opening new departments, expanding and promoting research activities, online learning, improving alumni relations and with its global vision, the university is ready to completely transform in the years to come and emerge as a world class university. She asked the audience to pray together for everyone’s health and well-being and for normalcy to return soon.
Guest of Honour Anjolie Ela Menon said it’s a special day for her as Jamia was alma mater of her headmistress who always used to tell about it and felt proud of its glorious history. She congratulated the university for completing 101 years of its establishment and praised the Fine Arts Faculty for organising an International Arts Exhibition.
The program ended with a vote of thanks by the Registrar Dr Nazim Husain Al Jafri.
A ‘Mushaira’ was also organised in the evening to celebrate the foundation day where poets from inside and outside the university participated.
