Jamia Millia Islamia (Urdu: جامعہ ملیہ اسلامیہ, Hindi: जामिया मिलिया इस्लामिया, translation: National Islamic University) is an Indian Central University located in Delhi. It was originally established at Aligarh in United Provinces, India in 1920. It became a Central University by an act of the Indian Parliament in 1988. In Urdu and Arabic, Jamia means University, and Millia means National.
The university was established by nationalist Muslims and is secular in character. Its campus is located in South Delhi. There are no colleges affiliated to the university anywhere else. The university provides a number of courses at school, undergraduate and postgraduate level.
Motto: Allammal Insaana Maalam Yalam (Taught man that which he knew not)
Established : 1920
Faculty : 614
Staff : 997
Students : 15400
The university was established by nationalist Muslims and is secular in character. Its campus is located in South Delhi. There are no colleges affiliated to the university anywhere else. The university provides a number of courses at school, undergraduate and postgraduate level.
Motto: Allammal Insaana Maalam Yalam (Taught man that which he knew not)
Established : 1920
Faculty : 614
Staff : 997
Students : 15400
History
Conception
Under the British rule, two dominant trends joined hands and contributed towards the birth of Jamia. One was anti-colonial activism and the other was the pro-independence aspiration of the politically radical section of western educated Indian Muslim intelligentsia. In the political climate of 1920, the two trends gravitated together with Mahatma Gandhi as a catalyst. The idea was to project Indian Muslims as nationalist and anti British. The anti-colonial activism signified by the Khilafat and the pro-independence aspirations symbolized by the Non-Cooperation Movement of the Indian National Congress helped to harness creative energies and the subsequent making of Jamia Millia Islamia.
Responding to Gandhi’s call to boycott all educational institutions supported or run by the colonial regime, a group of nationalist teachers and students quit Aligarh Musli University, protesting against its pro-British inclinations. The freedom fighter and Muslim theologian, Maulana Mehmud Hasan, laid the foundation stone of Jamia Millia Islamia at Aligarh on Friday, October 29, 1920, during the meeting of the Foundation Committee of Jamia Millia Islamia.
On November 22, 1920, Hakim Ajmal Khan was elected the first chancellor of Jamia. Mohamed Ali Jauhar became Jamia’s first Vice Chancellor.
Conception
Under the British rule, two dominant trends joined hands and contributed towards the birth of Jamia. One was anti-colonial activism and the other was the pro-independence aspiration of the politically radical section of western educated Indian Muslim intelligentsia. In the political climate of 1920, the two trends gravitated together with Mahatma Gandhi as a catalyst. The idea was to project Indian Muslims as nationalist and anti British. The anti-colonial activism signified by the Khilafat and the pro-independence aspirations symbolized by the Non-Cooperation Movement of the Indian National Congress helped to harness creative energies and the subsequent making of Jamia Millia Islamia.
Responding to Gandhi’s call to boycott all educational institutions supported or run by the colonial regime, a group of nationalist teachers and students quit Aligarh Musli University, protesting against its pro-British inclinations. The freedom fighter and Muslim theologian, Maulana Mehmud Hasan, laid the foundation stone of Jamia Millia Islamia at Aligarh on Friday, October 29, 1920, during the meeting of the Foundation Committee of Jamia Millia Islamia.
On November 22, 1920, Hakim Ajmal Khan was elected the first chancellor of Jamia. Mohamed Ali Jauhar became Jamia’s first Vice Chancellor.
Crisis
Born out of political crisis and as a political affront to the British, it seemed for a while, Jamia would not survive the heat of the intense political struggle for the independence of India. It participated in the Bardoli resolution and sent volunteers across the country to motivate people to fight for the freedom of the country. The colonial British government soon imprisoned many of its teachers and students. In 1922, Gandhi called off the non-cooperation movement. Even as its teachers and students were being released, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk declared the end of the Khilafat in 1924.
