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| Edited By: Dhaval Kulkarni |Source: DNA |Updated: Jul 04, 2015, 07:40 AM IST
While the state's decision to term madrasa students "out of school children" has led to controversy, Sayed Mehboob Shah Qadri or Sayed Bhai as he is better known, argues for the need to compulsorily integrate modern subjects into religious education.
The senior activist associated with rationalist and social reformer Hamid Dalwai's Muslim Satyashodhak Samaj, points out that madrasa-educated students do not have skill sets to be employable and are forced into menial work, apart from discharging religious duties. Sayed Bhai also makes a strong case for secular, gender-sensitive civil laws and points to how the Hindutva agenda has pushed the Muslim community into a corner. Here are edited excerpts from an interview with dna's Dhaval Kulkarni:
Q: What are your reactions to the state government's decision?
Instead of counting madrasa students as out of school children, the state should make science and maths compulsory. Otherwise, religious education is useless in daily lives. Making more and more children mullahs and maulvis will damage society. Similarly, learning only Sanskrit will also not serve any purpose. These are not languages which are useful in daily chores and work.
In madrasas, students are taught about the afterlife, but what about making a living when one is alive? Mullahs, Maulavis and Peshimams get great respect in local communities, but some are forced to do menial jobs like driving rickshaws to make a living as they have no job skills.
But the state government should not have rushed into this. It should have first discussed things with progressive Muslims instead of taking sudden steps.
Q: What should the government do for the welfare of the Muslims?
The government must first create faith about itself. Incidents like ghar vapasi, attacks on masjids in Uttar Pradesh and calls for those who eat beef to leave India for Pakistan (have vitiated the atmosphere). People have a right to live as human beings.
The government must create faith among Muslims. Scientific, rational and practical education must be made compulsory. (Subjects like science and mathematics) must be taught to those taking religious education in all faiths.
Once madrasa students pass out, they are forced to seek jobs in masjids, where they lead religious congregations at paltry salaries of Rs 1,500 to 2,000 per month. Muezzins who give the call for namaz are paid even less. Those who pray at the masjids fork out donations for this.
Religious education and practical education must be combined. No country can develop without modern education.
Q: What are your expectations from the Muslim community?
The government must make facilities available to teach subjects like science. This cannot be done by Maulvis.
Hindu and Muslim communities must develop a scientific approach. In Europe, rationalists were persecuted for saying the earth is round and not flat. But they have improved and moved away from those positions to become secular states based on humane values.
Muslim hardliners must change their positions. It is not correct to hold 85% of the population in contempt for being non-believers.
Q: Isn't our system basically flawed? We have brought religion on to the streets instead of keeping it into the personal realm.
All religions have literally come on to the streets. Riots happen on grounds of religion and not because people want food. The system has become shaky. Ministers must stop visiting the inauguration of temples and the Haj subsidy must also be stopped. Roads must not be used for religious festivals. These religious functions are shows of strength and hubris. Illegal loudspeakers at places of worship must be removed.
Q. You have always sought a uniform civil code.
This must be done. Muslims retain just 2% of their religious laws, with 98% laws being gradually made common for both Hindus and Muslims ever since British times. Civil laws should not be based on religion just like criminal laws are not based on it. Women need legal protection against oral talaq and polygamy. Today, in matters like divorce, men hold the veto. This is barbaric. Do people refuse to pay income tax and sales tax because they pay zakat?
