INSTITUTE OF OBJECTIVE STUDIES

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IOS CONFERENCE

Two-day International Conference on
India and Muslim World in the 21st Century

February 15-16, 2013 at Constitution Club, Anexe, Rafi Marg, New Delhi

L-R: Prof. Z.M. Khan, Secretary General, Institute of Objective Studies, New Delhi; H.E. Mr. Abdul Rahman Ghannam M. AlGhannam, Undersecretary, Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Da’wah and Guidance, Riyadh, KSA; Mr. Harish Chandra Singh Rawat, Union Minister of Water Resources, Govt. of India; Mr. K. Rahman Khan, Union Minister of Minority Affairs, Govt. of India; Dr. M. Manzoor Alam, Chairman, Institute of Objective Studies, New Delhi; Maulana Dr. Saeed Al Azami Al Nadwi, Chancellor, Integral University and Chief Editor, Al Baas Al Islami, Lucknow; Prof. Aftab Kamal Pasha, Director, Gulf Studies Programme, Centre for West Asian & African Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi

New Delhi, Feb. 15: A two-day international conference on “India and the Muslim World in the 21st Century” began here today with a recitation from the holy Quran by Maulana Abdullah Tarique. The programme was organised by the Institute of Objective Studies (IOS) at the Constitution Club.

Day-1, February 15, 2013

IOS General Secretary Prof. ZM Khan welcomed the guests and introduced the IOS in its 27th year of existence. He talked about the considerable research and publication, seminar and symposia the institute had done so far, as well as about its year-long Silver Jubilee celebrations, over which period it organised 14 international seminars across the country. He also talked about its proposed university.

The conference was formally inaugurated by Union Minister of Minority Affairs, K Rahman Khan, who hoped that India and the Muslim world would unite to prevent the mistakes of the 20th century, which was marked by colonial exploitation and monumental violence.

He said India, “the largest and highly successful democracy”, had a long history of relationship with the Muslim world and Islam, which preaches peace and unity of humanity.

Earlier, the guest speaker Union Minister of Water Resources Harish Chandra Rawat said, “Indian Muslims are an integral and most shining part of our composite culture.” He regretted that Sachar Report notwithstanding, challenges facing the Muslim community were yet to be addressed coherently. In many cases direct Central intervention was required to set things right.

Areas like health, education, skill development, financing and livelihood needed such Central intervention.

He said divisive issues like temple-mosque controversy were the creation of people who thrived on such division. “The time for such politics is over,” he announced. People from all segments, including minorities and SCs-STs, had an equal right to the country’s resources.

Mr Rawat said that the same law that applied to Muslim terrorists had to be applied to the perpetuators of Jaipur, Malegaon and Samjhauta Express blasts, who were not Muslims. “The law of the land should be the same for everyone. We cannot have two sets of laws; one for Col. Purohit, another for Muslim youth,” he concluded.

Day-2, February 16, 2013

Dr Aftab Kamal Pasha, Director Gulf Studies Programme, Centre for West Asian and African Studies, JNU, observed that for centuries the Indian Ocean was called a “Muslim Lake.” Even before Islam, people from Yemen, Oman and other Arab lands had close trade and cultural ties with India. The Abbasids established Baitul Hikmah (House of Wisdom) in Baghdad that was a seat of learning where Indian and Arab scholars interacted with each other. Nehru called it a Golden Age.

With the advent of Europeans in the Indian Ocean, a divide and rule policy began which set one group of people against another. The Portuguese landed in Kerala in 1498 and began a campaign against Muslims, creating divisions between them and other faith communities. That policy still continued everywhere. The creation of Israel in 1948 in Palestine was part of that policy.

Dr Pasha said that the Israel-Palestine conflict was unfortunate as Muslims had always given Jews a preferential treatment everywhere. Gandhiji, who sympathised with Jews persecuted in Europe for centuries, opposed the creation of Israel by removing Palestinian Arabs from their homes.

It was the old Western policy of creating divisions against Muslims that was preventing the creation of a Palestinian state despite the support of more than 130 countries to this cause. More...

Fifth Qazi Mujahidul Islam Memorial Lecture at IOS

New Delhi, May 18: Islamic thought has the proven potential to unite and heal a fractious world creaking under pressures of racial and ethnic strife and ravaged by commercial greed, Prof. Syed Abdul Bari said here today.

He was delivering the Fifth Qazi Mujahidul Islam Qasmi Lecture at the Institute of Objective Studies on “Universality of Islamic Thought.” Prof. Abdul Bari said that without the necessary framework of revealed knowledge, humanity cannot be held together merely on the basis of empirical knowledge.

