Those who have studied at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Aligarh are aware of the emphasis on the word, ‘TRADITIONS’. Every generation of teachers, as well as students, can be found lamenting upon the deterioration of these ‘University traditions’ among ‘newer’ generations.
‘Traditions of AMU’ covers aspects of life like what to wear in the hostel dining halls, classes, how to behave on table etc. There are some traditions which a logic cannot defy, like male students should not carry an umbrella (I don’t know if they still follow it).
Most of the university alumni would not be knowing that the founders of AMU wanted the institution to have its separate traditions. In 1902, while appealing for funds to upgrade Mohammedan Anglo Oriental (MAO) College, Aligarh to a University, Agha Khan said, “The first and, in the cause of education, the most powerful argument in favour of a Muhammdan or Hindu University is, that it would make possible the creation of genuine University towns, with traditions of their own.”
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Theodore Morrison, Principal of MAO College, wrote that one of the most important role of Theodore Beck, the first Principal of MAO was, “He succeeded in infusing into the College traditions, which were then in process of formation, some of his own generosity and devotion, and, after Sir Syed, it is principally to him that we must ascribe the sense of a duty to work for the College and the Muhanımadan cause which still animates the students of Aligarh.”
Morrison noted in an official report in 1893-94 that traditions of the university were deteriorating. He wrote, “I hope that neither the Trustees nor the public will ever accept the results of the examinations (whether good or bad) as a criterion of our educational system here: that would be strangely to forget the aims of our foundation. The moral and intellectual tone of the Boarding House is a matter of much greater concern than many examinations, but of which the results are not easily analysed and tabulated. Owing to the growing popularity of the College a large number of students have joined the College classes in the last two years, who were not educated at our school . As these students know nothing of the traditions of the M. A. O. College, and as they form the majority of the Intermediate classes, it is clear that some change in these traditions is to be apprehended. Since the character of our students is chiefly moulded by the traditions of the Boarding House, the Trustees cannot contemplate any serious change in these traditions without apprehension , and as year by year the personal influence of the individual members of the staff must become weaker, owing to the growth in numbers which makes it impossible to know any large proportion of the students individually, it is the duty of the Trustees to take thought how these traditions may be carried on and the intellectual and moral tone elevated “
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Morrison kept repeating these points throughout his stay at the college. For those who are aware of AMU would be really interested in knowing that in 1893, Morrison had raised the issue of ‘external’ students not maintaining the traditional purity like ‘internal’ students. The idea that ‘internal’ students, those who have schooling at the university campus or the previous degree, are guardians of the university ethos is central to AMU culture.
So next time if someone lectures you about ‘traditions’ at AMU, you know that this was the actual idea of the founders of the university.
