Sir Syed’s ideas did not stop at the Hindi belt. That was the argument a Kerala scholar brought to Aligarh this week, at a Sir Syed Day lecture organised by the Malayalam Section of AMU’s Department of Modern Indian Languages.
Who spoke, and what he said
Dr Azees Tharuvana, who heads the Department of Malayalam at Farook College, Kozhikode, gave the keynote on “Kerala Renaissance and Sir Syed Ahmad Khan”. According to the university, he said Sir Syed’s progressive ideals and his vision for education had a real part in the socio-cultural awakening in Kerala.
His case rested on two things Sir Syed is best remembered for on this campus: modern education and rational inquiry. Dr Tharuvana said Sir Syed’s call for a scientific temper and educational reform travelled beyond language and region, and that his way of taking on superstition and social dogma through education is still relevant.
Also readAMU Reconstitutes Alumni Affairs, National and International Advisory Committees
Dr Tharuvana is a known academic and folklorist. His research monograph Vayanadan Ramayanam and his documentary work have received national recognition.
On the dais
- Presidential address: Prof. A. Nujum, Chairperson, Department of Modern Indian Languages
- Welcome: Mr Rafsal Babu C. V., Section In-Charge, Malayalam Section
- Felicitations: Dr R. Tamil Selvam, Assistant Professor and In-Charge, Tamil Section
- Vote of thanks: Mr Mehboob Taliparamba, research scholar, Department of Arabic
Why it matters for Aligs from the south
AMU has a long Malayali presence, from students on the main campus to the AMU Centre in Malappuram. A lecture placing Sir Syed inside Kerala’s own reform story gives that community a reason to see the founder as part of their history too, not only Aligarh’s.
For more on how the day was marked away from the main campus, read our roundup of Sir Syed Day 2026 celebrations by alumni, AMU schools and the Malappuram centre.
Source: AMU Public Relations Office, 22 October 2026.
