11th February marks 11 long years of the assassination of Shahid Azmi. A crusader for justice, human rights, and a lawyer by profession, Shahid was murdered on the night of 11th February 2010 in his office in Kurla, Mumbai. Martyred at the young age of 33 Shahid was no ordinary lawyer. In his short-lived legal practice of 7 years, he had successfully secured the acquittal of 17 men framed in cooked up terrorist charges.

Shahid grew up in the suburb area of Deonar, Mumbai, and was an eye witness to the 1992 communal riots which followed after the demolition of the Babri Masjid. He had a front-row view of the barbarism and the torture that Muslims faced by the saffron mobs and police alike. This might have created a sense of anger and frustration in the Muslim youth including Shahid, and he found himself in Pakistan with a group of militants. This however didn’t last long and he returned back. He was later picked up by the police and charged with terrorism and related offenses based on a confession which he never gave! Sounds contemporary right? He spent around 7 years in incarceration, mostly in the Tihar Jail. This was the time when he completed his graduation from jail. His thirst for knowledge and love for justice made him join a law school after he was released of all his charges in 2001.

Shahid was no ordinary lawyer. In such a brief period, he emerged out as a defender of justice, democratic rights, and truth. He became the strong voice of the politically marginalized and the innocent Muslims who are falsely framed up in terrorism-related cases. Shahid represented every man he believed was innocent and a prey to the system which is entwined with a bias against Muslims. After completing his legal education he started working under Advocate Majeed Menon, but soon quit that and started his own practice. One of his first and remarkable cases was that of the 2002 Ghatkopar blast case where he got nine accused acquitted. He has tremendous contributions to the democratic process of delivering justice which needs sharp, dedicated, and brilliant minds like Shahid. In a world where lawyers are expected to be emotionally detached from their cases, there are lawyers like Shahid who are not only an exception to this norm but become the voice of the voiceless.

Shahid Azmi’s Chamber in Taximen Colony, Kurla. This is exactly where he was shot dead in the late hours of 11th February 2010. 

Shahid’s revolutionary life struggles and courage to defend the innocent Muslims languishing in jails was no cakewalk. Just like anyone who fights for a just cause against popular opinion, he too had to face the brutal consequences. He used to get dozens of death threats for he used to represent and support people who were declared terrorists in the eyes of the general public. In fact, in his last days when he was representing Faheem Ansari, an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai Attacks, the number of life-threatening calls and warnings he received were amplified which led to his murder. It is extremely important to remember that this was the period when bar associations across the country had prohibited their members from representing in terror related cases. For him, his profession was not just a way of earning a livelihood, it was way more than that. Having been in prison himself for framed up cases for several years, perhaps he knew what it feels like being in jail for being a Muslim, an innocent Muslim. I believe it was his life mission to represent and help those whom no one would. He was often labeled as a terrorist lawyer.

Shahid was killed. He was killed for his mission to provide justice to every individual he believed was innocent. Despite himself being a victim of the morally corrupt and rotten system, he did not maintain distance from it but decided to fight in a democratic and honest method. Why would anyone kill or even threaten and think about killing an individual like Shahid? Who was in love with the concept of justice and a gem for the democratic functioning for achieving it?

Don’t look at his murder as just another killing of an individual. His murder was a blatant effort to terrorize the idea of justice and silence the voices of those who live and die for the cause of justice. His murderers might have thought that the killing of Shahid Azmi will put a full stop to the people fighting for justice in the courtrooms and on the field. But that never happened. Shahid after his death, inspired countless youth, especially Muslims, to take up law as a profession and carry forward his legacy. His younger brother is one of those who has been a lawyer for many years and have been fighting the cases which Shahid couldn’t complete. After all, it takes than more than gun to kill a man!

We all owe a great deal of gratitude and respect to such defenders of our democracy. They sacrifice their social and personal life, keep aside their financial and professional aspirations for upholding our constitution and keep the fire burning for a democratic, secular, and an egalitarian India. An India where the word ‘justice’ holds some meaning.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of The Jamia Review or its members.

