Social revival &

educational awareness
in india by Sir syed
ahmed khan
 Sir Syed Ahmed Khan (1817-1898)

Key Question: How important was the work of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan to the development
of the Pakistan Movement during the 19th Century? [14]

Focus points: Specified content:

 What was his contribution to  His contribution to the education of
education, politics and religion? Muslims and the revitalization of
 How important was his ‘Two Nation’ their national consciousness: an
Theory? overview of his main educational
 What was the Hindi-Urdu works and their importance
Controversy?  An understanding of his social and
 How successful was the Aligarh political theory, and of its origins
Movement?  The impact of his work on Muslims
and the western world
 His relations with the British and the
Ulemas
 The reasons for the foundation of
Aligarh College
 His role in the Indian National
Congress and the Muslim League
 The meaning and origin of his ‘Two-
Nation’ Theory and the Hindi-Urdu
controversy
CAIE Exam Questions
1) Was the attempt to achieve a better understanding with the British the most
important contribution that Sir Syed Ahmed Khan made to the Muslim cause
during the nineteenth century? Explain your answer. [14]
2) Why did Sir Syed Ahmed Khan try to improve relations between the Muslims and
the British? [7]
3) Why did Sir Syed Ahmed Khan develop the Two Nation Theory? [7]
4) Which of the following was the most important contribution of Sir Syed Ahmed
Khan in restoring the position of Muslims in the Sub-Continent:
 Attempts to achieve a better understanding between the British and the
Muslims
 Education
 Politics
Explain your answer with reference to all three of the above [14]
5) Why did Sir Syed Ahmed Khan wish to develop a better understanding between
the Muslims and the British? [7]
6) Was the development of Western education system the most important
contribution of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan in developing the cause of Muslims during
the 19th century? Explain your answer. [14]
7) Were the educational developments the most important contribution of Sir Syed
Ahmed Khan in his attempts to improve relations between the Muslims and the
British? Explain you answer. [14]
8) Political beliefs of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan were more important than his other
beliefs. Do you agree? Explain your answer. [14]
Introduction

 He belonged to a wealthy Muslim family.

 He was skilled in Arabic, Persian, Mathematics and Medicine – He was a prominent
writer and scholar.
 Worked as a judge in Delhi.
 Wrote a book on archeology ‘Aathar-ul Sanadeed’.
 During the 1857 revolt, he saved the lives of British women and children in Bijnaur.
He refused to accept the gift (estate and money) from the British.
 Appointed as Chief Justice at Muradabad, Ghazipur and then Aligarh.
 He was knighted in 1888.
 Retired in 1876 and died in 1898.

Conditions of Muslims after War of Independence 1857

Economic - low income, worked as peasants, exploited by Hindu tax collectors, not qualified for
government jobs due illiteracy, manual workers like peons, labors etc.

Social - low social status due to lack of money, racial discrimination.

Political - lost political power after the end of Mughal Empire, blamed solely for instigating the
WOI, hardly any participation in government jobs, no political say in the government.

Educational hatred towards British education, focused on either religious education or learning

Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s Efforts

Aligarh Movement

Aligarh Movement is considered as ‘Muslim Renaissance’ that means an improvement in

economic, social political position of Muslims through spread of western education. It also
aimed at improving British Muslims relations to get benefits from the British. As a result the
Muslims benefitted.
1.Improving British Muslim Relations 2.Encouraging Western Education
3.Political Services/Increasing political 4.Social and Literary Services
awareness

1. Improving British Muslim Relations

Reasons:

i. Muslims were blamed for the War of Independence 1857 and the British carried out
harsh treatment towards Muslims. Hindus were considered as loyal and started
assisting the British. This opened up opportunities for them in the administration.
Muslims, on the other hand, lagged behind in all the fields. Sir Syed wanted to
correct this false view so that British should not take revenge from Muslims.
Moreover, to gain political favors from British, Muslim-British relations required
improvement.
ii. Muslims hated British due to the western culture and religion; they believed that
British would turn them to Christian. Christianity and western ideas were not in line
with Islam. Sir Syed wanted to correct this belief that was creating problems in the
progress of Muslim population. Due to this belief, Muslims closed all sources of
western education to them that affected negatively on their economic conditions
too. By creating better relations with British, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan wanted to
improve economic conditions of Muslims
iii. Sir Syed was aware of the fact that British rule was a reality and Muslims should
accept it. Improving British Muslim relations could open up opportunities in
employment and education for Muslim population. And he was right because in
later years British funded Muslim educational institutions and granted many political
favors to Muslims in Simla Deputation 1906 and Partition of Bengal 1905.
A. Convincing British.

 Writing a book ‘Loyal Mohammadans of India’ that gave a detailed account Muslim
services for the British.
 Wrote a pamphlet ‘Causes of Indian Revolt’ that blamed a British policy for the uprising
such as lack of participation of Indians in civil service, poor management of Indian army
and forcible conversion of Muslims to Christianity. This pamphlet was well circulated
and copies were sent to members of British parliament in England.
 Explained the word ‘Nadarath’ to British that means ‘a helper’ and not an enemy.

B. Convincing Muslims

 Corrected errors on a book written on life of Prophet by a British, proved his credibility
in the eyes of Muslims.
 Wrote a book ‘Tabayin-ul-Kalam’ pointed out the similarities between Islam and
Christianity.
 Convinced Muslims that western culture may not be against Islam.
 Established ‘British Indian Association’ to improve British Muslim communication.

