LITERARY NOTES: Can the state of Pakistan afford to ignore Sir Syed?
ALL along we somehow had the impression that Sir Syed Ahmed Khan (1817-1898) was the establishment’s blue-eyed boy. As he is credited with formulating the two-nation theory — the ideology that entailed the Hindi-Urdu controversy and led to the creation of Pakistan — we thought that Sir Syed must be the establishment’s poster boy for nationalism and independence. But how wrong we were!
Sir Syed ‘s bicentennial is being commemorated in India at a grand level as this October 17 marks his 200th birthday. But our government organisations, save for a few, appear ignorant of this important event. It seems that Sir Syed and his services, that he rendered for the people of South Asia in general and Muslims in particular, have been ignored in Pakistan. Had it not been for Karachi University’s three-day international conference, organised by its Urdu department in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission and Anjuman Taraqqi-i-Urdu Pakistan — and another conference organised by Karachi’s Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology — the historic moment would have passed off without many even noticing it.
Karachi University is going to celebrate the 200th birthday of this visionary with an international conference that will bring under one roof scholars, academics, researchers and students of history, literature and culture. Articles and research papers discussing aspects of Sir Syed’s life and works would be read out at the three-day conference beginning today (Monday).
Luckily, now some other organisations are also planning to commemorate Sir Syed’s bicentenary. Dr Najeeba Arif of International Islamic University, Islamabad, informed this writer that their university was planning to hold a national seminar on Sir Syed in November. Dr Tehseen Firaqi of Majlis-i-Taraqqi-i-Adab, Lahore, told this writer that Majlis would shortly bring out a special issue of its journal Saheefa, highlighting Sir Syed’s literary, linguistic, social and political achievements. Some other magazines, too, are planning to publish their special issues on Sir Syed.
But two magazines have taken the lead by publishing their special issues on Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, highlighting his role in political, cultural, educational and literary transformation of the subcontinent. The first is Mah-i-nau, a prestigious literary magazine published from Lahore by the Federal Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage. The issue, voluminous and well-produced, includes some old and new writings analysing various aspects of Sir Syed’s life and his works. In fact this special issue of Mah-i-nau is the saving grace for the otherwise lethargic government departments that have decided to ignore Sir Syed.
Qaumi Zaban, a monthly magazine published by Anjuman Taraqqi-i-Urdu, has carried a special section on Sir Syed in its October issue.
Anjuman is collaborating with Karachi University and Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology for their conferences on Sir Syed. Anjuman has also brought out three books on Sir Syed to coincide with his bicentenary. The most attractive of the three is Aasaar-us-sanaadeed, the monumental and fascinating work by Sir Syed on the historical buildings of Delhi. Its first edition was published from Delhi in 1847, while the second edition, revised and updated, appeared in 1854. Aasaar-us- sanaadeed maps and describes the hundreds of Delhi buildings, both inside and outside the famous and historic Red Fort, and gives architectural and historical details about Delhi’s gates, mosques, mansions, bazaars, temples, churches, shrines and houses. A special feature of the book is the pictures and maps that Sir Syed got drawn by Delhi’s painters and artists. This new, deluxe edition published by Anjuman is prepared by Hayat Rizvi Amrohvi, who is an architect and edits Imaarat kaar, an Urdu magazine on architecture.
Two more books published by Anjuman to mark the occasion are collections of articles written by different scholars on Sir Syed. The collection titled Qaumi zaban aur Sir Syed shanasi, edited by Dr Tehmeena Abbas, puts together the articles published over the years in Qaumi zaban. Another book, edited by Dr Rukhsana Saba, is titled Jihaat-i-Sir Syed and is a collection of articles by renowned scholars.
Aside from his political, educational and literary services, Sir Syed was the earliest harbinger of modernism and enlightenment in the subcontinent. Orthodox religious scholars and conservative elements in society condemned Sir Syed at that time, severely criticising his views. But in today’s world, ruled mostly by the liberals, Sir Syed being ignored is surprising. Despite his long, flowing beard, Sir Syed was not a mullah, but in fact he earned the wrath of mullahs for his unorthodox views.
On the other hand, Pakistan was not only created on the basis of Sir Syed’s theory, but the Pakistan Movement was headed by Aligarh Muslim University and AMU was considered a stronghold of Jinnah’s Muslim League even long after the creation of Pakistan. And it were the persons educated at AMU who helped run the nascent country.
But the state of Pakistan has conveniently ignored Sir Syed’s bicentenary. No official function at the top level has so far been announced. At least, a commemorative postage stamp and a commemorative coin should be issued to pay homage to the greatest benefactor of Pakistan.
Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2017