Saad Qaisar
Today (October 17, 2008) marks the 191st birthday of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan (1817-1898).
In the history of Indian Sub-Continent, the role Syed Sahib played for Muslims of India deserves golden words. Sir Syed was the most influential leader and social reformer of his time. He felt that the socio-economic future of Muslims was threatened by their orthodox aversions to modern science and technology. He made significant contributions in this regard that had long term implications for the Muslims of India that eventually lead to creation of state of Pakistan.
Either it be his advocacy for Urdu to be recognized by British empire as second language of India & a symbol of Muslim heritage or establishment of a ‘Muslim Cambridge’ in form of MAO college at Aligarh, he is seen as a most vocal figure for the rights of Indian Muslims in the second half of 19th century under British Raj. At Aligarh, Sir Syed formed Scientific Society of Aligarh, the first scientific society of its kind in India that assembled Muslim scholars from across India, held annual conferences, disbursed funds for educational causes and regularly published a journal on scientific subjects in English & Urdu.
His views, at times, challenged orthodox clergy who appeared averse to his message of ‘change’.
Today, as we find our nation amidst divergent schools of thought, when one segment of society is bent towards ultra-liberalism & appear to blindly follow western civilization, more of its bad than good and on other end, there are those who are hell bent to stick to age-old orthodox philosophy, do we await another Syed Sahib that would channelize our energies to the middle path. Or can we revive spirit of Syed Sahib’s life as a guideline in all the issues that confront us as a nation? Men like Syed Sahib are born once in decades, or perhaps, centuries! Are we ready to wait centuries for that to happen or reformulate our thought in-line with modern demands, choice is ours!
As Iqbal rightly put it:
aaen-e-nau say darna, tarz-e Kuhan pe aRna
manzil ye hi katthan hai, qaumoN kee zindagi meiN
‘To be afraid of modern ways, to get stuck on age old patterns, is the biggest hurdle in the life of Nations’.
Photo Credits: Khurram Ali Shafique and Wikipedia.com
PMA, you say: It is in the nature of Mullah to appose modern education. Once educated in modern educational system His
Dear Rashad: I thought readers will know what I meant by ‘modern educational system’. Obviously I was not right. But there is nothing wrong with ‘well structured buildings’ and ‘books in English’. Just look around. Those educated in English-medium schools, as a group have greater opportunities in life compared to those educated in Urdu-medium schools and Madrassas. These are simple facts of life in Pakistan. And about ‘our Chinese friends’. Well, are we in a position to compare ourselves with Chinese? Chinese are hard working nation equipped with modern education. That is why they are where they are today. Let us not fool ourselves. But I agree with you on one point. There is a lot Pakistani effluent classes could do for the less privileged. But they do not. It is a sad situation which only people like you and I can correct.
PMA, You didn’t define “Modern Education” here. If Modern education means education in well structured buildings with the help of imported books in English then our Chinese friends should be cursed since they didn’t get rid of old and traditional acupunture method as yet.
Ironically those who are religiously in favor of “modern” education could not provide examples which were helpful to prosper Pakistan with the help of modern education system. Instead of that I read Pakistanis committing suicide for not having job even doing Masters in different disciplines. Will such advocates issue Visas for these poor products of Modern education system? I know now these guys will not say a word.
It’s old hobby of Pakistani expats to give lectures like oldies of any family who are usually rejected by their own family members due to their intolerant attitude. Today Pakistan has been suffering a lot due to financial crisis but these Pakistani expats preachers are not willing to help Pakistan by sending their money back to home. Yes they do have money to spend on Internet so that they can share their frustration rather doing something to help Pakistan.
Thank you Syed Ahmed Khan and thank you my fellow Ravian ‘Watan Aziz’. Your comments are very appropriate and much needed here. Many of us can relate to your narrative regarding lack of education among Muslims in South Asia and in fact all over the Muslim World. It is in the nature of Mullah to appose modern education. Once educated in modern educational system His ‘flock’ tends to reject His narrow interpretation of Islam. Hence Mullah will always appose modern education. But let us move beyond Mullah. My question is: Why there is no Renaissance among Muslims today? To paraphrase Iqbal: Why are we unable to produce ‘thousand paths at each milestone’? Where are the Syed Ahmad Khans of our time?
Well, Wiki is an amazing resource. I am not sure if all the information is correct, but their hyperlinks keep you going and going.
This post has certainly brought education, the needs and the long term dividends of good deeds into perspective.
Government College Lahore (I am a Ravian) was established about the same time as MAO College and in the heartland of Muslims. But it
Guys please stop this childish discussion. Cant we evern just respect our heros in peace without turning it into a shouting match!
Without Sir Syed there would have been no Pakistan. That is the real reason why the mullahs who hate Pakistan also hate Sir Syed.
At the time of partition, the priorities in front of the two nations of India and Pakistan were very clear. Educate your masses, respect your values, generate citizens that can truly be called universal citizens. Isn’t this the same message given by Quran. Is’nt this the same message behind Sir Syed’s movement. Those who criticize him should remember that the other Syed i:e Syed Ahmed Shaheed and Syed Ismail Shaheed called Jihad against the Sikhs but not against the British. They were butchered by their own muslamans because they did the same mistake as the taliban. Instead of gradually bringing them towards the message, they told them they are ignorant idiots. The rest is history. And their message was much more subtle and much more humane than the Talibans.
Coming back to partition. So which nation prioritize their objectives to the better aims. And which nation decides to find out kuffars among their own selves because we sent the actual ones to the other side of the border at the time of partition. When India is reaching the moon, we are going to the IMF. The simple reason….nobody over their criticizes the founders of their education movement because they might be against certain religious and cultural values. They wholeheartedly accepted their message and immerse themselves in education and still not leaving their cultural and religious norms. They had their issues and they have their issues. But they call the social evils and not a part of their culture. When we are still discussing whether beard is in Islam or Islam is in the beard, they are successful in propagating their better face throughout the globe.
We can still go down the same route and be a part of history which nobody likes to read or stand up to the rising sun and takes our share of its warmth. We dont have to shed our cultural and religious values because they are all good. But we have to remember…We are all human beings first. In the eyes of an outsider we are just brown people cutting each other throats.