The Aligarh Movement

The book is a study of the movement of Muslim regeneration started by Sayyid Ahmad Khan after 1858. The movement took a final shape after Sayyid Ahmad’s return from England in 1870. The movement has been called the Aligarh movement because its headquarters were established at Aligarh. A study of the movement provides the answer to the question: why did we not develop into a homogeneous nation, and why did the Indian Muslims, generally speaking, support a path different from that of the other communities of India. The study of the movement helps us to understand the history of modern India in an objective manner. The book is based on a scientific study of the original contemporary sources. These are preserved at Aligarh. The Aligarh Institute Gazette, the Tahzib-ul-Akhlaq, the proceedings of the annual meetings of the Muhammadan Educational Conference, the proceedings of the meetings of the Trustees of the MAO College, the board of management of the college and Sir Sayyid Memorial Fund Association, the annual reports of the college, the Aligarh College magazine and the government records in the national archives of India have been copiously consulted in the preparation of the book. The book had originally been published in 1965. The persistent pressure of friends and scholars has persuaded the author to bring out a revised and enlarged edition of the original work. The Aligarh movement was to bring about a regeneration of the Indian Muslims. Its main object was to assiduously advocate loyalty of the Muslims for the British rulers of India, and to organize them, as a community, to play a dominant role in the political life of the country. For this, it was essential to persuade the Muslim Ashraf to take to the western system of education and equip themselves with qualifications essential for the high posts open for the Indians. The second stage was to organize the Muslim minority, under the leadership of the Ashraf, to put forward their claims for a self-image which was different from the national concept. The basis for a separate identity of the Indian Muslims was prepared by the movement.