Aligarh: President of India invited for centenary celebration of AMU in 2020

AGRA: To mark the centenary celebrations of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), the vice chancellor of the varsity has invited the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind at the inaugural function on December 17, 2020.
AMU vice chancellor (VC) Prof Tariq Mansoor while chairing a consultative meeting to chalk out the detailed programme of the centenary celebrations informed that a formal invitation to the President of India for the inaugurating celebrations has already been sent.
According to university administration, the University came into existence on December 1, 1920 by a government notification. However, the inaugural function of the University was held on December 17, 1920.
The vice chancellor has appealed to the University staff and its alumni to generate funds for the celebrations. To begin with, the vice chancellor directed the finance officer to deduct Rs 50,000 from his salary to commence the voluntary contribution drive for the centenary endowment.
"We are also contacting other funding agencies and other organizations for providing funds for the centenary celebrations", Prof Mansoor said during the meeting. He said that University Grants Commission (UGC) will also be requested to grant Rs 20 crores for holding various programmes to mark the occasion.
To make the occasion memorable, the University has decided to publish a coffee table book on notable achievements of the institution over the last 100 years. In addition to this, a series of lectures will be held by various departments of studies and eminent scholars will be invited to speak on the historical evolution of the institution. Further, a centenary Alumni meet will be organized and a World Alumni Directory will be published as part of the centenary celebrations.
The University has mooted plans to construct a Centenary Gate at its Purani Chungi entrance on the pattern of Bab-e-Syed, a centenary Alumni Guest House with a projected amount of Rs 5 to 6 crores and centenary reading halls at Maulana Azad Library and Women's College premises, besides submitting a proposal to the UGC for the establishment of an Institute of Professional Studies for Women at a cost of Rs 1.40 crore.
The University has also proposed to construct a Convention Centre at a cost of Rs 40 crores to provide common facilities for seminars, conferences and other academic activities.
Besides this, the University has also decided to set up a Sir Syed Chair which has already been approved by the Academic Council and the Finance Committee. The Vice Chancellor also opined that a documentary should be produced highlighting the achievements of the University.
Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Akhtar Haseeb, Honorary Treasurer, Prof Hakeem Syed Zillur Rahman, Registrar Mr Abdul Hamid, IPS, all Deans of Faculties, Principals of Colleges and Directors of various centres attended the meeting.