AMU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, MUMBAI, CONDOLES DEATH OF DR MAHMOODUR RAHMAN, FORMER AMU’s VICE-CHANCELLOR
Mumbai: Members of AMU Alumni Association Mumbai have condoled the death of former AMU Vice-Chancellor Dr Mahmood ur Rahman. A group of AMU alumni based in Mumbai met at AMU Alumni Association Mumbai’s general secretary Rais Ahmed’s Andheri-based office to pay homage to the former VC who was a multi-faceted personality and contributed a lot to the community and the country as AMU’s VC, a bureaucrat, a scholar and chairman of Bombay Mercantile Bank.
Paying his heartfelt condolences, Rais Ahmed called Dr Rahman a visionary who, in various capacities in the public life, had left a mark. Reading out a brief bio of Dr Rahman, Ahmed said that Dr Rahman would be missed for a long time as a man of such caliber is hard to find today. “Dr Rahman headed AMU at a time when it badly needed a great disciplinarian since lawlessness had become rampant on the campus,” said Ahmed who also prayed for peace to the soul of Dr Rahman and sabr to his bereaved family. During his tenure, recalled Ahmed, several new buildings were built.
In fact, many speakers recalled Dr Rahman’s contribution as a good administrator who took the challenge and brought the university from the brink of falling into the hands of goonda elements.
Anwar Khan recalled meeting Dr Rahman a couple of times at the Bombay Mercantile Bank Office in Mumbai. “Dr Rahman rescued Bombay Mercantile Bank from sinking. He saved this institution with his great administrative acumen,” said Khan.
Mohammed Wajihuddin recalled that he first met Dr Rahman when the later had just been appointed AMU’s VC and not even taken charge. “He appeared quite dashing, motivated and a tough taskmaster. The first thing he said he wanted to do was to bring in discipline on the campus,” said Wajihuddin who also recalled many incidents which showed that Dr Rahman truly loved AMU though he had not studied here. “The biggest contribution of Dr Rahman to AMU is the main university road which he got transferred from UP POWD to the university. He got it done because he convinced the then UP chief minister Kalyan Singh that since the road belonged to UP government, heavy vehicles and anti-social elements would enter the university campus,” said Wajihuddin. Dr Rahman loved Allama Iqbal and knew hundreds of the poet’s couplets by heart. He also got a couplet of Iqbal inscribed on the university gate–Bab-e-Syed–that he got built.
Shariq Nisar who was a student during Dr Rahman’s tenure as VC recalled many interesting incidents which showed Dr Rahman’s ability as a good administrator and visionary. “He would not delay in taking decisions. If he was convinced of any proposal he would decide on the spot,” said Nisar who remembered how Dr Rahman had facilitated a tour of students when there was little hope that the students would get a chance to go on trip as there was no funds, no vehicle. Yet the former VC arranged everything because he knew the students were excited about the tour. Nisar also recalled how once Dr Rahman pounced upon a self-styled dada and pinned him down, sitting on his chest to send a message that he was not just tough mentally but could prove his prowess physically too.
English Khan said Dr Rahman would be remembered for his efforts to bring order and discipline on the campus. “It was a time when some students would carry kattas (locally made revolvers) hiding beneath their sherwanis and fire in the air to scare the administrators and students. Dr Rahman curbed this trend and cleared the university of those hawai firing baaz gang.
Faridul Haq Khan he didn’t know Dr Rahman personally but from what he had read and heard from friends and peers is that he had drafted India’s Tibbet policy which later governments have followed.
Mona Alvi, in her presidential comment, paid homage to Dr Rahman and said that his death is a great loss for not just Muslims but the country too.
The programme ended with Maulana Sabir Al Quadri’s dua. May Allah grant Dr Rahman a place in jannah and courage to his family to bear this loss. Ameen.
Posted By , 17 Jul 2017
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