Top twenty institutes in terms of research in India

A search in Scopus for top twenty institutes in terms of publications.
Top 20 Institutes in number of articles published in 2009

1. Indian Institute of Science
2. Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
3. All India Institute of Medical Sciences
4. Bhabha Atomic Research Center
5. Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
6. Indian Institute of Technology Madras
7. Jadavpur University
8. Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
9. Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur
10. University of Delhi
11. Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research
12. Banaras Hindu University
13. Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
14. Aligarh Muslim University
15. Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
16. Indian Institute of Chemical Technology
17. Anna University
18. University of Calcutta
19. University of Madras
20. Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science

Dr. T.K. Oommen Delivered the Keynote Address at International Seminar at AMU

ALIGARH February 8: Noted Sociologist, Dr. T.K. Oommen, Professor Emeritus of Jawharlal Nehru University said that although India’s mind boggling linguistic diversity has acknowledged, independent India’s language policy was precariously proximate to that of the nation-state. India pursued a policy which privileged Hindi, spoken only by 38 percent of population even after mother tongues are encapsulated within.

He was delivering the keynote address of the three-day International Seminar on “Language, Culture and Identity: Issues and Challenges” organized by the Department of Linguistics, Aligarh Muslim University. Prof. Oommen pointed out that Urdu, the sixth major language of India has an all India presence comparable to that of Hindi. But since it is not the principal language in any state Urdu is subjected to discrimination creating frustration among its speakers. On the other hand the tendency on the part of Urdu speaking Muslims to relegate their regional language identity to the background and fore ground their religious – linguistic identity needs to be noted. Thus during 1951-61 bi-lingual Muslims throughout India revealed their preference to proclaim Urdu as their mother tongue leading to a growth of 68.7% Urdu speakers.

On language and identity he threw light on various issue like national language, linguistic reorganization of states, nation-state, homogeneity and heterogeneity. He added that India should abandon the goal of establishing a nation-state which is wedded to the creation of a homogeneous society and in its place adopt the idea of nation-state which celebrate cultural diversity.

On the issue of linguistic state reorganization he commented that linguistic state is necessary but not sufficient and is an unfinished task in India. He referred the language policy of India as ambivalent and said “pluralism is the way forward for India”.

Delivering the presidential address, Prof. P.K. Abdul Azis, Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University said that no one can destroy the language and culture of a country. He suggested that the policy should be like that it should nurture the diversity of the country. There should be no compelling situations and we want an India of our own choice. He added language is a powerful tool of communication and pointed out that English is a language of communication, science and technology. He said no one is interested to provide education to their children in their mother tongue. Everybody is interested to get their children to English Medium School. Prof. Azis said India believes in Unity in diversity.

Highlighting the objectives of the three-day international seminar Prof. S. Imtiaz Hasnain, Director of the Seminar said that contexts of globalization, emergence of knowledge society, increased migration flows worldwide, new information technologies and desperate regional growth have impacted the socio-cultural fabric of nations worldwide. These social, cultural and linguistic phenomena pose questions and challenges before Indian societies not only in terms of how to manage the effects of growing complexity of identity, language and culture but also how the Indian societies represent themselves in these processes.

Prof. Richard Hallett of USA, Prof. Sangeeta Bagga Gupta of Sweden, Prof. Anvita Abbi, Prof. Devi Prasad Shastry, CIIL, Mysore and Prof. A.R. Fatihi welcomed the guests.

Dr. Masood Ali Beg conducted the programme and Dr. Shabana Hameed proposed a vote of thanks.

Fellowship of Indian Council of Medical Research at AMU

Written by AMU Correspondent
Thursday, 14 January 2010
Mr. Mohd Sajjad Ahmad Khan, Research Scholar, Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Aligarh Muslim University has been awarded with Senior Research Fellowship of Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi.

Mr. Sajjad will work on certain plants essential oils for their in vitro efficacy against drug resistant human pathogenic fungi in combination with antifungal drugs. Mr. Sajjad will work under the guidance of Dr. Iqbal Ahmad, Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Microbiology. Dr. Ahmad's lab is well recognized for determination of biological activities of natural products against drug resistant microbial pathogens and developing novel strategies combating infections. Mr. Sajjad has published five research papers in reputed science journal and presented ten papers in National and International conferences with Dr. Iqbal Ahmad. He is also a recipient of Post Graduate Gold Medal (AMU) and has previously worked with Prof Javed Musarrat, Department of Agricultural Microbiology, AMU and Prof Moon Gyo Kim, Inha University, Korea.

