Lecture handout

Topic : Societies and Associations

There were key objectives ahead of Sir Syed’s vision and mission.To name a few to
tackle the lag factor as an aftermath of mutiny, to instill modern mannerism and
education which was crying need of the time . To bridge mutual apathy among
British and Muslims .In order to shoulder the colossal challenge following Societies
and Associations were established with focussed agenda
SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY
The Scientific Society was established at Ghazipur on 9 January, 1863 and shifted
to Aligarh in 1864.It was the focal point of the Aligarh Movement. Sir Syed believed
that the best education is the one which is imparted to the students in their mother
tongue. As early as 1867 he had submitted a memorandum to the Viceroy on behalf
of the British Indian Association for the establishment of a University in which
instruction in all the Western sciences and other disciplines was to be imparted
through the medium of the Urdu language.
When the MAO College was established, the same scheme was envisaged for the
Urdu section of the College. For education through the Urdu language it was
inevitably essential that books on various disciplines be made available in the
language.
The Scientific Society was, therefore, entrusted with the task of arranging Urdu
translation of standard works and treatises on different subjects in the English
language. About this important objective of the Society Sir Syed said³: “…….all
nations which once were civilised knew their sciences in their own languages, and
whichever nation tried to progress and to civilise itself did so by translating all
sciences into its own language. Therefore, the easiest and most effective method for
India to progress, and progress is the result of the experience of many various
countries and of thousand of years, is that it should also try, by all possible means,
to transfer into its own language all those sciences and arts which are now in the
possession of foreign nations”.
By 1875 the scientific Society had translated and published 27 standard works on
different subjects from English into Urdu which included Elphinstone’s History of
India, Malcolm’s History of Persia, Max Muller’s works on Sanskrit, Mill’s Political
Economy, Leizbig’s Agricultural Chemistry, Miller’s Testimony of the Rocks,
Darwin’s works etc. These translations of the Society were universally acclaimed.
In establishing the Scientific Society Sir Syed had infact renewed the tradition of
love for knowledge of the early Muslims who by the middle of the 9 th century had
translated all the Greek Philosophy, Mathematics, Medicine etc., as well as Iranian
and Indian thought, into Arabic.

With a view to keeping the Muslims informed about the national and international
affairs and acquainting the Government with the views of Indians, Sir Syed started
his famous weekly, The Aligarh Institute Gazette (Society Akhbar in Urdu) as the
official organ of the Society. The motto crowning each issue of the paper was:
“Liberty of the press is a prominent Duty of the Government and natural Right of
the subjects.”
British Indian Association

Sir Syed firmly believed that Indians should put their grievances across to the
government. To this end, a new organization, the British Indian Association was
constituted in 1866 and Sir Syed was instrumental in articulating the grievances of
Indians that needed immediate redress. As a secretary of this committee he urged the
Central as well State governments for the formation of District level consultative
committees for ensuring speedy educational advancement and administrative
reforms.

The Association provide feedback to the government about the petitions of the
common man so that issues could be solved quickly. In this regard, Sir Syed
submitted a memorandum to the Vice regal Legislative Council for reducing the
Postal charges. The Association also draw attention to the difficulties faced by the
rail passengers and on its insistence Government of India constructed waiting rooms
and canteens at important railway stations for Indians.

East India Association

In 1867, he joined East India Association to make acquaint the British Parliament
about the difficulties of Indians. He also urged the Association to hold its meeting
to coincide with the Session of the British Parliament.

Khwastigar-e- Taraqqi-e Musalmanan- Hind

During his stay in England (1869-1870), he visited Oxford and Cambridge
Universities and interacted with British scholars and realised that Indians could
change their fortunes if they were exposed to Western Knowledge through English.
On his return from England, he formed a Committee Khwastigar-e- Taraqqi-e
Musalmanan- Hind. The Committee was assigned to find out why Muslims
generally despised western Education. To obtain opinions committee organized
essay competition and received 32 entries.

After sifting through the entries Sir Syed prepared a summary incorporating the
points made in the essays. The majority thought English education without emphasis
on religious teachings would not meet their requirements, and it would make
younger generation heretic. The Muslims express their willingness to opt to modern
education only if it was imparted at Institutions managed by them.

A comprehensive proposal for a college was sent to the Government and the
response was very positive. The committee has set up a new committee named
Khazinat ul Bizaat Li Tasis Madarsatul Muslimin ( Contributions of Funds for
the foundations of the Muslim College) under the stewardship of Sir syed and
Aligarh has been selected. The committee has started raising funds for the proposed
Institution at Aligarh.

