Summary: The Causes Of The Indian Revolt

During the War he took the side of the British, helping several European officers and even saving their lives. However, while he was on their side he wrote a pamphlet, “The Causes of the Indian Revolt.” This was a scathing review of the errors in the British administration, which had caused the dissatisfaction and countrywide dystopia. This had considerable influence on British policy.
Following the war the Muslims adopted a staunch anti-British position. They refused to attend the schools and colleges that were following the British system. As such there were very few Muslims eligible for the EIC Company and for jobs in general. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan grew wary of this isolationist stance. He believed that as long as mutual distrust and anger existed between the two parties, it would be the Muslims, themselves, that would be the only party suffering. Not to mention they would be excluded from the participation in the socio-political aspect of their country.
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The rigor of religious institutions has kept even neighbors apart. The system of caste is still dominant and powerful . . . In a country like India where caste distinctions still flourish, where there is no fusion of the various races, where religious distinctions are still violent, where education in its modern sense has not made an equal or proportionate progress among all the sections of the population, I am convinced that the introduction of the principle of election, pure and simple, for representation of various interests on the local boards and district councils would be attended with evils of greater significance than purely economic considerations . . . .The larger community would totally override the interests of the smaller community and the ignorant public would hold Government responsible for introducing measures which might make differences of race and creed more violent than