The Founder of Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah shared a special relationship in the history of Jamia Millia Islamia. This, unlike the belief of several present-day right-wing organizations, wasn’t based on love and cooperation, but on coldness which was a result of the ideals over which both stood.

 which was originally formed to serve the 

, following the fall of the two national movements in the early 1920s.

However, the ideology never halted Jamia to maintain healthy relations with several leaders of the opposing approach. For instance, 

 who pleaded for a Muslim state in northwestern 

 in 1940, had been a close associate of the institution. Still, Jamia never wavered to be open about their stance.

, Jamia’s influential professor who later took over as the university’s Vice-Chancellor identified himself as a ‘

 could live with cooperation in one country, an idea in the opposition to the 

. In early 1935, he had a long and interesting discussion, with Iqbal. Mujeeb later recorded that the Urdu giant couldn’t find any reasonable ground for rejecting principles followed by Jamia Millia Islamia; he just maintained his point of view.

Their discussion was entirely free from any bitterness, which later marred every exchange of views between the nationalist and pro-League Muslims in the future. By the 1940s, the communalized rhetoric created ripples in Jamia, and Muslim League and Jinnah as its leader turned openly against it.

revive the Hindu religion and establish Hindu Raj in the country

”, now along with his colleagues began to identify Jamia with the Gandhian project. Several students and professors of 

, who wore Gandhi caps, became the targets of abuse and ridicule, and it impacted the funds which the institute received from several Muslim organizations. This forced the then Vice-Chancellor of Jamia, 

 to change the cap, but the campaign against the institution continued.

In 1946, Jinnah, after hearing from an unreliable source, stated in a gathering, “

A large factory for the mass Hinduization of Muslims has been established in Delhi under the very name of the All-India Muslim leaders… I am referring to the so-called Jamia Millia. Dr. Zakir Husain was selected by Gandhi and Co. for carrying out their plan for Hinduizing Muslims, under the supervision of Gandhi, the most astute and cunning hypocrite of all time. The objective of the Jamia Millia is to make Muslims as much Hindu in outlook and in every respect as possible…For example, [young children] are taught the slogan ‘The Muslim League is dead, the Congress is good’. With grown-up Muslim boys, more subtle methods are used. They aim to make their inside Hindu and let their outside remain Muslim…”.

“…But the slow and secret poison of the Jamia Millia Islamia will soon kill Islam and will make every Muslim a mere ‘show boy of the Hindus’. This is the cleverest plot for the destruction of Islam in India

”. It can be seen that Jamia was a victim of the propaganda campaign of the League against the nationalist Muslims which had been running by then during that time.

However, despite Jinnah’s open hatred, Dr. Zakir Husain, to mitigate the differences among the opposing groups, along with 

 leaders, invited Jinnah and other Muslim League leaders like 

 on the occasion of the institution’s Silver Jubilee celebrations in November 1946, which they accepted. Mohammad Mujeeb conceded that the presence of Jinnah was “

due more to the tact and persuasive powers of Dr. Zakir Husain than to any change in the attitude of the League

But the things didn’t change much, and on the midnight of 14-15 August 1947, 

 was carved out of India on the religious lines. Jinnah, served as the 

 of the country, till his death a year later in 1948, with which the chapter of his ‘

’ with the Jamia Millia Islamia was officially closed.

Jinnah & Jamia: An Unpleasant Bond

Although 15th August 1947 holds its significance in the national context, for Jamia the story takes a different route as it was a struggle against communal violence, which is still ongoing. The Partition of India is a painful reminder of the consequences of communal violence and its aftermath. Jamia Millia Islamia overcame this obstacle in its journey and retained through yet another hardship by standing firm on its ideals.

 is a painful yet important chapter in the history of 

. This institution which was itself a victim of the partition retaliated back to the forces of hatred in a remarkable way that defined its ideals over what it was built on and thrived.

 was kindled ages ago, by the 1940s it had turned large enough to engulf the entire country in its flame. Every riot which happened in the country enlarged the gap between the communities against each other. Although Jamia had no role in the production of narratives on the partition, its response to the accompanying tragedy was an unequivocal call for 

It must be noted that the Silver Jubilee year of the Jamia came in 1946 amidst the 

 and was to be belatedly celebrated from 15 to 18 November 1946. Jamia’s then 

 found this auspicious occasion as the opportunity to mitigate the differences among the opposing groups by bringing together several prominent leaders of the 

, who was a major figure in Jamia’s history couldn’t be present on the occasion, as he was engaged in calming the riots situation in 

 but he sent his wishes to Dr. Husain and Jamia through a letter which said, “

The goodness of a good man is itself his true jubilee. Dr. Zakir Husain’s great work itself is his true greatness

