Syed Ahmad Khan

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, KCSI, born Syed Ahmad Taqvi on October 17, 1817 – died March 27, 1898, commonly known as Sir Syed, is an Indian educator and politician, and an Islamic reformer and modernist.

Sir Syed pioneers modern education for the Muslim community in India by founding the Muhammedan Anglo-Oriental College, which later develops into the Aligarh Muslim University.

His work give rises to a new generation of Muslim entrepreneurs and politicians who compose the Aligarh movement to secure the political future of Muslims of India.

In 1842, Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar II revives upon Syed Ahmad Khan the title of Javad-ud Daulah, conferred upon Syed Ahmad’s grandfather Syed Hadi by Emperor Shah Alam II in about the middle of the 18th century.

The Emperor adds to it the additional title of Arif Jang.

The conferment of these titles is symbolic of Syed Ahmad Khan’s incorporation into the nobility of Delhi.

Born into Muslim nobility, Sir Syed earns a reputation as a distinguished scholar while working as a jurist for the British East India Company.

During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, he remains loyal to the British and is noted for his actions in saving European lives.

After the rebellion, he pens the booklet Asbab-e-Baghawat-e-Hind (The Causes of the Indian Mutiny) — a daring critique, at the time, of British policies that he blames for causing the revolt.

Believing that the future of Muslims is threatened by the rigidity of their orthodox outlook, Sir Syed begins promoting Western-style scientific education by founding modern schools and journals and organizing Muslim entrepreneurs.

Towards this goal, Sir Syed founds the Muhammedan Anglo-Oriental College in 1875 with the aim of promoting social and economic development of Indian Muslims.

One of the most influential Muslim politicians of his time, Sir Syed is suspicious of the Indian independence movement and calls upon Muslims to loyally serve the British Raj.

He denounces nationalist organizations such as the Indian National Congress, instead forming organizations to promote Muslim unity and pro-British attitudes and activities.

Sir Syed promotes the adoption of Urdu as the lingua franca of all Indian Muslims, and mentors a rising generation of Muslim politicians and entrepreneurs.

Prior to the Hindi–Urdu controversy, he is interested in the education of Muslims and Hindus both; this is the period in which Sir Syed visualizes India as a beautiful bride whose one eye is Hindu and the other Muslim.

Due to this stance, Sir Syed is regarded as a reformer and nationalist leader, but there is a sudden change in his policies after the Hindi–Urdu controversy.

His education and reformist policies become Muslim-specific and he fights for the status of Urdu until his last breath.

In Pakistan, he is hailed as the father of Two Nation Theory and one of the founding fathers of Pakistan with Allama Iqbal and Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

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