Mulayam Singh Go Back !!!

AMU Students Blackened the Face of MSY's Banner in AMU

Mission accomplished!

Intense protests by AMU students leads to cancellation of Mulayam Singh Yadav's visit at AMU. We've clearly reiterated our stand that we shall not allow anyone to market AMU to further their political interests.

Long live Students' Activism! 

Down with Politics of Opportunism!

Down with Politics of Hate!

- Message from Riad Azam, Founding Member AAS

AMU Students show solidarity with Irom Sharmila

Various student organisations of AMU came together to show solidarity with Irom Sharmila and raise their voice against Armed Forces Special Powers Act, on Tuesday 5th November 2013. Irom Sharmila has been on a hunger strike for 13 years in Manipur against AFSPA.

The students affirmed that laws like AFSPA are a blot on Indian democracy and create an atmosphere for Human Rights violations. The keynote speakers were Dr. Mohibul Haque (Political Science) and social activist Faisal Khan( khudai khidmatgar). The gathering was also addressed by Ameen Ahmad, Abdullah Azzam, Amood Gulzar and other students.

The program was intended to highlight the struggle of Irom Sharmila and raise a demand for legal and political reforms to protect democracy and human rights in India.

The cheif organisers were SIO-AMU Zone, Khudai Khidmatgar and Aligarh Activists' Society. The program was convened by Fawaz Shaheen.

Ameen Ahmad's speech On Gandhi Jayanti

AAS programme on "The World Post-9/11"

University Literary Club in collaboration with Aligarh Activists’ Society organized a symposium with the title “End of Fiction? – The world Post 9/11” in Kennedy Auditorium on Wednesday. 

Fawaz Shaheen, a student of law, introduced the topic and welcomed the panel of students of various faculties on the stage. Anwarul Haque Shafey, Secretary ULC, opened the discussion by providing insightful commentary on the role of media in propagating wars. Ameen Ahmad, a student of Engineering, shared his perspective by stating that the ulterior motive of wars is the US-corporate dominance over the vast mineral resources in the conflict zones. Abdullah Azzam, Secretary SIO, argued that post 9/11 wars are actually a reflection of the fact that the USA needs an enemy for its own existence & Islamic civilizations have been created as the arch-enemy & the hated “other”. Riad Azam, M.A. English student, talked about human rights violations in the aftermath of 9/11 & the popular literary narratives on the 9/11 attacks. Lubna Irfan, student of Geography, discussed the geo-political details of the Afghanistan & Iraq wars. Humah Khan, student of economics talked about the economic costs of the war & anti-people effects on war-torn economies.

   

After the completion of Students panel discussion, Prof. Asmer Beg of Political Science department delivered his expert views on the topic. He provided in-depth analysis of the whole international conflicts. He stated that USA has become a totalitarian regime & that in the present times democracy has turned to a mere illusion in the USA itself.

Dr. Arshi Khan of the Political Science department discussed the conflicts in the Middle East created by USA for the purpose of creating its monopoly across the globe. He provided the fact-sheets regarding the creation of Al-Qaeda by the CIA for its own vested interests & the hidden supports of many Muslim countries this sinister plan.

The main organizers of the event were Ahmed Noman, Kashif Ilyas & Sarah Hashim Khan.

Paying for her Honesty : IAS Durga Shakti's Suspension as SDM of Greater Noida

Background: IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal, who was in the news last week for clamping down on illegal sand mafia in Greater Noida, was suspended from her duties as Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Gautam Budh Nagar on July 28, 2013.

At a time when the Indian nation as well as the society is going spirally downwards in integrity, honesty & justice, there still appear people who rise to challenge the corruptly rotten system armed with their self-confidence & zeal which helps them to stand firm & refuse to budge down in front of the seemingly omnipresent & omnipotent corrupt system. These "rebels" or "impractical" folks, as their own loved ones label them, face monumental hurdles, reckless mental tortures, continuous threat to life & everything that a person would prefer to avoid. Although these brave hearts have to face all sided assaults with great patience but still we can clearly witness that these are the people who are satisfied with what they do & in whatever situation they are because the intoxication of truth & justice is far greater than that of power & money.   

