Introduction
In this paper, the presenter will discuss the topic of the Aligarh Movement. During
the British rule of India, the people were not aware of Education and society. Indian are
focusing very traditionalist, British Empire gives freedom for religion and education. But
many Indians don’t know to take the privilege. Here the presenter brings very shortly
about the Aligarh Movement, How this movement contributed to Education, politics,
Religious and society, and also women's right.
1. Aligarh Movement
In the 19th century, the Aligarh movement was an initiative to set up a system of
Western-style scientific education in British India for the Muslim population. The origin
of the movement is from Aligarh, which is where it has derived its name from. This
movement was founded by Sayyid Ahmed Khan, who was from a Muslim family, This
Muslim renaissance movement has profound implications for the culture, society,
politics, and religion of the Indian subcontinent1 The British authorities adopted anti-
Muslim tactics until thee formation of a Western-educated Muslim elite from
Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College (M.A.O), since the Muslims participated the
Sepoy mutiny in 1857. However, the Aligarh movement resulted in a shift in official
policy toward Muslims. The Muslim elite that attended M.A.O. College had great hopes
for government posts, and the British government supported them. When the M.A.O.
college faced a financial crisis, the British government stepped in to assist. Aligarh
Muslim University was established in 1920 after the M.A.O. College was elevated to the
status of a university. Aligarh is well-known in the Islamic world for its secular and
scientific education. The faculty of science is the most powerful at A.M.U.2
In Aligarh movement were two person played big role were Chirag Ali and
Sayyid Mahdi Ali. In the same time Mustafa Khan published one book on behalf Aligarh
Movement named “An apology for new light” in 1891. In this book Khan mention three
characters3
1
Aleyamma Zachariah, Modern Religious and Secular Movements in India (Bangalore:
Theological Book Trust, 1992) 49-52.
2
Aleyamma Zachariah, Modern Religious and Secular Movements in India…, 49..
1
i. The adoption, to varied degrees, of English attire and other visible
manifestations of a European civilization.
ii. A specific amount of dissatisfied regarding the existing mode of religious
thought
iii. A desire for certain social reforms.
Before Aligarh Movement was arise, Sayyid establish one college named Aligarh
College. This college was both liberal and Secular, but later year in 1937, this college
came under the Muslim denomination League liberalism was replaced by religious
enthusiasm. Later on by 1941, Aligarh became a very crisis situation like an emotional
and intellectual center for Pakistan. What began as an elite educational movement
became a tool for mobilizing a largely Muslim audience.4
2. Sayyid Ahmad Khan: The Founder of Aligarh
Sayyid Ahmed Khan was born in 1817 in Delhi, he was the son of Sayyid
Muhammad Muttaqi, and Aziz al-Nisa. Khan was from a royal family and he was also a
servant of the British Indian Administration. Sayyid was grew up in the house of his
maternal grandfather, they claim that Khan family was descended from Hazrat Hussein,
the grandson of Prophet Muhammad through his daughter Fatimah and son-in-low Ali. 5
The Ali family migrated to Iran, after a few years later they shift to Herat in Afghanistan,
and later on they finally came to India and the stayed in Shah Jahan Abad, which had
built in 1648, near the old Delhi by Shah Jahan, the Mughal empire. 6 In 1869 he went to
England for higher study and one year and five months spent there studying English.7
3. Rise of The Aligarh Movement
In the early 19th century, the Mughal empire had declined and collapsed by the
British, but for 50 years nominally they continued their existence. After the fall of
3
Tania Hussain and Adam arif Khan, “Vision of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and Aligarh Movement in
India” core.ac.uk (14 August 2023)
4
John V. Mathew, Modern Religious and Secular Movements (Kolkata: ESPACE, 2019) 51-52.
5
John V. Mathew, Modern Religious and Secular Movements…, 44
6
Moanungsang, Towards Understanding Modern Religious and Secular Movements in India
(Delhi: Christian World Imprints, 2021), 156.
7
T. Hasan, The Aligarh Movement and the Making of Indian Muslim Mind (New Delhi: Rupa
Publications, 2006), 67.
