Muslims in Modern India
From the educational reform movements of the nineteenth century through the independence struggle to public life in the republic, followed in chronological order.
Start LearningBegins with Darul Uloom Deoband: The Seminary and the School of Thought
Learning Sequence
Articles are ordered so each builds on the one before. You can also read them in any order that suits you.
- Darul Uloom Deoband: The Seminary and the School of ThoughtinstitutionModern EraDarul Uloom Deoband is an Islamic seminary founded in northern India in 1866 or 1867 and the origin of the Deobandi school of thought. Its innovation was institutional: i…
- Sir Syed Ahmed Khan: Reformer, Educator, and Architect of Muslim Modernity in IndiapersonModern EraSir Syed Ahmed Khan (1817-1898) was an Indian Muslim reformer and educator who founded the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College at Aligarh in 1875, which became Aligarh Musl…
- Aligarh Muslim University: From the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College to a Central UniversityinstitutionModern EraAligarh Muslim University grew out of the school founded by Syed Ahmad Khan in 1875, which became the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College in 1877 and a university by Act of…
- Hakim Ajmal Khan: Physician, Nationalist, and Champion of Indigenous MedicinepersonModern EraHakim Ajmal Khan (1863-1927) was an Indian physician and nationalist who founded the Ayurvedic and Unani Tibbia College in Delhi, was the first Chancellor of Jamia Millia…
- Abadi Bano Begum (Bi Amma): Mother of the Khilafat MovementpersonModern EraAbadi Bano Begum (1852-1924), known affectionately as Bi Amma, was the mother of the Ali Brothers and one of the first Muslim women to enter Indian nationalist politics, …
- Mohammad Ali Jauhar: The Voice of the Khilafat MovementpersonModern EraMohammad Ali Jauhar (1878-1931) was an Indian Muslim leader, journalist, and orator who co-led the Khilafat Movement with his brother Shaukat Ali, forged a Hindu-Muslim a…
- Shaukat Ali: The Organizer of the Khilafat MovementpersonModern EraShaukat Ali (1873-1938) was an Indian Muslim leader who co-led the Khilafat Movement with his brother Mohammad Ali Jauhar. Known as the organizational force behind the mo…
- Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari: Physician, Nationalist, and Builder of InstitutionspersonModern EraMukhtar Ahmed Ansari (1880-1936) was an Indian physician and nationalist who presided over both the All India Muslim League and the Indian National Congress. Trained in E…
- Jamia Millia Islamia: The National Muslim UniversityinstitutionModern EraJamia Millia Islamia was founded at Aligarh on 29 October 1920 by nationalist Muslim leaders and students who left the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College during the Non-Co…
- Shaykh al-Islam Husain Ahmad Madani: Scholar of Hadith and Advocate of Composite NationalismpersonModern EraHusain Ahmad Madani (1879-1957) was an Indian scholar of hadith who taught in Medina, was interned by the British on Malta, and led Darul Uloom Deoband as Shaykh al-Hadit…
- Maulana Abul Kalam Azad: Scholar, Theologian, and Architect of Indian EducationpersonModern EraMaulana Abul Kalam Azad (1888–1958) was a leading Islamic scholar and independence leader of the twentieth century. A theologian, journalist, and statesman, he served as …
- Hasrat Mohani: The Revolutionary Poet of Indian IndependencepersonModern EraHasrat Mohani (1875-1951) was an Indian Muslim poet, journalist, and freedom fighter who coined the slogan 'Inquilab Zindabad' and was the first to demand complete indepe…
- Allama Iqbal: The Poet-Philosopher of the EastpersonSouth Asian IslamAllama Muhammad Iqbal (1877-1938 CE) was a poet-philosopher and political leader considered the spiritual father of Pakistan. His poetry, philosophical works, and vision …
- Syed Mahmud: Nationalist, Legislator, and Founder of Jamia Millia IslamiapersonModern EraSyed Mahmud (1889-1971) was an Indian barrister and Congress leader from Bihar, a member of the Foundation Committee of Jamia Millia Islamia in 1920, General Secretary of…
