Jan. 14, 2004
We are happy to inform you that Jamia Hamdard, Delhi Islamic University conferred D.Litt (Honoris Causa) on Asghar Ali Engineer on 14th January 2005 in Delhi during their 7th convocation. Mr. Arjun Singh, Minister of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India was the chief guest. Mr. Arjun Singh praised Mr. Asghar Ali Engineer and Dr. P.K. Warrier have contributed enormously in their own ways to the cause of nation building. Below is the citation read out by Vice-Chancellor Mr. Siraj Hussain:
CITATION
Born in 1940, Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer took a Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering. His interest in religion and its philosophy motivated him to do an in-depth study of Islam and other religions. Dr. AsgharAli Engineer is one of the rare scholars who combine in him the knowledge of Islamic sources with an insight into the contemporary changes taking place in the world. He has written 48 books and numerous articles on issues relating to Islam, Indian Muslim, communal riots, communalization of Indian society and human rights violations. He has argued for appreciation of illustrious Indian scholars of Islam such as, Muhammad Iqbal and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, passionately advocating a progressive understanding of Islam that strives to creatively respond to change. He has been advocating to Muslims to follow, in spirit, the Quranic teaching of adl, ahsan, rahmah and hikmah i.e. justice, benevolence, compassion and wisdom to make this world a better place to live for everyone.
In his writings, he has also been arguing for the need to study the Islamic sources in the modern context. Taaqqul (reasoning), Tadabbur (contemplation), Tafakkur (Thinking) and Hikmah (Wisdom) have been emphasized by him as important tools to face the challenge of modernity. With his vast knowledge of all the major religions, Dr. Aghar Ali Engineer has written extensively on the growing menace of communalization of Indian society and has documented most of the communal disturbances in different parts of India. He has also written a book on Gujarat pogrom of 2002, which was a watershed in the history of communal violence in India. His book "Rethinking Issues in Islam" was a path breaker as it provided a framework for the need to revisit some of the important issues confronting Muslims in India and elsewhere. Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer has also made extensive use of cyberspace to reach out to millions of young men and women. Online edition of Indian Journal of Secularism edited by him has taken his writings to a vast number of people in different corners of the world.
Winner of the "RightLivelihood Award 2004", which is considered alternative Nobel Prize, Dr. Engineer has been a source of inspiration to a large number of Indians committed to the cause of security, equity, secularism and progress for all sections of Indian society. Jamia Hamdard, therefore, considered it an honour to confer upon this great scholar-activist, Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer, the degree of the Doctor of Literature (D.Litt), Honoris Causa, today, January 14, 2005.
There were 2000 people in the convocation including many eminent citizens from Delhi. This D.Litt degree from an Islamic University is significant in more that one ways. There was a time when Dr. Engineer had to face a lot of hostility from Muslim leaders due to false propaganda launched against him by the Bohra priesthood. The falsehood at last was exposed and and an Islamic university conferred D.Litt on Dr. Engineer.
