Muslim Reformers - A Peek Into the Past

Bongy, (you are it I assume), I wonder why comparable instituttions like AMU, Delhis Jaamia have not sprung up in other places. Today AMU and Jaamia in Delhi are producing the new middle classes from the Muslims and are highly competitive.

Syed`s lasting impact has got be the ideas he sowed, and the institutions he set up.
he might have made statements to the effect of what what Mantolives quoted in #5, but the quality of the people on both sides is to rise above these and go back to his original views.

A man who previously said, “``I look to both Hindus and Muslims with the same eyes and consider them as my own eyes. By the word nation, I only mean Hindus and Muslims and nothing else. We Hindus and Muslims live together under the same soil under the same government. Our interest and problems are common and therefore I consider the two factions as one nation” slowly changed his view and after the language riots, ended up saying ``I am now convinced that the Hindus and Muslims could never become one nation as their religion and way of life was quite distinct from one and other`` and ``I am convinced that both these communities will not join whole heartedly in anything. At present there is no open hostility between the two communities but it will increase immensely in the future.``

This I think sums up the beginning of the evolution of the two nation theory.

[On top of all the events of 1857 branded Muslims as traitors, hunted from door to door, and publicly executed in the bazaars.]

Hey, not a bad course of action. We should have followed it after 9/11.

bhaskar,

thanks for writing this article related to my alma mater.

considering the implications of AMU to Indian Muslims, I would argue that efforts of Muslim reformers has not been in vain.

Yes but it can be said that there have been very few commendable reformers. What Indian Muslims needed was few more individuals like Sir Syed but that did not happen.

One disturbing fact is that the institutes established by Sir Syed now seems a far cry from the very principles of modernity and progressive vision on which these were based.They now seem to be stuck in an era of some typical filmi awadhi or lukhnavi culture with people speaking in urdu emanating from the inner depths of one`s throat.Be it Aligarh or Jamia millia Delhi same feeling of frozen in time captivates you.Whatever be the reason, discrimination or lack of able leadership and funds to maintain the academic excellence, the once producers of giants are now churning out mediocrity.
It was the selfless and tireless efforts of Sir Syed which made possible this scholarly muslim rennaissance possible by avoiding the path of confrontation with the Company Bahadur and learning modern arts and sciences.He was also the originator of modern muslim thought which was further developed by Iqbal,Maulvi Abdul Haq and other eminent muslim scholars.
I think we need another Sir Syed now who should lift these veils of suspicions and mistrust among hindus and muslims and marks the beginning of a new India free from religious riots and hate crimes.

AADMI SE DARTAY HO
AADMI TAU TUM BHI HO
AADMI TAU MEIN BHI HUN
ZINDAGI SE DARTAY HO
ZINDAGI TAU TUM BHI HO
ZINDAGI TAU MEIN BHI HUN

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(Noon Meem Rashid)

Thank you BD for this article. There are a few ommissions - I will not dwell on it.

It is timely. not only is it timely but different and highly relevant.

It is telling that this article has had to be written by a Britisher of Indian descent and a Hindoo to boot.

Be prepared for brickbats and other assorted verbal stuff coming yourway. At worst you will find it ignored at best you will be questioned regarding your authenicity to write such an article.

Well done Chowk staff. You do have a knack of coming up trumps from time to time.