The Annual AAA-DC Sir Syed Day Dinner: Celebrating a Legacy of Knowledge and Unity
By Zafar Iqbal, PhD
The Sir Syed Day Dinner, organized by the Aligarh Alumni Association of Washington, DC (AAA-DC), is a distinguished event honoring Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, the visionary founder of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). This annual celebration highlights Sir Syed's transformative contributions to education and social reform, fostering unity, intellectual discourse, and cultural enrichment.
Since its inception, the AAA-DC has upheld the tradition of commemorating Sir Syed's birth anniversary on October 17. Over the past two decades, this event has become a premier gathering, drawing alums, scholars, and dignitaries from diverse fields. Beyond celebrating Sir Syed's legacy, the dinner supports philanthropic initiatives, such as scholarships for AMU students, while championing education.
This year's dinner, held on Saturday, October 19, 2024, marked a return to an in-person format after a four-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A key highlight was an interactive session with celebrated Urdu poet, scholar, and Bollywood lyricist Javed Akhtar, a recipient of India's prestigious Padma Bhushan Award. Moderated by acclaimed Pakistani poet and critic Dr Ambreen Haseeb Ambar, the dialogue deeply explored Akhtar's literary and creative journey. Blending humor and insight, Akhtar reflected on literature, art, social issues, and the evolving role of Urdu.
Akhtar addressed the absence of prestigious awards like the Nobel Prize for Urdu, voicing concerns about political biases in Nobel prizes for literature, economics, and peace. His words carried a sense of urgency and importance, emphasizing the need for greater confidence among intellectuals and Urdu literary figures and underscoring the importance of preserving Urdu's charm and sophistication by passing it on to younger generations.
The event was graced by dignitaries such as Anup Srivastav and Mohammad Bilal Ahmad from the Indian Embassy, Ambassador Islam Siddiqi, and community leaders Dr Ishrat Husain, Dr Atia Khan, Dr Renuka Misra, Dr Mahinder Tak, Mr Sharad Tak, and Sardar Maninder Sethi. The event also saw representation from a variety of organizations, such as the Association of Indian Muslims (AIM), Federation of Aligarh Alumni Associations (FAAA), Global Organization of People of Indian Origin -Metro Washington, (GOPIO-DC), Hyderabad Association of Metro Washington Area (HAWMA), Indus Arts Council, Montgomery Nawabs, National Council of Asian Indian Associations, Inc. (NCAIA), The Global Beat Foundation, Urdu Academy of Maryland, University of Karachi Alumni Association (UKAA), and university students from Maryland and Baltimore.
The dinner underscored the association's enduring commitment to promoting the Urdu language and literature while fostering unity within the Aligarh alum community. President Aslam Azad and President-elect Afzal Usmani shared updates on the association's activities and highlighted the scholarship program's significant impact on supporting the educational advancement of deserving students. This unity, as demonstrated by the event, is a testament to the strength and resilience of the Aligarh alum community.
An essential aspect of the annual Sir Syed Day event is the nostalgic renditions of AMU's anthem, "Yeh Mera Chaman Hai." Majaz Lakhnavi, Javed Akhtar's maternal uncle, wrote this anthem.
Over the years, the event has celebrated distinguished personalities, including Sanjeev Saraf of Rekhta.org, Mr Shamsur Rahman Faruqi, Professor Abdulaziz Sachedina, Professor Asghar Wajahat, Professor Mushirul Hasan, Professor Salman Akhtar, Professor Satya Pal Anand, and many other literary luminaries.
These gatherings continue to serve as vibrant platforms for addressing contemporary issues, advancing educational initiatives, and fostering community engagement.
The Sir Syed Day Dinner remains a beacon of Sir Syed's enduring values—knowledge, unity, and progress. This year's celebration, available on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5pVpFullko , bridged past achievements with present aspirations, inspiring alums to continue his legacy.
