Aligarh Muslim University has become India’s first premier educational institution to encapsulate its 100-year old history in a time capsule for the  eternity.

The three-foot long capsule was entombed on the Republic Day in a 30-feet pit in the park in front of the historic Victoria Gate of AMU.

 A steel capsule weighing more than 1.5 tons is impregnated with printed sheets chronicling the story of university’s rise from a madrasa to one of the premier institutions of India in 100 years.

It has the stories about how its founder Sir Sayed Ahmad Khan managed to realize his dream; got 74 acres of land of an army camp from the British? The capsule has stories about and list of all chancellors of the University since its inception and also the invitees for its opening ceremony.

Not in digital format

AMU Public Relations Office said there are reasons for the history not being encapsulated in a digital format. “No one knows which technology will develop after next 10 years. If data is kept as pen drive, hard disk etc. then there is no guarantee that it will be used in future,” a spokesperson of the university told Awaz the Voice.

The University is in talks with talks with companies for keeping the history of AMU in a cloud that works through satellite technology.

 Sir Syed Ahmad Khan laid the foundation of MAO College on the 74 acres of military camp in 1877. King of Benares, Shambhu Nath, had attended the function.

History of AMU at a glance

• Sir Syed Ahmad Khan laid the foundation of the university in 24 May 1875 as Madrasa Tul Uloom with seven students.
• On 8 January 1877, Mohammedan Anglo Oriental (MAO) College was established in 74 acres of army cantonment.
• The then Education Member Sir Mohammed Shafi introduced a bill in the Imperial Legislative Council on 27 August 1920 to upgrade the MAO College to AMU.
• Council passed it on 9 September at 12 03 pm
• The consent of the Governor General was also obtained. Notification issued on 1 December - University came into existence
• The same day Raja Mahmudabad was appointed the first vice-chancellor
• The inauguration took place on 17 December 1920 at Stretchy Hall
• The centenary celebrations were held on 22 December to commemorate the completion of its 100 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses virtual celebrations