Aligarh Sunday 5^th September 2021 – Professor Tariq Mansoor, Vice Chancellor, AMU and his wife Dr. Hameeda Tariq dedicated the Professor Jamshed Siddiqui Information Technology (IT) Centre to the Community in a sombre ceremony at the Sultan Jahan Coaching Centre, Muslim Social Uplift Society (MSUS). The Centre has been established by the donation of the family members of Late Professor Jamshed Siddiqui (24 April 1968 – 19 April 2021) in his memory to enable digital access to welfare funds for the poor and needy.

Speaking at the ceremony AMU Vice Chancellor Professor Tariq Mansoor said that we come from Allah and we go back to Allah but as we survive our loved ones, the best that we can do to transform our grief and loss is by bringing positive changes in the lives of those in need. He said that in the AMU he had a long association with Late Professor JamshedSiddiqui in his multi-faceted roles and his demise at an unexpected time was a deep personal and family loss to him. He applauded the fruitful endeavours of the members of the Muslim Social Uplift Society who had been engaged in educational and capacity building initiatives since inception and had now extended their mandate by accommodating the aims and objectives of the JS IT Centre.

President of the MSUS Professor Abdur Raheem Kidwai welcomed the guests and elaborated on the idea behind the establishment of the Centre. He apprised that the Holy Quran, in simple words, enjoins upon the believers to give in charity, feed the poor and not to devour one’s inheritance with greed. He said that an initial grant of ten lakh rupees has been endowed by the family members of Late Professor Siddiqui including his brother Mr Mohammad Javed Siddiqui, son, Abdul Ahad Siddiqui, daughter, Ebadat Eiman Siddiqui and widow, Dr Faiza Abbasi who will also continue to support the running expenses for the IT help desks at the Centre on a monthly basis. Professor Kidwai said that philanthropists all over the world are joining hands to empower the disadvantaged sections of their societies for becoming self-reliant.

General Secretary of the MSUS, Professor Saghir Afraheim gave an account of the life and times of Late Professor Jamshed Siddiqui. He said that he was one of the few young faculty members of the AMU who achieved so much in a brief span of life. He joined the teaching faculty of the Computer Science Department at age 24 and went on to become a Professor and Chairman of the department. Professor Siddiqui also had an active corporate life as he served as Proctor, Dean Students’ Welfare and OSD (Development). His contributions to the social life of the teaching community were also memorable as he got elected to the AMU Court, Executive Council, Secretary, Joint Secretary and EC Member of AMU Teachers’ Association.

A power point presentation was made by Mr Abdul Samad Kidwai, UK based engineer presently volunteering at the MSUS, on the socio-economic status of the target group – comprising destitute women, who will be the beneficiaries of the Centre. The programme was conducted by Dr Shariq Aqeel and concluded with a Dua by Dr Zubair Ahmad Siddiqi, Centre for Distance education, AMU. He beseeched the good pleasure of the Almighty on all present.

Later Dr. Hameeda Tariq unveiled the plaque erected in the memory of Professor Jamshed Siddiqui and joined hands in praying for his deliverance and success of the Centre. The Dedication Ceremony was graced by a large number AMU Faculty members including Professor Hafiz M Ilyas, Professor Zakia Siddiqui, Professor Zahiruddin, Professor Waseem Ahmad, Professor M Urooj Rabbani, Professor Naeema Khatoon, Professor M. M Sufyan Beg, Ms. Salma Shaheen, Professor M Rizwan Khan, Professor Aasim Zafar, Professor Sheeba Hamid and many more.