Mohammed Atique, Founder Chancellor of Maulana Azad University has never been to school for formal education, yet he has systematically uplifted lives of more than 45,000 students in last four decades of his social services in Education, Health, Community development, Waste to Wealth initiatives and skill development programs.
Mohammead Atique has been a key figure in the establishment and functioning of some of the most prominent institutions in Jodhpur and other places. He is credited with establishing a trust and donating prime land for the construction of a three-story Jama Masjid in Industrial Area, Jodhpur. As General Secretary of the Marwar Muslim Educational and Welfare Society (MMEWS), he has been actively involved with the running and administration of more than 330 important educational, health and social institutions currently functioning under the Society.
Established since year 1929, (MMEWS) was a traditional community welfare institution. Mohammed Atique, now 75 years, was 40 years old when sparked by an emotion for education, associated with MMEWS, which supports projects that span rural development, healthcare, education and culture. Maulana Azad University was established in 2013. His unique approach of bridging community divide has seen establishment of a well-furnished Mai Khadija Hospital, Rahmatul-Lil-Alameen Blood campaign, establishment of a well-managed Marwar Adarsh GAUSHALA and Veterinary Hospital at Bujhawar village District Jodhpur.
His belief in uncommon solutions to problems specific to the marginalized communities has brought in unique partnerships between the States, Communities with exceptional results. His matchless efforts have immensely contributed to the highly acclaimed model of leveraging community resources to promote economic opportunity for people living in poverty in the region. In 2022, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot granted Rs 15 crore for the development of Centre of Excellence and Research Centre.
His Robin Hood cape aside, Mohammed Atique was an established businessman before he delved into the cause of humanity. With business acumen running in his veins owing to the family set up, he successfully established different sets of business verticals at the young age of 20. He was front runner in developing a prototype of a specific type of bearing used in railways which otherwise was imported.
“Nearly 45k students have passed out from our group of institutions till date. The emotion isn’t just the feeling of pride, but one of contentment.” – Mohammed Atique
Marwar Muslim Educational and Welfare Society (MMEWS)
Marwar Muslim Educational and Welfare Society was awarded the First Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Literacy Award 2004 instituted by the Maulana Azad Education Foundation, Seva Ratan Award from Rajasthan State Commission for Minorities, and many other awards and endorsement from national and International Organisations. After nearly 5 decades of hard work and consistent efforts results can clearly be seen through flourishing alumni all around. Students who joined schools, colleges and university have now become doctors, engineers, and businessman and entered other professions as well. A few of them have also established nursing homes and clinics in remote rural area which are often left abandoned.
Mohammed Atique has been the torch bearer of social upliftment and has brought with his deep belief and determination a silent revolution which not only the Muslim Community but the entire region at large is benefitting.
(Maulana Azad University, Jodhpur; Campus: Village Bujhawar, Tehsil Luni, Jodhpur, Rajasthan – 342008. +91 9351360489; http://www.marwarimuslim.in; https://www.mauj.ac.in)
How the University did came into being?
After nearly three decades of running different educational set-ups at school to college level, we realised that it’s time to establish something bigger. Professional qualification was the pressing priority to keep students motivated. In 2002 an ITI was started followed by three B.Ed Colleges, one nursing and one pharmacy college and two 100 bedded hospital. Another trigger was the fact that students from weaker sections of communities had limited resources to take admissions in professional courses offered by private colleges at higher fees structure which eventually led to major drop-outs. Creating avenues for higher education at bigger scale was the way out. Thus, Maulana Azad University (Jodhpur) came into being. Today, MAU has proudly become an institution to pull the neglected students from the morass of mediocrity that education has become in the ignored regions. The university today has opened a new chapter in the education of Muslims and other less privileged youth in India. It is a global knowledge destination, educating more than 15,000 students in multiple disciplines.
How are funds managed?
Due diligence in managing finances has helped a lot to survive and sustain. We had a clear understanding that you can’t keep crying for funds always. For day to day functions, an income was required. And these institutions being run on nominal fees could never be a source for the same. With this thought in line we converted an allotted Waqf property in commercial space. More than that the system has enriched themselves into using resources in an optimal way. It is indeed futuristic to witness how university infrastructure has used refurbished material in the construction. Doors and wooden furniture have been developed using discarded ships. Window glasses have been taken from government discarded buses and again from shipyards and so have been iron gates and shades. And all without compromising on quality.
Do you get bothered by criticism?
Where some of it should always be taken seriously, 90 per cent of time it is mere noise which should be filtered out. One should be careful enough not to ignore genuine feedback but at the same time should ensure that noise doesn’t deter you from your goals.
Have you ever made mistakes?
Everybody makes mistakes so did we. But it would be wrong to call them mistakes. With every step you learn. That’s a better way to amend. At the end what matters is how we look at the misstep we took. In this journey everything has come from doing. There was no manual. So at times it’s tough but we have excelled in the right direction. For instance, we didn’t focus on taking our accomplishment to the national level. Building Brand Identity is important these days. We could have focused a bit more.
Do you have fear of failure?
No. I always had an innate passion to work for weaker communities and society at large in the direction of education. With the defined genuine intentions I was confident I will never fail. If you keep thinking about success and failure then pressure is bound to culminate you. With that state of mind it’s difficult to work.
