By Tarique Anwar, TwoCircles.net,
Patna: Speakers at the grand conference on Muslims’ education organized here yesterday by Bihar Aqliyati Talimi Board (Bihar Minorities Education Board) were unanimous that the Muslim community, along with the government, will have to take responsibility to uplift itself educationally.
Addressing the daylong ‘Qaumi Aqliyati Talimi Bedari Seminar’ at SK Memorial Hall in Patna, Mohsina Kidwai, Member of Parliament and general secretary of the Congress Party, said, “We need education which can improve humanity in mankind, which can eradicate hatred from the society.” Giving stress on female education she said that if we educate a male, we educate an individual but if we educate a woman, we educate a family. Rejecting blames of terrorism on Muslims she said that a terrorist has no religion. “It is a great injustice to associate terrorism with a particular religion,” she said. She further said that Muslims should be ready to face all problems in getting education. It is not fair to leave everything on government, she said.
Mohsina Kidwai, Member of Parliament and general secretary of Congress Party, addressing the seminar
Speaking at the seminar Dr K Rahman Khan, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, said “We (Muslims) have committed a lot of mistakes which have resulted in our backwardness, yet we are involved in blame game to hide our mistakes.” He suggested Muslims to be self-dependent. Indian Muslims should make a vision document and focus only on education, leaving all issues, for the next 10 years. Then there will not be any element of illiteracy in the community. “Why should we leave everything on the government and only hope that the government will solve all our problems?” he asked adding that by doing so, we try to escape from our responsibility.
Dr K Rahman Khan, Deputy Chairman Rajya Sabha, expressing his views
Noted social activist Teesta Setalvad rejected claims by all speakers before her and said that government cannot escape from its duties towards minorities. She said that we should question government that why a particular community’s condition has been worsening since independence. Where there is issue of health, education, employment, justice and security, the government cannot keep itself aside leaving everything on minorities, she said. Emphasizing on the moral pureness of Islam she said many people in olden days embraced Islam only by seeing its morality, then how can this religion give the teaching of terrorism and its follower become terrorist, she asked.
If Muslims can shine in the field of sports and film, they can shine in every field but the reality is that they have not been given chance in other field to explore their talents.
She said that Rashtriya Swayam Sewak Sangh (RSS) is running 40,000 schools across the country in those villages where the Christian or Muslim community has not yet reached to set up an educational institution. RSS schools are busy in instilling in young minds poison and hatred for minorities, she said. Why the poisonous schools have been allowed to exist, Setalvad asked.
Teesta Setalvad putting her views
Maulana Syed Nizamuddin, Ameer-e-Shariat and general secretary of All India Muslim Personal Law Board said, “Spread of education can transform the Muslim community that is lagging behind other communities in all respects.” People from the community should come forward to open primary schools, especially for the poor Muslim children, he said.
Putting his views on this occasion Khaleeque Anjum, Secretary of Anjuman Taraqqi Urdu Bihar, said that generally our students are weak in science subjects but no government has tried to find out its reason. “I have recommended several times to constitute a board to find out why it happens but no government has cared” he lamented.
In his speech former chief justice of the Supreme Court AM Ahmadi said that education will play a vital role in the community’s development. Realizing the value of religious education he said it was very essential because it develops morality in human beings. Modern education is also needed to compete in this age of competition. He suggested that religious and modern education should be merged and imparted under a roof. He, however, did not support reservation for Muslims. Why there is a demand of reservation for Muslims now, 55 years after independence, he questioned. This demand has created hatred for minorities.
AM Ahmadi, former chief justice of the Supreme Court, addressing the meet
Very interestingly the conference does not witnessed any political respresentation of the state. Neither the Chief Minister nor his any minister including Shahid Ali Khan, minister for minority affairs, government of Bihar, participated the programme despite being invited.
Other prominent personalities who spoke on the occasion included Union ministers Ali Ashraf Fatmi, Akhilesh Singh and Prof Saifuddin Soz, Maulana Anisur Rahman Quasmi, general secretary of Imarat Shariah and Pervez Hashmi, MLA and Secretary of All India Congress Committee.
Maulana Syed Mohammad Wali Rahmani delivering his presiding speech
The programme was presided over by Maulana Syed Wali Rahmani, chief of Khanqah Rahmani Munger.