ALIGARH, September 25: The UGC Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Centre (MMTTC), Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), observed Hindi Pakhwada with a literary meet featuring renowned fiction writer and former IRS officer Mr S.M. Ashraf, who read his story “Lakad Baggha Chup Ho Gaya”.
The session was attended online by 118 university and college teachers from across the country enrolled in the Four-Week Faculty Induction Programme of UGC MMTTC, while 36 teachers participating in the two-week Subject Refresher Course in Teacher Education in physical mode attended the event at the Centre.
Welcoming the participants, Dr Faiza Abbasi, Director, UGC MMTTC, highlighted storytelling as an effective pedagogical tool. She underlined the teacher’s role beyond the transmission of information, particularly in developing an appreciation of diverse human experiences.
Before reading his story, Mr S.M. Ashraf explained its underlying idea, describing it as an exploration of animal instincts and animal characters within human beings and of the less accessible psychological spaces underlying human behaviour. He said his story forms part of a trilogy: “Lakad Baggha Hansa, Lakad Baggha Roya, Lakad Baggha Chup Ho Gaya”, in which the laughter, grief and silence of the hyena serve as metaphors for different dimensions of the human condition.
The reading was followed by a discussion led by Mr Ajay Bisaria, Department of Hindi, who observed that Hindi and Urdu have historically developed together as important vehicles of India’s composite culture and have reflected the experiences and concerns of the people of the subcontinent.
Prof. Abdul Rahim Kidwai, Course Coordinator, Faculty Induction Programme, said the UGC MMTTC has been making efforts to enrich the holistic learning experience of teachers participating in its programmes. He also highlighted AMU’s long-standing tradition of promoting literary engagement among its teaching-learning community.
Prof. Nasreen Mujeeb, Department of Education and Course Coordinator, Subject Refresher Course in Teacher Education, proposed the vote of thanks. Dr. Mushtaque Sadaf, Urdu Academy conducted the programme.
