[Reader-list] Hindu students study in Madarsa

[Asthana, Rahul]

http://sify.com/news/indiapositive/fullstory.php?id=13548502


Hindu students study at UP madrasa 
 
 
Friday, 20 August , 2004, 11:55 
 
Chauri: A madrasa in a UP village has opened its doors to Hindu students.
Operating from a mosque in Chauri village, considered amongst the most
communally-sensitive areas, this madrasa, unlike others, has a public school
curriculum. 
The children here get to learn all subjects from geography to science,
otherwise reviled and often banned from religious schools. | Also see: India
Positive |


The morning prayers begin with an ode to Mahatma Gandhi followed by
traditional Islamic teachings and a patriotic song. 

Needless to say, the resonance of children learning Urdu and Sanskrit
together and singing patriotic songs is a heartwarming sight for a nation
ridden by dangerously deep religious divides. 

"It is different from the way rest of the madrasas work. Here, children from
all the castes study, whether they are Muslims or Hindus. Along with Urdu
language children are also taught English, Hindi and Sanskrit," Maulana
Ansar Ahmed, the madarsa head-master said. 

Locals said they remained unaffected by communal undertones and were more
interested in chalking out a better future for their children. "Children are
taught everything in this madrasa and they are also taught Urdu so we send
them here," Devi Prasad Gaud, a parent said. 

"Here children not only are they educated but they learn culture, religion
and ethics. They are groomed for a better future, how to give an interview,
what is positive about hygene, we teach all that," Paras Nath Srivastav, the
village head said. ANI