HERITAGE
Iconic Muslim University Marks Centennial The Aligarh Muslim University stands as testimony to Sir Syed’s quest for reforms in education and a fulcrum for Muslims in South Asia BY IFTIKHAR GILANI
L
ast December, Muslims of South Asia and beyond Qasim Nanatvi, while agreeing to make education a tool to celebrated a landmark — the centenary of Aligarh re-empower Muslims, had serious differences on the Muslim University, which has gained a global nature of education. reputation for academic excellence. Concerned with the imperialists’ mass killing The real story started nearly 150 years ago in of religious scholars (ulema), Nanatvi (1832-80) the red sandstone building of the Delhi Madrassa left Delhi in 1866 for Deoband village. He started (now the Anglo Arabic Model School) at Ajmeri imparting religious lessons under a pomegranate Gate, where the old and new city of Delhi meet. tree to produce scholars who could lead mosques and guide people to sustain religious values and Here Molvi Mamlook Ali’s two students were often seen fiercely debating how to revive the Muslims’ principles. Out of this grew Darul Uloom Deoband, glory in the Subcontinent. the world-famous seminary considered the mother of South Asia’s madrassas. Hopelessness and despondency crept among Muslims after the British ended their 800-year rule Ten years later, Syed Ahmad (1817-98) also left Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and targeted them. Delhi and, in 1875, set up the Anglo Mohammedan Coinciding with the mighty Mughal Empire’s dissolution and College on the pattern of Cambridge and Oxford in Aligarh, 150 miles the failure of the first war of independence against the British in southeast of Delhi. Braving fierce community opposition — he was 1857, both students, [later Sir] Syed Ahmed Khan and Maulana actually labeled an infidel — he introduced modern education and 58 ISLAMIC HORIZONS MARCH/APRIL 2021
