Hyderabad Professor Jehangir illuminating lives of downtrodden children

In the video, the professor narrates the example of two unfortunate students whose studies were discontinued by their parents, as they could not afford the expenses of their education.

The professor also expresses the concern that due to privatisation of education, it is becoming more difficult for the children of disadvantaged sections to pursue their dream of getting a good education.

However, if there is despair, there is also a ray of hope. People like Professor Syed Jehangir are doing the work of creating this hope. He is not only educating the poor children, but he is also providing them food and shelter.

Professor Syed Jahangir is the Head of the Department of Arab Studies, EFL (English and Foreign Language) University in Hyderabad.

Professor Jahangir teaches languages, social and political sciences to the poor children.

“I believe that weaker sections have a greater need for quality education. If we want our children to get the best education possible, then they should get the best teacher rather than a great school. Here, I have started an English Model Islamic University where children can learn multiple languages like English, Sanskrit, Arabic, Urdu, and Parsi. They are taught in modern style here,” he told a local newspaper in Hyderabad.

“I spend the morning teaching foreign students at EFL University and the rest of the day I spend with children belonging to the backward classes,” he told the newspaper.

Professor Jahangir believes that for the best education, the best teacher is needed instead of the great school. He does not believe that for a good education, we need to have a grand building and modern amenities.

He says that the ability of the teacher, his knowledge and efficiency in pedagogy make all the difference. He says that instead of expensive education, the children must be imparted quality education.

A number of students who studied under Professor Jehangir have joined professions like language translators and employees of multinational companies.

Mohammad Sadiq, one of his students from Bihar, said that Professor Jehangir taught him and he has been able to improve his life only because of this education.

There is another student of Professor Jehangir, Abdul Aleem, who has become a science teacher after studying with Professor Jehangir.

Abdul Aleem said: “I studied here eight years ago and I am here now as a science teacher. Today the cost of education is so high that many young people give up their dream of being educated, while many others graduate with debts. But here, we provide quality education and create a passion for learning amongst the students.”

The religious people like Professor Jehangir have emphasised on the importance of education as Islamic teachings have taught them so.

Prophet Muhammad emphasised so much on education that he respectfully urged many Jewish scholars of his time to teach his companions who are popularly known as sahabas. There is a well-known saying of him in which he exhorts his followers to cross even the Great Wall of China for the sake of attaining knowledge.

Philosophers and scholars have defined education as the lamp that illuminates the whole universe. Professor Jehangir is illuminating the lives of poor children with such light that is removing the darkness of the society and preparing its children for the path of progress and development.

(The Author is Journalist and Research Scholar at Jamia Millia Islamia)