He was born in 1900 in his maternal ancestral home at No. 8, Arundale Street, Mylapore, Chennai. His early education was in a village school near Siruvadi. He had his elementary and high school education in the Crane School of the American Arcot Mission, Tindivanam. He graduated from the Madras Christian College, then situated at N.S.C. Bose Road opposite to the High Court with his special subject as Mental & Moral Science.

He got his Degree in Law in 1923. He joined the "Khilafat Movement" organised by the Ali Brothers (Maulana Mohammed Ali and Maulana Shoukath Ali) in 1924. Later, he joined the Congress Committee under the leadership of Mr. C.R. Das of Bengal and Mr. Sriman Srinivasa lyengar of Madras. Till his death, he continued to be a Congressman. From 1921 to 1949 he was an active politician. During this period he took part in the Khilafat Movement and the Non- Co-operation Movement.

During the years 1924 and 1926 he was the District Congress Secretary. He was a Member of the All India Congress Committee until 1946. In 1926 he contested in the Corporation elections and was declared elected as Councillor, Corporation of Madras against many odds. He evinced keen interest in the social, cultural and educational uplift of the Muslim community of South India. He was for a long duration associated with the Syndicate of the Madras University, Annamalai University, Aligarh Muslim University and other social organisations in the South.

He was keen on establishing a College for Muslim Boys as early as 1946. As Secretary of the Muslim Educational Association of Southern India, he was instrumental in purchasing 31 acres of land in Peters Road, Royapettah with great difficulty. As the Muslim Educational Association of Southern India did not have sufficient funds for this purpose he negotiated a loan and finally he purchased the land immediately. He sought affiliation for a college to be managed by the M.E.A.S.I. in Madras City. In this connection, Dr. A.L. Mudaliar, the then Vice-Chancellor of Madras University was of great assistance to him in the matter of getting affiliation. Finally, the College which he himself named as "The New College" came into existence in 1951 and was inaugurated by the then Governor-General of India the late Mr. C.R. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji).

Meanwhile, he was elevated to the Bench of the Madras High Court in July 1949. Later on, his talented and dedicated wife who was very much interested in the uplift of the Muslim Women constantly reminded him that he should start a college for Muslim Women. The immediate reason for her suggestion was the closure of the Government Muslim Women's College in Madras City. This was a great shock to the Muslim Community and now the time had come to fulfill their dream of starting a College for Women in general and for Muslim Women in particular. A society under the title of 'THE SOUTHERN INDIA EDUCATION TRUST" was registered on 23.10.1951 under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860. Moulana Abdul Huq and Dr. A.L. Mudaliar and his other friends in the educational field encouraged him and gave him moral support. The institution Viz., "S.I.E.T. Women's College" came into being on 7-7-1955. It was a red letter day in the History of Madras City when Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India, laid the foundation for the College and Moulana Abul Kalam Azad laid the foundation for the First Hall of Residence which was named after him. The strength of the College that day was 106 students with 21 staff members.

talented person who dedicated himself to the cause of education and he left no stone unturned in order to improve the financial status of this infant institution. For this purpose, he visited various places of South India, South East Asia, East Africa with a view to collect funds. His contact with the Ministry of Education, Government of India, and U.G.C. had helped him to get affiliation for various subjects. During a short span of time the College developed itself into a Post Graduate institution and later a Research Centre.

The Southern India Education Trust during his life time was a hub of immense cultural activity in the city of Madras. One dignitary after another both National and International visited this institution due to the efforts and perseverance of this man of vision and action. Some of the dignitaries who have graced this institution with their august presence were His Imperial Majesty of Iran, King Hussain of Jordan, Jamal Abdul Nasser, President of Egypt and Ambassadors of various Nations including China. Slowly and gradually he was preparing the ground for elevating this institution to a University. Had he lived, this dream of his would have been fulfilled. Alas! he passed away on the 7th February, 1984. May his soul rest in peace. Ameen. That was the Founder Mr. JUSTICE BASHEER AHMED SAYEED, otherwise known as the Sir Syed of South.

The name of S.I.E.T. College has been changed to Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed Women's College from April 1984 to perpetuate the memory of the Founder.

In the year 1984 in his memory, the Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed Memorial Matriculation Higher Secondary Boys School was started by the Members of the Executive Council of S.I.E.T.

HAJANI FATHIMA AKHTAR SAHEBA

The adage "Behind every successful man there is a woman" proves itself once again in the relationship between the Founder and his better half Begum Fathima Akhtar. Born in 1918 and brought up in a highly religious and socially committed family, Begum Fathima Akhtar dedicated herself to the cause of women's education and social service. She was the "spur" who "pricked the sides of the intend" of the Founder, the voice of conscience, who never let him rest and who stood beside him all the way as the College was set up, brick by brick and towered from strength to strength.

Begum Fathima Akhtar was the first Muslim woman graduate in the Navayath Circle. Her early education was in Corporation School and Govt. Hobart High School, Royapettah. She graduated in B.A. Physics in 1941 from Queen Mary's College, Chennai. In 1958, Begum Fathima Akhtar became Chairman of The Southern India Education Trust. This entitled the onerous responsibility of leading the Governing Body of the S.I.E.T. Women's College. She also served as a Syndicate Member of the Madras University and was also member of the Board of Secondary Education. She held the post of Vice-President of Madras University Women's Association and the International Women's Rights Society. She was also associated with a number of other social organisations.

The unique blending of a secular education with religious training which is a hallmark of The Southern India Education Trust is a tradition established and carefully nurtured by Begum Fathima Akhtar. She also encouraged research in Islamic studies. She was responsible for the setting up of an Arabic Madrasa for Women and Children in Aminjikarai. This noble soul breathed her last on the 3rd March 1987. May her soul rest in peace.

INVOCATION

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
1. All praise is due to Allah, the lord of the worlds.
2. The Beneficent, the Merciful.
3. Master of the Day of requittal.
4. Thee do we serve and Thee do we beseech for help.
5. Guide us on the right path.
6. The path of those upon whom Thou hast bestowed favours.
7. Not of those upon whom Thy wrath is brought down, nor of those who have gone astray.