Sir Syed’s first biopic resonates with contemporary Muslim issues

Syed Ahmed Khan Biopic Photo Credit: Special Arrangements

He is the architect of modern India or the supporter of the two-nation theory. However, moving away from easy binaries, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan’s first biopic attempts to find answers to the disputed legacy of the founder of the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College that shaped Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). A two-hour cut of the long, OTT series at work, the messiah premiered at AMU’s iconic Kennedy Auditorium on Monday before the series was streamed on Apple TV.

At a time when the minority status of the Central University was being hotly debated in the courts and society, the series details how Sir Syed confronted a section of clerical and conservative elements in the Muslim community by building a modern center of learning to build bridges. A conflict between Muslims and the British government followed the 1857 rebellion after the colonial powers held the community largely responsible for the rebellion. “He considered ignorance as the main reason for the political downfall of Muslims and hence pushed for modern education,” says Shoaib Hussain Chaudhary, who not only directed the series but also played the lead role. “The role fell into my lap after big names refused to take up the challenge, perhaps because of the stigma attached to it.”

A familiar name in the television circuit, Chaudhary sees Sir Syed as an advocate of Hindu-Muslim unity who was wrongly associated with the two-nation theory. “The principle came into existence long after his death in 1898. What he asked for was Muslim representation in legislative bodies and this is relevant given the political status of the community today.”

As a believer in book answers, Sir Syed responded to William Muir’s controversial commentary on the Prophet Muhammad with a rational interpretation of Islamic tradition. Khubat-e-Ahmadiyya.

An adaptation of Hayat-i-JavedKhwaja Altaf Hussain Hali’s biography of Sir Syed, series, places him in the league of reformers like Raja Rammohan Roy and Ishwar Chand Vidyasagar and argues that he was not a communal figure but a communalist who was conscious of the facts of the Hindus. Bengal was at least 50 years ahead of Muslims in getting modern education.

Interestingly, the spark came from Mirza Ghalib. When Sir Syed approached the poet to write the preface to his translation Ain-i-AkbariAdvising the community to focus on contemporary issues, he said there was no point in celebrating Akbar’s reign when the world constitution was being written in Calcutta.

‘controversial opinion’

The series also criticizes Sir Syed’s views on girls’ education and backward Muslims and debates whether he made a mistake by not joining hands with the Indian National Congress. It also explores her tumultuous relationship with her son Syed Mohammad, the first Muslim judge of the High Court during the British Raj, whose penchant for alcohol created problems in her personal and professional life. “Sir Syed’s character seems ambivalent but if you look at him as a product of his time, things fall into place,” says screenwriter Mutim Kamali. “While Islam abhors slavery, he opted for pragmatism because after the revolt of 1857, the community was not in a position to take on the colonial powers. Even Mahatma Gandhi did not take the path of armed rebellion. Kamali says that Sir Syed did not join the Congress but towards the end of his life he showed a change in his outlook. And had he lived long enough, he would probably have joined the Congress.

Describing the series as an authentic portrayal of Sir Syed’s life and works, Sir Syed Sej’s authority Prof. Shafe Kidwai, “Sir Syed’s views on women’s education and backward Muslims have been widely misunderstood. The film tries to set the record straight in a believable manner.

Made on a tight budget, the series was shot on sets after AMU refused permission. Chowdhury says, ‘The previous filmmakers could not fulfill their commitment, so the previous administration was interested in our intention, but now I am happy that the university has embraced the film,’ says Chowdhury.

Apart from Chaudhary, Akshay Anand, Zarina Wahab, Arif Zakaria and Deepak Parashar also play important roles in this series.