Indian Muslims have an educational emergency necessitating an urgent action to face it, said Murshid Kamal, the convener of India Islamic Cultural Center in Saudi Arabia. He was addressing the International Educational Conference held by the international branch of India Islamic Cultural Center. The conference is being held in gulf countries with the aim of convincing the well-established and rich section of Indian citizens, residing in gulf countries for investment in education, Murshid Kamal said. Chancellor of Maulana Azad Urdu University Zafar Sareshwala in his keynote address said that if Indian Muslims wish to achieve respectable position in future India, they have to focus fully on education. He appealed to NRIs to establish fundamental education centers in their respective areas. Sureshwala said: "We have since long been exerting our full energy and power to support political parties win elections, without achieving any benefits in return. If we demonstrate the same fervor in the field of education, within a few years we will be able to change the scene". Chief Guest Abdulllah Al-Karam, Chairman of Human Development Authority –Dubai, said: "There is no substitute to education". Expressing his concern over the backwardness of Muslim community in the field of education he said: "Indian Muslims have to change the scene at any cost and they have to prepare a long-term plan with the help of government". Isa Al-Gharir, chairman of the group of companies Al-Gharir, said: "Education is obligatory for every Muslim; both male or female alike". He attributed the backwardness of Muslims in education to their zero partnership in science, philosophy, research and innovation. Pro Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University Brig. Sayed Ahmad Ali presented an informative and encouraging presentation on the status of Muslims education and the future roadmap. He lauded the good outcome of the bridge course initiated by Aligarh Muslim University among many other ideal works, with the aim of equipping Madrasa graduates with modern sciences to include them in the main stream, stressing the need of such revolutionary actions. Nadeem Tareen, a businessman and educationist based in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, said, "If we, the rich people pledge to spend a portion of our wealth to address educational backwardness in India, we will see good outcome within a few years". He said, his endeavors to establish a new university are going on and it will soon see the light of day. Akhtarul Islam, General Secretary of Biswas organization, stressed the need of good and crystal-clear planning to preserve the minority character of Aligarh Muslim University. He drew the attention of Mr. Zafar Sureshwala to the fact that he can benefit from his closeness to the Prime Minister to appeal him in this regard and represent the Muslim community. President of Indian Business Council Kalwant Singh said: "Among all minorities of India, the Muslim community's condition is the worst, for which they have to work hard". Kuldeep Singh said no community can achieve success with government assistance only, rather Muslims need to take initiative for it. The conference was participated by prominent figures from Europe, America, India and other countries. At the end of conference, the conveners Sayed Nadeem Zaidi and Pushkan Agha presented vote of thank to the audience and announced that the next educational conference would be held in June in Qatar.
