AMU Students’ Union (formerly “The Siddons Union Club”)
“Man is naturally a speaking animal.” The superiority he possesses over other animals mainly consists in this noble gift. Fortunately, it is a faculty which can be improved by practice and Knowledge is not enough to teach, it is the base of great thinking.The best training school for the formation of good language and expression is most certainly a debating society. It is there that a young man learns how to produce his ideas in a lucid order and with graceful ease.
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| Strachey Hall, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh |
Thus, “The Siddons Union Club” came into existence in 26th August 1884 at Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College (M.A.-O. College). Presently known as The Aligarh Muslim University, (AMU), Aligarh.
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Mr. H.G.I. Siddons
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| Mr. Theodore Beck |
After the resignation of
Mr. H.G.I. Siddons due to illness, Mr. Theodore Beck appointed as the second
principal of M.A.-O. College in 1st February 1884. He was a
distinguished graduate of the Trinity College, Cambridge and had held the
office of the president of the Cambridge University Union Society (C.U.U.S.). “The Siddons Union Club” was developed on the
modeled of C.U.U.S. In the meeting of the opening ceremony was held at the Club
on Tuesday, the 26th August
1884, at 9 A.M. Kunwar Mahomed Lutf Ali Khan, President of the College Fund
Committee was a chair as the President.
The Club was formed
exclusively to nurture the students in the aptitude for and elegance in public
speaking, civilized argument and energetic debate.
On the occasion, Hon’ble
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan proposed that “The Principal of the College shall be the
President of the Club, and that the members of the College Committees, the
Professors and Teachers of the College and School Departments, the students of
the College Classes and those of the first three classes of the School, be
eligible for membership of the Club. He will also propose that at first the
Rules for the guidance of the Club be framed by the Principal and the
Secretary, Managing Committee.”2
The Laws of the Club have contains 5
Chapters.2 (Some general rules mentioned below).
Chapter I: of the nature
of the Club.
(i) “This Club shall
be called in honor of the first President
of the M.A.-O. College, The Siddons Union Club.”
(ii) “The objects of
this Club shall be:- To hold debates.
To maintain a Library and
Reading-Room.”
Chapter II: of the
members
(i) “Students of the
College and first three School Classes may become members of this Club on
payment of an entrance fee of Rs. 1 and a subscription of 8 Annas per month.”
Chapter III: of the
officers.
(i) “The Principal
shall be President.”
(ii) “Vice-President
and Secretary shall be elected by the Club.”
(iii) “Secretary of the
Managing Committee of the College shall be Treasurer of the Club.”
Chapter IV: of the
Committee.
(i) “The Committee
shall consist of the four officers, and
six members elected by the Club by ballot.
Chapter V: of debates.
(i) The Committee was
fixed the days for debates.
(ii) No motion can be
carried at a private business meeting unless 15 members vote.
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| Debating Hall (from stage) “On Saturday, 15th November 1884, at 7:30 A.M., the first debate of the Club was held. The President, Mr. Beck, was in the chair. Sajjad Hossain, B.A., brought forward the motion “That the spread of female education in India is to be desired, but by home tuition and not by schools and colleges.” After the hon. proposer’s reply, the House divided; Ayes 18; Noes 21. The motion was therefore lost by 3 votes.”3  Debating Hall
The first lecture on agriculture was given in the Club on 21st November 1884, by Raja Hari Hara Datta Dube Bahadur, of Jaunpur , said that “To improve our country we must first improve ourselves.” The Principal of the College was in the chair.3
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At the foundation an interchange of greetings between C.U.U.S. took place. The following were the text:
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| Debating Hall |
“The President of the
Union Club of the M.A.-O. College presents his compliments to the President of
the Cambridge University Union Society and begs to inform him that the
Cambridge University Union Society has given birth to a similar, though at
present small, Society in the far East. He invites the sympathy of members of
the ancient and flourishing society at Cambridge for the youthful club founded
by men who though different in the race
are citizens of the same great Empire. The creed of Aligarh is that the
relationship between the English and
Indian subjects of Her Majesty should be one of brotherhood. He hopes that if
any member of the Cambridge University Union Society should visit Aligarh he
will experience a practical exemplification of this aim.”4
To this letter he had
received the following reply from the President of the Cambridge Union:-
“At the first private
business meeting of this term, the
following resolution was proposed by the President of the Society' (Mr. W.
Howard Stables, Trinity College), and seconded by Mr. J. Austen Chamberlain, Trinity College, and carried with one
dissentient.
