Rethinking Islam with Sultan Shahin

Letters to the Editor

19 Feb 2010, NewAgeIslam.Com

Aligarh Muslim University: Medical College on the verge collapse

Sir, This refers to the painful news item TNN Feb 9, 2010, MCI threatens de-recognition of 11 medical colleges including JN Medical College, AMU. I am shocked and pained to see this all. My small write up regarding the medical college affairs may create some debate but for the benefit of the system. It is humbly requested to you sir to give a serious perusal and take action in the best interest of the institution. Even the district hospital system would be better than the current JNMC hospital system. The college had to emerge as a model for transparency and accountability in the true spirit of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. But alas the tragically entrenched vested interests have been allowed to hijack the mission of the founder the college. A powerful axis of dishonest-administrators and education mafia at the campus has made the system collapse. Those who were meant to be in the vanguard of fighting corruption are fighting to protect the corruption. A rogue’s gallery of corrupt academicians and administrators are creating money out of each grant released by the UGC. … With regards! Dr. Umar Ahmad MBBS, 75 batch, Present Location ????? Photo: Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University URL of this page: http://www.newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamLetters_1.aspx?ArticleID=2479 --- Rise and Fall of JN Medical College, AMU: MCI threatens de-recognition It is virtually unknown to the present generation and a fading memory for those old enough to know that JN Medical College came into existence not through huge grants but through the perseverance and enthusiasm of a few dedicated persons (Momineen). It was the brain child of Dr. Sir Ziauddin Saheb who visualized the need of a medical college for our poor community at Aligarh even before India’s independence. As a result he summoned some of his distinguished colleagues and students to work for the establishment of prestigious medical college at the Aligarh Muslim University. They traversed the length and breadth of the country to raise the funds for this medical college under the dynamic leadership of Prof. Hadi Hasan Saheb who was really a leading force in this fund raising campaign and nearly eight million rupees were collected from all corners of the nation for this noble cause. Finally the medical college was declared open on 2nd Oct, 1962 by the mercy of God .Colonel S. Bashir Hasan Zaidi (VC), Major SMH Naqvi (Principal) and Mr. M M Siddiqui (Registrar) must be given due credit/ regards/respects for overcoming all difficulties and hurdles in the process of starting this esteemed medical college. Golden era:  In the early seventies the college was ushered into what can be called as Golden Period in the history of this college under the Deanship & Principal ship of respected Colonel M. Tajuddin Sahib.The College continued to make great progress in all spheres of medical education under the dynamic leadership of the real/true Muslim principals & deans and a dedicated team of teachers like Prof.Shukla, Prof.Mehdi Hasan,Prof.KC Singhal Prof.Usha Singhal,Prof.MB Khan etc etc. Ultimately the college became a hub of academic activities in all specialties of health education and became the seventh best medical education centre in India as per survey of a popular magazine (India Today) .The history would be incomplete without mentioning the name of Dr .Mehmoodur-Rehman whose contribution in the establishment of Dr. Sir Ziauddin Dental College is know to all. The Downfall: The downfall of this reputed college started when a low visionary principal was appointed who along with the low cast dean did not allow a single gold medalist to be appointed as a faculty member in any department of the college. Many potential candidates /toppers like Dr. Asim Rizvi/Dr.Manan Wasenwala and Dr .Sarkar Haider etc were shown the door by the so called well-wishers of  the institution keeping away all the morals and ethics of Islamic Values. The person who has never performed even a minor surgery in his thirty years’ career was appointed In charge of OT .Below average students were made Lectures to Professors by the education mafia of AMU.  As a result, things worsened to such an extent that the Angina pain was diagnosed as chest pain and vice versa. The appointments on non-teaching posts were made on caste, creed, region and Jamaat basis which damaged the labs and laboratories of the college. What an honest system the Muslim university has????? The condition of the wards is the worst which are quite unhygienic and very dirty. When you enter the wards you would feel the smell of gutters. There is no bed sheet provided to the patients on holidays. They have to arrange it themselves and bring their own medicines. Even the district hospital system would be better than the current JNMC hospital system. The college had to emerge as a model for transparency and accountability in the true spirit of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. But alas the tragically entrenched vested interests have been allowed to hijack the mission of the founder the college. A powerful axis of dishonest-administrators and education mafia at the campus has made the system collapse. Those who were meant to be in the vanguard of fighting corruption are fighting to protect the corruption. A rogue’s gallery of corrupt academicians and administrators are creating money out of each grant released by the UGC. The stage is ready /set to mis-utilize the proposed 150 Crores rupees grant for up-gradation of this college. Money would be spent on mostly on Iron and brick works where you cannot know the actual amount spent.  Major causes of downfall: 1)     Lack of vision & mission of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan among the faculty members of the college. 2)     Dishonesty at all levels in the system (low caste/poor families from small villages are occupying the chairs). 3)     Low interest of the present VCs towards medical college. Most of the precious time of recent VCs is spent on cutting the ribbons of shops/ inaugurations /small level seminars/workshops in or out of Aligarh. 4)     Infighting among the faculty members for their personal gains. They think that they must earn Rs. Two hundred as a bribe even if that would mean a loss of Rs. Two lakhs to the institution. Never mind, they don’t care. 5)     The priorities of the medical college are decided mostly by the non-medicos e.g. FOs/OSDs and other dignitaries connected with the system.  Suggestions: 1)    The VC should take some personal interest himself in the development of the college by appointing a high powered committee who could actually know the funds & their proper utilization. 2)     The medical college should be made autonomous body to get the maximum benefits of the modern era. 3)    Each department/section should be evaluated as per specifications given by the MCI which are freely available on the website of the MCI. 4)    The lacunas which have been indicated by the team of MCI should immediately be removed to avoid the non-recognition of the courses. 5)    All the principals/deans/chairmen/other policy makers should be asked to take oath with Quran in their hands for working for the welfare of the college. URL of this page: http://www.newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamLetters_1.aspx?ArticleID=2479