Because we are different.

Speakers ask Students Islamic Organisation to take inspiration from Arab Spring

2 December 2012

statesman news service

KOLKATA, 2 DEC: Renovation, reformation and revolution were three key words at the closing ceremony of the Students Islamic Organisation's (SIO) two-day nationwide Students Conference 2012, “Exploring Edutainment, Colouring Creativity”, held on Guru Nanak Sarani this afternoon.  

The ceremony was attended by around 2,000 people (in sns photo), following a weekend of drama, dance, music, mime and poetry competitions held at Moharkunj Park. Around 1,500 people entered the competitions, and the winners were awarded prizes after speeches.   

Chief guest and president of the Sri Lanka Islamic Students Organisation, Mr Ashraf Munshi, gave a rousing keynote speech to a crowd dominated by young men: “All over the world, Muslim youths have taken the responsibility of Islam on their shoulders to bring peace and justice for the world in the future,” he said.  

Speaking on the sidelines, SIO national president Mohammed Azaruddin said, “Young people today are not interested in social issues. Culture can be used as a weapon for social change, and for working towards a society based on peace, prosperity, equal rights, and without corruption.”  

Mr Azaruddin was keen to stress that the SIO Conference was not an exclusively Islamic event, and that it was attended by people from many different classes and religious backgrounds.  

Before the ceremony, an SIO rally marched from Alimuddin Street ~ where the Kolkata SIO office is located ~ to Guru Nanak Sarani, causing a ten-minute delay in northbound traffic.  

Marchers held up banners reading, “Say no to fascism”, “Education: The right of every Indian. Let them learn, stop discrimination”, and “Revolution does not let up. Learn from Arab Spring. Youth still blooms in the streets.”