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Jamia Millia Islamia

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Jamia Millia Islamia
جامعہ ملیہ اسلامیہ
Jamia Millia Islamia logo on the gates of the campus
MottoAllammal Insaana Maalam Yalam (Taught man that which he knew not)
TypeCentral University
Established1920
ChancellorFakhruddin T. Khorakiwala
Vice-ChancellorNajeeb Jung
Academic staff
614
Students15400
Location
New Delhi
,
India
CampusUrban
NicknameJamia
AffiliationsUniversity Grants Commission (India)
Websitehttp://www.jmi.nic.in

Jamia Millia Islamia (Urdu: جامعہ ملیہ اسلامیہ, Hindi: जामिया मिलिया इस्लामिया, translation: National Islamic University [citation needed]) is an Indian Central University located in Delhi. It was originally established at Aligarh in United Provinces, India in 1920. It became a Central University by an act of the Indian Parliament in 1988. In Urdu and Arabic, Jamia means University[citation needed], and Millia means National[citation needed].

The university was established by nationalist Muslims and is secular[1] in character. Its campus is located in South Delhi. The university provides courses at the undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels.

History

Conception

Under the British rule, two dominant trends joined hands and contributed towards the birth of Jamia. One was anti-colonial activism and the other was the pro-independence aspiration of the politically radical section of western educated Indian Muslim intelligentsia. In the political climate of 1920, the two trends gravitated together with Mahatma Gandhi as a catalyst. The idea was to project Indian Muslims as nationalist and anti British. The anti-colonial activism signified by the Khilafat and the pro-independence aspirations symbolized by the Non-Cooperation Movement of the Indian National Congress helped to harness creative energies and the subsequent making of Jamia Millia Islamia.

Responding to Gandhi’s call to boycott all educational institutions supported or run by the colonial regime, a group of nationalist teachers and students quit Aligarh Muslim University, protesting against its pro-British inclinations. The freedom fighter and Muslim theologian, Maulana Mehmud Hasan, laid the foundation stone of Jamia Millia Islamia at Aligarh on Friday, October 29, 1920, during the meeting of the Foundation Committee of Jamia Millia Islamia.

On November 22, 1920, Hakim Ajmal Khan was elected the first chancellor of Jamia. Mohamed Ali Jauhar became Jamia’s first Vice Chancellor.

Crisis

Born out of political crisis and as a political affront to the British, it seemed for a while, Jamia would not survive the heat of the intense political struggle for the independence of India. It participated in the Bardoli resolution and sent volunteers across the country to motivate people to fight for the freedom of the country. The colonial British government soon imprisoned many of its teachers and students. In 1922, Gandhi called off the non-cooperation movement. Even as its teachers and students were being released, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk declared the end of the Khilafat in 1924.

Suddenly Jamia saw itself in a great crisis. Some thought it had achieved its mission, as others believed that the institution had lost its raison d’etre with the end of the non-cooperation and the Khilafat movements. Even the little financial assistance, that the Khilafat had been giving it, also dried up. As even prominent people started deserting it, Jamia’s total collapse virtually became an imminent possibility.

Move to Delhi

As the crisis loomed large, Hakim Ajmal Khan, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari and Abdul Majeed Khwaja — the first trio—supported by Gandhi shifted Jamia from Aligarh to Karol Bagh, in New Delhi in 1925. Although Gandhi’s contacts helped to secure financial help for Jamia, the risk of helping a Congress-backed institution under the British Raj dissuaded many willing benefactors. Some Muslims also viewed Jamia as a threat to Aligarh Muslim University, possibly the best university in India at that time. During those difficult days, it was Hakim Ajmal Khan who met most of Jamia’s expenses from his own pocket. Dr. M.A. Ansari and Abdul Majeed Khwaja toured India and abroad, explaining the importance of Jamia and collecting funds for this noble enterprise. Their collective intervention did avert a collapse that was almost certain.

Resurgence

In 1925, after long deliberation, a group of three friends studying in Germany — Dr. Zakir Hussain, Dr. Abid Husain and Dr. Mohammed Mujeeb — decided to serve Jamia. In 1928 when Hakim Ajmal Khan died it was the beginning of the second financial crisis, as it was Hakim Sahib himself who had been meeting most of Jamia’s financial needs. The leadership of Jamia then moved into the hands of Dr. Zakir Husain, who became its Vice Chancellor in 1928.

To resolve Jamia of its financial problems, a group of young Jamia teachers, led by Dr. Zakir Hussain, took a pledge to serve Jamia for the next twenty years on a salary not more than Rs. 150. This group was called the Life Members of Jamia. (This was repeated in 1942 when a second group of Jamia teachers took a similar pledge).

