Pak Study First Assingnment
Pak Study First Assingnment
Pak Study First Assingnment
1. EDUCATIONAL SERVICES :
He was unhappy about the position of Muslims in India, as their social and
economic status was declining. According to Sir Syed, Muslims had to bring a
positive approach to the British and accept their ways of education. He wanted
the Muslims to benefit from the British. To achieve this task, he had to bring
about cooperation between the Muslims and the British.
Here are some of the key educational services provided by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan:
Wrote the loyal Muslims of India to prove that their community was not disloyal to the British and
to ask the British to end their hostility.
Wrote a pamphlet “essay on the causes of the Indian Revolt” and pointed out the reasons for the
outbreak of 1857. This pamphlet was circulated for free among the British officials.
Wrote Tabyin-ul-kalam to point out similarities between Islam and Christianity.
Established the British Indian Association.
Sir Syed played a vital role in the educational uplift of the Muslims in India. He did the following things
to improve the educational standards:
Promotion of Modern Education: Sir Syed recognized the importance of modern education,
especially in the fields of science and technology, to uplift the Muslim community. He established a
chain of schools and colleges where Western-style education was imparted. His most notable
contribution in this regard was the foundation of Aligarh Muslim University (then known as the
Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College) in 1875.
Promotion of the English Language: Sir Syed believed that proficiency in the English language was
crucial for gaining access to modern knowledge and opportunities. He advocated for the learning of
English among Muslims and encouraged the use of the language in his educational institutions.
Translation Movement: He initiated a movement to translate Western scientific and literary works
into the Urdu language. This made scientific knowledge more accessible to Urdu-speaking Muslims
and helped bridge the gap between Western and Eastern knowledge systems.
Promotion of Scientific Education: His educational institutions emphasized the teaching of science
and mathematics, which were often neglected in traditional Islamic education at the time. This
approach aimed to prepare Muslims for careers in various scientific and technical fields.
Social Reforms: Sir Syed was a strong advocate of social reforms within the Muslim community. He
argued for the reinterpretation of Islamic teachings in light of modern knowledge and advocated for
the abandonment of outdated customs and practices that hindered progress.
2. POLITICAL SERVICES
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan increased the political awareness of Muslims in the Sub-
continent. At first, he believed in Hindu-Muslim unity, but later resolved to the two-
nation theory. In 1885, the Indian National Congress was set up. It claimed to be the
body of every Indian, regardless of religion. However, it later proved to be
functioning only for the Hindus and tried to eradicate the Muslims.
i. Political representation according to the population. This obviously meant Hindu domination as they
were a dominant majority in India and Sir Syed opposed it.
ii. Appointment in government should be by competitive examinations. Sir Syed opposed this because
he knew that the educational standards of the Hindus were much better than the Muslims.
iii. The next official language should be Hindi, replacing Urdu. Urdu had a special place in the Muslim
hearts, and Sir Syed opposed this. The British accepted this demand.
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan also mades significant contributions to the political and social
development of the Indian subcontinent.
Here are some of the political services of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan:
Promotion of Education:
Sir Syed realized that education was the key to the social and political progress of
Muslims in India. He established a chain of schools and colleges, most notably the
Aligarh Muslim University (then Aligarh College) in 1875. These institutions played
a pivotal role in producing a generation of educated Muslim leaders who would
later participate actively in the political arena.
Political Awareness:
Sir Syed believed in the importance of political awareness and civic participation.
He encouraged Muslims to take an active interest in political developments and
engage with the British authorities through constitutional means. He emphasized
the need for education to understand and navigate the political landscape.
Sir Syed was a proponent of social and religious reform among Muslims. He believed
that modernization and adaptation to contemporary values were essential for their
progress. His efforts to promote rationality and scientific thinking helped create a
more open-minded and politically conscious Muslim intelligentsia.
Sir Syed was a staunch supporter of the Urdu language, which became a unifying
factor among Muslims from different regions of India. The preservation and
promotion of Urdu played a significant role in fostering a sense of identity and
political consciousness among Indian Muslims.
While he advocated for cooperation with the British government, Sir Syed also
worked to protect the rights and interests of Muslims. He lobbied for fair
representation of Muslims in government jobs and legislative bodies.
Sir Syed's educational and intellectual contributions led to the emergence of a new
class of Muslim leaders who were well-versed in modern knowledge and political
affairs. This leadership played a crucial role in the political developments of the late
19th and early 20th centuries, including the All-India Muslim League's formation.
Although Sir Syed Ahmed Khan did not live to see the full extent of the political impact of his
efforts, his work in the field of education and advocacy for Muslim rights laid the groundwork
for future political engagement by the Muslim community in the Indian subcontinent. His
legacy continues to be celebrated in modern-day India and Pakistan.