The identity of Muslims, their symbols, rituals and practice and their institutions have always remained on the radar of suspicion since ages, nationally and internationally. These issues have always been debated with a prejudiced mind simply to score some points and to disparage their patriotism either for political gains or for ideological consolidation. The recent order by Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh governments on Madrasas is a step forward in that direction.
Needless to say, leaders emerging from Madrasas in India have played an instrumental role in the freedom movement. This has strengthened religious, social and cultural advancement of Muslims and has served as a foundation of religious thoughts and has always paved the way for the advancement of those religious thoughts. Instead of gagging the states and the Government at the Centre, we should be thankful to these institutions because they are providing education for those who cannot afford to go to other schools. It should be the responsibility of the Government to provide education for all.
Muhammadullah Khalili Qasmi in his article, “Roles of Indian Madrasas in Various Fields of Life”, has quoted Allama Iqbal to define the role and importance of madrasas in a very reasonable manner. This is the reason that the poet-philosopher said, “Let these maktabs as they are. Let the poor Muslims’ children study in these madrasas. Had there not been these Mullahs then what would have been, do you know? Whatever will happen I had all seen by my own eyes. If the Indian Muslims are deprived of the influence of these madrasas they will face a situation like that of Muslims in Spain where in spite of 800-year Muslim rule one does not find even a trace of Muslims except the monuments of Cordoba, Granada and Al-Hamra. Similarly, In India also we will find a trace of Muslims except for Taj Mahal in Agra and Red Fort in Delhi.”
The debate on Madrasas gets generally polarised when it is said that madrasas are breeding ground for terrorism. No school teaches to indulge in crime, corruption or any other kind of anti-social and anti-national activity. But even if a student passing out from modern or any private school commits a crime then should that school or institution be held accountable for that? Then why fingers are only pointed towards madrasas? Then why orders are issued to madrasas only?
In the past, the madrasa education system was considered the best education centres for the rich and as well as the downtrodden. Shri Raja Ram Mohan Roy, the great socialist who had raised the issue of banning the child marriage and favoured the Widow Remarriage in India noticeably had completed his school education in a madrasa. Also, Shri Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India was from a madrasa background; and so was Dr. Sachdanand Sinha. The Big Question: Are Naxals, all those involved in terrorism in the Punjab or those who killed Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi or even Rajiv Gandhi were from the madrasa background? Therefore, it is not the institution or the religion of the individual rather the individual’s susceptibility and the mindset which is responsible for such acts. Like all other schools, Madrasas too produce law abiding citizens who crave for peace and prosperity of the country.
The contribution of madrasas towards the development of the country has always remained significant if we think with an open mind and not with the prejudiced mind. So it is hereby important for the states and the central government to help the existing madrasas with more infrastructures so that they continue to produce great leaders from time to time who can make the people of the country feel proud of them. Are we thinking in that direction? Or we just want to gag madrasas and their authorities to get dividends, ideologically and politically.
Prof Apoorvanand, a social activist and professor of Hindi in the University of Delhi, has rightly said in his article, “Foisting the Flag,” in the Indian Express: Mosques and madrasas have always been depicted as enclaves that are beyond the state’s reach. They are seen as places where conspiracies are hatched, arms stored and terrorists produced. So, there has been always a demand to discipline them and bring them under state control.
“It is no use citing instances from the past to show that madrasas – or Muslims – were integral to the national struggle and that they need not confirm their nationalism. In the popular imagination of a section of Hindus, they remain insufficient Indians; they think that it is their duty to nationalise all Muslim spaces. One way to do so is to place seemingly innocuous nationalist demands which the Muslims would find difficult to resist. But the intent is sinister: To demoralise Muslims by telling them that they do not have a private sphere of their own,” argued Apoorvanand.
The rot in the individual or in the system is not because of the institutions but it is only because of the decline in human values, social decadence and moral bankruptcy, lust for power and money and heightened materialism. So it would be unfair to single out madrasas and project them as not patriotic. The government, instead of gagging madrasas, should encourage these institutions to display their maximum potential in order to accelerate the growth of the community, society and the country.