Aligarh Alumni Association Washington DC Organizes Annual Iftar-Dinner
By Mohsin Khan, PhD
The Aligarh Alumni Association Washington DC (AAA-DC) held its annual Ramadan Fundraising program on May 18, 2019, at the Senior Center of Rockville, Maryland. The goal of this program is to carry forward the aims of the Aligarh Movement to usher a positive social change in the community through education. The Association has been fostering this cause since its inception in 1975. Through this program, the AAA-DC has been helping meritorious and needy students. So far, over 3,000 students have benefitted at AMU through AMU scholarship program since 1976 and over 6000 students in other parts of India through the Feeder program, which was established in 2008.
Mohsin Khan and Aftab Ansari (Member and Chairman, Scholarship Committee) apprised the audience about the recent status of Feeder and Scholarship programs, respectively. The video presentation of personal accounts of the recipients and beneficiaries of the various programs was well appreciated.
Chief guest Dr Frank Islam—a well-known entrepreneur, philanthropist, and civic leader—emphasized the role of Aligarh Muslim University in social uplifting through education. Dr Islam stressed there is still much darkness all around the world and as a community, we need to keep supporting a “purpose-driven” education. He appealed to the audience to support future students from Aligarh and other parts of India.
Young scholar Shahidur Rashid Talukdar, a PhD student from Virginia Tech, provided updates on the Feeder program in the state of Assam. Shahidur, who is also a beneficiary of AAA-DC’s scholarship program, underscored the value of education and scholarship, specifically in uplifting poor students from marginalized communities.
Atiya Khan—a lifetime member of the association and well-recognized for her valuable contribution to the growth of the Human Development Foundation working for the improving quality of life in less developed areas, made a passionate appeal to support the great cause taken up by AAA-DC. The association collected $53,531 in donations.
The program began with the recitation of the Holy Qur’an and translation of the Ayah by youngster Salahuddin Shah. The AAA-DC Secretary-Elect Haris Usmani welcomed the audience and the proceedings were conducted Razi Raziuddin. Zoya Qadri and Razi
Raziuddin thanked the donors, participants, audience, and enthusiastic volunteers supporting a very important cause.
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