Consider the following statements about Syed Ahmed Khan, the founder of Muhammadan Anglo- Oriental College, Aligarh : 1. He was a staunch supporter of Indian National Congress. 2. Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College was set up with the objective of promoting learning of Islamic education among the Muslims. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Statement 1 is incorrect because Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was not a supporter of the Indian National Congress; rather, he was a British loyalist who viewed the Congress as a Hindu-dominated body and advised Muslims to stay away from it to secure government patronage [4]. Statement 2 is also incorrect because the primary objective of the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental (MAO) College was not to promote traditional Islamic education, but to promote modern Western scientific education and English learning among Indian Muslims [5]. While he sought to reconcile these teachings with the Quran through a liberal interpretation, the core mission was to equip Muslims with the tools of modern culture and science to improve their social and professional standing [5]. Therefore, neither statement is correct.

Sources

1. [2] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and the Aligarh Movement > p. 230
2. [4] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > p. 231
3. [1] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 19: Towards Modernity > Aligarh Movement (1875) > p. 304
4. [3] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 19: Towards Modernity > Aligarh Movement (1875) > p. 303
5. [5] Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 13: Growth of New India Religious and Social Reform After 1858 > Savvid Ahmad Khan and the Aligarh School > p. 222