To achieve these activities, he came to the conclusion that cooperation rather than conflict with the British Government would be the need of the hour. In 1869, Sir Syed visited England where he studied the pattern of education and its civic institutions. This enterprise was fully justified by the results he achieved in England. He received encouraging response from lot of Britishers particularly 'Stanley of Alderly' who was known to be keenly interested in the welfare of Muslims. In 1876 he retired from judicial services and devoted his entire life for the development of MAO College which was his dream objective to pursue the education of Muslims. The foundation stone of the college was laid on Jan. 8, 1877, by Lord Lytton. The speech which Sir Syed delivered on this occasion is thought provoking and he said, 'The seed that we sow today may grow up a mighty tree whose branches like the Banyan of the soil may take firm roots in the ground and in their turn, themselves send forth fresh vigorous saplings and its alumni may go forth to the length and breadth of the land, preaching the gospel of truth, honesty, piety and large hearted tolerance".

Sir Syed's philosophy of life was influenced by the philosophy of the Quran and Hadith. He stated that the Muslims should behave and act according to the philosophy of Quran. His greatest contribution to the Muslims philosophy is the reinterpretation of Islam. (Ijtihad). His main motive was the progress and development of Muslims education. His ideas about the education of Muslims and their social backwardness appeared in "Tahzeebul-Akhlaq". He established so many institutions such as- Panchayti Madrsa, Moradabad, (1859), English High School Ghazipur (1864), AMU Collegiate School (1875), MAO College (1877), Mohammedan Educational Conference (1886). Altaf Husain Hali in 'Hayat-e-Jawed', 1939 described the greatness of Sir Syed's personality as, "The biography of this extraordinary man is not the kind of work that can be duly affected just by one or two authors. Sir Syed's achievements will be more and more closely scrutinized, numerous people will take the pen to write his biography and for centuries to come, the praises of this hero, will be sung in Hindustan"

Vice Chancellor

PROFILE : LT GEN ZAMEER UDDIN SHAH, PVSM, SM, VSM VICE-CHANCELLOR : ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY

1. Lt Gen Zameer Uddin Shah was born on 15 August 1948. He is an alumnus of St Joseph’s College, Nainital. He assumed the appointment of Vice-Chancellor, Aligarh Muslim University on 17 May, 2012. The new Vice-Chancellor, despite having spent more than 40 years in the Army, has had considerable experience in the fields of education, judiciary and diplomacy.

2. Experience in Field of Education
The General is a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Higher Command Course at Army War College and National Defence College and holds a Master Degree in Defence Studies & Management from Madras University (1980) and M Phil from Indore University (1993). He has vast experience in the field of education and has been associated with the following Training/Educational Institutions:-

(a) Officer’s Training Academy, Chennai from 1972-1974. Instructor from 1972-1974. Trained college students to earn a commission in the Army.
(b) Army War College, Mhow. Member of the Faculty of Studies in 1996.
(c) Chairman of the Board of Governors of Sainik School Purulia, West Bengal from 2003-2005.
(d) Chairman of the Management Committee of the Army Institute of Management, Kolkata from 2004-2005.
(e) President Executive Council of Centre for Land Warfare Studies, Delhi Cantt from 2006-2007.

3. Judicial Experience
The General was elevated to the Armed Forces Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi in June 2009.This appointment has the status of a High Court Judge. He resigned from the Armed Forces Tribunal to assume the appointment of Vice-Chancellor.

4. Military Experience
The General was trained at National Defence Academy and Indian Military Academy and was commissioned on 09 June 1968 into 185 Light Regiment (Camel Pack). He participated with the Regiment in 1971 operations at Longewala (Jaisalmer Sector). The General Officer commanded 170 Field Regiment, in which his son also subsequently held a commission. He has participated in counter-insurgency operations in North East India and Punjab. During Operation ‘PARAKRAM’, the General Officer commanded an Infantry Division, of a Strike Corps, which was instrumental in quelling the riots in Gujarat in 2002. He subsequently commanded Bengal Area and an Army Corps comprising 30,000 troops involved in combating insurgency in six North East States. The General held the appointment of Deputy Chief of Army Staff (P&S) from 01 Oct 2006 to 31 Aug 2008 and was responsible for modernization of the Army and management and control of the Army budget. He subsequently retired after more than 40 years service. He is a recipient of the highest peace time award of PARAM VISHIST SEVA MEDAL, SENA MEDAL AND VISHIST SEVA MEDAL for distinguished service in the Army.

5. Diplomatic Assignment
The General has served on a diplomatic assignment as Defence Attache in Saudi Arabia from 1994-1997. He has travelled widely in West Asia, SE Asia, Africa, Europe and USA.

6. Hobbies
The General Officer is a keen sportsman, rider and an avid golfer. He is a wild life enthusiast and an angler.