In an encouraging trend viewed against the backdrop of the stigma of being aloof from the mainstream Indian culture attached to the Muslim community people, the Muslim students of Uttarakhand have proved exemplary by taking to research projects on the peerless greatness of the Indian culture of their own accord.
During the three-day “Samavartan” of Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya which saw a gathering of nearly 5000 people, including 2000 students, who were awarded degrees in different streams, Mohammad Amir became the cynosure of all eyes. He was the solitary Muslim student being awarded a doctoral degree with the subject of his research being “Indian History and Culture”. His guide has been none other than the chancellor of the university, Dr Pranav Pandya. Another PhD scholar Ghulam Azgari Zaidi is on his way to complete his doctoral studies next year with the thesis he is working on being a comparative study between Hindu Vedic and Muslim mode of prayer.
Hailing from Khelpur village of Bhagwanpur block of Haridwar district, Mohammad Amir says in an exclusive chat with The Pioneer that after completing his post- graduation from Saharanpur-based M S College he had chosen Indian History and Culture as his subject for PhD from Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya. “The all-encompassing, inclusive and plastic character of the Indian culture really cast its spell on my mind. And this is what I have humbly tried to bring into focus in my thesis,” he said, adding that those found boasting about violence to establish the hegemony of a particular religion on other creeds would definitely be chastened if they delve a bit into the catholic and all-embracing spirit of the timeless Indian culture.
On the issue of ‘Triple Talaq’, Amir who had come with his mother, wife and daughter to take the degree from the University, said, “Parivartan (change in mindset) is a must. True, the rules have been laid down in Islam but it does not mean that one should use the privileges given by the religion for the furtherance of his own vested interests to the detriment of the interests of others.” Chancellor Pranav Pandya proudly stated that one of his students Ghulam Azgari from lucknow would be completing next year his doctoral thesis on a comparative study of Namaz and Upasna. The essence of prayers enshrined in the scriptures of all the religions is the same, though the mode of praying may vary from religion to religion, he added.