Sir Syed remembered on 116th death anniversary

KARACHI: The 116^th death anniversary of a visionary Muslim leader, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, is being observed today (March 27).

He was a figure well known for promoting education through imaginative ideas.

He was born in Delhi on October 17, 1817. Sir Syed’s greatest achievement was his Aligarh Movement, which was primarily an educational venture. He established Gulshan School at Muradabad in 1859, Victoria School at Ghazipur in 1863, and a scientific society in 1864. When Sir Syed was posted at Aligarh in 1867, he started the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental School in the city. Sir Syed got the opportunity to visit England in 1869-70.

Sir Syed asked the Muslims of his time not to participate in politics unless and until they got modern education. He was of the view that Muslims could not succeed in the field of western politics without knowing the system.

He passed away on March 27, 1898 in the house of Haji Ismail Khan, where he had been shifted 10 or 12 days earlier due to illness. He was buried the following afternoon in the compound of the Mosque of Aligarh College.