Some AMU alumni had met Delhi CM requesting her to declare Sir Syed haveli as national heritage.
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
New Delhi: Department of Archaeology, Govvernment of NCT of Delhi has expressed its inability in identifying the exact haveli and birthplace of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan.
On 26 November 2012 a team of senior AMU Alumni based in Delhi lead by P Mohammad with Mohammad Aslam and Minnat Rahmani had met Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit at her residence with demand for acquiring, restoring and declaring the haveli and birth place of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan as a “National Heritage Site” by the Government of NCT of Delhi.
The head of archeology department, Rajesh Sachdeva has written a letter to P. Mohammad on 15-May-2013 in this regard and informed him that the archaeology department’s officials did visit the said site, but found that is “very difficult to identify the house where Sir Syed Ahmed Khan once lived due to development in and around the property in question for last several years.”
Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was the pioneer of modern education in India and his role in establishing Mohammmedan Anglo Oriental (MAO) College in 1875 at Aligarh. Later in 1920 as Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) a central university was a historic step for spreading modern education and scientific temperament among Indians. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, one of the architects of modern India was born on October 17, 1817 in Delhi.
Presently in the bustling by-lanes of Darya Ganj market, a piece of Indian history is gathering dust. A crumbling four-storey haveli, located near the Aulia Masjid, where this great educationist Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, founder of the Anglo Mohammedan College, now known as Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), grew up. The grand haveli has now been divided into pigeon-hole apartments. So much so that even identifying the mansion is a near impossible task.
After so many years, only some parts of the former haveli still resembles what it looked like in those times, as no steps were taken to conserve it. According to sources, about eight to 10 families live in the mansion today. With the paint on the walls peeling off, the floor chipped in several places and dust and cobwebs in every corner, the present state of the mansion does not do justice to its historical status.
“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. The great sense of history prevails in UK and still below plate is a reminder of a place Sir Syed stayed in London. But we Indians have lost our own historical heritage and there is no sign of Sir Syed birth place and haveli in the very heart of Delhi,” said P Mohammad.
Based on this meeting Chief Minister has asked to Department of Archaeology, Government of NCT of Delhi to look into the actual place, identify the actual house where Sir Syed Ahmad Khan lived once as this place is now occupied by many people.
It further quoted from a report prepared by Wasim Ahmed Khan, former treasurer of AMU Old Boys Association that the said site has been encroached upon or purchased by different people and that the said property has not been identified so far due to various changes that have taken place during last one century.
Archaeology department has hence requested the senior AMU alumni to help in locating the exact site.
P Mohammad with the team of senior AMU Alumni is now working to create a team of experts in this area so that the actual haveli can be located. He added that they will provide all support to the government so that haveli and birth place of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan can be declared as a national heritage site.