Prime Minister Narendra Modi today addressed the centenary celebrations of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) via video conferencing. He hailed the contribution of AMU in nation-building and in elevating India's position among Islamic countries during the 100 years of its existence. AMU Chancellor Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin & Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank were also present on the occasion.
“Today, people from AMU have trained in hundreds of countries of the world, along with the best places in India. The educated people of AMU represent the culture of India, anywhere in the world. History of education attached to AMU buildings is India’s valuable heritage,” PM Modi said.
PM Modi talked extensively about the making of New India through Atma Nirbhar Bharat. He said, Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas is the mantra behind it.”Whatever religion we are born in, it is important to see how to blend our aspirations with national goals. There can be ideological divides in society but when it comes to the nation’s development, everything else is secondary. When it comes to the nation, there is no question of ideological differences. It is logical for me to say this here because AMU produced many freedom fighters – they had their ideological differences but they set that aside for freedom. Like freedom united them, we have to work on common ground for ‘Naya Bharat’.”
He also released a postal stamp as part of AMU’s centenary celebrations. The pre-independence Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College founded by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan became Aligarh Muslim University on December 1, 1920. AMU was formally inaugurated as a university on December 17 that year. This is the first time PM Modi is participating in a program of Aligarh Muslim University. The last Prime Minister to participate in an event at AMU was Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1964. Before him, India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had visited the university four times.
