[Reader-list] Police stops screening of Jashn-e-Azadi

rashneek kher rashneek at gmail.com
Tue Jul 31 16:21:03 IST 2007 

Although I still dont agree that the movie should be disallowed from
screening but what Aditya says makes sense.
A lot of people in what they prcieve to be intellectual circles have this
holier than thou attitude when it comes to others.What makes us think that
all policemen are bufoons or not as well educated or read as their fellow
human beings who wear long kurtas and sport jholas.
The movie hasnt really been reviwed by any newspaper of repute except
Telegraph and Pioneer and both havent spoken very high of the movie.
Thats why it should be shown more and more so that one day it itself becomes
an object of ridicule for the half truths it shows.
Allow everyone a voice and not just the ones who have supposedly "elite"
membership cards because of reasons other than knowledge and intellect.
Voltaire says and I qoute"I will disagree with what you say but I will
defend to death your right to say so"

Regards

Rashneek


On 7/31/07, Aditya Raj Kaul <adityarajkaul at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> If you all agree that there is freedom of speech, then why can't you
> tollerate my freedom of expression. We have a right to have different
> opinions, who has stopped you to have a view.
>
> If one studies Sanjay Kak's Jashn'e-aazadi and its screenings till now, it
> has received a very negative response from the common citizens. In its
> Delhi
> screening he stopped people from entering the auditorium and then saw
> protests forcing to stop the screening. He also invited terrorist Yasin
> Malik or "Yasin Sahab" (in his words) as a special guest for the first
> screening. Then came this Mumbai screening, where the DVD's were
> confiscated
> and the screening was stopped by Mumbai Police.
>
> When I said "learned people" it wasn't abt Police, it was about the people
> who had reported about this movie screening to the police and also who
> have
> till now positively criticised this movie. I hope you agree that the
> "Intellectuals" are not only limited to this Sarai Network. There is a
> world
> beyond it as well.
>
> When Sanjay had the ability of screening the movie in Kashmir and even in
> Delhi and parts like Bihar, Pune etc. how come he didn't show the movie to
> another chunck of people having stake in Kashmir - known as the Kashmiri
> Pandits. Maybe he could have organised a screening in Jammu camps or else
> somewhere in Delhi where they have a good population. Or is this movie for
> a
> certain "Intellectual brass" and  also to impress a few individuals.
>
> Documentary isn't a work of Fiction. Documentary film is a broad category
> of
> visual expression that is based on the attempt, in one fashion or another,
> to "document" reality.
>
> Its quite easy to note how far Sanjay's work is from reality. He ignored
> the
> thousands of suferers of the bullets of terrorists like Yasin Malik and in
> reverse made him the hero of his feature film. Kashmiri's have suffered
> and
> this needs to be highlighted as Inder has put it but it should be in the
> right perspective. Even the authorities and government is to be blamed
> with
> the Terrorists but you can't simply put the blame entirely on the army. Be
> mature enough to read the history of the land of last two decades and you
> might get your answers.
>
> I wonder what this psuedo-secular army is upto.
>
> On Shivam's Joke, I need not comment much. Delhi Police is high-tech and
> they need not arrest me or confiscate my Computer. They can simply keep a
> track on me through constant survelliance. Btw, Shivam have you moved out
> of
> Tehelka and joined some Delhi Mirror ? ;)
>
> Regards
> *Aditya Raj Kaul*
> *www.kauladityaraj.blogspot.com* <http://www.kauladityaraj.blogspot.com>
>
> On 7/31/07, rashneek kher <rashneek at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Even if it is a masala movie yet it is no one's business to stop
> screening
> > of a movie which has a censor certificate.Sanjay Kak has a prespective
> no
> > matter how incorrect.We are not a banana republic that we go on stopping
> > movies.We have to learn to accomodate diffrent points of view,no matter
> > how biased they are.
> >
> > Rashneek
> >
> >
> > On 7/30/07, Aditya Raj Kaul <adityarajkaul at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > It is a great news to see the alert attitude by Mumbai Police. We all
> > > should
> > > welcome this bold step by the authorities. Sanjay Kak's so called
> > > documentary Jashn-e-Azadi (nothing more then a hindi masala movie) is
> > > only a
> > > propaganda which is being originally directed by some anti-national
> > > elements.
> > >
> > > Either Sanjay is blind and cannot watch the complex issue of Kashmir
> > > from
> > > the angle of suferers or its that he is acting on someone;s direction
> > > which
> > > is quite visible.
