YouTube closure and Sir Syed

E-Paper | June 13, 2026

HISTORY repeats itself. This notion is very true, especially in our part of the world.

In 1858, when the British Raj introduced the new educational system and English was introduced in the subcontinent, Muslims turned their backs and rejected it.

Fortunately, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, a right man at the right time, infused the spirit of reawakening through his movement, popularly known as Aligarh Movement.

He made Muslims realise that closing the eyes will not change the world.

We will have to use same tools to make the world aware of our reservations and feelings.

Muslims then started adopting the new system, especially English language which raised Muslims to equality with other communities in the British Raj.

Success of Pakistan’s struggle is deeply rooted in intellectual understanding initiated by Sir Syed.

Unfortunately, today after over 150 years we are committing the same mistake, this time by blocking YouTube. We desperately need another Sir Syed.

ADNAN ABRO Hyderabad

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Masood-Karachi

Oct 10, 2012 11:55am

Sir Syed wanted to evolve education, learning and technology in Muslim community if you have no capability to remove defamation movie from YOU TUBE then you should block the YOU TUBE

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alileo12

Oct 10, 2012 02:02pm

The same stance I had the day they banned youtube.

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farrukh

Oct 10, 2012 09:12am

we need someone who will confront the lawyers who showered roses on a killer.

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Anwar Shahid

Oct 10, 2012 08:36am

i too agree with you.Not only in case of Youtube we need an improvement in our out look on the whole and a another Sir Syed for this purpose...

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Rashid Ghaznavi

Oct 10, 2012 05:04pm

I am proud to see this letter is written by an Abro. We are slowly proceeding to a unity. An Alig

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momnagull

Oct 10, 2012 11:03am

Some people are using proxy site to visit youtube and the entertainment channels of Pakistan are using their international IPs to upload their shows :'( we should be clear by ourselves what do we need?

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Reas Ekbar.

Oct 10, 2012 07:21pm

We need another Sir Syed Ahmad Khan for reopening of our closed eyes. The third class short movie with sinister intention is based on reports from Ibn Jarir Tabri and on some ahadith. Muslims of Pakistan who genuinely reacted to the movie should also examine if the reports from Tabri and ahadith are correctly portrayed there and if yes, they should refute such reports of Tabri and ahadith with logic and proof.

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malik

Oct 10, 2012 06:13am

Unfortunately there is no Sir Syed. Everyone is riding on the same bandwagon.

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B R Chawla

Oct 10, 2012 03:11pm

It is not only the U tube, it is the freedom of speech as also right to to profess and adopt any religion should not be banned. Openness in all matters including religious conviction and beliefs is the key to a dignified way for the humans. How long you shall continue to live understand the shadow of the clergy who has only taught us to kneel before the unknown and to blindly fight to uphold medieval philosophy that cannot provide clean drinking water, cure cancer, blindness, polio and so on. It can at best push millions of children into polio affliction by preventing them from a few drops of polio medicine. Choice is yours gentlemen - live blind folded for ever of embrace the light of the 21st century. Chawla

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Mohammad Ali Khan

Oct 10, 2012 07:45pm

The name of his magazine was "Tehzeeb-ul-Ikhlaq".Basically his movement was to transform the culture where reason,knowledge,discipline,activism and other qualities of a successful society, is prevelent. Stagnation caused by our beliefs is the major cause of impoverishment.

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Abdul rehman

Oct 10, 2012 05:37am

Mr. Adnan ,if YouTube authorities are not blocking that foolish video then what's the way out for PTA instead to block the YouTube?

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Usman

Oct 10, 2012 05:28am

I completely agree with the author. Youtube.com shouldn't be banned. Here i would also say that no media censorship at all in Pakistan.

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S. Israr Ali

Oct 10, 2012 04:50am

It is logical. The wisdom says that one should not shun the sunshine to reach him else there will be darkness with him.Youtube is powerful technological engine of the time and to close it would mean we are closing ourselves bringing us to an end.

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Imran Ahsan Mirza

Oct 10, 2012 04:39am

Sir Syed was a visionary and saw the importance of English as a language. But youtube and other social media stuff on internet is wastage of time. Real progress of the world is not dependent on these. However, you are right that we must create an open and free environment. We must have education as our fundamental focus.

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Murtaza Jamal

Oct 10, 2012 05:24pm

We need Sir Syed far more than youtube.

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