2. Encouraging Western Education

Reasons:

 Hindus started learning English language and western education much before Muslims;
they projected themselves as loyal to British and gained favors from them.
 No entry into government jobs without learning English language.
 Muslim education system revolved around religious knowledge, Persian, literature etc.
No modern subject like sciences technology and social sciences were taught. Hence,
they could not complete with changing world.
 Western education would have helped improve economic status of Muslims and they
might regain their lost respect
 Educational Services
 Convincing religious Ulemas that learning western education was not against Islam.
 Set up Urdu journal called ‘Tehzib-ul-Akhlaq’ to develop a new approach towards
education.
 In 1863, a Scientific Society at Ghazipur was founded that translated scientific work into
Urdu, Persian or Arabic. It helped to spread modern education.
 In 1866, he issued a journal ‘Aligarh Institute Gazette’.
 In 1869, he opened a school at Muradabad.
 In 1869, he travelled to England and visited Oxford and Cambridge Universities. He
started with setting up a school at Aligarh that was a blend of western and religious
education.
 In 1875, Mohammadan Anglo-Oriental School was set up. In 1876 it was raised to the
status of Mohammadan Anglo-Oriental College and in 1920 to Aligarh University.
 In 1886, he set up Mohammadan Educational Conference to raise educational
standards of Muslims. It held conference across the country which attracted famous
orators and writers.

Impact of educational services

a. Produced a number of educated Muslims such as Liaquat Ali Khan, Ayub Khan who
played an important role in later Pakistan Movement.
b. Many Muslims qualified for government jobs and had a say in political decision-making.
c. Present day education system of Pakistan is based on Sir Syed’s ideas, a blend of
religious and western education. Also, Muslim renaissance in India was achieved.

3. Political Services/Increasing political awareness

Reasons

 To gain a respectable status for Muslims in society.

 Muslim should be able to understand the intentions of Hindus and British.
 To gain political representation for Muslims.
Political Services

 In order to increase political awareness, efforts were made to Improve British Muslim
Relations.
 Writing a book ‘Loyal Mohammadans of India’ that gave a detailed account Muslim
services for the British.
 Wrote a pamphlet ‘Causes of Indian Revolt’ blamed British policy for the uprising such
as lack of participation of Indians in civil service, poor management of Indian army and
forcible conversion of Muslims to Christianity.
 Asked Muslims not to join Indian National Congress formed in 1885 as it turned out to
be a Hindu dominated body to protect the rights and interests of Hindus only.
 Opposed political representation on the basis of Western Democracy; that meant rule of
majority or rule of Hindus.
 Criticized Competitive Examination System which selected candidates for government
jobs on merit. Muslims were far behind than Hindus in the field of education. In order to
apply this system, equal education opportunities should have been provided to all.

TWO-NATION THEORY
Reasons for introducing
a. Pro-Hindu Policies of Indian National Congress harming the interests of Muslims. He
wanted Muslims to have their separate political ideology for the protection of their
rights. He refused to attend its meeting and organized an alternative body, United
Patriotic Alliance that became Mohammadan Defence Alliance in 1893.
b. Hindus and Muslims were two different nations on the basis of their culture, religion,
language, way of life etc.
c. Attitude of extremist Hindus was very offending for Muslims.
d. Hindi Urdu Controversy in 1867 that showed the enmity of Hindus towards Muslims.

During the last days of the Muslim rule, Urdu emerged as the most common language of the
northwestern provinces of India. It was declared the official language in 1825. In 1867,
 some prominent Hindus started a movement in Banaras in which they demanded the
replacement of Urdu with Hindi and the Persian script with the Deva Nagri script as the
court language in the northwestern provinces. The movement grew quickly and within a
few months spread throughout the Hindu population of the north western provinces of
India.

This situation provoked the Muslims to come out in order to protect the importance of the
Urdu language. The opposition by the Hindus towards the Urdu language made it clear
among the Muslims of the region that Hindus were not ready to tolerate the culture and
traditions of the Muslims.

The Hindi-Urdu Controversy had a great effect on the life of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. Before
this event he had been a great advocate of Hindu-Muslim unity and was of the opinion that
the “Two Nations are like two eyes of the beautiful bride, India”, but this movement
completely altered his point of view. He put forward the Two-Nation Theory, predicting that
the differences between the two groups would increase with the passage of time and the
two communities would not join together in anything wholeheartedly.

Social and Literary Services

 Writing of magazine ‘Tehzib-ul-Akhlaq’ to raise moral standards of Muslims.

 Bringing a revolution in Urdu literature by writing with a purpose of reforming Muslim
society.
 He wrote Asar-us-Sanadid in 1847. This book contained classic archaeological account
of the monuments and environs of the pre-colonial city of Delhi.
 He wrote a book Tabyin-ul-Kalam to point out the similarities between Islam and
Christianity.
Evaluation, Analysis and Judgment related to Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’ Efforts for the uplift of
Muslim society
In my opinion, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan contributed to a great deal in restoring the position of
Muslims in the sub-continent after the WOI. His efforts consisted of:
 Improving British-Muslim relations.
 Focusing on western education for by launching the Aligarh Movement.
 Providing guidance to Muslims regarding politics after the formation of INC in 1885. He
advised Muslims them not to join INC because it only protected the interests of Hindu
population. It also demanded western democracy that means Hindu majority would
dominate Muslim minority in India. Moreover, competitive examinations for
government jobs which again ensured the benefit for the Hindu population who were
more advanced in education than Muslims.
All these efforts were equally valuable in restoring economic and political status of Muslims.
However, focusing on western education helped Muslims a great deal in improving their
relations with the British. Learning English language bridged the communication gap between
British and Muslims. Learning western education also helped to raise social and economic
status of Muslims. It opened up job opportunities for the Muslim population and revived
separate political identity of Muslims. As a matter of fact, Muslim community moved towards
modernization and scientific progress due to the efforts of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan.