By- Dr Shakeel Ahmad Qidwai
October 17, the birth anniversary of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan is not just about honoring and remembering contributions of a great reformer. It has special significance for AMU alumni all over the world and is celebrated as a festival. His contributions were made not only to the Muslim community, but to the idea of India in its entirety.
The SS Day is an evening organized to remember the sacrifices of Syed Ahmad Khan for social and educational uplift of Indian masses, particularly Muslims who had been lagging behind educationally. It is also a day of self-introspection to ascertain how far we have fulfilled Sir Syed's dream of producing leadership who could contribute to nation building.
Sir Syed was a scholar, reformer, statesman and a visionary. A man of great determination, he in 1864, established a ‘Scientific Society’, considered as the first modernist organization. It was also the first concrete step, which led to the establishment of MAO College in 1875. There were 196 members of the society, of which 107 were Muslims, 85 Hindus and 4 British. Such was an overwhelming motivating force behind his personality – his desire to work for the educational uplift of both Hindus and Muslims.
Sir Syed didn't want products of MAO College to solely go for high-profile jobs. He aimed for the students to become influencers excelling not only in academics but having strong character and complete personality development. His vision was to produce global leaders in all walks of life. AMU was developed with residential facilities in order to inculcate these qualities. Aligs, internationally, are flourishing, giving priority to quality life and forgetting to contribute in community development simultaneously.
Be it faculty of AMU or Aligs elsewhere. It has somehow sabotaged the spirit of "Aligarh Movement". We lack the spirit of becoming the torch bearers of Sir Syed’s vision. In recent times, why Aligarh is unable to produce scholars and prolific writers like Hali, Shibli or Sir Syed himself or leaders like Mohammad Ali Jauhar, Hasrat Mohani, Dr Zakir Hussain etc., needs introspection. All these eminent personalities got their education in very humble setups. Let us introspect; why have we failed? Who else, if not Aligs, will lead the community?
Sir Syed’s message was simple– “Follow the path which leads to the wealth of knowledge and do so with an open mind and heart”. “Study and revere the holy scriptures of all religions and let not hatred blur the vision of secularism”.
My dear fellow Aligs, let's come together, plan and execute our ideas, contribute to nation building, and pledge to use this platform for more constructive purposes. There will be challenges and hurdles, but with strong resolve and firm determination we can bring change in the society.
Let’s act in letter and spirit to emulate the footsteps of the great iconic figure; we extol, revere and in whose remembrance, we assemble together to celebrate Sir Syed Day every year.
(The writer is president of the AMU Old Boys' Association, Lucknow, and an orthopaedic surgeon)
