Apart from Aligarh movement, there were other forces which also contributed to national consolidation. These were in the form of institutions which grew up within the country which occasionally in opposition to Aligarh leadership, contributed to national awakening and solidarity.

Most important of these was the seminary at Deoband. The idea of establishing a madrasah for teaching religious subjects was originally of a practicing sufi and a reputed saint, Haji Muhammad Abid of Deoband. He became the honorary patron and manager and when ample funds became available, Maulana Muhammad Yaqub, a leading educationalist, was appointed as the head master. On April 14, 1866, the madrasah started functioning in a small mosque.

The Madrasah at Deoband followed Madrasah-i-Rahimiyah in its emphasis on Hadith, etc., but it also incorporated many features of the new educational institution established by the British, e.g. division of students in regular classes, attendance registers, written examination. By 1931, nine hundred students were enrolled in the Madrasah including forty three foreign students.

Maulana Muhammad Qasim, who joined the Madrasah a couple of years after its establishment, remained active during the war of 1857 and for sometime established their own government in their areas. Maulana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi, one of the Maulana’s companions, on the suppression of the revolt by the British, had to spend several months in jail, while their spiritual teacher Haji Imdad Ullah had to seek refuge at Makkah.

Maulana Mahmud-ul Hasan, who remained head of the institution for twenty-three years, encouraged contacts between Aligarh and Deoband. In 1920, Jami’ah Milliyah was established by the Maulana for those students who had discontinued studies at Aligarh during the Non-cooperation Movement. The Jami’ah incorporated many features of Deoband.

Another personality connected with Deoband was Maulana Ubaid Ullah Sindhi. He figured in the "Silk Letter Conspiracy" and left India for Afghanistan during the First World War to organize action against the British. He was Home Minister in the Provisional Government of India formed at Kabul. However, he proceeded to Moscow after the failure of their scheme.