PMS 2021 Solved Pakistan Affairs Past Papers | Political Ideology of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
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Question Breakdown
In this question, the examiner has asked you to discuss the political ideology of Syed Ahmad Khan towards the political party Indian National Congress, with particular reference to his policy that measures the threat of majority rule to the country. First, you must introduce your answer, which contains all the leading points. Then, write about the biography because whenever something is asked about personalities. It is good to add biographical information to the answer. Then, write the main body of your answer, but strengthen your write-up by providing evidence. It gives legitimacy to your answer. At last, sum up your answer with a conclusion.
Outline
1-Introduction
2-Biographical Sketch of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan
3-What was Syed Ahmad Khan’s Political Ideology towards the Indian National Congress?
- ✓Opposition to the Indian National Congress (INC’s) Political Agenda
- Evidence: In his Letter to Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk (Secretary of the Muhammadan Educational Conference), He Said, We Should Not Join Hands with the Congress Party because, in their Agenda, there is No Place for the Muslims, and their Efforts will be Detrimental to our Community.
- ✓Criticism of the Congress Methods
- Evidence: While Criticizing the Methods of the INC, He Wrote in the Aligarh Institute Gazette that the Aims of the Congress are Based on a System of Representation by the Majority, Which will Leave the Muslims Politically and Socially Weak.
4-What Policy Did Sir Syed Ahmad Khan Implemented to Counter the Danger of Majority Rule in the Indian Sub-continent?
4.1 Ideological Aspect
- ✓Two-Nation Theory
- Evidence: While Adopting the Tunisian Motto of Patriotism, He Replaced Native Land in the First Verse and Country in the Second Phrase by the Word Nation, which was Love of the Nation is Part of Faith Whosoever Strives for the Progress of his Nation Really Endeavors to Raise the Honor of his Religion
- ✓Theory of Muslim Nationalism
- Evidence: His Discourses Reflect His Stand on Muslim Nationalism. He Told a Gathering of Students in Lahore that From Time immemorial, Communities have been Held Together by Ties of Common Descent or Homeland. I Use the Word Community to Include all Muslims.
4.2 Educational-cum-Political Aspect
- ✓Aligarh Movement and Educational-cum-Political Initiatives
- Evidence: Tariq Hassan Aptly Describes in his Book, the Aligarh Movement and the Making of the Indian Muslim Mind (1857–2002), Sir Syed Ahmad Khan Focused on Fostering Muslim Education and Political Development through the Aligarh Movement
- ✓Advocacy for Loyalty to the British Government
- Evidence: His advocacy was the Cornerstone of his Opposition to the INC as He Said, Our Welfare Is in the Hands of the British Government. If We Join the Congress in Its Opposition to the Government, We Risk Losing the Trust and Protection of the British, Which Would Be Disastrous for Muslims
5-Conclusion
Answer to the Question
Introduction
Sayyid Ahmad Khan was a reformer, philosopher, jurist, and educationist of the 19th century. His political ideology towards the Indian National Congress was marked by antagonism. So, he opposed the party’s agenda of representative self-government and popular elections to the Legislative bodies because it facilitates the majority rule and is against the interests of Indian Muslims. Furthermore, he supported the idea of separate electorates to guarantee the Muslim’s representation and safeguard their rights. As far as his policy is concerned while antagonizing the notion of majority rule in the Indian Subcontinent, he adopted an ideological and educational-cum-political approach to develop Muslims and save them from the imminent danger of subjugation as a minority. Ideologically, he became the pioneer of Muslim nationalism and made Muslims realize that they are a distinct nation. Coming to his educational-cum-political policy to obstruct the majority rule, his ideological opposition to the INC came into effect by promoting the educational development of Muslims. For this purpose, he started an educational movement titled The Aligarh Movement for the academic development of Muslims, where he advocated loyalty to the British government. Thus, by following the policy, he countered the imminent danger of Hindu-dominated majority rule in the Indian Subcontinent.