He said that rampant utilitarianism, consumerism and globalisation had weakened the human capability for empathy and altruism. The Islamically-guided ways of reformers like Maulana Ilyas, Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi, Maulana Abul Ala Mawdudi and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (all of whom guided the Subcontinent for several decades in the 20th century) were still relevant.

He said to achieve the high standards of Islamic morality one had to rise above petty personal gains and foolish prejudices. “As mischief mongers are trying to distort the real face of Islam, Muslims should strive to project the true picture in their writings and day-to-day conduct,” Prof. Abdul Bari said.

He also emphasised the importance of giving a better deal to Muslim women for creating a more just society and improving the image of the faith tarnished by hostile propagandists.

IOS Secretary General Prof. Z.M. Khan, who chaired the proceedings, began his concluding remarks with an introduction of IOS and late Qazi Mujahidul Islam Qasmi. He said that a new contextual reading of Islam was essential for the faith’s growth in the 21st century.

The programme began with a recital of the holy Quran by Maulana Abdullah Tarique and ended with a vote of thanks by Prof. Ishteyaque Danish, Finance Secretary of the IOS.

IOS meet to commemorate Al-Zahrawi on 1000th anniversary

New Delhi, April 13: The Institute of Objective Studies has decided to organise a three-day international conference on Abul Qasim al-Zahrawi, to mark the 1000th death anniversary of the pioneer physician and surgeon. The conference will be held from December 13 through 16, 2013 at New Delhi.

The above decision was taken at a consultative meeting held today at the Institute which was attended by experts of surgery, medicine and Tib. The Institute’s Chairman Dr. Mohammad Manzoor Alam said that the conference is being organised to highlight the wide-ranging contributions of Abul Qasim al-Zahrawi to medicine and surgery. Eminent doctors, surgeons, medial scientists and experts of Tib from within and outside the country will participate in the conference.

Those who participated in the meeting included Dr. Ahmad Abdul Hai (Patna), Dr. Fakhruddin Mohammad (Hyderabad), Prof. Dr. M. Amanullah Khan (Aligarh), Prof. Hakeem Zillur Rahman (Aligarh), Dr. M. Farooque, Al-Shifa Hospital, Delhi; Dr. Shakeel Tamanna, Majeedia Hospital, Delhi; Dr. Altaf Ahmad Azmi, Delhi; Prof. A.R. Momin, Mumbai; Prof. Z.M. Khan; Prof. Rifaqat Ali Khan, Prof. Ishteyaque Danish; Dr. Ausaf Ahmad and Prof. Sanghasen Singh (all from Delhi).

Lecture on ‘the impact of the concept of ‘urf (local culture) in islamic legal philosophy on multi-cultural harmony and world peace

New Delhi, March 6, 2013: A thought-provoking lecture on the above topic was delivered by Prof. Alparslan ACIKGENC, Director, Graduate School for the Humanities and Social Sciences and Professor of Philosophy at Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey today at the Institute.

Prof. Dr. Mustafa Bayram, Dean of Chemical and Metallurgy; Prof. Ulvi Avciata, Dean, Faculty of Social Science and literature, Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul; Dr. Chi Woo-Won, Pusan University, South Korea and Mr. Ali Akkiz, President, Indialogue Foundation were also present on the occasion.

The programme was presided over by Dr. M. Manzoor Alam, Chairman of the Institute of Objective Studies and participated by eminent persons from different disciplines.

Below is the link of his speech.

Impact of Urf.pdf

IOS DISCOURSE

Scintillating Presentation by Dr Shariff

Deals with ways of increasing inclusion and creating equal opportunity

New Delhi, February 1, 2013: Eminent development economist Dr Abusaleh Shariff, principal author of the Sachar Report and chief scholar US-India Policy Institute (Washington), made a scintillating presentation on “A Vision for India: Equality, Duty and Equal Opportunity” here at the India Islamic Culture Centre.

Dr Shariff, who had been ailing for sometime, presented some key points of his larger report, deciding on an abbreviated version because of his health. He focused on what held back efforts to extend inclusion of marginalised groups, particularly Muslims, in economic development.

Placing the “local” perspective within a macro picture, he pointed out three major factors that curtailed the access of the excluded to benefits, entitlements and the general social and economic good. Firstly, “societal factors are sustaining exclusion”, he asserted.

By “societal factors,” he explained, he meant caste formations, religious and ethnic groupings and the like to be naturally excluding. Some were, and had been, powerful for decades and centuries, while others remained dispossessed and disadvantaged. This had to be redressed for creating an inclusive economy, polity and society. More...

