Remembering Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, the great educationist and secular nationalist
Born on October 17th, 1817 Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, founder of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) was not just an ordinary educationist, historian, author and jurist but an extra-ordinary reformer, secular nationalist and one of
Today, AMU much like its glorious past, continues to symbolize modernity, pluralism and nationalism. Offering more than 250 full-time courses in fields like agriculture, biotechnology, medicine, engineering, management, commerce, arts, information technology, mass communication, and unani medicine, it draws students from all corners of the country as well as from foreign countries and from all communities. From writer Javed Akhtar and film-maker Anubhav Sinha to Supreme Court Judge Justice Ram Prakash Sethi, from heads to state to scientists, the AMU alumni list sparkles with talent. Behind the success of every AMU student is the ideology and philosophy of Sir Syed.
Many of us, including the Indian Government under PM Modi will be paying rich tributes to our Late President Dr Kalam on his birthday on 15th October. Rightly so. But pause for a minute and do think about this. Would Dr Kalam's story be possible had it not been for Sir Syed and his immense contributions to take not just the Muslims but entire India towards the path of progress and modern education? Dr. Kalam was a proud Muslim and a scientist. Without the rationalization provided by Sir Syed would it have been possible for him or members of any other community to break free from the shackles of religious conservatives and pursue both simultaneously?
Today, the teachings, philosophy and ideology of Sir Syed are gaining relevance again not just for Indian Muslims but the entire nation. Much like Sir Syed, we as a nation, committed to the idea of pluralism and modernity have to resist the forces of communalism and sectarianism that are trying to unleash a regressive, conservative agenda upon us, through various bans and stifling of fundamental freedoms. And the tool for that can only be education. Indeed, the true emancipation of over 170million Indian Muslims and the entire country will lie in equipping themselves with knowledge that broadens our horizons not hatred and bigotry that narrows our perspectives.
It would be fitting then that the Government of India which has been actively celebrating the legacy of many icons like Swami Vivekanand, Tagore, Nehru and others, recognizes the contributions of this great son of India and as we approach Sir Syed Ahmed Khan's 200th birth anniversary in 2017, it should consider designating October 17th as "Sir Syed Day" and promote his thoughts and works across institutions of educations through published literature. The most significant step would be for the Government of India, as a tribute to Sir Syed, to increase the funding to AMU, which is a Central University and remove all financial and other bottle necks being created in expanding the AMU network across India, so that Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs, Christians and Muslims can avail of quality higher education. The Government must show the same commitment to the idea of opening up new AMUs just like it has shown for opening up AIIMS, IITs, IIMs, etc.
I hope the PMO can treat this as a sentiment endorsed not just by 170 million Muslims but by 1.2 billion Indians and declare 17th October as #SirSyedDay .
(Shehzad Poonawalla is a lawyer and civil rights activist. He is the founder member of the think tank PolicySamvad. His twitter handle is @Shehzad_Ind)
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