On the long list of neglect in Bihar’s Seemanchal region, a notable example is the unfinished Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) off-campus in Kishanganj. More than a decade after its foundation stone was laid, the campus operates from a temporary setup with only one active course.
Many attribute this negligence to a belief that empowering Muslims through education could threaten the status quo. Critics argue that both past and present governments have shown a lack of commitment to uplift the region.
The Promise of Sachar and the Seemanchal Vision
The Sachar Committee Report (2006) documented the socio-economic conditions of Muslims in India, revealing stark disparities, especially in higher education. Muslim enrollment in universities was only 4%, despite the community making up 13–14% of the population.
One key recommendation was to enhance access to quality higher education in Muslim-majority or educationally backward areas through new institutions or off-campuses of central universities. Regions like Bihar’s Seemanchal, West Bengal’s Murshidabad, and Kerala’s Malappuram were specifically highlighted for needing educational infrastructure.
To address this, AMU was advised to establish off-campuses in these regions, aiming to offer undergraduate and postgraduate programs locally, thereby alleviating migration issues and increasing enrollment.
A Promise Made, A Dream Stalled
Between 2008 and 2013, the UPA government responded to this recommendation, approving centers in Malappuram, Murshidabad, and Kishanganj. State governments provided land—336 acres in Malappuram, 288 acres in Murshidabad, and 224 acres in Kishanganj. Initial optimism was high.
While Malappuram and Murshidabad campuses have since flourished, Kishanganj remains incomplete. After 2014, the BJP-led government deprioritized the project, citing procedural shortcomings in the original approval. The Kishanganj Centre of AMU (AMU-K) is still awaiting ₹125 crore from the central government, with only ₹10 crore released from a total sanction of ₹136.82 crore in 2014.
From Promise to Paralysis
Inaugurated in January 2014, the AMU-K project was halted following environmental objections raised by the National Green Tribunal, which referred the matter to the National Mission for Clean Ganga. Consequently, construction never commenced, and the centre continues to operate from temporary buildings at Haleem Chowk.
The foundation stone was laid by Sonia Gandhi during the UPA era, but funding ceased after the Modi government took office, despite ongoing reminders and protests.
A Campus That Could Change Seemanchal
The AMU-K campus was envisioned as a transformative project for the districts of Kishanganj, Katihar, Purnea, and Araria, serving a regional population of nearly one crore. It aimed to accommodate 25,000 students in this predominantly Muslim yet educationally backward area.
Kishanganj’s literacy rate stands at just 57%, lower than Bihar’s average of 64% and significantly below the national average of 74%. Initially, the centre offered two residential courses: a one-year B.Ed. and a two-year MBA; however, the B.Ed. program was discontinued in 2019 due to a lack of recognition from the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), leaving only the MBA program in operation.
Currently, 33 students are enrolled in the MBA course, with classes reflecting a strong academic faculty but lacking basic facilities compared to other AMU campuses, leading to occasional dropouts. Students have expressed hope for an expanded curriculum while highlighting the poor condition of the boys’ hostel.
Token Progress and Recurring Politics
While a 100-bed girls’ hostel has been constructed, critics describe this progress as mere “lip service.” The AMU Kishanganj project frequently resurfaces as an unfulfilled promise during Bihar’s 2020 and 2025 elections.
In contrast, the campuses in Murshidabad and Malappuram now thrive with nearly 1,000 students each, while AMU Kishanganj remains overlooked.
Bihar AIMIM State President and MLA Akhtarul Iman claimed that the negligence is deliberate, suggesting that the government fears educated Muslims who could gain empowerment. He criticized both the current and prior administrations for lacking sincere intentions to uplift the community.
Local residents share this discontent, believing that a completed AMU Kishanganj campus could have transformed educational opportunities for the region’s youth, where access to education remains a significant challenge.
As the state approaches the 2025 elections, the future of AMU Kishanganj remains a focal point, representing not just a neglected campus but also the broader issues of political commitment and community development.
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