Nawab Mohsin Ul-Mulk and Muslim awakening in the Indian sub-continent (1837-1907)

Abstract

The present work is an attempt to explore the role Mohsin ul-Mulk played in the awakening of the Muslims of India during the latter half of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century in the context of the Aligarh Movement. Though by profession a civil servant, Mohsin ul-Mulk, in association with Sir Syed,took deep interest in revitalizing the Muslims after the events of 1857. Like Sir Syed, he was convinced that the salvation of the Muslims lay only in the acquisition of modern education together with religious instruction and appropriate training. To give practical shape to these ideas, Aligarh College was conceived, which later played an important role in giving a new orientation to Muslims in socio-political fields. Mohsin Ul-Mulk rendered great services in making the College a success during the life and after the death of Sir Syed. After the latter's demise, it was solely as a result of Mohsin ul-Mulk's efforts that the College not only rescued itself from disintegration but emerged as a national institution for and of the Muslims. Mohsin ul-Mulk also widened the scope of Aligarh and guided its emergence as a Muslim Movement in India. Side by side with running the educational programme, Mohsin ul-Mulk led the Muslims in the political field. At a very early stage, he seemed to have discerned that there existed no place for the Muslims in Indian nationalism as it was emerging, and he opposed any amalgamation between the two. He stood for the launching of an independent political programme for the Muslims, which was ultimately realized in the shape of the Simla Deputation and afterwards the Muslim League in 1906. I have followed the transliteration pattern set out by F. Steingass in his work 'A Comprehensive Persian English Dictionary...