Every year on 17 October, students and alumni of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) around the world celebrate Sir Syed Day, marking the birth anniversary of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, one of the most influential reformers of 19th-century India.
Early life
Syed Ahmad Khan was born in Delhi on 17 October 1817 into a family connected to the Mughal court. He received a traditional education and joined the judicial service of the East India Company, serving in towns across north India.
1857 and its aftermath
During the uprising of 1857 he was posted at Bijnor. In its aftermath, he wrote Asbab-e-Baghawat-e-Hind (The Causes of the Indian Revolt), arguing that British policies and the lack of Indian voices in government had caused the unrest. It was a bold work for a government servant of the time.
A mission for modern education
Sir Syed became convinced that Indian Muslims, who had lost political power, needed modern scientific education alongside their faith to progress.
- He set up schools at Moradabad and Ghazipur.
- In 1864 he founded the Scientific Society to translate Western books on science and other subjects into Urdu.
- After visiting England in 1869–70 and studying its universities, he launched the journal Tahzib-ul-Akhlaq to promote social reform.
The founding of Aligarh
In 1875 he founded the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental (MAO) College in Aligarh, modelled partly on Oxford and Cambridge. It combined modern subjects with religious education and welcomed students of all communities. In 1920, more than two decades after his death, the college became Aligarh Muslim University, today one of India's major central universities.
Honours and final years
He was knighted in 1888 and devoted his last years to the college. Sir Syed died in Aligarh on 27 March 1898 and is buried on the campus.
A complex legacy
Sir Syed is celebrated as a pioneer of modern education and rational thought. Historians also debate his political views: he urged Muslims to stay away from the Indian National Congress in its early years, a stance some see as protective of a vulnerable community and others link to later divisions. Both views form part of how his life is studied today.
How Sir Syed Day is celebrated
AMU marks the day with lectures, essay competitions and gatherings, and alumni associations from the Gulf to North America hold Sir Syed Day dinners, often reciting the university's anthem.
Explore more of India's past in our Wonders of India series, or plan a trip to the region with our Uttar Pradesh travel guide.
