9th September 1920: The Anglo-Oriental College of Aligarh was converted into the Aligarh Muslim University

On 9th September 1920 the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College (MAO College) of Aligarh was converted into the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). The main campus of the AMU is located in Aligarh and two functioning off campus centres are located in Malappuram and Murshidabad.

The MAO was the brainchild of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, who after the First War of Indian Independence in 1857, thought it was imperative that Muslims train for Government jobs and prepare for further training in British Universities. Sir Syed was assisted in the creation of the MAO by Raja Jai Kishan. In 1842 the British decided to replace Persian for government jobs and since this was an important language of the Court of Law, this caused a lot of distress among Muslims. Sir Syed thought it important for Muslims to be fluent in English and the sciences if their community wanted to maintain its influence in India (especially in the North). In preparation of the foundation of a Muslim University, Sir Syed began by starting schools. The Scientific Society of Aligarh was established in 1864 to translate western books into Indian languages. This was also the commencement of the introduction of Western education in India. Financial support for the funding of the MAO was provided by Sir Sultan Mahommed Shah, the Aga Khan III. In 1857, Sir Syed founded the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College in Aligarh and devised the college after the Oxford and Cambridge Universities, which he had been to on a trip to England. Sir Syed’s vision was to establish a college which was in sync with British education, while retaining its Islamic identity.

The MAO was the first exclusively residential institution founded either by the Government or by the public of India. Over the years the college went on to create educated Indian Muslims who contributed to the political offices of the British in colonial India. Viceroy, Lord Curzon praised the university and the work it was doing greatly.

 Some of the notable alumni of the Aligarh Muslim University are:

• Zakir Hussain (Former President of India)
• Mohammad Hamid Ansari (Current Vice-President of India)
• Raja Rao (English novelist and short story writer)
• Dhyan Chand (Hockey wizard and Olympian)
• Naseeruddin Shah (Hindi film actor)
• Syed Mahmood Naqvi (Scientist)
• Tahir Mahmood (Member, Law Commission of India)