Task:01

Course Title:
Pak studies
Id:
086
Submitted To:
Erum Hanif
Submitted by:
Eman Fatima
 Sir Syed Ahmed Khan

Introduction:
Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was a prominent Muslim reformer, educationist, and statesman in 19th-

century British India. He is best known as the founder of the Aligarh Movement, which aimed to

modernize Indian Muslims through education and social reform. Born on October 17, 1817, in

Delhi into a family of Mughal officials, Sir Syed witnessed the decline of the Mughal Empire

and the rise of British power, which shaped his vision for Muslim progress in a

rapidly changing world.

ALI GARH MOVEMENT:-

Introduction:-
Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was a remarkable individual who left an indelible mark on the lives of
Indian Muslims. Born on October 17, 1817 in Delhi, he came from a family with deep roots in
the Mughal court.
As a young boy, Sir Syed was fascinated by the world of learning. He spent hours poring over
the Quran, science, and literature. His grandfather, Khwaja Fariduddin, played a significant role
in shaping his early education, teaching him mathematics, astronomy, and literature.
As he grew older, Sir Syed's passion for learning only deepened. He went on to make significant
contributions to various fields, including law, education, and politics. He worked tirelessly as a
junior clerk in the East India Company and later became a judge. During the Indian Rebellion of
1857, he showed remarkable courage and loyalty, helping to save European lives.
One of Sir Syed's most enduring legacies is the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College, which he
founded in 1875. This institution would later become the prestigious Aligarh Muslim University.
He also established the Scientific Society, which aimed to promote Western-style education
among Muslims.Sir Syed was a prolific writer and published numerous books and articles on
various subjects. His notable works include "The Causes of the Indian Revolt," "A Series of
Essays on the Life of Prophet Muhammad," and "Tafsir-ul-Quran," a commentary on the Quran.

Throughout his life, Sir Syed remained committed to fighting for Muslim rights, education, and
social reform. He firmly believed in the importance of Western-style education for Muslims and
worked tirelessly to promote it. His legacy continues to inspire generations of people in India,
Pakistan, and beyond. Here is the link of this information:-
https://aligarh.edu.pk/aligarh-movement/
Now we will discuss these aspects one by one.

Educational Aspects:-

The Aligarh Movement spearheaded by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, It was an Educational movement
which sought to help the Muslims in India especially those who witnessed a slump in terms of
societal and intellectual growth after the Mughals and after the 1857 uprising. There were several
notable educational developments which were part of the Aligarh Movement such as the
following:

Western Education For Indians

• Syed advocated for a well planned and organized western education system in order for
Muslims to be at par with other communities in British India.

• He also Globalized the British Empire seeking to learn the language and modern sciences in
order to get a job in the government.

• This could also be said to be a shift from the primary Islamic focused education.

Establishment Of Technical Colleges

• The Muhammad Anglo Oriental College (1875)

• This college was established in India in Aligarh Muslim University and was meant to imitate
British higher learning institutes Cambridge and Oxford placed western education in a western
society.

• It would go on to be an epicenter for Muslim intellectual and political revivalism in Indian

Nationalism.

• He further promoted education among Muslims by promoting the formation of schools and
educational societies in different parts of India.

Curriculum Reforms

• The Aligarh Movement offered a curriculum that fussuined Western sciences, arts and social
scienceswith Islamic studies.
• Amongst other subjects like Arabic, Persian and the Quran, students were exposed to modern
subjects like mathematics, history and political sciences.

• The aim of this amalgamation was to develop an individual’s personality who was religious as
well as worldly wise.

Advocacy for English Language

• Sir Syed was concerned with learning of English because it was a requirement for employment
in the government as well as in other forms of higher education in British India.

• He encountered opposition from some orthodox Muslims who regard English as a language of
imperialism, but Syed said the language barrier is what hinders the development of the people
hence it is a necessary evil.

Scientific Temperament

• Sir Syed Islamic Society was advised by him to adopt a logical way of reasoning through
education and more so, to accept science and technology developments.

• He also argued that western development is not against Islam since he was pro-science and
many misconceptions about Islam and western ideas have to cease.

Translation and Publication Efforts

• Sir Syed started translation projects aimed at providing the Muslims with modern knowledge
and other knowledge materials. He published literature in Urdu while translating the works of
Western scholars.

