Rahimtulla M. Sayani

Rahimtulla Mahomed Sayani (5 April 1847 – 6 June 1902), was an Indian politician who served as the President of the Indian National Congress for a term in 1896, succeeding Surendranath Banerjea.

Quotes

 * A very  frank  and  lucid  exposition  of  the  relation  between  the Hindus  and  Musalmans,  as  conceived  by  the  latter,  was  given  by  a liberal  Muslim  leader,  R.  M.  Sayani,  in  his  Presidential  Address at  the  twelfth  Indian  National  Congress,  held  in  Calcutta  in  1896. The  following  extract  is  a  very  candid  expression  of  the  sentiments  which  powerfully  influenced  the  Muslim  community  as  a  whole throughout  the  nineteenth  century: “Before  the  advent  of  the  British  in  India,  the  Musalmans  were the  rulers  of  the  country.  The  Musalmans  had,  therefore,  all  the advantages  appertaining  to  the  ruling  class.  The  sovereigns  and the  chiefs  were  their  co-religionists,  and  so  were  the  great  landlords  and  the  great  officials.  The  court  language  was  their  own. Every  place  of  trust  and  responsibility,  or  carrying  influence  and high  emoluments,  was  by  birthright,  theirs.  The  Hindus  did  occupy some  position  but  the  Hindu  holder?  of  position  were  but  the tenants-at-will  of  the  Musalmans.  The  Musalmans  had  complete access  to  the  sovereigns  and  to  the  chiefs.  They  could,  and  did,  often eat  at  the  same  table  with  them.  They  could  also,  and  often  did, intermarry.  The  Hindus  stood  in  awe  of  them.  Enjoyment  and  influence  and  all  the  good  things  of  the  world  were  theirs.. Into the best-regulated kingdoms, however, as into the best-regulated societies and families, misfortunes would intrude and misfortunes did intrude into this happy Musalman Rule.  ..By  a  stroke of  misfortune,  the  Musalmans  had  to  abdicate  their  position  and descend  to  the  level  of  their  Hindu  fellow-countrymen.  The  Hindus who  had  before  stood  in  awe  of  their  Musalman  masters  were  thus railed  a  step  by  the  fall  of  their  said  masters,  and  with  their  former awe  dropped  their  courtesy  also.  The  Musalmans,  who  are  a  very sensitive  race,  naturally  resented  the  treatment  and  would  have  nothing  to  do  either  with  their  rulers  or  with  their  fellow-subjects. Meanwhile  the  noble  policy  of  the  new  rulers  of  the  country  introduced  English  education  into  the  country.  The  learning  of  an  en¬ tirely  unknown  and  foreign  language,  of  course,  required  hard  application  and  industry.  The  Hindus  were  accustomed  to  this,  as  even under  the  Musalman  rule,  they  had  practically  to  master  a  foreign tongue,  and  so  easily  took  to  the  new  education.  But  the  Musalmans  had  not  yet  become  accustomed  to  this  sort  of  thing,  and  were, moreover,  not  then  in  a  mood  to  learn,  much  less  to  learn  anything that  required  hard  work  and  application,  especially  as  they  had  to work  harder  than  their  former  subjects,  the  Hindus.  Moreover, they  resented  competing  with  the  Hindus,  whom  they  had  till  recently  regarded  as  their  inferiors.  The  result  was  that  so  far  as education  was  concerned,  the  Musalmans  who  were  once  superior to  the  Hindus  now  actually  became  their  inferiors.  Of  course,  they grumbled  and  groaned,  but  the  irony  of  fate  was  inexorable.  The stern  realities  of  life  were  stranger  than  fiction  The  Musalmans were  gradually  ousted  from  their  lands,  their  offices;  in  fact  everything  was  lost  save  their  honour.  The  Hindus,  from  a  subservient state,  came  into  the  lands,  offices  and  other  worldly  advantages  of their  former  masters.  Their  exultation  knew  no  bounds,  and  they trod  upon  the  heels  of  their  former  masters.  The  Musalmans would  have  nothing  to  do  with  anything  in  which  they  might  have to  come  into  contact  with  the  Hindus.  They  were  soon  reduced  to a  state  of  utter  poverty.  Ignorance  and  apathy  seized  hold  of  them while  the  fall  of  their  former  greatness  rankled  in  their  hearts.” (295ff)
 * RC Majumdar, ed., Volume 10: British Paramountcy and Indian Renaissance, Part 2 [1818-1905]
 * Rahimtulla M. Sayani, arguing for education to the Indian Muslims in a Presidential Address at the 12th Session of the Indian National Congress in Allahabad, 1896. Quoted in