WB MADRASA BAGS PRESIDENT’S AWARD FOR TEACHER

A teacher in West Bengal who has enrolled more Hindu students than Muslims in his madrasa is to receive the national award from President Pratibha Patil this Teachers’ Day. Anwar Hossain, the headmaster of Orgram Chatuspalli High Madrasah in Burdwan district, will be among the 12 teachers from the state who will receive the award at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. In 1977, when Hossain joined the madrasa, it had just 34 students. Slowly the number increased and the institute drew more Hindu students. Today, it has about 64 per cent Hindu students. “The award, I hope, will do away with the false notion about madrasas in our country,” Hossain was quoted as saying. “Madrasas are centres of learning where all sorts of education – computer education and English education – are being provided along with religious education.”