The University of Hyderabad and Henry Martyn Institute, Shivrampally, Rajendra Nagar, Hyderabad organized one day programme on Democracy and Interfaith Relations on 23rd January 2014 at the Aman Shanti Nilyam Campus, Shivrampally, Rajendra Nagar, Hyderabad.
The students from University of Hyderabad, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Osmania University and Henry Martyn Institute participated in the events like essay writing, speech competition and self composed poetry writing. The students participated in the programme in large numbers and expressed themselves in English, Hindi and Urdu.
Prof. Ramakrishna Ramaswamy, Vice Chancellor, University of Hyderabad was the Chief Guest of the function and the programme was presided over by Dr. Paickam T. Samuel, Director, Henry Martin Institute. Dr. Khwaja Mohd. Shahid, Pro Vice Chancellor, Maulana Azad National Urdu University was the Guest of Honour of the Programme. Prof. Yoginder Sikand, Dr. Mohd. Fariyad, Associate Professor in the Department of Journalism & Mass Communication and incharge PRO cum Media Coordinator along with Mr. Ashish Jacob Thomas were among the other invited Guests in this function.
The essay writing competition was judged by Prof. Sikand, Dr. Mohd. Fariyad and Dr. Asma Bano and the self composed poetry competition was judged by three noted poets i.e Mr. Raoof Khair, Mr. Ashraf Gill and Mr. Taiyab Pasha Quadri. Later on the three poets recited their poetry for the audience. Mr. Ashraf Gill recited that ghazal which has been sung by the Ghazal legend Ustad Ghulam Ali.
Mr. Masroor Ahmad Haidri, a Ph. D research Scholar in the Dept. of Urdu, University of Hyderabad compered the competitive sessions very successfully and got loud applause from the audience.
Prof. Ramakrishna Ramaswamy, Chief Guest of the function and Vice Chancellor of the University of Hyderabad appreciated the efforts of the students and encouraged them. He categorically said that Hyderabad is the best place in India to discuss the interfaith affairs as this city has been home for the people of all faith since long time. He also said that we can do this kind of deliberations and dialogue in Hyderabad because we have institutions like Henry Martyn Institute in this city. Apart from this he praised other activities of the Henry Martyn Institute. Prof. Ramaswamy also emphasized that we must form a confluence of the educational institutions of Hyderabad and wished to have programmes in collaborations with MANUU, EFLU, NALSAR, Osmania University and others. The gathering was also addressed by Dr. Paickam. T. Samuel, Director, HMI.
At the end of the programme, Prof. Ramakrishna Ramaswamy, Vice Chancellor, UoH and Dr. Paickam T. Samuel, Director, HMI gave prizes to the winning participants. All other participants were also given certificate and a gift. The prize winning students are Ghufrana Begum (MANUU), Atiya Parveen (MANUU) & Masroor Ahmad Haidri (University of Hyderabad), Abdul Quadir and Zahoor Husain Bhat (1st, 2nd, 3rd and consolation prizes respectively in Essay writing), Shareef Ahmad and Mohd. Qasim (consolation prize in Essay, both from University of Hyderabad). Rukhsana Begum (University of Hyderabad), Amena Saher (Osmania University) & Md. Irshad Ali (University of Hyderabad) and Abdul Raheem (MANUU) got 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes respectively in poetry competition. Amena Saher (OU), Amanat Ali (MANUU), Shahadat Husain (MANUU) and Mohd. Fuzail (MANUU) got the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and consolation prizes respectively in Debate competition.
By Dr Md. Zahidul Haque, Faculty in the Dept. of Urdu, UoH