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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A city is remembered not only through its monuments, palaces and photographs, but through the stories, documents and scholarship that preserve its past. In Bhopal, one scholar who understood this responsibility deeply was Dr. Syed Ashfaq Ali.<\/p>\n
A distinguished educationist, researcher, administrator and author, Dr. Ashfaq Ali believed that education should extend beyond the classroom. For him, teaching meant encouraging curiosity, developing an understanding of society and preserving knowledge for future generations. His contribution to education and his research into the history and socio-economic development of Bhopal make his legacy particularly relevant on Teachers\u2019 Day.<\/p>\n
A Teacher Who Built Institutions<\/p>\n
Dr. Ashfaq Ali\u2019s contribution to education went far beyond teaching students. Former President of India Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma facilitated his deputation from Government Hamidia College, Bhopal, to Safia College. In 1960, Dr. Ali took charge as Principal of Safia College.<\/p>\n
He served as Principal for nearly 18 years and two months, a period during which the institution witnessed considerable academic expansion.<\/p>\n
Under his leadership, Safia College developed new opportunities for higher education. Undergraduate programmes in various disciplines were introduced, while courses such as B.Ed., M.Sc. and M.Com. were developed at the postgraduate level. The introduction of LL.B. further expanded the institution\u2019s academic profile.<\/p>\n
His vision was clear: educational institutions should not merely award degrees; they should create opportunities, encourage intellectual growth and contribute to society.<\/p>\n
A Scholar Across Disciplines<\/p>\n
Dr. Ashfaq Ali\u2019s own academic journey reflected his extraordinary intellectual curiosity.<\/p>\n
He completed his Intermediate education from the Ajmer Board in Rajasthan, followed by a B.A. Honours from Aligarh, an M.A. in Economics from Agra, an M.Com. from Kolkata and an M.A. in Sociology from Vikram University, Ujjain. He also earned a Ph.D. in Economics from Agra.<\/p>\n
His academic interests in economics, commerce and sociology gave him a multidisciplinary approach to understanding society. This perspective became particularly visible in his research, where economic development was examined alongside demographic, social and institutional change.<\/p>\n
He was among the early Deans of Barkatullah University, Bhopal, and also served as a member of the Railway Recruitment Board.<\/p>\n
Documenting Bhopal Beyond Its Monuments<\/p>\n
Bhopal is often described through its lakes, palaces, mosques and the legacy of its Begums. But the story of Bhopal is much larger.<\/p>\n
Its history also lies in its people, markets, educational institutions, communities, occupations and changing social relationships.<\/p>\n
Dr. Ashfaq Ali\u2019s research reflected this wider understanding. He did not look at history merely through rulers and political events. He examined the social and economic forces that shaped the city.<\/p>\n
His book Bhopal \u2013 Past and Present remains an important work for those seeking to understand the city\u2019s historical and social evolution.<\/p>\n
Perhaps even more significant was his extensive study, Economic Development of Bhopal: A Socio-Economic Survey, 1901\u20131973. Published in 1974 by Jai Bharat Publishing House, Bhopal, the work runs to more than 700 pages and examines the city\u2019s economic and social development over several decades.<\/p>\n
The importance of such research becomes clear today. A city\u2019s present cannot be understood without studying the population, employment, institutions, economy and social changes that shaped it over time.<\/p>\n
Dr. Ashfaq Ali documented precisely that transformation.<\/p>\n
His Research Extended Beyond Bhopal<\/p>\n
His scholarship was not confined to the capital.<\/p>\n
His book Tribal Demography in Madhya Pradesh: A Socio-Economic Study, 1901\u20131973, published in 1973, examined the demographic and socio-economic conditions of the tribal population of Madhya Pradesh.<\/p>\n
The nearly 374-page study reflected his commitment to systematic research and his interest in understanding communities through historical and statistical evidence.<\/p>\n
Decades later, his work remains a reminder that a region\u2019s history cannot be complete unless the experiences of its diverse communities are documented.<\/p>\n
A Bridge Between Bhopal\u2019s Past and Present<\/p>\n