2
Mughal rule, the Muslim Empire faced great distress in north India. There was a bitter
feeling against the British, the Muslims failed to take the opportunity of the English
education given by the British Empire. Because the culture and Education of India
declined, the Hindus started to establish Education, wealth, and position, but on the other
hand, the Muslims decline in all respect. As the results became less relationship between
Hindus and Muslims.8
Sayyid Khan was inspired in many ways by Raja Rammohon Roy. He wants to
contribute the education and ideas of Roy’s to the Muslim community. That is the reason
that arises the Mohammed Anglo-Oriental College.
4. Important four areas of reform.
4.1. Political Reforms
The Muslims thought that India is a place of War or a house of War (Dar – ul –
Harh). During the time British rule India and it has become a non-Muslim state. But
Sayyid considers India as the House of Islam (Dar – ur – Islam) instead of considering
the House of War. Because though the British ruled India, they give them freedom to
practice their religion. Sayyid was one who well knows among the Muslims in the Indian9
Sayyid was very faithful to the British during the Sepoy Mutiny and he saved
Europeans. After Mutiny he writes three books named The Causes of the Indian Mutiny
in 1858, History of the Mutiny in Bijnore in 1858, and The Loyal Mahammadans of India
in 1860.10 Sayyid focus Indian opinions on political questions and represent them in
British parliament and to focus on that he founded the British Indian Association in 1866.
He gave confidence that the British would understand the Indian problem and Sayyid
won the confidence of the British Government and he became a member of the Viceroy
Legislative Council.11
4.2. Education Reforms
8
Aleyamma Zachariah, Modern Religious and Secular Movement..., 46.
9
Aleyamma Zachariah, Modern Religious and Secular Movements in India…, 46
10
John V. Mathew, Modern Religious and Secular Movements…, 45.
11
Patil Amruta “Aligarh Movement – Muslim Socio-Religious Reform Movement – Modern India
History Notes” https://prepp.in/news/e-492-aligarh-movement-muslim-socio-religious-reform-movement-
modern-india-history-notes (13 August 3023).
3
Sayyid knew that if the Muslims are not influenced by Western Education and
Science then the Muslims can not make any progress. Therefore Sayyid introduced social
reforms in the Muslim community. Sayyid formed the “Association for the Study of
Western Science” in 1863 with the help of his friends published Pamphlets and books to
introduce the West science and Education among them. Sayyid was the first person to
start a scientific society in India that promoted the methods of reason, dialogue,
experimentation, and testing of hypotheses.12
In 1869 Sayyid went to England for English and Political study for 17 th months
and he got himself to introduce the system of English Education and working experiences
of school and college. After he returns he establishes a magazine in Urdu, Tahzibul
Akhlaq which means reforms of Morals. He fight against Muslim prejudice and social
freedom, and to make self-confidence of Muslims.13
In 1875 Sayyid opened a school in Aligarh, but later on, this school was raised to
a college and named Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College. In the beginning, this
college was for the community of India, the earliest teachers and graduates were Hindus,
Hindi and Sanskrit education also provide in the earliest time. But later on this college
become Muslim institution. He teaches what he saw and learn from England, especially
Oxford and Cambridge University, and he teaches Islamic study also Western science.
This college was the first modern attitude of Muslims. Through this college, many
Muslims get Education and Social freedom.14
4.3. Social Reforms
Its goal was to spread modern education among Indian Muslims without
undermining their allegiance to Islam; and social reforms among Muslims concerning
purdah, polygamy, widow remarriage, women's education, slavery, divorce, and other
issues. Syed's progressive social ideas were spread via his magazine published in 1870
and named Tahdhib-ul-Akhlaq. 15
12
Aleyamma Zachariah, Modern Religious and Secular Movements in India…, 47
13
Aleyamma Zachariah, Modern Religious and Secular Movements in India…, 47
14
Aleyamma Zachariah, Modern Religious and Secular Movements in India…, 48.
15
Patil Amruta “Aligarh Movement – Muslim Socio-Religious Reform Movement – Modern India
History Notes” https://prepp.in/news/e-492-aligarh-movement-muslim-socio-religious-reform-movement-
modern-india-history-notes (13 August 3023).
