The Aligarh Alumni Association, Washington, DC, founded in 1975, is a non-political, non-profit, tax-exempt, charitable, educational, social, and cultural organization for the alumni and well-wishers of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). The Association takes interest in the affairs of the University, runs a scholarship program to help selected meritorious, needy students, and organizes social, literary, and cultural programs.

The aims and objectives of the Association are to: (i) help AMU and its student body through scholarship and other programs; (ii) develop and strengthen a sense of community by organizing social projects and events; and (iii) promote cultural awareness through cultural and literary activities. Even if you have only visited the Aligarh Muslim University once in your lifetime, it remains with you forever. Wherever there are even a few Aligs, they are quick to form an Association to reconnect to the Aligarh spirit, to rejuvenate old friendships, to renew acquaintances and to reminisce. The Washington Metropolitan area was no exception. In 1975 some Aligs painstakingly developed a list of alumni residing in the metropolitan area and organized a meeting in suburban Maryland. Within a few months this initial meeting led to the formation of the Aligarh Alumni Association of Washington, DC. The Association deviated from the traditional “Old Boys Association” label to eliminate gender bias and called itself the “Aligarh Muslim University Alumni Association” or simply the “Aligarh Alumni Association.” It is the oldest continuously functioning Aligarh Association in North America.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

• To serve the cultural, literary and intellectual needs of the South Asian community in North America and to nurture a sense of community

• To promote the concepts of the Aligarh Movement

• To develop leadership and team building skills

• To maintain contact with and help the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU)

SELECTED PROGRAMS:

• Annual Sir Syed Day Mushaira to promote an appreciation of Urdu literature. This program attracts the best poets worldwide and has facilitated the development of a literary network that now sponsors Urdu poetry symposiums in several cities of North America.
• Al-Beiruni Fellowships and other Scholarships for meritorious and needy students at the Aligarh Muslim University. Up to 70 scholarships are now awarded annually. Details are provided elsewhere.
• Muhammad Iqbal Lecture Awards (instituted in 1979) for outstanding western scholars of Indo-Islamic civilization
• Syed Ahmad Khan Awards (instituted in 1979) for distinguished Aligs
• The Aligarian, a newsletter for the community started in 1976 and is now published on the Internet
• Hosted Sir Syed Memorial lectures and seminars with administrators, academicians, literary figures and other prominent personalities
• Sir Shah Sulaiman Visiting Fellows Program (instituted in 1979) to arrange lectures at Aligarh by US based scholars who may be visiting India. This program has been expanded into a summer university and is now managed by the Federation of Aligarh Associations in North America.
• A Library program which has a collection of about 600 books to date.