sir syed ahmad khan 1817-1898

8/11/2019 Sir Syed Ahmad Khan 1817-1898

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Prepared By:Rizwan Javed

Q: What was the Aligarh Movement? [4]ANS: Sir Syed wanted to see the Muslims united and prospering. He made thisambition his life’s work and because so much of his effort revolved around a“Muslim renaissance” taking place in Aligarh, he is said to have founded “TheAligarh Movement”. The central aims of the Aligarh movement were to:

Improve relations between the British and Muslims communities by removingBritish doubts about Muslim loyalty and Muslims doubts about British intentions. Improve the social and economic position of Muslims by encouraging them toreceive Western education and take up posts in the civil service and army.

Increase the political awareness of the Muslims community in order to make themaware of the threat to their position from the Hindus policy of cooperation with theBritish.

Q: Why did Sir Syed Ahmad Khan wrote ‘The causes of Indian revolt’? [7]

ANS: Sir Syed was extremely unhappy about the position of the Muslims in theSub-Continent. Since the days of the Mughal Empire their social and economicstatus had declined sharply. The role of Muslims in the “War of Independence” hadled to further decline in their fortunes as the British took measures to ensure thattheir control would not be subject to further challenge.Sir Syed felt that the poor status of the Muslims was due to the way they weretreated as second class citizens by British and the Hindus, but that they also had totake some of the responsibility themselves. Many Muslims considered the Britishto be little more than invaders in India and wanted nothing to do with them. Sir

Syed believed that the Muslim community had to accept that the British were rulerswho intended to stay for many years. The Muslim’s position could only beimproved if they adopted a more positive approach to the British. They needed toaccept more British ideas and to take advantage of British education. If they didnot, the Hindus would continue to prosper because of their more cooperativeapproach.




the growth of western education was his most important contribution but he madeother contributions too.Sir Syed believed that the position of the Muslims in the Sub-Continent could only

be improved if the relations with the British were improved and Muslim gained

higher quality education. Sir Syed had realized that the Muslims were going downeconomically, socially and educationally. Muslims were sidelined because greatmistrust and suspicion had developed between the British and the Muslims. SirSyed made a two pronged effort to bring the British and Muslims closer. On oneside he advised the Muslims not to think of armed struggle because the British weretoo strong. He further advised the Muslims to pay attention towards receivingmodern and English education and also not to hate Christianity because there weremany similarities between Christianity and Islam and to sit and eat with Christianswas not forbidden in Islam.

On the other side, Sir Syed explained to the British that the Muslims were notresponsible for the war of Independence 1857. In the book he wrote for this

purpose (called the causes of Indian revolt), Sir Syed explained that the wrongBritish policies were the cause of uprising. He further explained that the British didnot understand the needs and desires of Indian people while making laws and

policies because there were no Indian members in Viceroy’s legislative council. Healso explained that the British Indian army was mismanaged and solders rose upagainst their officers. In another book Sir Syed described at length the loyalty of theMuslims to the British. Sir Syed also founded the “British Indian association” to

bring the British and Muslims closer.Sir Syed was successful in his effort and the misunderstanding was greatlyremoved. Muslims started coming towards English and modern education.Sir Syed Ahmad Khan guided the Muslims in political sphere as well. He advisedthe Muslims to keep away from congress and to put all their attention towardsacquiring education. He opposed Western type of democracy because it meant thatthe Muslims will always be in minority and will be at the mercy of Hindus.Muslims asked for separate electorate later on. Sir Syed also strongly opposed thereplacement of Urdu by Hindu in 1867. He always kept the interests of Muslimsupreme in his mind.Although, Sir Syed’s contribution towards improving relations between theMuslims and British and increasing political awareness was important but hiscontribution towards western education was very important contribution for theIslamic society. Because it helped the Muslims in getting jobs and it made theirstatus in the society.

sir syed ahmad khan 1817-1898

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