Sir Syed Ahmed Khan (1817 –1898) and Aligarh Movement

1. Introduction
Syed Ahmed Taqvi known as Sir Syed (‘Sir’ is his title, as he was knighted by the British Govt.)
was born into a prestigious family of Delhi and spent his childhood in and around the Mughal
Court. He studied Arabic and Persian and also studied the work of Shah Wali Ullah. He was
endowed with the qualities of head and heart, pen and mind. His views and deeds resulted into
a forceful movement known as Aligarh Movement.

2. Challenges after War of Independence 1857

After 1857, Muslims of India were a wretched lot. The British had blamed Muslims for mutiny
and tried to enfeeble them in a way that they could not rise again. This fact was also
acknowledged by Nehru and he said, “The heavy hand of British fell more heavily upon Muslims
than Hindus.”

3. Strategy & Objectives of Sir Syed

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan made education, the corner stone of his strategy. He erected the whole
super structure on education. As his biographer, Graham wrote that his motto was: “Educate,
Educate and Educate.”

Following were the objectives of Sir Syed:

a) To remove misunderstanding between the British and the Muslims

b) To keep Muslims away from agitational politics
c) Protection of the rights of the Muslims and their interests

4. Services of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan

A. Educational Services
Sir Syed paid attention to the modern education of the Muslims. He thought that Muslims
would lose social prestige and advancement without education. He realized that British had
come to stay in India and it was not possible for Muslims to overthrow them. Therefore, He was
against any agitational politics, and tried to divert Muslim energy towards education. He
provided a number of institutions for the purpose of education:
1. Muradabad Madrasa 1859
 2. Ghazipur Madrasa 1862
3. Scientific Society Ghazipur 1863. More than 800 books on different subjects were
translated by this society in Urdu.
4. Committee Khastgar e Taraqqi e Musalmanan e Hind 1870
5. Muhammadan Anglo Oriental (MAO) High School 1875
6. This School turned MAO College 1877, and Muslim Aligarh University in 1920 after death
of Sir Syed
7. Muhammadan Educational Conference 1886

It was the magnetic personality of Sir Syed that attracted around him a number of
intellectuals like Mohsin-ul-Mulk, Waqar-ul-Mulk, Shibli Nomani, Theodore Beck, Syed
Mahmood etc.
B. Social Services
Sir Syed brought about great social reforms through his journals and writings. Tehzib-ul-Ikhlaq is
a good example of this. He himself was inspired by the British Journals like ‘Tetlor’ and
‘Spectator’. Sir Syed, through his writings, tried to awaken the social consciousness against the
prevalent ills of the society. He wrote forceful articles against prejudices, superstitions,
dogmatism and conservatism.

C. Political Services
Sir Syed began a policy of rapprochement between the British and the Muslims. In ‘Asbab-e-
Baghawat-e-Hind’ (The Causes of Indian Revolt), he bravely blamed the British for the mutiny
(War of Independence). He wrote the book, ‘Loyal Muhammadans of India’ in which he
highlighted the services and contributions of those Muslims who remained loyal to the British
during the War of Independence (1857). He also wrote “Tareekh-e-Srkashi-e-Bijnor.” He tried to
remove the bitterness between two religions. He wrote, “Tabeen-ul-Kalam”, which was
interpretation of the Holy Bible. In this book, he wrote that Bible was divine book and tried to
bring commonalities between Bible and Quran. Sir Syed received appreciation from the British
and Aligarh College received huge grants from the Government. For the preservation of Muslim
identity, he took the following steps:
i. He advised Muslims not to join Congress, because agitation was not in favor of the
Muslims, and Congress was dominantly a Hindu party.
ii. He provided Muslims with certain forums to raise their demands e.g., Muhammadan
Educational Conference, British-Indian Association, India-Patriotic Association.
iii. He used the word ‘Qaum’ for the Muslims.
iv. During Hindi-Urdu controversy, Aligarh resolutely defended Urdu.
 D. Religious Services
Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was a devout Muslim. He tried to bring Muslim unity through religious
unity and harmony. He wrote famous book, “Khutbat-e-Ahmadia” in rebuttal to the allegations
of William Muir’s book “The Life of Muhammad.” Sir Syed translated “Khutbat-e-Ahamadia” in
English.

Another religious service of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan is that he attempted to synthesize religion
and science. He believed that there was no contradiction between the ‘Word of God’ and ‘Work
of God’. By ‘Word of God’ he meant Quran and by ‘Work of God’, he pointed to the application
of Quranic laws in the universe.

5. Conclusion
The enormity of Sir Syed’s contribution cannot be denied. Aligarh movement stood also a
movement of ideas and changed the Muslims’ social, political and cultural outlook and led to
the Muslim renaissance.

Sir Syed’s / Aligarh Movement was educational in nature and national in

character. Discuss.
The Aligarh Movement was a push to establish a modern education system for the Indian
Muslims. Sir Syed made the education the corner stone of his strategy. As his biographer
Graham wrote that his motto was , ‘educate, educate, educate’.

It was the great notion of the visionary mind of Sir Syed that every Muslim should have in his
right hand the education of Holy Quran, and in the left hand the scientific education, and on
forehead the Kalima.

