MANUU to promote science education

 MANUU Vice Chancellor, Dr. Mohammed Aslam Parvaiz, reading the Urdu Science magazine

He has an obsession with science. And he wants to pass it on to the posterity. As the Vice Chancellor of Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) and also in his personal capacity, Dr. Mohammed Aslam Parvaiz , is doing his bit to promote science education among the youngsters.

However, his pet project of integrating madrasa students into mainstream education through bridge course in science has drawn a blank. Ever since this course was launched two years ago there have been nil admissions. But undeterred by the poor response, the vice chancellor has  decided to take up vigorous campaign in important madrasas in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to motivate students to join the one year bridge course.

 "There is no question of winding up the course. We will write letters and make personal visits to madrasas to persuade students to enrol", says Dr. Parvaiz and adds that this is a window of opportunity being provided to them to take admission in undergraduate and polytechnic programmes.

Shockingly just six to eight madrasa students are enrolling for the bridge course in science when the university requires a minimum of 20 students to start a class. Dr. Parvaiz blames the society as a whole for the lack of scientific temper in the country. In the Muslim community the situation is even worse as youth and students are not encouraged to question. "We should ignite the minds of children and allow them to probe and question. Religion doesn't prevent you from inquiring",  remarks Dr. Parvaiz, an accomplished scientist himself.

As part of the National Science Day, MANUU is organising the 5th National Urdu Science Congress. The two day conference beginning Thursday will see all stakeholders - teachers, scientists and students taking part and deliberating on how best to transfer knowledge related to social sciences in Urdu. Also on the occasion "Carvan-e-Science", the special issue of Urdu Science magazine, is being released to mark completion of its silver jubilee.

The Urdu Science monthly is the only journal in the sub-continent to complete 25 years. The brain child of Dr. Parvaiz, this magazine is a testimony to his unflinching zeal to promote scientific education among Urdu readers. The 56 page journal seeks to address important issues facing the country. Though there are few takers, Dr. Parvaiz is determined to bring it out at all costs. "Only through science we can root out prejudices", he says.

What provoked the launch of the journal is a story in itself. Problem faced by him as a student in getting science material in Urdu led to the birth of the magazine in 1994. "Once I stabilised in life I decided to fill this long felt need", says the vice chancellor. Now he plans to go for multimedia format with audio and visual content to make the journal more interesting.

                                                                                                                                           J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article Dated February 27, 2019