Celebration time for Kishanganj: Bihar Govt allots 250 acres land for AMU Centre

Dear All,
After long series of debates, promises and disheartening feedbacks, finally there is a good news for the people of Kishanganj and whole Bihar. Nitish Kumar led NDA government has allotted 250 acres land for opening of AMU centre in Kishanganj.

Prof. P.K. Abdul Azis, Vice Chancellor AMU made the announcement about the allotment of land for AMU campus.

On behalf of all people of Kishanganj, Bihar and the country as well, I thank Mr. Nitish Kumar for allotting the required land for setting up the AMU centre in Kishanganj.

Below is the report:

Prof. P.K. Abdul Azis, Vice Chancellor, AligarhMuslim University said that the quest of AMU to expand education in thecountry through AMU Special Centres has received further flip. TheGovernment of Bihar has finally agreed to provide the required land forsetting up the special centre of Aligarh Muslim University.

Earlier the Bihar government offered 100 acres of land but based on therepresentation made by the AMU Vice Chancellor the Government of Bihar hasdecided to provide 250 acres of land. Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis has thanked theChief Minister of Bihar Shri Nitish Kumar and Maulana Mohd. Asrarul Hauqe,Member of Parliament from Kishanganj for taking proactive role in the landallotment for the special centre.

In a letter addressed to the Vice Chancellor the Principal Secretary of theDepartment of Human Resource Development Anjani Kumar Singh has informedthat "the Government of Bihar has now decided to give 250 acres of land,free of cost to AMU for opening its Centre in the Kishanganj district" andrequested the University for early opening of the Centre in the state.

The news of land allotment to AMU in Bihar was received with jubilationamong the University community. Prof. Ekram Husain, a senior faculty memberof the University said that after the West Bengal (in Murshidabad district)and Kerala (in Malappuram district) the allotment of land for the specialcentre of AMU in Bihar "vindicates our view that opening of these Centresbrings the most deprived and excluded social segment to the mainstreameducational fold" and the farsighted state governments have realized theneed and they are coming forward to extend their helping hand tomeaningfully contribute to ameliorate the alarming situation in minorityconcentrated districts.

Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis has expressed confidence that the University willmove forward in the direction of establishing special centres inMurshidabad, Malappuram and now in Kishanganj. A team of Universityofficials will be visiting the Kishanganj site very soon and submit anaction plan to accelerate the process and to bring it on fast track.

Prof. Azis explained that the present initiative is a powerful projection ofan ambitious plan to expand the AMU's academic and research programmes tomeet the challenging needs of the marginalized and excluded social class. Itis indeed gratifying that the Government of Bihar has initiated allnecessary steps to provide 250 acres of land for setting up special AMUCentre at Kishanganj. The people of Bihar in general and Muslims of thestate in particular have extended a warm welcome to AMU. Already a host ofdiscerning organizations have expressed happiness and considers it a newbeginning in the annals of education of extremely backward Muslims ofKishanganj and the surrounding regions.

While emphasizing the need for establishing special centers Professor P.K.Abdul Azis said that the AMU has envisaged a national role to play bypromoting modern and secular education. It strives to meet the educationalaspirations of the people especially of Muslims of India. Aligarh has playeda historic role by spreading the message of modern education, scientifictemperament and secularism in the sub-continent and in this backdrop, theParliament has passed the AMU Act 1981 that empowers the University topromote the educational and cultural advancement of Muslims of India. TheUniversity has a glorious tradition of broadmindedness, tolerance andenlightened approach to problems that beset the contemporary socialexistence. AMU has successfully kept at bay all kinds of communal, narrow,parochial and fissiparous forces. The obsessive apprehension expressed by asection of the media is unwarranted. The University has never allowed anyunlawful engagement in its sprawling campus. It has a record of maintainingdiscipline of highest order and Kishanganj Centre will not be an exceptionas far as propriety and discipline is concerned.

Historically and culturally Indian Muslims seek guidance and inspirationfrom AMU and expect that it fulfills their educational needs andrequirements, under such circumstances it is expected that the Universityalso wakes up for meeting out their aspirations. The Kishanganj Centre willbe a step in this direction.

The idea behind setting up special Centre in Bihar is to provide easy accessto modern education to the most educationally deprived social class so thatthe national goal of equity, access and inclusion of the excluded isaccomplished. It is indeed a national duty bestowed upon AMU to promoteeducation among the Muslims, he concluded.

SDO Kishanganj: Khursheed Alam an accomplished officer

If DM Kishanganj Mr. Feraque Ahmad is the skilled captain of the district, SDO Kishanganj Mr. Khursheed Alam is an intelligent crew member. Both Mr. Feraque Ahmad and Khursheed Alam took the charges of DM (District Magistrate) and SDO (Sub Divisional Officer) at the same time, about two year back.

