By Dr. Shakeel Samdani
On the 195th birth anniversary of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan it is the demand of time to analyze the current scenario with the remembrance of yesteryears. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was the product of defeat of nationalist forces in 1857 at the hands of British which resulted in misery to Muslims. Presently also the socio-political scenario is almost the same. Muslims are standing on the crossroad and they must adopt the philosophy of reconciliation of Sir Syed. Just recalling past will not empower us in any way. Let us recall Sir Syed’s contribution to Muslim’s uplift and implement that in the present crisis laden Muslim society.
Muslim Society in the late 18th Century presented the sad spectacle of degeneration and frustration. Ignorance and traditionalism had shaken the very foundation of the community. The socio-religious movement launched by Shah Waliullah was the first ever attempt to awaken a sleeping community. The collapse of 1857 war against British occupation had left Muslims in a bewildering state. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan had appeared on the horizon of India in that backdrop. He decided to uplift his community and embarked upon a mission of regeneration and rejuvenation of suppressed Muslims.
Sir Syed battered that only Western education can empower them. Hence, he took up the task of setting an institution for the purpose. M.A.O. College was established in 1877 at Aligarh which later on became renowned Aligarh Muslim University. He summed up his educational philosophy in these words-“Philosophy will be in our right hand and natural science in our left. And the crown of, ‘There is no God but Allah’ will adorn our head”.
No doubt, Sir Syed had achieved an impossible goal in a short span of time. But beside education, Sir Syed’s ideas and ideals in some other fields also hold significant position. Often people overlook other aspects of his giant personality. He undertook rational social reforms also. He was die-hard secularist not only in letters but also in spirit. He was a nationalist who refused to surrender before British superiority.
Front page of Tahzeeb-ul-Ikhlaq [Photo: Wiki Commons
Sir Syed’s contribution towards development of secularism is too large to be recounted here. He worked hard to bring Muslims and Christians closer. For this purpose, he wrote commentaries on the Bible. He supported large hearted tolerance between Hindus and Muslims and tried to bridge the gulf between them. It is an open secret that till the last he tried to bring Unity between Hindus and Muslims whom he described as “the two eyes of a beautiful bride.” When he established M.A.O. College, he kept its doors open for each and every community. He never discriminated on the grounds of religion while appointing the faculties and staff. Thus, he appointed Theodore Beck as Principal of the College despite the fact that he was a Christian. His secularism was perfect, practical and in motion. In fact today’s politicians should learn a lesson from him in this regard.
He was the first to use the term “Scientific temper” which later became a pillar of our Constitution. He started Scientific Society in Ghazipur to popularize Western knowledge and to inculcate Scientific and rational temper among the people of the east. Subsequently, the Society was transferred from Ghazipur to Aligarh as Sir Syed came to Aligarh. In addition to Oriental Studies, Sir Syed gave more importance to science-oriented education.
His dream of residential life may be understood from his own speeches. He said, “just as the students of Oxford and Cambridge have to visit the church and attend the prayers regularly, so also the residents of this institution would be duty bound to visit the mosques and offer prayers. The students would be provided with black half-sleeved gown and red Turkish cap. They would not be allowed to enter the institution without these gowns and caps. Students would be strictly forbidden against uttering bad or abusive words”.(Tahzib-ul-Akhlaq, Rajab, 1289 H.)
Sir Syed also paid attention to such minor details, which are often ignored even today. He was against flattery on which he said that, “of all the ailments of heart, the most injurious is fondness for flattery”. (Maqalat, p176) He was against sitting or wandering without any purpose. He said, “idleness is a word whose meaning is not rightly comprehended by people. The real idleness is the idleness of heart and mind”. ( Maqalat, p191) He gave importance to right attitudes. He advised students that, “a man should be upright, truthful and righteous even in dealing with his enemy”. (Tahzib-ul-Akhlaq, Vol.III, p.194)
Sir Syed was a staunch Muslim. He did for the Muslims what Raja Ram Mohan Roy did for the Hindus. He wanted Muslims to adopt western education and scientific outlook. But he was never ready to compromise with the high ideals and values of Islam. Thus, he elaborated his educational philosophy in the following words, “philosophy will be in our right hand and natural science in out left. And the crown of, ‘there is no God but Allah’ will adorn our head”. The Aligarh Muslim University is paying homage to Sir Syed Ahmed Khan by retaining his scheme of education even today.
