AMU to bury time capsule in centenary year; Sir Syed did first about 150 yrs ago

Sep 11, 2020

Aligarh: After about half a century of Sir Syed Amad Khan burying a time capasule at the foundation laying ceremony of Muhammadan Anglo Oriental (MAO) College, the precurser of Aligarh Muslim University(AMU), the univeristy authorities have decided to do a similar exercise in the cetenary year of the iconic instiution .

The capsule will cover the history of AMU since its inception documenting all its achievement in the national renaissnace, Dr Rahat Abrar, director of the Urdu Academy and one of the members of the committee for the purpose, told India News Stream.

The Committee appointed by AMU Vice-Chancellor (V-C) Professor Tariq Mansoor is headed by the registrar of the university, Abdul Hamid. Professor Pundhir from the history department, Rajeev Sharma, chairman of the Mechanical Department besides Dr Abrar are some of the other members.

It was on September 9, 1920, that the then Viceroy Lord Chelmsford had got a bill passed for upgrading of the existing Muhammadan Anglo Oriental (MAO) College to the status of a university. The university came into being technically on December 1, 1920 after it was  notified by the government the gazetteer. However, the inaugural function of the university was held on December 17, 1920.

” The univeristy has since then never looked back has played a crucial role in the national renaissance ,” says Dr Abrar.

He said that it was not for the first time that a time capsule would be buried. It was on January 8, 1877 that the then Viceroy of India, Lord Edward Robert Lytton visited Aligarh for the foundation laying ceremony of Muhammadan Anglo Oriental (MAO) College. AMU founder and great social reformer Sir Syed Ahmad Khan marked the occasion by burying a time capsule, though it was not known by this name at that time.

The time capsule was buried at the Strachey Hall complex and contained document tracing the history of the landmark events leading to the founding of the college, he said.

Dr Abrar  the college gazette, dated January 12, 1877, carries details of the event, including the burial of the time capsule, and a photograph of the ceremony.

Meanwhile, the AMU has invited chancellor of the univeristy President Ram Nath Kovind to the inaugurate the centenary celebrations of the institution on Devember 17, 2020.

To make the occasion, the university has decided to publish a coffee table book on notable achievements of the institution over the last 100 years, which is being written by Dr Rahat Abrar.

Besides, a centenary gate is also under construction which will be more grand than Bab-e-Syed.

–INDIA NEWS STREAM