Syyed Mansoor Agha
Knowledge is acclaimed as a most respectful, pleasant and effective tool of uplift in intellectual, economic, social and political status. Urge to acquire knowledge and share with others is embedded in human nature. It is why toddlers love to replicate what they see and repeat what they listen. Children enjoy listening stories and grandma feels delighted to narrate them. Education is a step forward. It is to select, categorize and streamline bits of knowledge as lessons.
There was a time when Muslim scholars enlightened the world in every branch of knowledge. They were masters of Literature, History, Geography, Oceanography, Astronomy, Algebra, Arithmetic, Physics, Chemistry and Medicine etc and enriched every branch of useful knowledge (Ilm-e-nafe). At some point of history, we lost the path and divided the knowledge in illusionary compartments. All India Educational Movement (AIEM) exhorts Muslims to excel in all branches of knowledge and contribute towards the betterment of mankind. At a time when world is experiencing explosion of knowledge and technology, we are lagging far behind. Until and unless make our own efforts and take mission of spreading education as a pious duty, we cannot compete in the world and shall remain suffering the discriminations. To come at par we need to make double efforts.
Customary system to make student memorize, is a little part of education. Real challenge is to stimulate faculties of seeing, hearing and understanding. Real challenge for an education system is to open-up minds and ignite student’s intellect for exploring further dimensions of the ‘knowledge-capsule’ education makes them to swallow. In nutshell, student’s brain should not be dead end for what we pour in, but must be alive to receive and anxious to explore further. The knowledge is of little use if mind is not receptive and active to ponder upon. It is why AIEM stresses upon “Quality Education” and use of “modern techniques of teaching” which endeavors to make students bold and subject interesting to them.
“Quality Education” includes moral excellence, character building and inculcating sense of service. Knowledge is like double sided sword. Aim of education should not be producing money churning machines but training of mind in a way that the man becomes savoir of the society and not exploiter or destructor of mankind.
To spread its mission, AIEM organizes annual conferences. On March 22-23, 2014, fifth Annual Conference was organized in Delhi with the theme “Technical and Professional Education – a tool of Empowerment.” (Report on inner pages) Planning for Sixth Conference is under way. We invite our readers to suggest a central theme and keep us informed of their activities.
AGM held on 23 March, retained old team for term 2014-17 barring two changes. Mr. Abdul Rasheed, a VP in last term is new General Secretary. He replaced Mr. Nizamuddin Molla on health grounds. Mr. Rasheed retired from Civil Service had served as Secretary to Mishra Commission. Mr. Mozaffar Ali is new treasurer. Success of new team depends on your co-operation. ----SMA
