The Unique Story of AMU’s Funding: Royals and Courtesans Came Together 150 Years Ago - Read Now

AMU was founded by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, one of the most iconic educational institutions in India. The story of how it became such is uniquely underpinned by diverse support from people around society. Founded about 150 years ago, it was the brainchild of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan to be a center for quality education. It now stands a premier minority institution and quite an icon of India's multicultural legacy.

How Aligarh Muslim University Was Funded: A Unique Story of Support
AMU started as a college in 1875, which soon became a full-fledged university by 1920. The tale of funding its very foundation is nothing short of unique, as the donations came from sources more unusual than once might have imagined. From the Indian princes to the humble citizen, the establishment of AMU was possible because of donations made by all.

Sir Syed's appeal cut across India, from rich courtesans to royal patrons. The Patiala Maharaja and the King of Banaras were among the initial donors, whose contribution added up to 58,000 INR and 60,000 INR, respectively. Even India's Governor General, Thomas Baring, donated a healthy 10,000 INR. The Nizam of Hyderabad, a powerful patron, contributed a handsome sum of 500,000 INR to put AMU on firm financial footing.

Courtesans and Public Donate to Sir Syed
Sir Syed Further Reaches Out to Courtesans who also donate to AMU. However, this was controversy and yet Sir Syed collected donation from every person who was interested in supporting the cause of education. He used a part of it for infrastructure such as bathrooms, which greatly helped to reduce the opposition .

Thousands donated small quantities
In addition, other ordinary citizens contributed to the success of AMU by donating smaller amounts as low as 25 INR. Those who donated above 500 INR got their names enrolled in the Central Hall of AMU, where it was recorded for their contribution.

Indian Education and Legacy Symbol
Today, AMU spreads over 467 acres of land in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, and is financially aided by the central government. It has become the landmark of the Indian education sector, gaining rare minority status in the recent judgments of Supreme Court. The call for forming AMU was supported not only with money but was symbolic of a national commitment to the strength of education.

How Much Was 1 INR Worth?
At the time, 1 INR was valued at 12 grams of silver. So that's a huge amount of value that contributions carried in terms of silver. The effort that went into the setting up of Aligarh Muslim University showcases the resilience and dedication both by its founder and supporters.

Today, AMU stands on its legacy, as its tradition has a history full of diversity and unity. The journey it made from begging coins from kings and courtesans to getting respect all over the country cements a place for this institution in India's educational scene as a historically significant unit.

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