 |
| SIR SYED AHMAD KAHN | |
|
|
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan: His Life And Contribution
By Azhar Mohammed K
http://www.ummid.com/news/October/20.10.2009/sir_sayyad_life_and_vision.htm
Take the main reference from the book and add quote and good points from the text
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan (1817-1898) was a great visionary, statesman and
Muslim reformer of the 19th century, the like of whom is rare. He wanted
to make the community and country progressive and take them forward on
modern lines. His supreme interest was intellectual development of the
people through modern 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. He was successful in making the
Muslims understand the importance of modern education and endeavour
their best to achieve it in order to stand on their own legs and live a
dignified life in accordance with Islamic thoughts.
Dr. Allama Mohammed Iqbal says:
`'Mubtalaayay dard koi azu ho roti hai aankh
Kis qadar hamdard saray jism ki hoti hai aankh''
(The eye weeps for the suffering of any and every part of the body, How sympathetic it is to the entire organism)
To the Muslim community Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was and is like the eye
which weeps for the suffering of any and every part of the body. The
sufferings of the community worried him. He took an oath to reform,
educate and empower the Muslim community and was successful to a great
extent in implementing it despite strong opposition from a section of
the Muslim community which hated the British and their language. Today
we can see the products of the Aligarh Muslim University adoring in
every field of activity in India and neighbouring countries like
Pakistan and Bangladesh. They have earned a name for the community and
country, thanks to the Aligarh movement.
Sir Syed's educational caravan reached everywhere including Tamil Nadu
from where I hail. It inspired and encouraged people to take to modern
education by establishing educational institutions.
BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD
Sir Syed was born on 17 October 1817 in Delhi. His family was highly
regarded by the Mughal dynasty. His maternal grandfather Khwajah Farid
was a `wazir' (minister) in the court of Akbar Shah II. His paternal
grandfather Syed Hadi held a `mansab' of the title of Jawwad Ali Khan in
the court of Alamgir II. Syed Ahmed's father, Mir Muttaqi was also
close to Akbar Shah but rejected the position and titles offered to him
due to his interest in mysticism. Perhaps he abhorred the way the
materialistic world functioned. He died when Syed Ahmed was about 21
years of age. Mother, Azizunnissa Begum was, however, a strong willed
woman of clearly defined principles. She showed extraordinary interest
in the education, character building and upbringing of her son. She was a
strict and God fearing lady.
EDUCATION
Sir Syed received his education under the old system prevailing at that
time. He learnt to read the holy Quran under a female teacher at his
home. After this, Maulvi Hamidud Din, became his private tutor. He
completed a course in Persian and Arabic, and later took to the study of
mathematics, which was a favourite subject of the maternal side of his
family. He later took interest in medicine and studied some well-known
books on the subject. At the age of 19 his formal education came to an
end but he continued his studies privately. He started taking a keen
interest in the literary gatherings and cultural activities of the city.
The passing away of his father left the family in financial
difficulties, and after a limited education he had no option but to
work for his livelihood. Starting as a clerk with the East India Company
in 1938, he qualified three years later as a sub-judge and served in
the judicial department at various places.
VISION
The supreme interest of Sir Syed's life was education in its widest
sense. He wanted to create a scientific temperament among the Muslims of
India and to make the modern knowledge of Science available to them. He
championed the cause of modern education at a time when all the Indians
in general and Indian Muslims in particular considered it a sin to get
modern education and that too through English language. He began
establishing schools, at Muradabad in 1858 and Ghazipur in 1863. A more
ambitious undertaking was the foundation of the Scientific Society,
which published translations of many educational texts and issued a
bilingual journal in Urdu and English. It was for the use of all
citizens and were jointly operated by the Hindus and Muslims. In the
late 1860s there occurred some developments that were challenges to his
activities. 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 publications of the Scientific Society convinced Syed that he
should do something. Thus during a visit to England (1869-70) he
prepared plans for a great educational institution. They were "a Muslim
Cambridge." On his return he set up a committee for the purpose and
also started an influential journal, Tahzib al-Akhlaq "Social Reform"
for the uplift and reforms of the Muslims. A Muslim school was
established at Aligarh in May 1875, and after his retirement in 1876,
Sir Syed dedicated himself to make it a college.
