October 17th marks the celebration of Sir Syed’s Day, an occasion observed to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. His multifaceted personality and varied skills made him a key figure in many spheres as he was associated with journalism, education, social reform, and historical interpretation, among other disciplines.
Early Life and Career of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan
Born into a family with close ties to the Mughal court in 1817, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan served the British administration prior to the 1857 revolt. His endeavors in the field of writing led him to pen a pamphlet known as “The Causes of the Indian Revolt”, providing his perspective on the reasons behind this historical uprising.
Sir Syed Ahmad Khan: The Revered Educationist and Social Reformer
Perhaps most notably, Sir Syed is remembered for revolutionizing educational opportunities for Muslims. Recognizing that advancements for Muslims could only be achieved through modern education, he initiated the Aligarh movement. His contributions to social reforms demonstrate his support for democratic principles and free speech, along with his stand against religious intolerance, ignorance, and irrationality. He voiced his criticism of purdah, polygamy, and easy divorce in society. Through the magazine Tahzebul Akhlaq (Social Reformer in English), which he founded, he aimed to raise public awareness about pertinent socio-religious issues.
Perspective on National Movement
During his later years, Sir Syed urged Indian Muslims to refrain from participating in the National Movement. He believed the community needed education over politics, leading him to inadvertently fuel communal and separatist tendencies.
Aligarh Movement: Transforming Muslim Community
The Aligarh Movement, initialized by Sir Syed, aimed to reform the social, political, and educational aspects of the Muslim community. The initiative sought to modernize Muslim education by adopting English as a learning medium and Western education, rather than focusing solely on traditional teachings.
To facilitate this, Sir Syed established the Scientific Society in Aligarh in 1864. Its primary goal was to translate Western works into Indian languages, preparing Muslims to welcome Western education and fostering scientific temperament among them.
Sir Syed’s publication, The Aligarh Institute Gazette, served as an organ for the Scientific Society. He went on to establish the Muhammadan Anglo Oriental College in 1877, designed on the pattern of Oxford and Cambridge universities. This institution later expanded into the renowned Aligarh Muslim University.
The Aligarh Movement did more than just instill Western education values in the Muslim community; it also helped with their revival by introducing a common language — Urdu.