Eminent Muslim educationist Saiyid Hamid dead

ALIGARH: Noted educationist and former vice chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University Saiyid Hamid, who played a key role in the drafting of the Rajindar Sachar Committee report on the state of Muslims in the country, died on Monday at age 94 in New Delhi. Born in Faizabad in 1920, Hamid, who also headed Jamia Hamdard, a deemed university, in 1999, worked for the educational uplift of Indian Muslims.

AMU spokesman Rahat Abrar, who worked closely with Hamid when he was chairman of the UP Rabita Committee, said, "Saiyid Hamid's life was devoted to the cause of Muslim education. He spread awareness and addressed the educational backwardness among Muslims. He edited a journal, 'Nation and the World', and wrote extensively for the community's development in the social sphere. I would like to remember him as a visionary, and an institution builder."

Before Hamid joined AMU, the departments had chairpersons for more than 10-15 years. He introduced the rotation system. A firm believer in education as tool for social change, he encouraged Muslim youth towards higher studies, and dissuaded AMU teachers from leaving the country for petro dollar opportunities.

Hamid's keen interest in encouraging Muslims to take up civil services led him to establish Hamdard Public School and University, and ensure the UGC conferred "deemed university" status on Jamia Hamdard.

Syed Zafar Mahmood, AMU alumnus and founder of New Delhi-based non-profit organization Zakat Foundation of India, said, "He worked for the educational uplift of the deprived. He led educational caravans across north India. Consequently, dozens of new schools were privately established. As AMU VC he chose to side with merit and justice, even taking cudgels with vested interests. In the Sachar Committee, he was a silent contributor of substantial inputs."

At the time when Hamid was chancellor of Jamia Hamdard, Zillur Rehman of Ibn Sina Academy in Aligarh was in the academic council. Rehman reminisced, "Hamid sahib was a bureaucrat and head of AMU. He took decisions keeping in mind political realities of the country, and guided us in difficult times. His way of working was above sectarian, communal and regional considerations. That, along with his speeches and writings, kept us all inspired."

The AMU and its associated institutions will remain closed on Tuesday as a mark of respect, an AMU spokesperson said, adding a condolence meeting will be held in the afternoon.

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