Dictionary of Indian Biography/Ahmad Khan, Sir Syad, Khan Bahadur

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2403120Dictionary of Indian Biography — Ahmad Khan, Sir Syad, Khan BahadurCharles Edward Buckland

AHMAD KHAN, SIR SYAD, KHAN BAHADUR (1817–1898)

Educational reformer : born Oct. 17, 1817, at Delhi, of a noble family : his ancestors came into India from Central Asia, and held high office under the Mogul Emperors : he entered Government service in 1837 and rose to be a subordinate Judge in the N.W.P. In the mutiny he rendered faithful service to the British at Bijnur, saving their lives : he wrote a pamphlet in Urdu on the causes of the mutiny. He was devoted to antiquarian research and was a Member of the Royal Asiatic Society : in 1864 he formed a Translation Society at Ghazipur (afterwards moved to Alighar) and had several valuable English works translated into Urdu. He visited England in 1869, and left his son (afterwards Mr. Justice Mahmud of the Allahabad High Court), to be educated at Cambridge. He wrote a reply to Sir W. W. Hunter's work on The Indian Musalmans—are they bound in Conscience to rebel against the Queen? In 1876 he retired from Government service, and in 1877 commenced the Anglo-Oriental College at Alighar. He was a Member of the Legislative Council, N.W.P. and an Additional Member of the Governor General's Legislative Council, 1878–1882 : was made a K.C.S.I. in 1888 : a man of extreme courtesy combined with personal dignity : to his College he devoted his whole energy and means : died March 27, 1898 : wrote Archaelogical History of Delhi 1847 : F.R.A.S. 1864.