Dr. Zakir Husain too was determined to his task of 

, for which he appealed to the politicians present by conveying to them his sorrow of being engaged in the educational work. In his historic address on the function, he begins his address by pointing that “

the fire of mutual hatred which is ablaze in this country makes our work of laying out and tending gardens appear as sheer madness…

the level of [men’s] conduct was lower than that of beasts and save culture when barbarism holds sway everywhere, how would they trainman for its service

.” He concluded his address by requesting everyone for “

God’s sake, put your heads together and anguish this fire… For God’s sake do not allow the very foundation of civilized life in this country to be destroyed as they are being destroyed now

.” This speech by Dr. Husain was very powerful, yet, at the ground level the situation continued to turn from bad to worse, and India was set to be divided into two dominions.

It must be learned that even after India got freedom on 15 August 1947, the atmosphere of 

, the capital of then-new dominion was highly charged with communal sentiments which resulted in unthought-of bloodshed in the national capital all through September and after. Jamia, despite being a stalwart of the freedom struggle had to face communal violence owing to its 

It was in the same sequence of incidents, on 21 August 1947, Dr. Zakir Husain, en route to 

 and would have been killed by the mob if a railway official had not recognized him and locked him up in a room. It was this incident, after which he would often say, “

, the official printing press of the institution was set ablaze. It was later in 1951 when during the 

 asked about the damage to Jamia in 1947, the then education minister of India 

Books and furniture lying in the building of Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi, were damaged and looted during the disturbances in 1947… According to the Jamia Millia authorities, the damage amounted to nearly Rs 5 lakhs.

” The minister also informed the house that the government had not compensated the damages, as its authorities had not applied for it.

Not only the physical properties, but the partition riots left a scar even in the minds of the 

. During those days, the ration availability of institutions had depleted gradually. For many days the people from the nearby villages would turn to 

 at night, with suspicious intentions. It was Dr. Zakir Husain who took the whole Okhla village under his wings, and students fearing for their lives turned off their lamps and stood guard and would be on guard throughout the night, till the villagers went back in the morning.

One September night the situation turned tense. British historian 

 that an aggressive mob who had recently chased the Muslims of nearby villages into the 

 was heading towards Jamia. It was only after Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and 

 appeared to pacify the would-be raiders, they returned.

However, incidents like this continued to haunt Jamia and its well-wishers. Jamia alumnus and journalist 

 that upon Gandhi’s return to Delhi from Nohakhali on 9 September 1947, the first thing that he had reportedly asked on Delhi Railway Station is, “

Is Zakir Husain fine? Is Jamia Millia safe?

” And the next morning he visited Jamia’s Okhla campus to assure if everything is fine and inspire confidence.

Although Jamia’s influential professor 

 was getting to the authorities to take control of the mobs, it was Gandhi’s visit that compelled the government to ensure stronger security of the institution. Soon the 

 was posted around the campus after which Jamia would be relieved from its perpetuating fears.

Once the situation in Jamia pacified, it took over the initiative to serve the other sufferers of the partition. The lakhs of Muslims before leaving for 

 refugees that came from Pakistan to Delhi were stationed in the camps of 

Some refugee families were welcomed in Jamia itself and its teachers educated numerous wandering children. When the whole subcontinent was burning in the fire of communal hatred, Jamia’s this initiative compelled Gandhi to call it “

A team of Jamia’s volunteers was prepared which would serve in relief work at the refugee camps. The team would leave for Humayun Tomb peddling on bicycles in the morning and return just before the sunset. Dr. Zakir Husain knew the importance of the humanitarian services for which he told to the group of volunteers on 10 January 1948, “

Those among you who are working at the Humayun’s Tomb are doing very valuable work. If you can save Humayun’s Tomb, you will be able to save Delhi, which would further save India…

Likewise, he even exhorted Jamia’s women by asking them to “

share the burden with the men…You must reduce your own needs. Try to give as many of your quilts, pillows, and blankets as you can, and darn and mend your old clothes to make them fit for use for those living in the Humayun Tomb’s camps…

It must be concluded that despite facing the wrath of the communal hatred in partition, Jamia 

Jamia, Partition, and Independence

Since the establishment of Jamia Millia Islamia in 1920, it was certain that it would not be limited to few tents in Aligarh but would grow. Thus, in June 1925, despite facing a dire financial crunch, the small caravan of Jamia decided to move out of its temporary adobe of Aligarh to Delhi.

