In the preparations to give back the land leased by Aligarh Muslim University to the descendants of King Mahendra Pratap, the famous historian Professor Irfan Habib has said that despite being close to him, Raja Mahendra Pratap never told him that he had given any land to Aligarh Muslim University. This matter is between the taker and the giver.
A 90-year-old Professor Irfan Habib has said that in 1962, he helped Raja Mahendra Pratap in contesting Parliament election. He and his father Prof Habib had good relations with Raja Saheb, but he never mentioned anything like giving land to the university. He said that as far as taking and giving land is concerned, there must be some documents of a lease. Those who have given should be having some papers.
This matter is between the taker and the giver. Professor Irfan Habib said that Raja Mahendra Pratap was a student at Mohamadan Anglo Oriental College.
After that, he moved to Kabul in 1914 and after World War II, he came back to India a few days before independence in 1946. In this way, King Mahendra Pratap spent a large part of his life outside the country. Now, when the process of giving and taking land took place, he cannot say anything about it.
Former Vice President of AMU Student’s Union, Mr. Nadeem Ansari said that AMU alumnus Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh has always been the pride of the university. Hundreds of students passed out from this school on their given land who have served the country and the world. This cycle will continue in the future as well. Now if their descendants are asking for this land, then once again they should think about the great man and his motive which he had thought 100 years ago.
The student leader of AMU, Mohammad Shikoh said that Raja Mahendra Pratap also sacrificed his life and property to this country and society. Today their descendants are asking for accounts. Can his descendants bring back the golden years of the Raja Mahendra Pratap’s life, which he had endured away from this country?
City school started in 1928
Along with the preparations to return the land of the City School ground at Banna Devi of Aligarh Muslim University to the descendants of King Mahendra Pratap, several other issues have also started. There is nearly five and a half bigha land behind the tehsil that worth crores of rupees currently. The property department of the university is engaged in an in-depth study of the provisions of the lease for this land. The city school was established in 1928 at this place where some people are estimating the lease period till 2027. University administration is engaged in studying all these.
Nehru's associate Khwaja contributed to the establishment of the school
Jawaharlal Nehru's colleague Abdul Majeed Khwaja of Aligarh, who studied with him in Cambridge, has also been played an important role in the establishment of the Aligarh Muslim University's City School in Banna Devi. The school was started by Maulana Bahadur Ali in 1889 as Anjuman-e-Islamia Primary School. In 1919, it was established as the city branch of Mohammedan Anglo Oriental College. The school was moved to the existing building at Banna Devi in 1928.
7 years ago, won the lease ownership lawsuit
7 years ago, Aligarh Muslim University had won the lawsuit in the High Court on its lease on 5 and a half bigha land of City School. After this, University spent lakhs of rupees to build its boundary wall. Earlier, the Municipality had made its own garbage dumping yard here.
