AMU Hosts Release of 20-Volume ‘Majmua-e-Nasr-e-Sir Syed’
AMU Hosts Release of 20-Volume ‘Majmua-e-Nasr-e-Sir Syed’
ALIGARH, April 28: A significant literary and academic event was held at the Cultural Hall of Maulana Azad Library, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), to mark the release of “Majmua-e-Nasr-e-Sir Syed”, a monumental 20-volume compilation of the complete prose writings of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, edited by Dr. Ata Khurshid.
The programme was presided over by Padma Shri Hakim Syed Zillur Rahman, Founder Director, Ibn Sina Academy. Prominent scholars, including Prof. AzarmidukhtSafavi, Institute of Persian Research; Prof. SagheerAfraheem, former Professor, Department of Urdu; Prof. Nishat Fatima, University Librarian; and Prof. Mohibul Haq, Department of Political Science, shared their views on the work. Dr. Atif Haneef conducted the proceedings.
In his presidential address, Hakim Syed Zillur Rahman described the compilation as not merely a collection of writings but a rediscovery of an intellectual era. He termed it one of the most significant scholarly achievements of the century, noting that the painstaking effort and academic integrity involved in compiling Sir Syed’s scattered writings would serve as a milestone in understanding the Aligarh Movement and the intellectual history of the subcontinent.
Prof. Azarmi Dukht Safavi highlighted the intellectual diversity of Sir Syed’s writings reflected in the compilation, stating that the work offers a comprehensive insight into the social, educational and religious concerns of his time. Prof. SagheerAfraheem described it as the beginning of a new chapter in Urdu research, while Prof. Mohibul Haq praised its thematic organization as a model of modern research methodology.
Prof. Nishat Fatima termed the work a continuation of the rich scholarly tradition of libraries and described it as a collective academic responsibility fulfilled on behalf of the Aligarh community. She noted that the compilation would significantly enrich Sir Syed studies and elevate the standards of Urdu scholarship.
Earlier, Dr. Ata Khurshid, in his welcome address, recounted the long and meticulous journey of compiling the volumes. The collection spans nearly 10,000 pages and brings together Sir Syed’s essays, articles and other prose writings, including rare, scattered and previously less accessible materials. Notably, it also includes his Tafsir-ul-Quran, addressing a long-standing gap in available scholarship.
The speakers also highlighted Dr. Khurshid’s earlier contributions, including the three-volume Kulliyat-e-Khutbat-e-Sir Syed (2022) and a six-volume compilation of Sir Syed’s Urdu and English letters (2023), describing the present work as the culmination of his sustained research efforts.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Ata Khurshid.
Public Relations Office
Aligarh Muslim University
