Prof Mushirul Hassan was delivering a lecture on “Partner in Freedom: The Story of Jamia Millia Islamia” which can be termed as his “home coming” after he left the University unceremoniously.
By M Reyaz, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: Renowned Historian Professor Mushirul Hassan believes that the very idea of India and its pluralism is under attack with the coming of the Narendra Modi led BJP Government at the Center, but added that instead of losing heart, we should defend the plural, secular fabric of the country.
Prof Hassan was delivering a lecture at Jamia Millia Islamia on “Partners in Freedom: The Story of Jamia Millia Islamia” on Tuesday. He minced no words as he said, “I have no hesitation in saying that the ideas of pluralism are under attack with the new government in Delhi,” and continued that there is “serious trouble” and it needs to be recognized that there is an “attack on the very idea of India, its plurality, tolerance.” He added that we must defend the country not as Muslim or Hindu, but united as an Indian.
Prof Mushirul Hassan speaking at Jamia
Professor Hassan had taken voluntary retirement last year, after his differences with the administration when he alleged harassment and humiliation. His arrival to the campus after almost 10 months was thus a sort of “home coming” and he acknowledged that he was happy to be back.
He spoke on the role of Jamia Millia Islamia in the freedom struggle which began in the wake of the Non-Cooperation – Khilafat Movement in 1920. The lecture was based on a Coffee Table book that he had co-authored with Rakshanda Jaleel in 2006.
Pointing that in 1920s two contradicting ideologies had become popular in the country – on one hand Mahatama Gandhi and his ideas of inclusive, harmonious society had become very popular as it had found support both among the educated elites and rural populace; but around same time there was also a rise of Muslim nationalism led by Mohammad Ali Jinnah and the Muslim League (and Hindu nationalism led by Hindu Maha Sabha).
Prof Hassan pointed out that as a student of History we should not always judge an event but study and assesses it rather than out rightly rejecting it. He said that the Muslims of the period were faced with “enormous intellectual challenge between two contradicting ideologies,” and Jamia Millia Islamia, which would literally mean “National Muslim University”, was born in such a context.
Detailing the role of founders and patrons of Jamia, including Mohammad Ali Jauhar, Hakim Ajmal Khan, Hamid Ansari, Mohammad Mujeeb, Dr Zakir Hussain, among others and also the support extended by Mahatama Gandhi, he said, “Jamia has always stood for quintessentially nationalistic ideas” and they promoted the concept of “composite nationalism.”
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