Sir Syed Ahmed khan Documentary Film

Please watch: Best Motivational Speech by Saeed Ahmed Motivational Speaker
--~--
Sir Syed Ahmad Khan CSI (Urdu: سر سید احمد خان‎; 17 October 1817 – 27 March 1898), commonly known as Sir Syed, was an Indian Muslim pragmatist,[1] Islamic modernist,[2][3] philosopher and social activist of nineteenth century India. He worked for the British East India Company and was one of the founders of the Aligarh Muslim University. In 1842, Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar–II conferred upon Sir Syed the title of Javad-ud Daulah, maintaining the title originally conferred upon Sir Syed's grandfather Syed Hadi by Emperor Shah Alam II around the middle of the 18th century.

In addition, the Emperor added the title of Arif Jang. The conferment of these titles was symbolic of Sir Syed's incorporation into the nobility of Delhi.[4]

Born into nobility, Sir Syed earned a reputation as a distinguished scholar while working as a jurist for the British East India Company's rule in India. During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, he remained loyal to the British Empire and was noted for his actions in saving European lives.[5] After the rebellion, he penned the booklet The Causes of the Indian Mutiny – a daring critique, at the time, of British policies that he blamed for causing the revolt. Believing that the future of Muslims was threatened by the rigidity of their orthodox outlook, Sir Syed began promoting Western–style scientific education by founding modern schools and journals and organising Muslim entrepreneurs. Towards this goal, Sir Syed founded Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College in 1875 with the aim of promoting social, scientific, and economic development of Indian Muslims which later developed into the famous Aligarh Muslim University.

Influential Hindu and Muslim politicians of his time viewed Sir Syed with great suspicion, since he called upon Muslims to loyally serve the British Empire. He denounced nationalist organisations such as the Indian Congress for giving only token representation to the Indian Muslim community. Sir Syed promoted the adoption of Urdu as the lingua franca of all Indian Muslims, and mentored a rising generation of Muslim politicians and entrepreneurs. Prior to the Hindi–Urdu controversy, he was interested in the education of both Muslims and Hindus, and visualised India as a beautiful bride, whose one eye was Hindu and, the other, Muslim. As a result of this view, he was regarded as a reformer and nationalist leader.

There was a sudden change in Sir Syed's views after the Hindi–Urdu controversy: his education and reformist policies became Muslim-specific and he fought for the status of Urdu. His biographer, Hali, wrote, One day as Sir Syed was discussing educational affairs of Muslims with Mr. Shakespeare – the then Commissioner of Banaras – Mr. Shakespeare looked surprised and asked him, This is the first time when I have heard you talking specifically about Muslims. Before this you used to talk about the welfare of the common Indians. Sir Syed then told him, Now I am convinced that the two communities Muslims and Hindus will not put their hearts in any venture together. This is nothing it is just the beginning, in the coming times an ever increasing hatred and animosity appears on the horizon simply because of those who are regarded as educated. Those who will be around will witness it., (Hali, 1993).[6] Overall Sir Syed is hailed as the father of the Two Nation Theory and one of the founding fathers of Pakistan, along with Allama Iqbal and Muhammad Ali Jinnah.[7]

Bharat Ek Khoj 46: Sir Syed Ahmed Khan

Bharat Ek Khoj—The Discovery of India
A Production of Doordarshan, the Government of India’s Public Service Broadcaster
Episode 46: Sir Syed Ahmed Khan

With Mohan Maharishi as Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Mohini Sharma as Begum Syed Ahmed Khan, Ahmed Khan as Nawab Mehrnood, John Holyer as Mr. Shakespeare, Moraq Holyer as Mrs. Shakespeare, Shashi Sharma as Sir Syeds Mother, Dev Malhotra as Maulana Altai Hussain Hail, Irfan Khan as Samiullah, John Holyer as Lord Canning, and Munira Surti as Khala. The script is by Javed Siddiqi.

Nehru notes that after the 1857 Mutiny, the British government deliberately repressed the Indian Muslims to a greater extent than they did the Hindus, which especially affected those sections from which the new middle class might have emerged. British policy towards them underwent a change in the 1870’s and became more favourable. In this process, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan played a crucial role. He was anxious to make them accept English education and thus draw them out of their conservative shell.

The scene opens dramatically with the Nawab of Moradabad launching a revengeful attack at midnight on the local British collector and Sir Syed thwarting them, explaining the inevitability of the prevailing British Raj and wisdom in accepting the same. The brave effort is duly recognised by the authorities and Sir Syed, while declining a Jagir, is rewarded with a princely lump sum and a monthly pension. In his alignment for British help and cooperation, he repeatedly tries to prove that Muslims as a whole did not rebel during the 1857 Mutiny and that many indeed remained loyal to the British power.

To Lord Canning, the new Governor General, Sir Syed pleads for aid in creating a ‘scientific’ society for the Muslims. His efforts to open an English school for the community are stiffly resisted by the Muslims. With his concerted efforts, the Madarsa is finally established at Ghazipur where five languages are taught - Urdu, English, Arabic, Persian and Sanskrit. He resolves to publish a newspaper and introduce teaching of science since it is closely connected with nature. He also expresses a keenness to visit Europe, to study their progress and development.

Nehru observes, through an array of colourful period-paintings and letters, how Sir Syed was much impressed by the European civilisation. On his return the resolve to convert the Madarsa into a college is doubly strengthened and he collects donations personally. Rousing poems are heard on the theme of education for the deprived community. On behalf of the authorities, 74 acres of land, the munificence of Henry Lawrence, comes handy in realising Sir Syed’s dream of founding the Anglo-Muhammadn Oriental College in 1875, eventually to become University of Aligarh. One of the declared objects of the college was ‘to make the Mussalmans of India worthy and useful subjects of the British crown’, as quoted by Nehru.

There is the other momentous event of establishing the National Congress and request from its founding fathers like Sir Surendranath Banerjee and Badruddin Tayebji to Sir Syed for joining the same. As Nehru notes, while Sir Syed succeeded in beginning the English education among the Muslims and diverting the Muslim mind from the political movement, many prominent Muslims nonetheless joined the National Congress. British policy became progressively pro-Muslim, in favour of those elements among the moderate Muslims who were opposed to the National movement.


Producer Doordarshan
Language Hindi

Credits

Uploaded by Public.Resource.Org
Based on Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, The Discovery of India
With Roshan Seth as Jawaharlal Nehru
Om Puri as the Narrator
Produced and Directed by Shyam Benegal
Chief Assistant Director was Mandeep Kakkar
Executive Producer Raj Plus
Script by Shama Zaldi and Sunil Shanbag
A production of Doordarshan