A man out of sight does not necessarily mean he is out of minds. This is true for Saiyid Hamid, and for all, who have contributed meaningfully towards growth and progress of society, community and the country. The epitome of Saiyid Hamid’s contribution, vision and his multifaceted personality cannot be framed in a single book or two.
Senior Journalist Syyed Mansoor Agha’s effort in compilation of his untold story from close family members in the book, “PAIKER-E-FIKRO-AMAL- SAIYID HAMID IN MEMORIUM,” published by Indian Education Foundation, New Delhi, is another way of narrating an individual’s wholesome personality within and outside family boundaries. Saiyid Hamid was not only an individual but an institution. His vision should be adorned and emulated by generations to come in order to shape the destiny of our community and also to keep pace with other communities in social welfare and nation building.
After going minutely from one chapter to another, the tributes and living memories of members of the family and some close family friends, the immediate reflection was that there was no discrepancy, dichotomy and double standard in his work, thought and actions, and his private life was a mirror reflection of his public life. This type of persona is becoming rare because today the real life does not in any way match with the reel life. This remarkable characteristic of Saiyid Hamid made him unique and thus glorified his stature manifold.
Saiyid Hamid in all capacity, as a father, an administrator, as Vice Chancellor of AMU, an educational reformer and institution builder led by examples and set the footprints for others to take his vision forward. Sincere efforts towards his 4-point awareness mission: 1. Eliminate illiteracy, promote universal and quality education with moral values; 2. Importance of hygiene and good health; 3. Need for social reforms; and 4. Promotion of communal harmony by the community to every nook and corner of the country, should be the real tribute to him.
Sir Syed was instrumental in breaking the ice at that point of time on adaptability of modern education and that vision was religiously taken forward by Saiyid Hamid and the results are known to one and all. Both of them believed that education is the only way forward to make our community empowered socially, politically and economically. And for this the flame of their baton of vision should spread far and wide and keep illuminating the masses from one generation to another. In totality, it should not be mistaken to be a gaudy display of his personality when we say that his contribution was in no way less than Sir Syed. Pardon me, if I am wrong in my assessment. Was he not Sir Syed of modern times? It goes without saying that both were legends and icons of their times.
Prof B. Sheik Ali, founder VC of Goa and Mysore Universities, has in his chapter, “Sir Syed of the Day,” has described Saiyid Hamid as the real torchbearer of his vision and the finest product of the Aligarh Movement that was aimed at lifting up the Muslims from the darkness to the ray of hope and to march forward in the direction of progress and modernity. Saiyid Hamid himself never loved people equating and calling him another Sir Syed because praising him was equal to decreasing the status of Sir Syed.
What more can be said by a son about his father’s personality. Syed Samar Hamid, the eldest son of Saiyid Hamid who is the present Honorary Secretary of Hamdard Education Society, describes him as Selfless, Pious, Principled, Responsible, Generous, Upright, Correct, Kind, Polite, Caring, Thoughtful, Considerate, Gentle, Tough, Determined, Sincere, Warm, Affectionate, Tender, Devoted, Trusting, Steadfast, Progressive, Ascetic and Simple. There cannot be a better explanation of an individual than what is said of him.
In this book, according to Faraz Hamid, another son of Saiyid Hamid, Aligarh Muslim University was founded by Sir Syed but his father saved it from ruins with some strict measures. Taking the baton from Sir Syed, he spread the guiding light of education to each and every corner of the country. The Talimi Caravan or Educational Caravan was the spirit of his movement. He was instrumental in establishing two Universities; Jamia Hamdard in Delhi and Maulana Azad University in Hyderabad. To my mind hundreds and thousands should follow him to pave the way for more universities and colleges in India in order to serve the purpose.
Saman Gafoor, daughter of Saiyid Hamid has shared her feelings by saying that his father was firm in his conviction that nothing would harm us if we did not harm anybody, always encouraged and motivated people to do their best, stood by his values and principles against all odds, and never spoke of his achievements even to his wife and children.
It is indeed very interesting to note the expression of Prof. Amrik Singh, former Vice Chancellor of Punjab University. According to him, in his entire teaching career, roughly 40 years, Saiyid Hamid was among few who left a lasting impression on his mind which certainly speaks volumes and perfectly sketches his personality.
Seema Mustafa, a senior journalist who is daughter of Lt. Colonel Syed Mustafa, the elder brother of Saiyid Hamid, described him as a progressive man and has highlighted his caravan aimed at modernising madrasa education across the country and his effort in persuading the maulvis to open their doors to modern education.
Communal harmony was also a very important area for Saiyid Hamid which has been aptly described by Dr. John Dayal in his chapter, “The Gentleman Activist, Amir-E Caravan of Communal Harmony.” As Amir-E-Caravan of two journeys across India, Saiyid Hamid was instrumental in collecting the gathering of the best known human rights and peace activists of the country and also some of the most learned Ulema and leaders of the Muslim community of that time in one single railway coach.
Justice Rajinder Sachar, in his article, “My Friend Saiyid Hamid Saheb”, has mentioned that on one occasion when he reached the premises of Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah to address a gathering on his invitation, he saw Saiyid Saheb standing at the entrance, welcoming the guests with his trademark humility. Let me tell you, tomes can be written on Hamid Saheb’s humbleness. His ‘quiet no-frill’ demeanour belied the fact that this gentleman had been such a senior IAS officer and one of the most distinguished VCs of Aligarh Muslim University. He acted as a humdrum volunteer, rather than an icon of the Muslim community.
Low representation of Muslims in civil services was always a concern for Saiyid Hamid and he did all in his capacity to make the representation better. Saiyid Hamid in an interview to Delhi based journalist Abdul Noor Shibli published in The Milli Gazette on the question of having more study centres on the pattern of Hamdard Study Circle, he had replied that this type of study centre should be opened in every state capital, which may not be easy due to lack of infrastructure. But if one wants to open such centres, we will assist him.
Dr. Zafar Mahmood, former IRS officer and OSD to Sachar Committee, has recalled his tenure as the senior most member of the Prime Minister’s High Level Committee on Muslims, which was later known as Sachar Committee; his role was that of an elder statesman. Few more articles from earlier book, “Saiyid Hamid – Muslim Face of India,” complied and published by Mushtaque Madni and P.A. Inamdar have also been included to make it more descriptive.
Another book, Paikar-E-Fikr-O-Amal in Urdu was compiled by Mansoor Agha which was published by NCPUL. In this book he has highlighted his personality, his vision and mission. Another book, titled “Etraf” in Urdu is a compilation of tributes paid to him after the death of Saiyid Hamid.