Hyderabad, Oct. 13 -- Syed Ahmad was born in a well-known family of notables who had served with distinction in the Mughal Administration. His upbringing was one of careful grooming, characteristic of those who belonged to his social class. He absorbed his spirituality from his father, who was a deeply religious man. He was tutored by his maternal grandfather, who had distinguished himself in the service of both the British East India Company and the Mughal Emperor. He grew up imbibing the noble values of his forebears and, from these values, he crafted his moral compass, which unfailingly and unswervingly guided him through life's journey.

The calamitous events of 1857-58 coincided with the mid-point of Sir Syed's life. With the failure...