History of Aligarh Muslim University Aligarh and its top heritage sites

 

Victoria Gate AMU

The life of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and a brief history of Aligarh Muslim University Aligarh (AMU)

The Aligarh Muslim University Aligarh is one of the top ranked Universities of India, the University is located in UP’s magnificence city ‘Aligarh’. Sometimes it is referred to as ‘Mecca of Higher Education’, and the city offered more than 60 amazing heritage visiting sites including the University’s world class buildings.

1. About the University

The social, economic, and educational condition of Indian Muslims has been very poor for centuries. Education is one the most important weapons for the development and empowerment of any marginalized community. Though, neither the Muslim rulers nor the British government ever paid any attention to this condition of the Muslims. Hence, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan observed the situation and condition of Muslims and he intended to establish an educational institution for the empowerment of Indian Muslims, which they survived in the mainstream society. 

On 24^th May 1875, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan inaugurated a school (Madarsatul Uloom), later on 8^th November 1877, Lord Lytton, the Viceroy and Governor General of British India laid the foundation stone of Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental (MAO) College. The college turned to the central university called Aligarh Muslim University Aligarh (AMU) in 1920 through an Act called AMU Act, 1920 which falls in the seventh schedule of the Indian Constitution. The main campus of University is located in Aligarh city and spread over the total area around 467.6 hectares. It has three off-campus centers as AMU Malappuram (Kerala), Murshidabad (West Bengal), and Kishanganj (Bihar). The University offers more than 300 courses including the traditional, modern, and technical branches of education. Aligarh Muslim University Aligarh has consistently ranked among the best educational institutions not only in India but also the worldwide ranked. Alumni of the University are referred as Alig or Aligarian.

Sir Syed's potrait 

2. Biography of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan: He was a famous Islamic reformer, philosopher, educationist, scholar, and the founder of great institution Aligarh Muslim University Aligarh (AMU). Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was born during the reign of Mughal emperor Akbar II (1806-1837) on 17^th October 1817 in Delhi, and died on 27^th March 1898 at Aligarh, India. His father’s name was Mir Muttaqi and mother’s name was Azizun Nisha. He married with Parsa Begum and had two sons whose names were Syed Hamid and Syed Mahmud. As a socio-religious reformer, he want the people of India to study both Science and English along with traditional study. He also said,

“The main purpose of this institution is to impart modern education to Muslims who are suffering because of lack of it but this institution is for all, Hindus and Muslims alike. Both of them need education.”

Top 10 visiting places of Aligarh Muslim University Aligarh (AMU)

1. Victoria Gate AMU: The gate was completed in 1894, in the earliest time it is called Sadar Darwaza (Main Gate) of MAO College. The gate served as the main entrance gate of the College during that time, which leads the way towards Strachey Hall and renamed after Queen Victoria of England in 1914. Its architectural design is based on Neo-Classic English and Mughal features. Simply it is represents Indo-Saracenic architectural attributes. Now it is serving as the main gate of Sir Syed Hall (South), a boys hostel. A Clock Tower was added to it later, which is still working and a bell knells at every hour, and also shows right time.

Strachey Hall

2. Strachey Hall AMU: In 1868, Sir Syed was visited to Oxford University for giving the response of Sir William Mur’s book “The Life of Mohmet” in which he commented on the dignity of Prophet of Islam, in that response he wrote “Khutbat-e-Ahmadiya.” On that trip he adopted the idea of Strachey Hall, how the college should look like. Later, on 8^th January, 1877, the foundation stone of Strachey Hall was laid by Lord Lytton (who was the Viceroy and Governor General of British India) in the presence of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. The Strachey Hall was the first structure to come up the college. The construction work of this building was done in 1885 after British Indian Civil Servant Sir John Strachey. Red sandstone was used by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan in construct to this building. On 12^th November, 1894, the building was inaugurated by Lt. Governor Sir Charles Crosthwail.

Jama Masjid AMU

3. Jama Masjid AMU: In 1879, the construction work of Jama Masjid was started by the founder of the University, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and completed in 1915. The Mosque was resembled the Jama Masjid of Shahjahanabad, Delhi, India, which contains three main domes and two remarkable minarets. It is the cleanest and sacred place for the students and religious practitioner inside the campus. There are beautiful inscriptions of the verses of Holy Qur’an on the frontier gate of the Mosque. Some of the exquisite calligraphy of Qur’anic verses inscription on its inner part of the walls and arches. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was buried alongside the Jama Masjid.

4. Faiz Gate AMU: The material of the gate was purchased by Nawab Daud Khan (1785-1866) in an auction from Agra Fort and put it up at the Bhikampur Fort (now it is called Civil Line, University Circle) in 1835 at Aligarh. Later, the Sherwani family presented this as Bhikampur Gate to the Aligarh Muslim University in 1961. The Faiz Gate was originally constructed by Faiyaz Ali Khan in the memory of his admired father, now it is stands out of University circle.

Bab-e-Syed Gate AMU

5. Bab-e-Syed Gate AMU: This gate marks the one of the most prestigious structures of the institution and also the historical landmark of the University. In the present time the Bab-e-Syed (Bab means ‘Gate’) is the main entrance gate to the Aligarh Muslim University campus. The verses of Holy Qur’an inscription on its white sandstone part and it is a symbol of Indo-Islamic architecture.

Sir Syed House

6. Sir Syed House AMU: It is a place where Sir Syed Ahmad Khan stayed more than two decades, now better known as Sir Syed Academy. The house was renovated and converted to the Sir Syed Memorial House generally known as “Founder House.”

Maulana Azad Library

7. Maulana Azad Library AMU: It is the central library of Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. It was built more than 100 years before, which is surrounded by 1.92 hectares of area with its lawns and gardens. First it was named Lytton Library, because of Lord Lytton laid the foundation stone of the library at the time of establishment of MAO College in 1877. Later, in 1960 it was inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru who was the first Prime Minister of India. After the augural session the Library renamed in the name of Maulana Azad (the first Education Minister of India) and known as Maulana Azad Library. It is an Asia’s largest University Library with seven storey building, and it has more than 18 lakhs books.

8. Gulistan-e-Syed Park AMU: It is a central park of Aligarh Muslim University, which opening time is the early morning for morning walk, also flower exhibition organizing in the park twice a year.

9. Musa Dakri Museum AMU: The Museum is situated in the heart of University’s campus near the Kennedy Auditorium and in front of Arts Faculty, AMU. The Museum is the part of Cultural Education Centre (CEC) AMU, Aligarh.

10. Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College AMU: It is the constituent medical college, which is located in the main campus of Aligarh Muslim University Aligarh, India. It is one of the oldest Medical Colleges of the country, was established in the year 1961, and recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC). Medical college commonly known as JNMC Aligarh and it has a big Trauma Centre for emergency and accidental casualties, and OPD is conducted as daily basis for the general patients, and has a separate Gynaecology department for pregnant women. Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Aligarh offers admission through NEET in medical stream at the Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate (PG) levels, and has an annual intake 150 UG (MBBS) and 146 PG seats in all the fields of medicine.