By IndianMuslims.info Staff

Education has been one of the most vital concerns of Indian Muslims, as the very first word revealed in the Holy Qur’�n is iqra (read) yet their educational backwardness, non-academic environment prevailing in premier educational institutions, gradual dropout rates from secondary to degree levels, and madrasas being dubbed the breeding-grounds of terrorism continue to haunt them.

Jamia Imbroglio
The most disquieting incident that kept on making headlines in the vernacular Urdu press all through the past week is the academic imbroglio prevailing in Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, where about 10,000 students are enrolled in different courses.

Though all the Urdu dailies covered the incident, some with relevant photographs, right from the closure of Jamia sine die followed by an altercation between students and the Jamia administration on July 19 [the Rashtriya Sahara and the Hindustan Express covered it on July 19 but the Qaumi Awaz and the Awam rose to the occasion on July 20], and the students’ ongoing and intensified hunger strike, beyond the reopening of the premier Muslim institution on July 24, some of them like the Sahara and the Awaz stood behind the Jamia administration while others like the Express and the Inquilab behind the students’ cause.

In an edit-page article in the Sahara (July 25), Firoz Bakht Ahmad laments the sorry plight of this institution. He is full of praise for the Jamia’s Vice-Chancellor Prof. Mushirul Hasan and puts all the developments, including opening of various courses and research centres, etc. made during the last two years to his credit. He has also appealed to the students to end their agitation and help solve the matters and restore the academic environment on the campus.

Muhammad Jasimuddin Qasmi, Abdullah Adil and Irshad Alam, all students of the university, in a joint letter published in the Awaz (July 25), hold the Jamia administration particularly the V.C. responsible for the present imbroglio.

“With great pain and grief we say that Vice-Chancellor Prof. Mushirul Hasan… is the person who once (in 1992) proved his diabolic thinking and sick mentality by standing in support of Salman Rushdie (and his blasphemous remarks in The Satanic Verses). The students then launched a great agitation (against Prof. Hasan’s move). It is since then that he has been trying to plant the dagger of vengeance in the back of the students. And now his force and coercion as well as malicious attitude has crossed all limits,� runs the letter.

In his edit-page article in the Express (July 25), Noorullah Jawed Qasmi pays tribute to the Vice-Chancellor for his academic excellence and scholarship but criticises his autocratic attitude in dealing with the various issues.

“The way he dealt with the Jamia’s minority character, internal quota (in admission) and the present imbroglio shows that he is less an intellectual and more a dictator, and wants to run the university with a particular thinking and ideology,� he writes.

Mr. Qasmi also gives a glimpse of Prof. Hasan’s thinking: “While opening the Dental College he said the Jamia has nothing to do with Islam and Muslims rather it is simply an educational institution, the door of which is open for one and all. It is but natural for this statement to cause resentment among the student community. Also, this statement negates the historical fact that the Jamia was established as a result of the Khilafat Movement and the Non-cooperation Movement, and is the fruit of the joint efforts made by Shaikhul Hind Maulana Mahmoodul Hasan (1851-1920), Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar (1878-1931), Hakim Ajmal Khan (1863-1927), Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad Ansari (1880-1936), Abdul Hameed Khwaja and Dr. Zakir Hussain, etc… The only aim of these revered personages was to promote education among the Muslims. That is why the Jamia was named Jamia Millia Islamia that is the happy blending of both Millat and Islam.�

Mrs. Noor Jahan Tharwat, in her article published in the Inquilab on July 25, also blames the Vice-Chancellor for the present chaotic situation.

“How far sympathetic Prof. Mushirul Hasan and his supporters are towards the academic career of the students can be gauged with the fact that instead of solving the problem wisely and prudently they declared the closure of the university sine die and evacuation of the hostel,� she writes, calling the decision ‘childish’.

She also casts a glance on the mentality of Prof. Hasan: “The fact remains that Prof. Mushirul Hasan has been an undesirable person in the history of the Jamia. Prof. Hasan owes allegiance to the ideology of Left parties. And these parties have played a role in making him Vice-Chancellor of the university.�

Muslim Empowerment through Education
The Express (July 26) carried the keynote address of Justice A.M. Ahmedi to a convention on “Empowerment of Muslims through the Constitution of India� organised by All India Milli Council. In this speech the former Chief Justice of India dwelt in detail upon the various trends and currents that have told badly upon the progress and development of the community.

“I have always expressed concern over the fact that we have neglected half of the human resources viz. women and that we do not care for their participation in the affairs of the State. The dropout percentage of girls in schools is far greater than that of boys…. Please keep it in the mind that by not educating your girls you are putting obstacles in the way to empowerment. The number of Muslim boys who are getting education is also very minimal. After including Article 21A in the Constitution (through an amendment) it is the fundamental right of every citizen that he is imparted free education. Now there is no room for complaining of economic constrains. The way to education leads directly to empowerment. I think the more you educate your boys and girls the more you would march towards empowerment….�

“In this age of trials and tribulations a common Muslim finds himself in a checkmate; that is both modernism and blind traditionalism lure them. Put in other words, due to his lack of education he cannot face the challenges of the new age, and cannot think in the light of the God-given gift i.e. wisdom, and stand awe-struck at the developments of science and technology spread all around us. As a result of this he is unable to make use of the mind in solving the problems he is confronted with.�

Comprehensive Plan of Educational Uplift
As for educational uplift of Indian Muslims, the Express of July 13 reported the Union Government announcing a comprehensive programme for it. The Government has directed Jamia Millia Islamia, Aligarh Muslim University and Maulana Azad Urdu University to open Urdu teachers training academies in their premises; an estimated fund has been already allocated for it.

Another highlight of the programme is that the Government has recommended opening of Urdu medium senior secondary and secondary schools right on the pattern of Navodya schools in 125 districts of Muslim concentration. This project has been sent to the 11th Planning Commission for approval.

Yet another programme is opening of Kasturba Gandhi girls schools for Muslim girls in the Muslim concentration areas. The Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh said as the dropout rate of girls in Muslim-run schools is 5.54%, the Government is paying special attention to the education of Muslim girls.

It is only in due course of time that we would come to see whether these initiatives on the part of the Government are mere political gimmick or the Government is really sincere in intent. But one thing is certain that the members of the community particularly the voluntary organisations will have to rise and come forward for the community uplift and empowerment.

26 July 2006