REMEMBERING SHAHID AZMI: THE CRUSADER FOR JUSTICE

, is not just a New Year’s Day for anybody who knows about the legacy of 

. The first day of every new year is celebrated as the 

 in remembrance of a man who lived and died among the masses- performing 

 when Safdar Hashmi, along with other members of 

, was brutally attacked during their performance at 

, an industrial area in Ghaziabad. This attack turned out to be lethal one. It fatally wounded Safdar Hashmi, and he died a day later. He was only 34. Along with him died 

, a migrant worker from Nepal who worked in Jhandapur.

Safdar Hashmi was a young and talented street theatre artist, who was on a mission to educate and organise the working class. What was the fear which his killers had from him? Why was he killed?

“It was the manner in which he was killed that shook everybody. He was murdered for standing up for the weak. And he was killed while doing his job as an artist.”

 household. He completed his Masters in English from St.Stephens college. Associated with the 

, Safdar was very much active in student politics. Before co-founding 

Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA). 

By the age of 34, when he died, Safdar had already made a name as a fiery street theatre actor and 

. During and also a little later after the emergency, he even worked as a 

Press Information Officer with the Press Trust of India (PTI)

. In 1984, Safdar became a full time worker of the 

, of which he was a part of since late 70s.

 in 1973, which grew out of IPTA, where he started theatre during his college days. Safdar was the heart and soul of JANAM. He wrote, directed and of course, enacted all its plays. He even wrote songs for the plays. The scripts he wrote dealt with the issues concerning the exploited and marginalised sections of the society. Safdar along with his comrades from JANAM used to perform the plays amidst the people whose issues they wanted to address. He used his theatrical skills to educate the common man and not entertain the elite.

He was on a mission of providing a rich and cultural experience of street theatre to the working classes and the marginalised sections of the society. Safdar wrote, 

“It (Street theatre) is basically a militant political theatre of protest. Its function is to agitate the people and to mobilise them behind fighting organisations.” 

Some of the better known plays of Janam are 

 (the play they were performing in Jhandapur on 1st January 1989). Safdar performed 

 before the Emergency to highlight the government’s obsession with, and exploitation of power; 

 highlighted the basic demands of factory workers; the play 

 highlighted the challenges faced by women in their everyday living. All his plays and poems were concerned with the working class, their everyday problems and a hope for a better world.

The attack on Safdar Hashmi was not just an attack on a man, but was on an 

. The idea of an India, which hears the voices of the marginalised sections of the society. An India which at least recognises the misery of the working class, who are brutally exploited even today. An India of our dreams. Safdar ultimately had to pay the price for fighting for the idea he believed in.

 wrote a tribute to her son which ends with the words, “

Comrade, your name, your actions, your commitment will never be forgotten. Your courage brings strength to my arms today. Your love will envelop us, today and in the future. We will not give up hope. Though you no longer walk beside us, your laughter and your songs will rise again from our throats, and when we advance to new revolutionary goals, your example will be there before us, encouraging us to forge further ahead. Farewell, Comrade!”

Even after 31 years of Safdar’s death we live in an India no different. There is a constant attack on art and the freedom of expression. Democratic movements are being looked upon as activities against the nation, while dissent is criminalized with no shame. In such dark times, Safdar Hashmi and his life and ideas inspires and encourages us. His dedication and courage to stand strong in the face of difficulties is what we all need today.

REMEMBERING SAFDAR HASHMI: THE MAN WHO REPRESENTED CULTURAL RESISTANCE

“Imam Hussain sacrificed his all, but he refused to submit to a tyrannical government.” – Mahatma Gandhi

 started last week throughout the world. The first ten days of the month are observed by Muslims to remember the 

. The month of Muharram not just holds great religious importance for Muslims, but is also remembered for the bravery of Imam Hussain and his comrades who refused to stand with tyranny and oppression, but fearlessly stood with truth, justice and equality, even at the cost of their lives, in the 

. Even after 1400 years of this tragic event, the legacy of Karbala lives on!

