Sir Syed (1817-1898) and Science: Popularization in Nineteenth Century India

On 9 January 1864, 109 men joined the newly formed Scientific Society in Ghazipur, India. Its founder, Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan (1817–1898), and his engagement with various scientific disciplines is the subject of my dissertation. This work takes a notable figure in South Asia and re-examines him in his historical setting. Drawing on a wealth of published and archival material in several languages, I argue that Sayyid Ahmad’s activities between 1837 and 1876 fall under the category of science popularization. These themes are under-examined because of his image as a Muslim reformer in India. I use him as a template to show how scientific knowledge was transformed in India from multiple perspectives. This includes case studies ranging from translations of Persian sources that describe how to build mathematical compasses into Urdu, to debates in other parts of the world that shaped the conversations in India. I also show that Sayyid Ahmad’s engagement with science education and popularization draws in several groups, such as the intellectual elite at Delhi College and members of the Asiatic Society. The dissertation is split into five chapters, each dealing with a different part of Sayyid Ahmad’s activities and publications. The first chapter examines Urdu translations of Persian sources by Sayyid Ahmad. The second chapter deals with the field of archeology and Sayyid Ahmad’s contributions to the first report of the Archeological Survey of India (1862–1865). The third chapter explores Sayyid Ahmad’s bilingual Bible commentary and the scientific beliefs, such as the fact that the Earth revolves around the Sun, scattered through the publication. The fourth chapter examines his Scientific Society. Given the importance of Aligarh Muslim University (est. 1875), which was called Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College until 1920, the significance of his Scientific Society is often overlooked. The final chapter explores Sayyid Ahmad’s visit to London in 1869–70 and his return to India. Overall, this thesis aims to write Sayyid Ahmad into the existing historiographical discussions within nineteenth century history of science. This lens offers a fresh account of a well-known figure in a new historiographical setting.Ph.D