THE EDUCATIONAL MOVEMENT OF SIR SYED AHMED KHAN 1858-1898 by Rahmani Begum

488 Pages·2017·30.24 MB·English

THE EDUCATIONAL MOVEMENT OF SIR SYED AHMED KHAN
1858-1898
by
Rahmani Begum Mohammad Ruknuddin Hassaan
Thesis submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
School of Oriental and African Studies
University of London
December,1959*
ProQuest Number: 10731647
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Dr. S ir Syod Sii'.ieci. lUinn
1117-1898.
2
Contents.
Page
•Abstract 3
•Preface 3
•Abbreviations 8
•Chapter 3, The Decline of the Old Order.
(I) Political Decline 9
(II) Cultural Stagnation. Z k
(III) Educational Decline. . 37
(IV) Sir Syed and the Old order 1$l7-1858. 55
•Chapter II, The Development of Sir Syed's Ideas between
the Mutiny and his Visit to England.1858-1869.
(I) At Moradabad,I85S-I862.
(II) At Ghazipur and Aligarh,1862-1869* 98
•Chapter III.The Formation of Sir Syed’s Ideas in England, {/
1869-1870. 168
.Chapter. IV.The Working out of Sir Syed's Ideas in India,
1870- 1878.
(I) Political Aspect. 219
(II) Social Aspect. 2^7
(III) Educational Aspect. 282
.Chapter. V.
(I) The Progress and Achievements of the M.A.O.
College. 1879-1898. 350
(II) Activities Outside the College,1879-1898. 39&
•Conclusion.
•Appendices. ^55
.Bibliography.
Abstract
I MMi'W - m*\i " i ■
This thesis attempts to study the salient features of the
educational movement of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan,its origin and develop­
ment at broad stages,and its important achievements.
For this purpose the thesis is divided into five chapters and
certain sub-chapters. Chapter one deals with pre-Mutiny Indian
Muslim life. A brief life sketch of Sir Syed ins given,tracing the
development of his religious,political and educational ideas up to
the Mutiny.
Chapter two deals with the first phase of the movement,when
Sir Syed's efforts were still to educate the Muslims according to tl
old ideals,though in politics he sought to bring about a better
understanding between the Muslims and the British Government.
Chapter three reviews and discusses the formation during his
stay in England of Sir Syed's policy of regenerating the Muslims
spiritually,culturally and politically through education on Western
lines.
Chapter four is concerned with the activities of Sir Syed afte
his return from Europe up to 1878,when the M.A.0.College took a
tangible shape. It is divided into three sub-chapters so as to perm
the tracing of Sir Syed's activities in different fields-political,
social and educational. It closes with tie foundation of the College
Chapter five deals with the progress and achievements of
4-
of the M.A*0*College. Attention is also paid to such of Sir Syedfs
outside activities as accelerated his success with the College*
In the conclusion the effect of the new evidence produced in
the thesis upon the views hitherto held of Sir Syed!s movement are
finally reviewed*
5
"
Preface
The interest in nineteenth-century Muslim movements in India,
whether political,social,educational or economic,which the creation
of Pakistan has fostered,drew my attention to that major Muslim
figure,Sir Syed Ahmed Khan. His importance was recognised in his
own day— as can be seen from the writing of biographies in 1885 by
Graham,and by Hali in 1901. More recent works such as that by Baljon
in 19^9,or the more general studies,such as that by Dr.T.G.P.Spear,
have confirmed the earlier estimation of his role>.
None of these works,however,is as complete or as critical as
could be desired. Graham’s work,even in the second edition,virtually
stops at 1885,and though it ostensibly deals with the whole of Sir
Syed's life,it concentrates in effect on the years 1869-85* Much
space is devoted to long verbatim extracts from Sir Syed’s letters
and speeches,so that the Life becomes a source book rather
than an assessment. Hall's Life, a much fuller and a better work,
is nevertheless shaped in part by the old Muslim idea of history as
a source of direct moral instruction to the reader. Some aspects; of
Sir Syed’s activities are therefore ignored so that Hali can present
his career as a model for all young Muslims to follow. Moreover,
the arrangement of the work,an historical account of Sir Syed’s
activities in one part and criticism and assessment of events in a
6
second part,lessens the usefulness of the work,particularly for a
general reader.The works of Bashir Ahmad Dar and Baljon and as indi«
cated by their titles The Reforms and Religious Ideas of Sir Sayyid
Ahmad Khan and Religious Thoughts of Sayyid Ahmad Khan respectively,
have narrower aims,and which only partially overlap with the subject
of this thesis. Other modern works,in Urdu,by Hur ur Rahman,and Zahur
Ahmad,and a brief work in English by Albiruni,are sketches of Sir Syed
life,based largely on Hali. Hampton's Biographical Studies in Modern
Indian Education though brief,does deal more directly with £Lr Syed's
educational policies,but the author has relied entirely on printed
English material.
Though this thesis does not attempt to cover all aspects of
Sir Syed's life and work,it does seek to pi’ovide a fuller,more
critical assessment of the educational movement associated with his
name than can be found in the above authors. For this 'purpose a wide
range of materials,some of which were neglected or were inaccessible
to those authors,have been consulted*
The great bulk of this material is in Urdu, It includes almost
no manuscript material,but covers nevertheless Sir Syed's letters and
speeches as well as his articles and publications. This material,
even when available,was virtually unused except by Hali,and his work
being so wide in scope made but limited use of it. In addition the
thirty five years*issues of the Aligarh Institxite Gazette have been
consulted,in which material is found in both English and Urdu,
1
Writings in Urdu of Sir Syed's friends and companions--Muhsin ul
Mulk,Zaka ullah,Nazir Ahmad,Chiragh 'Ali and others-- have also
been utilized,as well as writings of those who could be classed as
c ritics and enemies.
The other main category of material consulted is the Educational
Reports both of India and of the North-Western Provinces, and forty
years of Educational Proceedings and Despatches,with one odd item
from the Home Miscellaneous Series. These official papers were
virtually unknown to both Graham and Hali.
I have also used such newspapers as The Pioneer, the Friend
of India, The Moslem Chronicle and journals and magazines of Sir
Syed's day.
By the use of such new materials and by writing from a different
perspective,it is hoped that this thesis will serve to throw new
light upon Sir Syed's ideas and actions,and to modify some at
least of the earlier judgements upon him.
A word about the spelling1 of Sir Syed Ahmed. The name has
been written as Sir Syed himself used to write it. (In the Mutiny
Papers there is a letter of Sir Syed to Sir John Kaye signed in this
way.)
We have from the beginning used the title of Sir with the name
of Syed Ahmed Khan because the title has become inseparably
associated with his name; he was in fact knighted only in 1886.
%
Abb? eviaticma
*A*J*G« Aligarh Institute Ga&eiie*
•Ar« Arabic#
• Fag* English#
*11 ay a to Hay at i JavdaJ by Alt&f Husain Hall*
•Khutut* Khutut i Sir Syed,o&#Sir Ho a a Mas* tkU
•Life* 5?ho X>i£o and Work- of Sir Syed Ahmed Khant by
a G«I*«X * Graham*
♦Massamiiu feaatain 1 SJahssib ul Akhlaq of Sir Syecl, voSull*
MukamraaX Hajmuai Loot urea via Speeches of Sir Syed,
ed« IMiamm&d Imam ud Din*
•Per# Persian*
•Ur* Urdu*