Mumbai

The Dawoodi Bohra community today hailed the election of its leader Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin as the Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, saying he will be an “invaluable beacon” to the institution.

“The links between Dawoodi Bohra community and AMU span over many generations. The position of chancellorship was previously held by His Holiness’ father Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin – the fifty second Dai al-Mutlaq (head of the Bohra community), and grandfather Syedna Taher Saifuddin, the fifty-first Dai al-Mutlaq,” Shaikh Abdeali Bhanpurawala, a spokesperson of the community told reporters here.

Syedna was yesterday elected to the post, which was lying vacant for over five years, at a meeting of the Aligarh University Court in that city.

Bhanpurawala claimed that the Syedna brings together the intellectual capabilities and statesmanship of his predecessors to lead a premier academic institution in modern India, that is as much rooted in its Islamic tradition as in its Indian heritage.

“Having been for many years the co-Rector of Al Jameatus Saifiyah, the over 200-year-old Arabic Academy of the Dawoodi Bohra Community, Syedna Saifuddin brings with him tremendous experience in guiding an institution of higher learning,” he said.

The spokesperson said Syedna Saifuddin has, within the community, espoused the cause of modern education founded on principles of Islamic Shariat.

He (Syedna) has also exhorted students to excel in all fields with the goal of serving the Almighty through service to humanity, promoted the equality of women as an equal partner of her spouse and given a clarion call for not forgetting ‘the roots’ in the fast changing times of the information age, he added.

“These guidelines are as relevant to the Aligarh Muslim University. Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin’s leadership will be an invaluable beacon to the University, its academicians, its student body, its support staff and its distinguished alumni,” Bhanpurawala said.

The Bohra leader secured 97 votes against 33 votes by Mehmoodur Rahman, a retired IAS officer who served as Union Secretary, Parliamentary Affairs, on his last posting.

The post of AMU’s Chancellor has been lying vacant since January 2010 after the tenure of the then Chancellor Justice A M Ahmadi, the former Chief Justice of India, came to an end.

– PTI