Madrastul Uloom: The AMU's precursor counts Manto, Khwaja Abbas, Javed Akhtar, Lala Amarnath among its alumni

Indian Express

23-05-2025

An elementary school in a nondescript city, with just a dozen students, received the nod from the then-Viceroy, Lord Northbrook (1826-1901), to lay its foundation. The first educational endeavour soon developed into a hub of intellectual and cultural activity. The school evolved into the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental (MAO) College (1877) and then became a central university in 1920, leaving an indelible mark on India's educational, literary, and cultural landscape.
The institution's first student, Enayat Ullah, rose to become the chief justice of the Nizam's State of Hyderabad.
Founded on May 24, 1875, by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, Madrastul Uloom marked the beginning of a transformative journey. It was rechristened as Minto Circle and then Syedna Tahir Saifuddin School. Notwithstanding its evolution as a university, the school continues to function till this day.
Over the decades, the school produced notable alumni, including Sadat Hasan Manto, Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, Irfan Habib, Mushirul Hasan, Hamid Ansari, Talat Mehmood, Saeed Jaffrey, Javed Akhtar, Lala Amarnath, Zafar Iqbal, among many others.
Despite the devastation brought about by the First War of Independence, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan's determination and resilience shone through. His dream of an education and a reformed strategy for improving the lives of beleaguered Indians led to the establishment of the Scientific Society in 1864. It resolved to translate essential books related to physical science, engineering, and world history into the Urdu language.
He also formed a committee to disseminate education among Muslims. The committee organised an essay competition advocating for the establishment of a college to provide modern education. This prompted Sir Syed to form another committee, the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College Fund Committee, in 1872. The committee resolved to establish a separate elementary school that would provide both modern secular and religious education through the medium of English and Urdu. The school's prescribed syllabus was comprehensive, encompassing a wide range of subjects, including English, Urdu, Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, Latin, Literature, Mathematics, Botany, Zoology, Geology, Mineralogy, Animal physiology, Physics, Chemistry, Engineering, Islamic jurisprudence, Hadith studies, and Islamic creed.
A committee of the directors of instruction in the vernacular language learning featuring prominent scholars and literary stalwarts such as WH Smith, J Elliot, Professor Zakaullah (Professor of Mathematics, Muir College, Allahabad), Mr Obaidullah Obaidi (superintendent, Dhaka College), Altaf Hussain Haali ( Professor, Anglo Arabic College, Delhi), Mohammad Hussain Azad, Moulvi Chiragh Ali, and Syed Hussain Bilgrami, Syed Mahmood, Rakshan Nawan Mohammad Zia uddin among others. Mr William Muir, the Financial Minister of the Legislative Council of India, Mr E Deighton, Principal of Agra College, and Sir Syed were chosen as the honorary president, president, and vice president, respectively.
A 25-member fundraising committee was also constituted, symbolising the collective effort and shared responsibility in the school's establishment. Sir Syed was the first to contribute Rs 500. The Viceroy, Lord Northbrook, gave a personal donation of Rs 10,000. The Nawab of Rampur doled out Rs 30,000 cash and promissory notes worth Rs 30,000, yielding an annual income of Rs 1,200. Maharaja Patiala provided Rs 13,000 in cash and a recurring grant of Rs 1,888 annually. John Strachey (1823-1907), the Lieutenant Governor of the north-western province, donated Rs 1000; Salar Jung announced an annual award of Rs 3600. Nizam Hyderabad contributed Rs 2000 cash and a monthly grant of Rs 400. Remarkably, a staggering amount of over four lakh rupees was collected before the school's inauguration.
On how the collection was started, Sir Syed shared an amusing anecdote, 'I distinctly recall the day when I saw a green colour Imam Zamin (an arm band tied with some money on the right hand of a person when he undertakes a journey. The offering is made in the name of Imam Ali ibn Moosa Raza(765-818), the eighth Imam of the Twelver Shia sect of Islam, the guarantor of safe travel. Upon completing the journey, the money is donated to the needy, but the charity cannot be given to the Syeds), around the arm of my friend. I asked for the money, though I am a Syed, he was hesitant, then I wondered, Is there anyone more destitute than Muslims? Does any committee other than the MAO College Fund Committee lay claim to it? My words moved him, and I got the green band. When I loosened it, I found one rupee and two Mansoori paisa (coins of the Jodhpur state). It was the first contribution, and the pious money triggered donations; the fund accumulated to nearly 4.50 lakhs. We have decided to spend 979 rupees per month on the school.'
Despite his widespread adoration, Sir Syed is often criticised for his focus on the educational, social, and political empowerment of the upper class of Muslims, which some argue led to the neglect of the lower classes. Some scholars use selective quotes, especially from his writings on the 1857 revolt where he used harsh and impolite words for weavers. They accused him of having a feudal mindset and showing a marked disdain for the underprivileged.
However, Sir Syed's much-talked-about feudal and biased mindset seems to wane when he took the first step to ameliorate Muslims by setting up a school. The opening ceremony bears testimony to his benevolence and generosity. The Aligarh Institute Gazette (May 28, 1875) published a special supplement on the inauguration ceremony. The school was started with 12 students, and contrary to popular perception, not all of them belonged to the affluent class. Introducing the students, Sir Syed said, 'Two poor students from Azamgarh have reached here. One of them had lost his parents recently, and the parents of the second were alive.'
School fees remain fixed, but a concession can be given to those in need; however, Sir Syed went beyond this. He devised the fee structure, making affordability its core. A graded fee structure was introduced, with a range of one to five rupees. A poor student could pay one rupee. It prompted many students from low-income backgrounds to join the school. The school purchased a large vehicle for ferrying students from impoverished backgrounds living in the city.
Sir Syed used the metaphor of the two eyes of a beautiful bride to represent the Hindu and the Muslim, and he employed this expression at the inauguration ceremony. He said, 'Two communities live in India, and if one is progressing and the other goes down, then its beautiful face will turn black. The charm of the bride's face lies in her two pretty, illuminating eyes.'
(Shafey Kidwai is the director of Sir Syed Academy, Aligarh Muslim University, and the author of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan: Reason, Religion, Nation)