Why did Sir Syed found Aligarh Movement? ( 7 Marks )

 

PAK STUDIES

 CHAPTER 4

7 Mark Questions 

Q1. Why did Sir Syed found Aligarh Movement?

Sir Syed founded the Aligarh Movement due to many reasons. Firstly, he wanted to improve the relations between the British and Muslims by removing British doubts about Muslim loyalty and Muslim doubts about British intentions. Since the War of Independence in 1857, the British had placed all the blame on Muslims and hence Muslims were considered to be unhelpful and rebellious. They were denied opportunities in the armed forces and the British withdrew funding from Muslim schools. The Muslims, not the other hand, hand considered the British as foreign invaders who were here to impose western ideas. This had created a distance between the two which was having a negative impact not the social position of Muslims. 

Secondly, he also wanted to improve the social and economic position of Muslims by getting them to receive western education and take up posts in the civil service and army. The Hindu's cooperation with the British had led to them receiving education in new schools, which was increasing their confidence, leading them to view Muslims with an increasing lack of respect. Sir Syed knew that Muslims had to adopt a similar approach to excel in the community just like the Hindus. 

Lastly, Sir Syed wanted Muslims to increase their political awareness to make them aware of the threat from the Hindu policy of cooperation with the British and the fact that Hindus would soon overpower Muslims if they did not achieve political awareness. Sir Syed wanted Muslims to realize that the British were too powerful to be overthrown and that Muslims would gain only by collaborating with them.