Alhikmah Foundation organised a National Seminar on Youth and Social Reforms: Opportunities and Challenges as part of 27th Annual Day celebrations.

Dr. Dalip Kumar welcomed the guests. In his address said that youth is not limited to numbers only. According to World Bank the youth is phase between childhood and adulthood. With the help of data he brought home the point that almost 35 per cent of Indian population is composed of youth and it is incidentally the highest number of youth population in the world.The Senior Executive (Projects) of National Council for Applied Economic Research (NCAER) lamented the education policy which is incapable of producing skilled youth. The Advisory Board member of Alhikmah Foundation pointed some of the social evils especially mental health, suicide, rape, directionlessness etc. Talking about the opportunities available to the youth he said,“There are “umpteenth opportunities available to the youth in almost every sphere.” Some of the government schemes of the government for the youth are Skill India, Startup. He advised the youth to, “focus on two Cs centrality and continuity. This is the key to success.” In his introductory remarks, Chairman of the Foundation Dr. Ziauddin Ahmad elaborated the theme of the Seminar. Underlining the significance of the topic he stressed, “Today, our country stands at an exceptionally critical crossroads: the 50s-60s generation religiously sticks to the age-old traditions and customs and is awkwardly uncomfortable with the changing norms of the society. While, on the other hand, the enlightened youth of the 21st century strives hard to break the shackles and heralds a new era of modern scientific thinking. This intersection of two diametrically opposite ideologies creates an interesting scenario”. Applauding the efforts of late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi empowering the youth he said,“Rajiv Gandhi for the first time in the history of independent India formulated National Youth Policy in 1988.” Another “milestone” he told was that he (Rajiv Gandhi) reduced the voting age to 18 years from 21 years. “It was a revolutionary step that opened the floodgates for the youth of the country to be an important part of participatory democracy and inclusive governance.”

The Chairman further said, “The youth of today is the harbinger of social reforms and scripts a new dawn of a healthy society bereft of social evils. Fortunately, the youth power – despite stiff resistance and brutal challenges from the older generation – successfully outmanoeuvres the dogmatic and regressive mind-set”. He regretted that even after more than seventy years of independence our society is mired in such vices as dowry, sati, child marriage, gender discrimination, skewed sex ratio etc. “This is an extremely precarious situation. Here youth need to play an interventionist role to rid the society of this regressive mindset that retards the progress of the nation.”The mounting social-economic issues warrant that every city should have an Alhikmah like NGO.

Dr. Zia presented a detailed introduction of Alhiknah Foundation

Chief Guest Dr. Harsh Vardhan

Dr. Asim Ali Khan in his keynote address physical, mental and social health are the three areas of health. Director General, Central Council for Research in UnaniMedicine (CCRUM). He appreciated the multifaceted activities of the Foundation. Nearly fifty per cent of our population is composed of youth. This is a huge force to effect social reforms. The youth must be imbibed with virtues and moral values that help build an ideal society. We must be open educational institutions as much as possible and promote social harmony. Youth must recognise these challenges and work to reform the society. We may adopt western model education but at the same time should not lose sight of our traditional and moral values. He explained the aims and objectives and functioning of Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine.

Guest of Honour Dr. S. Farooq congratulated the Chairman Dr.Ziauddin for his untiring efforts. To work for the parents and country is utmost service to the nation. President of TASMIYA Educational Society maintained that youth should make forward march with a positive energy. Patron of Alhikmah Foundation claimed that bounties of nature available for free for all and sundry. Man recognises these bounties and further develops for its benefits.Youth must understand that they have to fit in a particular cycle of production. Youth must get education. He stressed for female education. However, for social reforms youth must come forward and for that they need to be educated. There are three components of education: art of expression; art of earning and art of living which integrates the preceding two components. He condemned the live-in relationshipwhich needs to be reformed. He said that it is not a relationship rather it is companionship. He advised the youth to keep away from drugs, liquor, corruption and turn into a good human beings.

Guest of HonourProf. (Dr.) ShakeelSamadaniall of the problems have solutions. There is no substitute for hard work. Those who conquered the world have worked relentlessly hard. He took the pledge from the youth to work hard in the right direction. Directionless work is unproductive while hard work in the wrong direction is dangerous. He drew parallels between the Prophet Mohammad and Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. The one common link between the two was concern for education. Education is a universal value. Seek knowledge from cradle to grave.Sir Syed Ahmad Khan made education as weapon to fight the colonial rulers. He established Mohammad Anglo Oriental College to replicate the English model of education. Sir Syed Ahmad always stressed for education with good upbringing and reasonable goal. Today’s youth suffers from frustration because they set impossible goals and do not make matching efforts. Therefore, youth must fix their targets reasonably. To overcome the immoral practices he appealed the parents to marry their children at an appropriate age. This is the key to overcome moral vices. He blamed teachers and parents for social evils because they do not train the youth in the proper direction. Teachers consider moral teachings as a waste of time. Instil confidence among the youth.He emphasised the need for proper and moral training of youths for a better tomorrow.Let’s join hands with Alhikmah Foundation in their noble cause. He encouraged the youth not to be disheartened with the failures but keep on trying hard. We boasts of a composite culture and do not act to disturb the equilibrium.

