Islamic Education, Diversity and National Identity: Dini Madaris in India Post 9 11

For many centuries, Muslim religious educational institutions (known as the dini madaris have held an important position among educational institutions in the Indian subcontinent. However, after the 9/11 attacks in the US and the consequent declaration of the global 'war on terrorism', allegations against these institutions-about their being breeding grounds for Islamic fundamentalists and terrorists-have dominated India's media. Is there a link between madaris and violence, anti-national activities, or terrorism? How transparent are these alternative educational networks in terms of funding, spread and patronage? What are the political implications of their educational system? Providing a variety of perspectives, Islamic Education, Diversity and National Identity: Dini Madaris in India Post 9/11 addresses a number of important questions from various angles. The 12 original essays of this volume discuss the phenomenon of dini madaris from a historical perspective, regional perspective, and examine current developments while drawing insights mainly from recently conducted fieldwork. The contributors discuss crucial issues like gender and the role of the media. The volume concludes that dini madaris, contrary to their public image, are not essentially opposed to change, even though the framework for change appears to be limited. Bringing together Indian, British and German scholars, and based on original and current research, this volume will be of considerable interest to those in the fields of education, social anthropology, Islamic studies, South Asian studies, politics, history, as well as to the general reader. Pt. I: Historical perspectives Pt. I: Historical perspectives -- Jan-Peter Hartung Pt. I: Historical perspectives -- Jan-Peter Hartung -- Saiyid Naqi Husain Jafri Pt. I: Historical perspectives -- Jan-Peter Hartung -- Saiyid Naqi Husain Jafri -- Farhat Hasan Pt. I: Historical perspectives -- Jan-Peter Hartung -- Saiyid Naqi Husain Jafri -- Farhat Hasan -- Saiyid Zaheer Husain Jafri Pt. I: Historical perspectives-- Jan-Peter Hartung-- Saiyid Naqi Husain Jafri-- Farhat Hasan-- Saiyid Zaheer Husain Jafri-- Syed Najmul Raza Rizvi Pt. II: Regional perspectives Pt. II: Regional perspectives -- Jan-Peter Hartung Pt. II: Regional perspectives -- Jan-Peter Hartung -- Paul Jackson Pt. II: Regional perspectives -- Jan-Peter Hartung -- Paul Jackson -- Arshad Alam Pt. II: Regional perspectives -- Jan-Peter Hartung -- Paul Jackson -- Arshad Alam -- Torsten Tschacher -- Pt. III: Current developments Pt. II: Regional perspectives -- Jan-Peter Hartung -- Paul Jackson -- Arshad Alam -- Torsten Tschacher -- Pt. III: Current developments -- Patricia Jeffery, Roger Jeffery and Craig Jeffrey Pt. II: Regional perspectives-- Jan-Peter Hartung-- Paul Jackson-- Arshad Alam-- Torsten Tschacher-- Pt. III: Current developments-- Patricia Jeffery, Roger Jeffery and Craig Jeffrey-- Mareike Jule Winkelmann Yoginder Sikand -- Pt. IV: A view from within Yoginder Sikand -- Pt. IV: A view from within -- Syed Abul Hashim Rizvi Yoginder Sikand-- Pt. IV: A view from within-- Syed Abul Hashim Rizvi-- Gunter Mulack. Contents......Page 6 Preface......Page 8 Towards a Reform of the Indian Madrasa? An Introduction......Page 12 A Modernist View of Madrasa Education in Late Mughal India......Page 40 Madâris and the Challenges of Modernity in Colonial India......Page 57 Madrasa and Khânaqâh, or Madrasa in Khânaqâh? Education and Sufi Establishments in Northern India......Page 74 Shî‘a Madâris of Awadh: Historical Development and Present Situation......Page 105 The Nadwat al-‘ulamâ’: Chief Patron of Madrasa Education in India and a Turntable to the Arab World......Page 136 Madrasa Education in Bihar......Page 159 Understanding Deoband Locally: Interrogating Madrasat diyâ’ al-‘Ulûm......Page 176 Islamic Education in a Tamil Town: The Case of Kilakkarai......Page 197 The First Madrasa: Learned Mawlawîs and the Educated Mother......Page 228 Muslim Reactions to the Post-9/11 Media Discourse on the Indian Madâris......Page 253 The Indian Madâris and the Agenda of Reform......Page 270 The Introduction of Natural Sciences in Madrasa Education in India......Page 288 Afterword: Dialogue and Cooperation with the Islamic World......Page 300 About the Editors and Contributors......Page 311 Index......Page 315 In the aftermath of the 9/11 attack in the United States and the consequent declaration of the global `war on terrorism′, madrasa education has received unprecedented attention. The intensified debates on the role of Muslim educational institutions - the dini madaris - revolve primarily around the following questions: Is there a link between madaris and violence, anti-national activities, or terrorism? How transparent is the funding and patronage structure of these Islamic educational networks? What are the political implications of their educational system? In answering these questions, the 12 original essays in this volume offer a survey on the phenomenon of madrasa education in India.

providing A Variety Of Perspectives, Islamic Education, Diversity And National Identity: Dini Madaris In India Post 9/11 Addresses A Number Of Important Questions From Various Angles. The 12 Original Essays Of This Volume Discuss The Phenomenon Of Dini Madaris From A Historical Perspective, Regional Perspective, And Examine Current Developments While Drawing Insights Mainly From Recently Conducted Fieldwork. The Contributors Discuss Crucial Issues Like Gender And The Role Of The Media. The Volume Concludes That Dini Madaris, Contrary To Their Public Image, Are Not Essentially Opposed To Change, Even Though The Framework For Change Appears To Be Limited.

Papers presented at the Conference: Madrasa Education in India : Islamic Education, Diversity, and National Identity Post-9/11, held at Alwar between November 30 and December 2, 2003