Coming Home: AMU Kerala Alumni Gather For Sir Sayyid Day, Grand Reunion At Kottakkal
The Aligarh Muslim University Old Students’ Association Kerala (AMUOSAK) Chapter is all prepared for an indelible Sir Sayyid Day celebration and grand alumni meet scheduled to be held on October 20, Sunday, at Kottakkal Peace Public School. The epoch-making gathering, reminiscing on the shared nostalgic experiences forged while at campus by thousands of Alumni from across state, will be starting by 10 a.m. Spread all over the world, the AMU alumni (or Aligs) are known to have nurtured a special bond built with shared culture received from the campus.
The association’s secretary, Dr. A.P.M. Mohamed Rafeeq, will be welcoming the participants and esteemed alumni dignitaries, which includes former minister P.K. Abdu Rabb; K.K. Abid Hussain Thangal MLA; Dr. Hussain Randathani, Chairman, Mappila Kala Academy; Dr. K. Faizal, Director, A.M.U. Malappuram Centre, P.V. Ahamed Kutty; one of the senior most alumni and Dr. C.H. Ibrahim Kutty, former president of the AMUOSAK.
Rajya Sabha MP advocate Haris Beeran will be the chief guest of the gathering. The program will honour Moideen Kutty IPS, a University alumnus, and Sir Syed Ahamed Khan Institutional Award instituted by AMUOSAK for the Best Unaided Engineering College in Kerala will also be provided, says Ayub M, former President and Executive Committee Member of the organisation.
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The event’s presidential address will be delivered by N.C. Abdulla Koya, the president of the organisation. Marking the 207th birth anniversary of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, a philosopher and educationist who established the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental (MAO) College, today’s Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), in 1875, the occasion is celebrated at the campus as well as by the alumni world wide.
Speaking to Timeline, Abdulla Koya said that the event has been going on since the formation of the AMU Kerala alumni union — except during the Covid break of two years — the event has not been disrupted so far. “All those who have experienced the unique bond with the campus cannot let the event go unnoticed, as it has always been a recollection of their cherished memories associated with the university,” the president said, expressing his delight in the increase in registration of entries for the program this time.
Abdulla Koya, however, laments that there were few alumni members post-2010 attending the events, despite the relative growth in admission from the state in the Central University. He also stressed the need for the younger generation of the alumni to come and take the legacy forward. There are more than 2,500 Alumni members in Kerala and Koya wishes most of them to participate the grand gathering. According to him, the reunion provides a unique opportunity to reconnect with fellow graduates, relive campus memories and strengthen lifelong friendships.
Notably, as part of the program in Kerala, the alumni association has decided to conduct an essay competition and has invited entries from college and university students. The essay competition will be held on the topic “Politicizing religion and the contemporary Indian scenario.” Participants whose essays are selected will be invited for an interaction on the same topic, which will be conducted online. Those adjudged first place will be awarded the Dr. Iswari Prasad Upadhyaya Award in honor of the first graduate of Aligarh Muslim University. During the program, there will be award ceremony to honour the noted Aligarians for their contributions. There will also be the presentation of merits awards among the children of Aligarians.
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The AMU’s famous Tharana along with the National Anthem will be sung, and during the after-noon session, there will be a general body meeting and a variety of entertainment programs, on October 20. Attendees can go through the experience of generations of Aligarians as they share their stories.
One of the key attractions of the event is its culinary highlight, which was so far served as dinner. This time, it will be served during lunch break, featuring a nostalgic menu that take participants back to their olden days at Aligarh, especially during the Sir Sayyid Day celebration at the campus.