Sir Syed has given much priority to discipline. He had led a disciplined life and in the MAO College, he tried to infuse that into the students. On numerous occasions he said that “a vagabond life, far from discipline, is nothing but a life of the animals. It is interesting to note that the current Vice-Chancellor Lt. General (Rtd.) Zameeruddin Shah has also laid emphasis on discipline. If we practically analyze, the campus of A.M.U. has turned into a functional and viable campus just by the emphasis of the Vice-Chancellor on the discipline.
Sir Syed was a great planner and far-sighted. The present Vice-Chancellor is hard trying to implement Sir Syed’s concept. Recently inaugurated Prof. K.A. Nizami Quranic Institute by the Vice President of India, Hamid Ansari is an example. Sir Syed had himself conceived the concept of Quran in one hand and the Science in other and the same has been implemented in A.M.U. campus.
He was a large hearted person and his religious views were down to earth rational. He wrote a lengthy commentary on the Holy Quran which is considered as a rational approach to understand and interpret Quran. Although orthodox people objected to certain portions yet he did not succumb to the pressure. At the same time, he was careful not to hurt feelings of others. The syllabus of theology in M.A.O. College did not reflect Sir Syed’s views. He never forced anyone to accept what he believed.
If we take up his political views, they are as rational and practical as his other views. He did not support Indian National Congress but that was not due to any ill-feeling or grudge. Education was his primary concern and he did not want to destabilize it by any action. Hence, he advised, students not to take part in politics and concentrate only on education. Even Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru has pointed out that, “he was deeply committed to the national cause, though education was his first priority and love as far as the Muslims were concerned.” Sir Syed was aware that Muslims can be a party in nation building only if they get quality education at par with Hindus.
He was a champion of Women’s rights. He pointed out evils of widowhood. He said, “the women is in need of gentle treatment at the hands of man because of her delicate nature and especially the widow deserves all human sympathies.” (The Aligarh Institute Gazette, 17th October, 1873, P.651). At that time widow–remarriage was a taboo in Indian Society. He appealed to the Muslims “to encourage Widow-remarriage and earn the blessings both in this world and the next for their virtuous deeds.” (Ibid). He pleaded for organized charity to fight the cause of widows. Often it is claimed that he was against female education but the reality is otherwise. He was fully in favour of educating girls. But he was of the opinion that first the task of educating boys should be taken on priority basis.
A very notable feature of Sir Syed’s personality was that he was in government service but did not deter in pointing out flaws in government policies. He wrote “Asbab-e-baghawat-e-Hind” (Causes of Indian Revolt) to highlight that the policies of the British Government were responsible for the mutiny. Sir Syed’s fearlessness and straight forwardness is an example for our present bureaucracy which toes the line of the government on most occasions.
Sir Syed’s personality was too giant and it is impossible to portray it into an article. Today when Aligarh Community is celebrating his 195th birthday, it is time we recall his ideas and ideals. When he established M.A.O. College, his motto was combination of Western education with Islamic ideals. Aligarh Muslim University has maintained it till now. It is time we implement his liberal ideas also. On his 195th birthday, let us take a pledge to work for a liberal and progressive society, so that India may become a “Vibrant India”.
If we want to pay true tribute to Sir Syed then the only way presently is to strengthen the hands of present Vice Chancellor as he is trying to bring A.M.U. on rails and turn it into number one educational institution in the world. No captain can sail the ship smoothly unless his crew honestly supports him by deeds.
Let us join hands with the university community to develop A.M.U. as world class university of which we, our future generations and country will be proud.
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Dr. Shakeel Samdani is Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh.