Date: 8 March 1912
Location: Bombay
Speaker: Aga Khan III
Source: Speeches of Aga Khan III – K K Aziz
Full Text
Government-finances for the University- target of Rs. 350,000trustees of the College – regret at lack of progress – call on Muslims of northern India for sacrifice- urgency of the University move ment – importance of education – a voice for Muslims in the counsels of the British Empire – our motto: “work and sac’rifice; not talk”.
Turning first naturally to the University question, His Highness was emphatic in expressing the opinion that the terms which the Government of India offered for the granting of a charter were fair and reasonable, and no man could honesdy say that the Government had treated the Indian Mahomedans at all ungener ously. The supervision which the Government prescribed under the charter was desirable, and he was sure that it would lead to the greater efficiency of the University and conduce to the attainment of the ideals which they all shared. Efficiency and progress were after all what they all desired in their educational system. Asked how the Mahomedan community as a whole regarded the conditions specified for the granting of a charter, His Highness remarked that he believed the members of his community had scarcely realised how advantageous as a whole were the proposals of the Government of India.
Turning next to the financing of the University, His Highness expressed his disappointment at the fact that the funds required had not now been realised. He remarked that unfortunately those who were most backward in supporting the University financially were those who would benefit most materially from its establishment. For instance, the Mahomedans of the Central Provinces had borne their part in the financial burden fully. In Bombay too a splendid response had been made by the local Mahome dans, and almost all the subscriptions promised, which in a majority of cases came from his own intimate friends, had been fully paid. In Northern India, however, the position was less satisfactory. Little had been done by the Mahomedans of the Punjab and not much more in the United Provinces. Now the position was perfectly clear. The Government asked that a sum of Rs. 35,00,000 should be in hand before the charter was granted. This was, in his opinion a fair and reasonable condition.
It was true that when he first unfolded his scheme he asked for no more than Rs. 20,00,000; but he was even then careful to point out that with this sum only a very modest beginning would be made, and that once the beginning was made they would realise the necessity of immediately and largely augmenti11g the University funds. In his presidential speech delivered at the M.
A. 0. Educational Conference at Delhi in 1902 he asked for one crore of rupees: nor did he now think that this sum was in excess of their real needs. His more modest estimate was fixed for the purpose of getting the movement well established, because he was confident that once a beginning was made they would all realise the necessity of maintaining the University in a high state of efficiency.
What was the position to-day? There was no lack of promises.
If, however, all those who made these promises were as earnest in keeping them as they were enthusiastic in making them, more than the requisite thirty-five lakhs of rupees would be in hand now. But all of these promises had not been fulfilled. Some of the leaders of community had played their part, like the eminent patriots they were. The Raja of Mahmudabad and the Raja of Jehangirabad in the United Provinces had, for instance, not only subscribed liberally, but had worked most zealously in inducing others to support the movement. In Northern India as a whole, which would benefit most by the University, because it would be situated within easy reach of the boys, the smallest sacrifices had been made.
Touching for a moment on the educational movement as represented by the Aligarh College, His Highness remarked that there was an increasing complaint that the trustees-of the college were almost entirely elected from the United Provinces and that they included a large professional element whose members had not made very material sacrifices for the M. A. 0. As an illustration of this he mentioned that Sir Adamji Peerbhoy had contributed more than Rs. 110,000 to the funds of the college and yet not one member of the family had been placed on the Board of Trustees. Whilst he was most anxious not to take a narrow or provincial view of the matter, he could not help reitera ting that as the University would be concentrated .in Northern India, it stood to reason that the Mahomedans of the Northern Provinces would gain more advantage from it than those of the other parts of the country. If all the trustees of the Aligarh College had made similar sacrifices to the Raja of Mahmudabad and Raja of Jehangirabad, both in giving themselves and in per suading others to give, he was quite sure that the University would be adequately financed to-day. It was to him ‘a source of very sincere regret that although when he left India last year he hoped that by the time of his return all the necessary prelimi naries for obtaining the charter would be practically complete, on his return he found that still they were not ready. In fact they had not progressed far beyond the point at which they stood when he left for Europe. “Now,” said His Highness, “our educational needs are, so great that serious and sustained sacrifices must be made to satisfy them. Time is precious and it is slipping away; it is indeed most disappointing to find that instead of taking proper and effective action our people are talking, talking, talking. I am convinced if the trustees of theM. A. 0. and the leaders of our community in Northern India will concentrate upon missionary effort, all our difficulties will promptly disappear. Surely they cannot expect others to work for them when they, who will reap the largest benefits from the University, do not do their part. How can they expect to reap the fruit if they do not care to sow the seed? A tree can never bear fruit unless it is patiently watered. Let me strongly urge upon my co-religionists in Northern India the enor mous importance of putting their hands in their pockets and their shoulders to the wheel in order that our University may be promptly and substantially inaugurated.”