In January 1877 the Viceroy laid the foundation stone of the college. In
spite of opposition to Syed's projects, the college made rapid
progress. In 1886 Syed organised the All-India Mohammadan Educational
Conference, which met annually at different places to promote education
and to provide the Muslims with a common platform. Syed advised the
Muslims against joining active politics and to concentrate instead on
education. Muslims generally followed his advice and abstained from
politics. This advice is applicable even today. We have to concentrate
our attention more on education for the uplift of the backward Muslim
community. Many reports have clearly noted that the Muslims are
educationally and economically more backward.
Throughout his life Syed Ahmed Khan showed concern with how Indian
Muslims could adapt to intellectual and political change accompanying
Western rule. His first mission became reinterpretation of Muslim
ideology so as to reconcile tradition with Western education and
science. He argued in several books on Islam that the holy Quran rested
on a deep appreciation of reason and natural law and therefore did not
preclude Muslim involvement in scientific methodology. These themes,
mixed with a call for Muslim education, regularly appeared in his
journals, the Mohammedan Social Reformer and the Aligarh Institute
Gazette.
Syed Ahmed's ideas became institutionalized despite criticism from
theologians. In 1862 he formed a scientific society, and 13 years later
he assisted in establishing the Mohammadan Anglo-Oriental College, which
prospered and became the key intellectual center for Indian Muslims -
The Aligarh Muslim University. The success of the college was largely
due to his leadership and a curriculum embodying both Western and
Oriental studies.
CONTRIBUTION
Sir Syed's contributions for the betterment and empowerment of the
Muslims are great. His position in the judicial department left him time
to be active in many fields. His career as an author in Urdu started at
the age of 23. In 1847 he brought out an important book "Monuments of
the Great" on the antiquities of Delhi. Even more important was his
pamphlet "The Causes of the Indian Revolt". His interest in religion was
also active and lifelong. He wrote on the Life of Prophet Muhammad
(Sal-am) and devoted himself to write several volumes of a modernist
commentary on the holy Quran. In these works he explained how the
Islamic faith could go with progressive scientific and political ideas
of his time.
LITERARY WORKS
Sir Syed was a government civil servant and s scholar. The 1857 revolt
was a turning point in his life. The following are his important works:
1) `'ASARUS SANADEED'': It is an archaeological masterpiece
providing a wealth of information on countless historical monuments in
Delhi from the eight hundred long Muslim rule. This book was published
in 1847.
2) ``ASBAB-E-BAGHAWAT-E-HIND''- (The causes of Indian Revolt) This
book was published in 1859 after the 1857 revolt after witnessing the
atrocities committed by the British on the inhabitants of Delhi. He saw
an uncle, a cousin and an aunt dying before his eyes. He saved his
mother but she died due to privations she had experienced. Muslims were
the main targets of the government's wrath.
3) THE ALIGARH INSTITUTE GAZETTE - It was an organ of the
Scientific Society started in 1866. It made the people think and use
their wisdom.
4) `'TEHZIB-UL-AKHLAQ'' – It succeeded in making people realise
the value of modern knowledge. It also gave new directions to Muslim
social and political thoughts.
GOLDEN SAYINGS
1) Sons (of MAO college later AMU)) shall go forth throughout the
length and breath of the land to preach the message of free inquiry, of
large-hearted toleration and of pure morality.
1. Acquisition of knowledge of science and technology is the only solution for the problems of Muslims.
2. Call me by whatever names you like. I will not ask you for my
salvation. But please take pity of your children. Do something for them
(send them to the school), lest you should have to repent (by not
sending them)
3. We will remain humiliated and rejected if we do not make progress'' (in scientific field)
4. Get rid of old and useless rituals. These rituals hinder human progress.
5. Superstition cannot be the part of Iman (faith).
6. The first requisite for the progress of a nation is the brotherhood and unity amongst sections of the society.
7. Yes 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.
8. We (Hindus and Muslims) eat the same crop, drink water from the
same rivers and breathe the same air. As a matter of fact Hindus and
Muslims are the two eyes of the beautiful bride that is Hindustan.
Weakness of any one of them will spoil the beauty of the bride (dulhan)
9. We (Hindus and Muslim) have evolved a new language Urdu
10. I wish that youth of India should follow the example of young men
and women of England who are religiously engaged in the hard work of
industrial development of their country" (During the stay of Sir Syed in
England).
