Political and Educational Contribution of Sir Syed

Sir syed and Aligarh Movement:
Effects on society:
This Aligarh Muslim University produced intellectuals in large numbers who served the country
in various capacities. It is a tribute to Sir Syed that the first graduate of Aligarh University was
the great revolutionary Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh. No one can forget persons like Dr. Zakir
Husain and Dr. Syed Mahmood, the products of Aligarh, who adorned the high offices of the
country.
Sir Syed wanted MAO College to act as a bridge between the old and the new, the East and the
West. While he fully appreciated the need and urgency of imparting instruction based on
Western learning, he was not oblivious of the value of oriental learning and wanted to preserve
and transmit to posterity the rich legacy of the past. He, therefore, decided to keep a fine balance
between the two. The College he founded was the visible embodiment of reason and progress.
It is high time that we realize the message of Sir Syed and the spirit behind the Aligarh
movement. Let us expand and propagate the Aligarh Movement for creating a modern society
with a scientific outlook.
Educational vision of sir syed:

As expressed by Sir syed:
'' The main purpose of this college (MAO) is to impart modern education to muslims who are
suffering because of lack of it; but this institution is for all, Hindus and Muslims alike, both of
them need education''
He was the first Indian Muslim to contribute to the intellectual and institutional foundation of
Muslim modernization in Southern Asia. Interest of community and country was dearer to him
rather than anything else.Education policy of Sir Syed had two main concerns. First, to educate
the shattered Muslim masses in western scientific education and the second, to produce law
abiding good citizen. It is due to that fact that Sir Syed emphasized on moral character , truth,
honesty and hard work. It is due to that Sir Syed had always opposed flattery , lethargy and
dishonesty .In fact the residential system was made compulsory to ensure that the students adopt
finer manners and move in the society in a responsible way with pride compounded by
knowledge. Not much time has passed when an Aligarh boy remained apart of others in any
company. He or she could be identified anywhere.
Another aim of Sir Syed`s education policy was to produce such citizen who may be aware about
their rights and about achieving those rights. This is very important in present socio political
scenario. We are all aware that India is a democratic nation and we have been bestowed upon by
certain rights. Hence to get those rights we must know them. We should also know how to
achieve them?
Political contribution:
Sir Syed pointed out in his Aabab-e-Baghawat-e-Hind that one of the big reasons behind revolt
was that Indians were not involved in the administration and judiciary. That impressed the British
and in 1862 for the first time an Indian Shambhu Nath was appointed as judge in the High Court.
Initially he was a proponent of hindu muslim unity : Sir Saiyad was a great champion of
Hindu-Muslim Unity. Addressing a big gathering at Gurudaspur on Jan. 27, 1884 He said:
Hindus and Muslims ! Do you belong to a country other than India ? Dont you live on this soil
and are you not buried under it or cremated on its Ghats ? If you live and die on this land, then
bear in mind, that Hindus and Muslims is but a religious word; all the Hindus, Muslims and
Christians who live in this country are one nation.
Disillunionment as regards hindu muslim unity stemmed from undu hindi conflict of 1867:
In 1867 the Hindus of Banaras presented a request to their government regarding the replacement
of Urdu with Hindi and its Persian script with that of Devnagri script. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan at
that demand remarked that when even the language of a nation is not safe at the hands of other
nations in a region, it would be unwise to continue living with them. So Sir Syed, who was in
fact a great advocate of Hindu-Muslim unity prior to that incident, started focusing on the cause
of Muslims alone. His Scientific Society Gazette presented articles on the importance of Urdu.
Similarly, some Muslim newspapers like Noor-ul-Absar and Banaras Gazette also took the
responsibility to safeguard their language.
The anti-Urdu process continued when in 1871 the Lt. Governor of Bengal G. Cambell banned
Urdu in the province at all levels, courts, administration and even schools. This boosted up
Hindus in other regions like NWFP, Punjab, Behar, U.P, Sindh, and Oudh etc. to counter Urdu
there. Meetings were held of the Hindus in which thousands of them signed memorials
supporting the cause of elimination of Urdu. In 1882 during the visit of Hunter Commission, a
commission formed by the English government to analyze the spread of modern English
education in India, Hindu organizations again tried to attack Urdu. They held meetings with its
chairman, Dr. Hunter and tried to force him to admit Urdu as the foreign language and to
promulgate Hindi, the native language, for educational purposes. But in this mission they
remained unsuccessful due to the constant efforts of Sir Syed and his comrads.
Stance upon the formation of congress in 1885:
Sir Syed also increased the political awareness of Muslims in the Sub-continent. At first he
believed in Hindu-Muslim unity but later resolved to the two-nation theory. in 1885 the Indian
national congress was set up and it claimed to be the body of every Indian regardless of religion.
However it later proved to be functioning only for the Hindus and tried to eradicate the Muslims.
The Congress made three demands:
1. political representation according the population. This obviously meant Hindu
domination as they were a dominant majority in India and Sir Syed opposed it.
2. Appointment in government should be by competitive examinations. Sir Syed opposed
this because he knew that the educational standards of the Hindus was much better than
the Muslims.\
3. The next official language should be Hindi replacing Urdu. Urdu had a special place in
the Muslim hearts and Sir Syed opposed this. This demand was accepted by the British.
Sir Syed was critical of the proposals of the newly-formed Indian National Congress, and feared
both the marginalisation of Muslims and domination of the national discourse by the Bengali
Hindus, the countrys most educated community. His political mobilisation of the Muslim elite
ultimately led to the formation of the All India Muslim League after his death.
In 1867 he was transferred to Benares, a city on the Ganges with great religious
significance for Hindus. At about the same time a movement started at Benares to replace
Urdu, the language spoken by the Muslims, with Hindi. This movement and the attempts to
substitute Hindi for Urdu onvinced Syed that he should do something
Conclusion:
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan played a vital role in improving the Muslim status. He worked tirelessly
to restore relatiojns between the Muslims and the British. He brought the Muslim revival through
the Aligarh movement and showed the importance of education. He brought about the Twonation theory and is hence known as "The Father of The Pakistan Movement"

Political and Educational Contribution of Sir Syed

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What were Sir Syed Ahmed Khan's main concerns regarding education policy?

How did Sir Syed Ahmed Khan's views on Hindu-Muslim unity change over time?

Sir syed and Aligarh Movement:

Educational vision of sir syed:

Stance upon the formation of congress in 1885:

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