> > >
> > > We should have Freedom of speech in the this free and democratic
> country
> > > and
> > > more importantly freedom for the press. But people who play with this
> > > freedom should be taken to task.
> > >
> > > Its time Sanjay introspects as he is a well-known director and we all
> > > respect him for his past works and his knowledge in this field.
> > >
> > > Its easy to choose an issue to get easy fame and money, but its quite
> a
> > > task
> > > to study the history of the issue, research it for months on ground
> and
> > > then
> > > present the real picture on ground.
> > >
> > > Hope Sanjay learns something from what happened to him in Mumbai. And,
> > > this
> > > will not stop here.....whenever he tries to play with an issue and
> make
> > > something which presents a fake situtation, he will be questioned and
> > > targeted by the learned people of this society.
> > >
> > > Regards
> > > *Aditya Raj Kaul*
> > > *www.kauladityaraj.blogspot.com* <
> http://www.kauladityaraj.blogspot.com>
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On 7/29/07, reader-list-request at sarai.net <
> reader-list-request at sarai.net
> > > >
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Send reader-list mailing list submissions to
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> > > > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
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> > > >
> > > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> > > > than "Re: Contents of reader-list digest..."
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Today's Topics:
> > > >
> > > >   1. Police stops screening of Jashn-e-Azadi (Nishant)
> > > >   2. I-fellow: Papa Ajoba  post no. 4 & 5 (anuja ghosalkar)
> > > >   3. Re: A Madrasa with a Difference (M H)
> > > >   4. A View From Within: Kashmir's Largest Madrasa: Dar ul-Uloom
> > > >      Raheemiyyah, Bandipora (Yogi Sikand)
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > >
> > > > Message: 1
> > > > Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2007 07:27:30 +0000 (GMT)
> > > > From: Nishant < nicheant at yahoo.co.uk>
> > > > Subject: [Reader-list] Police stops screening of Jashn-e-Azadi
> > > > To: Reader List <reader-list at sarai.net>
> > > > Message-ID: < 102065.38042.qm at web27904.mail.ukl.yahoo.com>
> > > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
> > > >
> > > > Police stops radical film on Kashmir
> > > >
> > > > Disrupt screening of Jashn-e-Azadi at Bhupesh Gupta Bhavan on
> > > suspicion
> > > > that the documentary may be provocative and inflammatory
> > > >
> > > > Mumbai police on Friday disrupted the screening a radical film on
> > > Kashmir
> > > > called Jashn-e-Azadi on the suspicion that the feature-length
> > > documentary
> > > > could be "inflammatory and provocative." The 2-hour, 18-minute long
> > > > documentary, directed by Sanjay Kak, was just about to begin when
> cops
> > >
> > > > barged into the Bhupesh Gupta Bhavan at Prabhadevi and seized all
> the
> > > dvds.
> > > >
> > > > "We were told that the documentary is provocative and inflammatory.
> > > > Therefore we requested the organisers to let us watch the movie
> before
> > > it
> > > > was screened", Deputy Commissioner of Police, D N Phadtare, told
> > > Mumbai
> > > > Mirror. But getting the cops to play censor was not acceptable to
> the
> > > show's
> > > > organisers, Vikalp.  "We told them in that case it would not be
> > > possible to
> > > > allow them to screen the film and confiscated the DVDs," said
> > > Phadtare.
> > > >
> > > > Ironically, Jashn-e-Azadi, which has already been screened in
> > > Bangalore
> > > > and Delhi, without anybody getting inflamed or provoked, explores
> the
> > > > implications of the struggle for Azadi in the Kashmir Valley. As the
> > > blog on
> > > > documentary ( http://kashmirfilm.wordpress.com)  says: In : In 2007
> > > India
> > > > celebrates the 60th anniversary of it's Independence, this
> provocative
> > > and
> > > > quietly disturbing new film raises questions about freedom in
> Kashmir,
> > > and
> > > > about the degrees of freedom in India.
> > > >
> > > > When contacted director Sanjay Kak said: "I've been holding a number
> > > of
> > > > private screenings across the country for filmmakers and other
> > > interested
> > > > viewers to start a conversation about the film and get feedback. The
> > > Osian
> > > > film festival in Delhi was the first and only public screening we've
> > > had.
> > > > The screening today was in a private property for a small group of
> > > invitees.
> > > > Vikalp got a call in the morning from the police asking for a copy
> of
> > > the
> > > > film. When we landed at the venue there was a battalion of cops and
> > > they
> > > > asked us not to screen the film. When we told them to watch it with
> us
> > > they
> > > > were not willing," said Kak, adding that the cops refused to tell
> them
> > > who
> > > > had filed the complaint or what the problem was. "All they were
> > > willing to
> > > > say was, 'hamare seniors ka order hai,' and till they had seen the
> > > film they
> > > > could not allow us to go ahead," he said.
