In order to resolve energy crisis and to cater to ever growing energy needs of the country the Central Government will launch Solar Mission on November 14 and Aligarh Muslim University may also set up a separate Department of Renewable Energy, said Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy while speaking at Sir Syed Commemoration Meeting.

He said that the government will launch a solar mission to mark the birth anniversary of Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru. Our country imports petrol, oil, coal and millions of rupees are spent on it but enormous resources of solar and wind energy remains unused. The government has decided to tape these natural resources and Aligarh Muslim University can play an important role in setting up renewable energy department. The country will produce 20000 megawatt electricity through solar energy by 2020, he added.

Paying rich tribute to Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, the most seminal figure in the 19th century India, Dr. Abdullah said, "Sir Syed was fully committed to the well-being of his countrymen and for him caste, creed and religion had no meaning. If Sir Syed's Ideals of large hearted tolerance and peaceful co-existence are adhered to, regional differences will disappear. At political level SAARC countries emulate European Union model and use their resources on the well-being of people".

Dr. Abdullah asked AMU students to concentrate on achieving excellence in every walk of life and they should work towards shaping the destiny of India. He asked the students to zero in on what is coming in their way and hoped that AMU will produce a Nobel laureate.

On this occasion, AMU Chancellor and retired Chief Justice of Supreme Court Justice A. M. Ahmadi conferred the prestigious Sir Syed Ahmad Khan International Award-2009 in the field of Life Sciences on eminent scientists and researchers and AMU alumni, Prof. Syed Zahoor Qasim and Prof. Obaid Siddiqi for their remarkable contributions in Marine Biology and Molecular Biology respectively. The winners of the All India Essay Writing Competition on "Sir Syed's Vision and Mission: Relevance in the New Millennium" were also awarded prizes by the Pro-chancellor Nawab Rahmatullah Khan Sherwani.

Welcoming the guests from all parts of the globe, the Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis said that the University is on resurgent track. The University has been able to get Rs. 185 Crores for various development initiatives during the XI Plan. The Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College has been declared for upgradation at a cost of Rs. 150 Crore. The Government of India has sanctioned Rs. 50 Crore for starting two special Centres of AMU in Wes Bengal and Kerala. A residential Civil Services Coaching Academy at a cost of Rs. 14 Crore is to start soon. The Schools under the AMU are on a modernization drive. The University is expecting support to the tune of Rs. 85 Crore for creating facilities including appointment of 120 teachers, badly needed at these Schools.

He announced that the Aligarh Muslim University has the 8th Rank among the Indian universities in terms of research publications. The Government of India has granted a sum of Rs. 9 Crore for the promotion of advanced research in the University.

Prof. Azis said that the AMU believes that it has a role to play in making quality education accessible to people in different parts of the country. In response to the status of backwardness brought out by the Sachar Committee, the Aligarh Muslim University has decided to establish 5 special Centres of the University: Murshidabad in West Bengal, Katihar in Bihar, Malappuram in kerala, Pune in Maharashtra and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. The Government of India has been graceful in approving the idea and allocated Rs. 50 Crore as a token grant to start these Centres during the current year.

The Vice Chancellor said that the Deans of various faculties of the University have been requested to initiate consultations with Faculty members for preparing e-lessons and e-learning tools. He said that the Controller of Examination is working on the possibility of making online submission of admission forms, online counseling, online admissions, online internal assessment and online University examinations.

The commemoration programme was conducted by AMU Registrar, Prof. V. K. Abdul Jaleel and the Dean, Students' Welfare, Prof. M. Zubair Khan proposed the Vote of Thanks. Apart from the alumni from all over the world including Pakistan and Tanzania, the programme was attended by the diplomats of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Libya. Earlier in the morning the recitation of the Holy Qura was organized at Jama Masjid and a flower bed was laid on Sir Syed's grave by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis. Later an exhibition of Sir Syed's books and photographs was inaugurated by the Vice Cahcellor at Sir Sye Academy.