Issues in Madrassa Education in India
Yoginder Sikand’s new book Issues in Madrasa Education in India published by Hope India, Gurgaon is a promising publication. Here is a review by Nasir Khan:
A number of books have been recently published on the madrasas of India, and, in addition to this, madrasas have become a subject of considerable debate in the mass media. This latest addition to the writings on Indian madrasas makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of the subject.
The issue of madrasa reform is much debated today, and several of the articles in this volume examine the question from various angles. The opening article of the volume, titled ‘A Day in Deoband’, based on the author’s visit to the Dar ul-Ulum madrasa in Deoband, India’s largest madrasa, suggests that even many traditionalist ulema, wrongly berated as being wholly opposed to change, actually do support madrasa reforms to some extent, although the way in which they imagine the project of reform substantially differs from that advocated by many outside the madrasa system. This emerges even more clearly in the following article, titled ‘The State and Madrasa Reform: An Indian Deobandi Perspective’. The point is reiterated in subsequent articles, such as one on a Deobandi madrasa in Kashmir which is engaged in providing new forms of technical education in addition to traditional religious instruction, another on traditionalist madrasas in Kerala that have launched innovative experiments to combine religious and secular education, and yet another, on the educational model of the founder of the Jamaat-e Islami, Syed Abul Ala Maududi. A piece on the growing number of women’s madrasas in India makes the argument that promoting women’s rights from within a broader Islamic paradigm is also part of the project of madrasa reforms as even several traditionalist ulema see it. The author argues that this might have important consequences
in the future for the nature of religious authority as well as gender-relations among the Indian Muslims.At the same time as these articles hail little-known efforts at
madrasa reform, they also highlight the views of several Muslim
activists, including some ulema themselves, who are uncomfortable with
what they see as the slow pace of reform and its limited nature and
scope. This is particularly apparent in matters related to issues such
as inter-sectarian relations, relations with non-Muslims, and also in
enhancing the role of the community in the functioning of and the
decision-making process in the madrasas, many of which are, now, in
effect, family-controlled businesses.Three articles included in the book deal with the issue of how the
Indian madrasas and their ulema have sought to respond to the mounting
wave of propaganda directed against them, being accused of being
alleged training grounds for ‘terrorism’. Sikand argues that these
allegations are unfounded and unsubstantiated. He notes that the ulema
have sought to rebut these allegations, but, because they have failed
to reach out significantly to non-Muslims, their views continue to go
unheard outside the community. To add to this is the fact that large
sections of the media appear to have a vested interest in perpetuating
negative stereotypical images of the madrasas as ‘dens of terror’
despite evidence to the contrary. At the same time, Sikand writes that
the relentless anti-madrasa propaganda has had some unintended
positive fall-outs. As a perusal of the madrasa press and the recent
activities of some leading ulema bodies indicates, madrasas in India
are becoming increasingly conscious of the need for curricular and
administrative reform, establishing rapport with non-Muslims and
government officials, maintaining proper accounts and so on, this
being, in large part, a reaction to the anti-madrasa propaganda.Although the information that book supplies is interesting, it lacks
an overall central focus and a connecting thread that could weave
together the thirteen short essays contained in the book (in addition
to a section containing reviews of selected recent books on madrasa
education in India). A rigorously argued and analytical introduction
would have made the book seem less like a random collection of
articles. At times, the reader gets the feeling that the author is
unnecessarily wary of expressing his own views and is also hesitant to
offer any substantial critique for fear of appearing too harsh on the
ulema. Yet, all said and done, the book makes interesting and
rewarding reading
Madrasa Education : India’s foremost freedom fighters were products of Madrasas… branded as “centres of terrorism” by LK Advani today. Manufacture lies and step up the ante. That is BJP strategy. i shall now deviate from the topic and cover general ground.
If attacks on helpless minority (Muslims/Christians) continue with impunity, India’s economic growth will be at risk. Social violence will have an adverse impact on foreign investors.
For 50 yrs Congress pandered to Hindu majority, failing to address genuine Muslim concerns. It performed few symbolic “Acts” : Iftar Party / green saree / skull cap / Mushaira / throw in a Urdu Verse / Haj Subsidy (for god’s sake abolish it). In took the Congress 50 years of hard work, to prepare the ground for BJP to take over from where it left… This strategy marginalized secular Muslims leading to Muslim alienation.
With elections next year, BJP will unleash its mob-power on un-protected (vulnerable) minorities with task, to solidify its Hindu nationalist base. Police looks the other way, or arrives after everything is burnt to ashes (mission accomplished i.e. !) !
Muslim community does not count as a Political Bloc. They tried every combination including “befriend the devil” strategy. It failed.
Muslims can expect little protection from the State. They pay taxes, but their life / honor/ property cannot be guaranteed.