> > > >
> > > > (Source: Mumbai Mirror)
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >      ___________________________________________________________
> > > > Yahoo! Answers - Got a question? Someone out there knows the answer.
> > > Try
> > > > it
> > > > now.
> > > > http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ------------------------------
> > > >
> > > > Message: 2
> > > > Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2007 02:56:26 -0700 (PDT)
> > > > From: anuja ghosalkar <anujaghosalkar at yahoo.com>
> > > > Subject: [Reader-list] I-fellow: Papa Ajoba  post no. 4 & 5
> > > > To: Reader List <reader-list at sarai.net>
> > > > Message-ID: <997606.63545.qm at web54502.mail.re2.yahoo.com >
> > > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
> > > >
> > > > www.papaajoba.blogspot.com
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> ____________________________________________________________________________________
> > >
> > > > Building a website is a piece of cake. Yahoo! Small Business gives
> you
> > > all
> > > > the tools to get online.
> > > > http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/webhosting
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ------------------------------
> > > >
> > > > Message: 3
> > > > Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2007 16:36:38 +0530
> > > > From: "M H" <mhulikal8360 at gmail.com >
> > > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] A Madrasa with a Difference
> > > > To: reader-list at sarai.net
> > > > Message-ID:
> > > >        < edc751a50707280406n7f7ba6dcte7175508fe2d812c at mail.gmail.com
> >
> > > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="WINDOWS-1252"
> > > >
> > > > Ridiculous...
> > > >
> > > > Looks like you have taken your prejudices a little too far - RSS =
> > > > fanatics
> > > > = criminals.
> > > >
> > > > About your claim that RSS are in the police, army and committing
> > > > atrocities,
> > > > any sources? Or should we safely guess and commend you on your
> > > abilities
> > > > as
> > > > an undercover journalist?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On 7/28/07, jumana bandukwala <jumanab12 at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Ms Jogi is doing nothing but advocating to make India a hot bed of
> > > > bloody
> > > > > terrorists. She supports the arm training of vidyabhavan, durga
> > > vahini,
> > > > and
> > > > > other RSS wings, which is against the Indian law but these are
> > > happening
> > > > > very much in the constitutional area of India. And the governments
> > > are
> > > > well
> > > > > aware of it but since the governments are pro hindu they turn deaf
> > > ear
> > > > to
> > > > > all this and then blame only the muslim people who are fighting
> for
> > > > > discrimination in public services, schools, colleges, and above
> all
> > > > police
> > > > > and army attrocities. RSS members are in army and police who does
> > > fake
> > > > > killings of innocent muslim youths and raping minor girls in
> > > Kashmir,
> > > > > Gujarat, Maharastra and other Muslim dominated areas. They are
> above
> > >
> > > > Indian
> > > > > Law such as TADA, POTA, MOCOCA, and the likes just because they
> are
> > > > HINDUS.
> > > > > So many innocent muslims killed by the hindus fanatics (RSS
> members)
> > > but
> > > > not
> > > > > a single person had been on trial even after media present their
> > > faces
> > > > but
> > > > > they stil going scot free
> > > > > just because they are RSS men.
> > > > >
> > > > > Now decide who is the real terrorist breeder. But nothing to say
> as
> > > > Indian
> > > > > muslims are subject to these kind of attrocities even after giving
> > > their
> > > > > lives for India. We should kill the reason behind all these
> > > activities
> > > > then
> > > > > we can have good and peaceful India.
> > > > >
> > > > > Think twice before blaming others.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Vedavati Jogi <vrjogi at hotmail.com> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > To develop a national system of education which may mould the
> > > posterity
> > > > > into such a youthful generation as fully saturated with the
> feelings
> > > of
> > > > > Hindutva and patriotism, having completely attained all-round
> > > physical,
> > > > > mental, intellectual and spiritual development
> > > > >
> > > > > equating vidyabhavan with terrorist breeding madrasas is nothing
> but
> > > > > mental bankruptcy. imagine muslim dominated india in 2050 where
> > > hindus
> > > > will
> > > > > be in minority. do you want your next generation to experience the
> > > 1947
> > > > > partition trauma again? 1947 happened 60 years back, you might
> have
> > > > > forgotten that...just 18years back what we experienced in muslim
> > > > dominated
> > > > > kashmir....can you afford to forget that?
