It is ridiculous that certain sections of the intelligentsia in the country and political commentators have suggested that Sir Syed Ahmad should have been considered for the Bharat Ratna, since Pandit Malaviya has been honoured
Titled, ‘On the Bharat Ratna, a question’, was a recent article in the Indian print media, which one read with interest and curiosity as it posed: “If Madan Mohan Malaviya can get the honour, why not Sir Syed Ahmad Khan”IJ
Before starting, let us remember that, unlike the British-conferred title of ‘Sir’ on Syed Ahmad, Pandit Malaviya had not been rewarded/awarded with any title, owing to obvious reasons. The latter, unlike the former, did not try to cultivate the British — both being renowned figures in their own right, merit and ability notwithstanding.
Hence, before getting into a debate, should one first confer a (British) ‘Sir’ on Pandit Malaviya with retrospective effect, to put both ‘competitors’ on an even keel! Arguing, that if Syed can get the (British bestowed) honour, why not Pandit MalaviyaIJ Be that as it may, it has been argued that a Bharat Ratna to Syed Ahmad ‘would have silenced Modi’s critics and made him a nation-builder, erasing forever the stigma of the 2002 Gujarat riots’. Can one really award or reward to ‘silence’ the critic’s voiceIJ
Who should be given the Bharat RatnaIJ Obviously, anyone wishing to be the Jewel of India must be perceived by the people of this country to be an actual jewel working for a noble cause without any discrimination, fear or favour, and with unflinching devotion to public service, and not self-service. One is constrained to point out that, if the above mentioned criteria were to be adopted, one would have to act against one’s intelligence, sense of justice and conscience to nominate Syed Ahmad for the Bharat Ratna .
The question is not ‘what has he doneIJ’ He had done many big things in life, but at the age of 70, he should not have done something which he did in full view, in front of his co-religionist crowd on December 28, 1887, at 8.30 pm, at the Mahomedan Educational Congress in the Baradari, Kaisarbagh, lucknow. He thundered thus: “Now I ask you, have Mahomedans attained such a position as regards higher English education, which is necessary for higher appointments, as to put them on a level with Hindus or notIJ Most certainly not. Now, I take Mahomedans and Hindus of our Province together, and ask whether they are able to compete with the Bengalis or notIJ Most certainly not. When this is the case, how can competitive examination be introduced into our countryIJ (Cheers). Think for a moment what would be the result if all appointments were given by competitive examination. Over all races, not only over Mahomedans but over Rajas of high position and the brave Rajputs who have not forgotten the swords of their ancestors, would be placed as ruler a Bengali who at sight of a table knife would crawl under his chair. There would remain no part of the country in which we should see at the tables of justice and authority any face except those of Bengalis. I am delighted to see the Bengalis making progress, but the question is: What would be the result on the administration of the countryIJ Do you think that the Rajput and the fiery Pathan, who are not afraid of being hanged or of encountering the swords of the police or the bayonets of the army, could remain in peace under the BengalisIJ (Cheers).”
Syed Ahmad continued his tirade against the Bengalis: “If you accept that the country should groan under the yoke of Bengali rule and its people lick the Bengali shoes, then, in the name of God! jump into the train, sit down, and be off to Madras, be off to Madras! (loud cheers and laughter).” Syed Ahmad’s lampooning of Bengalis continued thus: “The whole Council will consist of Babu so-and-so Mitter, Babu so-and-so Ghose, and Babu so-and-so Chukerbutty. (laughter).....What will be the result for those Rajputs the swords of whose ancestors are still wet with bloodIJ And what will be the result for the peace of the countryIJ Is there any hope that we and our brave brothers the Rajputs can endure it in silenceIJ”
Sir Syed ended his marathon speech without doing justice to himself: “Suppose that this agitation that has arisen in Bengal — and I imagine that no danger can spring from it there — suppose that this agitation extend to these Provinces, to the Rajputs and Pathans of Peshawar, do you think it will confine itself to writing with the pen — giz, giz, giz, giz, giz; and to mere talking — buk, buk, buk, buk. O my brothers! Children of my heart!....You should conduct yourselves in a straightforward and calm manner; not come together to make a noise and a hubub like a flock of crows. (Cheers and laughter)”.
One wonders as to what the reaction of the vocal Indian media would have been had these utterances of Sir Syed taken place today; and how the glittering band of Delhi’s intellectuals and the Coffee House revolutionaries of our urban ‘city centres’ would have responded.