THE Riyadh Chapter of Jamia Millia Islamia Alumni Association (JMIAA) celebrated its first annual day in Riyadh recently. The group showcased the milestones it has achieved since the establishment of its executive structures last year. “After the filling of its cabinet and executive positions, JMIAA has become active and has undertaken numerous activities for the benefit of the Jamia alumni, in particular, and the Indian community, in general,” said Khursheed Anwar, the first elected president of the association. Professor Syed Sarwar Hussein, in his talk on the rights of minorities provided in the Indian constitution, said: “The Indian constitution has made special provisions for the establishment of minority educational institutions. As such, the minority character of institutions like the Jamia and the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) should be preserved.” Letters from Professor Mushirul Hassan, vice chancellor of Jamia, and Professor Zubeir Meenai, dean of students' welfare (DSW) of Jamia, were read out by Aftab Nizami and Abdul Mateen. In his letter addressed to the general secretary of the Riyadh Chapter of JMIAA, the vice chancellor expressed his “great satisfaction” at the activities of the association. Mohammad Zafar-ul-Islam Abdul Bari, general secretary of JMIAA-Riyadh, presented the annual report on the activities of the association. JMIAA has extended support to three students from Jamia who are enrolled in King Saud University as part of a scholarship program. Well-known Indian entrepreneur, Nadeem Tarin, founder of the Delhi Public School Riyadh, was the chief guest. He inaugurated the official website of JMIAA
