President of India inaugurates AMU Murshidabad Centre's campus

Feb 20, 2014 | Bhatkallys News ALIGARH/Murshidabad: “Education is the only trusted tool for empowerment and it alone helps people to build a respectable career and character”, said the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee today at Murshidabad in West Bengal. He was addressing at a programme after inaugurating the newly constructed campus of the AMU Murshidabad Centre. Shri Mukherjee said that knowledge is power and it brings all kinds of social, economic and political empowerment to the people. He said that he had a dream of bringing AMU to Murshidabad since he was first elected Member of Parliament from Murshidabad. He said that he had noticed students, especially Muslims students going in large numbers to AMU for higher studies. He said that finally his dream has come true with the establishment of this centre. He said that Murshidabad has been a great centre of knowledge during the 18^th century and it significantly contributed to the great Bengal Awakening those days. He hoped that with the establishment of this centre, Murshidabad has been set on a course of resurgence and soon it will attain its lost glory. He however, pointed out that it was more essential to focus on providing quality education. Shri Mukherjee said that Sir Syed wanted AMU to grow and spread all over the country and he pronounced his vision while laying the foundation stone of Mohammedan Anglo Oriental College. The President of India said that Sir Syed’s dream has been materialized with the establishment of three centres of AMU in Murshidabad, Malappuram and Kishanganj. He said that AMU has been a great edifice of enlightenment and intellectual development. It has produced several great personalities including the great freedom fighter, Rafi Ahmad Kidwai and the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, Liaqat Ali Khan. Earlier, in his welcome address, AMU Vice Chancellor, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Zameer Uddin Shah said that AMU felt proud of the fact that the President of India has visited AMU thrice during the last three months. It is a reflection of his special feeling towards AMU, he added. He also thanked the Government of West Bengal for providing land for the Centre and extending help and assistance in developing infrastructure. The Vice Chancellor said that he wanted local students to take admission at this centre in large numbers. He said that he wanted to establish a Polytechnic at this centre as soon as possible. He said that availability of increased funds was fore most need of the Centre to establish a health centre and a polytechnic. He also stressed the need for linking the two pieces of land on either side of the Farakka Barrage through a bridge. The President of India in his address assured the Voice Chancellor that soon a bridge will be built near Farakka Barrage to link the two pieces of AMU Murshidabad Centre’s land and a water purification plant will also be established in the centre to tackle the drinking water problem in the Centre. He said that expenditure on projects will be borne by the central government. Expressing gratitude to the guests, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Brig. (Retd.) S. Ahmad Ali thanked the President of India for his constant help. He also thanked the West Bengal government for its continued support and cooperation. Brig. Ali especially thanked the Chairman and Managing Director of HCL, Shri Bhaduri for successfully carrying out the construction work in the campus. He appreciated the role of District Administration of Murshidabad in providing logistic support to organize the programme. West Bengal Governor, Shri M. K. Narayanan, local Member of Parliament, Shri Abhijeet Mukhrjee, local MLA and a number of distinguished personalities were present during the programme. From AMU, Dean, Faculty of Law, Prof. Iqbal Ali Khan, Dean, Faculty of Management, Prof. Israrul Haque, Prof. Pervez Talib, University Engineer, Mr. Firoz Khan and PRO, Dr. Rahat Abrar were also present on the occasion. The President of India, along with the AMU Vice Chancellor took a round through the campus in a car. AMU Vice Chancellor, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Zameer Uddin Shah  presented a memento to the President while Pro-Vice Chancellor, Brig. (Retd.) S. Ahmad Ali felicitated the Governor of West Bengal with a memento.