“In a distant age and climate”, wrote Edward Gibbon in The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire in 1911, “The tragic scene of the death of Hussain will awaken the sympathy of the coldest reader.” The tragedy of Karbala is observed every year by billions of people (not just Muslims) in this very month of Muharram, as a symbol of 

 against tyranny and oppression. Imam Hussain, with his family and just 72 companions, stood rock solid against the oppressive regime of 

 and refused to bow down in front of his army of thousands. In fact, some sources state that Yazid’s forces were in lakhs. It was the day of 10th of Muharram (30th August of this year), 61 Hijri that corresponds with 680 AD, when Hussain fell on the battle ground of Karbala.

“The Battle of Karbala”, or as I would prefer to call it, “The Tragedy of Karbala” was a result of the conflict between Imam Hussain and the caliph of that time, Yazid. Yazid wanted Imam Hussain to swear allegiance to him. He wanted Hussain (successor of Prophet), to endorse him so that he gets an acceptance from the society for all his bad deeds. Imam Hussain, being the true 

 of the time, clearly and rightly refused to do so. “It was possible for Hussain to save his life by submitting himself to the will of Yazid,” 

 again wrote, “But his responsibility as a reformer did not allow him to accept Yazid’s Caliphate, He therefore prepared to embrace all sorts of discomfort and inconvenience in order to deliver Islam from 

 Under the blazing sun, on the parched land and against the stifling heat of Arabia stood the immortal Hussain.”

It was after the death of Prophet Muhammad in the year 632 AD, that Islam started gaining public acceptance and was spreading at a rapid speed. Seeing this fast spreading of Islam globally, many opportunists, in lust of wealth and power, started gaining power, too. Their objectives were never to carry forward the legacy or the message of Muhammad, but to spread their own regime. This eventually started in the distortion and manipulation of the original ideas of Islam. Imam Hussain staunchly stood against this, and hence he refused Yazid’s offer in spite of knowing the outcome of this. Soon after, Hussain left for 

 along with all his family and companions, leaving back his childhood home of 

. Mecca was the city where the Ka’ba was and is still situated, it is also the birthplace of Prophet Muhammad. Yazid did not let Hussain and others live peacefully there too, and thus he again decided to leave for Kufa (present day Iraq). Then Imam Hussain turned towards Karbala, where he along with his seventy two men, including his six months old son were brutally attacked by Yazid’s army of thousands, they tortured and killed Imam Hussain’s family members including women, children and infants.

People sitting in a ‘majlis’ beating their chests and crying, remembering the tragic incidents of Karbala.
Source: AFP


The whole month of Muharram, specially the first 10 days (1st-10th of Muharram), Muslims mourn the brutal assassination and the tortures faced by the Prophet’s grandson and his caravan. The traditions and rituals which are followed vary from place to place and are different in the various Muslim sects all over the world during the month of Muharram. All people wear the colour ‘black’ to mourn the sacrifice of Imam Hussain. 

 are organized throughout the period, which is a religious congregation where people gather and mourn the tragic happenings of Karbala. Muharram 

 or processions are taken out on the streets to spread the message of Imam Hussain and his comrades, as well as commemorate his martyrdom. In these processions most people walk barefoot, while reciting verses on the Tragedy of Karbala known as 

 are also carried with these processions. People carry large banners with 

 written on it. It is an Arabic phrase which literally translates to 

 which is a slogan to express solidarity with Imam Hussain’s life, his message of peace and his sacrifice for humanity. In Fact the martyrdom of Imam Hussain is the victory of good over evil.

A Muharram procession being carried out. The white horse in the middle is a replica of Imam Hussian’s horse, Zuljana, who was very dear to him.
Source: urdupoint.com


All these and other rituals are of course not possible this year due to the Coronavirus pandemic. In fact, according to some sources this will be the first time in 700 years when no 

 will be carried out on the streets of Delhi. Muharram processions are also a symbol of Hindu Muslim unity. People from all faiths and ages actively take part not just in these processions, but also in the other Muharram rituals throughout the mourning period. 

