Ram, Rahim & PCs: Madarsas open ‘Windows’

LUCKNOW: These are the changing faces of madarsas in the state, which surprisingly, are termed by saffronites as the breeding ground of terrorists.
A sample survey in the state capital revealed that madarsas are shedding their traditional image and imparting modern education right from the beginning. English, Hindi and Maths are taught along with Quran, Arabic and theology.
After class five, subjects like Science, Sanskrit, History and Geography are also introduced. ‘‘Our objective is to churn out students well versed in religious as well as modern education,’’ said Shamim Ahmad, manager of Madarsa-e-Usmania.
Students now are as familiar with the names of Rahul Sankratyayan, Bhartendu Harishchandra, Mahadevi Verma and Kanhaiyalal Nandan as they are with the names of prophets like Mohammed, Yusuf and Ibrahim, something which could not be imagined two decades back. Islam and its teachings are taught side by side with environmental pollution, electronics and computer as early as class five.
Purdah system is also giving way to co-education with Madarsa-e-Dinia, catering to around 300 students, taking the lead. Madarsa-e-Usmania also has co-education with girls overwhelmingly outnumbering the boys. Both the madarsas follow UP Board pattern from class VI to VIII. From Class I to V course of Islamic Sahitya Prakashan, New Delhi, is followed.
Incidentally, most of the madarsas are run with missionary zeal. ‘‘We get no financial support from the government,’’ informed Shamim Ahmad, manager of Madarsa-e-Usmania. We provide books to the students. Teachers’ salaries and other sundry expenses are met with donations, he added.
The Central government had announced to provide one science teacher and a computer to each madarsa. While no madarsa got any computer, only two — Madarsa-e-Aaliya Irfania and Maghzoolul Uloom Furqania — have got science teachers. On being asked why the madarsa did not have a science teacher, Madarsa-e-Dinia manager Mohd Usman said: “Since we cannot grease the palms of education department people, our claim is ignored.’’ Same was the complaint of Madarsa-e-Nazmia and Sultan-ul-Madaris, two of the oldest madarsas of the city. A science teacher is appointed on an ad hoc basis for one year on a consolidated salary of Rs 2,200. This appointment can be renewed for two more years.
The computer scheme is also in the limbo. ‘‘Some paper work was done but after initial enthusiasm, the government has developed cold feet,’’ said Dr Masoodul Hasan Usmani, secretary, Dini Talimi Council, UP. The state lacks a computer centre like Jamia-e- Hidayat, established by Maulana Abdul Rahim in Jaipur. Only Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulema in the city has a computer centre where students of Nadwa and around 20 madarsas run by it, are imparted training. A Nadwa student has now opened his own computer centre in the city. Madarsa-e- Nazmia plans to install computers next year.
Even as madarsas are shedding their traditional image and assimilating themselves into national mainstream, a circular issued in January, 2003 by Rajneesh Gupta, the then director of minority welfare, that all madarsas seeking recognition would have to submit proof that they were not being used for anti-national activities, shows a certain mindset.
So upsetting was the circular that minister for minority welfare Kazim Ali Khan had to announce that an inquiry would be ordered to find out what prompted Gupta to issue such a circular.