Bahadur Shah Zafar award to Sajida Zaidi and Zahida Zaidi

Awards for Sajida Zaidi, Zahida Zaidi and Muzaffar Hanafi

Posted on January 7, 2010. Filed under: Urdu Literary Awards |

Renowned Urdu poet Muzaffar Hanafi has been selected for Pandit Brijmohan Dattatreya Award while senior poets Sajida Zaidi and Zahida Zaidi jointly get Bahadur Shah Zafar award of Delhi Urdu Academy that were announced today.

The Bahadur Shah Zafar award that comprises Rs 1.11 lakh cash and citation would be shared by the two Aligarh-based scholars and poets–Prof Sajida Zaidi and Prof Zahida Zaidi.

Hanafi gets the award of Rs 51,000. Bhagwan Das Ejaz, Ibn Kanwal, Zafar Moradabadi, Riyaz Qidwai, Zafar Agha, Ashhar Qadeer, Mohd Zakir, Yunus Jafri and Syeda Kishwar are amongst other awardees.

The names mentioned above include those selected for awards under the category of best teacher, journalist, translator, poet, fiction writer, science writing et al.

The awards for the year 2008 where finalised sometime back. Late Qamar Raees was alive then. Chief Minister Sheila Dixit okayed the list and the awards would be presented at a function soon.

Prof. Wasim Ahmad felicitated by the Zoological Society of India

*ALIGARH, January 9:* Prof. Wasim Ahmad of the Department of Zoology,
Aligarh Muslim University was recently felicitated by the Zoological Society
of India for his commendable research activities and outstanding
contribution in the field of Zoology at the 20th All India Congress of
Zoology, held at Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai recently.
The Zoology Congress was jointly organized by the Zoological Society of
India, the Helminthological Society of India and the Indian Fisheries
Association.

Prof. Ahmad is an internationally acknowledged expert on the taxonomy of
soil inhabiting nematodes of the Orders Dorylaimida, Mononchida and
Tylenchida. He has not only described several hundred new taxa of nematodes
from around the world but has also given new definition and classification
of higher taxonomic groups based on his morphological, ultra structural and
molecular studies. His recent studies on phylogenetic relationship of
mononchs using 18s rDNA sequence has given a new insight into the
classification of this group. He has also contributed significantly to the
functional diversity and food web diagnostics of soil inhabiting nematodes
in natural forests. The major part of his work has been published in top
nematology journals of the world, such as Nematologica/ Nematology from The
Netherlands; Revue de Nematologie/ Fundamentals and Applied Nematology from
France; International Journal of Nematology from UK; Journal of Nematode
Morphology and Systematics from Spain Nematologea Mediterranea from Italy
and Journal of Natural History, UK His monumental book entitled "Dorylaimida;
Free-living, predaceous and plant parasitic nematodes" published by RJ
Brill, Leiden, The Netherlands is a unique world-wide reference for study of
dorylaim nematodes. A similar treatise by him on Mononchida has just been
published by EJ Brill, The Netherlands. He has visited a large number of
countries of the world as an expert for the study of dorylaim and mononchid
nematodes and is recipient of prestigious visiting fellowships from Royal
Society (London). DFG (Germany), TWAS (Italy), JSPS (Japan), Erasmus Mundus
(European Union), CAS (China), KOSEF (Korea), RMBR (Singapore), and many
others. He is on the editorial board of several prestigious journals
published from India and abroad and is reviewer of papers published in most
of the Nematology Journals of the world. Prof. Ahmad is a Fellow of the
National Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the Linnaean Society of
London.

AMU's Farha Ahmad to witness the Republic Day Parade from the PM’s Box

ALIGARH January 6: Ms. Farha Ahmad of MA (Previous) in Psychology, Aligarh Muslim University has been selected to witness the Republic Day Parade 2010 from the Prime Minister’s Box at Rajghat.

Ms. Farah Ahmad, daughter of Prof. Noman Ahmad, Department of Economics, AMU is among the 100 meritorious students selected from all over India to witness the Parade from Prime Minister’s Box. Ms. Ahmad has been Faculty Topper in BA. She also topped in XII Class examination of the University.

Two dozen students of different Universities of United States visited the Aligarh Muslim University and met the Vice Chancellor, Prof. P. K. Abdul Azi

Students at Strachy Hall



At V-C Lodge

ALIGARH January 4: Two dozen students of different Universities of United States visited the Aligarh Muslim University and met the Vice Chancellor, Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis at Vice Cahncellor’s lodge.

The American students visited the heritage buildings of the University and paid tribute to the founder Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. The visiting team also interacted with the students and staff of the Department of Urdu and English at Arts Faculty lounge.

In his preseidential remarks in the interactive meet Prof. A. R. Kidwai, Director of Academic Staff College said that AMU is not a dgree awarding institution but a centre of socio-cultural advancement of Muslims of India.

