Sir Syed’s faith in co-existence remained unshaken
Today, almost the entire world is celebrating the 200th birth anniversary of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan – renowned social reformer, educationist and founder of the Aligarh Muslim University.
AMU is such an esteemed institution, that its alumni have taken the light of the torch of Sir Syed to all corners of the world.
Even in the humblest manner, it can be asserted that if one finds Oxfordians or Harvardians all over the globe, then with equal ease, one can locate Aligarians in almost all countries of the world.
Sir Syed was a great scholar, educationist, pragmatist, philosopher, social activist, and above all a modernist. He walked on the earth till over a century ago, but his message is still alive and meaningful.
Born in a family respected for its noblest lineage and highest academic standards, Syed Ahmad Khan earned reputation as a distinguished scholar while working as a jurist under the British East India Company. He witnessed the havoc and aftermath of the first Indian revolt in 1857.
When gradually the fire got doused and the rule of the British was re-established, he was promptly back to his national duty. He had realised that the future of Indians, threatened by the rigidity of their orthodox outlook, was in dark. He planned to promote Western– style scientific education.
With an aim to study the system of education in England, he sailed to London in 1869 and stayed there for about two years. On his return, he decided to establish the college and university of his dreams. To achieve his goal, Syed Ahmad Khan, founded the famous institution at Aligarh in 1877, known as the MAO College, which later flourished into Aligarh Muslim University in 1920, 22 years after his demise. His sole aim was to promote modern, social, scientific and economic thinking among Indians and finally work for the all-round development of the country.
As per Sir Syed’s ideology, the new college was not to produce graduates who were to be mere bookworms or greedy for high posts in civil services.
He aimed at generating a new breed of future community leaders, who would dedicate their skill, intellect and energy, wholeheartedly, to the regeneration of the society and nation.
Sir Syed always paid attention to the well-being of his countrymen through various writings and public addresses. He drew financial and administrative support for his schools — later college — and scientific society, from both Hindu and Muslim elites. His faith in co-existence always remained unshaken. He kept open the doors of his school (later MAO College) to all communities.
The son of a prominent Hindu landlord, Raja Mahendra Pratap, was among the very first students of MAO College while the first graduate of the college was also a non-Muslim and there were many others also.
This tradition of liberalism has been maintained by his followers and today, apart from a good number of students at AMU being non-Muslims, a significant number of teachers and office-bearers is also drawn from among the majority community.
Sir Syed firmly believed in the unity of Muslims and Hindus and was interested in the education of both. He visualised India as a ‘beautiful bride, whose one eye was Hindu and the other, Muslim’.
Monthly journal ‘Tahzibul Akhlaque’ was established by him around 150 years ago. Since then it has been published, almost, consistently. Currently edited by Prof Sagheer Afrahim, an eminent author, academic and a seasoned teacher, the journal recently published its special issue devoted to Sir Syed’s non-Muslim contemporaries, including Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.
The special issue also explicitly refers to the non-Muslim admirers of Sir Syed. Among whom figure stalwarts like Pt. Nehru, Lala Lajpat Rai and Prem Chand. In fact, this special issue of the magazine is of historic value in itself. Today, the AMU, founded by Sir Syed, shines as one of the most prestigious academic institutions.