Synopsis: As India seeks to embark on an inclusive development agenda, it is important to recognize the role of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan.
Introduction
Recently Aligarh Muslim University completed 100 years of its foundation. Its founder, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was born on October 17, 1817. His focus was on utilizing education as a tool to build an inclusive society and a progressive nation.
How did he use education as a tool for empowerment?
He believed that National progress depends on the education and training of the people. So we must create a national system of education to educate our people in science and technology.
He welcomed everyone in his fight against illiteracy. He wanted to unshackle Hindus and Muslims from medieval thinking towards reason and progress.
How does India know that he promoted inter-faith harmony?
He was living in the era of Hindu Muslim tension being promoted by the British. It was an era of transition where Muslims were left behind as they were still struggling with the debate of religion vs science.
But he was a true advocate of Hindu Muslim unity. Sir Syed led this by example. During the Bismillah ceremony of his grandson Ross Masood, Sir Syed placed him in the lap of his friend Raja Jai Kishan Das. When Sir Syed established a madrasa in Ghazipur, he elected Raja Dev Narayan Singh as patron of the school. Sanskrit was one of the five languages taught at this school. The managing committee of MAO College comprised 22 members of whom nine were Hindus.
Sir Syed also laid the foundation of comparative religious studies and revived the spirit of Dara Shikoh’s philosophy — to bring major communities of India together by finding commonalities in their religions. Section 5 (2)(b) of the AMU Act empowers the university to promote the study of religions, civilization and culture of India.
What can people learn from Sir Syed?
When India emphasizes the principles of ‘nation first’ and ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’,. Indians should remember that Sir Syed established AMU with a rational, progressive and scientific mindset. So, the country should also move towards such a mindset.
Source: This post is based on the article “The founder of a Mini India” published in The Hindu on 18h October 2021
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