Suddenly Jamia saw itself in a great crisis. Some thought it had achieved its mission, as others believed that the institution had lost its raison d’etre with the end of the non-cooperation and the Khilafat movements. Even the little financial assistance, that the Khilafat had been giving it, also dried up. As even prominent people started deserting it, Jamia’s total collapse virtually became an imminent possibility.
Born out of political crisis and as a political affront to the British, it seemed for a while, Jamia would not survive the heat of the intense political struggle for the independence of India. It participated in the Bardoli resolution and sent volunteers across the country to motivate people to fight for the freedom of the country. The colonial British government soon imprisoned many of its teachers and students. In 1922, Gandhi called off the non-cooperation movement. Even as its teachers and students were being released, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk declared the end of the Khilafat in 1924.
Suddenly Jamia saw itself in a great crisis. Some thought it had achieved its mission, as others believed that the institution had lost its raison d’etre with the end of the non-cooperation and the Khilafat movements. Even the little financial assistance, that the Khilafat had been giving it, also dried up. As even prominent people started deserting it, Jamia’s total collapse virtually became an imminent possibility.
Move to Delhi
As the crisis loomed large, Hakim Ajmal Khan, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari and Abdul Majeed Khwaja — the first trio—supported by Gandhi shifted Jamia from Aligarh to Karol Bagh, in New Delhi in 1925. Although Gandhi’s contacts helped to secure financial help for Jamia, the risk of helping a Congress-backed institution under the British Raj dissuaded many willing benefactors. Some Muslims also viewed Jamia as a threat to Aligarh Muslim University, possibly the best university in India at that time. During those difficult days, it was Hakim Ajmal Khan who met most of Jamia’s expenses from his own pocket. Dr. M.A. Ansari and Abdul Majeed Khwaja toured India and abroad, explaining the importance of Jamia and collecting funds for this noble enterprise. Their collective intervention did avert a collapse that was almost certain.
As the crisis loomed large, Hakim Ajmal Khan, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari and Abdul Majeed Khwaja — the first trio—supported by Gandhi shifted Jamia from Aligarh to Karol Bagh, in New Delhi in 1925. Although Gandhi’s contacts helped to secure financial help for Jamia, the risk of helping a Congress-backed institution under the British Raj dissuaded many willing benefactors. Some Muslims also viewed Jamia as a threat to Aligarh Muslim University, possibly the best university in India at that time. During those difficult days, it was Hakim Ajmal Khan who met most of Jamia’s expenses from his own pocket. Dr. M.A. Ansari and Abdul Majeed Khwaja toured India and abroad, explaining the importance of Jamia and collecting funds for this noble enterprise. Their collective intervention did avert a collapse that was almost certain.
Resurgence
In 1925, after long deliberation, a group of three friends studying in Germany — Dr. Zakir Hussain, Dr. Abid Husain and Dr. Mohammed Mujeeb — decided to serve Jamia. In 1928 when Hakim Ajmal Khan died it was the beginning of the second financial crisis, as it was Hakim Sahib himself who had been meeting most of Jamia’s financial needs. The leadership of Jamia then moved into the hands of Dr. Zakir Husain, who became its Vice Chancellor in 1928.
To resolve Jamia of its financial problems, a group of young Jamia teachers, led by Dr. Zakir Hussain, took a pledge to serve Jamia for the next twenty years on a salary not more than Rs. 150. This group was called the Life Members of Jamia. (This was repeated in 1942 when a second group of Jamia teachers took a similar pledge).
Jamia’s department of Printing and Publications was trifurcated in 1928 with the newly established Jamia Press at Darya Ganj, Urdu Academy, and Maktaba Jamia under the charge of Prof. Mohammed Mujeeb, Dr. Abid Husain and Mr. Hamid Ali respectively.
