Aaliya had always defied the stereotype of the burqa-clad Muslim woman in Jammu and Kashmir. She was hip, had a taste for trendy attire and loved socialising.
SRINAGAR: Aaliya, 25, had always defied the stereotype of the burqa-clad Muslim woman in Jammu and Kashmir. She was hip, had a taste for trendy attire and loved socialising. She made those around her envious of her lifestyle. But all that changed.
Her outlook towards life underwent a dramatic change the day tsunami struck Indian shores leaving a trail of death and destruction behind. She was reminded her of God’s wrath.
Today, Aaliya is a devout Muslim, who prays five times a day, learns the holy Quran and visits the Quranic school every morning. A black veil has replaced trendy cloths. She covers her face every time she steps out of her home. “Death and destruction made me feel that God will punish people like me if we show contempt to His teachings. Today, I feel at peace with myself,” says Aaliya, a software professional.
Aaliya represents a generation that is shunning their lavish lifestyle and joining the club of the neo-religious. Doctors, engineers, computer professionals, management gurus, sales executives and entrepreneurs are all new entrants of this club.
It has become a trend of sorts as more and more youth are turning to religion. And there are plenty of new Islamic schools that are acting as catalysts of this change. ‘School of Orthoepy, Quran and Theology Education’ is one such school in Kashmir which is using technology for religious teachings. Computers, big projectors, internet and other technological innovations have made religious teachings easy to fathom.
“We have technology at hand and we should use it. There is no harm in using technology in religious teachings,” says Tanveer Ahmad, a computer professional, who runs School of Orthoepy, Quran and Theology Education.
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