Azaadi Book Review - Second Chapter

The second chapter of Aazadi book is about the first stage of active struggle of Muslims. This period is from 1886-1906 Syed's personality in that period towers over others. This stage is twenty year long and all of these years are brimming with Syed's efforts.

His efforts are defined beautifully by Iqbal that his ideas were so huge that they needed several generations to gradually unfold and reveal their consequences. The society free of want and poverty was the only goal behind every effort of Syed and it is unfolding even now after more than a hundred years.

He introduced the everlasting good which was in fact the soul of all human beings and which was going to be the centre of attention of our ancestors. All of their efforts revolve around her.

This period gave us the manifestation of consensus also. Canada came into being through dialogue and. Nobody imagined that, especially Britishers, after more than 50 years another state would come into being.

Syed and the group decided to start a nationwide system of education. People from all tehsils would meet once a year and discuss the progress in education sector. They would exchange ideas and correct each other wherever necessary. Mohammadan Educational Confrence came into being and nationwide struggle purely for education started. The mullah of that time went against Syed that he is spreading English education and that he is against Islam. Syed begged them that they should start this reform. And he, Syed would just perform as a clerk. He wouldn’t even be included in the curriculum designing. But this reform should be put into action immediately as there was dire need of educating the Muslim masses. It was a blunder that Syed was not made part of curriculum. It was more than a blunder, rather a crime against humanity. Those few who had interest benefited from Syed; others just went in different direction and even caused harm to the idea of Pakistan later.  

Syed was vehemently against Muslims going into politics at that time. He said that the Muslims should acquire first class education then they should enter politics.

There are also some false prepositions spread against Syed, which should be clarified, given his stature in history and his services.

First; education was the means to an end and not an end in itself. It was a step towards eradicating the poverty. We should understand it that what he did was actually what the people of that time wanted. He merely voiced their needs. He didn't force his ideas on them. He respected their vision and worked hard to realize it. Actually it is hard to swallow for us because we have never respected our people like our ancestors did. We never married that bride who was the soul of all human beings and so we are ignorant of our own people. Of our own self.

Second; building a college was his individual say. The reader come to the conclusion on their own that again he respected the masses.

Third is a criminal lie; he was in favor of modern education. If he was then why would he go at length in creating the Muslim Education Conference, Muslim gatherings where education which is true to Muslim genius is imparted. Mir Hassan, Shamsul Ulema, was his staunch disciple, and Iqbal was his disciple. We should give the man the due credit he deserves. We are just wandering in dark just because we don't want to see the light. Because we are afraid of the light. We don't want it. It doesn't mean it would disappear or diminish.

There were many English education schools and colleges. They didn't have to go through the pain of
building another one if they wanted to impart Modern education. And we should keep that in mind that it was HE who pointed out the major factor that this modern edcuation is highly biased and creating hate amongst Muslims and Hindus.

There is a lot discussed in the book. You should check it out. I think the review got too long but I got carried away. :D You should check this link in Urdu also. It provides deeper and beautiful version.