> > > > > we need many more vidyabhavans, many more rss...
> > > > >
> > > > > vedavati
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > From: prashant at csdms.inTo: mrsg at vsnl.com;
> reader-list at sarai.netDate:
> > > > Fri,
> > > > > 27 Jul 2007 12:17:43 +0530Subject: Re: [Reader-list] A Madrasa
> with
> > > a
> > > > > Difference
> > > > > <>
> > > > > If you read the responses of the so called 'modern clergy', you
> will
> > > see
> > > > > that there is a distinction being made about the morally good
> > > modernity
> > > > and
> > > > > morally corrupt modernity. This is typical of half baked ideas of
> > > > secularism
> > > > > being accepted, wherein the traditions cannot be challenged on the
> > > > grounds
> > > > > of tolerance. In fact many traditions of hindu life are to be
> > > challenged
> > > > too
> > > > > and one is surprised that these orthodoxies are not event entering
> > > the
> > > > > discussions. There is clearly a class issue which is neglected. So
> > > the
> > > > women
> > > > > are to decide how to be huh. What if a majority of women say they
> > > want
> > > > to
> > > > > carry on with obnoxious traditions? What then? Difference for
> > > > difference's
> > > > > sake becomes a mantra for upholding community values and not one
> for
> > > an
> > > > > individual to challenge not just the extreme orthodoxies but those
> > > that
> > > > are
> > > > > current in everyday life.
> > > > >
> > > > > There is no point in potraying religious education as secular.
> There
> > > is
> > > > a
> > > > > point however in breaking the trope of the Madrassa as a tarining
> > > camp
> > > > for
> > > > > future terrorists and extremists.
> > > > >
> > > > > Perhaps a more worrysome case is that of the Safron Schools like
> the
> > > > Vidya
> > > > > Bharati network of schools, whose self-professed vision is "To
> > > develop a
> > > > > national system of education which may mould the posterity into
> such
> > > a
> > > > > youthful generation as fully saturated with the feelings of
> Hindutva
> > > and
> > > > > patriotism, having completely attained all-round physical, mental,
> > > > > intellectual and spiritual development".
> > > > >
> > > > > This is a much bigger network. It has about 6000 schools under its
> > > arm.
> > > > > The Vidya Bharati also controls some 60 colleges and 25 higher
> > > education
> > > > > institutions. Frontline did a cover on these schools in 1998. But
> > > they
> > > > do
> > > > > not seem to draw the deserved flak from society.
> > > > >
> > > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > > From: MRSG
> > > > > To: Yogi Sikand ; reader-list at sarai.net
> > > > > Sent: Friday, July 27, 2007 11:44 AM
> > > > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] A Madrasa with a Difference
> > > > >
> > > > > First the dignity of veil, then a secular Huriayat which loves
> > > Hindus
> > > > and
> > > > > Buddhist and now a Modern Madrasa. Hope all these can be
> considered
> > > as a
> > > > > comic relief for serious reader-list netizens.
> > > > >
> > > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > >
> > > > > From: Yogi Sikand
> > > > > To: reader-list at sarai.net
> > > > > Sent: Friday, July 27, 2007 10:01 AM
> > > > > Subject: [Reader-list] A Madrasa with a Difference
> > > > > A Madrasa with a DifferenceYoginder SikandContrary to how the
> media
> > > > > generally portrays them,madrasas in
> > > > > India are not entirely opposed to reform.Indeed, the winds of
> change
> > > are
> > > > > being felt even in theportals of the more conservative madrasas,
> > > such as
> > > > > thevast network of Deobandi seminaries spread across the
> > > > > country. One such instance is the recently-establishedJamia
> > > ul-Umoor, in
> > > > > New Delhi's Muslim-dominated AbulFazl locality. Set up in 2005,
> the
> > > > Jamia
> > > > > ul-Umoor is the brainchildof two young graduates of the Dar
> ul-Ulum,
> > > > > Deoband,
> > > > > India's largest and most influential madrasa.Maulanas Khalid
> > > Saifullah
> > > > > Qasmi and Azmatullah Qasmi,the men behind this venture, are both
> in
> > > > > theirmid-twenties and represent a new generation ofDeobandi
> scholars
> > > > eager
> > > > > to embrace and promote modern
> > > > > knowledge along with traditional Islamic learning.After having
> > > received
> > > > > their degree from Deoband theyenrolled at the Dar ul-Umoor, in
> > > > > Srirangapatanam, near
> > > > > Mysore, for a year's course in a range of'modern' disciplines.
