Aligarh Movement [1858-98]

Aligarh was the center of Aligarh movement

The War of Independence 1857 ended in a disaster for the Muslims. The British believed that the Muslims were responsible for the anti-British uprising of 1857 and therefore, they were subjected to ruthless punishment and merciless vengeance. The British had always looked upon the Muslims as their adversaries because they had ousted them from power. With the rebellion of 1857 this feeling was intensified and every attempt was made to ruin and suppress the Muslims forever. Thus the Mughal rule was liquidated and the sub-continent went directly under the British crown.


Sir Syed Ahmad Khan made modern education the pivot of his Aligarh movement

After dislodging the Muslim rulers from the throne, the new rulers - the British implemented a new educational policy with drastic changes. The policy restricted Arabic, Persian and religious education in schools and made English as the only medium of instruction as well as the official language in 1835. A wrong attitude of everything modern and western, and disinclination to make use of the opportunities opening under the new regime was created among the Muslims. This tendency, had it continued long, would have proved disastrous for the Muslim community.

Such were the days of despair and despondency when Sir Syed appeared on the horizon of Muslim India to rescue them. Sir Syed had the conviction that regeneration of the Indian Muslims had not at all visualized that mankind had entered a very important phase of it’s existence, i.e. an era of science and learning which was the source of progress and prosperity for the British. Therefore, modern education became the pivot of his movement for the regeneration of the Indian Muslims, which brought a complete orientation in their lives. He tried to transform Muslim minds from medieval outlook to a modern one.

Hali and Shibli were also associated with the Aligarh Movement

Sir Syed’s first and foremost objective was to acquaint the British with the Indian mind; his next anxiety was to open the minds of his countrymen to European literature, science and technology.

Therefore, in order to fulfill this desire he started the Aligarh movement of which Aligarh was the center. He had two immediate objectives in view: to remove the state of misunderstanding and tension between the Muslims and the new British Government, and to induce them to go in for advancements available under the new dispension without in any way deviation from the fundamentals of their faith.

Keeping education and social reform as the two planks of his program, he launched the Aligarh movement with the following objectives:

1. Create an atmosphere of mutual understanding between the British government and the Muslims.

2. Persuade Muslims to learn English education.

3. Persuade Muslims to abstain from agitational politics.

4. To produce an intellectual class of Muslims.

Fortunately, Syed Ahmad Khan was able to attract to his orbit a number of sincere friends who shared his views and helped him. Among them were well-known figures like Nawab Mohsin ul Mulk, Nawab Viqar ul Mulk, Hali, Shibli, Nazir Ahmad, Chiragh Ali, Mohammad Hayat, and Zakaullah. Above all his gifted son Syed Mahmud, a renowned scholar, jurist and educationalist was great help to him.

Syed Ahmad also succeeded in enlisting the services of a number of distinguished English professors like Bech, Morison, Raleigh and Arnold who gave their best in building up the Aligarh college into a first rate institution.

Publications of the Aligarh Movement

Syed Ahmad launched his educational movement by setting up Gulshan school at Muradabaad - 1859; Victoria school at Gazipur in 1863; Scientific Society for the translation of English works in the native language at Aligarh in 1864; Aligarh Institute Gazette imparting information on history - ancient and modern, science of agriculture, natural sciences, physical sciences and Advanced Mathematics in 1866; Committee Striving for the Educational Progress of Muslims - 1870; Mohammadan Anglo-Oriental school (MAO) at the pattern of English public schools at Aligarh in 1875 and later raised to the level of college in 1877 and university in 1913; Mohammadan Educational Conference - 1886, which met every year to take stock of the educational problems of the Muslims and to persuade them to get modern education and abstain from politics, it later became a political mouthpiece of the Indian Muslims and the forerunner of the Muslim league.

Publications of the Aligarh Movement

Besides his prominent role in the educational uplift of the Muslims, Syed Ahmad Khan’s writings played important role in popularizing the ideals for which the Aligarh stood. His "Essay on the Causes of Indian Revolt" in 1858; and other writings as "Loyal Mohammadans of India"; Tabyin-ul-Kalam and "A series of essays on the life of Muhammad and subjects subsidiary therein" helped to create a cordial relation between the British Government and the Indian Muslims and also helped to remove the misunderstanding about Islam and Christianity.

Publications of the Aligarh Movement

It was this platform, from where Syed Ahmad Khan strongly forbade the Muslims to join the Hindu dominated Congress. He stood for reserved seats for Muslims and also promoted the idea that Hindus and Muslims are two distinct nations which led to the Two Nation Theory.

Syed Ahmad Khan’s Aligarh Movement played a significant role to bring about an intellectual revolution among the Indian Muslims. Thus Aligarh Movement succeeded in achieving it’s major objectives, i.e. educational progress and social reform and earned for Sir Syed the title "Prophet of Education".