• He also established the Scientific Society of Aligarh in 1864 whose purpose was translating
English scientific and literary works into Urdu and publishing periodicals dissemination of
modern thoughts.
Educational Awareness
• The Aligarh Movement aimed at highlighting the significance of education to be able to
improve the social and economic status of the community. Sir Syed was involved in travels for
the purpose of collection of money and sensitization, whereby he encouraged the Muslim elite to
assist in the work of modern education.

Women’s Education
• Sir Syed focused on the education of the male gender, but the Aligarh Movement later on
roused subsequent movements for the education of the Muslim women.

• This aspect was carried on in the following years by activists like Sheikh Abdullah who was the
founder of Aligarh Girls’ School.

Impact on Muslim Society

• The Aligarh Movement contributed to the emergence of the Muslims who were educated and
were prominent in politics, administration and education.

• The Muslim graduates of Aligarh College were active members of the All Muslims League
based movements and other organizations in several spheres that later championed the political
rights of the Muslims.

Creation of Aligarh Muslim University 1920.

• The MAO College was transformed into the Aligarh Muslim University: which is now one of
the distinguished institution in India.

• A Muslim educational and cultural revival was in AMU, this was the way Sir Syed envisioned
it.

Conclusion
With regards to the Muslims, the educational reforms introduced by the Aligarh Movement
represented a radical departure from the norm, as they began to emphasize secular education
much more than Islamic education. This movement paved the way for the socio-economic and
political upliftment of the Muslims of India and their engagement in the wider processes
of British India.
Reference:-

Information obtained from “The Educational Philosophy of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan” by K.G.
Saiyidain (Ministry of Education, India, 1977).

Political Aspects:-

The Aligarh Movement that was initiated by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan during the later half of the
nineteenth century was an educational and socio-cultural reform movement within the British
India’s Muslims. However, it also had important political features that contributed to the history
and politics of the Indian subcontinent. The main concerns of the Aligarh Movement related to
the political are as follows:

Developement of Muslim Political Identity

• Sir Ahmad Khan advocated for the Muslim identity and culture to be retained in the Hindu
majority India.

• He also tried to persuade Muslims to stand up as a political and social group within the British
India.
Finding Allegiance to the British Government
• Sir Syed was of the opinion that need to nurture allegiance towards the British was key in
Muslims development as they had lost the economic and political power in the 1857 war.
• He claimed that the Muslims protecting their interests through collaboration with the British
would lead to political progress and growth opportunities for them.

Against INC

• Sir Syed argued that the Indian National Congress represented Hindu aspirations hence, he was
opposed to the Indian National Congress.

• He was also concerned that there would be a national political programme that would subsume
Muslims because of their small population and inferior economic status.

• This position then served as a very strong foundation for Muslim political nationalism.

The Rise Of Political Consciousness Of Muslims

• With the help of the Aligarh Movement, Sir Syed created a politically aware Muslim minority.
The students of Aligarh College (presently called Aligarh Muslim University) emerged as
prominent Muslim leaders who campaigned for the rights of Muslims.

• This consciousness of politics ultimately helped in the formation of the All-India Muslim
League in the year 1906.

Demand For Electrical Franchise By Muslims

• The Aligarh Movement provided an ideology, which justified the accusations for demands, for
instance, an electrical franchise separate for the Muslim community. This was based on the
premise that Muslims required special attention in the parliament of democracy which was
infested by Hindus.
The Concept Of Two Nation’s Theory

• Sir Syed on his part did not openly champion the thesis of the disintegration of India, but his
tendency to put more emphasis on the cultural, religious, and political isolation of Muslims
helped shape the of the two nation’s theory which became the philosophical basis of Pakistan’s
independence in 1947

Reformation Within Islam

• This movement helped in the spread of modern education and practical view towards religion
and politics and urged the Muslim community to take part in the politics of the day while moving
with time, yet remaining Muslims at heart.

Samoan Achievments with the British

Once again, we see Syed and the poprivliged class's followers having conversations with the
British ensuring that the Muslim people policies and governance. For this, they tried to influence
administrative decisions.“

Conclusion:-

The political traits of the Aligarh Movement proved crucial in defining the nature of Muslim
politics in British India. Its accentuated narrative of Muslim identity, political alienation and
allegiance to the British rule led to the later quest for a distinct Muslim homeland. This legacy is
a crucial aspect of the history of South Asia which continues to this day.

