Which of the following statements about Sir Syed Ahmad Khan is/are cor

Which of the following statements about Sir Syed Ahmad Khan is/are correct?

  • He argued that India was a federation of ethnic communities based on common descent.
  • His philosophy was very similar to that of the Indian National Congress.
  • He imagined India as a Nation State based on individual citizen’s rights.
  • The curriculum at the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College blended Muslim theology and European empiricism.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 only
2 and 3
3 only
1 and 4
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-1 – 2018
Statement 1: Sir Syed Ahmad Khan increasingly viewed India as consisting of two distinct communities, Hindus and Muslims, whose interests might diverge. While “federation of ethnic communities based on common descent” is an unusual phrasing, it reflects his idea of India as a collection of distinct communities rather than a unified nation-state based on individual rights, especially as he moved towards the “Two-Nation Theory” concept.
Statement 2: Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was critical of the Indian National Congress, particularly its call for representative government based on election, which he feared would lead to Hindu majority rule. His philosophy was distinctly different and often opposed to that of Congress.
Statement 3: This statement contradicts his view of distinct communities. He emphasized the separate political identity and rights for Muslims based on their communal identity, not primarily individual rights within a secular nation-state framework.
Statement 4: The Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College (MAO College), founded by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, aimed to provide modern Western education (European empiricism) alongside traditional Islamic religious instruction (Muslim theology). This statement is correct.
Given the options, statements 1 and 4 are considered correct in this context.
Sir Syed Ahmad Khan held views on India as a composite of distinct communities and promoted a blend of modern and religious education at MAO College.
Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was a key figure in 19th-century Indian Muslim society. He advocated for modern education among Muslims and played a significant role in the Aligarh Movement. His political views evolved, becoming more separatist, particularly after the formation of the Indian National Congress.
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