> Like
> > > > their
> > > > > teachers, the twenty-odd students at Jamiaul-Umoor are all
> graduates
> > > of
> > > > the
> > > > > Deoband madrasa.Having completed a rigorous eight-year course in
> > > > > Islamic Studies there, in the Jamia they are now beingexposed to a
> > > whole
> > > > > new world of learning. The two-yearcourse that they are undergoing
> > > > consists
> > > > > of lessons inEnglish, Computers, Economics, History, Geography,
> > > > > Mathematics, Management, Political Science, PhysicalSciences,
> > > Journalism
> > > > > and Comparative Religionsâ€"allsubjects that they have had little
> or
> > > no
> > > > > exposure toin their years at Deoband. Judging by the ease with
> > > > > which the students converse in English, despite havingstudied it
> for
> > >
> > > > less
> > > > > than half a year, they seem to befast and eager learners and their
> > > five
> > > > > teachers,zealous instructors. The students, neatly dressed in
> > > spotless
> > > > > kurta-pajamas
> > > > > and topis, sit in a circle on a large quilt. On beingprompted by
> his
> > >
> > > > > teachers, Tauqir Qasmi, who has justturned twenty, stands up and
> > > > delivers an
> > > > > impassionedspeech in Arabic on the importance of modern education
> > > > > and on how Islam positively encourages it. Hiscolleague, Aslam
> > > Rafiqi
> > > > > Qasmi, follows after him, witha remarkably clear speech in English
> > > on
> > > > the
> > > > > problemsof the Indian Muslims. He refers to the 'shameful
> > > > > and lamentable' Partition of India and the'massive and most
> > > horrendous'
> > > > > killings of Hindus,Muslims and Sikhs that ensued. The Indian
> > > Muslims,
> > > > > hesays, 'continue to pay a heavy price for thePartition', being
> > > 'wrongly
> > > > > branded as
> > > > > anti-nationals by many Hindus'. He refers to theliterally
> thousands
> > > of
> > > > > Muslims who have lost theirlives in hundreds of organized pogroms
> > > and
> > > > riots
> > > > > inIndia since 1947, and of the discrimination that they
> > > > > continue to face in many spheres. He ends his speechby stressing
> the
> > >
> > > > need
> > > > > for Muslims to take to bothreligious as well as modern education.
> > > The
> > > > > welcome addresses over, I sit with the studentsand discuss their
> > > > studies.
> > > > > One of them wants to know
> > > > > how to secure admission in the English department ofthe university
> I
> > > > teach
> > > > > in. Another wants to know howhe can get the articles he has
> written
> > > > > published inthe Times of India. A third asks me, in impeccable
> > > > > English, 'Why are Muslims, especially the ulema ofDeoband, thought
> > > of as
> > > > > terrorists by many, while theyhad actually played a leading role
> in
> > > > > India'santi-colonial struggle?'. The students and their teachers
> > > insist
> > > > that
> > > > > the
> > > > > Deobandi elders are not against modern education perse, as is
> > > commonly
> > > > > imagined. Hasan, a young studentfrom
> > > > > Bihar, argues, 'Islam says that all beneficialknowledge can be
> > > acquired
> > > > > and so our ulema have neveropposed what is good in the modern
> > > > educational
> > > > > system.What they were opposed to, however, was Western
> > > > > culture. We can and, indeed, should acquire knowledgeof all the
> > > > beneficial
> > > > > modern disciplines, providedthis is done according to our culture
> > > and
> > > > that
> > > > > ithelps us become better Muslims'. Ali, anotherstudent, adds, 'In
> > > Islam,
> > > > > there is no distinction
> > > > > between religious and secular education. All forms ofbeneficial
> > > > knowledge
> > > > > should be had'. Says anotherstudent, Abdur Rahman, 'Learning
> > > English,
> > > > > ComputerApplications and other modern subjects will help us in
> > > > > our task to telling others about Islam'. Maulana Furqan, senior
> > > teacher,
> > > > > nods his head inagreement. He tells me that three graduates of
> > > > > Jamiaul-Umoor's first batch, which passed out last year,are now
> > > studying
> > > > at
> > > > > a regular university, the Jamia
> > > > > Millia Islamia, in New Delhi. 'We want our graduatesto go on to
> join
> > > > > universities and then take up a range
> > > > > of careers, not necessarily as maulvis or religiousspecialists',
> he
> > > > says.
