BaKhabar, March 2012, Page-4 [RAHBAR University for Muslim Women proposed]

better light a candle than curse the darkness

RAHBAR University for Muslim Women proposed [http://university.biharanjuman.org/]

Let's establish an exclusive Indian University for Muslim Women

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, on his vision of Aligarh Muslim University, said:
I may appear to be dreaming and talking like Shaikh Chilli, but we aim to turn this MAO College into a University similar to that of Oxford or Cambridge. Like the churches of Oxford and Cambridge, there will be mosques attached to each College ... [reprinted in Aligarh Institute Gazette, April 5, 1911]
Allah says, “I am as My servant thinks I am. I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If he makes mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and if he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assembly better than it. And if he draws near to Me an arm’s length, I draw near to him a fathom’s length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed.” (Hadith Qudsi, Bukhari)

Your suggestions can make the concept more valuable. Pls do write to myrahbar@gmail.com
Proposal Highlights:
As a tribute to this child prodigy called Arfa Karim Randhawa ... ...
Proposing to establish an exclusive residential Indian University for Muslim Women. We are looking for some benevolent brother/ sister/ organization to donate sufficient land (100 acres, or more) anywhere in India, preferably within 25 kms of a railway station, and100 kms of an airport.
To start with, let's establish the following, with priority as listed (descending order):
1. B.Ed. college (adding M.Ed. later)
2. College of Pharmacy
3. College for paramedical courses
4. A Business School for BBA, then MBA
5. College for Islamic Studies (UG, then PG)
6. Engineering College
7. General colleges - Arts, Science, Commerce
8. Dental College
9. Medical College and hospital
However, since our vision is to have a women's university, and not just a cluster of colleges, land is of prime importance. We must have enough land from the beginning.
Note: Courses in the colleges may have to follow the syllabus of some open university wherein the students would register and take their exams to obtain their degree. We could become their examination centres; and if they allow, their accredited centre. This pattern would be followed until our own courses are approved by authorities.
Kankar pat-thar ki taamirein mazhab ka mafhoom naheiN
Zehnon ki taameer bhi kijiye gumbad aur mehrab ke saath
Desired Schedule for construction and launch of colleges:
The following desired schedule is an initial expression of what we desire. However, it is subject to change depending upon the desire of investors/ major donors, for each college, market conditions (feasibility study).
1. March 2012: Discuss with potential trustees, other than land-owners, to seek their consent to be included in the trust.
2. March-April 2012: Explore the regulatory environment for a university, and chart out a route for conducting the courses.
3. April-May 2012: Finalize the courses considering the regulatory environment for the university.
4. March-May 2012: Finalize a trust deed, in discussion with the land owners.
5. June-July 2012: Register a trust and land (in the name of trust) with 11 trustees, including 2 trustees from the land-donor’s family,
6. July-August 2012, after registration of trust, and land: Formulate an executive committee consisting of 7 members, to give shape to this dream project.
7. September 2012-March 2013: Boundary wall construction; finalize layout plans for all the colleges and hostels.
8. September-2012 to March 2013: Seek approvals for the construction, licence to operate, etc.

9. April - December 2013: construction of B.Ed. college and hostel, approval for B.Ed. college, approach other universities for bringing their courses to this campus, plan colleges and hostels accordingly.
10. College of Pharmacy by 2016, with hostel
11. College for paramedical courses by 2018, with hostel
12. A Business School for BBA, by 2021
13. College for Islamic Studies (UG, then PG), by 2021
14. Engineering College, by 2024
15. General colleges - Arts, Science, Commerce, by 2027
16. Dental College and hospital, by 2030,
17. Medical College and hospital, by 2035

Financing Mechanism:
A mix of for-profit and not-for-profit is proposed to make it a self-sustaining proposition. For this, fees would be charged at competitive rates.
(a) Donations to support the community's educational pursuits, and
(b) Investment money by muslims looking for return (profit)
Share-holding pattern: The ownership shares would be allocated for
Part A: Land's current value + Donations, and
Part B: Investments
Share-holding Structure: Each share of Rs. 50,000/= to be floated; Part-A also gets shares allocated like Part-B.
Disbursal of Profits: The profits earned from operations would be distributed like dividends. A cap on disbursing the dividends is proposed as follows:
1.    Initial 5 years (counted from first year of profitable operation): 100% profits to be invested back into the project.
2.    6th year to 10th years: 75% of profits would be invested back,
3.    11th to 20th year: 50% of the profits would be invested back into the university, for expansion.
4.    21st to 30th year: 25% of the profits would be invested back into the university, for expansion.
5.    30th year onwards: 100% of the profits would be disbursed as dividend to share-holders.
The donor's dividend disbursals would be used to award scholarship to muslim meritorious students who need financial support.
Important Note: Whether this kind of share-holding pattern would be permissible for the trust or not has to be explored; clauses in the trust deed should reflect this.