4.2.4 IMPACT OF ALIGRAH MOVEMENTS IN EDUCATION

The Aligarh Movement left deep and far-reaching impact on the educational, social, economic and political life of the Mulims in South Asia. Hereunder we endeavor to enumerate some of basic consequences of the movement.

i) Compromise Between the English and the Muslims

The Aligarh Movement played an important role in arriving at an effective compromise between the English and the Muslim. In this way the Muslims with the help of modern education, once again, enabled to keep pace with other Communities in their socio economic life.

ii) Prosperity for the Muslims

The modern sciences opened the door of employment for the Muslims. However, this opportunity had a dark side too. The concept of Education for job' made the Muslims lag behind in the field of agriculture, trade, etc. Consequently, the problem of 'the educated but unemployed' was created.

iii) Development of Urdu

Aligarh Education Movement benefited Urdu language the most. Urdu got currency as the national language of the Muslims. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Maulana Altaf Hussain Hali Maulana Shibli Naumani and Deputy Nazir Ahmed struggled hard to get Urdu included into the living languages of the sub continent and made it the language of various basic Sciences and Social Sciences.

iv) Political Training

Aligarh Movement has greatly contributed in raising the level of socio political consciousness among the Muslims. The most valuable service of Aligarh was the promotion of the Two- Nation Theory'. It is a matter of great joy and pride that an institution like Aligarh University that was patronised by the British themselves, played an effective role in the creation of Pakistan.

v) Establishment of Educational Institutions

The Aligarh Movement Paved the way for the Muslims to establish modern educational institutions in South Asia. The Muslims constituted numerous organisations in different parts of south Asia for the promotion of education. They included the Anjuman-e-Himayat-e-Islam, Bombay; the Anjuman-e-Himayat- e-Islam, Lahore and the Sind Muhammadan Association, Karachi among others. These organisations setup many schools which played significant role in the educational, social and political progress of the Muslims.

vi) Westernization

The Aligarh Movement had a dark side too. It promoted an inclination of subordination to the Western culture and civilisation on the part of the south Asians in general and the Muslims in particular. As a result the western culture was allowed to flourish while Islamic culture was left to itself, was rather abandoned. In other words, the western culture and civilisation were encouraged, while Islamic culture was discouraged.