Syed Ahmed Khan and the Aligarh Movement - General Knowledge of Modern India

Syed Ahmed Khan and the Aligarh Movement - General Knowledge of Modern India

The most important movement for the spread of education and social reform among Muslims was started by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan (1817-1898 AD). He belonged to a family whose members were present in the Mughal court. He served the East India Company as a judicial officer and the revolt of 1857, in which the British rulers made Muslims their 'real enemy and most dangerous enemy' and followed a discriminatory policy towards them, they remained loyal to the British.

Read More History: Civil Disobedience Movement - General Knowledge of Modern India

1. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was very concerned about the pathetic condition of the Muslims and it became the aim of his life to lift them up from their backwardness. He worked tirelessly to end the feeling of hostility towards Muslims in the minds of the British rulers. 
2. He appealed to the Muslims to return to the original Islamic principles of simplicity and purity and advocated English education for the Muslims of India. Due to his excessive emphasis on science, orthodox Muslims got angry with him and he had to face opposition from him. But on the strength of his courage and wisdom, he overcame these obstacles.
3. In 1864, he founded the Translation Society, which later changed to The Scientific Society. This society was based in Aligarh and published translations of English books on science and other subjects into Urdu language, as well as an English-Urdu paper to spread liberal ideas related to social reform. He advocated the elimination of many social prejudices responsible for the backwardness of the Muslim community.
4. His biggest contribution was the establishment of the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College in Aligarh in 1875.  Over time it became the most important educational institution for Indian Muslims. It provided education related to humanities and science subjects entirely in English medium and many of its teachers also came from England. 
5. The college received support from prominent Muslims across the country and the British also expressed their interest in the development of this college in every way.
6. The Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College, which later became the Aligarh Muslim University, enriched the generations studying there with a modern outlook.
7. The Muslim awakening movement affiliated to Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Mohammedan Anglo Oriental College was named Aligarh Movement. He opposed the activities of the Indian National Congress.
8. Like many other leaders of that time, he also believed that Indians were still not ready to take over the rule themselves and their interests could be best served only by remaining loyal to the British rule.
9. He, along with some Hindu and Muslim leaders, founded the Indian Patriotic Association to oppose the Congress and tried to prevent Muslims from joining the Congress. He emphasized the unity of Hindus and Muslims.