THE RETROSPECTION

Aligarh Muslim University has the rare honour of attracting a substantial number of students from the far southern most part of the country. The values of humanism, fraternity and dedication, which the University never fails to inculcate have always informed the activities and associations of its alumni. Although little is known about the early Aligarians from Kerala, they certainly must have tried to sustain their contact with one another. It was in the early 60's that a formal association was constituted. Prof. K.M. Bahauddin, with the support of Dr. P.K. Abdul Gafoor, Prof. M.A. Shukoor, Prof. K.A. Jabbar and Mr. P.A.Q. Meeran Saheb took the first steps in this direction. In 1968 a committee was formed under the Presidentship of Prof. M.A. Shukoor Saheb, the then Principal of Farook Training College, Kozhikode. On the death of Prof. Shukoor Saheb, a new Committee was formed at the General Body meeting held on 14th March 1986, which approved the bye-laws and the Association was registered under the Societies Act of XXI of 1860 as Sl. No. 20/1988. The following were unanimously elected as office bearers. President: Prof. P. Abdurahiman; Vice Presidents: Adv. V.Veeran, Adv. Hassan Mahmood Kurikkal; Secretary: Mr. K. Abdul Rasheed ; Jt. Secretaries :Dr. K.M. Mohamed, Mr. M. Ayub and Treasurer: Mr. R.P. Salih.

THE ANTECEDENTS

The longest journey begins with a single, short step. When a visionary, armed with clear sense of purpose and unstinted dedication, took such a small step in 1875 it made history.

Sir syed Ahamed Khan founded a school in that year with only seven students. But that turned out to be a master stroke that cut at the roots of chronic lethargy and ignorance. Out of those seven students, four appeared for the matriculation examination of Culcutta University in 1877. All of them passed in first class – a sign of the reward that always goes with purity of motive.

At the meeting of citizens at Ludhiana on 23rd January 1883 Sir Syed appealed, "O my country men! Do not spoil your affectionate sons. Bring them up properly. Manage them so that they may lead a happy life in future. Call me what you may; listen to me or pay no heed to my words, but remember that if you fail to train them under the national system of education, this would lose their character and turn them into vagabonds. You will be pained to see their miserable plight… Take pity on them. Do something for their future, lest you should have to repent over it"

Sir Syed's words gave a fillip to the thought in the right perspective. Very shortly on 8th of January 1887, the foundation stone of Mohammedan Anglo Oriental College was laid at Aligarh by Lord Lytton, the Viceroy. At the function they declared, "From the seed which we sow today, there may spring a mighty tree whose branches like those of the Banyan shall in their turn strike firm roots into the earth and bring forth themselves new and vigorous saplings. That this college may expand into a University whose sons shall go forth through out the length and breadth of the land, to preach the gospel of free enquiry, large hearted tolerance and pure morality"

This dream came true in 1920 and the college was raised to the status of a University by a special charter of the Imperial Legislative Assembly. Since then, it has been expanding continuously. Now, the University is spread over 14 square miles of area and has 16 halls of residence with 70 hostels and about 28,000 students on its rolls. It has got 12 faculties and 88 departments of instruction, 5 institutions and 13 centers. It has a Medical College, a Tibbiya College, a College of Engineering & Technology, Women's College and a number of boys' and girls' schools attached to it, in addition to the Faculties of Arts, Science, Commerce, Theology, Law, Social Sciences, Life Sciences etc. It employs about 1400 teaching staff and about 6,000 non teaching staff. For academic excellence and training in morals and etiquette, 'Aligarh' has earned an enviable position through the length and breadth of the world. It has won international acclamation in the field of research, specially in science and has attached a large number of foreign students and scholars.

AIMS & OBJECTIVES

1. To afford a meeting ground to the alumni and present students of Aligarh Muslim University from Kerala.
2. To provide ways and means for cultural contact with the University and alumni.
3. To stimulate contacts with the old and present students and staff of the University.
4. To provide every possible assistance to those who seek admission in the University.
5. To endeavour to contribute to the educational and cultural advancement of the country.
6. To establish information cum guidance bureau.
7. To arrange cultural events, meetings, receptions and organise suitable activities for promoting closer contacts with the alumni and other dignatories of the University.
8. To take up any other activities for furtherance of the above objectives