Holy shrine of Imam Hussain in the city of Karbala, Iraq. Lakhs of Hussain’s followers from around the world visit his shrine especially in the month of Muharram.
Source: Reuters


“There is a universal appeal in this martyrdom. Imam Hussain sacrificed his all,” 

 once said, “But he refused to submit to a 

. He never gave any weight to the fact that his material force was far less in comparison with that of the enemy.” Yazid is not just the name of Hussain’s murderer, but he also represents an 

, tyranny and brutal oppression against any dissent. He defines a system which has criminalized even the basic human rights. He is a perfect example of an oppressive ruler whose whole existence and regime is based on fraud, cruelty and large scale bloodshed.

On the other hand, Imam Hussain and his companions represent a different approach. He represents a system which stands tall against any kind of oppression, even at the risk of their own life. He stands for the values of peace, humanity, justice and brotherhood. Before heading for Karbala, Imam Hussain said, “A person of my type can never accept the allegiance of a person like Yazid.” This shows us the dedication he had for the principles he believed in. His life and deeds acts as a guiding light for all of us especially in the dark times we are living in. Hussain teaches us to act against the powerful oppressive forces in the society, even if we are less in force and not just stand as 

Summing up, we can say that Imam Hussain’s sacrifice for the sake of 

 and humanity is unparalleled. The whole event of Karbala teaches us to fight for what is right, just and in favor of 

. Karbala teaches us to stand rock solid even in the darkest of dark times, no matter how extreme and harsh the conditions are.

The Tragedy of Karbala

 on the night of April 10. Apart from being a scholar, 

Media Coordinator of the Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC)

, and has been actively involved in the anti-CAA protest at 

 of the university. According to the sources, 

 by three police vehicles, which came to her residence on at around midnight, her arrest was confirmed by the police. She was presented in front of a judge at 

 the next day, but her bail was rejected. 

 is accused of organizing an anti-CAA protest in 

 has also issued notices to more than 50 members of the 

. The notices are issued for an alleged involvement in instigating protests against the 

. A student activist associated with the 

, told me that 2-3 other student activists from 

 were also called for investigation by the 

The Delhi Police is just using this lockdown time to suppress the

voices who are critical of this current regime

,” he said on condition of anonymity. Earlier this month, 

, was arrested in a similar manner. On 15 April, he was sent for 14 days of judiciary custody, after being in police custody for almost two weeks.

 sudden arrest came as a big shock to the student fraternity of 

. Scores of solidarity messages flooded on all social media platforms, when the news of her arrest was publicly announced by many activists the next day.

Delhi University Professor and a member of Rajya Sabha, Prof. Manoj Jha

Dissent is the biggest crime these times, particularly if it is from young

All India Students’ Association’s (AISA) Delhi President

 called these arrests a pure act of vengeance on part of the 

, and blamed the government for using the pandemic for defaming the 

 community & simultaneously jailing all vocal democratic voices from the community.

More than thirty civil society organisations and other groups, including the 

Jamia Teachers’ Association (JTA), Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers’ Association (JNUTA)

. In their joint statement they accused the 

 of taking retaliatory revengeful action against those who were active in the anti-CAA movement. They specially focused on the health condition of 

What is particularly worrying in this entire context is that

is pregnant and in this condition, she requires proper care and medical supervision. This kind of action during the lockdown due to the

is a violation of their constitutional rights

Several other online campaigns started meanwhile, condemning the arrests of 

Campaign against witch-hunt of anti-CAA activists

,’ is one such online campaign started by several activists, lawyers, academicians, writers and filmmakers including 

, condemning the unending witch–hunt of 

 scholar-activists. They have pointed out the arrests of many 

 and several others who have been arrested this year in relation to the anti-CAA protests. Several other prominent people from the film industry have also came out in condemning these arrests and standing in solidarity with the students of 

 and others, has called these actions by 

,’ and has urge the police to stop abusing the lockdown and release the students and activists.

