Agartala: After Assam, it looks like madrasas in Tripura are now on the BJP’s target. Tripura BJP MLA Sambhu Lal Chakma courted controversy by demanding on March 23 that all Tripura madrasas be shut down at the earliest. The legislator from the tribal-dominated Chawmanu constituency said he had been inspired by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who had shut down state-run madrasas.
Chakma went on to state madrasas do not encourage students to take professional routes to succeed in life, rather, they impart knowledge against the nation’s integrity. “Like Assam, all madrasas running in the state should be shut down and no community should get the extra privilege of any form when it comes to education,” he said.
“We represent the biggest political party of the country—BJP—and all religions are treated equally in our eyes. I feel no religion should get extra. The madrasas should be closed the way Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sharma did it. I demand that CM Biplab Kumar Deb take necessary action in this regard,” Chakma added.
Chakma’s statements came in response to opposition CPI-M MLA Islam Uddin’s remarks that communal violence in Tripura’s Panisagar last year sowed seeds of communal disharmony among communities.
However, his statements have gone down well with rival political parties and the madrasa teachers’ association, who said his statements were inappropriate.
Mohammed Mukhlesur Rahman, secretary of the Sadar Sub-Divisional committee of SPQEM (Scheme to Provide Quality Education in Madrasas) told EastMojo, “Such irresponsible statement from a legislator is unwelcome. We condemn this, and we shall surely raise the issue before the appropriate authorities. If actions are not taken, we shall proceed legally.”
Rahman claimed that Chakma’s statement showed he had little idea about the state’s madrasas and the subjects taught there.
“There are 186 madrasas in Tripura that function on government grants consisting of primary, senior basic, high school and higher secondary level. All these madrasas follow the syllabus framed by the Tripura Board of Secondary Education. Up to 8th standard, all the madrasas teach science, English, Bengali and other mandatory subjects, along with an additional subject of Urdu. Quality teachers are appointed through the Atal Bihari Vajpayee SPQEM scheme. A share of our salary is paid from the central government while a minor share comes from the state government’s exchequer,” said Rahman.
Apart from government madrasas, he said, there are above 50 madrasas scattered across the state. “Finances of these institutes are managed privately. People of our community make voluntary donations on several occasions across the year. People donate money to these organisations as well. Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, before being sworn in as state chief minister, donated Rs 2 lakh to a madrasa in Melagarh under the Sepahijala district,” he added.
These madrasas strictly adhere to the TBSE board syllabus. After the 8th standard, the students select subjects of their choice.
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“There are several subjects related to Islamic history included, while science and social studies are taught with the same attention,” Rahman pointed out.
Rahman, who has a Master’s in Arabic, also countered Chakma’s claims on the professional front. “The MLA intentionally ignored the facts and said students from madrasas do not shine in professional fields. However, people like Dr Mustafa Kamal and Dr Jahirul Haque, who received their primary education in madrasas, are glaring examples of competence and efficiency in their fields. Even in Agartala Government Medical College, several madrasa students are studying medicine,” he added.
Sources in the state education department confirmed Rahman’s claims. “The curriculum in the government-run madrasas resemble the syllabus followed in schools. “Only a couple of subjects are different in nature,” a source in the department said.
According to Rahman, there are 17 Hindu teachers like Nityananda Paul and Nayan Saha teaching for many years in madrasas located in and around Agartala city.
Chakma’s statements were also criticised by the BJP Minority Morcha President MD Sahabuddin. He told EastMojo, “The Bharatiya Janata Minority Morcha does not endorse the statement, and we disagree with him. We feel his views are personal, and we shall raise the issue before the state government seeking appropriate steps against him.”
However, Tripura BJP Vice-President Rajib Bhattacharjee said that the party has not taken any stand on the issue. “The party president is now out of state. Given the gravity of the remarks, all the senior leaders need to sit together before speaking anything about the issue. Once he returns, all the senior leaders will sit together and only then can we reach some conclusion,” he said. Importantly, however, Bhattacharjee neither condemned nor endorsed the demand of Chakma.