> > > > > 'In the past, madrasasproduced both ulema as well architects,
> > > > > astronomers,scientists and so on', he informs me, 'and so wemust
> go
> > > back
> > > > to
> > > > > that holistic conception of education
> > > > > and bridge the gulf between the ulema and those whohave studied in
> > > > > universities'. 'Working in variousfields, and not just as maulvis,
> > > our
> > > > > students can playan important role in promoting social reforms as
> > > well
> > > > > as communicating the message of Islam to others', headds. 'In
> > > today's
> > > > > world, you need to know Englishin order to tell others about
> Islam.
> > > > Also,
> > > > > there is awealth of useful knowledge in English', he explains.
> > > > > 'Hence', he stresses, 'it is important thatmaulvis, too, must
> learn
> > > the
> > > > > language'. I ask Maulana Khalid Saifullah what he feels about
> > > > theargument of
> > > > > some conservative maulvis that madrasastudents should not enroll
> in
> > > > colleges
> > > > > for fear that
> > > > > they might go astray.'It depends on the individual student',
> > > heanswers.
> > > > > 'If the students' moral and religioustraining is sound, there is
> no
> > > > reason
> > > > > to fear thattheir faith would weaken if they join universities. In
> > > > > fact, they might have a positive impact on otherstudents, who
> might,
> > > by
> > > > > witnessing their example, seekto come closer to religion'. 'To
> > > further
> > > > > strengthen their commitment to thefaith', he adds, 'we arrange for
> > > pious
> > > > > Sufi
> > > > > scholars to come here to interact with the students,so that, by
> > > being in
> > > > > the company of men of God, theywill learn to devote themselves to
> > > the
> > > > faith,
> > > > > ratherthan to the pleasures of the world'. Maulana Saifullah tells
> > > me
> > > > about
> > > > > the 25 other students
> > > > > of the Jamia ul-Umoor, who are enrolled in the hifzcourse to
> > > memorise
> > > > the
> > > > > Quran. In contrast to mostother institutions that specialize in
> > > hifz,
> > > > > thestudents here must also study English, Mathematics and
> > > > > Science. He also refers to his plans to arrange forhis students to
> > > > > simultaneously enroll for the tenthgrade examinations, so that
> after
> > > > they
> > > > > finish theircourse they can join various different departments in
> > > > > regular universities. 'Our ulema must keepthemselves abreast of
> > > modern
> > > > > knowledge andcontemporary developments', he stresses. 'That
> > > isessential
> > > > for
> > > > > them to provide proper leadership to thecommunity'.
> > > > > Innovative madrasas like the Jamia ul-Umoor areincreasingly
> visible
> > > > today,
> > > > > although the media rarely,if ever, refers to them. These
> > > institutions
> > > > > indicatethe possibility of bridging the rigid dualism
> > > thatcharacterizes
> > > > > Muslim education, between the ulema and
> > > > > those who have studied in 'modern' institutions,something crucial
> > > for
> > > > > promoting education amongMuslims more
> > > > > generally.------------------------------------------Yoginder
> Sikand
> > > > works
> > > > > with the Centre for
> > > > > JawaharlalNehru Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia,
> > > > > New Delhi
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > _________________________________________reader-list: an open
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> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > _________________________________________reader-list: an open
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> > > > > list on media and the city.Critiques & CollaborationsTo subscribe:
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> > > > > Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.10.22/921 - Release Date:
> > > > 7/26/2007
> > > > > 11:16 PM
> > > > > _________________________________________________________________
> > > > > Palate Teasers: Straight from Master Chef!
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> http://content.msn.co.in/Lifestyle/Moreonlifestyle/LifestylePT_101106_1530.htm
> > > > > _________________________________________
> > > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
> > > > > Critiques & Collaborations
> > > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
> > > > > subscribe in the subject header.
> > > > > To unsubscribe:
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> > > > > _________________________________________
> > > > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
> > > > > Critiques & Collaborations
> > > > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
> > > > > subscribe in the subject header.