Several other student leaders including former 

, hit out to the government for the witch-hunting of 

youth and of activists who have played leading roles in the anti-NRC protests is being carried out openly, while the actual rioters and mobs have been left to return to their routine lives

 activists and students are already in custody in relation to the anti-CAA protests this year. 

 are a few among them. However, the anti CAA protestors are putting it the other way. They argue that these arrests are being done to divert the attention of the public from the real issues and to protect the real culprits who instigated violence on the 

 students who have been arrested during this lockdown are the ones who were actively involved in the relief work for the workers who were left unattended by the authorities during these crises.

Another Anti-CAA Jamia Student Activist Arrested

There have been various social movements in the last two centuries which have focused on uplifting the social status of women in India. Most of these movements focused on fighting against the bigotry and chauvinism of 

 patriarchy. In fact, these ‘anti-caste’ and ‘anti-patriarchal’ campaigns not only helped in empowering and educating the oppressed 

 and Muslim women but also provided them with a sense of social and political consciousness. One such social campaign was led by 

‘India’s first anti-caste reformers.’

 were married at a very tender age. While 

 had attended school till middle classes, Savitribai Phule on the other hand had not even entered any class-room till then. This was the time in history when the Brahmins did not allow men from the lower castes and women from any caste to attend school and receive education, not even the junior classes. The couple in order to break this 

 monopoly started schools which were attended by large number of children, mostly girls and also boys from the ‘

’ community. Due to their revolutionary thinking and practises, they received a massive backlash from the people living in their community. Ultimately, in 1849 they had to leave their house due to the conservative views of their family. That was the time when 

 (known as Fatima Sheikh), and her brother 

 were forced to leave their house in 1849, it was 

 who supported and gave them shelter in their house in 

). The couple used the Sheikh’s house for setting a school in the same year. It was 

 just did not restrict herself to get educated, but she also enrolled herself into a professional teacher training course along with 

, who were the only female students in the training institute at that time. She is considered to be colleague of 

 role in promoting women education is not just restricted to providing asylum to the 

 couple and to getting educated herself. In fact, while reading about 

 I learnt that she was not absolutely illiterate. According to 

knew how to read and write already, her brother

to take up the teacher training course. She went along with

to the Normal School and they both graduated together. She was the first Muslim woman teacher of India”

’ which was apparently India’s first all girls school, was the result of both 

 efforts and hardwork. It was opened in her house. In the 1850s, 

 in establishing two educational trusts. In fact she used to teach in all the five schools which the couple had opened. Some historical archives claim that 

 used to do a lot of door-to-door campaigning in her neighbourhood and community, educating families especially from the marginalised section on the importance of female education, and pushing them to send their girls to attend school.

 journey was no different from that of other social reformers of that time. Like 

 faced a lot of opposition from the local community. She must have been targeted by both, the 

 class for promoting education in the lower caste families and by the orthodox Muslims of her community. In fact, she should be appreciated more than 

, as she being a Muslim fought against the caste system. In those times Muslims girls were allowed to attend 

 (an institution for the study of Islamic theology and religious law), but the orthodox Muslims and the clerics had opposed 

 project to introduce modern education to Muslim girls.

Unfortunately, not much information is available to us about the life of 

 often used to mention about her in her letters to 

, mentioning about the amount of hardwork she used to put in while teaching in their schools and campaigning for female education. Although historians did give her any recognition in their books, she is still regarded as the ‘

First Muslim Women Teacher of the 19th Century’ by many.

 She has now, after almost 200 years, started gaining recognition for her role in promoting female education and women empowerment in the 

Why should we remember her on Women’s Day?

This question of why should we remember her on Women’s Day might rise in many minds. After all she is not the only social reformer who did not get recognition in the books of history, but if we remember the contributions of 

 shouldn’t be left alone. We should remember her for the message of love and compassion she gave by not only providing shelter to the 

 but also assisting them in teaching the underprivileged. She should be remembered as a heroic woman who fought against the bigotry of ‘

 patriarchy’ and also vehemently challenged the caste system in the 19th century. She stood up against the male dominated society and actively worked for education for females and women empowerment. Being a Muslim woman she also fought against the patriarchy and orthodoxy of the Muslims of those times. 

 indeed should be remembered and admired, especially in these dark times we are living in.

