Jamia’s Premchand Archives & Literary Centre Organizes Lecture on Mahatma Gandhi and His Enduring Relationship with Jamia Millia Islamia
Jamia’s Premchand Archives and Literary Centre (JPALC), Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) organized a lecture entitled, ‘Mahatma Gandhi and Jamia Millia Islamia: An Enduring Relationship’ on 5th October 2026 in JPALC. The programme was inaugurated with the welcome address by Prof. Shahzad Anjum, Director of JPALC who welcomed the speaker, chairperson, guests of honuor, scholars, faculty members, students and all participants. He gave a graphic background of the relation of Gandhiji with Jamia since its inception. He also highlighted the academic activities & programmes of the Centre throughout the year.
On this occasion, Prof. Shahzad Anjum, also thanked the Vice Chancellor, JMI, Prof. Mazhar Asif and the Registrar, JMI, Prof. Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi for their generous support of such academic activities at JMI especially at the Archives, which play a key role in enhancing the level of research, debate and discussion among scholars, faculty members and students contributing to enriching the academic & literary environment in the University. He also thanked Prof. Neelofer Afzal, DSW (Dean Student’s Welfare), JMI.
The speaker, Prof. Mohammad Aleem, A. M. Khwaja Chair Professor, Dept. of History and Culture, JMI, presented a very detailed and in-depth relationship between Mahatma Gandhi and JMI. He informed that Gandhiji was an inspiration and mentor of the Jamia’s establishment in 1920s. He was the guiding force in the educational journey of Jamia, he argued. He also informed about its scope, significance and impact during first half of the 20th century with the great emphasis on the establishment of Jamia Millia Islamia and its contribution in the field of education since its inception and in the present time. He argued that it was a movement within the movement. He impressed upon the audience the significant role played by the founding fathers of Jamia with the blessings of Gandhiji to ensure the progress and growth of Jamia step by step.
The programme was chaired by Prof. Iqtidar Mohd. Khan, Dean, Faculty of Humanities & Languages, JMI, who highlighted the role of Maulana Mohamed Ali with other founding fathers of Jamia and his efforts to add and gain the support more and more peoples to make the success of the movement, started by them to educate the Indians. His remarks on Jamia’s contribution were thought-provoking taken from the lessons of history.
Prof. Neeraj Kumar, Head, Deptt. of Hindi, JMI in his remark, as a guest of Honour, laid the emphasis of Gandhiji, his teachings & his philosophy from his book “My Experiments with Truth” and its impact on overall educational movement throughout India and abroad. He also talked about the enduring relationship of Gandhiji and Jamia.
At the end of the programme, Prof. Shahzad Anjum, Director of Archives thanked the speaker, Prof. Mohammad Aleem, the Chairperson, Prof. Iqtidar Mohd. Khan and Prof. Neeraj Kumar, the Guest of Honour. The programme was conducted by Ms. Shardha Shankar, Asstt. Archivist, JPALC. The event was concluded by a formal vote of thanks by Ms. Noorjahan, Conservationist, JPALC. The programme was attended by large gathering of students.