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> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ------------------------------
> > > >
> > > > Message: 4
> > > > Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2007 17:39:40 +0530
> > > > From: "Yogi Sikand" <ysikand at gmail.com>
> > > > Subject: [Reader-list] A View From Within: Kashmir's Largest
> > > >        Madrasa: Dar ul-Uloom Raheemiyyah, Bandipora
> > > > To: "Sushil J. Aaron" <Sushil.Aaron at gmail.com>
> > > > Message-ID:
> > > >        < 48097acc0707270509u793a6a70v2ec2b118319a857f at mail.gmail.com
> >
> > > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="WINDOWS-1252"
> > > >
> > > > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > > > From: Yogi Sikand < ysikand at gmail.com>
> > > > Date: Jul 27, 2007 5:35 PM
> > > > Subject: A View From Within: Kashmir's Largest Madrasa: Dar ul-Uloom
> > > > Raheemiyyah, Bandipora
> > > > To: Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan < zik at vsnl.com>
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > *A View From Within*
> > > >
> > > > *Kashmir**'s Largest Madrasa: Dar ul-Uloom Raheemiyyah*
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > *
> > > > By Yoginder Sikand*
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Established in 1979, the Dar ul-Uloom Raheemiyyah, located in the
> town
> > > of
> > > > Bandipora, is the largest *madrasa* in Jammu and Kashmir. Founded by
> a
> > > > graduate of the Deoband *madrasa*, Maulana Muhammad Rahmatullah, it
> > > > currently has more than a thousand students on its rolls. Patterned
> on
> > > the
> > > > Deoband model, it is one of the few *madrasas* in the state that
> > > provide
> > > > Islamic education till the *takhasus *or specialization level.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > The Trust that runs the *madrasa* also runs several other
> > > institutions,
> > > > spread over three separate campuses. These include the Faiz-e Aam
> > > school
> > > > for
> > > > girls (till the fifth grade) and a similar school for boys (till the
> > > tenth
> > > > grade). Both these institutions follow the curriculum prescribed by
> > > the
> > > > Jammu and Kashmir State Board for Education, besides providing
> > > students
> > > > with
> > > > religious education. The *madrasa* is located on a separate plot of
> > > land,
> > > > donated by a pious elderly woman, the late Aziz un-Nisa, who is said
> > > to
> > > > have
> > > > taught the Quran to hundreds of boys and girls in and around
> > > Bandipora.
> > > > Adjacent to the *madrasa* is a four-storey technical institute which
> > > is
> > > > scheduled to be opened this year, offering courses in computers,
> > > > tailoring,
> > > > painting and book-binding to students of the *madrasa* and others.
> > > Work on
> > > > a
> > > > mosque that can accommodate some six thousand worshippers is almost
> > > > complete. A new library is coming up, whose collection includes
> > > numerous
> > > > handwritten manuscripts in Persian and Arabic, some several
> centuries
> > > old.
> > > > In addition, the Dar ul-Uloom runs some sixty part-time *maktab*s in
> > > and
> > > > around Bandipora, most of whose teachers are senior students of the
> > > > *madrasa
> > > > *.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Mufti Nazeer Ahmed, aged 40, one of the elders at the *madrasa*, is
> > > known
> > > > as
> > > > a specialist in Islamic jurisprudence. His principal task is to
> > > dispense *
> > > > fatwas* and hear disputes in the *dar ul-qaza* or 'house of justice'
> > > that
> > > > is
> > > > attached to the *madrasa*. Till date, the *madrasa* has received
> > > several
> > > > thousand requests for *fatwas*.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > When I enter his cell to meet the Mufti, I find him sitting in a
> > > corner on
> > > > a
> > > > carpet, surrounded by men and women who have come to him for advice.
> > > He
> > > > asks
> > > > an old woman, who cannot speak, to explain her problem. It relates,
> > > like
> > > > many other cases that he daily hears, to marital and inheritance
> > > > squabbles.
> > > > He then hears out the others who are party to the dispute and
> > > eventually
> > > > gives an opinion in the woman's favour.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > As the crowd shuffles out of the room, he beckons me to sit next to
> > > him. I
> > > > ask him if his *madrasa*'s acceptance of modern education, as
> > > represented
> > > > in
> > > > the two schools that it runs, in addition to the *madrasa* itself,
> is
> > > > unusual for the Kashmiri *ulema* community.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > 'Not at all', he replies. 'Many of our *ulema* believe that we need
> to
> > >
> > > > have
> > > > both modern as well as Islamic education, including even for girls'.
> > > > 'Students with knowledge of both', he adds, 'can effectively
> > > communicate
> > > > Islam, by their words and deeds, in a whole range of spheres, and
> not
> > > > simply
> > > > as religious specialists. A pious Muslim engineer or doctor is best
> > > suited
> > > > for preaching Islam to engineers or doctors'.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Mufti Nazir offers added justification for this approach to
> education.
