Disappointing view of Kuldip Nayar

This refers to the article “Disturbing Trend at AMU” by Mr. Kuldip Nayar published on May 9, 2015. While expressing his dismay and concern after returning from Aligarh, he has claimed that “Aligarh is the place where Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the eminent freedom fighter, was abused before the country's partition. The students had found him in a train compartment. He was travelling from Delhi to Calcutta from his hometown. They took off their clothes and booed him to show all the disrespect which they could.”

In this respect, I would like to clarify that the group of activists which showed disrespect to Maulana Azad mostly comprised Muslim League elements and there was no participation of Aligarh Muslim University students in this fracas. In fact, Aligarh Muslim University invited Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first education minister in free India, to deliver the convocation address on February 20, 1949, and he was also conferred with Doctor of Theology (D.Th.), honoris causa at the same convocation. The Aligarh Muslim University Students' Union too honoured him with its prestigious honorary life membership. These positive aspects have not been touched upon in Mr. Kuldip Nayar's article.

Maulana Azad, accepting Sir Syed's influence on him, said, “There has been a time in my life when Sir Syed's works left great impression on my mind; it was the initial period of my student days.” Acknowledging Sir Syed's contribution in the nation building, Azad said, “Sir Syed and his companions had established not only a college in Aligarh but they had created a progressive centre for all literary and educational activities. He became the central force of these activities surrounded by the most creative minds of the time”.

We have always honoured the views of Mr. Kuldip Nayar. He is an enlightened individual, secular to the core, but his views on AMU have disappointed and disturbed the Aligarh fraternity.

Dr. Rahat Abrar
Public Relations Officer 
AMU, Aligarh