One-Day Workshop on “RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: FUNDAMNETALS AND PRACTICES”

21 Jan 2013 at Arts Faculty Lounge, Aligarh Muslim University

A SUMMARY REPORT

One-day methodology workshop on “research methodology: fundamentals and practices” was organised at Aligrah Muslim University with the financial support of the Institute of Objective Studies and the collaborative efforts of departments like CEPECAMI, Political Science, Sociology, Social Work, Linguistic and philosophy for building research capacity of research scholars in social science. This was organized keeping in view the dilemma that many students face to carry out a research in a more systematic manner because of lack of understanding of ‘fundamentals of research’ despite the course work on research methodology during graduation and post graduation levels. The workshop basically focused on helping participants to understand basics of research methodology with special focus on writing a research proposal. This programme was attended by 157 registered participants belonging to different disciplines and categories like few undergraduates and more from Masters, M.Phil, Ph.D, including scholars from foreign countries. The workshop continued between 9:30 am to 5:00 pm with lunch and tea breaks. More...

IOS Lecture on Sentencing Policy

on January 14, 2013 at IOS Meeting Room

New Delhi, January 14, 2013: Sentencing policies adopted by Judges generally reflect the historical, social, economic and psychological melieu of the societies in which they operate, Prof. M. Afzal Wani, professor of law at GGSIP University (Delhi) and member Law Commission of India, said here today.
He was delivering a lecture on “Sentencing Policies in the Modern World: Suitability and Effectiveness” at the conference room of Institute of Objective Studies. The programme began with a recitation from the holy Quran by Maulana Khalid Nadwi.
He put the issue in the philosophical context of crime and punishment and how different societies had been trying to cope with crime and its consequences on a legal plane.
Prof. Wani traced the rise in crime rates since the time of rise of capitalism and Industrial Revolution in Europe that spread to other parts of the world with colonial expansion. The youth began to be motivated by monetary gain alone (by fair means or foul) and jettisoned moral restraint in pursuit of money and the transient pleasures it could buy.
He put the present wave of crime in Indian cities in the context of crass materialism. He suggested looking into the Quran for a moral anchor and the creation of a just society.
In his comments Prof. Iqbal Hussein said sentencing policies reflected the general moral climate of a society. In his presidential remarks, IOS General Secretary Prof. Z.M. Khan said sentencing policies were founded on the ethos of a society.
The programme was conducted by Mushtaq Ahmad, advocate on record, the Supreme Court of India.

Certificate Distribution Ceremony Among Muslim Girls by Mr. K. Rahman Khan, Minister of Minority Affairs

On 26 December, 2012 at IOS Conference Hall

New Delhi, Dec. 26: “Sachar Committee’s report is a mirror of Muslims’ condition in India and its recommendation are not only for the government, but also for the Muslims of India who themselves have to come forward to work on different sectors to which they have been left behind and work together with the Indian government for removing their backwardness in different spheres”. These views were expressed by Mr. K. Rahman Khan, Minister for Minority Affairs, while distributing certificates among the successful Muslim girl students of IOS Centre for Computer Learning at a function, jointly organised by the Institute of Objective Studies and Delhi Minorities Commission here today. While appreciating the efforts made by the Institute of Objective Studies he said that despite being a research institution the IOS had objectively examined different issues being faced by the Muslim community in India and presented it before government in a scientific manner. This made it a distinct institution which has no parallel in the country. More...

Shah Waliullah Award-2011 presented to Dr. M.K.A.Siddiqui

On 22 December, 2012 at Bhartiya Bhasha Parishad, Kolkata

A ceremony for the presentation of Hazrat Shah Waliullah Award of the IOS for the year 2011 on the topic “Sociology/Social Anthropology in Islamic Perspective” to Dr M.K.A. Siddiqui, a noted Anthropologist, took place in the glittering hall of the Bhartiya Bhasha Parishad at Shakaspeare Sarani, Kolkata on Dec. 22, 2012. The hall was fairly crowded and a large number of distinguished personalities from all walks of life in the city came to attend the event and to felicitate the scholar for his significant contribution in the field of Sociology and Social Anthropology. What distinguishes Dr. Siddiqui from other scholars is that he discusses apparently controversial and conflicting issues in convincingly logical and Islamic perspectives. A scroll of honour was presented to him along with a memento and a cheque of Rupees one lakh. All the speakers present, acknowledged Dr. Siddiqui’s academic achievements, his contribution as a scholar, researcher, and administrator and as an author of a number of books devoted to the topics of great contemporary relevance. His devotion to the cause of social harmony, inter-community relationship and the problem of socio-economic development, using the tools of sociology and cultural anthropology, through his numerous publications was admired by all the speakers in the meeting. More...

IOS Lecture by Justice Ahmadi on Growing Impunity and Declining Rule of Law

On December 9, 2012 at IOS Conference Hall, New Delhi

New Delhi, Dec. 9, 2012: “The rule of law has an inverse relationship with the public’s sense of impunity,” former Chief Justice of India, Justice A.M. Ahmadi, said here today at a special lecture at the IOS on the occasion of the 26th general assembly meeting of the Institute of Objective Studies.

