Contents: Preface. Introduction. 1. Sir Syed's Asarus Sanadid: a historical review, 1846 to 2006/S.M. Azizuddin Husain. 2. Political thought of Sir Syed/B. Sheikh Ali. 3. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan on the response of Indian Muslims to the Turko-Russian Wars: an appraisal/Z.U. Malik. 4. A critical review of the biographical literature (Sira) of the prophet Muhammad by Syed Ahmad Khan/Gulfishan Khan. 5. Sir Syed's exegetical vision/Sanaullah Mir. 6. Sir Syed's scheme of education/Ali Ahmad. 7. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan: a visionary of modern scientific education/Hassan Imam. 8. Sir Syed's Movement for modern education in Muzaffarpur (Bihar)/M. Sajjad. 9. Sir Syed's early journalistic endeavours: a critical appraisal/Shafey Kidwai. 10. Sir Syed on development of agriculture and its financing/S.M. Waseem. 11. Sir Syed and Muslim identity/Tabir Kalam. 12. Sir Syed on the future of India/Shan Mohammad. 13. Sir Syed's social reforms: a defence/Parvez Nazir. 14. Sir Syed and Christianity/Iqbal Sabir.

"This volume contains a selection of papers presented at the International Seminar on Sir Syed Ahmad Khan: Vision and Mission held under the auspices of CAS, Department of History, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh.

Since MAO College was the first modern institution of its kind in the Islamic world, its historic importance was realized more and more with the passage of time. The essays focus not only on the importance of the Aligarh Movement and the evolution of MAO College as its center but also on the relevance of Sir Syed's concern for challenges faced by the Muslims in particular and the people of the country in general.

The contributors represent different disciplines who have applied interdisciplinary approach in presenting their viewpoint. Each essay is an academic tribute to Sir Syed and his mission and sheds fresh light on his vision and missionary zeal." (jacket)