‘That the Cambridge University Union Society desires to express its satisfaction that a Society based on the same principles as itself has been founded at Aligarh by one of its ex-Presidents, and as a means of displaying its sense of the brotherhood which exists between all subjects of our sovereign, and also of the close tie that binds the two Societies together, herein sends its heartfelt sympathy and congratulation to the President and members of that Society.”(cheers.)4
‘That the Cambridge University Union Society desires to express its satisfaction that a Society based on the same principles as itself has been founded at Aligarh by one of its ex-Presidents, and as a means of displaying its sense of the brotherhood which exists between all subjects of our sovereign, and also of the close tie that binds the two Societies together, herein sends its heartfelt sympathy and congratulation to the President and members of that Society.”(cheers.)4
The Club had a debating
hall, a Library, Reading room and
Drawing-room. In 26th January
1892, Library had some 600 useful books.
In 1st July 1895, it had
684books. In 1905 it had 1040 volumes. The Newspapers and Magazines were subscribed to its members. The Pioneer,
The Indian Mirror, The Times of India, The Bombay Gazette, The Nineteenth
Century, The Islam, The Mahomedan Observer, The Aligarh Institute Gazette, The
Sirmoor Gazette, The Azad, The NajmulAkhbar and The Alam-e-Tasveer. The Club
was to hold Penny Readings and by these,
the students improve their reading and were taught to read the foreign language
with proper accent and force.
The Club was also facilitated indoor games to them.
Debates were held twice-a-month in
English and once-a-month in Hindustani
language. During the time of Mr. Morison, debates were regularly held four
times a month, at 7:30 P.M. in winter and at 8 P.M. in summer. Debates were
also organized on special occasions to enable distinguished visitors to
participate in them.
According to the rules of
the Club, no proposition can be supported
until at least one speaker has spoken
against it. The audience has the opportunity to vote 'For' and 'Against' of the
proposition.
The Club was published
'The Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College Magazine' from 1st July 1894, before, it was published with
'Aligarh Institute Gazette' from 5th May
1891. Prof. T.W. Arnold was accountable for
it.
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| Foundation Stone |
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| Mr. Theodore Morison |
Debates were being held
at Strachey Hall, but during the Principalship of Mr. Beck, the Club was shifted to a Bungalow.It was extended after the
donation of Rs. 3,000 from His Highness "the Nawab of Maler Kotla"and
there were further donations too from
Maulvi Gholam Jabbar Sahib of Hyderabad and many other well-wishers of the
College. The foundation stone was laid by Hon’ble Mr. Theodore Morison, M.A.,
who was the third Principal of M.A.-O. College. The new building was
inaugurated by Raja of Mahmudabad on 17th
April 1911.
The club was held debates
on political, social and other questions of the day and thus trains the young
minds in the art of elocution and they have also
proposed the issues related to Muslims of India. Some propositions were discussed below:
1884
1. On Wednesday, the 3rd December, a debate was held in the Club on the subject :- “That this House is of opinion that the good or bad qualities of a man have nothing to do with his birth.” The motion was proposed by Mustafa Khan. After the honorable opener’s reply the House divided. For the motion 8; against, 14. The motion was therefore lost by 6 votes.
1. On Wednesday, the 3rd December, a debate was held in the Club on the subject :- “That this House is of opinion that the good or bad qualities of a man have nothing to do with his birth.” The motion was proposed by Mustafa Khan. After the honorable opener’s reply the House divided. For the motion 8; against, 14. The motion was therefore lost by 6 votes.
2.
17th
December, the Motion was proposed by Badr-ulHasan that “the House is an opinion that in matters of education the
responsibility lies on us and not on Government.” For the motion 14, against 7.
The motion was, therefore, carried by 7 votes.
1886
3.
On Friday, 8th
January, the following motion was discussed in the Club: “That this House does
not believe in ghosts.”The House divided: For the motion 32; against the motion
16.
4.
On 22nd
January, Mohamed Asghar proposed that “The Indian University System had proved
a failure.” The vote being for the motion 12 and against 10.
1899
5.
On 13th
February, the motion brought forward by
HyderHasan that “The theater exercised a
beneficial influence on our morals.” The motion was rejected by 15 votes to 6.
6.
On Sunday, 19th
March, Mohammed Hayat was introduced his motion that “It is of no use for the
Indians to improve the indigenous languages of India but they adopt the English
language as a medium of communication.” The motion was rejected by 21 votes to
10.
7.
On 4th
March, the proposition was put up by Abdul Kadir Khan, B.A. that “This House
condemns private charity.” The motion was carried by 18 votes to 12.
