PROF. A. MATEEN, Director, Technical Institutes of Imarat Shariah, Phulwari Sharif, Bihar, in a conversation with ASIF MOAZZAM JAMAI, throws light on how Imarat Shariah Educational & Welfare Trust is trying to help uplift the Muslims educational
First of all, please draw an outline of Imarat Shariah in a nutshell.
Imarat Shariah is a socio-religious organization established by a great visionary Maulana Abul Mohasin Muhammad Sajjad in the year 1921. It is located at Phulwari Sharif, Patna, Bihar. Great Ulema of the time including Maulana Abul Kalam Azad started it with the objective to spread Islamic awareness and to guide and inspire the Muslims to lead their lives in accordance with Islamic laws. Since then it has been rendering great services to the deprived and disintegrated Ummah to uplift it educationally, economically, socially and morally.
What is the vision of Imarat Shariah Educational & Welfare Trust?
As it is well-known, the overall national development is adversely affected if some sections of society such as minorities, backward classes, rural population, etc., are not allowed to develop and empower themselves through education along with the rest of the population. Keeping this in mind, the fourth Amir-e Shariat Maulana Minnatullah Rahmani, his colleagues Late Maulana Quazi Mojahidul Islam Quasmi and the present Amir-e Shariat Maulana Syed Nizamuddin, planned to equip the educated youths of Muslim Minority community in particular and others in general with technical education to cope with the present day needs of the industrial and scientific world. It is an unfortunate fact that even today a large section of the Indian society cannot afford to go for higher studies because of financial and time constraints. Technical education provided by Imarat Shariah is trying to help uplift the poorest of the poor in a convenient way.
What are the courses run by Imarat Shariah?
Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology (D.M.L.T) is of two years and is based on the syllabus of Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. Regarding computer education, it has courses like one year certificate course COPA (Computer operator & Programming Assistant), two years Diploma course in P.G.D.C.A (Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Application), and three years degree course called B.C.A (Bachelor of Computer Application). The Imarat is also running a computer education centre exclusively for girls. It has courses right from one year diploma to three years BCA degree course.
For different I.T.I trades, it has courses like Welder, Plumber and Tailoring & Cutting of one year duration, and Fitter, D.M. (Civil), Electrician, Electronics, Instrument Mechanics of two years duration. All these courses are recognized by respective institutions of the Government of India.
What are the services and achievements of Imarat Shariah?
To help the poor and needy is the mission of Imarat. Be it flood, earthquake, cyclone, communal riots or any other calamity, Imarat is always there with all possible help. Imarat Shariat is running hospitals and I.T.Is spread across three states, namely Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa. While getting medical treatment is becoming too expensive, the hospitals run by Imarat Shariat are serving the poor at the minimum cost. Free eye-operation camps are organized every year where the poor belonging to different faiths are served.
Hundreds of poor students are enrolled in the I.T.Is run by Imarat Shariat every year at the minimum fee. Sixty-five per cent of seats go to Muslims and 35 per cent to non-Muslims. Every year almost 40% enrolled students who fall below poverty line are given financial assistance. In the last decade itself, thousands of students qualifying from the institutions run by Imarat Shariat have secured jobs in public and private sectors in India and in more than 15 foreign countries. Between 60 to 70% students get selected before the result comes out. As educational backwardness is co-related with economic backwardness forming a vicious circle reflecting and perpetuating one another, the Imarat is uplifting poor youths educationally to considerable extent which in turn is bringing economic prosperity.
Where the Imarat stands today?
The Imarat has earned a name for its service to mankind irrespective of the religious background of the beneficiaries. It has set an example for many philanthropists to follow. It has been visited by numerous great personalities form India and other countries. In 2005, the then President A. P. J. Abul Kalam visited Imarat Shariah and interacted with many students. In his talk to us, he exhorted to open more institutions on this pattern. The Imarat enjoys the confidence of people and is, thus, supported by institutions, such as IDB Jeddah and Allana Foundation Bombay. Benevolent individuals also extend financial support to its different programmes.
What are the future plans of the Imarat?
In pursuance of its aims, the trust has proposed to establish new institutions in different parts of Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa. It will have new courses like Teaching and Training in D. Pharma, B. Pharma, Physiotherapy, Radiology & Nursing. It will also start some I.T.Is, an Engineering college and a hospital. Thank God, we have got enough land to start the proposed programmes. We are approaching different individuals and organisations for financial assistance.
What is your message to the community?
The Sachar Committee Report has opened our eyes to the existing problems that the Muslim community is facing at present. Illiteracy and lack of basic education are stumbling blocks in the progress of Muslims and these should receive first priority in the programme for their empowerment. No government can change the condition of Muslims unless the community works hard to help itself. Especially the well off and the educated in the Muslim community have to share the responsibility of helping the poor and the needy. If the affluent do not open educational and technical institutions, they must help financially the institutions that are working in this field. Unless we become conscious of our needs, take initiatives to fulfil them, and seize all opportunities available, it would not be possible to change our condition.