I am forced to write this post when I heard a sentence from one of my collegue that "Syed Ahmed Khan made us rootless". That was a shocking remarks, because in my opinion Sir Syed was the first muslim in sub-continent who created awareness about the importance of education in the ignorant muslims society of that time. Sir Syed was the muslim reformer of 19th century. In the following paragraphs I'll be writing some criticisms that why he is considered as negative or wrong personaility in the views of some extremists muslims and what is the reason behind that. But before that look into following links to get know how of his life history and great work which he did for the advancement of education and science.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syed_Ahmed_Khan
http://www.storyofpakistan.com/articletext.asp?artid=A024&Pg=1
Criticism
During his lifetime and in contemporary times, Sir Syed was criticised for encouraging communal divisions between Hindus and Muslims. He is identified by historians as one of the earliest advocates of the Two-Nation Theory — that Hindus and Muslims were distinct and incompatible nations. Supporters of this theory contend that his political vision gave an independent political expression to the Muslim community, which aided its goal to secure political power in India.His philosophy guided the creation of the All India Muslim League in 1906.
He is crititcized for his pro-british policy. The extremist muslims of that time alleged him as a british agent when he asked muslims to leave useless traditions and acquire modern education. Fatwas were also issued from extremists of that time. we were salves of britain and we werenot enjoying fruits of rule over India as we did during the Moghal's regime. If we conitnued to do well in education and sciences then no foreign power could made us captives. So what is wrong there if Sir Syed asked to acquire modern british education. He asked muslims to learn English but he never said to forget Urdu. How many of us now in independence Muslim state can speak correc Urdu?? The educational movement of Sir Syed led muslims to get Muslim India(Pakistan).
He is also criticized for his religous work. He also wrote a tafseer of Quran, and according to some people he tried to interprete new theory of Islam which was based on materialism rather than spritualism. It is a fact that Islam is still considered as a spritual religion where you you have to believe in unseen God. But there are many things about Islam which are now proved by Science. It doesnot mean that Muslims didnot believe on those things before science proved them. But with the advancement of science and technology we are now able to make a proof for them.
Where is our roots ?
Can any body tell me where is our roots. I am talking about roots of Indian Muslims. We were hindus before 712 A.D. Are we talking about that roots. Or we were the followers of Asoka (300 BC). Is that sounds good? You can't change your roots. Today most of the muslims of sub-continent try to relate them with some Arab family of 1400 years back. The reality is we were hindus befor Arabs invaded the Sindh region in 712 AD. We became Muslims first on sword of Arabs and then by the Soofis of this region. We as a muslims of India didnot have any culture and language. Grardually we developed different cultures in different regions of india. But culture and language is not based on religion. We have common culture with Hindus. We all have same regional/mother languages. Then what roots we are talking about. Urdu inherited from Farsi (the language of Moghals) was not the langauge of common muslim before 1857 war of indipendence. Only muslims of upper india used this language for comunication. Then which language and culture we are talking about...Think about your roots....!!
Monday, August 6
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan. Did he make us ROOTLESS?
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6 comments:
Fahad I think you explain the situation in detail but couldn't descibe your arguments aganst sirsyed in detail. Well let me tell you some thing about your friends allegation on sirsyed. And i must say that write in detail also i know you know more than that.
Two Nation Theory: First Two nation theory was first used by the Hindu Reformer Raja Ram Mohan Roy (Some historians called hin Hindu vision of sirsyed who denounce traditions like Satti and support multple marriages of women when their husband died) He first used the word that "Hindu is entirely separated Nation than Muslims" and he stated it before sirsyed. Tough Raja ram mohan Roy was deeply inspired by Abrahamic religion.
Sir syed even banned slaughter of cow in their institute premises. Once he called that India is a bride and hindu and Muslims are the two eyes of this Bride. About Politics he also banned the talks on political situtaion and even expell students who involve in politics, Because as a reformer Sirsyed basic aim is to educate and aware Muslims of the sub-continent to the level of other Nationalities. The first Hindu University (With hindu name) was open in Banaras in 1834 (given status of uni. in 1917). And parsis are more educated than other nationalities. Even nationalities like Bengalis and Marhatas learn English and took modern education. And just because of this the Parsis took control of ports of karachi, Madras, MuMbai and Calcutta, Mahratas was dominated in trade. And Bengal was most dominated in modern education, Half of the beaurucracy belong to Bengal and Madras at that time. And most of them are Hindus. And it is also point to be notice that when Hindu reformers said the nation to learn english no religious authority raised any fatwa against these reformers. It was the traditions of muslims to reject every change and reforms with out taking notice of it.
