Sir Syed Memorial Society

It is a testament to the vision of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, that the alumni of the Aligarh University, even decades after attendance, remained active in spreading Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s legacy. A memorial to the great man was envisioned as far back as the early 1980s by members of the Central Aligarh Old Boys Association. At the time, Major General (Retd.) S. Ali Nawab, astutely “…realized that the Old Boys who now constitute the Association are slowly fading away…” and, as such, a new and independent organization needed to be formed to carry on Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s legacy. Thus, in early 1984, the Central Aligarh Old Boys Association committed themselves to creating the Sir Syed Memorial Society “To carry forward the educational mission of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan in Pakistan by promoting a judicious blend of Islamic Values and Scientific and Technological excellence.” Finally, on May 5th, 1984 the Sir Syed Memorial Society was formally launched. The first members of the society were Syed Ali Nawab, Iqbal M. Shafi, S. Musharrafuddin and Iqbal Ahmad Khan. A general “…appeal to the people of Pakistan to come forward and join hands in creating…the Memorial…” was made. And so, with a single minded devotion to equal that of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan himself, the growing membership of the new society vowed to move “…forward and launch a countrywide fund raising campaign in the true traditions established by Sir Syed and the Aligarh Movement…” The campaign was a resounding success with citizens throughout Pakistan donating what they could. Architects of national repute offered to design the memorial at no cost. Successive governments of Pakistan also played their part. Finally, years later, through the energy and action of many, the admiration and gratitude Pakistanis felt for Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was realized in bricks and mortar. The memorial building, placed in Sector G-5/1 of Islamabad, was finally completed in 200_. It is not a monument to Sir Syed Ahmed Khan alone but also to the energy and enthusiasm of a nation that built it. 

Far from being a vehicle for nostalgic reverie, the Sir Syed Memorial Society has as its aim to reawaken and apply the vision of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan to the modern day. As Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and the Aligarh Movement is part of our heritage today, what the Sir Syed Memorial Society does today should form the heritage for the future. As such, the Sir Syed Memorial Society has played a key role in providing platforms for educational and intellectual growth and is now actively participating in groundbreaking programs whose results shall be felt far into the future.