This present  case of IAS officer Durga Shakti points to certain conclusions which I would like to brief out (I have omitted some points which may be included in future analysis, inshallah).

1. Samajwadi Party's UP Government has proven yet again that it is not a government of Yadavs or Muslims or any other group(s) but rather it is a petty pawn in the hands of Criminals, Mafias & corporate.

2. Any officer doing his work honestly will either be suspended (like Durga Shakti), transferred (as like Ashok Khemka) or may even be killed (Like IPS Narendra Kumar Alig).

3. Illegal Mining corresponds to massive resource loot for which there is still not a national level consciousness.

4. Political leadership has ultimate level of interference in the working of the bureaucrats.

5. Even if she is reinstalled, she will most probably be transferred to such a place where she will not prove to be a further "nuisance" for the system.

6. Media is yet again busy with its TRP obsessed sensational cries disguised as journalism.

7. Congress, BJP & BSP leaders are attacking the SP government as if they all are saints.  

Egyptian Military Coup

Mohamed Morsi, the first democratically elected President of Egypt was ousted by a military coup on 3rd of July, 2013 painted as a reaction of the Army after witnessing that there was a second Tahrir "spring" involving protesters against Morsi's rule on various grounds and demanding his resignation. 

I will not analyze the whole pre & post coup events in detail but would like to share some points which will hopefully make my viewpoint somewhat clear.

1. On 30 June 2013, mass protests erupted across Egypt calling for the President's resignation, following severe fuel shortages and electricity outages that evidence shows were orchestrated by Mubarak-era Egyptian elites with the intention of causing a coup. (Mubarak Era people wanted ouster of Morsi)

2. The anti-Morsi demonstrators on the streets welcomed Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's decision overthrowing Morsi with celebrations and lifting posters for the General el-Sisi and chanting "The Army and the People are one hand", supporting General el-Sisi didn't stop at that but also reached the social networks as thousands of Egyptians changed their profile pictures to the picture of el-Sisi while others started campaigns requesting Al-Sisi to be given the field marshal military rank while others hoped him to nominate in the next presidential elections. (El-Sisi has very good relations with USA & Israel & its interesting that protestors were supporting the same army that they wanted to oust earlier).

3. From January 2013 the Al-Nour party (MB party's ally) gradually distanced itself from Mohammad Morsi's Brotherhood government, and came to join the opposition in the July 2013 coup which ousted Morsi. (Al-Nour has strong ties with Saudi Arabia which in turn has good relations with USA).

4. On 24 July, during a speech at a military parade, General el-Sisi called for mass demonstrations to grant his forces a “mandate” to crack down on “terrorism”. This was seen as contradicting the military’s pledges to hand over power to civilians after removing Mr. Morsi and as an indication for an imminent crackdown against Islamists. (Muslim Brotherhood will face repressions in future).

5. Pro-Morsi demonstrators (non-violent till now) are killed & the new government says that these protestors will be cleared "legally". (why dual standards for Pro & Anti Morsi camps).

References 

1. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/11/world/middleeast/improvements-in-egypt-suggest-a-campaign-that-undermined-morsi.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1

2. http://counterjihadreport.com/2013/07/15/egypts-morsi-gone-military-brings-hope-not-coup/

3. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/07/egypt-salafist-al-nour-party

4. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/25/world/middleeast/egypt.html

5. http://www.ibtimes.com/egypt-pro-morsi-demonstrators-stand-firm-despite-deadly-raids-1361923

Further Reading

On Muslim brotherhood http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_Brotherhood & their website www.ikhwanweb.com

Tariq Ramadan's analysis of these events http://www.tariqramadan.com/spip.php?article12927&lang=en

Coup or No Coup ? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/25/obama-egypt_n_3653775.html

& http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57595668/egypt-coup-or-not-a-coup/

- Ameen Ahmad, BE Electrical Engineerng

Development : An Environmental Perspective

• With around 5 percent of the world's population, the US consumes about 40% of the world's resources and emits around 21% of the worlds carbon dioxide, a greenhouse-causing gas.