8.
On 8th
April, the question of marriage was taken up by the House, Mohamed Yakub was
introduced his proposition in Urdu that “This House is of opinion that love
marriages are not happy.” The opposite side winning by 28 votes to 5.
9.
On Saturday, 22nd
April, a debate was held in the club at 8 p.m. Ali Hussain sahib was in the
chair. Mr. Abdul Qadir Khan, B.A. proposed that “This House is of opinion that
wealth does more to produce crime than poverty.” Ayes: 5 ;Noes: 16. The motion
was lost by a majority of 11 votes.
10.
On 6th
May, Ashraf Ali, B.A. came forward to move that “Music improves health, morals,
as well as happiness and is indispensable for a proper culture of the mind.”
The proposition carried by 21 votes to 8.
11.
In 16th
May last, HyderHasan has proposed that
“This House is of opinion that Urdu Newspapers are doing harm instead of good
to the country.” The majority of the voters, who decided by 6 votes to 10 in favor of the Urdu press.
12.
On 29th
October, Mr. Mohamed Asghar says that the “Mohammedans shall never rise again.”
The motion was rejected by 59 votes to
14.
1901
13.
On 9thMarch,Fazl-ul-Hasan
moved in Urdu that “This House is of opinion that Pardah System should be
abolished in India” (translate from Urdu). The motion was dropped by the
majority of 23 votes.
14.
On 23rd
March, Mr. Md. Shafi, B.A. proposed that “The Regeneration of India without the
Revival of Religion was impossible.” The motion was carried by an enormous
majority of 67.
15.
On 13th
April, Maulana ^Fazl-ul-Hasan proposed in Urdu that “Eastern Poetry has more
priority than Western Poetry.”The proposition was carried by a majority of 43 votes.
The Club have held debates some these topics too:
“Freedom of the press in a country like India is not desirable.”
“Freedom of the press in a country like India is not desirable.”
· “The culture of
Lucknow is better than that of Delhi.” Lucknow lost by 32 against 11 votes.
· “Might rule the world and not right.”
· “The Mohammedans
of the New Light have degraded the moral status of native society.”
· “This House
disapproves of the action of The Allahabad University discontinuing the grant
for the University Athletic Tournament.”
· “Whether the existence
of parties in a state was or was not favorable
to the good government.”
· “The high hopes
about western civilization had proved delusive.”
· “Lawyers were of
the 1st rate importance to a country.”
Mrs. L. Tipping drew up the scheme of Extempore Debates. Prize
named was ‘Tipping Extempore Prize.’
On 6th April 1901, a set of extempore debates was
held. Following the list of proposition discussed:
i. “War is injurious
to human interests.”
ii. “Sword is mightier
than the pen.”
iii. “Th study of
Literature is better than that of Mathematics.”
iv. “Ghosts are delusions.”
v. “No education
which is not directly useful should be encouraged.”
vi. “Learning is
preferable to wealth.”
vii. “In education
alone is the regeneration of the Mohammedans of India.”
viii. “Examinations are
an unnecessary evil.”
At the end of the debates, Mr. Tipping announced that Mrs. Tipping approved Mr. Abu Mohammad’s speech
best. The prize was awarded by her to him.5
The
following figures give statistical information as to the working of the Club:
7
§
8
Harold Cox Cambridge Speaking Prize, instituted by Mr. Harold Cox, Professor of Mathematics and Political Economy in 1887.
8Harold Cox Cambridge Speaking Prize, instituted by Mr. Harold Cox, Professor of Mathematics and Political Economy in 1887.
§ Meston
Oxford Prize, introduced in the year 1914.
§ The
above two prizes merged to form ‘Harold Cox-MestonPrize’ in 1921. (At the end
the name of recipients).
Annual Evening Party was
given by the Club. On the occasion,chief guests, College principal and
professors, and students were present.
The Club was celebrated
his anniversary. In the beginning, the
Vice-President read his reports. The recitations, penny readings, and the acts were performed very nicely. Urdu and English
Poems, Speeches was also delivered.
In 1898-99 report said
that “the balance to the credit of the Club was Rs. 650, 9 As.4Paise and last
year it was Rs. 431. 3 As.5 Paise.”9
The Club has organized an election to elect
Vice-President, Hony. Secretary. (At the end, mentioned the name of these).
After the Muslim
University Act passed on 1st December
1920, “The Siddons Union Club” was
renamed as “Muslim University Students’
Union” (now AMUSU). The Struggle of revival
being forth in overtime.
