Six volumes of “Kulliyat-e Maktubat-e Sir Syed” and three volumes of “The Complete Lectures of Sir Syed” released

Aligarh : Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, the founder of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) left behind numerous writings and more than a thousand articles and essays during his 81-year-long life. In addition to essays and articles, his letters and speeches are also part of his legacy.

While introducing a six-volume book entitled “Kulliyat-e Maktubat-e Sir Syed” (Collection of letters of Sir Syed) at its launch event at the Maulana Azad Library, AMU, the compiler, Dr. Ata Khurshid, in charge of the Oriental Studies section at Maulana Azad Library said that he collected over a thousand letters of Sir Syed from various sources and also compiled letters addressed to him, which reveals the context of Sir Syed’s correspondence. In addition to Urdu letters, the compiler also published English letters written by and addressed to Sir Syed.

The launch event took place in the Cultural Hall of the Maulana Azad Library.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Ata Khurshid published a thematic bibliography of Sir Syed’s writings in 2019, mentioning nearly a thousand minor and major writings of Sir Syed, which are not included in Ismail Panipati’s compilations.

In 2002 followed Sir Syed’s speeches in Urdu in three volumes. There was a need to translate these speeches in English, so Mr. Arif Ansari, an alumnus of AMU, who has translated more than seven books of different genres including fiction and non-fiction, took on the task of translating all three volumes of “Khatbat-e Sir Syed”, entitled “The Complete Lectures of Sir Syed”.

Mr. Arif Ansari introduced the English translation. Mr. Ansari is basically an engineer by profession but loves translation. He has also translated Khwab Sarab (Dream Mirage), a famous Urdu novel by Dr. Anis Ashfaq. He has been living in the US for the last 38 years.

Launching these books, Professor Shan Mohammad, former Director, Sir Syed Academy, congratulated Dr. Ata Khurshid for these significant volumes.

Professor Shafey Kidwai, Director, Sir Syed Academy, highlighted the importance of these works and hoped that students and scholars would benefit from these remarkable volumes.

Professor Masood Anwar Alavi, Principal, Women’s College, AMU discussed Sir Syed’s contributions and significance of research on Aligarh Movement.

The University Librarian, Professor Nishat Fatima expressed heartfelt thanks, as both the works were carried out under the library’s auspices.

Mr. Atif Hanif conducted the proceedings.