• 75% of genetic diversity of agricultural crops has been lost

• 75% of the world’s fisheries are fully or overexploited

• Up to 70% of the world’s known species risk extinction if the global temperatures rise by more than 3.5°C

• 1/3rd of reef-building corals around the world are threatened with extinction

Development is certainly a very catchy term for the civilized men. To yearn for betterment is as old as the existence of the human race. This humanistic zeal has produced numerous technological marvels, sparkling innovations & countless scientific advancement. The world has been transformed into a global village owing to amazingly fast mediums of transportation. Despite all these developments, human beings have been unable to find incessant comfort in the material luxuries. Amidst the ever increasing connectivity of the mobile phone networks, many people feel that their links with the nature have actually been severed. NASA may be researching very hard to find an alternate inhabitable world but one wonders if it will accomplish anything to satisfy the unceasing human greed. The relentless exploitation of the natural resources may have increased the GDPs but not the human happiness. Water resources have been contaminated by life threatening chemicals. Air has been polluted to such an extent that with every intake of air we are damaging our lungs & other internal organs. Illegal mining is a menace that not only results in gigantic losses to the national treasuries but in addition to it causes massive damage to the invaluable biodiversity as the mining sites are predominantly located in forest areas. The consumption pattern of the modern materialistic societies is, frankly speaking, unsustainable. We can't treat the earth like our slave any longer. Climate change is a globally recognized crisis that is primarily caused by the headless exploitation of the earth’s resources. The time has come to rethink & redirect our lifestyles so as to be eco-friendly & sustainable. Global warming, climate change & ecological damage are some of the most relevant issues that endanger the very human existence. Holy Quran states “Corruption has appeared on the land and in the sea because of what the hands of humans have wrought. This is in order that we give them a taste of the consequences of their misdeeds that perhaps they will turn to the path of right guidance.” (C-30, V-41). Many experts and activists are realizing that the massive looting of natural resources to satisfy the material pursuits of luxuries needs to be stopped as it has undoubtedly contributed to the collective mess we are presently getting deeply entrapped in. To sum it up, the modern day American lifestyle, championed by the Neo-Liberals & craved by the elites of the developing countries, is clearly not the path the humanity should be following if we really care for the welfare of our future generations. We need to keep it in mind that we are not the masters of this earth but a component of it which implies that any harm to the nature will eventually harm us. Incorporating this vision in our developmental models will help us to develop a better future & will not cause a myopic development gauged by mere GDPs & growth rates. 

An Optimist's Analysis of AMUSU Elections 2012-13

AMU is a very unique world in itself. Just as when we start assuming that we are well versed with every aspect of this university, it offers new phenomenon to leave us baffled & in utter surprise. Aligarh Muslim University’s Students Union (AMUSU) Elections of 2012-13 is the latest event that has again proven that there are some newly seen patterns which demand in-depth reflections from all interested parties. These recently emerging patterns offer many positives which should be capitalized by those who are genuinely interested in the welfare of AMU.

                    AMUSU elections are indeed an event of national importance. With Jamia Millia Islamia’s administration banning Students’ Union in their university, AMUSU is the only students’ organization that has some legitimacy of claiming to represent the Indian Muslims in general & Indian Muslim youth in particular. Therefore, whatever happens in these elections & whoever gets elected requires a thorough analysis. This current election was pretty much different from the earlier two elections that I have witnessed. First, no printed posters were allowed to be pasted & university buildings were not defaced as the authorities maintained strict vigil & even minor violations were quickly responded with show-cause notices to the candidates. Second, the minimum 75 % attendance rule was strictly enforced leaving many candidates’ nomination papers cancelled. Third, the students were less enthusiastic this time around in comparison to the last two elections owing to multiple factors such as late holding of elections, corruption & dismal performance of last Students’ Union, relatively less number of eligible candidates, etc.