Now again it has restored. After the resurrection of the Club the students have gotten the dialectic platform at world level to speak his valuable voice from this great seat of learning.
Now again it has restored. After the resurrection of the Club the students have gotten the dialectic platform at world level to speak his valuable voice from this great seat of learning.
- Recipients of the ‘Harold Cox Cambridge Speaking prize’ :
1888:Aftab Ahmad Khan
1889: Mustafa Khan
1890: Sarfaraz Hossain
1891: Kutbuddin
1892: Ghulam us Saqlain
1893: Nazir Ahmad
1894: Shaukat Ali
1895: Mumtaz Husain
1896: Shaikh Abdullah
1897: Mohammed Asghar
1898: Mohammed Saeed
1899: Ashraf Ali
1900: Sajjad Hyder
1901: Mohammed Hyat
1903: Zarif Mohammed
1904: Tarafdar Husain
1905: Syed Abu Mohammed
1906: R.M. Ghulam Husain
1907: A. Rahman Seohravi
1908: Mukhtar Ahmad
1909: Mohammed Ahmad
1910: Mohd. AbdurRahman
1911: Syed Kalbe Abbas
Naqvi
1912: Ameer Ahmad Khan
1913: Mohd. Fazle Amin
- Recipients of the ‘Meston Oxford Prize’:
1914: Syed Ashfaq Husain
1915: Mohd. Aurangzeb
Khan
1916: Syed Zaheeruddin
1917: Ibne Hasan
1918: Habibur Rahman
1919: Syed Nurullah
1920: Sultan Mohd. Khan
- Recipients of the ‘HaroldCox-Mestonprize’:
1921: KH. Ghulam-us-Sayadain
1922: S. Mohiuddin Ahmad
1924: Ashraf Hasan Khan
1925: M. Adil Abbasi
& A.K. Bijli
1926: Shoukat Umar
1927: Abdul
Qadir& M.M. Ahmad
- Saifi Imdad Ali Gold Medal for Best English Speaker. The list of the recipients:
1953-54: M.A.E. Bulbulia
1954-55: A.A. Khan Soz
1956-57: Syed Mohiuddin
1958-59: S. Shahid Mehdi
1959-60: Shabbir Ahmad
Masoodi
1960-61: Afsar Akhter
Husain
- Saifi Fida Husain Gold Medal for Best Urdu Speaker. The list of the recipients:
1953-54: M.A. Saeed
1954-55: Abidullah Ghazi
1956-57: Syed Ziaul Hasan
Hashmi
1958-59: Syed Tahzibus Sibtain
1959-60: Mohammad Sagheer
1960-61: Basir Ahmad Khan
- Saifi Burhanuddin Gold Medal for Best Urdu Essayist. The list of the recipients:
1953-54: Zahiruddin Ahmed
Siddiqi
1954-55: Sadiqur Rehman
Kidwai
1956-57: Anwar Siddiqi
1958-59: Syed Ishtiaque
Hasnain Abidi
1959-60: Dilnawaz Ahmad
Siddiqi
- · The Siddons Union Club (Vice President)10
1884-87: Sajjad Husain
1887-88: M. Badrul Hasan
1888-89: Mirza Qasim Beg
1889-90: Habibullah Khan
1890-91: Mazharul Haq
1891-92: Ahmed Husain
1892-93: Syed Zainuddin
1893-94: Syed Ahmad Ali
1894-95: Qamar Ali
1895-96: K. Mahmud Husain
1896-97: Abdullah
1897-98: Mohammed Asghar
1898-99: Ali Hassan
1899-1900: Mohd. Hayat
1900-01: K. Ghulam
Sibtain
1901-02: Zarif Mohammad
1902-03: S. Raza Ali
1903-04: S. Mustafa
Husain
1904-05: Abdul Hamid Khan
& K. Mohd. Akram
1905-06: Muzaffar Mohd.
