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 Address
by Ambassador Saidullah Khan Dehlavi
Chairmain, Board of Trustees, AKU
Bismillah-Ir-Rahman-Ir-Rahim.
Faculty and
staff,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Assalam-o-Alaikum.
On behalf of
the Chancellor of the University, His Highness the Aga Khan, on
behalf of the Board of Trustees, and on behalf of the President
of the University I would like to extend to you a very warm welcome.
57 years ago,
Pakistan was created through
the great sacrifices made by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and
by people with a vision in their hearts. Today we celebrate our
independence and remember those sacrifices, and the determined spirit
of our forefathers.
Let us also
recall the vision of the Quaid, stated in his own inspiring words,
which I quote:
"Our
objective should be peace within and peace without. We want
to live peacefully and maintain cordial and friendly relations with
our immediate neighbours and with the world at large.
"The
creation of the new state has placed a tremendous responsibility
on the citizens of Pakistan.
It gives them an opportunity to demonstrate to the world how a nation,
containing many elements, can live in peace and amity and work for
the betterment of all its citizens, irrespective of caste and creed.
"Pakistan
is a land of great potential resources. But to build it into
a country worthy of a Muslim Nation, we shall require every ounce
of energy that we posses and I am confident that it will come from
all whole-heartedly."
And in his last
public message on August 14, 1948, the Quaid said:
"The foundations of your state have been laid and it is now for
you to build and build as quickly and as well as you can."
The Quaid also
spelt out where the new nation had to go, and how to get there.
He realised that the coming generations must continue the struggle,
for nationhood is not a right - it is a privilege. A privilege
that must be earned constantly. It is this sense of responsibility
to the nation that we can learn from the Quaid’s life and
struggle.
So let us ask
ourselves today: what are we doing for our country?
How are we building this nation? How are we meeting
the new challenges of the world?
Here I would
like to recall that among those who played a leading role in the
Pakistan
movement was Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan. He worked closely
with the Quaid in the All India Muslim League and led a long and
successful campaign for the principle of separate Muslim representation
in the Indian legislature.
At the same
time, for Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan the fight against ignorance
became a passionate priority. So did his deep concern for human
dignity. From every platform he advocated free universal primary
education, and strove hard to ensure that the benefits of education
were equally enjoyed by Muslim men and women.
He envisaged
Aligarh
University as "an intellectual
and moral capital" for Muslims, a university "of free
inquiry of large hearted tolerance and morality". By the time
of his death in 1957 scores of schools, health clinics and higher
education polytechnics were built in East Africa, largely as a result of his generosity and
continuing advice.
Now, under the
leadership of His Highness the Aga Khan, these institutions have
expanded far beyond the original geographical core and scope of
activities; but the impulse that underpins them remains - it is
the unchanging Muslim ethic of compassion for the vulnerable in
society.
As for Aga Khan University,
its mission and work remains service to the nation. The Board of
Trustees, faculty and staff have always tested projects by two abiding
principles: first, is what we do relevant to the people of the country in which it is present? And second,
is it creating a positive impact in the society?
It is in this
way, I believe, that our Universityis contributing toward the mission
of Pakistan. We are producing
quality human resources and knowledge to help our nation meet the
challenges of today and tomorrow.
Let me mention
two ways in which our University acts on these principles of service
to the nation. First, we successfully follow a needs-blind
admissionpolicy. During this academic year, an average of 50%
of MBBS and School of Nursing
students received financial assistance.
Secondly, since
1986 over one billion rupees have been spent on 200,000 patients under our Patient Welfare Programme, and under the Behbud Society
which distributes Zakat.
I take this
opportunity to thank those who have contributed generously towards
this noble cause, as well as those volunteers who have worked hard
in this field.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We should be
proud that our University has come a long way since being chartered
in 1983 and has become a genuinely national institution. His Highness
remarked at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Oncology Services
Building in December 2004, and I quote:
"As
time will move us forward it will be important that the Trustees
and I should look back on this date with gratitude and humility,
but also pride – pride in an institution which has earned
itself through the people who have worked with it, the credibility
needed to have become a recognized national institution in Pakistan."
By the grace
of Allah and the efforts of all concerned, the services of our University
are now in demand in many countries. Thus we have established
teaching programmes and other services in 10 sites across seven
countries in three continents.
This internationalisation
is a fulfilment of our charter, as is the broadening of the University's
programs, whether it is the Institute for Educational Development,
the Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations or the Program
for Human Development.
The most challenging
of our initiatives is the establishment of a Faculty of Arts and
Sciences. The project is a huge undertaking and your dedicated involvementis
essential.
I personally
consider myself fortunate to be associated with this University,
and with its service to the nation. And I consider myself
fortunate, also, to work with colleagues who have so conscientiously
served this Institution and this country. I salute you all,as indeed
each one of you has contributed and continues to contribute to the
building of AKU. This, in fact, is part of building Pakistan.
Before I conclude,
let me address a few words to the students and young people who
are present here today. It is you who embody our hopes for
the future. Your education will, I am sure, bring you rewarding
careers, and I hope that throughout your careers you will continue
educating yourselves. The values you have learnt will stand
you in good stead. Please remember that national understanding
begins in the hearts and minds of people, young people like yourselves.
You can therefore make an enormous contribution to society and to
your country.
Ladies and gentlemen,
As we continue
to work, and while we recall today the sacrifices made in the founding
of this country, let us remember that we have a mission to fulfill
in life,and that the secret of its success lies in unceasing efforts.
We can draw inspiration from Allama Iqbal's words:
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