Biographical Sketch of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan
Sayyid Ahmad Khan, a 19th-century reformer, philosopher, jurist, and educationist, was born on 17 October 1817 in Delhi, British India. He is widely known as Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. He was the founder of the two-nation theory, the theory that led to the creation of Pakistan. His family was associated with the Mughal Court, whereas his father was offered a high post in the Court of Emperor Akbar II. Some of his significant works on history, politics, religion, and also magazines include Tabin al-al-kalam Fi tafsir altawrat Wa ‘I-injil’ala millat al Islam, Al-Khutbat al-Ahmadiya fi’l Arab wa’I Sirat al-Muhammadiya (1869), Tafsir-ul-Quran(1877), Ain-e-Akbari, Asbab-e-Baghawat-e-Hind, Loyal Muhammadans of India. He was the founder of the Aligarh movement and helped Indian Muslims to emancipate socio-politically.
What was Syed Ahmad Khan’s Political Ideology towards the Indian National Congress?
The following points demonstrate the political ideology of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan towards the Indian National Congress, which was founded as the first pan-Indian political party by English bureaucrat Allan Octavian Hume on 28 December 1885.
- ✓Opposition to the Indian National Congress (INC’s) Political Agenda
First, despite the INC’s standing as a pan-Indian political organization, representing the rights of Muslims and Hindus of the Indian Subcontinent, he opposed the party’s agenda of representative self-government and popular elections to the Legislative bodies because it facilitates the majority rule. The census of 1871 revealed that the Muslim community was a minority. Moreover, he became a vocal critic of representative institutions, such as the Indian Legislative Council, which was based on the popular elections. So, considering the Hindu’s numeric preponderance, he warned Muslims against their inclusion in the party. For illustration, in his letter to Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk (secretary of the Mohammadans Educational Conference), he said we should not join hands with the congress party because, in their agenda, there is no place for the Muslims, and their efforts will be detrimental to our community. He was not only afraid of Hindu domination but also of the alienation of the Muslims as a sidelined minority. In addition, the reason that the agenda of his movement advocated for the promotion of education and abstinence from politics marked his strategy to counter-balance the influence of the majority by raising an educated and capable workforce. Hence, he prohibited the Muslims from joining the Indian National Congress.
- ✓Criticism of the Congress Methods
Second, he implicitly criticized the INC’s method of advocating popular elections in the Indian Legislative Councils because he knew that the party was predominantly a Hindu-dominated organization, facilitating only the interest of the Hindus. Moreover, he supported the idea of separate electorates that would guarantee the Muslim’s representation and safeguard their rights. For example, while criticizing the methods of the INC, he wrote in the Aligarh Institute Gazette that the aims of the Congress are based on a system of representation by the majority, which will leave the Muslims politically and socially weak. So, instead of supporting the INC’s agenda of self-governance, he promoted loyalty to the British government that would protect the Muslim interests under colonial rule. His correspondence reveals that he thought that the INC was a representation of the interest of the Hindu elites and not working as a national body. Thus, he criticized the Congress’s Methods, which were aimed at establishing their rule in India.
What Policy Did Sir Syed Ahmad Khan Implemented to Counter the Danger of Majority Rule in the Indian Sub-continent?
As far as his policy is concerned while antagonizing the notion of majority rule in the Indian Subcontinent, he adopted an ideological and educational-cum-political approach to develop Muslims and save them from the imminent danger of subjugation as a minority. However, the following points describes his measures.
A- Ideological Aspect
Indubitably, ideology plays a vital role in shaping the ideas, desires, demands, aims, and goals of a nation or community. No policy, approach, effort, or plan can succeed if nations lack in acknowledging its spirit and cause. The same was the case with the Indian Muslims; they failed to accept that their status as a minority would not allow political success in democratic India. They need logical-cum-pragmatic approach to sustain their standing as a distinct nation. However, the realization that they are a separate nation implicitly came to the stage because of the efforts of Syed Ahmad Khan.
- ✓Two-Nation Theory
First, he became the pioneer of Muslim nationalism and made Muslims realize that they are a distinct nation. He is regarded as the father of the two-nation theory that became the basis of the Pakistan movement. As I discussed, the census of 1870 revealed the numeric preponderance of Hindus. So, majority rule means the exclusion of Muslims from the political and social mainstream. He knew that Muslims’ inclusion in Congress would strengthen Congress designs and it would cause Muslims’ downfall. Moreover, he started to advocate Muslim nationalism. The testimony of his approach is that while adopting the Tunisian motto of patriotism, he replaced native land in the first verse and country in the second phrase with the word nation, which was Love of the nation is part of faith. Whosoever strives for the progress of his nation really endeavours to raise the honour of his religion. Without a doubt, his efforts became successful, and at last, the two-nation theory led to the creation of Pakistan. But at that time it invoked the spirit of the separate nation among the Muslims that motivated them to uplift on educational-cum-political grounds.
