Er.Ahmad Rais Siddiqi |
Prof.Azis shares his vision, mission and compulsion with
international Radio, TV Commentator and Quiz Master,
Er.Ahmad Rais Siddiqi, an old boy of AMU
(Aligarh Muslim University) Aligarh.
I had gone to my hometown Aligarh, recently, after almost a year, to attend the wedding of my nephiew, where, all of a sudden, I thought, just to say ‘Hello’ to the new Vice-Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University, Aligargh, Prof.P.K.Abdul Azis, who took over as the VC of AMU on June 11th 2007.
But, I had apprehensions that, since, he was very bussy these days, so it would be difficult for him to give me an appointment? However, I had a ray of hope to see him later on when I visit Aligargh, next time. But, half-heartedly, I gave my visiting card to Dr.Rahat Abrar, P.R.O.of AMU, who, immediately, sent my card through the P.A.of Prof.Azis.
This was at 3.PM and I was allowed to meet him at 4PM at ‘The VC Lodge’ and I was given a time of 'ten minutes' only.
I reached there, dot at 4pm., where, Prof.Azis, welcomed me, wholeheartedly.
I talked in his mother tongue, “Malayalam”, Sir, Assalaam -o-alaikum; “Wishesh angal endalaam”, means, ‘How are you?’ And “ Naan ninney premmi kunno”, means ‘I love you’.
He was, initially, stunned to see me speaking in his mother tongue! I told him “Sir, I can speak in your mother tongue but you can not speak in my mother tongue ‘Urdu’?
It is for the very first time, in the history of AMU, that a VC has joined here who doesn’t know the language of the town “Urdu” or even, Hindi?
Since, he has come from the Southern part of the country, Kerala, people of the Northern part of the country, speak, mostly, Hindi or Urdu which is the mother tongue of the local people of the Aligarh Muslim University.So, I gave him a surprise by speaking some Malayalam.
But, later on, we talked in English only.
He asked about my association with this University and my relatives here.
I told him that my association with this University is very old, as our five generations have been associated with it from the very first day of the time of late Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, the founder of this Univerity.My great- grand father, late Shaikh Abdul Kareem who was the Personal Manager of Sir Syed, had come from Delhi to Aligarh along with the grand son of Sir Syed, Sir Ross Masood, more than a century ago. My grand father, late Skaikh Ameer Uddin and my father, late Rais Uddin (both were, initially, teachers in Meerut in U.P.), came here and served this institution in some or the other positions. My father’s real maternal uncle and son of Shaikh Abdul Kareem, late Prof.Omar Ali Siddiqi was a Gold medallist and topped in M.A. (Mathematics) and became a professor of mathematics and the first head of the department of Applied Sciences in Engineering College, here, and his elder brother, late Mohammad Ali, was the in- charge and Registrar (Exams). And, even, today, my youngest brother, Shahid Rais Siddiqi and my only younger sister, Qaiser Rais Siddiqi, is teaching here and many other close relatives are working or studying here.
He was impressed to know that my roots are from the times of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. He asked about my other activities, interests and education etc.
I told him that, I did my Mechanical Engineering course from here and I was very, naughty, but quite active in sports and was the champion of AMU for several years and Captain of Table Tennis and Gymkhana Clubs of AMU.I won many all India level tournaments and brought the laurels for this University.Later, I worked in UPSEB as Junior Engineer from 1975 and, afterwards, on promotion, joined NTPC as Assistant Engineer in 1984, and got six promotions here and, presently, I am working in NTPC Ltd as Manager (New Business Development) and posted in New Delhi.
Here, in NTPC, I am all India NTPC TT and Tennis champion and captain also.