If you push the argument too far… there is the Togadia dictum : “You have only 2 choices : Go to Pakistan or Kabrastan (Graveyard)”. If India is so bad, why don’t you leave, eh ! In other words, we do not respect human rights. Hum Aise Hee Hain !! Take it or leave it…
BJP is too thick-skinned to be sensitive to public shaming. Essence of Brand Modi is its crudity – pride in un-repentance for genocide. The moment BJP displays “reason” it crumbles.
Totally stupid and rubbish that too without any proof you are just baking all crap crap crap
What do you mean Riya. Please elaborate
Calcutta madrasa has given 3 chief ministers to undivided Bengal.Prominent figures like Maulana Kalam Azad was a product of an enlightened madrasa
MADRASA SYNDROME :
According to the Sachar Committee Report., only 4% of Indian Muslim Kids go to study in the Madrasas. 96% do NOT attend Madrasas. But the Govt. of India is in love with “Madrasas” and worries overtime by discussing the future of the 4% students who attend Madrasas. It does not give a damn for the remaining 96%.
Madrasas are doing great work in India. Teaching poor students who come to their doors to study Arabic and Religious Instruction. Look at the sylabbus of the Madrasas… and compare it with the sylabbus of Saraswati Vidya Mandirs (100,000 RSS Schools spread thru-out India). Compare it with the literature of ABHINAV BHARAT … compare it with what is taught at Bhonsale Military School, Nagpur/Pune.
Madrasas are instutitons by the poor., of the poor., for the poor. If Mr. Kapil Sibal is really interested in uplifting the academic poverty of Indian Muslims (Total 200 million or 20 crores); he must establish Quality High Schools in the 80 Muslim-Concentration Districts identified by the Sachar Report. Quality Schools (CBSE) with English as medium of Instruction and Hindi as 2nd language and Urdu as 3rd language. If they hate Urdu., replace Urdu with FRENCH.
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Afterthought : RSS workers are growing beards, wearing green kurtas and pyjamas., sporting skull caps., eating pans….. (role playing)… and planting bombs thru-out India… and within 10 mins… they blame it on Muslims.. and Pakistan (or vice-versa)… effect is the same… to harass and torture Indian Muslims 24×7.
Nanded
Parbhani
Malegaon
Ajmer
Sabarmati Express
Kanpur…
and the list goes on and on and on. Here is a latest news-cutting. RSS workers caught with bombs… and i quote…
Ammonium nitrate, detonators seized in Thane
Staff Reporter
Mumbai: Barely a week after ammonium nitrate and electronic detonators were seized in Kolhapur district, a stockpile of explosives was found at Shendrun village, Shahapur taluk in Thane (Rural) district.
In a raid on a house on Thursday night, the police seized 150 kg of ammonium nitrate, 450 electronic detonators and 500 gelatine sticks, all together worth Rs.6,750.
Case registered
It has arrested house owner Bhimraj Rajulal Gurjar. Two other accused, Rajulal Gopilal Gurjar and Khemraj Dherulal Gurjar, are absconding. All the three hail from Rajasthan, the police said. A case under the Explosives Act has been registered.
In a bid to check manipulation in the quantity of ammonium nitrate used in authorised blasts, Kolhapur Superintendent of Police Yashasvi Yadav told The?Hindu that he would be writing to the Home Ministry asking for government supervision of “legal” blasts, namely at construction and mining sites.
In the Kolhapur case, the culprit would obtain large quantities of ammonium nitrate for legal blasts by showing a bloated amount on paper.
“If 5 kg has been used, you show 500 kg so on. The excess ends up in the open market. Ammonium nitrate mixed with diesel or fuel oil becomes a deadly explosive. I am, therefore, writing to the government asking them to have an official representative at the sites of legal blasts. In the West, particularly in the United States and the United Kingdom, I have found that they have government supervision.”
Mr. Yadav said in Nagpur there were many cases of siphoning of explosives. “More than the explosives, it is the detonators which are a worrying factor.”
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Pakistan Scholars must do Ph. D on RSS., Abhinav Bharat., VHP., Hindu Mahasabha… the India Desk is manned by very poorly informed people in Pakistan. What does a Pakistani know about RSS ? He must be made aware about RSS. He must read Golwalkar… Savarkar… Hegdewar… to understand the depth of the matter. He must read the Sachar Report. He must read the Ranganatha Mishra Report… He must be aware of FACTS…
ban agencies like Madrasaaa i hate it just hate it else kill all who establised such fucking madrassa only thing what happens in madrassa is terrorism that all we know on the name of Alla they performs various terrorism activities our Indian Govt has to tottaly ban this madrassa
To be frank we must keep eye on every muslims even muslims lady they might be terrorist. we can trust muslims never ever trust this guys they all are one of kind do you remeber what Great Tony blair said after 9/11 attacks on US never ever trust muslims.so check every houses thrice a week for any suspicious in old cities especially muslims never spare them ask where did they come from if u find them new in your area??i been to India after attacks on India i love to travel to India. but i hate this old city guys namely muslims.