By TCN News,
New Delhi: A visit to the birthplace of great social reformer and founder of Aligarh Muslim University, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan in Delhi has forced an Indian-American to launch a movement for the acquisition and restoration of all places where Sir Syed lived or performed social activities.
Dr. Masarrat Ali, who lives in San Antonio, Texas, USA, made a visit to Sir Syed’s birthplace, now in ruins, in Delhi’s Daryaganj locality on 5th Jan. 2012. He was shocked to see that even the nameplate of a road after Sir Syed was removed and the place was turned into a public urinal.
“Sir Syed’s birthplace house in Darya Ganj, Delhi sits on a road that has been named Sir Syed Road. There was an official name plate “Sir Syed Road”. The plate has been removed and its place has now been converted to a “Public Urinal”. How shameful…for Aligarians and for India as a Nation,” said Dr. Ali.
After the visit he launched an online campaign to demand restoration of the places attached to Sir Syed.
“I have started this cause after visiting Sir Syed’ birthplace in Delhi in ruins,” says Dr. Ali. “Our mission is to acquire and restore all places in Delhi, Aligarh, Ghaziabad etc where Sir Syed lived or performed social activities. They should be declared as ‘Indian National Heritage Sites’,” he further says.
Contrast to this treatment to the great reformer in India, Dr. Ali pointed out, Britain has preserved a place in London where Sir Syed lived for 7 months during his trip in 1869. He called upon Aligarians and Indians to get united for the cause of preservation of Sir Syed’s places in India.
“Sir Syed stayed at Goodenough House in London for 7 months during his trip to England (1869). The house bears the plate “English Heritage” and that Sir Syed lived here. How Aligarians and Indians treated Sir Syed’s birthplace? Converting the historic site to an ‘animal house’ and the street bearing his name to a ‘Urinal’! There is a limit to our patience. It is time for us to unite,” Dr. Ali said.
Link:
http://www.causes.com/causes/647612