I am also the first All India Power Sector TT Champion and won many tournaments for the company. Besides, I am an international Radio, TV Commentator and Quiz Master. And I have covered many national and international events including, Commonwealth, World TT Championships and World Doubles Tennis event, first Afro-Asian Gamers, several Davis Cup Ties, Nehru Hockey finals, Durrand Cup and Subrotto Cup football finals, Day and night Cricket, Indo-Pak Cricket Test at Delhi and many other sports events in the last two decades and so, from Doordarshan Sports Channel and All India Radio. I also anchor programmes from these Channels in Hindi, Urdu and English on Cultural, Sports and features etc. I am also a Quizmaster. I also do write in three languages, English, Hindi and Urdu in national and international dailies, magazines, journals and web magazines etc. on subjects of Science, Environment, Political, Spiritual, Sports and Features etc.
I told him, “I am the only student from this University who had played TT up to national level and I also had one unique “World record to my credit” as I was the leader of the “World’s longest on road roller skating rally from AMU.Aligarh to Lahore in Pakistan in 1978,when, the then, PM of India late Mrs.Indira Gandhi gave a send off to our Rally from her residence in Delhi in January 1978 for Lahore”. Other members were, Arif Ali Khan (on Skates) and Israr Ali Khan (on Bicycle). Our Rally, innitally, was to go up to Teheran in Iran, where, my younger brother, late Hamid Rais Siddiqi was working.
Prof.A.M.Khusro, the then, VC of AMU, had arranged our visas for Afghanistan and Iran, through the External Affairs Ministry, Govt. of India.But, very, unfortunately, the then, President of Pakistan, late General Zia-ul-Haque, refused the visa of Pakistan, thinking, as if we were three Indian spies passing through his land.
We were deeply shocked, shattered and, totally, demoralized, to learn this bad news and so we terminated our rally up to Lahore City only. But it is still an unbroken “ Longest on Road Roller Skating World record”.
 | Vice-Chancellor of A.M.U.Aligarh - Prof.P.K.Abdul Azis |
Prof. Azis was, now, more astonished but seemed very delighted to know this special and unique achievement by three students of this University, and, immediately, asked me to do some similar skating adventures. I ensured him to do something like that in future. After some “Self praise is no praise” from me, I told him many other things about me. He appeared to be quite impressed with my achievements and candid approach!
He took keen interest in sports and asked me to advise him for better sports cultural here.
He enquired many other things about this institution and the people here and we spoke at length on many other relevant topics.
I thought, “I should request him for a brief interview, if possible, now?” He agreed for it, happily. I was surprised, naturally, but delighted obviously.
First of all, I took his photographs with my mobile camera from different angles. He told me, “You are a good photographer.” I thanked him for his encouraging complement. I told him, “ Sir, I do it as a hobby only not as a profession.”
Prof.Azis told me that he was born on 18th January 1947 in a village in Kerala.
He passed his high school from Aluva, Thodpozha in Kerala.
He passed his B.Sc. in 1967 and did M.Sc.in 1970.
He did his PhD in 1978 and completed his D.Sc.in 2004.
Before joing at Aligargh, he was the VC of Cochin University of Science and Technology.
He has worked in Saudi Arabia in SWCC and has over 28 years of experience in industry and University. Q: Sir, “How are you feeling on your new assignment as VC of AMU?”
A: At the moment, I am very comfortable and enjoying my work here, but let us see how it moves on? Q: What are your plans and vision about this University?
A: I want to enhance the standard of this institution, so that it could become one of the top most institutions of the World. But for that the students and teachers of this university will have to study and work very hard and do some great research work, than, only it would become one of the best Universities in the world. Q: Are you planning to start some new courses here?
A: Yes, I want to introduce some new courses so that the students of this University could be able to get better jobs in future. Q: Which courses you are planning?
A: For example, Nano-Technology, BioTech and BioInformatics etc. Q: You have promised to improve the standard of hostels, halls, dinning halls and reading rooms etc?
A: Yes; “I had asked the concerned officers to provide better environment and do the white washing of these buildings before this new session and you must have now observed that these buildings are looking better”? Q: Are you also planning to renovate the old and historic buildings of this University?
