Aligarh Muslim University to start in Kerala soon

Aligarh Muslim University's (AMU) special centre in Kerala is finally taking off in Malappuram district and advertisements are already out for its MBA and law courses starting soon, officials said Sunday.

Malappuram district has the largest number of Muslims in the state. The central government had sanctioned five AMU special centres in the country, and only Kerala and West Bengal had taken the lead in doing so.

V. Sasikumar, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) legislator from Perinthalmanna, said the AMU coming to Kerala had finally become a reality. The centre is coming up at Chelamalla near Perinthalmanna.

"The last date for applications to the two courses (MBA and LLB) is next month and classes would start by the year end or early next year. Initially classes would be held at the temporary campus near here, where all facilities including the hostels are ready," said Sasikumar.

In Kerala, there was much confusion over the location with Congress ally Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) keen to have it near Panakkad, the headquarters of their party. But the Left government was keen to see it set up in Perinthalmanna, also in Malappuram district. They took the lead and have now got full possession of 350 acres of land at Chelamalla.

The central government has sanctioned Rs.200 crore for setting up the centre and the main campus would be ready in five years. Once completed, the campus will have courses right from pre-school to even a full-fledged medical college.

"The state government will set up all the basic infrastructure for the centre, including the temporary campus for which the state will have to spend close to Rs.100 crore," said Sasikumar.

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan in 1875 founded the Muhammedan Anglo-Oriental College, which later developed into the Aligarh Muslim University. Apart from Murshidabad in West Bengal, the university has also decided to establish centres in Pune, Kishanganj in Bihar and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh.