Jamia Millia Islamia marks 100 years, pledges to achieve new heights
Jamia Millia Islamia today completed 100 years of its foundation after making a very humble beginning at Aligarh, UP on 29th October 1920.
The Centenary Foundation Day Celebrations were held at the Dr. M.A. Ansari Auditorium forecourt where Vice Chancellor, JMI, Prof. Najma Akhtar and Chief Guest of the function Hamid Ahmed, CEO Hamdard Laboratries & Chancellor, Jamia Hamdard University were presented with a Guard of Honour by NCC cadets. After the Guard of Honour both hoisted Jamia Flag followed by a melodious song ‘Ye Jamia Ka Parcham..’ sung by Jamia school students.
Principal of the Jamia Middle School Mohd Mursaleen welcomed the Vice Chancellor, the Chief Guest and other dignitaries inside the Ansari Auditorium as Foundation Day Inaugural Function is traditionally organized by Jamia Middle School.
Jamia Tarana (anthem) was sung by senior students of the school followed by a short film on Jamia containing sound bytes of its famous alumni and important personalities including former cricketer Virender Sehwag, filmmaker Kabeer Khan, Kunwar Danish Ali, MP, Lok Sabha, Javed Ali Khan, MP, Rajya Sabha, senior TV journalists Rajdeep Sardesai & Ravish Kumar, veteran actress Sharmila Tagore, Justice (Retd.) MSA Siddiqui, Former JMI VC Shahid Mehdi (Rtd. IFS), Indian hockey player Devesh Chauhan among others.
Considering Covid-19 situation a very limited gathering with strict social distancing was allowed inside the Ansari Auditorium.
Chancellor, JMI and Manipur Governor Dr Najma Heptulla addressed the audience through her recorded video message congratulating the university for achieving the milestone.
Speaking on the occasion Akhtar said: “Jamia is a unique institution. Since it believes in philosophy of action, it casts sloth and laziness aside. This is the reason that it has been coming off with flying colours in achieving the latest educational aims and ideals set by the nation and the community.”
She said Jamia has always worked to the best of its capacity with the optimum use of existing human and material resources for ultimate improvement in all its parameters while looking up to its students and learned and dedicated teachers and non-teaching staff for its up-gradation and consolidation for further improvement of quality and pursuit of excellence.
Right from its inception, Akhtar said the university has embraced the idea of co-education and healthy mixing and growth of both genders together. “Jamia likes to think of a society where women will have all the opportunities to fulfill their aspirations and cultivate their interests, unchecked by any kind of discriminatory practices. They will be groomed and trained so that they can take leadership positions in different spheres of life,” she said.
Talking about academic and research achievements of the university, she told the gathering that the UGC has granted the university permission to open four departments in the newly emergent areas of foreign languages, hospital management and hospice studies, design and innovation and environmental sciences.
Akhtar also said due to Covid-19 the centenary celebration has been organised with minimal attendance but it will continue for a whole year. The programmes which have not been included will be carried out once the Covid situation is controlled, she said.
Congratulating JMI for the Centenary Foundation Day, Chief Guest Hamid said the two institutions can collaborate in setting up medical and Unani colleges and hospitals. He also offered to help Jamia schools and setting up of Hakeem Abdul Hameed Chair at JMI through Hamdard National Foundation.
Earlier, Akhtar congratulated Jamia fraternity for the Centenary Foundation Day.
The inaugural function concluded with a vote of thanks presented by Prof. Zubair Meenai, Chief Coordinator, Centenary Celebrations.
As part of the celebration a cultural programme in which students of various Jamia schools performed, an exhibition titled’ Making of the University’ displaying rare manuscripts, photographs, documents, books and letters highlighting the great history of the university as well as a Mushaira & Kavi Sammelan were also organised.