Jamia’s department of Printing and Publications was trifurcated in 1928 with the newly established Jamia Press at Darya Ganj, Urdu Academy, and Maktaba Jamia under the charge of Prof. Mohammed Mujeeb, Dr. Abid Husain and Mr. Hamid Ali respectively.

New campus and the teachers college

On March 1, 1935, the foundation stone for a school building was laid at Okhla, then a non-descript village in the southern outskirts of Delhi. In 1936, all institutions of Jamia, except Jamia Press, the Maktaba and the library, were shifted to the new campus. The basic emphasis of Jamia was on evolving innovative education methods. This led to the establishment of a teacher’s college (Ustadon ka Madrasa) in 1938. In 1936, Dr. M.A. Ansari died. On June 4, 1939, Jamia Millia Islamia was registered as a society.

The fame of Jamia as an innovative education movement spread and dignitaries from foreign countries began visiting Jamia. Husein Raouf Bey (1933), Dr. Behadjet Wahbi of Cairo (1934), and Ms. Halide Edib of Turkey (1936) were some of them. Foreigners, impressed by Jamia, began working in Jamia. A German lady Ms. Gerda Philipsborn (popularly nicknamed in Jamia as Aapa Jaan) served Jamia for many years and is buried in Jamia. In 1939, Maulana Ubaidullah Sindhi (1872–1944), a theologian and freedom fighter, came to stay in Jamia on the invitation of Dr. Zakir Husain. He started a school of Islamic Studies in Jamia, called Baitul Hikmal, propagating the ideology of Shah Waliullah.

In 1946, during Jamia’s silver jubilee celebration, one could see the crisis that India had to face in the following year: Mr. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, and Liaquat Ali Khan were on one side of Dr. Zakir Husain, the vice chancellor, on the dias; Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Asaf Ali and Sir Rajagopalachari were on the other side.

During and after independence

The riots following partition that shook the northern India did affect Jamia, but not its campus. Gandhiji observed that its campus remained “an oasis of peace in the Sahara” of communal violence. Maktaba Jamia alone lost books worth seven lakhs in arson.

After the attainment of Independence, Jamia continued to grow as an academic institution with a difference. Many foreign dignitaries made it a point to visit Jamia Millia Islamia during their visits to New Delhi. Among those who visited Jamia include Marshal Tito (1954), king Zahir Shah of Afghanistan (1955), crown prince Faisal of Saudi Arabia, king Reza Shah Pehlavi of Iran (1956) and prince Mukarram Jah (1960).

In 1962, the University Grants Commission declared the Jamia a ‘Deemed to be University’. Soon thereafter, the School of Social Work was established in 1967. In 1971, Jamia started the Zakir Husain Institute of Islamic Studies, to honour Dr. Zakir Husain, who had died in 1969. BE course in Civil Engineering commenced in 1978; in 1981, the faculties of Humanities and Languages, Natural Sciences, Social Science, and the State Resource Centre were founded. In 1983, it started the Mass Communication Research Centre and the Centre for Coaching and Career Planning. In 1985, it established the Faculty of Engineering & Technology and the University Computer Centre. Academic Staff College and the Academy of Third World Studies followed in 1987 and 1988.

Jamia Tarana

(English Translation)

This is the land of my hopes
This is the land of my dreams

This is where men with zeal stayed
Men who answered the leaders' call
It is here that torn-off love
Found the cohesive chords
It is here that wayward passions
Formed into frenzied love
It is here that the wild tulip learnt
How to make the scar of heart aglow

This is the land of my hopes
This is the land of my dreams

This is the place of men of vision
And of those with a challenging thought
Every morning here is new
And every evening newer still
Different is this tavern
And different are its norms
Different are the dancing cups
And different is their dance
Here drinking begets thirst anew
And different is this tavern's call

This is the land of my hopes
This is the land of my dreams

Here, conscience is the beacon light
And conscience is the guide
Here is the Mecca of heart resides the guiding faith
Ceaseless movement is our faith
And blasphemy it is to stay still
Here, the destined goal is the march on and on
Here, the swimming urge seeks
Newer and newer storms
Restless wave itself is our resurrected shore

Translated by: Prof. M. Zakir [1]

Jamia Millia Islamia today

Jamia Millia Islamia is historically counted as among the most important nationalist institutions in India today[citation needed]. There is probably no other Indian institution which had to survive so much political opposition in its making without diluting its goals[citation needed]. Even the degrees awarded by Jamia were not considered valid in the time of the British. Jamia was accorded the status of a central university by a special act of the parliament in December 1988.[2]