11. Look forward, learn modern knowledge, and do not waste time in studies of old subjects of no value.
12. Ijtihad (innovation, re-interpretation with the changing times)
is the need of the hour. Give up taqlid (copying and following old
values).
13. Do not show the face of Islam to others; instead show your face
as the follower of true Islam representing character, knowledge,
tolerance and piety.
14. We should not (by remaining ignorant and illiterate) tarnish the image of our able elders.
15. All human beings are our brother and sisters. Working for their welfare is obligatory for Muslims.
16. Remember that the words Hindu and Muslim are only meant for
religious distinction: otherwise all persons who reside in this country
belong to one and the same nation.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Sir Syed's greatest achievement was his Aligarh Movement, which was
nothing but an educational venture. He established schools at Muradabad
in 1859 and Ghazipur in 1863. He also founded a scientific society in
1864. When Sir Syed was posted at Aligarh in 1867, he started the
Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental School in the city. During his visit to
England in 1869, he studied the British educational system and
appreciated it.
Sir Syed wanted MAO College to act as a bridge between the old and the
new systems. His famous quote is that `'a true Muslims is one who must
have the holy Quran in one hand and the science in the other''. Today we
can see the Aligarh Muslim University offering different courses like
Medical, Engineering, Science, Arts, Management, Languages etc.
Sir Syed's aim was not just to establish a college at Aligarh but he was
interested in spreading education and empowerment among the people by
establishing educational institutions in every nook and corner of the
country. He, therefore, started an organisation called `'All India
Muslim Educational Conference''to achieve this goal. It motivated the
Muslims to open a number of educational institutions in India.
Although the Indian Muslim community has made some good progress in the
educational arena, still they have to go a long way to achieve the goal
that Sir Syed visualised. Only the vision and enthusiasm of Sir Syed
can help us - Muslims to improve our educational and economic
conditions further. It is,therefore, incumbent for us to revive the
Aligarh movement once again to make the people understand the value of
modern education fully.
I take this opportunity to request the Vice-Chancellor, Aligarh Muslim
University to start a movement and come to the rescue of the suffering
Muslim community in India. There is no point in blaming others. One
feels that the main cause for our backwardness is lack of education.
Education alone in the present context can empower us and nothing else.
We can create a modern Islamic society only by taking Muslims to modern
professional education like medical, engineering, teaching, management
etc. No options or short cuts at all. God has given the eyes to see and
mind to analyse. We must see what is happening around us and use our
intellect to arrive at a conclusion. This is what Allah wants us to do.
There is no point in toeing an outdated concept and blaming fate for
every misery. Dr. Allama Mohammed Iqbal's call should be taken seriously
and march forward. He has said beautifully in the couplet which we read
and hear quite often sometimes it echoes even in the Parliament but we
do not give serious thought to it.
Khudi ko kar buland itna ki har taqdeer say pahlay,
Khuda banday say khud poochay bata teri raza kya hai
(Raise your position so much that God himself may ask you `'tell me what is it that you want?'').
It echoes the holy Quranic strong dictate that we should endeavour to
achieve his rewards. In short we must develop a scientific temper among
the people as the holy Quran says in different verses. We are mainly
responsible for backwardness.
Sir Syed also brought out a journal `Tehzibul Akhlaq' and succeeded
in infusing a new desire amongst Muslims for acquiring modern knowledge.
Sir Syed finally reached to the conclusion that lack of education was the main cause of the backwardness of the community.
Sir Syed became successful in his mission and gave a firm foundation of
Aligarh College (Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College) which afterwards
became Aligarh Muslim University by an act of the government. It is
meant for all- Muslims as well as non-Muslim students. All live and
study here in a friendly and peaceful atmosphere. It has got a rich
cultural heritage, which is its special and inimitable one.
The intellectuals produced in large numbers by Aligarh Muslim University
served and continue to serve the country in various capacities. The
first graduate of this University was the great revolutionary Raja
Mahendra Pratap Singh. The late Dr. Zakir Hussain, former President of
India and Dr. Syed Mahmood were also Aligarh educated dignitaries. The
university has produced innumerable doctors, engineers, teachers,
scientists, poets, writers, journalists, etc.
