JAMIA Millia Islamia Alumni Association (JMIAA) - Riyadh organized a Yaum-e-Tasis-e-Jamia celebration on the occasion of the 88th anniversary of the university recently. AK Misra, second secretary (political) and Hifzur Rahman, secretary (Information and Culture) at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh were the guests of honour at the function. Highlighting the secular character of the university, Hifzur Rehman, himself an alumnus of Jamia, said: “Patriotism, national integration, communal harmony and humanitarian service are the precious values which Jamia professes since its inception. That is why it is the only university which does not ask for religious details of the applicant in its admission form and stresses its students to study all religions and cultures.” Prominent writer, poet and journalist Azra Naqvi, said that Jamia is the first university to impart culture as part of its educational curriculum. “During the partition, the university provided accommodation facilities to many immigrant students from Pakistan irrespective of their religion,” she said underscoring the secular ethos of the varsity. Madani Ahmed, assistant professor at King Saud University, said Jamia is not only an educational institution but also a culture and a movement. “Social welfare is its soul, by dint of which Jamia has set an example for a welfare system in education,” he said. Ahmed said he regretted how nowadays, students only intend to obtain degrees and not education. Founder member of the Riyadh chapter of JMI Old Boys Association, Shafathullah, said: “Though the varsity was established as a Muslim minority institution by nationalist Muslims, it has never been a communal institution and has always maintained nationalistic credentials.” President of the Riyadh chapter of JMI Old Boys Association, Muneeb, expressed his support to the vice chancellor of Jamia, Musheer ul Hassan, in extending legal support to the victims of the Batla house incident. “The vice chancellor's move is in the true spirit of the relationship between a teacher and a student,” he said. Shamsuddin Shams, patron of JMIAA, Shabbir Ahmad,- joint secretary and Murshid Kamal, were among the other speakers.
