The Sir Syed Minority Foundation of India (SMFI) organized a one-day National Convention on ‘Modernization of Madrasa Education in India’ at the AMU campus. The programme was attended by dignitaries from all over the country. While presiding over the seminar, Aligarh Muslim University Vice Chancellor, Lt General Zameer Uddin Shah (retd) pointed out that the time has come to bring changes in the biggest education network of Madrasas in India. “I have always believed that a Hafiz-e-Quran is competent enough to take up modern education and it is imperative that the Madrasa products are shown the right way to enter modern education,” said the Vice Chancellor adding that it was for this reason that the a Bridge-Course to make Madrasa students enter university education was started in AMU.The Vice Chancellor further pointed out that with the 100 percent success rate of AMU Bridge-Course, Madrasa students qualified for competitive exams in AMU, Jamia Millia Islamia and Jamia Hamdard.
He further said that if modernization is carried out in Madrasas successfully, the day is not far when the Madrasa students will play leadership roles in the country. The Vice Chancellor also applauded the hardwork of SMFI for doing useful research on Madrasas in Bihar. He said that SMFI will always have their support from the university administration. The Chief Guest of the Programme, Mr Ameer Ahmad, Chairman, Mannappat Group said there was a time when religious scholars from Madrasas were not separated from sciences and other education, but gradually Madrasas were separated from the progress which was happening in education. He added that the time has come when we need to reconnect Madrasas with the best of education available in the world as it will lead to progress of Muslims in particular and nations in general. He also said that if Muslims in Kerala can progress, so can Muslims and Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other places.
While applauding SMFI for conducting the convention, Dr Mohd Shahid said that it is imperative in today’s world that we strike a balance in between Madrasa and modern education by showing ways of entering modern education to Madrasa students. He also said that the modernization of Madrasas will eventually bring progress to Muslims in India.
Mr Mohammad Aslam, President of the ‘Human Chain’, Kishanganj said that SMFI should be appreciated fro creating an eye-opening report on the conditions of Madrasas in Bihar. Mr Aslam added that the ‘Human Chain’ will take the research of SMFI’s report to the responsible people in the government. ‘However, government will only provide funds, while the responsible people will have to work hard to modernize Madrasas in Bihar and other places.
Mr Mohd Salaam, Chairman, Bihar State Minorities Commission, Patna said that he whole heartedly embraces the vision of AMU Vice Chancellor for modernization of Madrasas. He also pointed out that the Bihar Government wants to bring progress and this is why, it was decided by the Bihar Government to provide some 1924 state-run Madrasas with computers, however non-government Madrasas still need assistance and facilities.
Dr Izhar Ahmad, Chief Editor, Pyari Urdu congratulated SMFI for organizing the convention and applauded AMU for working on the modernization of Madrasa education. He said that the time is right to link Madrasas with modern education all over the country.
Meanwhile Maulana Syed Arshad Madni, President of Jamaait Ulema-e-Hind, New Delhi in a recorded message to the Convention played out in his absentia stated that as it is important for Muslims to become religious scholars and memorize Quran, it is also important for them to become doctors, engineers, scientists and academicians.
While reading out the resolution of the Convention, Dr Mohd Asrar ul Haq said it is important to improve and update the syllabus of Madrasas to make them relevant to modern times. He also said that there is a need of setting up of an independent Madrasa monitoring committee in every state to check corruption and to ensure that salaries are being paid on a regular basis.
While delivering the vote of thanks, Mr Md Perwez Siddiqui, President, SMFI and Convenor of the Programme said that the Bihar Government has promised a fund of Rs 45 crores for Madrasas in the state and SMFI is now trying to reach the Uttar Pradesh Government for the funding of Madrasas in the state.
Mr Abdul Khalique Kamil, Secretary, SMFI in his welcome address to the guests, informed that SMFI has visited and researched 500 Madrasas in Bihar during winters in 2015 to bring a report on the conditions of Madrasas.
Dr Ayub Shabab, former Secretary, AMU Students Union conducted the programme.
