Minto Circle

Minto Circle, officially Syedna Tahir Saifuddin High School (S.T.S. High School), is a semi-residential high school under Aligarh Muslim University at Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India. The school was established as "Mohammedan Anglo Oriental Collegiate School" by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan in 1875, which later evolved as Aligarh Muslim University. It is one of the five high schools run by the university.

History

Senior Section and main administrative building

Minto Circle is a school which was founded in 1875 by the educationist and social reformer, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. The foundation stone of school was laid down by an associate of Sir Syed, Maulvi Sami Ullah Khan, Secretary of the College Fund Committee, on May 24, 1875. Its original name was the "Mohammedan Anglo Oriental Collegiate School". The school grew into M.A.O. College in 1877 which in 1920 became the Aligarh Muslim University by an act of the Central Legislature. The school bore the name, Muslim University High School, but became popular as Minto Circle after the then Viceroy of India, Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 4th Earl of Minto (1845–1914), who funded the construction for its new buildings. In 1966, the school was named after the then Chancellor Syedna Tahir Saifuddin, and hence forth known as S.T.S. High School.^[1]

Schooling

In the beginning the school was in two sections. Its primary section was kept at “Zahoor Ward” (presently Arabic Department) and the building of Old Guest House. After passing class IV, the students were promoted to its senior section in Minto Circle.

The school, a Muslim minority institution, attached to the Aligarh Muslim University, aims primarily at the education of the Muslim Community. Admission, however, is open to children of all communities without distinction of caste and creed. The School has an all India and all denominational membership. There is provision for nearly three hundred students to reside in the hostels within the campus. The total strength of the school is around two thousand students.

The school has a library, playing ground for outdoor games, facilities for playing volleyball, basketball, and a common room. The school has invested in a Computer Laboratory with the software/languages and other technology facilities. The principal is Mr. Faisal Nafees.

Notable alumni

• Ayub Khan, President of Pakistan
• Javed Akhtar, Bollywood script writer and lyricist^[2]
• Lala Amarnath, Independent India's first Test captain^[3]
• Mohammad Hamid Ansari, former vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University and current vice-president of India
• Naseeruddin Shah, Bollywood actor
• Nawab Liaquat Ali Khan, former Prime Minister of Pakistan
• Syed Ziaur Rahman, medical pharmacologist
• Talat Mahmood, Bollywood playback singer and actor
• Zafar Iqbal, former Indian Hockey Captain^[4]

References

1. ^ AMU Schools & Colleges
2. ^ Anubha Sawhney (9 March 2003)."Javed Akhtar: The lyrics of life", The Times of India.
3. ^ S. Thyagarajan, "Colourful Cricketer", Frontline Volume 17 - Issue 17, Aug. 19 - Sep. 01, 2000
4. ^ Ziya Us Salam, "Heart-warming moments on a Pakeezah night, The Hindu - Metro Plus Dehi, Thursday, Jul 10, 2003