Bhopal today is a rapidly expanding modern city. New roads, residential areas, institutions and changing lifestyles have transformed its physical and social landscape.<\/p>\n
Yet beneath this modern identity lies an older Bhopal whose traditions and values continue to influence the city.<\/p>\n
Dr. Ashfaq Ali\u2019s writings provide a bridge between these two worlds.<\/p>\n
His work helps us ask important questions: How did Bhopal\u2019s educational institutions develop? How did its economy change? How did different communities contribute to its identity? And how did the city transition from the era of princely rule to the modern urban landscape?<\/p>\n
Such questions make historical research relevant not only to scholars but also to ordinary citizens who wish to understand the city they call home.<\/p>\n
A Memorable Glimpse of Old Bhopal<\/p>\n
Some stories may never enter official history books, yet they capture the character of an era beautifully.<\/p>\n
One such incident associated with Dr. Ashfaq Ali recalls the culture of courtesy and respect in the old Nawabi household.<\/p>\n
Begum Sajida Sultan, the last Nawab Begum of Bhopal, was the daughter of Nawab Hamidullah Khan and the mother of celebrated cricketer Nawab Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, popularly known as \u201cTiger\u201d.<\/p>\n
During Dr. Ashfaq Ali\u2019s association with her private institution, Begum Sahiba held him in high regard and often sought his advice.<\/p>\n
On one occasion, while Begum Sahiba was engaged in conversation with Dr. Ashfaq Ali, her young son Tiger was playing cricket nearby. A powerful shot accidentally struck Dr. Ashfaq Ali.<\/p>\n
Begum Sahiba immediately stopped the game and told her son:<\/p>\n
\u201cTiger, come here and apologise to Ashfaq Ali.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tiger came and apologised.<\/p>\n
The incident was simple, but its message was profound. It reflected the respect accorded to Dr. Ashfaq Ali and the importance attached to humility, courtesy and respect for elders in the social culture of old Bhopal.<\/p>\n
Such memories provide a glimpse into a city whose identity was shaped not only by its architecture, but also by its manners, relationships and human values.<\/p>\n
The Real Measure of a Teacher<\/p>\n
The greatest achievement of a teacher is not measured merely by examination results. It is measured by the ability to inspire people to think, question and continue learning.<\/p>\n
Dr. Ashfaq Ali\u2019s legacy can be seen through this wider definition of teaching.<\/p>\n
He educated students, strengthened institutions and produced research that continues to educate people beyond his own generation. His books became an extended classroom, while his pen became a means of preserving collective memory.<\/p>\n
In today\u2019s digital age, when information is available instantly, his approach offers an important lesson:<\/p>\n
Information tells us what happened. Education teaches us why it happened.<\/p>\n
That distinction remains as important today as it was during his lifetime.<\/p>\n
Preserving His Legacy<\/p>\n
Bhopal\u2019s heritage is preserved not only in its monuments but also in its books, archives, research and memories.<\/p>\n
Dr. Syed Ashfaq Ali\u2019s works deserve to be introduced to a new generation of students and researchers. Universities and colleges can encourage academic discussions around his writings, while young researchers studying Bhopal\u2019s history can draw upon his work as an important source.<\/p>\n
The best way to honour a scholar is not simply to remember his name, but to continue reading and engaging with his work.<\/p>\n
A Teachers\u2019 Day Tribute<\/p>\n
On Teachers\u2019 Day, Dr. Syed Ashfaq Ali deserves to be remembered as more than an educationist. He was a scholar who crossed disciplinary boundaries, an institution-builder who expanded educational opportunities, and a researcher who understood that a city\u2019s history must be preserved before it disappears from living memory.<\/p>\n
He turned his classroom into an institution, his research into a record, and his pen into a bridge between generations.<\/p>\n
Bhopal has changed. Its people and landscape continue to change. But the Bhopal documented by Dr. Syed Ashfaq Ali remains alive in his books\u2014a city of history, culture, social change and human values.<\/p>\n
That is perhaps the finest tribute a teacher can receive: that long after the classroom falls silent, his work continues to teach.<\/p>\n
On Teachers\u2019 Day, a humble tribute to Dr. Syed Ashfaq Ali and to the enduring power of knowledge, scholarship and the written word.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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