The title of the lecture was “Increasing Impunity and Declining Rule of Law.” Fascist and communal organisations, whose functionaries spread hatred through their speeches and incite people to violence for political ends, are never bothered about any penal action, he said.

Giving examples of the current politics of lawlessness, he pointed out the insistence of Shiv Sena activists’ hooliganism regarding a proposed memorial for Bal Thackrey in Mumbai’s Shivaji Park and the illegal construction of a Hindu temple adjacent to the Charminar in Hyderabad as expressions of majoritarian impunity. More...

Interactive Session on Producing Teaching and Reference Material to support Academic Programmes in Islamic Perspective

Prof. Omar Hasan Kasule visited the IOS Headquarters on 23-24 November 2012 and interacted with the office bearers as well as academics and experts of various disciplines. On 23rd November Mr. Raju Mansukhani made a power-point presentation about emerging India. He specially focused on the educational scene in the country highlighting both, its merits and demerits, achievements and failure. He also focused on translation and publishing sector in India which has progressed by leaps and bound in the last few decades. He concluded that investment in education and publishing sectors was advisable.

Prof. Refaqat Ali Khan spoke about the difficulties and necessities of translation. Prof. Ishtiyaque Danish highlighted the fact that Muslim being knowledge deficient today need to benefit others and for doing so they need to translate in Urdu or the language they speak. More...

Watch video

Money Mantra
NDTV Profit
February 10, 2010 at 6:30 pm

Download Money Mantra Programme

Courtsey: NDTV

Light at end of tunnel, finally

Dr Mohammad Manzoor Alam on the new development towards Islamic banking in India

The Reserve Bank Governor Mr D. Subba Rao’s recent announcement constitutes a significant advance in the field of Islamic banking and finance in India, which has been a cherished goal for all of us, and for the attainment of which the Institute of Objective Studies has worked tirelessly over the last quarter century.

Although in Islamic finance we have already made substantial advance in India in terms of growing acceptance of Shariah-compliant investments and other Shariah-compliant financial services and products. The IOS, with the collaboration of financial consultants Estwind, developed a Shariah index of thousands of companies in India, which has helped pious Muslim investors to invest safely.

However, Islamic banking itself has been a far more tougher nut to crack. Finally, it has begun to crack and we hope to have a proper Islamic banking system in India, which so far had no such institution. Despite a huge body of research carried out by the IOS, and a large number of books published by us, introducing a large number of issues of Islamic economics to the wider society, the scene did not seem to change even a wee bit. More...

IOS/MA/PF/2013.1 January 5, 2013

The In charge Officer,
HON’BLE JUSTICE J.S.VERMA COMMITTEE
for suggesting possible amendments to
criminal and other relevant laws
New Delhi.

Dear Sir,

In response to the call of the HON’BLE JUSTICE J.S.VERMA COMMITTEE constituted for suggesting possible amendments to criminal laws and other relevant laws to provide for quicker trial and enhanced punishment for criminals accused of committing sexual assault of extreme nature against women in the back drop of the 16th December 2012 Gang Rape in Delhi which invoked unprecedented mass protests from the people, the INSTITUTE OF OBJECTIVE STUDIES (IOS), NEW DELHI is herewith submitting some suggestions for the consideration of the committee.

These are some of the suggestions which we could possibly submit within the given time frame. If some more assistance by way of research in the field is required in a special area, the IOS would be ready to render its services without any claim for finances.

Thanking you,
With warm regards,

(Dr. M. Manzoor Alam)
Chairman

Encl.: Submission

IOS/MA/PF/2013.1 January 9, 2013

The In charge Officer,
HON’BLE JUSTICE USHA MEHRA COMMISSION
for suggesting measures to improve safety and security of women in NCT of Delhi and NCR in the light of the 16th December 2010 Delhi Gang Rape Case
New Delhi

Dear Sir/Madam,

In response to the call of the HON’BLE JUSTICE USHA MEHRA COMMISSION constituted for suggesting measures to improve safety and security of women in NCT of Delhi and NCR in the light of the 16th December 2010 Delhi Gang Rape Case, which evoked unprecedented mass protests from the people, the INSTITUTE OF OBJECTIVE STUDIES (IOS), NEW DELHI is herewith submitting some suggestions for the consideration of the Commission.

These submissions are submitted within the given time frame. If some more assistance by way of research in the field is required in a special area, the IOS would be ready to render its services without any claim for financial compensation.

Thanking you,
With warm regards,

(Dr. M. Manzoor Alam)
Chairman

Encl.: Submission

Reports of IOS Silver Jubilee Conferences:

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