The revolt of 1857 and the consequent crackdown by the British forces ended the Muslim reform movement. However the urge for modernization could be felt among a section of intellectual Muslims. This was fulfilled by the new leadership provided by Sayyid Ahmad Khan who rightly thought that modern education was the most important path of improvement in the condition of Indian Muslims. He called for the study of European science and technology.
In 1866, Sayyed Ahmad Khan formed the British Indian Association while staying in England for more than a year. On his return in 1869, he asked his Muslim brethren to adopt some positive features of the English society like its discipline, order, efficiency, and high levels of education. He pointed out that there was no fundamental contradiction between Quran and Natural Science and the new circumstances demanded dissemination of English language within an Islamic context.
In 1875, Sayyed Ahmad Khan founded the Mohammedan Anglo Oriental College in Aligarh which went on to become the most important seminary for modern higher education among Muslims. At the elementary levels, students followed the standard government curriculum in a carefully constructed Islamic environment. In 1878, the college classes were also started and non-Muslims were also enrolled. In 1886 Sayyed Ahmad Khan founded the Mohammedan Anglo Oriental Educational Conference.
The Muslim graduates of Aligarh who numbered 220 during 1882-1902 , provided lot of excitement to the Muslim intellectual world and in due course of time provided an able and modern leadership to the community.
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