Aligarh: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) represents “mini-India” and has to its credit 100 glorious years of excellence in education. The PM addressed the Centenary Celebrations of AMU through video conference on Tuesday.
PM Modi also released a postal stamp commemorating the event. Speaking on the occasion, Modi recalled Sir Sayyad’s remark that the ‘the first and foremost duty of one who is concerned about his country is to work for the welfare of all people. Irrespective of the caste, creed or religion’, according to a PIB release.
“We must realise that politics is an important part of society, but there are many other issues in society besides politics… For a new India, the core is that welfare must not be seen from the prism of politics. There are some elements who may have an issue with this. They can be found in all countries.
“They will spread negativity. But these people will be sidelined if we work for the betterment of the country keeping politics aside. Politics can wait, society can wait, (but) the country can’t wait for development, the poor and disadvantaged can’t wait for development,” said Modi in his address to the students, teachers and staff of the varsity.
According to the PM, AMU campus is like a city in itself. “We see a mini-India among different departments, dozens of hostels, thousands of teachers and professors. The diversity which we see here is not only the strength of this university but also of the entire nation. History of education attached to AMU buildings is India’s valuable heritage,” the Prime Minister was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.