, which unlike the small district-town of 

 offered many more possibilities of attracting good teachers and students to Jamia, and freed it from the open conflicts which it was being part of until now. Islamicist scholar 

marked the end of the spirit of pure opposition to Aligarh and the government. In its new home… it has embarked on a more positive programme.

” It was unfurling its wings and readying itself for all sorts of challenges and not merely locking horns either with the government or with the 

. Now, the Jamia authorities could think of developing their infrastructure and devising their academic plans accordingly.

In the new city, Jamia’s destination was 

, then a down-market suburb, which they reached after a great deal of acrimony. In Latif Manzil, the hostel, staff-quarters, praying room and dining hall were on the first floor. Near to it, two plots of land were also purchased; in one, they put up the school building; the other they earmarked for the children’s vegetable gardening. Moreover, around it, four more houses were rented. Located close by, two of them were turned into classrooms, one was converted into a library, and the other into an office. In August, the classes began.

For many, life in Delhi missed the heady fervour which everyone used to enjoy in Aligarh kothis or rented houses where every evening was full-filled with the fun programmes which seemed a thing of the past in the new city. It was thus, Urdu author and Jamia’s then faculty member 

 years later remembering this time wrote in his book 

as though a large bustling mall had moved into a cramped shop from where it began vending its cracked good, and the footfalls, once a clamorous rush, had almost petered out.

” However, by the years, Jamia was able to adjust to urban life.

In 1927, Jamia moved yet again, but not far this time. A few kothis were hired in the neighbourhood to move the boys from their cramped hostel to better quarters. It was the same year when the institution organised the 

 (Community Week) to commemorate the anniversary of the 

. In this initiative, students were not only asked to clean the streets of Karol Bagh, but also they organised several community awareness programmes for the people of Karol Bagh and further helped the unemployed of the area by providing them with charkha to spin cotton which they would sell to earn a livelihood. It was Jamia Karol Bagh ‘campus’, which consisted of just a few buildings, where the many personalities like 

Vithalbhai Patel, Sarojini Naidu, Maulana Azad, Safi Lakhnavi, Srinivas Iyengar, Begam Sultan Jahan of Bhopal, Halide Edib, Greda Philipsborn, Allama Iqbal

 visited to be remembered in institution’s history ever since.

In March 1935, Jamia shifted its primary school to the new and present campus at 

. But the college, which was looked after by 

 at Karol Bagh. It was by the years when the Okhla campus grew, the influence of the Karol Bagh reduced, making it non-existent by the present.

Karol Bagh’s Jamia: First Delhi Home

 which isn’t known to many. Iqbal’s relation with Jamia goes back to its birth as he was one of the members of its 

Many wanted Iqbal to lead Jamia’s caravan. Thus, on 27th November, 

 who was amongst the closest associate of Jamia invited Iqbal to take over as the institution’s 

I’m sure it will prosper under your cultured leadership

”, he wrote. But, the poet has already expressed his reservations over 

I’m not an expert in Sharia (divinely revealed Islamic Law), but it is my conviction that in connection with the question of education, the law of Islam cannot fail to give us a suitable line of action under our present limitation

However, despite the ideological conflicts, the name of Iqbal continued to shine in Jamia. Jamia’s co-founder 

 who took over as the VC after Iqbal’s decline would frequently recite from two of Iqbal’s best-known ‘

, sometimes, even repeating the same verse over and over again, hypnotically casting a spell over his listeners, explaining its nuances, sometimes crying copiously over something that struck him as particularly apt in their circumstances, and making the audience cry too. Likewise, students continued to study and discuss his poems 

. Not only the institution’s printing press 

, which was Iqbal’s collection of poems, and several of his poems were even published in the journal, ‘

Although Iqbal’s poems lived in Jamia since its inception, however, it was on 18th March 1933, when he finally arrived in Jamia to preside over the institute’s 

. At that time, Jamia had moved out of Aligarh to 

 who was present there had mentioned the event in his book 

, which was the biography of Iqbal. He informs when Iqbal came to deliver his concluding speech; he recited his couplet after couplet which had moved the audience profoundly. “

When he (Iqbal) resumed his seat the silence broke and the audience reached the dais and expressed their gratitude by kissing his hands

”, notes Niazi. Before he left Delhi, he was invited for a dinner by Jamia’s professor and future VC 

After few months, Iqbal suffered from a mysterious throat illness while he returned to 

 from a foreign tour. On 11th June 1934, he came to Delhi to consult leading 

However, his situation didn’t improve and on 29 January 1935 he proceeded on his way to 

 to undergo electric therapy. But the next day, on 30 January stopped at Delhi to preside to visit Jamia once again to chair 

 in his address. That evening only, he left for Bhopal for treatment.

