Amidst the discussions of fatwa against Love Jihad, a new decree of Darul Uloom Deoband is again in headlines. Students studying in Darul Uloom have been ordered that they are not allowed to study English or any other subject while living in Darul Uloom, if it is found that the guilty students will be expelled from Darul Uloom.
Darul Uloom located in Saharanpur district of UP is a big institution where children are given Islamic education. From here students get higher degree of Islamic Education.
In the order issued by the Education Department of Darul Uloom Deoband, it has been said, it is informed to all the students that while studying in Darul Uloom Deoband, students will not be allowed to take any other education (English etc.). If any Talib Ilm (student) is found doing this, he will be expelled from Darul Uloom.
It has also been written in this order that strict action will be taken against such students if any student leaves the class after marking attendance in the class or comes there to mark attendance at the end of the class.
So can’t students read English?
After this order was issued, TV9 Bharatvarsh spoke to Ashraf Usmani, media in-charge of Darul Uloom Deoband. He told that there are some students of Darul Uloom who leave their syllabus and study other subjects. These students leave their classes of Darul Uloom and go outside to study English etc. in coaching institutes, this notice has been issued regarding such students. Ashraf Usmani told that other education including English, Maths and Computer are given inside Darul Uloom, but all these subjects are taught to the students according to the syllabus of the madrassa.
On this matter, Maulana Arshad Madani has said that he has no objection to children becoming engineers or doctors. They just want that the children who are studying in Darul Uloom should first complete the course here, because studies here are very difficult. If these children study other courses as well, then our education will be of second standard. Therefore, along with the course here, we will not give permission to study other courses.
However, rhetoric has also started happening on this matter. Priyank Kanungo, chairman of the National Child Rights Protection Commission, while targeting Darul Uloom, has said that it is engaged in the agenda of trapping children in orthodox thought. Keeping children away from modern subjects like this is against the constitution of the country. He said that a notice is being issued to the district administration to take action in this regard.