Khan & A. Rahman Siddiqi
1906-07: Tasaddoq Ahmed Khan
1907-08: A. Rahman
Seoharvi
1909: Karim Hyder Lodhi
1910: Abdul Qayyum Malik
1911: Siddiq Hasan Baduni
1912: Mohd. Abdur Raheem
1913: Mohd. Elyas Burny
1914: Ameer Ahmad Khan
1915: Syed Ashfaq Husain
1916: Mohd. Fazle Amin Alomeri of Khairabad
1917: Mohd. Aurangzeb
Khan of Kulanch
1918: Zakir Husain Khan
1919: Mohammad Hayat of
Madras
1920: K.M. Khuda Bakhsh
- · The Siddons Union Club (Secretaries)10
1884-85: S. Mohammad Ali
1885-87: M. Aziz Mirza
1887-88: Mir Welayat Husain
1888-89: Sheikh Masood
Ali
1889-90: Syed Tufail
Ahmad
1890-91: Mohammad Daud
1891-92: Mohd. Alaul Hasan
1892-93: Shaukat Ali
1893-94: Zafar Ali
1894-95: Shakoor Baksh
1895-96: Mohsin Husain
1896-97: Ziaullah Khan
1897-98: Misbahul Osman
1898-99: Sajjad Hyder
1899-1900: Abdul Kadir
Khan
1900-01: Mohammad Faiq
1901-02: S. Nasiruddin
Hyder
1902-03: Mohamed Mosanna
1903-04: Ashfaq Husain
1904-05: Talamuz Husain
1905-06: Syed Ashfaq
Husain & MohammedIshaq
1906-07: Abdul Majid Qureshi
1907-08: Syed Bunyad Husain
1909: Nazir Hasan Ansari
1910: Zahiruddin Farooqi
1911: Abdul Ghani Ansari
1912: H. Mohd. Ibraheem
1913: Shah Alam Khan
1914: Muzaffar Husain
Khan
1915: Syed Asad Md. Ali
& Syed Shafaat Husain
1916: S. Zaheeruddin
1917: Shaikh Ali Jawed
1918: Mohammad Abdussami
1919: Rashid Ahmad
Siddiqi
1920: Mohamad Haziq
- · The Siddons Union Club (Librarians)10
1902: Nawab Ali
1903: Haji Mohammed Khan
1904: Syed Hussain
1905: Nizam Mohammad
1906: M.I.M. Waheed
1907: Syed Saghir Ali
1908: H. Abdul Aziz &
Inamur Rahman
1909: Mohd. Zaheeruddin
1910: Mohd. Haider Khan
& Fakhruddin Ahmad
1911: Abdul Hai Lari
1912: Shah Abdul Rauf
& Basheer Ahmad Siddiqi
1913: Mohd. Abdul Rafay
1914: Mohd. Nuruddin Sufi
1915: Syed Munawwar
1916: Mohd. Hanif
1917: Mohd. Nasiruddin
Alvi
1918: Iqbal Mohammad Khan
& Mohammad Amin
1919: Manzoor Hasan Khan
1920: Sufi Ahmad Bakhsh
References:
1:Bhatnagar S.K.
'History of MAO College', 1969, Published by Asia Publishing House, P.73.
2: The Aligarh Institute
Gazette, 26th Aug, 1884; Vol.:
XIX; No.: 69; P. 134.
3: The Aligarh Institute
Gazette, 22nd Nov, 1884; Vol.:
XIX; N0.: 94; P. 304-305.
4: The Aligarh Institute
Gazette, 20th Dec. 1884; Vol.: XIX; No.: 102; P. 358.
5: M.A.-O. College
Magazine, May, 1901; Vol.: IX; No.: 5; P.
18-21.
6: M.A.-O. College
Magazine, 1st July, 1895;
Vol.: 2; No.: 7; P. 267.
7 & 9: M.A.-O.
College Magazine, 1st Jan,
1900; Vol.: VIII; No.: 1; P. 3-9.
8: The Aligarh Monthly,
Vol. III, No. 3, March 1905, P. 8-15.
10: 'Directory, AMU Old
Boy's (Alumni) Association, Aligarh'. Published by Nizam Educational &
Welfare Society, Azamgarh. P. A-16.
Bibliography:
Ø 'The
Aligarh Institute Gazette': 22nd Nov, 6th Dec, 9th
Dec, 20th Dec, 1884; 19th
Jan 1886, 5th May 1891, 26th Jan 1892, 1st December 1920.
Ø 'The
Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College Magazine',: 1st July, 1st
Oct, 1894; 1stjan, 1st March, 1st July, 1st
Aug, 1st Dec, 1895;1st Jan, 1896; Feb, March, 15th
April, April, 1st May, 15th May, 1st June, 15th
June, 1st July, 15th Nov, 1st Dec, 1899; 1stjan,
1st& 15th Feb,1900; April, May, 1901;
Ø 'The
Aligarh Monthly': March,1905,(Registered
No. A 234).
Ø 'History
of MAO College', 1969, Author:S.K. Bhatnagar, Published by Asia Publishing
House.
'Sir Syed our
Fan e Tamir', 2001, writer: IftikharAlam
Khan. Published by Publication Division, Muslim University, Aligarh-202002.
