01/02/2023
SIR SYED AHMED KAHN
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was born on 17 October 1817 in Delhi. He was a
teacher, politician, author and social reformer. He founded the school that
became Aligarh Muslim University. He belonged to the wealthy family
which was well-known and respected in the area. By the age of 18, he was
skilled in Arabic, Persian, medicine and mathematics.
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan started his career as a civil servant. In 1846, he
became a judge in Delhi. When the War of Independence broke out in
1857, Sir Syed was working as a chief judge in Bijnaour. He saved the
lives of many British women and children during the war. In return for his
loyalty, the British Empire offered him an estate with a large income, but
he refused the offer.
Sir Syed Ahmed played a vital role in the educational uplift of the Muslims
in India. He devoted himself to improving the position of the Muslims in
the sub-continent through education. Aligarh became the center of a
“Muslim Renaissance”. In 1859, he opened a Persian school at Muradabad.
In 1864, he founded a scientific society in Ghazipur for the translation of
scientific work written in English to languages that the Muslims can
understand including Arabic, Urdu and Persian. He made a committee to
raise funds for new schools. He also set up Muhammadan Anglo Oriental School in Aligarh on 24 May 1875.
Sir Syed Ahmed was unhappy about the condition of the Muslims. He played a vital role in improving social
and political condition of the Muslims.
He wanted to form a better relationship between Muslims and Hindus, but he soon realized both couldn’t live
together. He was invited to attend and join the Indian National Congress, but he refused the invitation.
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan breathed his last on March 27, 1898. He is buried inside the Aligarh University.