About AMUSU

The Mohammedan University at Aligarh should not allow Muslim Colleges in other parts of India to be affiliated to it”. The motion was lost by a large majority. Thus the atmosphere was filled with the demand for affiliation when the Constitution Committee set out to prepare the draft for the proposed Muslim University.

The building of the Union was electrified in 1916. In 1917, its library subscribed to 32 English and 16 Urdu dailies and other journals. Its finances were sound and it held 25 debates during the year.

The visit of Mrs. Sarojni Naidu in 1917 in the Union was an event of great importance and act of courage. Professor Rashid Ahmad Siddiqui presided over the function as Vice President of the Union in the Rampur Hamid Hall. The speech was a flood of nightingale songs and the audience was wrapped in emotion. Everyone expected that Mr. J. H. Towle, Principal of the College would thank the speaker in suitable words and in a customary way summarize the main ideas of the speech. He got up and to the surprise of all said, “Thank you very much, indeed, Mrs. Naidu”, and quietly resumed his seat. This speech became a byword in the college and was often utilized to sneer at a bore.

The Siddons Union Club was very active forum of the students during the days of the MAO College. When the intermediate classes were separated from University, it was considered necessary to revive the old rules and a sub-committee was appointed to review the situation and suggest modification in the constitution of the Union.

The Intermediate College Union was organized in the very first year of the establishment of the College with the Principal as its President. IT had two student office bearers – Vice President (Mr. Abdur Rahim) and Secretary (Mr. Asif Ali Beg). Messrs. Asad Ali Beg and Ghulamus Saiyyedain secured the Speaking trophy at Banaras, while the former won the medal for the best speech in English.

The Students’ Union, as the premier literary organization, was the centre of all social and intellectual activities of the students and members of the staff like Prof. Mohammad Habib, Prof. A. B. A. Haleem and Major E. W. Dann took active interest in its debates. Many of the distinguished visitors who came to the University visited the Union also and addressed the students. General Sir Andrew Skean and Mr. Burdon accepted the life membership of the Union.

On March 24, 1926, Mr. L. F. Ruhbrook Williams, Director of Information, Government of India gave an illuminating lecture on Democracy at Union Hall. Mr. Burdon, Military Secretary to the Government of India visited the University in April and accepted the life membership of the Union.

On October 20, 1926, some prominent Ulema took part in a debate on “Dars-i-Nizami” in the Union Hall. Nawab Muzammilullah Khan presented a beautiful trophy for Inter-university Speaking Competition.

The Students’ Union of Aligarh Muslim University, which had a long tradition of student leadership and awareness of social and political problems of the country, was a very active organization. It had registered reactions to the non-cooperation movement led by Gandhiji, the Khilafat turmoil and the Tripoli catastrophe. Even a cursory glance at the record of the Union debates would reveal that the Aligarh youth was not only intellectually alert but also fully conscious of his social obligations.

The Students’ Union gave reception to distinguished figures in the sphere of education, social life and politics.