Reference:
I have taken information from the book
Information obtained from “Muslims in India: Political Awakening and the Aligarh
Movement” by S.M. Ikram (Columbia University Press, 1964).

Social Aspects:-
The Aligarh Movement spearheaded by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan consisted of major social
components which were focused on reformation of the Muslim community after it endured a
downfall on the political scene following the Mughal Dynasty and the 1857 War. The purpose of
Sir Syed was to reform the Muslim community’s apparent colonial inertia and stagnant progress
as well as its schisms that developed during the British Raj. Following are the primary social
objectives of the Aligarh Movement:

1. Promotion of Social Reforms

• He tackles the ingrained tradition and beliefs that were detrimental to the progress of the
Muslim community.

• Such was the vision of his engagement not only with the core Islam values but also with
scientific knowledge and change.

2. Advocacy for Modernization

• This required that the Muslims begin to practice hygiene, clothing, behavior and
sustenance appropriate to the current century.
 • Sir Syed did not undermine his religion while advocating for Muslims to blend into
contemporary society.

3. Unity Among Muslims

• There were difficulties that were exacerbated by the call from Sir Syed to the Muslims to
unify given their internal controversies on sects, language, and regions.

• This was so because he sought to unite Indians in their religion.

4. Change in Attitude Toward British Rule First and foremost, the British attitude is often
perceived as a barrier to the social and political advancement of Muslims.
• Sir Syed addressed Muslims since he required them to give up their animosity towards the
British.
• His goal was to obtain the right to or create the right conditions for achieving even greater
development in the areas of education, employment and societal development.
5. Role of Language (Urdu Movement)
• Muslims of India were made aware of their culture and language through the promotion of
Urdu as a language of culture and learning.
• The promotion of Urdu language as a medium of learning and communication has been an
important social and cultural feature of the movement.
6. Emphasis on Women’s Progress
It is worth noting that although Sir Syed was not an advocate of women’s education during his
days, his movement from the beginning can be regarded as a precursor to later attempts to
educate Muslim women.
• Women’s education reforms were set in motion by his followers for instance Sheikh Abdullah
which led to the foundation of Aligarh Women’s College.
7. Fostering a New Elite Class
The major goal of the Aligarh Movement was to produce a new class of educated Muslims who
would be socially aware, modern and change oriented to lead their people. Aligarh College
graduates became important people in different sectors and participated actively in the social,
educational, and even political development of Muslims.
8. Respecting One’s Faiths

• Not only striving for unity, Syed also worked towards respect for each other
among both Hindu and Muslim communities.

• He, however, understood the cultural disparity between the two groups and
encouraged the Muslims to retain their uniqueness.

9. Combatting Social Backwardness

• Sir Syed emphasized the need for Muslim communities to engage and strive for
progress while taking pride in their identity placing a strong emphasis on their economic social
plight.

• He encouraged skills acquisition and employment creation to favorably alter the

community’s conditions.

10. Scientific Society of Aligarh (1864)

• The establishment of the scientific society was a major endeavor whose express
purpose was the dissemination of new knowledge for the growth of the society.

• While, the society made the masses of Muslims to enjoy modern science and
technology by Western literature’s being translated into the Urdu language.

11. Attitude Towards Sectarian Divisions

 In an effort to unify Muslims, Syed tried to bridge the gulf between the different groups
such as the Shiites and Sunnis.

 He fought against sectarianism and was in the vanguard of the struggle for the unity of
the Muslims.
12. Promotion of Rationalism

•Understanding that improvement within society can be reached cordial angles, Syed thought
that reason and questioning can bring advancement.

- He wanted the Muslims to understand the teachings of Islam within the framework of the
present day concerns, showing them the importance of establishing an equilibrium between
tradition and reform.

Conclusion
The social history of the Aligarh Movement sought to change the Indian Muslims into a
contemporary and united community. Addressing social stagnation, encouraging modernity and
social cohesion, the movement provided an impetus for the realization of political and economic
revival of the community.
Reference:
Information obtained from “Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and the Aligarh Movement: A Historical
Overview” by Gail Minault (Oxford University Press, 1982)