4
Sayyid Challenges two major ideas that Muslims could not permit a woman out of
Purdah (Seclusion) instead of providing good education to Muslim women. He works
hard for the woman’s education and started open schools and colleges for women. And
another idea is he opposed the polygamy practice among Muslims. He wrote for women
liberating and exhorted the Muslims to abandon medieval thinking and custom.16
Sayyid formed the Indian United Patriotic Association to bring for Hindu-
Muslims unity to India. All of his understanding regarded religion as a discipline for the
establishment of ethical criteria.17
4.4. Religious Reforms
Sayyid reinterpreted the Quran but this does not mean that he refused the old
canon law of the Quran but emphasize the moral principle of the Quran. He establishes
the ethical principle. He was determined to Islam and Quran to free from the traditionalist
mindset. Its idea was mainly focused on women. 18 He applies his idea and brings out its
relevance to Muslim society.
Many Muslims believe that Christians corrupt the Bible, but Sayyid thinks that
Christians did not corrupt the bible. Sayyid says the Muslims should not consider
Christians as an enemy or infidels, because the Bible and Quran never contradict fight
each other. He wrote a commentary on the book of Genesis the first 11 Chapters. 19 Sayyid
stood for social accommodation and coordination between Muslims, Hindus, and
Christians. Therefore he was an advocate of Hindu-Muslim unity.
Sayyid decides to bring the religious school to provide modern education for
Muslims so that they can interpret the Quran as the word of God by the work of God. In
1870 Sayyid began new ideas to apply the Western methodology (Scientific and
speculative apologists) to Arabian history Islam born and certain aspects of the Sira. The
traditional biography of the Prophet Muhammad, her the starting point of Indian Muslims
Historiography, and Sayyid published an Essay on the life of Muhammad in 1870. In the
16
Aleyamma Zachariah, Modern Religious and Secular Movements in India…, 49.
17
John V. Mathew, Modern Religious and Secular Movements…, 47.
18
Moanungsang, Towards Understanding Modern Religious and Secular Movements in India…,
158.
19
Shahid H. Raja, “Aligarh Movement: Genesis & Significance”
https://shahidhraja.medium.com/aligarh-movement-genesis-significance-621034f022e5 (14 August 2023)
5
same year Sayyid began to write a commentary on Quran, a new idea of interpretation of
Islam and its scriptures in the light of 19th century rationalism.20
Conclusion
Through this paper, the presenter brought on the topic of the Aligarh movement.
Through this paper, we have learned that the Aligarh Movement played a very big role in
Indian reformations, especially in education, Social, Political, and religious factors.
Sayyid was influenced by Raja Ram Mohan Roy and he apply his idea to the Western
education system introduced to Indian Muslims many Indian Muslims come to know the
value of Education, if Sayyid did not oppose women’s education then Indian Muslim
women are gotten very late in Education. He was the one who bring the Renaissance to
Indian Muslims and he wanted to peace all the community.
20
John V. Mathew, Modern Religious and Secular Movements…, 48.
6
Bibliography
Hasan, T. The Aligarh Movement and the Making of Indian Muslim Mind (New
Delhi: Rupa Publications, 2006.
Mathew, John V. Modern Religious and Secular Movements. Kolkata: ESPACE,
2019.
Moanungsang, Towards Understanding Modern Religious and Secular
Movements in India. Delhi: Christian World Imprints, 2021.
Zachariah, Aleyamma. Modern Religious and Secular Movements in India.
Bangalore: Theological Book Trust, 1992.
Webliography
Amruta, Patil. “Aligarh Movement – Muslim Socio-Religious Reform Movements–
Modern India History Notes” https://prepp.in/news/e-492-aligarh-movement-
muslim-socio-religious- reform-movement-modern-india-history-notes (13 August 3023)
Hussain, Tania. and Khan, Adam Arif. “Vision of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and
Aligarh Movement in India” core.ac.uk (14 August 2023)
Raja, Shahid H. “Aligarh Movement: Genesis & Significance”
https://shahidhraja.medium.com/aligarh-movement-genesis-significance
621034f022e5 (14 August 2023)
