MARYLAND (TIP): The Aligarh Alumni Association, Washington DC, organized an Eid Milan Party on 6th May 2023 after a hiatus of over three years. The community could not meet in person due to Covid-related health regulations. The Eid Milan party provided an excellent opportunity to foster a feeling of community and friendship. It was a very well-attended event, with families coming from far distances.

The party was held at Bohrer Park, Gaithersburg, Maryland–a popular venue in Metropolitan Washington. The ballroom was beautifully decorated with colorful banners, balloons, ribbons, lanterns, and flowers, giving a festive look to the event. Excellent lighting and sound systems enhanced the overall ambiance of the party.

The program started with a recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by a welcome speech by the Association’s president, Ms. Aisha Azim Khan. She thanked and reminded the audience about the Eid Milan events the Association used to organize in the past, emphasizing children’s participation. It was considered important to familiarize children with our heritage, language, and culture. She was pleased to note that many of those kids are now adults, and some now contribute to the scholarship program.

The audience witnessed an emotional display of affection and love for their Alma Mater by alumni in a chorus rendition of the famous Aligarh AMU Tarana Yeh Mera Chaman Hai led by Masood Farshori.

The Emcee of the event, Afzal Usmani, briefed the audience about the history of the Association and its role in community building as well as doing charitable work, especially the scholarship program at Aligarh Muslim University, India. “The Association is a non-political, non-profit, tax-exempt, charitable, educational, social, and cultural organization striving for educational upliftment of deserving underprivileged students and to foster cultural values of the Subcontinent in North America,” he said. He also apprised the audience that AAA-DC took a bold step to change the name of Aligarh Old Boys to Aligarh Alumni Association. Another first begun by the Association was the establishment of International Mushaira in the Western Hemisphere. This annual mushaira tradition has continued for over four decades in the Metro Washington area, and other Aligarh Alumni in North America are organizing such events.

It was impressive and heart-warming to see the special recognition of the founding members of the Association. The Association was started in a meeting held in 1975 at the home of the late Mr. Tufail Ahmed. The founders present in tonight’s event were Dr. Abdullah, Mr. Azim Khan, Mrs. Aisha Khan, Mr. Tariq Farooqi, Mrs. Farzana Farooqi, and Mrs. Salma Ahmad (wife of Late Tufail Ahmad, founding president of the Association in 1975). In addition, the Association acknowledged current office bearers, the organizing committee, members of the core group, volunteers, and supporters of the Association.

It was pleasing to see the active participation of children under 14 in games arranged for them. Hafiz Salahuddin and Aminah received prizes as the winner and runner-up in these games.

There were several musical and cultural performances. Khursheed Bilgirami, Karamat Ali, and Mohammad Hamid entertained the audience with beautiful music singing everlasting songs and ghazals. Dr. A. Abdullah recited a poem on Eid and Masood Farshori recited Bekal Utsahi’s famous nazm Taj Mahal and Dlawar Figar’s humorous nazm Ishq ka Parcha in his style. The guests enjoyed a sumptuous dinner with a variety of dishes, including sewain (vermicelli)—a traditional sweet dish on Eid.
(Report by Afzal Usmani and Zafar Iqbal. Dr. Iqbal can be reached at raabta.india@gmail.com and 240-328-0162)