Doha, 24 Oct 2025

The AMU Alumni Association Qatar (AMUAAQ) marked a historic dual celebration on October 17, 2025, at Doha's City Centre Rotana. The event honored the 208th birth anniversary of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and commemorated the 150th anniversary of the Aligarh Movement, founded with Madarsatul Uloom in 1875.

The gathering was distinguished by the presence of Chief Guest Parliamentarian Iqra Hasan Chaudhry, known for her advocacy for the underprivileged, and was presided over by the Indian Ambassador Vipul.

Dr. Nadeem Jilani, President of AMUAAQ, in his welcome address, urged the community to dream big and become true inheritors of Sir Syed’s educational vision.

The speakers delivered powerful tributes to Sir Syed's enduring legacy.

Ambassador Vipul applauded the AMU alumni for their professional contributions, which continue to strengthen the bonds between Qatar and India.

Ms. Chaudhry, welcomed with a traditional petal shower, captivated the audience with an eloquent speech. She highlighted the unfinished nature of Sir Syed's mission, pointing to the persistently high dropout rates among Muslim children in India and issuing a compelling call to action for alumni to personally support the education of underprivileged youth.

Jawed Ahmad, Chairman of AMUAAQ, elaborated on the collective spirit of the association, underscoring the theme “One Team, One Dream.”

The evening featured significant literary milestones, including the release of a meticulously compiled 20-volume collection of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan’s complete writings by Dr. Ata Khursheed and publisher Atif Hanif. Hanif also launched his own international book featuring reflections from global dignitaries of various faiths on Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). For his exceptional contributions, he was conferred the prestigious “Algerian of the Year” award. AMUAAQ further unveiled its first annual souvenir, “Abr-e-Aligarh,” and a new video rendition of the AMU Tarana.

The association recognized outstanding contributions with its Annual Excellence Awards in five categories: Ms. Anu Sharma (Media Personality), Atif Hanif (Aligarian), Prof. Anwar Rizvi (Lifetime Achievement in Education), Sharaf P Hameed (Lifetime Achievement in Social Work), and Mrs. Ghazala Yasmeen & Dr. Nadeem Jilani (Best Parenting).

Expertly compered by Dr. Ashna Nusrat and Dr. Nayeem Aman, the program also engaged the audience with an interactive Kahoot quiz.

The formal event concluded with the national anthems of Qatar and India and the soulful AMU Tarana, followed by a sumptuous dinner and a poetic Mahfil-e-Sukhan.

Special thanks were extended to the AMUAAQ Ladies Wing for their invaluable coordination in ensuring the event's grand success.