Iqbal had been very weak by then. He retired back to his home in 

, and after suffering for months from his illness, he died on 21st April 1938.

As a tribute to this literary genius, Jamia has named one of its student residences as ‘

’. Needless to say, for years, Iqbal continues to be 

Allama Iqbal: Jamia’s Favourite Poet

’s past is certain to culminate in the city of 

 where it was born in the same red colonial buildings of 

. It is learned that the MAO College was established in 1875 by Islamic reformer 

 with competence in English and western sciences.

Although Sir Syed’s Aligarh had been able to develop a community of vitality and progressiveness enriched Muslim youth, which was then referred to as ‘

’ but also ensured that his students portray complete loyalty to English rule as he didn’t want any form of government resistance to his Aligarh movement. However, after he died in 1898, throughout the first two decades of the 20th century, several voices from MAO College were heard which opposed the government whenever they believed it was violating the rights of the Muslims anywhere across the globe.

The climax of these agitations was the Aligarh associates’ led ‘

’ which was started in 1919 to restore the 

. Moreover, in early 1920 it allied with the 

, thus promising to fight for the cause for Indian independence along with that of the Khilafat.

The English were furious at the developments from their once loyal college. As an act to calm the situation, on 14th September 1920, they bestowed the status of university on the college thus; making it Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), however, the ‘rebel’ camp of Aligarh, as they were perceived, wasn’t ready to give in.

On 12th October, the next month, Gandhi visited newly formed AMU to address students in the university’s 

How can you remain even for an hour, in an institution in which you’re obliged to put up the Union Jack and profess your loyalty to a governor or other high-ranking officials when in fact you’re not loyal?

” Although the majority of students were unaffected, Gandhi’s visit indeed moved the minority group who by then had fully devoted themselves to the dual cause of religion and nationalism, the group who in the future would be referred to as the 

, separate from the rest of the Aligarh Biradari.

The next day after Gandhi’s momentous visit, on 13th October, 

 of the rebel camp appeared with moist eyes to bid farewell to his beloved alma mater from where he knew he would be out soon, described the humiliating eviction from Aligarh to be similar to ‘

’. His despondency moved several in the audience most of whom met for another meeting in the university’s 

However, the university authority looking closely at the unrest since Gandhi’s visit sent letters to parents of those whom they considered ‘

 of 20th October even published a father’s warning letter to his son in which he asked him to stay away from the 

 As a result, on 23rd October, rebel leader Mohammad Ali, issued 29th October as a deadline, when according to his plan, either the authorities would end the English influence, or else would start a new institution that very day. He even assembled the students in the mosque and asked them not to obey their parents, but to follow 

, committing to an Independent National University. 23-years old 

 who had a major role in this mission in future, met senior Muslim leaders in 

 to offer their services for their project.

On 27th October, 124 trustees of Aligarh met to put an end to the campus unrest. Despite Gandhi’s and other Congress leader’s numerous advices, they achingly approved not to relinquish the government grants and Non-Cooperation and Khilafat adherently lost. Thus, with no chance left, on 29th October as per ultimatum, the National Muslim University, Jamia Millia Islamia, the first of its type came into being in university’s 

The next day, on 30th October, Mohammad Ali was charged for breaking open some of the locked rooms of the pakka barracks of the Old Boys’ Lodge. Although some tried to defy the charges, senior members advised restraint and thus, they decided to vacate.

The next day, was Friday, 31st October, soon after the 

 or morning prayers, a boy held a green flag reciting the 

, the profession or affirmation of the faith, while a small, bedraggled procession led by 

Hakim Ajmal Khan, Ali Brothers and Hasrat Mohani,

 marched out of the MAO College for the last time, holding their heads high to the makeshift homes in nearby 

. From here, began the long-struggling journey of the institution which was called Jamia Millia Islamia, established over the pillars of ideals and dreams.

Aashish Kochhar is a student pursuing History Hons. from Jamia Millia Islamia.

The Birth of Jamia: From the Ashes of Aligarh, in Aligarh

On 13 April 1919, nearly one and a half-year before the establishment of 

 open-fired on a gathering of unarmed Indians, killing hundreds. On first glimpse this incident appears unrelated to Jamia. However, upon flipping through the pages of history, one might come across the chapter where this bloodshed is written as a major section in the making of the university.

