Assignment-01 Date: 1-11-2023

Pakistan Studies
(PS-101)

Submitted To:
Professor Ahmed Jamal
Natural Sciences Department

Submitted By:
Muhammad Hadi

Roll No: F23BSCS-29

BSCS Semester-1
 Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
and
Ideology of Pakistan
Biography
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was born in Delhi on 17th
October 1817. He started his career as a Naib
Munshi in Agra, and was promoted to Naib Amin
in Delhi 1838. In 1838, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
entered the service of East India Company and
went on to become a judge at a Small Causes
Court in 1867, retiring from 1876.
The Impact of the War of Independence 1857
on Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
The war of independence 1857 was one of the
turning points of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s life. It
inspired him to dedicate himself to the welfare of
all Indians, regardless of their race and religion.
However, he later changed his views due to
communal attitudes of some Hindus towards
Muslims. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was a devoted
lover of Islam. He was deeply concerned and felt
very sorry for the miserable condition of the
Muslim community. His earnest desire was to see
the Muslims regain their lost glory and live in the
sub-continent with great dignity.
Pioneer of Two Nation Theory
Sir Syed Ahmed was the pioneer of Two Nation
Theory in the sub-continent. His argument was
that there were at least two nations settled in the
sub-continent, one of them was the Muslims and
the other was the Hindus. He argued that their
differences in civilization, culture, language,
customs, literature, religion, and way of life
justified their recognition as separate nations.
The Two-Nation Theory gained momentum and
instilled a sense of separate Muslim identity,
ultimately contributing to the demand for an
independent Muslim state. This demand led to the
partition of India in 1947, resulting in the creation
of Pakistan.
Father of Pakistan Movement
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan did not advocate for a
separate Muslim homeland, and he never used the
word "Pakistan" in his time. However, his services
and contributions to the Muslim community are
seen as the initial steps in the foundation of
Pakistan. He is often considered the "father of the
Pakistan Movement," as his efforts played a
significant role in shaping the ideas that led to the
creation of Pakistan.
Political Services
The political career of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
began after the war of independence 1857. Sir
Syed advised the Muslims not to join the Indian
National Congress, as he perceived it as a Hindu
communal party. In 1858, he wrote "Tarikh-i-
Sarkashi Binjnore" and "Asbab-e-Baghawat
Hind," addressing the situation of the Indian
mutiny 1857. He demanded for special seats for
the Muslims in the local councils to ensure their
representation and he also led a movement against
open competitive examinations for superior
services.
In 1883 he also favoured Separate electorate for
the Muslims. In 1864, he established the British
Indian Association to further the interests of
Muslims. In 1888, he formed the "Patriotic
Association" to counter the propaganda of the
Indian National Congress. In December 1893, he
also founded the Muhammadan Defense
Association, an organization dedicated to
protecting the political and social rights of
Muslims.
Educational Services
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan is often referred to as the
"Prophet of Education" in recognition of his
significant contributions to the promotion of
modern education, particularly for Muslims in
British India. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan wanted to
help the Muslims become educated, especially in
modern sciences. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan initiated
the Aligarh Movement to promote modern
education among Muslims. In 1863, Ghazipur he
founded the scientific society which translated and
published scientific works from European
languages, primarily English, into Persian and
Urdu. On May 24, 1875, he laid the foundation for
the M.A.O. High School in Aligarh, a significant
step toward Muslim educational empowerment
and the eventual demand for a separate homeland,
Pakistan.
All these contributions of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
led to the “Two Nation Theory,” inspiring the
formation of the All-India Muslim League to
protect Muslim rights. His leadership shaped the
Muslim struggle for identity, and his death on 27th
March 1898 marked the end of his influential role
in uniting Muslims and safeguarding their rights.