In fact according to me, every woman who has received modern education in the last three generations and is a working professional owes a lot to the early women reformers like 

. She is probably the most underrated and unsung women reformer our country ever had and this is exactly why I decided to bring her unheard story out on this Women’s Day.

Fatima Sheikh – The Forgotten Educationalist of the 19th Century

BJP MP and Terror Acussed Sadhvi Pragya has stirred another controversial remark by referring Gandhi’s assasinator Nathuram Godse as a patriot. But, this isn’t the first time that the newly electedMP has made such polemic; with a long history of controversies to her name let’s trace her history of remarks and that of herself.

“Evil does not arrive from outside our civilization, from a separate realm we are tempted to call ‘primitive, evil is generated by the civilization itself,” writes Michael Mann in his 2004 book The Dark Side of Democracy.
This is not the first time that the Bhopal MP has found her amidst a controversy in her seven months political career.

This game of controversies began in mid-April 2019 when Pragya Singh Thakur official joined the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP). The very next day she was fielded as the party’s candidate from Bhopal against Congress’s Digvijaya Singh. This unique recruitment by the BJP saw a great number of backlashes coming from the Indian political circle. Unique, because it was for the first in Independent India that a political party had fielded a terror accused as a candidate for the Parliamentary Elections. She defeated Digvijaya Singh with a margin of 364,822 votes and won her debut election.


Born to Chandrapal Singh, a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker, in the Bhind district of Madhya Pradesh, Pragya Singh has a long association with the Sangh Parivar (an umbrella term, to the collection of Hindu nationalist organisations). She has done her post graduation in history. Durning her student days she was an active member of the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the RSS. She has also worked in the Durga Vahini, women’s wing of the Bajrang Dal.
She is one of the prime accused in the 2008 Malegaon blasts which killed nearly 10 people. She was arrested in 2009 for the same. Pragya Singh was given a clean chit by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2015. Special public prosecutor, Rohini Salian had told The Indian Express that the NIA was putting pressure on her to go slow on the case. Though she was given a clean chit by the NIA, the trial court refused to discharge her from the case.


Pragya Thakur is not new to controversies. The Hindu ascetic’s provocative speeches and statements have often made major headlines. She has often referred Nathuram Godse as a patriot.


It was the first time during the run up for the General Elections, when she referred to Godse as a deshbhakt. A disciplinary committee was formed by the then BJP President Amit Shah to probe into the matter, but no adequate action was taken against her. BJP just issued a showcause notice to her and the matter was brought to a standstill. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said he would never be able to forgive her for the remarks. During an interview to the News 24 in May he said, “Whatever has been said about Gandhiji or Godse, whatever statements have been made in this regard, are extremely bad, in every way worthy of contempt and criticism. Such language and thinking isn’t part of any civilised society, and it can’t be allowed. Therefore, those who are doing this have to pause a hundred times. Though she has apologised, I won’t be able to forgive her in my mind”

During her campaigning she also made a controversial statement about the Late Maharashtra ATS Chief Hemant Karkare who was killed in 26/11 Mumbai attacks. “Hemant Karkare falsely implicated me and treated me very badly. I told him your entire dynasty will be erased. He died of his karma,” she reportedly said.


For all her controversial statements the BJP has distanced itself and asked her to tender a public apology. However, no official action was taken against her by the party. Avinash Rai Khanna – the BJP’s disciplinary committee chair had earlier told The Wire that, his committee had submitted its report and recommendations to the party president but it was up to him to decide what has to be done. “We had submitted the report a while ago but received no word since,” he said. This clearly shows that PM Modi’s claim of never being able to forgive Thakur was just another jumla and it had no meaning behind it.

The biggest irony was when earlier this month the terror accused BJP MP was nominated to a parliamentary committee on defence. The BJP removed her from this committee after her controversial statement on Godse in the Lok Sabha. But the question remains, that why was a terror accused even nominated to a committee which is to look after the nation’s security? Pragya Thakur has not once, but several times referred to the assassin Godse as a deshbhakt. Isn’t this an out-of-line insult to the Father of our Nation, Mahatma Gandhi?

