Background:
sir
syed
ahmad khan was born in 17-oct-1817 in Dehli. he got traditional education. He
got job in a company in 1837 after his father’s death. During his job he starts
struggling for Muslims propagation and educational status. In 1876 after
getting retirement from the govt. job he settled down in Aligarh. In 1888 he
got the title of “sir”. He died on 1898.
After
the 1857 war of independence, conditions of Muslims were miserable. Their ball
was in the court of Hindus and British. Hindus took the complete benefit of the
situation and become the blue eyed boy of British’s.
In
such a deplorable condition, sir Syed introduce the new way of thinking for the
Muslims. After the deep analysis of the matter, that he adopted a compromising
policy or attitude towards the British.
He
wrote the pamphalet
“causes
for the Indian revolt”
“the
loyal muhammadans of india”
Causes for the Indian revolt:
He
wrote this pamphlet to bring home to the British that the Muslims took part in this
revolt only due to certain misunderstandings created between the ruler and the
ruled he blamed the British for this bloodshed as they kept the natives at a
distance.
Loyal muhammaden of india:
In
this pamphlet he discussed those muslims who rescued the british families
during the mutiny.
After the removal of misunderstandings b/w British
and Muslims he launched a full fledged movement by the name of ‘Aligarh
movement’ the dominant objectives of this movement were as follows:
ü The gap b/w the ruler and ruled was engulfed
& good relationship were developed.
ü In
order to further narrow the breach of both the nations ‘scientific society’
was formed & all well known English books were translated into urdu.
ü In
order to bring home to muslims their past glory & new cultural, social
customs, & latest social upraisal & education, a newspaper by the name
of ‘muhammaden social reformer’ was introduce.
ü M.A.O
college was established for the muslims in Aligarh, which later became the
first university in sub-continent. The scholars produced by this institution
later infused a new spirit into the separatism movement
ü Muslims
were kept away from politics so first they should established themselves
socially, economically & educationally.
ü The
muslims were made to feel that they were not a minority, but majority nation.
ü In
order to give rise to muslim identity, separate literature was developed by
Hali, Nazir ahmad & shibli. Poetry was written to provoke the muslims.
There were two options for Sir Syed
ahmad khan to implement his action plan to achieve his objectives:
1. To introduce his point of view to the muslims
through the already under publication newspapers of the Muslims
2. To
introduce & publish newspaper to propagate & convince people in favour of
his views.
Sir Syed ahmad khan considered
it appropriate to publish his own newspaper. Sir Syed Ahmad khan published two
newspaper
1. Muhammaden
social reformer.
2. Scientific
society magazine.
The scientific society magazine:
This magazine was published in 1866. And was published for 32 years.Maulana
Altaf hussain hali has given a detailed account of the merits of this magazine
in ‘hayyat-i-javaid’:
Ø This
newspaper was published regularly.
Ø The
resources of news were very authentic & all the major incident were
explained in detail.
Ø Certain
policy of the govr. Was criticized but the tone adopted was very neutral.
Ø This
paper never adopted hard policy against any person or institution.
Ø This
paper had a clear and distinct voice.
Ø At
least in the southern india, the drastic change in thinking of the public was
brought about by this paper.
Ø Political,
social, educational & moral essays were printed regularly written by sir
syed.
Ø The
govr accepted it as the mouth piece of the educated muslims.
The muhammadan social reformer:
This
magazine was published in 1870 and was published for 6 years and 7 months. In
the 6th publication of this magazine, sir syed pointed out his aim
in publishing this magazine. The gist of his essay was that ‘the muslims should quit
the path of blind following & adopt their own independent point of view
free from evil & hypocrisy’.
So the aim of sir syed ahmad khan was to infuse such
a spirit in the Muslims that they feel proud of their past, confident of their
present & hopeful of a good future. The influence of this magazine on the
people according to Hali was such that they:
Ø Gathered around the voice raised by ‘muhammaden
social reformer’.
Ø Many
ulema were against sir syed but they had felt for themselves the importance of
achieving modern English education.
Ø The
Islamic madaras was establish at each nook and corner of the india.
Ø Muslims
who were under the melancholy of inferiority complex were back to normal.
Ø The
muslims who held the orthodox views against each other were relaxed & felt
confidence upon their own muscles.
Ø It
was after a long time that the muslims felt the importance of Islamic unity
& Islamic nationhood.
Ø There
was a revolutionary change in urdu literature & a new turn in urdu poetry.
Ø The
most imp of all that Aligarh college was founded & English language and
education was introduced & spread.
Whem sir syed ahmad khan after 6
years & 7 months was to close the publication of the magazine, he gave his
survey report about influence of this magazine. He said that we made an attempt
to show our nation a proper path & gave them a proper line of thinking.
Impact of sir syed’s
journalism: sir syed journalistic
approach gave an impectus to the muslim imagination. All the muslims
from Lahore to Calcutta started thinking in the style of an independent nation.