By Zaidul Haque for TwoCircles.net,
Due to the negligence of the West Bengal Government, a 200 years old heritage ‘Hooghly Madrasa’ (Fully Govt. Sponsored) is to be closed. Renowned social worker Haji Md Mohsin was donated the land and established this madrasa in 1817 by establishing a waqf fund. Sir Syed Amir Ali was one of the meritorious students of this madrasa. Hooghly Madrasa is located in Chinchura Town of Hooghly District of West Bengal. Now mardasa running with a few teacher and Teacher In Charge pressurizing to the Students to take transfer Cirtificate. In 18th March, 2010 at a time six teachers was transfer from this madrasa to other govt School. So, only 12 teacher providing lesson to the students.
Hooghly Madrasa Established in 1817
Boarding facilities is available and fees is very low. But, now there are only 20 boarding students. Parents and students allege that Teacher In-charge of this Madrasa Nasir Ali Ansari is forcing students to transfer out of this institution. They allege that at least 50 students have taken Transfer Certificate (TC) since March 19th and refusing to admit new students in the current session. In this regards protest has continued against this activity and now joined by Muslims & secular organization of West Bengal. After a week-long agitation, on April 10th demonstration was held in front of Hooghly Madrasa.
Entrance of Madrasa building
Along with the Muslim personalities, intellectuals, politicians and Non-Muslims also participated in this demonstration.
History
Haji Muhammad Mohsin (1732-1812) a renowned philanthropist of Bengal, donated all his properties for the Muslim community in 1806 by establishing a waqf (charitable endowment). Five years after his death, ‘Madrasa-e-Mahsania’ was established on the bank of Ganges at Chinchura town. This madrasa was later came to be known as Hooghly Madrasa. Hooghly Mahsin College was established in 1836 by `Mohsin Endowment Fund’ and Hooghly Madrasa was administered by the College. In 1915, madrasa syllabus was revised by the British government and modern education was introduced. Since 1940 Hooghly Madrasa is also functioning as an intermediate college. After the independence and until 1962, West Bengal State Madrasa Board office was in the madrasa premises. Now it is only fully Govt. sponsored Madrasa and administered directly by the education department of West Bengal- Department of School Education.
People demonstrating
Hooghly Madrasa’s alumni include- Sir Syed Amir Ali, Maulana Abu Bakkar Sidique, Tajuddin Ahmed & Shah Azizur Rahman (Both are ex Prime Minister of Bangladesh), Scientist Ataur Rahman, Bengali literalist Maniruzzaman Islamabadi etc.
Demonstration
In the demonstration Muslim personalities were unanimous that as per Haji Mohsin’s waqf deed, Hooghly Madrasa should be exclusively for Muslims. If this Madrasa is taken over by Department of Minority Affairs then the endowment fund will be transferred. Presently, Most of the scholarships of Muslim students are covered from the Mohsin Fund. Opening of madrasa to everyone will violate the waqf deed.
Amit Roy of Trinamul Congress Idris Ali of All India Minority Forum, Siddiqullah Chowdhury of Jamiat Ulama, Kamruzzaman of Muslim Youth Federation
Hooghly Madrasa is study in neglect by the West Bengal Government. There is no principal in this madrasa since 1982. Recruitment of the teachers for this Madrsasa is conducted by the Public Service Commission of West Bengal. Most of the teachers appointed for the last 30 years are non-Muslims. Local Muslims allege that teachers always tried to close the Madrasa so that they can be shifted to other govt. schools. Residential students of this Madrasa told TwoCircles.net that present Teacher In-charge Nasir Ali is telling teachers to transfer to other school and also pressurizing the students to quit, they allege that he has given Transfer Certificates to 50 students forcefully.
Maulana Siddiqullah Chowdhury addressing
In an interview with Teacher In-charge Nasir Ali said, `I have been ordered verbally from the Madrasa Education Department & Ministry. So, he is trying to do it properly’. I asked him, If he has not been issued written order in this regards how Teacher In-charge can implements such kind of verbal order? Mr Ali answered, he requested the department to issue the written order, but yet to receive it.
Nasir Ali expressed govt plan- `Due to lack of teacher Madrasa Education may be closed here and introduce an English medium School for modern education.’
Now there remain only 12 teachers in this Madrasa for secondary & higher secondary sections.
When confronted Minority Affairs Minister of West Bengal Dr. Abdus Sattar gave the statements to the reporters in Kolkata that, `Govt will not change the madrasa character right now, we will think about it later.’
Teacher In-charge: Nasir Ali Ansari
On April 10th, most of the Muslim organization of West Bengal and some political leader held the demonstration in front of Hooghly Madrasa Gate. At least 5000 people was present there. Trinamul Congress Hooghly District Leader Amit Roy, Jamiat Ulama Hind’s Maulana Siddiqullah Chowdhury, Minority Young Federation’s Md. Kamaruzzan, All India Minority Forum’s Advocate Idris Ali, Journalist Ahmed Hassan Imran participated in the demonstration. Also the delegates of Jaamate Islami Hind, Popular Front of India, W.B Madrasa Students Union, S.I.O, Hooghly Madrsa Guardian Committee, Indian Natinal League etc. were present. After the demonstration a team met the Additional District Magistrate of Hooghly District in this regards.
Demands:
1.Without recruitment of substitute teacher none of teachers or non-teacher can be transferred.
2. Should fill up all vacant teacher posts as soon as possible.
3. Can not change the Hoghly Madrasa Status as a heritage property.