Clarification of Zafar Sareshwala, the Chancellor of Maulana Azad National Open Urdu University on The Economic Times report

Special Correspondent Maeeshat.in

Mumbai ( Maeeshat News): Zafar Sareshwala’s support for the Prime Minister Narendra Modi always keep him alive  on the headlines of newspapers. Recently The Economic Times report through the news agency PTI has revealed that he got the chancellorship superseding six names which include the film star Amitabh Bachchan, renowned industrialist Azim Premji, famous poet Gulzar, former Chief Justice M.A. Ahmadi and ex-Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah and others.

It should be noted that news agency PTI accessed information under R.T.I that the tenure of chancellorship of Dr. Syeda Hamid, Planning Commission member, was due to expire on 10 July 2014, as a result the list of these names was sent to the Ministry of Human Resource Development on 1 December 2014 itself. The ministry preferred to the name of Zafar Sareshwala, a Gujarat based businessman out of these names.

Reacting to the said report Zafar Sareshwala says to the Maeeshat “Certainly, I am not an expert on Education but I have ideas on education that’s why I have been able to impart a distinct identity to Maulana Azad National Open Urdu University in just eight months which my predecessors failed to do. Questioning the former chancellor Dr. Syeda Hamid, Zafar Sareshwala asks, “No doubt Dr. Syeda Hamid is a well educated and renowned scholar but you say what step she had taken for the development of University? It is tragic that she failed to get released allocated fund for the University from Central Government despite being very close to Sonia Gandhi. Also, I succeeded in getting a sanction of Rs. 70 crores out of Rs. 105 crores due under Eleventh Five Year Plans, at the same time I succeeded in securing the release of Rs. 205 crores for the University under current Twelfth Five Year Plans.” Mr. Sareshwala while talking on the education, educational environment and educational system of the University says, “ My first act as chancellor of the University was to establish a placement cell there, it is interesting to note that there was no placement cell in such a big university as a result students were suffering from the inferiority complex. No company used to contact the MBA or Commerce students. But I arranged for agreement between the University and the six reputed companies of the country so that our students too can serve proudly in these companies. It is noteworthy that we are going to organize one-day workshop of MBA and Commerce students with Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), National Stock Exchange (NSE) and SEBI and these are going to be hosted by these above mentioned institutions themselves.

Referring to various state governments, Zafar Sareshwala says, “When I launched the ‘power of education’ programme, state governments of Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Telengana allotted sites so as to enable us to open new campuses. Similarly, I also wish to get built hostels for students. Telengana government has promised to provide one floor of Haj house in the Hyderabad city. I am going to start virtual classes through satellites in Nizamabad city”.

Describing the internal environment of University Zafar Sareshwala says, “Before me, students didn’t know their chancellor whereas I am now always available to them. Students and teachers can meet me without any hesitation. It is important to note that before me, no one saw chancellor performing his Friday prayers whereas I, not only perform my Friday prayers in the campus but I also deliver Friday sermons”.

With regard to various development projects, Mr. Sareshwala says, “I am coming up with the developmental plan of Rs. 300 crores worth to start world class schools and for this purpose we will tie-up with Islamic Development Bank (Jeddah)”. Explaining his various tours Mr. Sareshwala says, “I don’t spend a single penny of University’s funds on my tours because my father advised me in my childhood to seek from Almighty Allah the acceptance and not the ability, I wish may Allah accept whatever I am doing, the point is not how much capable I am, but the point is whatever I am doing for the community is accepted and appreciated, otherwise as far as capability is concerned it lies with Satan too.