Syed Ahmad Khan

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan (17 October 1817 – 27 March 1898), also spelled Sayyid Ahmad Khan, was an Indian Muslim reformer, philosopher, and educationist in nineteenth-century British India.

Though initially espousing Hindu–Muslim unity, he later became the pioneer of Muslim nationalism in India and is widely credited as the father of the two-nation theory, which formed the basis of the Pakistan movement. Born into a family with strong ties to the Mughal court, Ahmad studied science and the Quran within the court. He was awarded an honorary LLD from the University of Edinburgh in 1889.

In 1838, Syed Ahmad entered the service of East India Company and went on to become a judge at a Small Causes Court in 1867, retiring from this position in 1876. During the Indian Mutiny of 1857, he remained loyal to the British Raj and was noted for his actions in saving European lives. After the rebellion, he penned the booklet The Causes of the Indian Mutiny – a daring critique, at the time, of various British policies that he blamed for causing the revolt. Believing that the future of Muslims was threatened by the rigidity of their orthodox outlook, Sir Ahmad began promoting Western–style scientific education by founding modern schools and journals and organizing Islamic entrepreneurs. Victoria School at Ghazipur in 1863, and a scientific society for Muslims in 1864. In 1875, founded the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College, the first Muslim university in Southern Asia. During his career, Syed repeatedly called upon Muslims to loyally serve the British Raj and promoted the adoption of Urdu as the lingua franca of all Indian Muslims. Syed criticized the Indian National Congress.

Sir Syed maintains a strong legacy in Pakistan and among Indian Muslims. He became a source of inspiration for the Pakistan Movement and its activists, including Allama Iqbal and Muhammad Ali Jinnah. His advocacy of Islam’s rationalist tradition, and a broader, radical reinterpretation of the Quran to make it compatible with science and modernity, continues to influence the global Islamic reformation. Many universities and public buildings in Pakistan bear Sir Syed’s name. Aligarh Muslim University celebrated Sir Syed’s 200th birth centenary with much enthusiasm on 17 October 2017.

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Sir Syed Ahmad Khan is known for his pamphlet, The Causes of the Indian Revolt (also known as Asbab-e-Baghawat-e-Hind), written in 1858, shortly after the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny (also known as the First War of Independence). In this pamphlet, he analyzed the causes of the revolt and argued against the British narrative that it was a purely Muslim conspiracy. He presented a more nuanced view, attributing the uprising to factors like the British government’s lack of understanding of Indian customs and opinions, and its failure to include Indians in the legislative council.

• Context: Sir Syed was a civil servant and scholar during the revolt, witnessing firsthand the events in Delhi and the British response.
• Purpose: He wrote the pamphlet to counter the British perception that the revolt was a Muslim plot and to explain the underlying causes from an Indian perspective.
• Key arguments: Sir Syed argued that the revolt was not solely a Muslim uprising but a broader response to British policies and actions. He highlighted the following points:
  • Lack of Indian representation: The British government’s failure to include Indians in the legislative council was a major source of discontent, as it prevented them from having a voice in policies that directly affected them.
  • Ignorance of Indian customs and opinions: The British administration often failed to understand and respect Indian customs and traditions, leading to misunderstandings and resentment.
  • Fear of religious interference: Some Indians, particularly Muslims, feared that the British were attempting to interfere with their religion, which fueled their participation in the revolt.
• Impact: The pamphlet was a significant intervention in the discourse surrounding the 1857 revolt. It helped to shape a more informed understanding of the causes of the uprising and contributed to Sir Syed’s later efforts to promote social and educational reform among Indian Muslims.
• Further works: In addition to The Causes of the Indian Revolt, Sir Syed later wrote Loyal Muhammadans of India, which highlighted the loyalty of some Muslims to the British during the revolt.