A: Yes; I have asked the concerned officers of the Muzeology department to give me the details of these buildings. And I hope to bring sufficient funds from UGC etc.for that. Q: within a short time of your joing here, you have already organized the Executive Council meeting and took many bold and essential decisions?
A: Yes, I tought that I should organize EC, Court meeting and financial meetings etc. as soon as possible, so that some work must be completed. And I formed some new committees in which I included those people who are experts in their field, for example, Justice (Retired.) Saghir Ahmad, Advocate, Zafar Yaab Jilani, Waseem Ahmad (former MP), Prof.Habib-ur-Rehman (VC of Agra University), Prof.Tariq Mansoor, Prof.Jawed Akhtar and Prof.Jamshed Siddiqui etc. They are members of different committees to look after various issues and problems of AMU. Q: It would be better, if you could invite here, some old boys who are on higher positions, so that they could guide the students for better job opportunities?
A: This is your good suggestion, so you tell me the names of such old boys; I shall do so, surely. Q: Are you facing the language problem here, because, people, here, find it difficult to speak, freely, in English?
A: No, no, not at all! ‘I have, absolutely, no problem here because these people speak good English. They understand me and I do understand their English language very well. Q: But, some, professors, teachers and students could speak freely in English but the fourth grade employees and the non-teaching staff members could not be well conversant with English? So, I request to you Sir, to have an interpreter with you so that you would be able to understand them better and they feel free to talk to you for better functioning here?
A: Yes;I will do so, and I have already fixed one hour daily for meeting these people. Q: I think, there is no harm, if you could find some time-out of your very busy schedule, to learn the language of the town, Urdu and Hindi, so that, gradually, you would be able to communicate with each and every one, confidentally, and this would be another feather on your cape for the local people here.
A: O. K, I will try. “He was, positive this time also as if he would try this too. Q: You must meet all sections of students, teachers, fourth-grade employees and even non-teaching staff and listen to their problems and that will help you understand their problems and they would gain confidence in you too.
A: Yes, you are right; “ I will do that.”
I discussed with him on many issues and he was always willing to accept good suggestions for the improvement of this institution and asked me to suggest him any idea that would be good for this University. With this, first meeting, I found him a very sincere, positive and dedicated person with a good amount of humor in him and an encouraging personality with very high dreams to do the best for this University but with clear-cut, candid and true dedication. He was clear in his approach to do the best possible work as VC, but with neat and clean methods, according to the very prescribed rules and regulations only. No short cuts and pressure techniques?
I am sure, at the moment, that if he maintains his sincere and true dedication for the job at hands, he would prove himself to be a very sincere, dedicated and successful Vice Chancellor of this century old University.
The time given to me was initially, only “ten minutes” but more than “40 minutes”, had, already, passed in this meeting.
So, I requested him to take the leave as some other more important visitors were waiting out side.
He desired to meet me next time with more time for me, when I visit Aligarh next time, but this time with prior appointment.
He thanked me for visiting him and I also thanked him for his valuable time given to me at such a very short notice.
I came out from “TheVC Lodge” with great impression of the new VC of my University from where I had learnt “the abcd of letters and purpose of life” and graduated more than three decades ago.Over all, it was a very candid, free, frank and nice meeting with Prof.P.K.Abdul Azis VC of AMU Aligarh.
Er.Ahmad Rais Siddiqi
International radio, TV commentator & Quiz Master,
Manager (NBD) NTPC Ltd.New Delhi,
Former champion & captain AMU TT and Gymkhana Clubs,
Former UP State TT captain,
Former champion and Captain All India NTPC TT & Tennis,
First All India Power Sector TT Champion,
Science, environment, political, spiritual, sports & features writer.
Permanent mailing address; 84-G, Sector-7, Jasola Vihar, New Delhi110025.
(M) +91 9868390783; Phone No; +91 1126941345®
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