Sir Syed thought that Muslims would lose social prestige and advancement without education.
He also believed that Indian Muslims’ dilemma laid in ignorance, and the following institutes
were established:

1. Muradabad Madrasa 1859

2. Ghazipur Madrasa 1862
3. Scientific Society Ghazipur 1863
4. Committee Khastgar e Taraqqi e Musalmanan e Hind 1870
5. Muhammadan Anglo Oriental (MAO) High School 1875
6. This School turned MAO College 1877
7. Muhammadan Educational Conference 1886
8. MAO College turned Muslim Aligarh University 1920
Aligarh Movement’s objective was to prepare the Muslims to serve the Qaum (nation), and also
to supply educated, honest and public spirited leaders who could work with the British Govt.

In beginning Sir Syed was in favor of vernacular education, but in later years he believed that all
Muslims would receive English and occidental education. He also employed his journals and
magazines for this purpose.

Thus one may easily come to the point that basically the Aligarh Movement was educational in
nature.

The other aspect of the Aligarh Movement is that it was national in character.

Sir Syed wanted that Muslims should get a position of respect in a Hindu dominated society. He
took many steps for the revival and betterment of Muslims. He tried to remove bitterness
between the two but later realized that they were different nations. He had said that Hindustan
was a bride and Hindus and Muslims were her two beautiful eyes. But, on the eve of Hindi-Urdu
Controversy, he became disappointed.

The Aligarh Movement also gave the Muslims the consciousness of separate identity. Sir Syed
advised the Muslims not to join the Indian National Congress. He provided the Muslims with
other platforms to raise their voice. Aligarh Movement also saved Urdu. Sir Syed established
Urdu defense Society in Allahabad. He also introduced new trends to Urdu literature. He used
and popularized the simple writing style. He gave the reason for the use of simple language in
these words: if the house of a person is on fire, he will not search for beautiful or heavy words.
Rather he will cry in simple words, save, save. Same is the situation of Hindustan now.

Aligarh Movement tried to normalize the relations between the ruling British and Muslims. It
also demanded separate electorate for Muslims so that they can choose their own
representatives on their own. Sir Syed also demanded quota in jobs for Muslims.

Muslim University Aligarh provided such prominent Muslim political leaders as: Molana
Muhammad Ali Johar, Molana Shokat Ali, Molana Hasrat Mohani, Zafar Ali Khan, Molvi Abdul
Haq, Liaquat Ali Khan, Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar, Khaleequzzaman and Khwaja Nazimuddeen.

It is also mentionable that Muslim League was born in one of the sessions of Muhammadan
Educational Conference. Aligarh became the intellectual center for the demand of Pakistan. It
was said that Quaid e Azam fought the battle for Pakistan in the playgrounds of Aligarh.

All this was done to preserve the separate nationalism of the Muslims. Thus it is also proved
that Aligarh Movement was national in character.
 The cult of loyalty Sir Syed advocated, was it whether useful or harmful?

1. Introduction

Sir Syed Ahmed Khan realized that British had come to stay in India and it was not possible for
Muslims to overthrow them. Therefore, he was against any agitational politics and asked the
Muslims to keep away from the Indian National Congress. He regarded the Congress as an
unnecessary organization and considered it harmful for the interests of the Muslims. He
thought that the Congress was dominated by the Hindus, and Muslims had no place in it. He felt
that the Muslims can protect their economic and political interests through exposure to
western education and English language. In fact all the influential government posts and
business opportunities were linked with the western education. Therefore he asked the
Muslims to show loyalty to the British who would take care of Muslim interests.

2. Sir Syed’s Strategy

Sir Syed was extremely unhappy about the position of Muslims in the Subcontinent. He
believed that Muslims had to accept that the British were there rulers and could only improve if
they have a positive approach towards them. They needed to accept the British idea and their
education if they wanted to improve. His aims were:

i. To improve relations between the British and Muslims by removing the British doubts
about Muslim loyalty and Muslim doubts about the British intentions.

ii. To improve the social and economic position of Muslims by encouraging them to
receive Western education and take up posts in the civil service and army.

iii. To increase their political awareness to make them aware of the threat from the Hindu
policy of cooperation with the British.

3. Negative Impacts of this Strategy

i. It laid stress on modern education and gave less consideration to Islamic education
because thinking of Sir Syed at that time was that the solution of all problems Muslims
was that they should equip with modern education.

ii. It focused only on short-term goals like jobs, education etc. I H Qureshi also opines that
Aligarh Movement was meant for short term objectives and it ignored long term
objectives.

iii. Uncritical acceptance of the Western values couldn't provide firm foundation for
nationhood.
iv. English language became dominant in the whole education system.

v. It calmed the Muslims instead of making them rise against the British. In this way, it
delayed the freedom. Thus, it suppressed the spirit to struggle against the British
occupiers.

vi. Slavish mentality was the most negative impact. The generation loyal to the British
could think only of their personal interests.

4. Conclusion

The British were the colonizers and looters. They did not deserve loyalty. Sir Syed’s strategy
increased their hegemony. Their political hegemony is gone, but the Intellectual hegemony of
the British still continues.