> > > 'If
> > > > *
> > > > ulema* acquire law degrees, they will be in a better position to
> offer
> > > *
> > > > fatwas*. Or, if you want to establish an economic institution or
> > > system
> > > > run
> > > > on Islamic lines, a degree in economics can be useful. Or, if a
> > > > *madrasa*graduate studies journalism, he can use his skills to
> present
> > > > a proper
> > > > understanding of Islam to others and to counter anti-Muslim media
> > > > propaganda. And for this, *madrasa* graduates must also study
> English
> > > and
> > > > other languages, so that they can communicate with people who do not
> > > know
> > > > Urdu'.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > The Mufti also refers to the need for technical training for
> > > > *madrasa*students. 'This is important for those students who will
> not
> > > > take up careers
> > > > as *ulema'*, he explains.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I ask the mufti about the Kashmir dispute, but he brushes aside my
> > > > question
> > > > politely. 'We have nothing to do with politics', he says. He
> stresses,
> > >
> > > > however, that allegations about madrasas in Kashmir being allegedly
> > > > involved
> > > > in promoting 'terrorism' are false. 'We are completely transparent,
> an
> > > > open
> > > > book, and have nothing to hide. Anyone can come and visit us and sit
> > > in
> > > > our
> > > > classrooms', he replies. 'Not a single *madrasa* in Kashmir has been
> > > > identified by intelligence sources as engaged in that sort of
> > > activity'.
> > > > To
> > > > brand the madrasas as a whole as 'factories of terror' on the basis
> of
> > > the
> > > > activities of a few stray students is unfair, he stresses.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > We talk about inter-community relations and what Islam has to say
> > > about
> > > > them. It is wrong, the Mufti tells me, to equate all non-Muslims as
> > > > 'enemies
> > > > of Islam', as some fringe elements believe. 'You cannot generalize
> > > like
> > > > this
> > > > about any community. There are good people in other communities,
> just
> > > as
> > > > there are bad people among Muslims. Our duty as Muslims is to
> approach
> > >
> > > > others with kind words and a good heart and tell them about Islam
> and
> > > > impress them with our good example'. For that, the Mufti says, peace
> > > is a
> > > > must, so that others would be willing to listen to what Muslims say
> > > about
> > > > their faith. Moreover, he adds, 'we must learn about each other's
> > > > religions,
> > > > not to condemn and denounce others, but to understand them'.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > He tells me about a Hindu whom he met some days ago who had read
> about
> > >
> > > > Islam
> > > > and the stress it lays on ethical values. 'He told me that he
> > > appreciated
> > > > Islam because of these values that it stands for, and not because of
> > > > Muslims' behaviour. So, Islam must not be judged on the basis of the
> > > wrong
> > > > actions of some Muslims', he says.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > The call for the evening prayer comes floating in. As I get up to
> > > leave,
> > > > the
> > > > Mufti hands me a bunch of booklets that the *madrasa *has published,
> > > > including its monthly magazine, *Al-Noor*, which is published in
> both
> > > Urdu
> > > > and English. He asks me to spend the night if I want as it is
> getting
> > > late
> > > > and I might miss the last bus to Srinagar. I would certainly have
> > > loved
> > > > to—his cheerfulness, simplicity and hospitality have been so
> > > endearing,
> > > > but
> > > > I really must leave. I promise him that I'll try to return soon and
> > > spend
> > > > a
> > > > few days with him, to get a better understanding of *madrasa*s from
> > > > within,
> > > > something that few writers on this much talked-about subject have
> > > actually
> > > > attempted.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > * *
> > > >
> > > > *For more details, contact: The Manager, Dar ul-Uloom Raheemiyyah,
> > > > Bandipora, *
> > > >
> > > > *Jammu and Kashmir**, 193502.*
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > - --
> > > > Sukhia Sab Sansar Khaye Aur Soye
> > > > Dukhia Das Kabir Jagey Aur Roye
> > > >
> > > > The world is 'happy', eating and sleeping
> > > > The forlorn Kabir Das is awake and weeping
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ------------------------------
> > > >
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > reader-list mailing list
> > > > reader-list at sarai.net
> > > > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > End of reader-list Digest, Vol 48, Issue 43
> > > > *******************************************
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Aditya Raj Kaul
> > > Blog: www.kauladityaraj.blogspot.com
> > > Website: www.adityarajkaul.tk
> > > _________________________________________
> > > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
> > > Critiques & Collaborations
> > > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
> > > subscribe in the subject header.
> > > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
> > > List archive: &lt;https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Rashneek Kher
> > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com
>
>
>
>
> --
> Aditya Raj Kaul
> Blog: www.kauladityaraj.blogspot.com
> Website: www.adityarajkaul.tk
> _________________________________________
> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
> Critiques & Collaborations
> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
> subscribe in the subject header.
> To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
> List archive: &lt;https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/>




-- 
Rashneek Kher
http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com

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