Syed Ahmad Khan believed that Indian nationalism was secular and was based on a synthesis of Hindu and Muslim cultures
The British rule brought about a number of changes in Indian society along with the spread of modern education. This awareness about the world at large generated a feeling of nationalism in Indians, irrespective of their religion. These nationalistic feelings found expression through political, socio-cultural and religious processes and activities. Enlightened individuals belonging to all religions generated consciousness in society and particularly in their respective communities.
As a result of this, several social, religious, cultural and political movements and organisations emerged in India in the latter part of the 19th century. These movements were mostly led by Hindu and Muslim leaders in their respective communities. Syed Ahmad Khan influenced Indian society significantly with his ideology and philosophy. His supreme interest was the intellectual development of the people through modern and scientific education. He succeeded to a great extent in making the people understand its importance, become economically independent and lead a life of dignity.
Khan believed that Indian nationalism was secular and was based on a synthesis of the Hindu and Muslim cultures. He stood firm for the amalgamation of the knowledge systems of the East and the West. He always talked about his belief and philosophy, such as democracy, nationalism, the relationship between lslam and Hinduism, between the Hindus and the Muslims and their attitude towards the British.
Khaliq Ahmad Nizami in his work, Secular Tradition at Aligarh Muslim University, clearly mentioned that the Revolt of 1857 was the greatest event in Syed Ahmad Khan’s life, which shaped and guided his personality. The main victims of the revolt were the Muslims and their lives and properties were destroyed. So he wanted to revive their social and economic conditions through modern education. And for its propagation, he founded the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental (MAO) College at Aligarh.
The college was both an institution and a movement. It popularised scientific education among Indians. The doors of the institution were kept open to all from the very beginning, irrespective of their religion, caste, class, colour and creed. They lived together in harmony on the campus and from the very beginning, the college was truly representative of the country’s multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-lingual character. This tradition of a harmonious, cooperative living further contributed to the development of a broad, universal, cosmopolitan
and secular attitude in the institution.
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru once said, “Sir Syed was an ardent reformer and he wanted to reconcile modern scientific thought with religion by rationalistic interpretations and not by attacking basic belief. He was anxious to push new education. He was in no way communally separatist. Repeatedly he emphasised that religious differences should have no political and national significance.”
While delivering a commemorative speech, Professor Tariq Mansoor, Vice-Chancellor of the historic Aligarh Muslim University, said, “The movement started by Syed Ahmad Khan, commonly known as the Aligarh Movement, heralded the era of intellectual and cultural renaissance of the people of India in general and Indian Muslims in particular. The Aligarh Movement led to the foundation of the MAO College in 1877 and its elevation to the Aligarh Muslim University in 1920.”
Stressing on the secular atmosphere that prevailed at the MAO College, SK Bhatnagar in his book, titled History of the MAO College, said, “The college remained a model of secularism almost till the end. The Hindu and Muslim students fraternised with one another and lived in peace and devoted to their common alma mater. The Hindus competed with the Muslims for all college honours — academic, social and sports, on terms of equality. They secured admission, received prizes and medals solely on merit. They lived as comfortably in the boarding house as the Muslims and fully participated in the life of the college.”
In the eyes of Syed Ahmad Khan, there was no difference between Hindus and Muslims. They were one. Not only this, from the very inception of the college, he gave higher posts to non-Muslims. Some of the distinguished non-Muslim teachers who served the college during the period were Ram Shankar Misra, Sardar Ranjan Roy, Bhawani Chander Chakraborty, Piyarelal, Brij Mohan Lal, Munshi Bansidhar, Gobindra Prasad and Binodi Lal.
Syed Ahmad Khan’s educational caravan reached everywhere, including all the continents of the world. His message of Hindu-Muslim unity and his educational movement inspired and encouraged people to establish institutions of learning for imparting modern and scientific education.
It seems that his educational mission and the message of Hindu-Muslim unity is more relevant in the India of today than ever before. A Syed Ahmad Khan is born but once in centuries. We would do well to imbibe his values.
(The writer is Chairperson, Department of Linguistics, Aligarh Muslim University.)