Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was the first to advise the Muslims to receive western education as they had remained aloof from it which led to their political, social and economic backwardness. Initially he was a man with liberal views and a brave nationalist. He even founded the Mohammedan Anglo Oriental College in 1875 at Aligarh to spread education. He started instigating communal sentiments among the Muslims under the influence of Mr. Beck the principal of the M.A.O. He even started advising the Muslims to stay away from the Hindus and support the British Rule in India. This paved the way for the formation of the Muslim League.