Interview with Sayyid Hamid, October 29, 2009

Partial Transcript: --t Amber Abbas. Today is the twenty-ninth of October and I am here in the office of, um, Doctor Sayyid Hamid?

Segment Synopsis: Hamid gives an overview of his biographical information, such as his past employment and the place he was born.

Keywords: Aligarh Muslim University; Educational society; Hamdard University; Indian Administrative Service (IAS); Jamia Hamdard University; Moradabad (India); Vice-chancellors

Subjects: Aligarh Muslim University; Hamdard University (Karachi, Pakistan); India--History; Moradabad (India); Pakistan--History

Partial Transcript: Now, you were trying to find out as to what is this connection between Jamia Hamdard and Indian Civil Service.

Segment Synopsis: Hamid talks about the seventeen years he spent in the Indian Civil Service in Uttar Pradesh (India).

Keywords: Aligarh (India); Civil service officers; Gandhi, Indira; Indian Administrative Service (IAS); Indian Civil Service (ICS); Prime ministers; Staff Selection Commission; Universities; Uttar Pradesh (India)

Subjects: Aligarh (India); British--India--History.; Civil servants; Gandhi, Indira, 1917-1984.; India--History; Indian Civil Service; Prime ministers; Uttar Pradesh (India)

Partial Transcript: So, back--since I am a historian, and as you said we should proceed chronologically--(laughs)--so now let's go back to the beginning.

Segment Synopsis: Hamid talks about when and where he was born, including information about his father and mother. He also talks about his religious education.

Keywords: Agra (India); Begum, Sitara; Education; Faizabad (India); Fathers; Husain, Sayyid Muhadi; Lucknow (India); Mothers; Police officers; Religious education; Urdu language; Uttar Pradesh (India)

Subjects: Agra (India); British--India--History.; Education; Faizabad (India); Fathers; India--History; Lucknow (India); Police officers; Religious education; Urdu language; Uttar Pradesh (India)

Partial Transcript: But nineteen thirty-seven, for instance was an election year. So, do you remember what the atmosphere was like or what your experiences were when you first came to Aligarh itself?

Segment Synopsis: Hamid recalls his memories of the Indian independence movement and the Pakistan movement.

Keywords: Aligarh (India); Elections; Independence movement; Muslims; Pakistan movement

Subjects: Aligarh (India); Aligarh Muslim University; Elections; Independence; India--History; India--History--Partition, 1947; Muslims; Pakistan movement; Pakistan--History

Partial Transcript: Leaders of different political parties used to visit Aligarh, because the impression was that Aligarh represented Muslim public opinion.

Segment Synopsis: Hamid talks about the time he spent as a graduate and undergraduate student at Aligarh Muslim University. He talks about his hockey team, which kept him from taking part in political activities. Hamid then discusses the differences between Sir Syed Hall and Aftab Hall, as well as the reaction of students to political developments.

Keywords: Aftab Hall; Aligarh Muslim University; British; Degrees, academic; Habib, Irfan; Hockey; Independence; Lahore resolution; Pakistan movement; Pakistan resolution; Proctors; Residence halls; Sir Syed Hall; Sports

Subjects: Aligarh Muslim University; British; Degrees, academic; Habib, Irfan, 1931-; Hockey; Independence; India--History; India--History--Partition, 1947; Pakistan movement; Pakistan--History; Sports

Partial Transcript: And, so, um, also the nineteen, nineteen thirty-seven to nineteen forty-two were the years of the Congress ministries, um, in several states.

Segment Synopsis: Hamid talks about the discrimination felt by Muslims during the independence movement in India. He then discusses the tradition of civil service in his family.

Keywords: Brothers; Congress ministries; Discrimination; Families; Indian Army; Indian Civil Service (ICS); Law enforcement; Muslims; Police; Uttar Pradesh Civil Service

Subjects: Brothers; Discrimination; Families; India--History; India. Army.; Indian Civil Service; Law enforcement; Muslims; Pakistan--History; Police

Partial Transcript: Well, so then, in, in nineteen forty-seven, you must have been given the option to stay in India or opt for Pakistan, and at an early stage in your career.

Segment Synopsis: Hamid talks about how he made the decision to stay in India after the establishment of Pakistan. He also talks about his eldest brother, who migrated to Pakistan.

Keywords: All-India Muslim League; Brothers; Families; Karachi (Pakistan); Migration; Ministry of Commerce; Nationalists; Pakistan; Pakistan movement; Partition of India; Politics

Subjects: All-India Muslim League; Brothers; Families; India; India--History; India--History--Partition, 1947; Karachi (Pakistan); Nationalists; Pakistan; Pakistan movement; Pakistan--History; Partition

Partial Transcript: There's a lot of discussion, even today, about Muslims still needing special, particularly in the realm of education, um, needing uplift and assistance. And, um, especially for yourself having been involved for so many years of your career in education specifically directed for Muslim communities, what do you think is the, um, most important issue that needs to be addressed in education for Muslims?

Segment Synopsis: Hamid talks about what he feels is the most important issue facing the Indian education system. He then talks about what an education at Aligarh Muslim University taught him. Hamid also discusses the expectation that Aligarh Muslim University would produce students who would rally for the establishment of Pakistan. Next, Hamid discusses his feelings regarding the tense and complex relationships between India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

Keywords: Aligarh Muslim University; Bangladesh; Conflict; Education; India; Muslims; Nationalism; Pakistan; Pakistan movement; Poverty; Scholarships

Subjects: Aligarh Muslim University; Bangladesh; Bangladesh--History.; British--India--History.; India; India--History; India--History--Partition, 1947; Muslims; Nationalism; Pakistan; Pakistan movement; Pakistan--History; Poverty; Scholarships.

Partial Transcript: I don't want to take too much of your time. I know that you are a very busy person.

Segment Synopsis: Hamid discusses the fondness that Aligarh Muslim University professors had for their students. He then briefly talks about his academic degrees.

Keywords: Aligarh Muslim University; Degrees, academic; English literature; History; Hyderabad (India); Maulana Azad National Urdu University; Persian language; Professors; Students

Subjects: Aligarh Muslim University; Degrees, academic; English literature; History; Hyderabad (India); India--History; Maulana Azad National Urdu University; Pakistan--History; Persian language; Professors; Students