In early 2006 king of Saudi Arabia paid a historic visit to the university and donated a record $30 million for construction of a library.[3] Its scenic cricket ground (popularly known as the Bhopal Ground ) has hosted a number of Ranji Trophy matches and a women's cricket test match. Some notable alumni of the university include Rahimuddin Khan, Barkha Dutt, Gagan Ajit Singh, Upender Kumar, Prabhjot Singh, Kiran Rao , Mouni Roy, Muzammil Ibrahim, Niharika Acharya, Shahrukh Khan and Virender Sehwag, Uzmi Jameel Husain, Lawyer and Writer[2]. Besides its seven faculties, the Jamia has a number of centres of learning and research, like Mass Communication Research Centre (MCRC), Academy of Third World Studies (ATWS) etc. The Jamia offers various undergraduate and postgraduate information and technology courses. Apart from this, the Jamia has a campus wide network which connects a large number of its departments and offices.

Faculties & Centres

Jamia Millia Islamia offers various academic and extension programs through the following faculties:

Faculty of Engineering and Technology: This Faculty was established in 1985 and offers regular courses and continuing programmes related to engineering. Its undergraduate programmes include B.Tech. (Bachelor of Technology) in civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, electronics and communication engineering, and computer engineering; B.Arch. (Bachelor of Architecture); and as continuing programmes for in-service engineers, it offers BE (Bachelor of Engineering) in computer engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and electronics & communication engineering. It also offers postgraduate programmes, M.Tech. (Master of Technology) (electrical power systems management), M.Tech. (environmental science and engineering), M.Sc. (Master of Science) (Electronics). The polytechnic offers day and evening course for Diploma in civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and electronics & communication engineering. A Ph.D. programme is also offered.

Faculty of Education: Historically speaking, this is the faculty which identifies itself most, with the Jamia's heritage of being a pioneering institution in the field of teaching. Its parent institution, the Teachers Training College was established by renowed educator and Jamia's most famous patron Dr. Zakir Hussain in 1938.

This faculty, besides offering B.Ed.(Bachelor of Education), M.Ed.(Master of Education) and M.A.(Master of Art) courses with various specializations also conducts undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in fine arts. It also offers a diploma in elementary teacher education programme besides conducting research.

Faculty of Humanities and Languages: The Faculty has seven departments— Arabic, English and Modern European Languages, Hindi, History and Culture, Islamic Studies, Persian, and Urdu — offering programmes in Ph.D., M.Phil. (Pre-PhD), postgraduate, undergraduate, diploma and certificate courses. The curricula of the faculty focuses upon the composite nature of the rich and myriad facets of the literature and culture of India.

Faculty of Law: The Faculty of Law, Jamia Millia Islamia was established in 1989. In addition to the LLB Five year integrated BA,LLB course, the Faculty is also running an LLM four semester course presently in three streams, i.e., Personal Law, Corporate Law and Criminal Law and a Ph.D. programme.

Faculty of Natural Sciences: This faculty offers various diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate, and research programmes in various subjects related to natural sciences. Its undergraduate programmes include B.Sc. (Bachelor of Science)/B.Sc. (Honours), B.Sc. (Vocational), B.A. (Honours). At the postgraduate level, the faculty offers postgraduate diplomas,M.Tech in Nanotechnology, M.Sc.(Physics/ Mathematics/ Chemistry/ Biosciences/ Biotechnology/ Biochemistry/ Bioinformatics), M.A., Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Applications (P.G.D.C.A.), Master of Computer Applications (M.C.A.), M.Sc.(Maths with Computer Science), A Three-Year Self-Financed M.Sc.Tech.(Industrial Mathematics with Computer Applications) courses.

Faculty of Social Sciences: Besides offering Bachelor programmes in Economics, Sociology, Social Work, Political Science, Psychology, Commerce and Computer Applications this faculty has programmes leading to a masters degree in related disciplines as well. Some diploma and Ph.D. courses are also offered.

Faculty of Architecture and Ekistics: A relatively new faculty, it offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in architecture and ekistics besides a Ph.D. programme. It's M.A. in Architecture Education is the only course of its kind in India.

Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences (CIRBAS) is amongst a newly created research centre in Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. It is located in the Jamia's Main Campus and is funded by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

FTK-Centre For Information Technology Fakhruddin T. Khorakiwala Centre for Information Technology also popularly known as FTK-CIT is a state-of-the art centre of Jamia providing IT services and facilities to all its staff members and students. The Centre has recently shifted to a New Building near Ansari Auditorium. The Computer Centre was established in 1984 with the installation of a minicomputer and some terminals, with the aim to provide computational facility to researchers and computer training to the University staff. In 1995-1996, the University Grants Commission upgraded the Centre to Level-B and provided some technical staff as well as a grant for establishing Local Area Network. Thus a network with 10 Mbps optical fiber backbone with 50 nodes was established, connecting some of the departments and offices of the University through fiber network switch. An E-mail facility through ERNET, India was also started using a dial-up "uucp" connection. Three Alpha servers were also purchased by the Centre and a computer lab was developed for the use of faculty members and research scholars for computational work as well as for e-mail purposes. In 1996, the Computer Centre was given the additional responsibility of teaching undergraduate and postgraduate computer courses, viz., Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA), Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Applications (PGDCA), and Master of Software Systems (MSS). However, after the creation of the Department of Computer Science in late 1999, the above courses were transferred to the department. This provided the Computer Centre a better opportunity for carrying out its main activities that include bringing computer awareness in the University, extending the campus-wide network throughout the University, computerization of offices, and planning its future activities keeping in view the fast pace of development in the IT world.

The lush green campus with virtuous sprawling lawns and meticulously designed, the centre provide a professionally motivating atmosphere for learning, implementing, developing and knowledge sharing. The centre building is spacious, well-ventilated and lighted, and there is enough open spaces around the building. The building has been innovatively designed with world class infrastructure facilities and amenities to match the expectations of exponentially dynamic corporate world.

The entire campus is interconnected with internet & intranet with leased line connection. A State-of-the-art computer lab that provides computing facilities comprising of the latest configured machines linked to a wide range of Software communication & print services. It comprises of large no. of P-IV machines with world class servers. 24x 7x365 dedicated leased line internet connectivity. The spacious Committee room/labs provide the most conducive environment for dynamic and focused discussion. The labs are designed as conference hall with step-up seating to facilitate discussions and are equipped with Computers & LCD for effective learning & implementing. The air-conditioning in the labs creates the right atmosphere for long hours of learning, Research & development. For Technical and cultural functions, the conference hall with a capacity of 150 seats at the centre provides an ideal platform for staff/Researchers/Learners/students to express themselves in public speech. Well stocked software library, Audio Visual & photo archives available in the centre. Internet facility is also available for the Faculty Members/Staffs/Research Scholars/students. For more information : http://jmi.ac.in/cit/cit.htm

Besides these faculties, there are twenty centres of learning and research covering a wide range of subjects. Notable among these is the M.A. in Mass Communication offered by the AJK Mass Communication and Research Center.

AJK Mass Communication Research Center

The Mass Communication Research Centre was established in 1982 by Anwar Jamal Kidwai, then vice-chancellor (later chancellor) of Jamia Millia Islamia. Jamia is today known primarily for these mass communication courses.[3] In recognition of AJK’s contribution in giving Jamia a premium centre of learning the Centre was renamed the Anwar Jamal Kidwai Mass Communication Research Centre.

After its founding, the MCRC was recognised as an autonomous unit of the university, with its own managing Board. It has separate facilities and relations with other institutions, including a long-standing collaboration with York University in Toronto and the Canadian International Development Agency. York provided the first generation of documentary teachers, led by James Beveridge.

From 2004-2006 the centre was renovated with funding from the HRD Ministry and the Ford Foundation, adding two new buildings and seven classrooms and labs and expanding its scope to cover television, radio, photography, animation and film production.

Other centres

  • Dr. Zakir Husain Institute of Islamic Studies
  • FTK-Centre for Information Technology
  • Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Academy of Third World Studies
  • Centre for Distance and Open Learning
  • Centre for Management Studies
  • Nelson Mandela Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution
  • Centre for Jawaharlal Nehru Studies
  • Centre for the Study of Comparative Religions and Civilizations
  • Centre for West Asian Studies
  • Dr. K. R. Narayanan Centre for Dalit and Minorities Studies
  • Centre for Spanish & Latin American Studies
  • Centre for Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences
  • Academy of Professional Development of Urdu Medium Teachers
  • Academic Staff College
  • Barkat Ali Firaq State Resource Centre
  • Centre for Coaching and Career Planning
  • Centre for Culture Media & Governance
  • Centre for Gandhian Studies
  • Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences
  • Centre for Theoretical Physics http://www.ctp-jamia.res.in
  • Child Guidance Centre
  • India - Arab Cultural Centre
  • Jamia's Premchand Archives & Literary Centre
  • Sarojini Naidu Centre for Women's Studies
  • University Counseling & Guidance Centre
  • Centre for Early Childhood Development and Research

[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ Jamia Millia Islamia Act 1988
  2. ^ http://www.bod.de/index.php?id=3435&objk_id=164751
  3. ^ According to their own site. About MCRC, retrieved April 2, 2010.
  4. ^ From the full list of Faculties/Centres

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