EDUCATIONAL REVOLUTION
The Aligarh movement launched by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan influenced the
Muslims in the country, particularly in South India. The Souvenir
brought out on the occasion of the Centenary Celebration of Ambur Muslim
Educational Society on 4th September 2006 mentions as follows
inter-alia:
Sir Syed organised the Mohammedan (later Muslim) Educational Conference.
Its branches were established in cities and towns to report on the
educational needs of the community. This conference used to meet
annually at several important cities in the country and carried the
message of modern education far and wide.
The 5th session of the Conference was held at Madras in 1901 and set in a
brainwave all over the South. Like their brethren in other parts of the
country the Muslims of the Madras presidency were also antagonistic
towards the English education and therefore they were far behind their
other fellow countrymen in public service. Nawab Mohsinul Mulk Mohsinud
Dowla from Aligarh inspired the Conference with the saga of adventure
which Sir Syed has brought into being in the North.
On 16th December 1905 the Management of the Chowk Masjid madrasa which
was in existence then was taken over and later re-named as
Madrasa-e-Mazharul Uloom. Janab T.Abdullah sahib visited Aligarh,
observed the educational developments there and inspired by it prepared a
plan for a Muslim school in Ambur meant for all religions and
communities without any discrimination whatsoever. It was primarily his
aim to create for young Muslims a good institution for their
educational, cultural and social developments.
Many educational institutions came up in Tamil Nadu as a result of the
Aligarh movement. Today by the grace of Allah there are 11 (eleven) full
fledged engineering colleges and hundreds of Science and Arts Colleges,
Higher Secondary and Elementary Schools in difference parts of Tamil
Nadu. Many Muslim organisations like All India Islamic Foundation,
Sadaq Trust, The South India Education Trust, The Muslim Educational
Association of Southern India, Ambur Muslim Educational Society,
Vaniyambadi Muslim Educational Society etc. have been playing a very
important role in establishing institutions and imparting modern
education to Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
RATIONAL APPROACH
Muslims were in the forefront in the struggle for freedom. They suffered
a lot. Many Ulema (religious scholars) were hanged in Delhi and other
places. Sir Syed was worried. He was of the view that Muslims should not
be so vigorous in opposing the British at their own cost and ignore
everything including education and government placements.
Sir Syed wanted Muslims to have friendship with the British if they want
to take their due rights. He quoted the examples of other religious
communities benefiting from the government. While he tried his best to
convince the British that Muslims were not against them, he persuaded
the Muslims repeatedly to befriend the British to achieve their goals.
He also wrote many books and published journals to remove the
misunderstanding between Muslims and the British by writing booklets
like "Loyal Muhammadans of India" and "Cause of Indian Revolt". Sir Syed
asked the Muslims of his time not to participate in politics unless and
until they got modern education. He was of the view that Muslims could
not succeed in the field of Western politics without knowing the system.
He was invited to attend the first session of the Indian National
Congress and to join the organization but he refused to accept the
offer. He gave importance to the education of the Muslim community and
succeeded in it. His institutions such as the College and the Muslim
Educational Conference continued to influence intellectuals till this
day and will continue to do so in the years to come unhindered.
CONCLUSION
1) Dr. Allama Iqbal:
`'The real greatness of the man (Sir Syed) consists in the fact that
he was the first Indian Muslim who felt the need of a fresh orientation
of Islam and worked for it''
2) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehruji:
`'Sir Syed was an ardent reformer and he wanted to reconcile modern
scientific thought with religion by rationalistic interpretations and
not by attacking basic belief. He was anxious to push new education. He
was in no way communally separatist. Repeatedly he emphasized that
religious differences should have no political and national
significance.''
3) Mr. Inder Kumar Gujralji
`'Sir Syed's vision and his laborious efforts to meet the demands of
challenging times are highly commendable. The dark post 1857 era was
indeed hopeless and only men like Raja Mohan Roy and Sir Syed could
penetrate through its thick veil to visualize the Nation's destinies.
They rightly believed that the past had its merits and its legacies were
valuable but it was the future that a society was called upon to cope
with.
I offer my homage to Sir Syed for his vision and courage that withstood all obstructions both from the friends and the foes.''
This great visionary and reformer, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, whose relevance
is felt even today and who will always remain green in our memory
inspiring wise thoughts and absolute principles in the right Islamic
thinking passed away after a brief illness on 27th March 1898 and was
buried the next day in the compound of the mosque in the College. May
his soul continue to live in peace.
