Foundation of MAO College and the Vision of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan

On this day, 24 May 1877, on the occasion of Queen Victoria's 56th birthday, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan laid the groundwork for the Muslim Anglo-Oriental College (Madrasatul Uloom Musliman-e-Hind), which actually started as a primary school but quickly expanded to a secondary school. The college educated students up to the surface, and it later received the status of Central University in 1920, following which Aligarh Muslim University was established.

Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) is currently one of the leading educational institutions not only in the country but also on a world stage, with its flag bearer Mohammadan Anglo Oriental College (MAO College) founded in 1877 by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, a great pioneer in the field of education and social reformer. Sir Syed was greatly disturbed by the failure of the First War of Independence in 1857 to generate Muslim society in India. He had concluded that without English and scientific education, Muslims would be unable to advance at all. Before establishing MAO College, Sir Syed travelled to England and closely examined the operations of Cambridge and Oxford Universities. As a result, Sir Syed decided to establish an educational institution on the model of Cambridge and Oxford in order to educate Indian Muslims and thus realise his dreams. Sir Syed established MAO College in 1877 at Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India.

When the foundation of this college was placed, a committee called the Foundation was formed, and people were asked to donate funds openly. The then Viceroy and Governor General of India each contributed Rs 10,000, while the Lieutenant Governor General of the North Western Provinces contributed Rs 1000. The college had received Rs 1,53,920 and 8 Annas by March 1874. Maharaja Mahendra Singh of Patiala contributed Rs 58,000, and Raja Shambhu Narayan of Banaras contributed an additional Rs 60,000.

Initially affiliated with Calcutta University, it was transferred to Allahabad University in 1885, and then to Central University in 1920. In 1918, the 7th Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan, gave a significant amount of 500,000 rupees to this institution.

AMU's Maulana Azad Library has 13 lakh books. The islamic index listed here is priced at Rs 12 lakh. There are also manuscripts of the Gita, which was translated into Persian by Akbar's courtier Faizi, and the Mahabharata, which was translated into Persian 400 years ago. The library also has a wonderful painting by Mughal emperor Jahangir's painter Mansoor Nakkash.

Aligarh Muslim University has produced many notable Indians, including two Bharat Ratnas, six Padma Vibhushans, eight Padma Bhushans, 53 Padma Shri, and three Jnanpiths. AMU has also given the country 5 Supreme Court judges and 47 High Court judges.

Today, thanks to Sir Syed's single effort, lakhs of Indians have contributed to the country by obtaining higher education and will continue to do so.