In 1875, Syed Ahmad Khan initiated the Aligarh Movement, which aimed to modernize Muslim education in India. He established the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College, promoting a curriculum that combined Western scientific knowledge with traditional Islamic studies. This movement played a crucial role in the socio-political awakening of Muslims in India, fostering a new sense of identity and empowerment.

The Aligarh Movement, which began in 1875, promoted rationalist Urdu literature and poetry that engaged with modernity and faith. Poets like Allama Iqbal emerged from this movement, using their work to advocate for social reform and a renewed Islamic identity.