The foundation of this strange yet vital relation was laid 500km from the present campus of Jamia in the city of Amritsar where, following the massacre, both 

 held their sessions dedicated to those who were killed in the bloodshed. These sessions were attended by the galaxy of national leaders like 

, the associates of recently established 

Gandhi saw this moment as an opportunity to bring the 

 and Khilafat Movement together for both had one common enemy: 

. Thus, soon after, the representatives of both ideologies promised to work and fight together for the causes of Khilafat and 

, and in the wake of these experiments Jamia Millia Islamia was born in the town of 

In 1921, the infant Jamia decided to dedicate the entire week from 6 April to 13 April, the anniversary of Jallianwala Bagh to be celebrated as ‘

 which saw the faculty and the guest speakers draw upon their own experiences and communicate the same through emotionally charged speeches and imageries. The students were enthusiastic, they stayed late in the evening to listen to the speakers and many were even motivated to write articles and poems which were published in the May issue of 

, the monthly magazine of the university.

This event was subsequently organized every year at Jamia. Even after the end of 

 and Khilafat in 1922 and 1924 respectively, and the relocation of Jamia from Aligarh to 

 in 1925, the university continued the legacy of remembering the Jallianwala Massacre through the event.

Moreover, in 1927, under the guidance of Jamia’s faculty member, 

, the commemoration was re-imagined beyond simple remembrance and speech-making, to teach students to be more independent than ever. This meant to carry forward Jamia’s agenda of 

’ or life education, similar to Gandhi’s concept of the national basic education program to teach that when necessary one can and should perform the so-called menial chores oneself. During the week, students and faculty did all their chores themselves– cleaning, sweeping, washing clothes, scrubbing dishes, filling water and buying groceries- without relying on the housekeeping staff and servants. The students were also encouraged to undertake voluntary work to earn enough to pay their fees without family support. This included sweeping the streets of Karol Bagh to filling water to spinning.

Not only students, but the scheme of Qaumi Hafta helped unemployed people of Karol Bagh to earn their livelihoods. It involved setting up widows and old women with charkhas (spinning wheels) and raw cotton that was to be then processed into bundles of sut (cotton yarn). The students also prearranged public awareness programs on health and hygiene and outreach projects in adult learning and poverty alleviation programs for the neighborhood’s marginalized communities.

During this week, the memory of the tragic Jallianwala Bagh Massacre was made the basis of several educationally creative curricular programs, such as the student-led ‘

’ (one day school) wherein one day was slotted for students to take over the teaching and administration of the school while the teachers and the administrative staff went out for a picnic. Such programs also helped Jamia to draw up a curriculum that sensitized young students to important social issues.

The Qaumi Hafta event of 1930 coincided with the 

, in which Jamia’s famous faculty members 

 resigned from their positions to join Gandhi’s Satyagraha. 

, who was then the chairperson of Jamia, while bidding farewell to professors, summed up how Qaumi Hafta kept alive the memory of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre and resuscitated the national spirit and said, “

Qaumi-Hafta in a manner that your predisposition to serve the community and the nation is not wasted in a momentary upsurge of emotions but turn it into a lasting habit that draws upon labor and diligence

With the expansion of Jamia and its allocation to its present location in 

, Qaumi Hafta has become a thing of the past. But its essence continues to motivate the 

, which has always stood to serve the nation and society.

Qaumi Hafta: Jamia’s Tribute to the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

. There could not be a better ode to the magnanimity of this institution. The story of 

 beings in the early 1960s; it was when Jamia was growing drastically in all aspects of university education.

During the 44th Foundation Day celebrations in the year 1964, this was published as an Urdu poem in the university’s journal, Jamia (established in 1923) under the anonymous name of ‘

’. The poem beautifully encapsulated JMI’s spirit of idealism and dissent, along with the struggles faced by the university and its associates. The imagery with nationalistic undertones, draped in passion gave a state of equilibrium to the emotions. University’s then music teacher, 

, composed a tune for the poem and it was unanimously chosen as JMI’s official anthem.

It was soon confirmed that the poem was written by 

, at that time a new professor who had recently started teaching at the University. We owe that revelation to his friends. Khaliq was born in the year 1922 at 

 (today in district Ayodhaya of Uttar Pradesh). Coincidentally, it is also the home town of the famous poet 

Khaliq did his graduation and post-graduation in Economics from 

. He came to Jamia in 1952 and joined the Department of Education, where ideologically he came closer to 

. After joining the Economics Department of the university in the year 1964, he was appointed Lecturer in 1970. He died at the age of fifty-nine in 1981. Khaliq’s daughter 

Dean of the School of Social Sciences (SSS)

In these hundred long years, Jamia Millia Islamia witnessed several faces, events, glory, and dissent. Jamia Tarana recalls its foundation in answer to the nationalist call, the quest for freedom which made this institution. For many, this University was and continues to be “

the home of their passions, the land of their desires.”

Articles by Aashish Kochhar