- ✓Theory of Muslim Nationalism
Second, to counter the danger of majority rule, he made Muslims realize the potential drawbacks of joining the INC. Furthermore, he advise d Muslims to concentrate on the educational uplift to counter-balance the influence of the majority. For example, his discourses reflect his stand on Muslim nationalism. He told a gathering of students in Lahore that from time immemorial, communities have been held together by ties of common descent or homeland. I use the word community to include all Muslims. So, he propagates his stance by educational means. His efforts to promote the two-nation theory and Muslim nationalism go simultaneously, showcasing his pragmatic approach toward the uplift of the Muslims in the crisis-ridden period after the War of Independence of 1857.
B- Educational-cum-Political Aspect
Coming to his educational-cum-political policy to obstruct the majority rule, his ideological opposition to the INC came into effect by promoting the educational development of Muslims. Although the Aligarh Movement was an educational juncture, its effects left lasting footprints on the political development of the Indian Muslims.
- ✓Aligarh Movement and Educational-cum-Political Initiatives
First, he started an educational movement, titled The Aligarh Movement, aimed at uplifting Indian Muslims according to the emerging standards. One aspect of the movement also aimed at preparing the Muslims for recruitment in governmental jobs by making them loyal subjects of the government. As Tariq Hassan aptly describes in his book, the Aligarh Movement and the Making of the Indian Muslim Mind (1857–2002), Sir Syed Ahmad Khan focused on fostering Muslim education and political development through the Aligarh movement. So, he focused on securing separate Muslim identities rooted in their social and political development. His ideology toward the INC was marked by skepticism and suspicion. So, to counter-balance the influence of the INC, he established the Patriotic Association in 1888, which primarily represented the rights of Muslim and non-Muslim peasants but emphasized Muslim concerns. As part of the movement, he established Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College (1875), which played a vital role in shaping the ideas of the future generation. Several books, institutions, and initiatives became part of the movement. Its political aspect was demonstrated by the fact that the students of Aligarh Institute became a part of the Pakistan movement, whereas the All-India Muslim League was founded in the annual session of the All-India Muhammadan Educational Conference. Hence, his educational-cum-political initiatives played a significant role in obstructing the majority rule in India.
- ✓Advocacy for Loyalty to the British Government
Second, he advocated for the revival of Muslims by advising them to take the side of the government. One of the provisions of the objectives of the Aligarh Movement states that to make Muslims loyal subjects of the British government. The reason behind this stand was not meant to subjugate Muslims, but he knew that it would be wise for the Muslims not to antagonize the government. To prove Muslims’ loyalty to the British, he wrote many publications, including a magazine titled The Loyal Muhammadans of India. For Illustration, his advocacy was the cornerstone of his opposition to the INC as he said, our welfare is in the hands of the British government. If we join the Congress in opposition to the government, we risk losing the trust and protection of the British, which would be disastrous for Muslims. The British government considered the Indian Muslims responsible for the War of Independence in 1857. So, their tilt was toward Hindus till the Partition of Bengal in 1905. Hence, he advocated loyalty toward the government to make a separate position for the Muslims.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan’s political ideology was shaped by a deep concern for the socio-political well-being of Muslims in British India. His opposition to the Indian National Congress stemmed from his belief that their agenda marginalized Muslim interests, leaving them vulnerable in a system of majority rule. To counter this, he propagated the Two-Nation Theory and Muslim nationalism, emphasizing the distinctiveness of Muslims as a community. His Aligarh Movement focused on educational empowerment, positioning Muslims as key players in political development while ensuring loyalty to the British government. Sir Syed’s pragmatic approach, grounded in a belief that the British were the protectors of Muslim interests, marked his rejection of the Congress’s confrontational stance. His legacy, therefore, lies in his efforts to safeguard the Muslim community’s political and social position through education, strategic alliances, and careful political navigation
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