ALIGARH : Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) celebrated the 209th birth anniversary of its founder, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, on Saturday with a commemorative meeting that brought together distinguished judicial, defence, academic and business leaders, alumni, faculty members and students to reflect on his enduring educational vision and its relevance to contemporary India.
The meeting, held at Gulistan-e-Syed, was presided over by AMU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Naima Khatoon. Justice Augustine George Masih, Judge of the Supreme Court of India, graced as the Chief Guest, while Justice Satya Veer Singh of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad and Rear Admiral S. M. Urooj Athar, Principal of the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, Kerala, were the Guests of Honour. Dr. Faruk G. Patel, Chairman and Managing Director of KP Group, Gujarat, was the Special Guest.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Guest Justice Augustine George Masih drew parallels between Sir Syed’s perseverance and the challenges faced by young people today, urging students to learn not only how to succeed but also how to deal with failure. Recalling the story of how Sir Syed turned opposition into an opportunity while building his educational movement, he said setbacks could become stepping stones to achievement when met with courage, patience and determination.
Justice Masih highlighted Sir Syed’s commitment to reading, scientific inquiry, reason and open-mindedness, noting that a community that did not read and think could not progress. He encouraged students to cultivate the habit of deep reading rather than relying on superficial engagement with digital content, observing that books expanded knowledge, improved expression and nurtured empathy. He also underscored Sir Syed’s vision of communal harmony, recalling his belief in the shared destiny of Hindus and Muslims and describing AMU’s diverse campus as a living example of people from different regions and backgrounds learning and growing together.
Recalling his own association with AMU, Justice Masih said the university had taught him lessons in respect, dialogue, friendship and responsibility that went beyond the classroom. He praised Vice-Chancellor Prof. Naima Khatoon, the first woman to lead the university, for carrying forward Sir Syed’s vision with purpose and confidence. Calling upon students to look beyond personal achievement, he asked them to consider what they would build for future generations, stressing that the most meaningful tribute to Sir Syed would be to continue creating opportunities for those who would come after them.
Guest of Honour Justice Satya Veer Singh recalled his close personal association with Aligarh and the Maulana Azad Library, where he spent long hours preparing for his career despite having studied at D.S. College. He said the library’s welcoming atmosphere, the cooperation of its staff and the sense of fraternity among students had left an indelible impression on him. He described AMU as a place where knowledge transcended barriers of caste, religion and economic background, expressing the hope that this inclusive spirit would continue to guide the university.
Drawing a parallel between Sir Syed’s efforts to make scientific and historical knowledge accessible through translation and contemporary initiatives to make judicial decisions available in Indian languages, Justice Singh said knowledge and justice acquired their fullest meaning when they reached the people for whom they were intended. He emphasised the transformative role of education in empowering young people from poor and marginalised backgrounds, enabling them to assert their rights and participate in society with confidence. He also highlighted the importance of women’s education, substantive equality and constitutional justice, urging AMU to continue extending opportunities to students from disadvantaged sections of society.
Guest of Honour Rear Admiral S. M. Urooj Athar described AMU as more than a university, calling it a mission founded on Sir Syed’s determination to rebuild confidence, character and intellectual capacity through education. Reflecting on the aftermath of 1857, he observed that Sir Syed had responded to a period of despair not by dwelling on blame but by asking what needed to be done to rebuild society. Education, he said, became the means through which people could reclaim their confidence and participate in shaping their future.
Rear Admiral Athar proposed developing Aligarh into a true university town, with AMU’s academic expertise contributing more directly to the social and economic development of the region. He envisaged agricultural scientists helping farmers adopt sustainable practices, management experts supporting traditional industries and small businesses, medical professionals extending preventive healthcare to neighbouring communities, and engineers assisting in renewable energy, water management and technological innovation. Research, he said, should be assessed by the problems it solved and the lives it improved, rather than by publications alone.
Calling upon faculty members to strengthen research collaborations, industry partnerships and public engagement, he urged students to remain curious, question assumptions and use their education in the service of society. He encouraged them to contribute through small but meaningful acts, observing that the greatest tribute to Sir Syed would be to transform knowledge into service, education into character and privilege into responsibility.
Special Guest Dr. Faruk G. Patel, Chairman and Managing Director of KP Group, Gujarat, recalled that he had been inspired to visit AMU after hearing Prime Minister Narendra Modi describe it as a “Mini India” in 2020. Paying tribute to Sir Syed’s extraordinary vision, he said the educational legacy established by the founder continued to benefit generations and would remain relevant in the years to come.
Sharing his personal journey, Dr. Patel spoke of his humble beginnings. Having started his business in 1994, he said his journey demonstrated how perseverance and sustained effort could transform circumstances. He encouraged students to make full use of the educational opportunities available to them and pursue their ambitions with determination.
Dr. Patel, whose group has been active in renewable energy for nearly two decades, expressed his willingness to share its experience in solar and wind energy, green hydrogen and battery energy storage systems with AMU. He announced an initiative to establish a KP Excellence Centre at the university with an initial corpus of about ₹5 crore. Dr. Patel said he would be happy to contribute to the university’s development and support the national aspiration of making India a developed country by 2047.
In her presidential address, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Naima Khatoon described Sir Syed as a transformative thinker whose relevance extended far beyond his role as the university’s founder. His enduring contribution, she said, lay in enabling a community to move from being a passive witness to history to becoming an active participant in shaping it. She called upon Aligarians to carry his legacy forward by combining intellectual openness, scientific reasoning and moral responsibility.
Highlighting the changing landscape of education, Prof. Khatoon stressed the need to embrace artificial intelligence and emerging technologies while safeguarding independent thinking and sound judgement. Education, she said, must go beyond degrees and the acquisition of information to develop critical thinking, practical skills, character and the capacity to contribute meaningfully to society. She urged teachers to help students assess evidence, question assumptions and explore the limits of their imagination.
The Vice-Chancellor took pride in AMU’s academic standing and research achievements, referring to its presence among the world’s top 800 universities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, its fifth position among Indian universities in the US News & World Report rankings, its position in the National Institutional Ranking Framework and its A+ accreditation. She also highlighted the recognition of 46 AMU scientists among the world’s top 2 per cent of researchers, along with the university’s contributions to healthcare, innovation, online education and institutional mentoring.
Prof. Khatoon said these accomplishments reflected the collective efforts of faculty members, researchers, students, staff and alumni, while placing upon them the responsibility to build on the progress achieved. She urged students to uphold discipline, intellectual independence and humility, and to approach the forthcoming student elections responsibly. Emphasising the importance of physical and mental well-being, she encouraged them to build meaningful lives beyond social media and to seek support whenever necessary.
Calling upon alumni to become active ambassadors of their alma mater, she asked them to connect students with wider opportunities and contribute to the university’s continued development. As AMU approaches the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the Mohammadan Anglo-Oriental College, Prof. Khatoon said its future would be shaped not by its history alone, but by the questions its students asked, the knowledge they created, the character they demonstrated and the service they rendered to society.
The meeting also featured addresses by students Aisha Jamal and Abu Daud, and faculty members Prof. Azra Musavi and Prof. Mohd. Ali Jauhar, who reflected on Sir Syed’s legacy and the continuing relevance of his educational mission. The recipients of the Sir Syed Awards (International and National), Prof. Hossein Nasr, Professor of Islamic Studies at George Washington University, and Prof M.A. Khan, representing Khaja Education Society, Gulbarga, Karnataka, also addressed the gathering.
The Sir Syed Excellence Award International was conferred upon Prof. Hossein Nasr, Professor of Islamic Studies at George Washington University, USA, while the Sir Syed Excellence Award National was presented to Khaja Bandanawaz Educational Society, Gulbarga, Karnataka, in recognition of their respective contributions.
The All-India Sir Syed Essay Writing Competition prizes were also presented to the winners in English, Urdu and Hindi. In English, Maliha Iqbal of AMU secured first position, followed by Apurva Dutta of Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi, in second place, and Rajshree Mishra of the University of Allahabad in third. In Hindi, Salwa Fatma of Women’s College, AMU, secured first position, followed by Musharraf Parwez of Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, and Subhana Rihan of Women’s Polytechnic, AMU. In Urdu, Mohammad Faizur Raza of Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad, won first prize, followed by Munawwar Ali, a PhD scholar in Urdu at AMU, and Sabi Ji, a PhD scholar in Urdu at AMU. The competition centred on the theme “Technology and Ethics in the 21st Century: Sir Syed’s Perspective”.
AMU Registrar Prof. Aasim Zafar delivered the welcome address, while Prof. M. Athar Ansari, Dean Students’ Welfare, concluded the programme with the vote of thanks. Dr Shariq Aqeel and Dr Faiza Abbasi conducted the programme.
The day’s observances began with Quran Khwani at the University Mosque at 6 am, followed by chadarposhi at Sir Syed Ahmad Khan’s mausoleum. An exhibition of Sir Syed’s writings and books was inaugurated at Sir Syed House at 9:30 am, along with a book launch ceremony, before the commemorative meeting began at Gulistan-e-Syed. On the occasion, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Naima Khatoon, in the presence of Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof. M. Mohsin Khan and Registrar Prof. Aasim Zafar, released ten books at the Sir Syed Academy. The publications included Sir Syed’s Tafsir ul Quran (two volumes); Sir Syed Ki Mutalati Sawaneh by Dr. Asad Faisal Farooqui; Aligarh College aur Sheeraz by Prof. Arshad Masood Hashmi; Sir Syed Ahmad Khan – Charitam by Prof. Sarika Varshney; special issues of Tahzib-ul-Akhlaq and Fikr-o-Nazar; Aligarh: The City That Outlasted Empires by Atif Syed; Mutalayae Hayat-e-Javed Ke Ek Sau Pachees Saal (edited by Dr. Shams Badayuni); Sir Syed Ki Kahani, Ashaar Ki Zabani by Mazhar Saeed; Sir Syed Ahmad Khan (edited by Dr. M. Firoz Khan and Dr. Shagufta Niyaz); and Sir Syed: Rawadari aur Aman ke Alambardar (edited by Dr. Rahat Abrar). The publications reflect diverse perspectives on Sir Syed Ahmad Khan’s life, thought, literary legacy and enduring contribution to education and society.
The programme concluded with the University Tarana and the National Anthem, bringing the university community together in a renewed commitment to Sir Syed’s ideals of education, reason, social progress and service to humanity.