Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, the most influential…

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, the most influential Muslim politicians of his time, often voices demands similar to those made by the founders of the Indian National Congress—local self-government, Indian representation on the viceroy's and the governors' councils, and equal duties for Indian members of the Indian Civil Service and the judicial service.

Nevertheless, he remains aloof when the Congress is founded in 1882 and advises his Muslim followers not to join, because he believes the organization will be dominated by Hindus and will inevitably become antigovernment.

Sir Syed argues that education, and not politics, is the key to Muslim advancement.