On this occasion Prof. Khursheed Ahmad, Chairman, Department of Urdu and Professor Abul Kalam Qasmi, former Dean, Faculty of Arts also addressed the function.

Dr. Syed Ziaur Rahman joins University of Western Sydney, Sydney (Australia)

ALIGARH January 4:* Dr. Syed Ziaur Rahman, Assistant Professor, Department
of Pharmacology, JN Medical College has proceeded to the School of Medicine,
University of Western Sydney, Sydney (Australia) to pursue PhD course.

Earlier, the University of Western Sydney has offered Dr. Rahman the
prestigious ‘International Endeavour Award’ for his research work. He will
work under the guidance of Prof. Gerald Muench, a renowned medical scientist
in the field of Alzheimer’s Disease, on a project entitled, “Identification
of anti-inflammatory and neuro-protective agents from the Food and plant
libraries”.

Prof. Ali Mohammad Naqvi participated in the International Conference on Peaceful Co-Existence of Religions

*ALIGARH December 26:* Prof. Ali Mohammad Naqvi, Chairman Department of Shia
Theology, Aligarh Muslim University participated in the International
Conference on Peaceful Co-Existence of Religions held at Tehran University,
Iran and presented his paper on “Typology of Religions and Religious
Perspectives”.

The Tehran Declaration of Peaceful Co­existence of Religions was endorsed at
the ed of the international conference which advocated that followers of all
Religions should upheld their religious beliefs but work towards Peaceful
Co-Existence of all Religions.

Several academic programmes were held in the Mofid University, Adyan
University and Higher Institute of Research in Qom honouring Prof. Ali
Mohammad Naqvi. Prof. Naqvi’s latest book on the “Development of Indian
Religious Thought” in Persian Language was released at the Tehran
University. A number of Television channels in Iran broadcasted interview of
Prof. Naqvi. Prof. Naqvi said that a general interest in the all round
development and the plurality of religions in India was evident in the
people of Iran.

Prof. Abul kalam Qasmi received Sahitya Academy Award 2009

Poets dominated this year’s Sahitya Akademi award winners with eight books of poetry among 24 categories of literature being chosen for the honours.

The poets honoured with the award are Praduman Singh Jindrahia (Dogri), Kailash Vajpeyi (Hindi), Jess Fernandes (Konkani), Raghu Leishangthem (Manipuri), Vasant Abaji Dahake (Marathi), Phani Mohanty (Oriuya), Damayanti Beshra (Santhali) and Puviarasu (Tamil).

Those who won the awards for their collection of short stories include Vaidehi (Kannada), late Manmohan Jha (Maithili), Samiran Chhetri ‘Priyadarshi’ (Nepali), Major Ratan Jangid (Rajasthani) , Prashasya Mitra Shastri (Sanskrit) and Anand Khemani (Sindhi).

Well-known novelists Dhrubajyoti Bora (Assamese), late Manoranjan Lahary (Bodo), U A Khadar (Malayalam) and Yarlagadda Laxmi Prasad (Telugu) were also honoured with the awards for 2009, Secretary, Sahitya Akademi Agrahara Krishna Murthy, told reporters.

Sri Chaturvedi Badrinath (English), Shirish Panchal (Gujarati), Mashal Sultanpuri (Kashmiri) and Abdul Kalam Qasmi (Urdu) won the awards for their books of criticism.

Sourin Bhattacharya (Bengali) for his book of essays and Atamjit (Punjabi) for his book of plays also got the awards.

Five AMU branches in the country soon: MP

BHOPAL: Five branches of Aligarh Muslim University are to be set up in different parts of the country soon, Lok Sabha MP Maulana Asrar-ul-Haque



Qasmi said here.
The prestigious institute will branch out in Murshidabad (West Bengal), Mallapuram (Kerala), Kishanganj (Bihar) and one place each in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, Maulana, a member from Kishanganj in Bihar, told PTI.

He said that budgetary funds for the AMUs in West Bengal and Kerala have already been sanctioned while these will be given soon for the branch to be set up at Kishanganj.

The MP said that not much progress had been done on setting the branches of the AMU in both Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

He said that the Bihar government had already allotted land for AMU branch to be set up at Kishanganj.

The MP had come here yesterday to take part in the annunal function of the Muslim Education and Career Promotion Society (MECAPS).

He urged the Muslims to pool in their resources to fulfil their dream about education.

"Muslims now know the importance of education and time has come for them to create infra-structural facilities which can help provide good education," the MP said.

