Correct Answer:
C. To prepare Muslims against Hindus
Explanation:
The correct answer is To prepare Muslims against Hindus because the Aligarh Movement was originally designed as an educational and reconciliatory venture focused on reform rather than promoting communal hostility or preparing for confrontation against other local communities.
- To prepare Muslims against Hindus: This is the correct choice for the 'NOT among the purposes' question. Your original key listed 'To prepare Muslims to learn science', which is completely incorrect since promoting scientific education was one of Sir Syed's core goals. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan emphasized that Muslims must focus entirely on academic and socioeconomic rehabilitation, explicitly warning them away from active agitational politics or hostile communal confrontation during the foundational phase of the movement.
- Incorrect Options (Actual Purposes of the Movement):
- To reduce hatred of British: This is an actual purpose. Sir Syed wrote extensive treatises, such as 'The Causes of the Indian Revolt', explicitly to remove mutual mistrust between the British Raj and the Muslim community following the events of 1857.
- To propose Muslims to learn English / To prepare Muslims to learn science: These are actual purposes. Sir Syed founded the Scientific Society to translate Western technical literature into Urdu and strongly advocated for modern Western science and English literacy to pull the community out of isolation.
The primary goals of the movement were to promote Western education among the Muslim community and to work for the upliftment of Muslims in the country. Sir Syed was a strong advocate of using reason and logic, and he urged Muslims to modernize and adopt scientific thinking.