We all are aware of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan’s mammoth efforts in shaping the educational landscape of Indian Sub continent in the 19th century by establishing the scientific society, Victoria College, Persian School in Moradabad and the establishment of Mohammedan Anglo Oriental College in Aligarh, which in 1920 became the Aligarh Muslim University. These establishments help Indians specially those who belong to marginalised section of the society to achieve great heights in their educational pursuit and also help them in becoming better human beings. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was a visionary whose foresightedness helped Indians in mastering English language and thus creating their niche in their own country where they were outclassed and outsmarted by colonial masters because of their proficiency in a universal language.
Volumes had been written on the achievements of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and every year on the occasion of his birth anniversary (17th October) different alumni associations of AMU in different cities of India and in various countries organise Sir Syed Day. The speakers in such events highlight the efforts of the great educational reformer through eloquent speeches where his unparalleled accomplishments are eulogised, panegyric poems are recited and then a sumptuous dinner is served to the alumni and guests.
But the biggest question remains if the institutions and societies established by Sir Syed are delivering the same excellence and result for which they were formed. And if he were alive today would he be happy with the performance or lamenting on how his such hard earned efforts are being ruined by the very ‘bulbuls’ of his ‘chaman’ for whom he toiled the major part of his life.
Today AMU has become a fiefdom of few self-centered administrators who are working at the behest of right wing organisations and implementing their policies and ideologies. Few teachers running their own nefarious agenda, are instrumental in getting their incapable coterie placed in different faculties and departments. This jeopardises the future of the students. Religiously motivated preachers and lobbies on the other hand are working overtime to ensure that the institution converts into a religious seminary rather than a secular and liberal center of promoting quality and unbiased education.
English was chosen by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan as the medium of instruction for this institution so that students can acquire and become proficient in this universal language and get opportunities to excel in their career and widen their horizons. Unfortunately in today’s AMU, English is seldom used a language of communication. Most of the events are anchored and designed with Urdu as the primary language and very seldom English register its presence.
Sir Syed Day has become an event to showcase the clout of individuals. Most 
alumni organisations across the globe become active at the time of Sir Syed Day to fulfill the liability of hosting ‘dinner’ and decorating the dais with celebrities and luminaries of different walks of the society. Barring few, rarely these organisations use their platform to help the communities and underprivileged section of the society. They tend to forget that the very person whose anniversary they are celebrating with such pomp and show, lived a very austere life and he used each and every penny had and each and every moment of his life to help the marginalised section of the society and to promote quality education. If all these alumni associations follow the footsteps of Sir Syed then I am sure that not a single soul will remain uneducated or deprived of quality education. Just Imagine that a vision of one person alone has created such a platform which is serving to the cause of education for last 100 years, only if the alumni follow the footsteps of the founder of this institutions then how many such institutions and avenues will come into existence. It can potentially help multitudes of souls across the globe. Alas!
“Qaum ke Gam mein dinner khaate hain hukkaam ke saath
ranj leader ko bahut hai magar aaraam ke saath”
Today we need many more universities like AMU ( in its true spirit as envisioned by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan) to uplift the socio-economic-political stature of majority of Indians.
We live in an era when communalism is at its highest peak, where education is being imparted with a vision to create difference between communities and classes, history is being re-written and heroes are turned into villians and villians are worshipped as dieties, the major pillars of consitutions have either become stooges of the present day government or lost their relevance. Media is poisoning the minds of innocent audience by running the agenda of their masters and thus eroding the syncretic culture of our nation. Scoundrels are taking refuge under the garb of patriotism and nationalism and creating mayhem on the streets and in the society by openly lynching and eradicating those who do not subscribe to their ideologies. The secular fabric of the country is threatened more than ever and there is a big vacuum within the political landscape of the country in absence of an honest and empowered opposition. This reality is going to disturb the health of the nation for a long time to come and if there is anything which can bring a paradigm shift in the approach and mindset of the citizens then it’s quality and unprejudiced education alone, that is the only Brahmastra which can save this great nation from going to dogs.
Communities need to come out of their golorious past and numerical supremacy and need to join hand to create an India of tomorrow and that can only be created when institutions like AMU do the churning and work on the ideals and vision of its founder and reject the ideas of those with self-interests and fanatical approach.
A happy Sir Syed Day to all the alumni of AMU across the globe. Let’s remember and pay homage to the great educationist and reformer in true sense by following in his footsteps. Akbar Allahabadi who was Sir Syed Ahmad Khan’s fierest critic wrote
“Hamaari baten hi baten hain
Syed kaam karta thha”
—Zartab Haider Jafri works as a business head for Mimer Energy Limited, India.