Since the acquisition of the post in Kishanganj, Mr. Khursheed Alam has worked efficiently and handled all the issues responsibly. Recently in absence of DM Kishanganj Mr. Feraque Ahmad, Mr. Khursheed Alam effectively handled the molestation case of 3.5 year minor girl of Bal Mandir School. Mr. Alam asked the private school authorities to exercise utmost caution while appointing staff for school buses. Similarly, in the flood relief work and other common people related issues Mr. Alam has led from the front and resolved them as well.

Looking simple in appearance, Mr. Alam is an accomplished officer and the district needs such government officials for the betterment of the area and its people. We expect similar affection from him in the future as well. And we are also ready to lend any type of support for the welfare of Kishanganj and its people.

Bal Mandir made essential amendments after meeting with DM & local representatives

After an unfortunate incident of molestation of a 3.5 girl child and continuous from the guardians/ parents/ wards as well as locals, the Bal Mandir School administration took some landmark decisions. First the school agreed upon providing liberty to the guardians to select school-dress (Salwar-Suit or Shirt-Skirt) for girl children from Class VI.

Further the school administration ensured that in future after every terminal examination the school would organise a meeting of the guardians and would take action on registered complains. Besides this, the school informed that all the alleged staffs involved in sexual harassment case have been suspended till the enquiry finishes.

DM Kishanganj Feraque Ahmad released a paper mentioning all the points discussed and the decisions taken by the school administration in a meeting with wards and active local citizens. The press release of DM also mentioned that the school is already agreed upon arranging separate washrooms and drinking water facilities for girls and boys.

Meanwhile, the group of people who took part in the meeting warned the school administration to keep the vigil eye for avoiding the unfortunate incident that happened a couple of weeks back.

Once considered as an alien school for some sects especially Muslims, Bal Mandir opened its gates for all sections of people about a decade back. However, the dress-code and other facilities of school were against the traditional culture of Muslims. Initially, the dress-code Shirt-Skirt was similar for all girl children from Nursery to Class XII. Earlier after the continuous complain of wards / guardians especially Muslim parents the school had already make it compulsory for girls to wear Salwar-Suit from Class IX.

Now after the courageous step of the parents of victim small girl, the school made special amendments in its curriculum on larger interest of the society. DM Kishanganj and concerned citizens and wards who compelled the school administration to made necessary changes also deserve plaudits.

On the whole, the incident in Bal Mandir was an alarming bell for all of us, and we need to keep our eyes and mind open to avoid such unfortunate circumstances in the future. Most importantly, DM Kishanganj the local people and guardians should also grill other schools of the district like Oriental, Crescent, Emaneul etc. and monitor the arrangements made for the safety and other things related to students.

Glorifying Moments of DM Kishanganj: Mr Feraque Ahmad

Continuing my earlier article about DM Kishanganj Mr. Feraque Ahmad, here I am sharing some of the glorifying moments passed in the life of Mr. Ahmad Sb. Along with his on job duties, Mr. Feraque Ahmad actively participate in various types of activities that include thought-provoking speeches. For his excellent performance, the Govt of Bihar has awarded the ‘Best DM Award’ in 2008.

Receving Award of Best DM from Deputy CM of Bihar Sushil Kumar Modi in 2008


Adressing a huge gathering at Haridwar in 2007

A report published in Rashtriya Sahara on December 8, 2008

True picture of Bal Mandir Incident

Five days has spent since the unfortunate incident of child molestation in the premises of famous Bal Mandir School in Kishanganj. As the reports circulated by the school authority to media, it totally denied its direct involvement in the molestation of 3.5 years old girl by a school bus driver. The school principal Mr. Gulab Shah told that the 20-year-old driver has been handed over to the police. As the matter made public, locals were highly enraged and also protested against the school.

However, truth is something else and the incident happened due to sheer negligence of a lady teacher. According to the statement of victim girl, the lady teacher herself told the school driver to take her to other place and frighten her (this statement was listened by my close source and narrated by victim’s parents as well). Not only on Friday, earlier too, the same lady teacher had said the driver to do the same thing, because the small child was not taking her lunch.

Of course, the lady teacher had done such act to compel the girl child to take her lunch. But is it justified to behave with a small 3.5 year child? I will say a big NO, because the teachers of children’s play schools have the primary duty to console the children and monitor them keenly. Instead of consoling the victim child, the lady teacher occupied another way which was not at all a logical one and encouraged the culprit to take the advantage.

I would like to say, not only the driver but the concerned lady teacher and the school administration is responsible for the whole episode and all should be grilled. The schools are charging high for guidance and care of the children, but such an unfortunate incident clearly describes, how much school administration are taking care of the children in school premises.

We should wake up and ensure whether the particular school is taking proper care or not? Besides this, the wards / guardians should visit the schools on frequent intervals to monitor the facilities offered to children.