Some Quotes on Activism

“The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference.”

― Elie Wiesel

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

― Margaret Mead

“Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

― Martin Luther King Jr.

“We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”

― Elie Wiesel

“Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.”

― Mother Teresa

FAWAZ SHAHEEN SCRIPTS HISTORY !!

It is a matter of great pride and ecstasy for the entire Alig Community, that one of our brothers shall be representing our alma mater in National Television. Fawaz Shaheen, a student of B. A. LL. B (Fourth Year) has been selected to speak in a National Youth Parliament event, organized by Times Now and Times of India. The event known as “I Lead India” is an initiative which intends to engage the youth of the nation in the democratic process and seeks to provide them a platform to ask questions to the political class and demand their accountability in their process of Policy framing. 

The event had a tough selection process wherein 45 students from all across India were short listed on the basis of a 3 minute video presentation concerning India’s Political Class, Indian Economy and Foreign Policies. From these top 45 participants, 12 were finalized based upon a mock Parliament which was held in New Delhi. Fawaz Shaheen will be speaking against the motion "The Political Class of India has failed to meet the aspirations of India's youth".

The mega event will be recorded on the 3rd of October and shall be broadcast by Times Now and covered by The Times of India on 12th & 13rd October. It will feature these 12 participants facing off with prominent politicians and social activists which include Manish Tiwari (Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting), Sachin Pilot (Minister of State for Corporate Affairs), Mr. Yogendra Yadav (Social Scientist), Kiran Bedi (Social Activist & Retired IPS officer), Mrs. Kiran Majumdar Shaw (Corporate Honcho) and Mr. Brahma Chellaney (Public Intellectual & Strategic Thinker).

We implore upon all the Aligs to support our brother by generating more information regarding the event, and be a part of this hour of glory by watching the programme at Times Now.

The 2-hour recorded debate will be telecasted on TIMES NOW on three occasions.
1. On 12th of October (Saturday) from 2pm to 4pm
2. On 13th of October (Sunday) from 11am to 1pm

3. On 13th of October (Sunday) from 7pm to 9pm.


For further details contact us at:-

9045497625, 9045205890

You can also mail us at:- aasaligarh@gmail.com

Or you can also visit the website of the event:- 

http://youthparliament.ileadindia.com/index.php

Tehzeeb v/s Progress: An Analysis of the Great Divide over Abdullah Hall

                       Abdullah Hall. Women’s College. A mere reference to these words is enough to set alight any dhaba discussion or hostel gup-shup in our University and immediately polarise the participants. Anyone taking a supposedly “pro-women” stance is immediately labelled anti-Islamic, ‘communist’, 'deheria' and the like. Anyone taking a “pro-tehzeeb” stand is immediately labelled anti-women, ‘conservative’, daqiya-nusi and their ilk.

             The only agreement that seems to exist is over the fact that there is some problem in the Women’s College, requiring some sort of a solution. The disagreement exists over everything else, be it the problems or the solutions to those contested problems.

Why the Aligarh Activists' Society is formed?

Taking a leaf from the glorious traditions of student activism at the Aligarh Muslim University campus, the Aligarh Activists’ Society was incepted in August 2011 with an aim of providing active students’ participation and sensitizing them on the pertinent socio-political issues of our times.  During the past few decades, the educational institutes of our country have witnessed radical changes. Students’ politics, hitherto seen as a tool for realising students’ rights and preparing them for taking up the onus of nation-building in future, today has become synonymous with flagrant exercise of money and muscle power, nepotism and debauchery.

The AMU has had its own set of issues and problems. Issues like regionalism, naked exercise of money and muscle power among a plethora of others, have time and again plagued the healthy development of students’ politics and activism in this campus. Politics deprived of ideas and ideals have repeatedly lead to violent clashes amongst the students thereby jeopardising the prospects of growth and development of our University. Following the nightmarish events of student violence in 2007 which lead to the sine-die closure of the University, an urgency was felt among the AMU student fraternity for bringing about a change in the state of affairs.

The biggest change that we need to see in our campus is the development of a platform which would be a congenial medium for vibrant discourses on the socio-political issues that affect us. The lack of discourse over the years has lead to an intellectual stagnation which, we believe, is the root cause of all the problems that plague the Aligarh Muslim University today. We organise seminars, conferences, panel discussions, and workshops to develop awareness, and shape our opinion about the contemporary happenings. In future, we also seek to promote our ideas and ideals through more innovative mediums such as street plays, cartoons, wall magazines, etc.

We appeal to all the stakeholders of our University in joining us in building a better AMU which can realise the dreams and aspirations of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, an apostle of pluralism and educational empowerment. The writing on the wall is quite clear, “We can, We will”. Come, let us realise it together.