Sayyid Ahmad Khan

A reformist educator who modernized Indian education and promoted interfaith harmony

Sayyid Ahmad Khan (1817–1898) was a pioneering 19th-century Indian scholar, educator, and social reformer who played a pivotal role in modernizing education systems in British India. Born in Delhi during the twilight of the Mughal Empire, he witnessed the trauma of the 1857 Indian Rebellion and dedicated his life to bridging the gap between traditional Islamic scholarship and Western modernity. His vision of ‘education as a tool for empowerment’ laid the foundation for institutions like the Aligarh Muslim University, which became a beacon of interfaith collaboration and scientific learning.

Khān’s most notable contribution was his advocacy for English-language education through his seminal work ‘The Aligarh Movement’, arguing that mastering Western sciences could preserve Muslim intellectual traditions while ensuring social mobility. He founded the Scientific Society (1864), translating key scientific texts into Urdu to make knowledge accessible to non-English speakers. His 1880 essay ‘The Causes of the Indian Revolt’ challenged colonial stereotypes by advocating for equitable governance and Hindu-Muslim unity, a radical stance in an era of sectarian tensions.

Today, his legacy endures in India’s secular education policies and the Aligarh Muslim University, which remains a leading institution fostering cross-cultural dialogue. Khān’s insistence on critical thinking—‘question everything, believe nothing without reason’—continues to inspire global discussions on reconciling tradition with modernity.