It was the time India has just started to think about independence, regaining complete freedom from the tyranny of the foreign power – the British. The stepping stone to all the future struggles for this freedom was THE REVOLT OF 1857, which wasn’t a success in the end but accomplished in raising a sense of nationalism within each and every Indian. India is a diverse nation; people are separated by class, caste and difference in religion. The Revolt of 1857 gave way to their unity against the British forces.

His associates have heeded those words out of fear and supported him. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, after a brief visit to Oxford and Cambridge, realized how vital it is to establish an educated mass of Muslims rather than having the ones who can be pushed back easily by the majority. During the ripening period of the 1857 revolt, when he heard a rumour floating in the air, “It’s the Muslim elites who are conspiring and instigating the masses”, he was shocked and utterly disgusted. He questioned his senior British officers, “Please Sir, I request you to clear the names of the poor Indians, especially my Muslim brothers and sisters with the blame of provoking the sparks of the Revolt”.

The British officers carried their ignorance like their guns and hence, didn’t bother.  He also gave the idea of appointing Muslims to assist in the British administration.  The British didn’t give him or his words much attention because, at that time, they were aimed at suppressing the revolt as soon as possible. Sir Syed in grave despair, mumbled to himself, “Even if the authorities fail to take any initiative, I will. I can never let Muslims suffer a future, opposite to what they are fighting for. Every Indian deserves to live in harmony and with respect, the minorities won’t be left out” and hence, gave the birth of Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College.

The British have allowed Indians to be recruited in civil services, but only a few could afford to study abroad, being capable of holding a post. And out of those few, only one could be a Muslim. Syed Mahmood, his son, idolized his father and his dreams and helped him with the official matters for the funding.

The necessity of English education made Sir Syed understood in what shape he can present his reforms to the world, which was by building a college for the education of the Muslims. Sir Sultan Mohammed Shah, the Aga Khan III, came forward and assured Sir Syed, “I am ready to give you the necessary funding for the setup. To enhance our community, we all should do whatever it takes.”. Sir Syed finally established MOHAMMEDAN ANGLO-ORIENTAL COLLEGE in 1857 in Aligarh, with a vision of spreading British education, keeping the Islamic entity intact, of course, which he chose after visiting Oxford and Cambridge. The college and Syed Ahmed were deeply associated with the Aligarh Movement.

The Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College was affiliated to Calcutta University at first, and then to the Allahabad University. The College and its courses grew rapidly and successfully fabricated Indian Muslims who participated in the British offices. Lord Curzon when visited the College, praised the notion by saying, “If it hadn’t been this college, we wouldn’t have gained such able Muslim officers, as were you, Syed”. Sir Syed Ahmad closed his eyes in the fulfilment of his dream peacefully for the last time in 1898. Taking a note of this successful expansion of the College, the students united in agitation, “We are a well functioning and self-sufficient college. What is the need for another University to control our curriculum? We demand our college to be announced as a University by the law.”