Sir Syed Ahmad Khan—The Protagonist Of The Indian Sub-Continent
Teachings Of Sir Syed Become Ever More Important As False Narratives And Distortion Of History Are Peaking And Easily Passed On As A Norm
Main
Points:
1. Sir Syed
Ahmed Khan was a scholar par-excellence, educationist, social reformer, a
philosopher and certainly a saviour.
2. Sir Syed
Ahmed Khan 204th birth anniversary is being by his admirers and students of the
AMU as ‘Sir Syed Day’.
3. Alig
fraternity principally must revisit their role and every birthday of his should
be an opportunity for an honest introspection.
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By Javid Ahmad Ahange and Saadat Bilal Khaki
17 October 2021
Representational
Pic
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Syed Ahmad
Taqvi commonly known as Sir Syed Ahmed Khan (1817-1898) the founder of the
Mohammadan Anglo-Oriental College later Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) was a
scholar par-excellence, educationist, social reformer, a philosopher and
certainly a saviour. A complete review and nuanced understanding of his
intellectual services, patiently and sincerely, is beyond the capacity of this
article; however, it’s an attempt to understand his fundamental teachings on
his 204th birth anniversary which is being celebrated across the world by his
admirers and students of the AMU as ‘Sir Syed Day’.
As we are
celebrating his birthday at a time when false narratives and distortion of
history are peaking and easily passed on as a norm, the teachings of Sir Syed
become ever more important. His message was loud and clear to become
educationally sound and embrace science for a greater mental outlook and
broader vision; a lead to, safeguarding one’s social and political identity,
therefore, leaving lesser scope for distortion and diversions (as one of the
aspects). Apparently, these were the concerns and considerations that he went
onto lay the foundation of the school in Aligarh which later became University
under the pen name of ‘Oxford of the East’. It is because of his tireless
efforts and hard work that Muslims of the Indian Sub-Continent were able to
prepare themselves for the ‘Muslim Consciousness’ and it was in this backdrop
that the poet of the east, Dr. Sir Allama Iqbal described Syed in these
classical words: ‘The real greatness of the man (Sir Sayyid) 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.’
In the
aftermath of 1875 revolt when he wrote a pamphlet titled
Asbab-e-Baghawat-e-Hind (The Causes of the Indian Revolt). He explained the
reasons of the revolt from a native perspective. As he would write “Post-Ghadar
(revolt), I was not disappointed by looting of my house and loss of belongings.
I was disturbed due to the ruination of my Qaum…I gave up the idea of migration
and decided to struggle for the rebuilding of the Qaum.” As Munsif (Journalist)
by profession, Syed used his pen and writings for the social and educational
reforms. It was under him that the celebrated journal under the name of
Tahzeeb-ul- Akhlaq (Social Reformer) was founded. He was probably the first
intellectual to present the meaning of culture as it was prevalent in the West
in the 19th century. When defining the aims of Tehzeeb-ul-Akhlaq in its first
edition, he wrote: “The objective of issuing this journal is to persuade Indian
Muslims to adopt a complete degree of civilisation, meaning culture, so that
the hatred with which the civilised (cultured) nations view them should go away
and they may also be said to be [one of the] exalted and cultured nations of
the world.”
Sir Syed
Ahmed Khan
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He, in his
last message that is engraved on a big sandstone pillar in one of the
University Circle's says, “Oh my dear children, you have reached a particular
stage, and remember one thing that when I undertook the task, there was
criticism all around against me, abuses were hurled upon me, life had become so
difficult for me that I aged before my age, I lost my hair, my eyesight, but
not my vision. My vision never dimmed, my determination never failed, I built
this institution for you and I am sure, you will carry the light of this
institution far and wide, darkness will disappear from all around”. These lines
indeed best summarizes his philosophy and what he struggled for in his entire
life, essentially for the upliftment of Muslim Qaum by imparting
education, discipline and moral values for a prosperous Qaum.
What would
have been the response of Syed today? If he were alive, he would have
definitely launched a new movement of education for everyone as a communitarian
philosopher. As one of the authors put it: ‘He was a prosaic pragmatist who
made practical prescriptions for dragging his Qaum out of the
despondency, in which they had been wallowing. He had the insight to know what
had gone wrong, and pragmatism to suggest what was needed to be done’. The fact
is that we have completely forgotten the message and great legacy of Syed. Both
time and circumstances demand from us to revisit his philosophy and build a
society he dreamt of. That will be perhaps be the best tribute to this
legendary—Sir Syed Ahmad Khan—the protagonist of the Indian Sub-continent.
Of all, the
Alig fraternity principally must revisit their role and every birthday of his
should be an opportunity for an honest introspection–the blaze of the
celebrations should not blind us to the harsh realities. Syed breathed last on
March 27, 1898, and was buried in the premises of the Jamia Masjid of
University. His grave is covered with a sheet of green grass with a special
purpose. And the purpose is ‘the man who gave a new life’ to the uneducated
class by stressing upon them the ‘values of education and discipline’ who was
among harbingers of renaissance and continues to ‘serve nature even after
death’.
On 17th
October, 2021 – 204th birthday anniversary of Syed–the Aligs from Jammu &
Kashmir stand in unison with millions of Aligs across the world to pay rich
tributes to Founding Father of our Alma mater, Sir Syed, and his associates who
believed in him in those turbulent times when he was transforming his ideas
into actions. We are thankful to those great men and great women of the times
who stayed like a rock behind the visionary man and gave us the great seat of
learning which has transformed lives of countless people. This great son of
South Asia had renaissance potential for the future generations to come. And
because of his role he played; he has a permanent place in the history of the
Muslim world in general and Indian Sub-continent in particular.
Sham Darr Sham Jalaingay Teray Yaadou Kai
Chirag
Nasal Darr Nasal Tera Dard Numaya Hoga
Happy 204th
Birthday, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan! May your soul rest in peace and heaven, Aameen!
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Authors
are Kashmiri Aligs
Source: The Greater Kashmir
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/sir-syed-ahmad-khan-indian/d/125594
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