In conclusion, His Highness dwelt upon the urgency of this University movement, because until it is well established the Mah omedans of India cannot take up the other great questions confronting them, such as other branches of education and social reform. Indian Moslems, he said, must concentrate on the domin ating question before them, namely education. If they were to advance in social reform, it was clear that the way must first be prepared by education and education could not be given in a haphazard manner. They must all make persistent efforts, indi vidually and collectively, for the universal diffusion of knowledge, and they must all be prepared, individually and collectively, to make sacrifices for it. They had a tremendous amount of leeway to make up. Even if they gave their best, it would take a very long time indeed, before they reached the standard of western civilisation. But if they did not do their best, then with the world moving at the pace which was the rule today they would have to abandon all hopes of a great political future and of working out their economic salvation. “There is,” added His Highness, “no short cut or royal road to political power and political deliver ance. Nobody is more anxious than am I that in the councils of the British Empire my co-religionists should have a voice – a voice to which I think they are entitled when they are fit for it.
But how can we expect to have a voice until we have raised ourselves to the standard of those who now control the destinies of the Empire, and how can we equal that standard until we have made great and continuous sacrifices for the cause of education for a generation at least? Fitness and fitness alone can lead us to a great future. We cannot hope to attain our place in the Empire by a miracle; but if we make sacrifices, if we cease talking and really become resolute, determined and generous, then I do not despair of success. I do, however, urge my co-religionists to have patience and to give service, when the reward will be theirs. They must not allow academic questions to loom too largely in their deliberations but must concentrate all their energies and all their thoughts on the advance of modern civilisation by means of education and social reform.” “My word to my co-religionists in India on the eve of my departure is, concentrate on the University, carry it at once to the stage of inauguration, so that we may have a clear road to develop primary, secondary, commercial and technical edu cation amongst our members. There are indeed many projects for the welfare of our community which demand attention; but until the University is inaugurated on what are I repeat the reasonable conditions laid down for the granting of the charter, none of these other important issues which are of vital interest to our community can be taken up. Our motto must be ‘work and sacrifice; not talk’.”
Source: The Times of India, Bombay, 9 March 1912. A slightly shorter report was carried by The Civil and Military Gazette, Lahore, on 10 March.
The Aga Khan left India for England on 9 March after his strenuous tour of the country in promotion of the cause of a Muslim university.
For the history and difficulties of the making of a Muslim university in India see Muhammad Ali, The Proposed Muhammadan University, Bombay, 1904; Anni~ Besant, For Indias Uplift: A Collection of Speeches and Writings on Indian Questions Madras, n.d.; Rafiuddin Ahmad, “The Proposed Muslim University in India”‘ The Nineteenth Century, December 1898;]. Kennedy, “A Muhammadan Universi~ for Northern India”, Imperial and Asiatic Quarterly Review, October 1898; Theo dore Morison, “A Muhammadan University”, National Review, October 1898· Muhammad Ibrahim Qureshi, “The Proposed Musalman University: A Reply”:
Indian Review, November 1902; “India: Education”, &und Table, December 1911; M. T. Kaderbhoy, “The Muslim University”, Imperial and Asiatic Quarterly Review, October 1911; Edward G. Long, “Muhammadan University for India”, Hindustan Review, June 1911; Arthur H. Ewing, “The Proposed Moslem Univer sity for India”, Muslim World, April 1912; Sayyid Abdul Latif, “The Muslim University Movement”, Indian Review, May 1916; and Muhammad Ishaq Khan, Letter, The Civil and Military Gazette, 23 February 1917.