Guest of HonourProf. (Dr.) Madan Mohan Goyal termed Alhikmah Foundation as,“the pillar of Hindu-Muslim unity”. He spoke on “Empowerment of Youth for Ethical Politics”. NYP 2014 is a policy document that goes beyond education. The Vice Chancellor of JaganNathUniversity, Jaipur he regretted that our educational programmes are without taking into NYP 2014. The former Director of Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development said I conceptualise politics as an art and science of making excuse. Politics is an art and science of doing wrong things at the right time. He stressed the need to improve English communication skills. He regretted that today’s youth is troubled by many predicaments. He defined www as work without worry. In our country is Haste is waste. On the contrary the South Korea is just opposite of this. He appealed the parents to encourage their children to join politics. Time has come not to treat politics as dirty game. Peace outflows from spiritual economics. We have to say a big NO to greed that is greedonomics and limit ourselves as needs that is needonmics. This is the formula for ideal politics. Peace cannot be established without spirituality and ethicality. The most important challenge for the youth is cut-throat competition. Social or economic reforms are impossible political reforms. We have to remove all the weaknesses in our politics and need to political empowerment of youth. I am proud to submit that Islamic banking is the key to economic prosperity. India needs the empowerment of youth. Let politics as a profession.

Guest of Honour Mr. Yusuf spoke about the importance of youth clubs in empowering youths. President of New Delhi based Haryali Centre for Rural Developmentsaid that a huge group of 42 million youth. He called the NYP as a vision document that talks about eleven priority areas. One of the programmes of GoI is Youth Clubs which work under Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK). It work for skill development, sports etc. He appealed the people to establish NYK in every village. Our nation and youth faces a lot of challenges. Employment is an extremely serious issue. Skill Development Ministry can play a pivotal role in overcoming this predicament. He was of the view that youth must benefit from the government schemes. One of the biggest challenges for the youth is security. “You have to be extra cautious while using social media”. In the field of health he advised the youth to abstain from substance misuse and pay attention to the health.”

Guest of HonourShah Mohammad Ali Arif congratulated Alhikmah Foundation for organising seminar on such an important topic. The SajjadaNashin of Dargah Abdul Haq, Rudauli stated that Youth need a roadmap to achieve their goals. India is called the Country of the Youth. The youth is the hope of reform. Nevertheless, he regretted that the youth have forgotten their responsibility and are directionless. Unemployment and other challenges perturb the youth. They lack proper guidance. Youth with enthusiasm suffer from financial crises.

Guest of HonourMr.SirauddinQureshi appealed the Muslim youths to seek career other than politics. Yes of courses the youth lacka proper guide who can guide them in the right direction. The President of India Islamic Cultural Centre (IICC) Prof. AkhtarulWaseyreleased the Souvenir of the Foundation. In his presidential addresshe said that in today’s time person is self-centred but Alhikmah Foundation selflessly serves the nation. He lauded the efforts of CCRUM for the promotion of Unani Medicine not only in India but at international levels. The Vice Chancellor, Maulana Azad University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan disagreed with the attitude of criticising Mac Caulay’s educational policy rather we must make efforts to do away with that and frame new educational policy keeping in mind the need of the hour. Sachar Committee findings are an eye opener for all of us with regard to education which projects Muslims below Dalit in education. The architects of TajMahal, Red Fort, JamaMasjod were Madrasa products. Then why not our modern day Madrasa can produce such brilliant minds.Drawing analogy from the creation of Adam he drove home the point that illiterate must prostrate in front of the knowledgeable. He underlined the need to educate the girl child because she is the harbinger of change. Youth must trust their confidence and have unwavering faith in God. We as citizens of India should take a leaf out of Prophet Mohammad’s life. Muslims after conquering India strictly followed two Quranic principles namely no coercion and live and let live.Do notget panicked with hostile atmosphere. We should rise to the occasion to work for the progress and development of the nation. Let us pledge to make another alliance on the lines of HilfulFuzul for the all-round development of the nation. Our Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and the freedom to propagate our religion as well. We should start a dialogue with our fellow countrymen. Islam is a religion of endorsement, confirmation and affirmation and not of negation and denial.

Mr. S. S. Ahmad proposed the formal vote of thanks

Dr. Shakeel Habibi, Assistant Professor, MANUU (Srinagar Campus) conducted the programme with professional excellence. Alhikmah Foundation distributed Sewing machines, educational kits and scholarships