2019 is the year when the whole world, including India is celebrating Gandhiji’s 150th Birth Anniversary. It is a matter of utter shame that we have an elected MP who praises Gandhiji’s assassin on regular occasions, and that too in the parliament itself. In my opinion, Pragya Thakur’s apologies have no meaning behind them. They are just made to bridge over the embarrassment which the Bharatiya Janta Party has to suffer. She is actually not at sorry, but is indeed proud in calling Godse a deshbhakt. She is a proud member of the political mindset of the Sangh Parivar, which even Godse was a part of.

Sadhvi Pragya: Controversies from Sangh to Sabha

 completed 99 years of its inception and celebrated its 99th Foundation Day with three days of festivities to complement. On this glorious occasion the 

Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Prof. Najma Akhtar

 appealed to all students and staff members to put their best efforts in making Jamia better and reach the pinnacle of success in every regard.
During the celebrations in the 

, the VC announced the opening of four new departments in the University namely 

– Design and Innovation; Hospital Management and Elder Care; Environmental Sciences and Foreign Languages

. She further added that the University is planning to put Jamia Millia Islamia on the national map in respect of 

 and apart from the four proposed departments, the University is also planning to start a Medical College-cum-Hospital in the University Campus. She also said that the 

 has assured her of all the assistance in this regard and has further sent his best regards in this respect.

Just after taking charge as the Vice Chancellor our Hon’ble VC promised on focusing on new courses and enhanced curriculum in the University, while showing interest in collaborations with other institutions for research related courses.
Earlier this year, four new courses were also initiated in the university which included 

Master of Science in Banking and Financial Analytics

M.Tech in Environmental Science and Engineering

Entrepreneurship Development Programmes (EDP)

Centre for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE)

National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC).

 In the previous session JMI had introduced a three year professional course in 

. It is a unique dual degree course with a graduation degree awarded by the University and a certificate in ‘Aircraft Maintenance Engineering’ issued by the 

Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)

. The course is a grand success, running in its second year, with a good feedback flooding in from the students.

While talking to some students of the University, interestingly we found that most of the students find this move of opening new professional courses, a progressive one, some said

“It feels nice to see Jamia focusing on developing new professional Courses that caters to developing trends in job sector”





says Nawaz Ahmed Khan, from B.Sc. (Aeronautics)

On the other hand many students argue that the University should first focus on improving the existing departments and courses and then think of opening new departments, in this regard the VC had promised that she would replace, update and modernize certain old courses and sought the best for the students.
I personally believe that the administration should improve the infrastructure of the existing departments and provide them with the essential facilities which should include a separate library for every department, regular workshops and seminars related to their subjects and a Placement & Internship Cell along with that the University should open new departments and courses for both professional and research related studies, but more emphasis should be given on opening ‘regular’ courses rather than ‘self-finance’ ones which will help the financially weak students to pursue quality education in the university.


As someone once said, “Our future is always coming up with surprises for us,” these new surprises should definitely help the students and take Jamia Millia Islamia on the path of excellence.

Business Administration, Jamia Millia Islamia

Articles by Sahil Kazmi

REMEMBERING SHAHID AZMI: THE CRUSADER FOR JUSTICE

REMEMBERING SAFDAR HASHMI: THE MAN WHO REPRESENTED CULTURAL RESISTANCE

The Tragedy of Karbala

Another Anti-CAA Jamia Student Activist Arrested

Fatima Sheikh – The Forgotten Educationalist of the 19th Century

Sadhvi Pragya: Controversies from Sangh to Sabha

JMI gets New Departments as it enters its Centenary Year – A Report

REMEMBERING SHAHID AZMI: THE CRUSADER FOR JUSTICE

REMEMBERING SAFDAR HASHMI: THE MAN WHO REPRESENTED CULTURAL RESISTANCE

The Tragedy of Karbala

Another Anti-CAA Jamia Student Activist Arrested

Fatima Sheikh – The Forgotten Educationalist of the 19th Century

Sadhvi Pragya: Controversies from Sangh to Sabha

JMI gets New Departments as it enters its Centenary Year – A Report