Improving relations between British and Muslim:

i. Convincing the British:

1. He wrote ‘The Loyal Mohammadens of India’, a detailed account of loyal services which Muslims had
given to the British.
2. He wrote ‘Essay on the Causes of the Indian Revolt. In this, he pointed out the main reasons of the War. He
also listed measures taken by the British which created resentment among the Muslim community.
3. Cleared the meaning of Nadarath (word used by Muslims for British, which the British took as an insult.)
Nadarath is Arabic word that means helper.
ii. Convincing the Muslims:
1. He wrote Tabayin-ul-kalam, in which he pointed out similarities between Islam and Christianity.
2. Established British India Association to increase cooperation between two communities.

Encouraging the growth of western education:

1. Western education was important to gain employment and to make progress in society.
2. He emphasized that an understanding of modern scientific beliefs helped reveal the full Majesty of God.
3. Set up an Urdu Journal Tahzib-ul-Akhlaq to spread his views on the importance of modern education.
4. Founded Scientific Society, its main purpose was to make scientific writings available to a wider market by
translating them from English, Persian or Arabic into Urdu.
5. 1866, began issuing a Journal called the Aligarh Institute Gazette
6. Opened schools in Muradabad (1859) and in Ghazipore (1864)
7. Traveled to England to study the University system there.
8. 1875, raised funds and opened Mohammadan Anglo Oriental school in Aligarh which later became
Mohammadan Anglo Oriental college. It offered western, Indian and Islamic education.
9. 1886, set up the Mohammadan Educational Conference, to raise educational standard among Muslims.
10. 1920 the college became the University of Aligarh.

Increasing political awareness:

1. Emphasized on the need for cooperation with the British.

2. Emphasized on the need for the cooperation with the Hindus.
3. Two Nation Theory: Hindus and Muslims were different enough to be considered as two separate groups
within the subcontinent. However, he encouraged that the two communities should work together.
4. An organization called United Patriotic Alliance which later became Mohammaden Defense Alliance was
setup, to counter the growth of Congress which has started to become a predominantly a Hindu political
party.
5. Hindi-Urdu controversy: Urdu had a special place in the hearts of Muslim community. In 1865 the Hindus
demanded that Hindi should be made the next official language in place of Urdu. It became the cause of
concern for him and he opposed it.

Importance:

1. Tirelessly worked to restore relations between the British and the Muslims
2. Played a major role in bringing Muslim revival through the Aligarh Movement. Muslim came to value
education as a means of self-improvement and better employment
3. Developed Two Nation Theory.
4. He is also called the Father of The Pakistan movement.
Q1. Why did Sir Syed Launch Aligarh movement?

1. Improving relationship with the British

2. For upgrading the educational standards of the Muslims.
3. For creating political awareness among the Muslims

Q2. Why did Sir Syed wish to improve relationship between the British and Muslims?

1. To save Muslims from British punishment after WOI.

2. Better relation would remove misconception about the British.
3. Better education would create job opportunity
4. Better education would create political awareness.

Q3. Why was Sir Syed dubbed as pro-British?

1. He did not support the idea of war against the British. He is supposed to have saved many British families
from Indian rebel.
2. Many Muslims considered British education as unislamic and Sir Syed was encouraging Muslims to acquire
it.
3. He was encouraging the Muslims to maintain good relations with the British who were seen as the greedy
land grabbers by the Indian Muslims.

Q4. Why did Sir represent Two Nation Theory?

1. Congress demanded democracy (a form of government made by majority)

- Hindus were in majority
- In case of democracy Hindu would dominate the government.
- Muslims would have little say in the government.
2. Hindi-Urdu controversy.
3. The Congress demanded that the examination for the civil services should be done on the basis of open
merit. In this way only the Hindus would qualify because they were better educated. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan
demanded a separate quota for the Muslims.