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Contributions of Aligarh Movement In Indian culture

Introduction Aligarh movement is a movement Initiated by Sir Sayyad Ahmed Khan, The Aligarh Movement emerged as a liberal, modern trend among the Muslim intelligentsia based in Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College, Aligarh. It aimed at spreading (i) modern education among Indian Muslims without weakening their allegiance to Islam; (ii) social reforms among Muslims relating to purdah, polygamy, widow remarriage, women’s education, slavery, divorce, etc. The ideology of the followers of the movement was based on a liberal interpretation of the Quran and they sought to harmonize Islam with modern liberal culture. They wanted to impart a distinct socio-cultural identity to Muslims on modern lines. Soon, Aligarh became the Centre of religious and cultural revival of the Muslim community.

ALIGARH MOVEMENT

As we know that, after the war of independence the condition of the Muslims of India were very miserable as the British fell more on the Muslims than on Hindus. They considered that Muslims were responsible for all the wrongs and the war held just because of their harsh and rude behavior. After 1857, the Muslims emerged as a backward nation; they were illiterate and hopelessly ignorant in every walk of life, they were deprived of their basic rights and were neglected in every sphere of life. Nevertheless, they were economically, politically, socially and to be more exact religiously made the subject of ruthless punishment. They were helpless before the British and their combine lobby with Hindus; so, in these conditions they neither trusted Hindus nor British, who spared no effort to tortured Muslims. In such conditions, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan came forward and tried to help the Muslims come out from such deplorable and miserable conditions. He guided the Muslims towards the right path and attempted to draw out the Muslims from such helpless condition. Sir Syed realized that this miserable and deplorable condition of Muslims was due to the lack of modern education. He believed that the cure of every problem of Muslims was the modern education. Therefore, he commenced an educational program in order to uplift the deprived and disappointed Muslims, who had lost their past glory. He took concrete steps for his education plan.

SIR, SAYYID AHMAD KHAN

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, a leading Muslim reformer and educationist who was arguably the most important political voice among Indian Muslims in the latter half of the 19th century. he was born on 17 October 1817 in Delhi (which was then the capital, albeit nominal, of the fading Mughal empire). Sir Syed grew up in a spacious house in Delhi. From an early age he and his elder brother, Syed Muhammad Khan, were very well acquainted with Mughal traditions and politics. Sir Syed studied Arabic, Urdu, Persian, Islamic law, astronomy, medicine and mathematics. He got a thorough grounding in Islamic religious thought. He took part in sports as well. But financial constraints after his father’s death in 1838 made him stop pursuing formal education. Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor, awarded the title of ‘Arif Jung’ to Sir Syed. He joined the civil service of the British East India Company, and was initially made a court official at Agra. He later became a munshi, and in 1858, a high-ranking official at the Muradabad court. After 1857, he took it upon himself to promote better understanding between the British and the Muslim community. He began to feel the need for reforms in the community, with a particular emphasis on education. One of his first steps in this direction was the founding of a modern madrassa in 1859 in Muradabad, a unique religious school that had scientific education as part of its curriculum. By the time he was transferred to Aligarh in 1864, he had turned into an enthusiastic educator. Among the institutions that he founded was the Scientific Society of Aligarh, which was modelled after the Royal Society and Royal Asiatic Society. His championing of Western science and technology, however, landed him in confrontation with some of the more orthodox Muslim clerics. He set up a modern school in Aligarh and laid the foundation of the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College in May 1875. Scientific and modern subjects went side by side with religious education here. The college later became the Aligarh Muslim University. Sir Syed contributed many essential elements to the development of the modern society of the subcontinent. During Sir Syed's own lifetime, 'The Englishman', a renowned British magazine of the 19th century remarked in a commentary on November 17, 1885: 'Sir Syed's life "strikingly illustrated one of the best phases of modern history". He died on March 27, 1898 and lies buried next to the main mosque at Aligarh Muslim University.

Objectives and achievements of Aligarh Movement The war of independence of 1857 ended the Muslim rule in south Asia. The British had taken over the leadership of the sub- continent. They blamed Muslims for the outbreak of the war of independence. Thus Muslims became their victims and were denied of their religious, social, political and economic rights. In these circumstances sir Sayyad Ahamad Khan came forward to rescue Muslims. He started a movement, which is commonly known as the Aligarh movement

Objectives

•	To create general awareness among the Muslims that they are no more the rulers of South Asia. They should accept this reality •	To create goodwill relations with the British. Sir Syed Ahmed tried to convince British that Muslims alone were not responsible for the war of independence. The Hindus and other non-Muslims of South Asia also fought it. Now Muslims are equally loyal to them like other Indians. •	Sir Syed was fully convinced that unless Muslims received modern and scientific education they would remain backward. This was the reason that he established a Scientific Society in 1862.

Achievements of Aligarh Movement

Aligarh Movement worked to awaken the Muslims of South Asia. A number of keynote Muslim leaders like Nawab Viqar ul Muluk, Nawab Mohsin ul Mulk, Moulana Shibli Naumani, and Moulana Altaf Hussain Hali played an important role in the success of Aligarh Movement. Following are the main features of the movement Social Services: War of Independence of 1857 brought sufferings and miseries for the Muslims. They were destroyed politically, socially and economically. Whereas, the Hindus took advantage of that situation and hold important positions in the British Govt. Sir Syed wrote his famous books “The Causes of the Indian revolt” and “The Loyal Mohammedans of India”. Through these books he tried to bring an understanding between the Muslims and British. With his efforts, the ban on the employment of Muslims was relaxed. Muslim properties, which were confiscated after the war, were returned to them.

Contributions of Aligarh movement

•	Aligarh developed as the most important centre of the intellectual development for the Muslims of South Asia and its students those who studied at Aligarh College came from all over India from different parts of India; they were coming from Punjab, Bengal Frontier and were also from South India. In a way it had become a focal point for the Muslims of South Asia for their education. •	This movement created students who were combined to different traditions. The students learned modern knowledge English language, modern western philosophy and they also acquired Islamic knowledge and this was a significant feature of this Aligarh College that while giving modern education to the students they should not be de-linked from their roots and if you are de-linked from your roots you become rootless. In order to deal with the criticism that western education would alienate our young people from its teachings and principles Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and his colleagues proved that modern education and Islamic education can be brought together. •	Aligarh movement brought forward a group of students who were very conscious of what was happening in India and outside India. This educated class that developed in India was instrumental in promoting Muslim identity and also advocating the Muslim demands to the GOVT and to others because on the one hand this educated class could communicated with the rulers because they knew the language and modern knowledge philosophy and the thinking that had developed there •	 important contribution of this movement was that it inspired educational movements in India •	The major contribution of this movement was that the Mohammedan Educational Conference that was created by these Muslim leaders had become a kind of a forum where Muslims from different parts of India would come together and they would discuss not only education but all those issues which were of great concern to Muslims and since the meetings of Mohammedan Educational Conference were being held in different places it was able to communicate the message of the Aligarh Movement all over India