Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was born on October 17th 1817 in Delhi. His family was renowned for the positions they held during the Mughal regime, he himself was presented with the title of Jawa’d-Ul-Daula and Arif -e-Jang by bahadur Shah Zafar II.

As the time passes, he realized the disintegrated position of Mughals getting distant from religion. During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, he wrote a book “The Causes of Indian Mutiny” a daring step at that time. He daringly criticizes the British policies that became the cause of Rebellion.

Sir Syed was the one who promoted the western education system, so the Muslims of India can go toe to toe with the British. With the continuation of these events, Sir Syed founded the famous Aligarh Muslim University (earlier known as Anglo-Muhammadan Oriental College) in 1875 so he can illuminate the Muslims with new world.

He formed Muslim League to promote the Muslim Unity in the region. Sir Syed promoted Urdu as the Lingua franca of all Indian Muslims; he became an institution within himself and mentored the upcoming Muslim politicians. He was in favor of the Hindu Muslim education and was rotting for the United India.

After the Hindu Urdu controversy his thoughts took a hit and he became Pro Muslim and he fought for the status of Urdu and Muslims in specific. After that he presented the two Nation’s theory in which he described that the Muslims and Hindus of India cannot see eye to eye on every venture. For this he was put in jail but he never backed down from his views.

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan breathed his last on March 27, 1898. He is buried right along the Sir Syed Masjid inside Aligarh University. His funeral was attended not only by thousands of Muslims but British officials as well.

He revived the dormant consciousness of Muslims and through his educational and social reforms, he went down in Muslim history as arguably the most influential Indian politician of 19th century. He was honored when Sir Syed University was name behind him.