Mohammadan Civil Service Defence Association

In 1883 he formed the Mohammadan Civil Service Defence Association to collect

funds for Muslim boys who wanted to write the Civil Services Examination held in
England.

Mohammadan Association

In 1883, he founded Mohammadan Association for the betterment of Muslims. The

main purpose of this Association was to turn the attention of the government to any
Bill introduce in the Vice regal Legislative Council that would hurt the interest of
the Muslims.

Indian Patriotic Association

In 1887, he formed the Indian Patriotic Association. The Association came into
being with a view to acquainting the British Parliament with the views and problems
of the Indians who were not with the Congress. Apart from Muslim Members many
eminent personalities from Hindu Community also joined this organization.

Mohammadan Anglo Defence Association of Upper India

1893, on the pattern of Anglo Indian Defence Association he formed the

Mohammadan Anglo Defence Association of Upper India at Aligarh. It was set
up to suggest remedial measures for speedy uplift of the Muslims.

All-India Mohammadan Educational Conference

By 1885, the enrolment of students in the MAO College was much below as
expectation. This may be because of the lack of the dissemination of the aims and
objectives of the movement. It needed a well-knit organization to apprise the people
of India, inhabiting in the vast country about the utility of western education and its
all-sided advantages and he turned to some more practical steps than only founding
a College. He actually felt the need of an organization and the support of more-
enlightened member of his community from all over the country.
Thus, in 1886 he envisaged the formation of a body and named it the All India
Mohamadan Educational Congress. Since the word “Congress” confused the people
with that of the Indian National Congress already been founded a year ago, it was
dropped in 1890 and the body came to be known as the All-India Mohammadan
Educational Conference. In 1895 ‘Anglo-Oriental’ was further added to it and it
came to be known as the All-India Mohammadan Anglo-Oriental Educational
Conference.

The first Conference was attended by 61 delegates from all over India and 150
teachers and students of the MAO College - a humble gathering which was to
become a massive force in days to come. Sir Syed proposed the establishment of the
Conference which was seconded by Mr. Mohammad Rafiq, Bar-at-Law.
The proposal said: “In view of the all-round degeneration of Muslim Education and
to promote it in every possible manner through national unity and cooperation it is
in the fitness of things that to consider these and other related important matters,
people from different parts of the country should come together under the name of
‘Mohammadan Educational Congress’. This meet is not bound to any particular spot
but can be held wherever people wish it in a particular year and also make
arrangements for it.”
 It got the University Charter in 1920, opened many Islamic Schools and Colleges
all over India. It also founded the Training Colleges, separate hostels for Muslin
boys and Women’s Colleges for girls’ education.
Apart from the Aligarh Muslim University the foundation of Osmania and Dacca
Universities, Anjuman-i-Tarraqqi Urdu, Jamia Millia Islamia, Daru-ul-Uloom
Nadva, Lucknow, Dar–ul Mussanafin, Azamgarh etc owe their growth directly or
indirectly to the ceaseless efforts of the Conference.

THE FIRST MOHAMMADAN EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE HELD AT

ALIGARH, DECEMBER 27, 1886
PRESIDENT: MOULVI HAJI SAMIULLAH KHAN

RESOLUTIONS

(1) To consider the backward condition of education among Mohammadans, and

with a view to encourage the spread of education among them by the united
efforts and aid of the whole Mohammadan nation,

(2) the Mahomadans stand in great need of a high education in European

Sciences and Literature and that Government as well as the nation should
bestow their attention on it.

The Oriental language as taught in Government Colleges and Schools as

“second languages” are quite enough, and we do not need the attention of
Government towards Oriental education.

It should be kept up as imparted by the learned men of our nation according to

their old system, and it is the duty of our nation to encourage the study of
oriental learning among those who want to obtain it.

(3) This Congress is of opinion that the education of the masses among
Mahomedan is also very backward. Private indigenous schools of the old type
are growing fewer. There is no better means of spreading such education
among the masses of Mahomedans who stand in need of that sort of education
 than the old system, nor can any other system better develop the national taste
or give a satisfactory knowledge of Oriental learning.

(4) This Congress is of opinion that amongst the Mohammedan nation instruction
in the Holy Quran and the number of persons who used to learn the Quran by
heart is decreasing every day. Therefore it is necessary that suitable
arrangements should be made for keeping it up.

(5) This Congress is of opinion that Aligarh should be the head-quarters of the
Mohamedan Educational Congress and that Committees should be formed in
each city and town for the accomplishment of its objects.

Reading list

Shan Muhammad : The Aligarh Movement

Ishrat Ali Qureishi : Aligarh Past and Present
Shan Muhammad, The All India Muslim Educational Conference, 2003

Shafay Qidwai, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan Reason Religion and Nation, 2021