By Zaidul Haque, TwoCiercles.net,
Kolkata: “Madrasa education can be as scientific, but 200 years of British rule has handicapped the system,” said S. Z. H Jafri, Secretary of Indian History Congress and Professor of History at the University of Delhi in a National Seminar in Kolkata.
Under the State wise University Network or Sun project two days seminar was organised by Aliah University of Kolkata and Vidyasagar University of West Medinipur on the theme of `state, society and economy in pre-colonial and colonial India’. The inauguration of the seminar was held at Maulana Azad Bhawan, Salt Lake, Kolkata on 26th November.
Minister of Minority Affairs and Madarsa Education Department of WB Giasuddin Molla speaking at the Aliah University in a seminar.
Beside the Socio-economic situation of our country in the pre-colonial and colonial period, the seminar discussed the reasons of deteriorating communal harmony between two major communities - Hindu and Muslims.
Prof. S. Z. H Jafri said, “In medieval period more importance was given to Madrasa education. In that period so many scholars – both Hindus and Muslims - studied in Madrasa like Amir Khasru, Abul Fazal, Haji Mohammad Mohsin.”
Researching the past history we have seen that Madrasa education system was very popular and system was scientific then. But during the British ruling it was relegated to back as Western education system came and madras graduates no mre could qualify for government services, he added.
According to Professor Jafri there appeared a kind of planned conspiracy to undermine the Madrasa system.
Eminent historian Prof K L Tuja of Kurukshetra University said that Urdu is now increasingly being force to be regarded as a ‘foreign’ language, but history is proof that Urdu was the lingua franca and even Khatriyas of Panjab and Kayasthas talked in Urdu language.
State Minister of Minority Affairs and Madrasa education department Giasuddin Molla announced in this seminar that Rs 500 cr will be donated to Aliah Universty for construction of new campus etc.
Welcome address was given by Vice Chancellor of Aliah University Dr Abu Taleb Khan and inauguration speech was given by Vice Chancellor of Vidyasagar University Prof Ranjan Chakraborty.
First session was started under the chairmanship of Prof Ujjain Bhattacharya of Vidyasagar University. Second session was presided by Prof Ali Athar of Aligrah Muslim University.
Ex Vice Chancellor of Aliah University Dr Shamsul Islam, Dr. Deepkanti Lahiri of Presidency University, Dr. Rajarshi Chakraborty of Sidhu-Kanhu University, Dr. Mohammad Islamil, Dr. Shamim Firdaus, Dr. Gangadharan, Register of Aliah University Anwar Hossain were also present in the seminar.