"The first requisite for the progress of a nation is the brotherhood and unity amongst sections of the society." - Sir Syed Ahmad Khan
Sir Syed Ahmad Khan (17
October 1817 – 27 March 1898), born Syed Ahmad Taqvi was an
Anglo-Indian, Muslim philosopher, pragmatist, and social activist of
nineteenth century India. Born into Mughal nobility, Sir Syed earned a
reputation as a distinguished scholar while working as a jurist for the
British East India Company's rule in India.
In 1842, Mughal Emperor
Bahadur Shah Zafar–II conferred upon Sir Syed the title of Javad-ud
Daulah, conferred upon Sir Syed's grandfather Syed Hadi by Emperor Shah
Alam II around the middle of the 18th century. In addition, the Emperor
added the title of Arif Jang. The conferment of these titles was
symbolic of Sir Syed's incorporation into the nobility of Delhi. Sir Syed founded the famous Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) in 1875 with the aim of promoting social, scientific, and economic development of Indian Muslims.
