KARACHI, Oct 18: Speakers at a function organized by the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association on Friday night heaped praises on Sir Syed Ahmad Khan for getting Muslims to educate themselves and avoid a direct confrontation with the ruling British and conspiring Hindus.

The function started one and a half hours behind schedule because of the late arrival of Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, whose residence is a stone’s throw from the venue of the function.

The function started with Aligarh University anthem composed by Asrarulhaq Majaz which was sung by students of Sir Syed University in chorus.

Reading out a research paper, the chairman of the Muqtadra Qaumi Zuban, Prof Fatah Mohammad Malik, said three personalities stood out in the last 1,000 year history of the subcontinent. “These three men played a very important role in the history of the Muslims in a very fearless manner. When Moghal Emperor Akbar declared his Deen-i-Illahi, Mujaddid Alif Sani put up a remarkable struggle against him, so much so that he incurred the opprobrium of the great Moghal king. Years after him, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan followed in the footsteps of Mujaddid Alif Sani in his own way and according to the requirements of the times he lived in. The Poet of the East, Allama Iqbal, paid homage to both Mujaddid Alif Sani and Sir Syed Ahmad Khan.”

Mr Malik said that Sir Syed Ahmad Khan had foreseen that in the shape of the Indian National Congress the British wanted to leave behind their legacy which would continue to rule over the Muslims in tandem with the Hindus. Sir Syed, he said, did his utmost to avoid this from happening.

According to Mr Malik, it was the Hindu-Urdu controversy which made Sir Syed realize that the two nations could not co-exist. “The introduction of the Dwo Nagri script by narrow-minded Hindu intellectuals, and the fierce opposition of this virulent policy by Muslim scholars, was enough to make him realize these two communities could not live together.”

The vice chancellor of the Federal Urdu University for Arts, Sciences and Technology, Dr Pirzada Qasim, said the vigorous ideas and thoughts of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan were still with the Muslims. “As a matter of fact, the ideas of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan have been realized in the shape of the Urdu University. Fixity of purpose was Sir Syed’s forte. We should seek to emulate him. He was prolific writer and had an integrated approach towards politics without being misled by narrow parochialism. It was his sheer persistence and perseverance which brought him into the mainstream of life and leadership.”

In his welcome address, the Chancellor of Sir Syed University, Z. A. Nizami, spoke about the traditions of Aligarh University. Nasir Sohail, a student of the university, delivered a speech on Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. Intellectual Ghulam Umar also spoke on the occasion.