By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
Patna: Of 362 successful candidates in Bihar Public Service Commission exam 2010, there are 37 Muslims, i.e. about 10.22%. At technical institutes run by Imarat Shariah there are 1500 Muslim students. Rahmani-30 coaching centre for IIT entrance registered 100% success last year. And now a study centre of Aligarh Muslim University is going to be set up. Combine all, and you get a good picture of Muslims education in Bihar.
Of late, indeed, the Muslim community in one of the most backward states in the country has made a good progress on the educational front. The awareness about education has awakened the community and now it is spending lot for the bright future of their children.
IIT aspirants at Rahmani 30
“Situation is improving. The percentage of Muslims enrolment in primary and secondary classes is going up. Enrolment of girls student is also increasing. There is an upsurge in the feeling of Muslims that education is the last resort, and it has been neglected for long for so many reasons,” says Prof Abuzar Kamaluddin, Principal, M P Sinha Science College in Muzaffarpur.
He welcomes the decision of Aligarh Muslim University to open its branch in Muslim dominated Kishanganj district in Bihar. He also appreciates the effort of Rahmani-30.
“It is a welcome step. Though very late, AMU administration recognized their all India responsibility. Though one campus at a particular place cannot cater to the whole of the community as they are scattered in the country, the decision should be encouraged. The choice of place is also very good,” says Prof Kamaluddin, former Vice Chairman, Bihar Intermediate Educational Council.
He terms the ABVP protest against AMU centre as negative attitude, highly condemnable.
On Rahmani-30, “it is the result of educational awareness of the community, though the large part is still unaware. They are striving to attach the community with the mainstream of education. This is a noble step,” said he who has written several books on education—the latest one is Education: Views and Vision – A suggestive Study with Critical Analysis Under the Backdrop of Bihar.
However, Mohd Ehtesham Hussain, Assistant Director, Social Security Department, Muzaffarpur District, says that despite some improvement the community is still far behind other communities in the field of education.
“Muslims are still far behind other communities in the field of education. Not much effort has been done either by the community or the government to improve the lot,” he says and also gives the reasons. “The elite of the community has not given required attention to remove educational backwardness of the masses. Most of those who claim to be leader of the Muslim community are not aware of the educational problems of the community,” says Hussain, Commissioned Gazetted officer of 1983 batch.
He also hopes the AMU branch will help improve the educational condition of the community and society.
On Right to Education Act, he says it will help Muslims also if they learn to use it. “For this the so-called Muslim leadership should have determination and honesty to work for the community.”
Maulana Anisur Rahman Qasmi, secretary, Imarat Shariah (Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa), says Muslims have remained educationally backward because schools/colleges in their areas are not in required number. “Even sixty years after Independence, there are less than 30 high schools in Kishanganj- a big Muslim dominated district while there are more than 90 high schools in a small district of Vaishali,” he says.
“However, of late, due to educational awareness for primary education Muslims are getting out of slumber that was because of lack of infrastructure.
On the contribution of Imarat Shariah-run technical institutes and Rahmnai-30, he says, “The more the Muslim students will opt for professional and technical courses, the more the community will improve its condition. At Imarat ITI institutes there are 1500 students. It means every year 1500 students will come to market with job certificate and will provide livelihood to 1500 families. But this is not enough. I think there should be ITI or professional institutes in every district with sizeable Muslim presence. Muslim MPs and MLAs should take deep interest in it.”
About AMU branch in Kishanganj, he says this will improve educational condition of Muslims. It should be opened as early as possible. AMU should start construction work. This will help both Hindus and Muslims of the area.”
Rahmani-30 free coaching centre for meritorious but poor Muslim students aspiring to get admission at IIT hopes to again register a big success. The first batch of the Patna-based centre run by Rahmani Foundation under the guidance of Bihar ADGP Abhiyanand and Maulana Mohd Wali Rahmani got 100% success last year.
The second batch of 12 students appeared for IIT-JEE on this past Sunday. They are hopeful about good rank. The staffers of the centres are also upbeat.
Shahbaz Haider from East Champaran district is at Rahmani 30 for two years. This Sunday he sat for IIT entrance test. “I am very much satisfied with my performance in the entrance test. I am hopeful to get a good rank and a good college,” says Haider. He comes from a middle class family, not capable to coach him at costly institute, the two years he spent here was precious one and his life needed. He wants to opt for computer science or mechanical or electronics. “Rahmani 30 is a great need for the Muslim families who have talented children but no money to teach them at big coaching centres.”
Wasif Rahman, another student at Rahmani 30, is a complete Hafiz of Quran. He did schooling till 5th class then his father decided he will be a Hafiz. He started memorizing Quran till 25th para at home, then joined a madrasa. And after completion of the course he again joined schooling. He is hopeful about good rank in IIT entrance. He will opt for aerospace.
Along with students, staffers of Rahmani 30 are also hopeful. Shabbirul Hoda, 50, is manager at the coaching centre.
Talking about the idea of Rahmani-30 he says “Maulana Wali Rahmani came up with the idea to help talented community students get higher education. Had such institutes opened in our time, we would have been at high post, our economy would have been better. There is a need for such institutes in every district.”
Hoda’s colleague Mustafa Kamal Subhani takes care of the budding IITians. He ensures religious environment at Rahmani-30 and grooms them for IIT in that environment.