Know AMU: 10 things about one of India’s premier universities

The Supreme Court on Friday (November 8) overturned its almost-six-decade-old ruling that had held that Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) is not a “minority educational institution” under Article 30 of the Constitution. The final determination on whether AMU is a minority institution was, however, left for a separate Bench. Here are 10 things about AMU, one of India’s largest and best known educational institutions. • 01Founded in 1875AMU traces its origin to the founding of the Madarsatul Uloom in Aligarh by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan on May 24, 1875. On January 7, 1877, the Madarsatul Uloom became the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College (MAO). ### Founded in 1875 AMU traces its origin to the founding of the Madarsatul Uloom in Aligarh by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan on May 24, 1875. On January 7, 1877, the Madarsatul Uloom became the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College (MAO). • 02Inspired by Oxford, but with Islamic valuesIn Sir Syed's vision, the MAO was patterned on the universities of Oxford and Cambridge in Britain that he had visited. His objective was to build a college in line with the British education system, but without compromising on Islamic values. ### Inspired by Oxford, but with Islamic values In Sir Syed's vision, the MAO was patterned on the universities of Oxford and Cambridge in Britain that he had visited. His objective was to build a college in line with the British education system, but without compromising on Islamic values. • 03Became AMU in 1920The MAO College became Aligarh Muslim University in 1920, after the Aligarh Muslim University Act was passed the same year. ### Became AMU in 1920 The MAO College became Aligarh Muslim University in 1920, after the Aligarh Muslim University Act was passed the same year. • 04Open to allAs per the AMU website, from its very inception, the institution “kept its doors open to the members of all communities and from all corners of the country and the world”. The university describes itself as being a “proudly Islamic and proudly Indian institution: a living symbol of the composite culture of India and a bulwark of its secular principles”. ### Open to all As per the AMU website, from its very inception, the institution “kept its doors open to the members of all communities and from all corners of the country and the world”. The university describes itself as being a “proudly Islamic and proudly Indian institution: a living symbol of the composite culture of India and a bulwark of its secular principles”. • 05Spread across 467 acres, caters to over 37,000 studentsThe university is spread over 467.6 hectares in Aligarh, and offers more than 300 courses in both the traditional and modern branches of education. The university currently has more than 37,327 students, 1,686 teachers, and 5,610 non-teaching staff on its rolls. It has 13 faculties comprising 117 teaching departments, three academies, and 21 centres and institutes. ### Spread across 467 acres, caters to over 37,000 students The university is spread over 467.6 hectares in Aligarh, and offers more than 300 courses in both the traditional and modern branches of education. The university currently has more than 37,327 students, 1,686 teachers, and 5,610 non-teaching staff on its rolls. It has 13 faculties comprising 117 teaching departments, three academies, and 21 centres and institutes. • 06Attracts international studentsStudents from all states of India and abroad — especially Africa, West Asia, and Southeast Asia — are part of the university. There is reservation of seats for students from SAARC and Commonwealth countries in some courses. ### Attracts international students Students from all states of India and abroad — especially Africa, West Asia, and Southeast Asia — are part of the university. There is reservation of seats for students from SAARC and Commonwealth countries in some courses. • 07Residential universityOne of the main features of the university is its residential character. Most of the staff and students reside on campus. There are a total 19 halls of resident students, and 80 hostels. ### Residential university One of the main features of the university is its residential character. Most of the staff and students reside on campus. There are a total 19 halls of resident students, and 80 hostels. • 08Various institutesApart from undergraduate and postgraduate courses in social sciences and sciences, the university also comprises the Zakir Hussain College of Engineering and Technology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Dr Ziauddin Dental College, the Institute of Ophthalmology, Food Craft Institute, Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Centre of Advanced Study in History, Department of West Asian Studies, Centre of Wildlife, and Centre for South African & Brazilian Studies. AMU also offers courses in Indian, Oriental and Western languages. The medium of instruction in the university is primarily English. ### Various institutes Apart from undergraduate and postgraduate courses in social sciences and sciences, the university also comprises the Zakir Hussain College of Engineering and Technology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Dr Ziauddin Dental College, the Institute of Ophthalmology, Food Craft Institute, Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Centre of Advanced Study in History, Department of West Asian Studies, Centre of Wildlife, and Centre for South African & Brazilian Studies. AMU also offers courses in Indian, Oriental and Western languages. The medium of instruction in the university is primarily English. • 09Three centres outside AligarhThe university also has three centres outside Aligarh — at Murshidabad, West Bengal; Malappuram, Kerala; Kishanganj, Bihar. ### Three centres outside Aligarh The university also has three centres outside Aligarh — at Murshidabad, West Bengal; Malappuram, Kerala; Kishanganj, Bihar. • 10Also runs schoolsThe University also has one primary school, seven high schools (including one for the visually impaired students), and two senior secondary schools for boys and girls. ### Also runs schools The University also has one primary school, seven high schools (including one for the visually impaired students), and two senior secondary schools for boys and girls. Asad Rehman is with the national bureau of The Indian Express and covers politics and policy focusing on religious minorities in India. A journalist for over eight years, Rehman moved to this role after covering Uttar Pradesh for five years for The Indian Express. During his time in Uttar Pradesh, he covered politics, crime, health, and human rights among other issues. He did extensive ground reports and covered the protests against the new citizenship law during which many were killed in the state. During the Covid pandemic, he did extensive ground reporting on the migration of workers from the metropolitan cities to villages in Uttar Pradesh. He has also covered some landmark litigations, including the Babri Masjid-Ram temple case and the ongoing Gyanvapi-Kashi Vishwanath temple dispute. Prior to that, he worked on The Indian Express national desk for three years where he was a copy editor. Rehman studied at La Martiniere, Lucknow and then went on to do a bachelor's degree in History from Ramjas College, Delhi University. He also has a Masters degree from the AJK Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia. ... Read More