In 1925, after long deliberation, a group of three friends studying in Germany — Dr. Zakir Hussain, Dr. Abid Husain and Dr. Mohammed Mujeeb — decided to serve Jamia. In 1928 when Hakim Ajmal Khan died it was the beginning of the second financial crisis, as it was Hakim Sahib himself who had been meeting most of Jamia’s financial needs. The leadership of Jamia then moved into the hands of Dr. Zakir Husain, who became its Vice Chancellor in 1928.
To resolve Jamia of its financial problems, a group of young Jamia teachers, led by Dr. Zakir Hussain, took a pledge to serve Jamia for the next twenty years on a salary not more than Rs. 150. This group was called the Life Members of Jamia. (This was repeated in 1942 when a second group of Jamia teachers took a similar pledge).
Jamia’s department of Printing and Publications was trifurcated in 1928 with the newly established Jamia Press at Darya Ganj, Urdu Academy, and Maktaba Jamia under the charge of Prof. Mohammed Mujeeb, Dr. Abid Husain and Mr. Hamid Ali respectively.
New campus and the teachers college
On March 1 1935, the foundation stone for a school building was laid at Okhla, then a non-descript village in the southern outskirts of Delhi. In 1936, all institutions of Jamia, except Jamia Press, the Maktaba and the library, were shifted to the new campus. The basic emphasis of Jamia was on evolving innovative education methods. This led to the establishment of a teacher’s college (Ustadon ka Madrasa) in 1938. In 1936, Dr. M.A. Ansari died. On June 4 1939, Jamia Millia Islamia was registered as a society.
The fame of Jamia as an innovative education movement spread and dignitaries from foreign countries began visiting Jamia. Husein Raouf Bey (1933), Dr. Behadjet Wahbi of Cairo (1934), and Ms. Halide Edib of Turkey (1936) were some of them. Foreigners, impressed by Jamia, began working in Jamia. A German lady Ms. Gerda Philipsborn (popularly nicknamed in Jamia as Aapa Jaan) served Jamia for many years and is buried in Jamia. In 1939, Maulana Ubaidullah Sindhi (1872-1944), a theologian and freedom fighter, came to stay in Jamia on the invitation of Dr. Zakir Husain. He started a school of Islamic Studies in Jamia, called Baitul Hikmal, propagating the ideology of Shah Waliullah.
In 1946, during Jamia’s silver jubilee celebration, one could see the crisis that India had to face in the following year: Mr. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, and Liaquat Ali Khan were on one side of Dr. Zakir Husain, the vice chancellor, on the dias; Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Asaf Ali and Sir Rajagopalachari were on the other side.
In 1962, the University Grants Commission declared the Jamia a ‘Deemed to be University’. Soon thereafter, the School of Social Work was established in 1967. In 1971, Jamia started the Zakir Husain Institute of Islamic Studies, to honour Dr. Zakir Husain, who had died in 1969. BE course in Civil Engineering commenced in 1978; in 1981, the faculties of Humanities and Languages, Natural Sciences, Social Science, and the State Resource Centre were founded. In 1983, it started the Mass Communication Research Centre and the Centre for Coaching and Career Planning. In 1985, it established the Faculty of Engineering & Technology and the University Computer Centre. Academic Staff College and the Academy of Third World Studies followed in 1987 and 1988.
On March 1 1935, the foundation stone for a school building was laid at Okhla, then a non-descript village in the southern outskirts of Delhi. In 1936, all institutions of Jamia, except Jamia Press, the Maktaba and the library, were shifted to the new campus. The basic emphasis of Jamia was on evolving innovative education methods. This led to the establishment of a teacher’s college (Ustadon ka Madrasa) in 1938. In 1936, Dr. M.A. Ansari died. On June 4 1939, Jamia Millia Islamia was registered as a society.
