Educational Awakening of Indian Muslims: The Aligarh Movement

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the key figures, institutions, and historical impacts of the Aligarh Movement and the establishment of Islamia College Peshawar in the context of the educational awakening of Indian Muslims.

Aligarh Movement

A comprehensive movement for the educational and intellectual revival of Indian Muslims led by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan to give them modern direction without losing their identity.

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan (1817-1898)

A Muslim scholar and reformer who believed modern education was the only solution to lift Muslims from their post-1857 political and economic decline.

Scientific Society

Established by Sir Syed in 1864 in Ghazipur to translate Western books on science and modern subjects into Urdu for Muslims who did not know English.

Tehzeeb-ul-Akhlaq

A journal published by the Scientific Society, also known as the Muhammadan Social Reformer, which aimed at intellectual awakening and social reform.

The Aligarh Institute Gazette

One of the two journals published by the Scientific Society to promote modern knowledge and rational thought among Muslims.

Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College (MAO College)

Established in 1875 at Aligarh, this institution taught Western subjects like English and science alongside Islamic studies and was modeled on Oxford and Cambridge.

Lord Lytton

The Viceroy of India who laid the foundation stone of the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College in 1877.

All-India Muhammadan Educational Conference

An organization founded by Sir Syed in 1886 to discuss community problems and find solutions, which eventually became the All-India Muslim League in 1906.

Arsenal of Muslim India

The phrase used by Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah to praise Aligarh for its role in producing leaders for the Pakistan Movement.

Islamia College Peshawar

Established in 1913 near the Khyber Pass to provide modern education to Muslims in the North-West Frontier Province while preserving their Islamic identity.

Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Khan (1863-1937)

Known as the "Sir Syed of the Frontier," he was the lead reformer who founded Islamia College Peshawar.

Sir George Roos-Keppel

The British Chief Commissioner of the NWFP who supported Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Khan in establishing Islamia College Peshawar.

Sahibzada Khurshid

The first student admitted to Islamia College Peshawar who later served as the first Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after independence.

Propriety Statistics (1871-1880)

A British report showed the proportion of Muslims in government appointments fell from less than one-seventh in 1871 to below one-tenth by 1880.

Nagri Script

The writing system for Hindi that some regions attempted to use to replace Urdu, creating discontent among the Muslim population.

The Idea of Pakistan

A book by Stephen P. Cohen which argues that the Pakistan Movement might not have existed without the educational revival started by Sir Syed.