Muslims need to come up: Hamid Ansari

Muslims need to come up: Hamid Ansari

Patna,(BiharTimes) : Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari said on Saturday that a new identity of Muslims is emerging in India, where they form over 16 crore, that is one-tenth of their global population.

Delivering the Khuda Bakhsh Memorial Lecture On The Status of Indian Muslims in the libarary premises here on Saturday he highlighted the glorious and rich tradition of Islam to which India and Indians have made immense contribution.

On the condition of Muslims in the country he said that though the follow up action of the government on the Sachar Committee report has made some impact it is up to the community to come up and take these opportunities.

He said that though the grievances persist, as is evident from the thrust of testimonies given in the meeting organized recently in New Delhi by a civil society group yet some of the recommendations for corrective actions need to be given a closer look.

He said the grievances of Indian Muslims centered on five core concerns: security, employment and reservation, Urdu, Aligarh Muslim University and Muslim Personal Law.

The Vice President called for the uplift of Muslim women and emphasized the need for their education.


Hamid Ansari, a foreign diplomat who had served as India’s ambassador in several Middle East countries on Saturday addressed for the second time in the Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library on the issues related to Muslims or Islam. A decade ago he delivered a lecture on Governance in Islam.

With his lecture came to an end the death centenary functions of the library founder, Khan Bahadur Khuda Bakhsh.

Earlier, governor Devanand Konwar, chief minister Nitish Kumar and library director Imtiaz Ahmad welcomed the Vice President and spoke on the contributions of late Khuda Bakhsh to the society.

Dr. Afzal Anees awarded with the Fellowship of Colo-Rectal Surgery

ALIGARH, December 11: Dr. Afzal Anees, Reader in the Department of Surgery, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, AMU Aligarh has been awarded with the Fellowship of Colo-Rectal Surgery in a Joint Congress of Asian Federation of Colo-proctology and Association of Colo-rectal Surgeons of India held at Goa. He received the award from Mr. Digambar Kamat, Chief Minister of Goa.

Dr Afzal takes keen interest in Coloproctology. He has been instrumental in starting several kind of surgeries at J.N. Medical College Hospital such as low anterior resection in rectal cancer, restorative procto-colectomy with j pouch anal anastomosis, minimal invasive procedure for hemorrhoids and other advance surgeries of colorectal conditions.

Dr. Anis said that the Tertiary Care Centre of J.N. Medical College is recognized by advanced infrastructure and procedures it carries out. Dr. Anis believed that a change in the mindset, hard work and cooperation from allied branches is required to achieve the goal of excellence. He personally appreciated the efforts put in by the AMU Vice Chancellor Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis for the advancement of medical services at JNMC.





Zeeshan Ahmad

Assistant PRO

A capable Muslim can become PM: Rahul Gandhi

Agencies Posted: Dec 07, 2009 at 1310 hrs

Aligarh: Religion does not matter when it comes to becoming the prime minister and a Muslim can get the top job provided he is the most capable person for it, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in Aligarh on Monday.
"It is not about what religion or community you come from, it is what you bring to the table, what capability you have," he said in an interaction with students of the Aligarh Muslim University.

He was replying to a question that having come a long way after Independence how much more time will it take for India to have its first Muslim prime minister.

"Today, Manmohan Singh is not the Prime Minister of India because he is a Sikh. He is the Prime Minister because he is the most capable person to do the job.

"And let me tell you something that even when you do have a Muslim prime minister, he will be a prime minister because he is the most capable person," 39-year-old Gandhi said.

He told a questioner, "You need to step up and the number of leaders coming out of your community needs to go up. You got today a Sikh prime minister that nobody would have ever imagined in a country of over a billion people that we would have a Sikh prime minister. Sikhs are a very small percentage of this country."

Gandhi said his effort was to involve people from different communities and from different parts of India in the political system.

Exhorting Muslim youths to participate in national politics in a big way, Gandhi said, "Increased participation of Muslim youths is the ideal way to take on problems not only of the Muslim community but the country as a whole."

He said it was unfortunate that today there was hardly any young Muslim leader active in national politics.

Earlier, Gandhi was given a rousing reception on his arrival at the AMU campus. He first drove to the grave of AMU founder Sir Syed Ahmad Khan to pay tributes.

The Aligarh Muslim University Teachers' Association, which also hosted a reception in his honour, described his visit as "historic" and called Gandhi "the modern face of Congress party in India."

AMU gets 8th Rank among Indian Universities

A study conducted by the National Institute of Science Communication and
Information Resources (NISCAIR) and published in Current Science, Vol. 96,
NO. 12, 25 June 2009 has ranked AMU as No. 8 among top 100 research
institutions in India.

For seeing the complete list Please follow the link "8th Rank of AMU" under the section "Other Links".