- Ali Musliyar: Religious Leader of the Malabar RebellionpersonModern EraAli Musliyar (c. 1861-1922) was an Islamic religious leader in Malabar, imam of the Tirurangadi mosque from 1907 and the principal religious authority of the Malabar Rebe…
- Variyankunnath Kunjahammad Haji: Military Leader of the Malabar RebellionpersonModern EraVariyankunnath Kunjahammad Haji (c. 1875-1922) was the military leader of the Malabar Rebellion of 1921-22, establishing a short-lived parallel government in the Ernad an…
- Ashfaqulla Khan: Poet and Revolutionary of the Kakori ConspiracypersonModern EraAshfaqulla Khan (1900-1927) was an Indian Muslim revolutionary and poet who co-organized the 1925 Kakori train robbery with Ram Prasad Bismil to fund the anti-colonial Hi…
- Abdul Ghaffar Khan: The Frontier Gandhi and Apostle of Non-ViolencepersonModern EraKhan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (1890–1988), known as Badshah Khan and the Frontier Gandhi, was a Pashtun independence leader and apostle of non-violence who founded the Khudai K…
- Aruna Asaf Ali: The Grand Old Lady of the Indian Independence MovementpersonModern EraAruna Asaf Ali (1909-1996), born Aruna Ganguly, hoisted the Indian flag at Gowalia Tank Maidan on 9 August 1942, marking the start of the Quit India Movement. She spent f…
- Asaf Ali: Barrister, Freedom Fighter, and India's First Ambassador to AmericapersonModern EraAsaf Ali (1888-1953) was an Indian barrister and Congress leader who defended Bhagat Singh and the INA officers at the Red Fort trial. He served in the Interim Government…
- Surayya Tyabji: The Artist Behind India's National FlagpersonModern EraSurayya Tyabji (1919-1978) was an Indian artist from Hyderabad who, with her husband Badruddin Tyabji, worked on the final design of the Indian national flag in July 1947…
- Major General Shah Nawaz Khan: From the Indian National Army to the Indian RepublicpersonModern EraMajor General Shah Nawaz Khan (1914-1983) joined the Indian National Army after his capture at Singapore in 1942 and led its forces into north-eastern India. Tried for tr…
- Brigadier Mohammad Usman: The Hero of NausherapersonModern EraBrigadier Mohammad Usman (1912–1949) was a distinguished Indian Army officer who chose to serve India after the 1947 Partition. He commanded the 50th Parachute Brigade in…
- Company Quartermaster Havildar Abdul Hamid: Param Vir ChakrapersonModern EraCompany Quartermaster Havildar Abdul Hamid (1933-1965) of 4 Grenadiers destroyed several Pakistani Patton tanks with a jeep-mounted recoilless gun at the Battle of Asal U…
- Zakir Husain Khan: Educationist, Philosopher, and President of IndiapersonModern EraDr. Zakir Husain Khan (1897–1969) was an educationist, philosopher, and statesman of independent India. A founder and Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia, Vice-Chance…
- Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed: Lawyer, Freedom Fighter, and Fifth President of IndiapersonModern EraFakhruddin Ali Ahmed (1905–1977) was an Indian lawyer, freedom fighter, and statesman who served as the fifth President of India from 1974 until his death in office in 19…
- A.P.J. Abdul Kalam: The People's President and Missile Man of IndiapersonModern EraAvul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam served as India's eleventh President (2002–2007) and was a principal architect of the country's missile programme and a coordinator of…
- Hamdard Laboratories (India): From Unani Clinic to National InstitutioninstitutionModern EraHamdard Laboratories (India) is a Unani pharmaceutical company and welfare institution founded in Old Delhi in 1906 by Hakeem Hafiz Abdul Majeed. Converted into a waqf in…
- Islamic Education in the Modern EraconceptModern EraIslamic learning from the nineteenth century to the present. The classical pattern of mosque school, madrasa and scholarly circle met colonial and state education systems…