Diya Sameer
On 22nd September 2025, a public meeting titled “Constitution aur Hum” was held in Saharanpur by Mission Ummid, a partner organization of the Peace Centre of the Centre for the Study of Society and Secularism (CSSS). Irfan Engineer, Director of CSSS, attended the gathering as the chief guest and delivered the main address.
Mission Ummid works among Muslims with an Ambedkarite perspective on social justice, emphasizing the inclusion and reservation of backward classes within the Muslim community. The group draws inspiration from Abdul Fareedi, an icon representing social equality and anti-fundamentalist thought. As Engineer explained, Mission Ummid’s efforts aim to strengthen awareness of equality, justice, and rights among marginalized groups.
The event saw around 100 participants from Saharanpur and surrounding districts, including Lucknow. For Mission Ummid, it was somewhat of a launch program, introducing its constitutional approach to community members and stakeholders. Though the meeting was large and lively, Engineer noted that its deeper perspective-building purpose—to nurture community leadership under the Peace Centre framework—was partly achieved, while administrative follow-up would require separate meetings.
In his address, Engineer spoke on what the Constitution means for Muslims, minorities, and backward communities, stressing the centrality of equality and social justice. He also highlighted how Muslims could align their struggles with broader constitutional principles to ensure rights-based progress.
Other speakers included Kazmi, a long-time companion of Abdul Fareedi who continues to carry forward his legacy of social justice among new generations, and poet Nadeem Faruqi, who contributed through his poetry and reflections. Engineer shared that participants responded positively, engaging actively and seeking further guidance on the issues they could work on as an independent yet connected group under CSSS’s peace-building umbrella.
The meeting ended with enthusiasm from participants who expressed solidarity with CSSS’s vision of peace through justice. Engineer observed that their interest, discussions, and eagerness to build further cooperation reflected the growing partnership between Mission Ummid and the CSSS Peace Centre in Saharanpur, aimed at advancing equality, constitutional understanding, and community leadership.
