Khalid Umar

Coinciding with the Assam government’s decision to close all the state-run madrassas from November 2020 announced by the State Health and Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, London based humanist Khalid Umar has advocated the urgent need for India to implement a Uniform Education Code in the country. He has underscored the drawbacks of the Islamic Madarsa system and said they should be closed down for the sake of maintaining unity and peace. We are publishing his brainstorming piece on this issue for initiating debate and building public opinion.

One country, one curriculum is the recipe of communal harmony and peace in India

Before the Uniform Civil Code, India needs a Uniform Education Code. One secular curriculum for all. When there be 3,60,000 young minds stuck in the curriculum developed in the 1700s in 3,000 madrassas in the Indian capital alone you can’t dream to take the nation ahead with millions enrolled in the 600,000 madrassa countrywide with additionally 40-50 lac mosques with attached makatab or madrasa.

WHAT IS TAUGHT IN MADRASSAS

A madrasa is an exclusivist religious school, where MUSLIM children are taught Quran, the Sharia, Hadith, Islamic history of invasions (Jihad). The institution of Islamic madrasas in India is as old as the history of Islam in India, say 1000 years. The syllabus teaches the students to hate all non-Muslims, especially the Hindus who being idolaters are dubbed as hateful human beings, called ‘kaffirs’. Ghana-i-Hind (the goal of establishment of Islamic rule across India through Jihad) is also taught in almost every madrassa, both in India and Pakistan. Madrasahs produce indoctrinated minds, full of hate, fear and false pride.

This derelict institution can’t be reformed. Outright scrap page is the solution. Helping them is writing your own obituary.

The UPA Government initiated an ill-thought plan. A “Scheme for Providing Quality Education in Madrasas” (SPQEM in 2009-10 to encourage Madarsas and Maktabs to introduce formal subjects i.e. Science, Mathematics, Social Studies, Hindi and English; The scheme is STILL ongoing in 18 states in the country. So far under SPQEM, over 21,000 Madarsas spread over different states have been given Rs. 1138 crores. Only in the Uttar Pradesh there are 18,27,566 children in 8584 Madrasas, as per GOI figures.

THAT is absolutely mindless.

Core Islamic scripture, as taught, can’t be made secular and humanistic. This scheme initiated by Congress is a sheer loss of time and exchequer and it must be scrapped forthwith.

WHY MADRASSAS CAN’T BE REFORMED

ISLAMIC TEACHINGS and modern education can’t coexist. Would the students of madrassa trust Science that says Earth is spherical and revolves around the SUN or will believe QURAN which say, Earth is flat and the SUN sets in murky water of a lake? How can you teach them harmony and love when they learn from Quran that all IDOLATORS are consigned to the eternal HELL-FIRE?

WHAT THE MODI GOVERNMENT MUST DO IMMEDIATELY

1- All madrassas must be nationalised, registered and the state should have the writ to appoint teachers, administrators and approve the curriculum. Their financials & source of income be scrutinised. All the madrassa be converted into modern schools open to all the communities. Community exclusive, organised & institutionalised religious education must be scrapped for any religion. ALL children must be taught uniform curriculum.

2- All the mosques must be monitored through CCTV recording to check what is being taught and fed. If China and Egypt can control mosques, why can’t India, the second largest Muslim population country?

If you don’t control mullah, mosque and madrassa, peace and communal harmony in India will remain a pipe dream.