The fame of Jamia as an innovative education movement spread and dignitaries from foreign countries began visiting Jamia. Husein Raouf Bey (1933), Dr. Behadjet Wahbi of Cairo (1934), and Ms. Halide Edib of Turkey (1936) were some of them. Foreigners, impressed by Jamia, began working in Jamia. A German lady Ms. Gerda Philipsborn (popularly nicknamed in Jamia as Aapa Jaan) served Jamia for many years and is buried in Jamia. In 1939, Maulana Ubaidullah Sindhi (1872-1944), a theologian and freedom fighter, came to stay in Jamia on the invitation of Dr. Zakir Husain. He started a school of Islamic Studies in Jamia, called Baitul Hikmal, propagating the ideology of Shah Waliullah.
In 1946, during Jamia’s silver jubilee celebration, one could see the crisis that India had to face in the following year: Mr. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, and Liaquat Ali Khan were on one side of Dr. Zakir Husain, the vice chancellor, on the dias; Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Asaf Ali and Sir Rajagopalachari were on the other side.
In 1962, the University Grants Commission declared the Jamia a ‘Deemed to be University’. Soon thereafter, the School of Social Work was established in 1967. In 1971, Jamia started the Zakir Husain Institute of Islamic Studies, to honour Dr. Zakir Husain, who had died in 1969. BE course in Civil Engineering commenced in 1978; in 1981, the faculties of Humanities and Languages, Natural Sciences, Social Science, and the State Resource Centre were founded. In 1983, it started the Mass Communication Research Centre and the Centre for Coaching and Career Planning. In 1985, it established the Faculty of Engineering & Technology and the University Computer Centre. Academic Staff College and the Academy of Third World Studies followed in 1987 and 1988.
Jamia Millia Islamia today
Jamia Millia Islamia is historically counted as among the most important nationalist institutions in India todayThere is probably no other Indian institution which had to survive so much political opposition in its making without diluting its goalsEven the degrees awarded by Jamia were not considered valid in the time of the British. Jamia was accorded the status of a central university by a special act of the parliament in December 1988.
In early 2006 king of Saudi Arabia paid a historic visit to the university and donated a record $30 million for construction of a library. Its scenic cricket ground (popularly known as the Bhopal Ground ) has hosted a number of Ranji Trophy matches and a women's cricket test match. Some notable alumni of the university include Rahimuddin Khan, Barkha Dutt,Gagan Ajit Singh,Upender Kumar, Prabhjot Singh,Kiran rao,Mouni Roy, Muzammil Ibrahim, Niharika Acharya, Shahrukh Khan and Virender Sehwag. Besides its seven faculties, the Jamia has a number of centres of learning and research, like Mass Communication Research Centre (MCRC), Academy of Third World Studies (ATWS) etc. The Jamia offers various undergraduate and postgraduate information and technology courses. Apart from this, the Jamia has a campus wide network which connects a large number of its departments and offices.
Jamia Millia Islamia is historically counted as among the most important nationalist institutions in India todayThere is probably no other Indian institution which had to survive so much political opposition in its making without diluting its goalsEven the degrees awarded by Jamia were not considered valid in the time of the British. Jamia was accorded the status of a central university by a special act of the parliament in December 1988.
In early 2006 king of Saudi Arabia paid a historic visit to the university and donated a record $30 million for construction of a library. Its scenic cricket ground (popularly known as the Bhopal Ground ) has hosted a number of Ranji Trophy matches and a women's cricket test match. Some notable alumni of the university include Rahimuddin Khan, Barkha Dutt,Gagan Ajit Singh,Upender Kumar, Prabhjot Singh,Kiran rao,Mouni Roy, Muzammil Ibrahim, Niharika Acharya, Shahrukh Khan and Virender Sehwag. Besides its seven faculties, the Jamia has a number of centres of learning and research, like Mass Communication Research Centre (MCRC), Academy of Third World Studies (ATWS) etc. The Jamia offers various undergraduate and postgraduate information and technology courses. Apart from this, the Jamia has a campus wide network which connects a large number of its departments and offices.
