Topic No 03

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and Ali Garh Movement

Background Muslims Of India was woke up after the war of independence 1857. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan founded this movement. He started the Education, social, political and religious movement under his founder ship. This Movement is called the Ali Garh movement.

A Brief Life History Of sir Syed Ahmad Khan Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was born in Dehli on October 17,1817. In 1869 Sir Syed published his book “khutbat- e- Ahmedia” in reply to sir William Mior’s sub standard book “Life Of Muhammad”. In 1876, after his service, he settled in Ali Garh permanently.

In 1878, Viceroy of India lord Dalton nominated him the member of imperial council In 1888, Eden Borough University gave him the degree of L.L.D honorably. He died in 1898 in Ali Garh.

The Ali Garh Movement: In India from 1857 to 1859, total graduate Hindus were 715 while total Muslims graduate were 20. Sir Syed thought it necessary for Muslims to get modern education. That is way he started an educational movement to awaken the educational conscious among Muslims. Its center was Ali Grah. That’s way it is also called Ali Garh movement.

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan Took The Following Steps: Establishment Of Madrassa Muradabad: Establishment of Madrassa Ghazipur: Formation Of scientific Society: Issuance Of Ali Garh Institute Gazette: Anjuman-e- Taraqi -e- Muslalmaanan-E-Hind:

Establishment Of M.A.O College Ali Garh: Formation Of Muhammadan Educational Conference and Its aims: From M.A.O. College Ali Garh To Muslims University Ali Garh:

Establishment Of Madrassa Muradabad: In 1859, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan established a Persian school in Muradabad. In that school, along with religious education, Urdu, Arabic, Persian and English were taught.

Establishment of Madrassa Ghazipur: In 1862, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was posted to Ghazipur. Here also he established a school that is called Madrassa Ghazipur. In that school, along with Urdu, Arabic and Persian, English was taught as a compulsory subject. Later on this school was joined with Victoria High school after the posting of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan.

Formation Of Scientific Society: Sir Syed Ahmad Khan formed a Scientific society in Ghazipur in 1864. Basic purpose of this Society was to translate the English books and essays into Urdu for the common Indians. Due to the posting of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, it is society was also shifted to Ali Garh. That is way it is famous by Scientific Society Ali Garh.

Issuance Of Ali Garh Institute Gazette: On March 30,1866, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan published a weekly , Ali Garh Institute Gazette from Ali Garh. It had two aims: First: Finish the bay present between the Britishers and Indians. Second: work for the educational development of Indian Muslims. On one side of its page it was in Urdu and on the other side it was in English. In the beginning this Gazette was weekly but later on it was started to be published after every three days.

Anjuman-e- Taraqi -e- Muslalmaanan-E-Hind: In December 1870, on his arrival from England, Sir Syed formed an organization by the name of Anjuman -e- Tarqai - e- Muslimaan -e-Hind for the development of Indian Muslims. Its basic aim was to give the Muslims modern education so that they could cope with the British Hindu conspiracies.

Establishment Of M.A.O College Ali Garh: He formed a committee Muhammadan College Fund committee for the establishment of “Muhammadan Anglo oriental College. Aim of that committee was to collect money for the college and also to decide about location of the college. At last in 1875, Sir Syed established a School for the Muslims of India at Ali Garh by the name of M.A.O school.

On May 24, Sir William Mior Inaugurate the College formally On May 24, Sir William Mior Inaugurate the College formally. After two year it was given the status of college. This college was inaugurate by viceroy lord Bittin on January 8,1877. Uniform and extra curriculum activity were the quality of the college.

Formation Of Muhammadan Educational Conference and Its aims: Sir Syed Ahmad Khan made an organization in 1886 by the name of Muhammadan Educational Conference for the safety of Urdu and development of Muslims. Its first meeting was held in M.A.O College Ali Garh. In that meeting following points were made:

To teach the Muslims Western Education. To make efforts for the betterment of religious education in the English medium schools of Muslims. To give performance to eastern education and Islamite. To collect information about the conditions of religious school and to make efforts for their betterment.

From M.A.O. College Ali Garh To Muslims University Ali Garh: It was desire of Sir Syad Ahmad Khan that his College became a university. This dream could not be true during his life. After his death his son Syed Mehmood became the secretary of administrative Trust. He was a western type person so soon his post was taken back by him and was given to Nawab Mosin-Ul-Mulk.

After the death of Nawab Mosin-Ul-Mulk, Nawab Waqar-ul-Mulk became the secretary of the trust. After his Nawab Ishaq Khan became the secretary of the trust. Later on Sir Agha Khan took the seat. During his period in 1921, Muhammadan Anglo Oriental College was given the status of Muslims got their own education and Sir Syed ‘s dream came true.

Effects Of Ali Garh Movement: Development Of Western education: Establishment Of Islamic Educational Institute: Economic development Of Muslims: Political Leadership: Development Of Urdu Language: Role In Pakistan Movement:

Development Of Western education: Basic aim of Ali Garh Movement was to develop Western Education among Muslims. The movement succeeded very soon. It became the center of Muslim’s Education.

Establishment Of Islamic Educational Institute: Because of the positive effects of Ali Garh Movement Anjuman-e- Himayat -Islam formed Islamia High Schools in Punjab. Hassan Afandi formed Sindh Madrassahtul-Islam in Karachi and Sahibzaddah Abdul Qayum formed Islamia college Peshawar. Similarly many other educational institutes were formed throughout the country.

Economic development Of Muslims: Muslims started to get Western Education along with their Islamic education because of the movement. That is the reason that they could get government jobs soon. This help them to prosper economically.

Political Leadership Due to the Ali Garh Movement Muslims had leaders like sir syed Ahmad Khan, Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar , Maulana Shokat Ali, Nawab Mehdi Khan, Nawab Waqar Ul Mulk and Ishaq Khan. They all helped in the formation of all India Muslim League on December 30.1906 in Dhaka from where Muslim Made Pakistan.

Development Of Urdu Language: Sir Syed Ahmad Khan developed his full life for the Muslims of India. After him Nawab Mohsin Ul Mulk formed different organization for this purpose. Because of these steps Urdu developed a lot. modern Urdu Literature was produced which became on integral part of Islamic civilization.

Role In Pakistan Movement: In the Pakistan Movement the role of Ali Garh students is very important. The graduate of Muslim University Ali Garh, on the appeal of the Quaid-e Azam, closed their books for some time and demanded for Pakistan. This produced such a desire in the hearts of Muslims that they went for their separate homeland.

Negative effects Of Ali Garh Movement: Most of the teachers of Ali Garh University were Britishers. That was the reason that it was not possible to keep the students safe from western civilization. They did not prove themselves as good Muslims. Sir Syed himself said: “I am astonished the people who get education became civil and worst nation instead of good”

Comments: Actually, the Ali Garh Movement was for the educational, literal political and social development. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was not only its founder but was also its leader. If Sir syed not made this movement, Muslims would have been the slaves of Britishers and Hindus for ever so it is true to say that Muslims got western education because of Ali Garh Movement. They united themselves.

In short this movement gave a new strength to the Muslims Of India. Its introduced Islamic culture and civilization and hence played an important role in the creation of Pakistan.

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