“Social Integration of Minorities is Key to Prosperity and Stability of any
Nation,” Says Prof. Ibrahim Alladin
Hyderabad, January 23, 2025:
The third Extra-Mural Lecture at
Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) shed light on a critical global
issue، the “Challenges of Social
Integration of Minorities in Multicultural Societies: Policies, Practices and
Implications”. The lecture, organized jointly by the MANUU Law School and the
Department of Sociology, was delivered by Prof. Ibrahim Alladin, a renowned
academic and former Professor at the University of Alberta, Canada، currently serving as a Visiting
Professor at the Department of Sociology MANUU. Prof. Alladin shared insights into
the historical, political, and social challenges faced by minority communities
worldwide.
Speaking at the Moot Court Hall of
MANUU Law School, Prof. Alladin traced the emergence of minorities to major
historical events such as colonization, migration, slavery, indentured labor,
and world wars. He explained that minorities often arise in two distinct
contexts: one where external populations outnumber and dominate indigenous
communities, and the other where historical displacements create minority
groups in new lands.
Highlighting the global relevance of
the issue, Prof. Alladin noted, “The integration of minorities is not an
issue restricted to any particular society but is a global challenge. The social
inclusion of minorities is essential for the stability and prosperity of
nations.”
Drawing comparisons between
multicultural societies, he stressed that countries like India having a vast
diversity and legacy of multicultural societal fabrics can not afford
to the social integration of the minorities
through the segregation of France or assimilation of USA rather the approach in India lies in the model of
accommodation, based on the mutual respect of the communities similar to
Canada, He stressed that understanding
the unique experiences of minorities is important for cultivating harmonious social relationships to strengthen the social fabric in a multicultural
framework like India
Prof. Alladin also addressed the
role of international organizations in advocating for policies that protect
minority rights and ensure their full participation in society.
In his chair remarks Prof. Tabrez Ahmad highlighted the strong
secular values embedded in India’s Constitution, which stands for unity in
diversity. He pointed out that the legal framework of India is built on the
idea of multiculturalism and ensures respect for the rights of religious,
linguistic, and minority groups, especially through Articles 29 and 30. The
establishment of Aligarh Muslim University and Maulana Azad National Urdu
University are key examples of how India supports religion and the
linguistic minority community in India.
"In his introductory remarks,
Dr. Hilal Ahmad drew the audience's attention to the issues faced by India
as a diverse and multicultural society. He drew attention to the fact that
India already has legal and constitutional provisions for integrating
its diverse communities. However, he raised the crucial question of what the
practical models for social integration should look like in the Indian
context."
The event saw enthusiastic
participation from students of law as
well as research scholars and faculty from across the university.
Prof. Alladin’s lecture provided
engaging and thought-provoking settings leaving the audience with an
understanding of policies to address the challenges faced by minorities in a
globalized world.
The lecture was chaired by Prof. Tabrez Ahmad, Dean and Head of MANUU Law
School. Dr. K.M. Ziyauddin, Head of the Department of Sociology, welcomed the
audience, while Dr. Hilal Ahmad from the Department of Sociology coordinated
the event. Dr. Tausif Ur Rahman,Asstt. Professor of Law delivered the vote of thanks.