Thanks Faraz,
I dont know much about Raja Ram mohan Roy. He was the great Hindu reformer. There might be some other reason in front of him to discriminate b/w hindus and muslims. But Sir Syed wanted to distinguish between the two nations solely for the sake of Muslim rights. Hindus being the vast mojority dominated in every field of life and they were more literate. Muslims were backward both politically and education vise. So, at one side he tried to educate muslims and on other side he tried convinced the rulers that muslims have their own identity as a nation. And this identity led the creation of Pakistan.
Second Sirsyed reforms is only education reforms, We can say it he bacame sucessfull in educational front. When ever new change arrive their opponents also arise, same we saw in case of surgery, computer and any other modern techniques. And unfortunately these critism goes upto higer extent when this new innovation came in the muslim society.
About Sincerity to Britishers:
Is this any thing New? Does Britishes have authority over education? Jews and almsot whole of Europe taught education from scholors like Ibn-e-Arabi, Ibn-e-Rushd. Its like exchanging ideas. Acoording to muslims hadith "Learn education from your lap of ur mother to the Grave", "Ilm (Knowledge) is the lost property of Momin (Muslim). Take it where from whereever you find".. Or Hadees like "The informative infedel is better than ignorant muslim.. (I know these type of hadees are new to many many peoples). Its almost a shame that we divide information and knowledge in a infedel and muslim knowledge. If the loyaity theory became realiable then we must say that Jews in Muslim spain loyal to Muslims, Whole Europe was loyal to Muslims during their dark ages.
Urdu Question Or muslim question:
I think you gave very suitable answer for this. What do you mean my muslim language Is it Arabic or Persian! Untill 1833 the persian was the official language of the Mugals and untill 1870 (complete rule of Brits). What is our civilization is it belong to indus civilization or we belong to some Arab or persian identity. We are the son of this soil. Changing religion doesn't mean changing civilization. Persians also adopt Islam but they never changed their civilization.
Urdu was first started in fort william college Culcutta as a curriculam, where most basic litrature was written wether Mir-aman "Baag o Bahar" or "Tota Kahani".. It is also a long debate that why Britishers sponsered Urdu just because persian language is the language of the golden age of muslims rule in India (Tough i may believe that all Mugals are Zortorians Except Wahabi dictator Aurangzaib), so Britiers think that if we cut their langauge and culture we could control Muslims. And they were not only ppromote Urdu But Also Hindi comparative to Sanskrit. and later they named Hindi and Hindu and Urdu as Muslims language. Its just like they promote Muslims in Punjab where they defeat Sikhs as rulers and Support Hindus in Bengal where they defeated Muslims as rulers. The britishers was very cunning mind. It is also point of notice that most of religious extremism was raised during britishers rule. Other wise we have tradition of living with Hindus some 1000 years ago.
Scientific theory of Quran:
I may say he wrote scientific interpretation some 100 years ago. When minds were not ready for that sudden change. It's like a shock to orthodox muslims. Which is quite right in my view because some times Socio-Political stagnation was break by some shock or some Accident. and sirsyed did the same. And imagine Muslims were used to "Dars-e-Nizami" itroduced by Seljuki PM Nizam ul Mulk Tusi some 500 years ago, Society was close to all type of research and new methodologies were denounced by the authorotarians. So it became inevitable to criticise of the scientific translation of Quran. And in my view later it was adopt by many scholors even Abu Ala Mouddi, syed Qutub and most renowed Ameen ahsan Islahi, who even adopt liberal and performing arts as knowledge and gave Theatre islamic form.
Sir syed is also a human being. he also made many mistakes. I don't say his every act was the order of God but as a human he affects and change this society. Even our political wing were emerged from Ali garh our "Progressive left liberal artists" like Qurratulain hyder, Ismat Chugtai Sajjad haider yuldrum and Minto were emerged from Aligarh. Aligarh gave muslim scholars like Maulana abulkalam Azad, Shibli, progressive writers like Ismat chugtai, Minto so as politicians like Jinnah, Maulana mohammad ali, shaukat ali Journalists like Hasrat mohani (also a freedom fighter), maulana zafar ali khan.
Thank you for your time and do write more on sir syed ahmed khan.. and by the way may be peoples reject your arguments but remember Iqbal and sirsyed were both the victim of Mullah-cracy but Today they are known to be intellectuals and unfortunately peoples also put iqbal in category of islamic poets. After their death.. So innovation or change don't need every one appraisal and the peoples who put backward the Wheel of History were the being forgot by History. Do you name me any Mullah who gave fatwa against Iqbal? Do you name my any Person who punised Socratas?
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