                      The election days are one of the most exciting times in the whole academic session. Every candidate was seen bent & offering salaam making an angle of almost 90 degrees. Every Tom, Dick & Harryclaimed to have at least 100 to 200 voters under his command. The sales of Cigarettes, Petrol & Tea had skyrocketed. The engines of the bikes asked for mercy due to constant noise created by the accelerators of bikes. Since, there was a ban on printed   posters the volunteers of the candidates came up with more creative posters created with sketch-pens & in some cases, even by Aerosol sprays. Candidates by-passed the directions of no-posters on University walls by pasting their hand-made posters on virtually every tree (as trees can’t be considered a wall) of the campus. Sir Syed (North) Hall was made their “office” by most of the candidates while other halls were  almost silent spectators of the elections. It was also quite common to see promises being done, of betrayals being committed by one’s own trusted “friends”, pacts done by regional lobbyists & rhetorical promises of the candidates.

                One of the positives that can be drawn from this election is the seemingly declining influence of highest- level regional seniors-cum-University mafia on the general students. The reason is attributed to the  less frequent interaction of Seniors & Juniors nowadays compared to what have been the case a decade earlier. The fresher students have their own aspirations & circles leading to a lesser influence of the senior“vultures” of their respective regions on their voting behaviour. The other positive development was the showing of more political maturity by the Aligs this time when a candidate was alleged to be sponsored by the “Communists” - a term to denote the most devilish section of the AMU by some. I personally felt pretty glad to be told by many of my friends that this was a dirty conspiracy of the opponents to discredit the candidate. Earlier, this labeling was a very easy way to delegitimize anyone & the voters were very easily swayed by this propaganda. This incident shows that most of us have learnt from our earlier mistakes & will not be deceived so easily by mere allegations.

                Being a student of engineering, I am a close witness to the generally apathetic attitude of the majority of my  college-mates regarding student politics & AMUSU elections. It is unfortunate that the students of Engineering faculty which comprises of approximately one-fourth of the total registered voters don’t take much interests in politics. Most of the engineers cast their votes without much thought either on the request of their known ones or on some other petty criteria like region, department, personal relations, etc. But, it came as a pleasant surprise that on the polling day of this elections many of my college-mates were casting votes, especially for the post of President & Vice-President for a candidate they considered to be “deserving” based upon the candidates’ past activities & achievements.

                At last, I want to say that I personally see some promising developments in the usually dirty politics of Students’ Union elections which gives me hope to actively engage ourselves in materializing on these positives to restore AMUSU’s past glory. Efforts are also required to be directed to aware our fellow students regarding the importance of students’ politics & offering opposition to counter check the corrupt-practices of student leaders once they come in power. Let’s see if we can make some constructive contributions to our beloved  institution.

Student Groups in A.M.U.

        There are many student groups in AMU which are doing their level best to bring about the revival in the status of this prestigious university, its cultural heritage, its intellectual heritage and various other glorious aspects of our beloved institution. But unfortunately, when I Googled "Student groups in AMU" I saw more links related to the clashes between different lobbies in our university. It is as if the only thing relevant with a query of student groups  are the "katta goons" out here and that make outsiders perceive that here is a dearth of student groups related to constructive activism. 

           I wrote this piece of information just to attempt to erase the blots the google search is putting on us. By clicking on this article & by recommending it further, you as a reader will be helping to get this article at the top of google search. 

You can further assist by performing these two steps.

1. Open www.google.com & type "Student Groups in AMU".

2. Out of the resulting queries only click on the link of this page which will be titled as "Aligarh Activists' Society : The "Official" Blog: Student Groups in AMU".

         While I am busy in cyber activism, I personally feel that we, as students of AMU, haven't used the full potential of Internet in conveying our voices to the world. A lot of work can be done on this front.

       In near future, I plan (if Almighty wills) to form a Cyber group of Aligarh Muslim University to promote a better image of A.M.U. and to eradicate the defaming links put up on the internet. Your views & comments are welcomed.

         I am also thinking of expanding this article and write about the different student groups like SIO, Eco-club, Helping Hands etc which are active in AMU. 

---->> As of Now this POST is ranked on 4th number (because of  many people who helped me out) with search query typed as "Student groups in AMU".

----->> I have created a page on the website of Aligarh Activists' Society on this topic, as a page is much more search engine friendly than a blog post. Click here to visit that page.

- By Ameen Ahmad

Email ID : ameenalig@gmail.com