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About Us
:
The Parent Body
Aligarh
Muslim University Old Boys' (Alumni) Association
Aligarh
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Background
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The
organizational history of
the Aligarh Muslim
University alumni is quite
old. The very first forum of
the old boys was The
Brotherhood, founded in
1892.On its basis, the Old
Boys' Association came into
being on 5th March 1899. The
main objectives of the
Association were formally
declared in 1904. These
were: |
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Interest in the
betterment of the College; |
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Close relationship
among the old boys, the
College staff and the
Trustees; and |
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Promotion of moral
values among the old boys. |
In
1913, an important addition was made
to the objectives, and it was; aid
to the families of the old boys. A
provident fund was also established
for this purpose.
On 10th April
1914, the Old Boys' Lodge was
formally inaugurated at Aligarh; the
foundation stone of the building had
been laid by Nawab Viqarul Mulk in
1912.
The
first Secretary of the Association
was Mr. Bahadur Ali. Among other
distinguished earlier secretaries,
the names of Sahibzada Aftab Ahmad
Khan and Maulana Shaukat Ali may be
mentioned.
AMUOBA was formed in 1899 at Aligarh and has branches in many cities in India as well as Dubai and London.
Sir Syed was confident that the students of Mohammadan Anglo Oriental College will spread his mission and will carry the flag of Aligarh Movement across the country when they will enter into practical and professional life. Students of MAO College never let Sir Syed down and fulfilled his dream of spreading his message across the country. The sad demise of Sir Syed on 27th March, 1898 was a starting point for the Old Boys of M.A.O. College to start some organized activity to fulfill the dream of Sir Syed and spread his message across the country. Sahabzada Aftab Ahmad Khan took the lead and organized a dinner of MAO College Old Boys on 23rd July 1898. The nostalgic moment became instrumental in the formation of Old Boys Association. On 5th March, 1899 Old Boys Association was established at Aligarh and Maulvi Bahadur Ali was elected Founding Secretary of Old Boys Association.
The objective of Old Boys Association was to have social gatherings which can be utilized to generate support for Aligarh Movement. Old Boys Association became a helping hand of MAO College and played a key role to mobilize the masses and generate funds for College and later for Muslim University. The Old boys Association decided to donate 1% of their income to MAO College and promoted this program to generate funds for College. Once College was short of funds than Old Boys Association took the responsibility to pay the salary of Science teacher. These kind of support to MAO College made Old Boys Association an integral part of the MAO College and Aligarh Movement and later they got a right to send 3 representative in The Board of Trustees of MAO College.
During the 1920s when Struggle for Muslim University was on peak, funds were raised to transform MAO College into a Muslim University, the Khilafat in Turkey was abolished and Old Boys Association Activist, prominently Ali Brothers (Maulana Shaukat Ali and Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar) launched Khilafat Movement and at the same time, joined Non-Cooperation Movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi. This lead to a tussle between Old Boys Association and MAO College Management as later was supported by British rule. This tussle leads to a division in MAO College and Old Boys Association leaders, like Ali brothers, Dr. Zakir Hussain and many others. The rebel group wanted MAO College Management to turned down the help from British ruler and dissociate MAO College from University of Allahabad to which MAO College was affiliated. When the demands of this group were not accepted, they established a separate institute, Jamia Millia Islamia at Old Boys Lodge and Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar became its Founding Vice-Chancellor. Jamia Millia Islamia was later moved to Karol Bagh Delhi and then to its present location of Okhla in Delhi.
On December 1, 1920, when Muhammadan Anglo Oriental College became Aligarh Muslim University, the Old Boys Association of MAO College also became, Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association. MAO College Board of Trustees was dissolved and Muslim University Court was constituted to run the business of newly established Muslim University. AMU Old Boys Association was given a right to send 25 representatives in AMU Court. In 1923, a new building of AMU Old Boys Association was established under the leadership of Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar and later in 1928, it was decided to start AMU Old Boys Associations in different parts of the country. In 1932, Old Boys Association builds a hostel and rented it to the University. This hostel was named as “Aftab Hostel” to honor the Founder of AMU Old Boys Association, Sahabzada Aftab Ahmad Khan.
At present Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association office and guest house is situated next to University Proctor’s office.