Sanskrit In Madrassas: Uttarakhand Waqf Board To Introduce New Syllabus

The Uttarakhand Waqf Board has decided to implement the NCERT syllabus, including the teaching of Sanskrit, in the 117 madrassas under its jurisdiction.

Board chairman Shadab Shams believes that this step is crucial for the future of the students, as it will enable them to break free from the traditional confines of madrassa education and face the challenges of the modern world.

Shams said that if children can learn subjects like Hindi, English, math, science, physics, chemistry, biology and Arabic, they can certainly study Sanskrit as well.

He also sees this initiative as a way for children to be inspired by figures like former president A P J Abdul Kalam.

Shams expressed gratitude for Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami's support in providing necessary measures for the education of these children.

This approach aims to provide students with a well-rounded education that encompasses both practical knowledge and religious teachings, Shams said.

The chairman of the Waqf Board has stated that 40-50 madrassas have reached out to them, expressing their desire to modernise their education system.

This initiative will be carried out based on the successful modernisation of four madrassas in Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar, and Nainital districts.

Once the first phase of the modernisation programme is completed, more districts will be included in the second phase.

Despite expectations of resistance from Muslim families, particularly under pressure from clerics, the situation has been quite the opposite. The response from parents and guardians has been nothing short of a revolution, according to Shams.

Shams, who became the chairman of the Uttarakhand Waqf Board in 2022, has been advocating for modern education in madrassas believes this initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of seeing madrassa-going children with the Quran in one hand and a laptop in the other.