Beyond the Madrasa: Muslim Communities and Educational Institutes in India Today by Nilanjana Gupta (review)

Reviewed by: Beyond the Madrasa: Muslim Communities and Educational Institutes in India Today by Nilanjana Gupta Mohammad Shekaib Alam Beyond the Madrasa: Muslim Communities and Educational Institutes in India Today NILANJANA GUPTA Routledge, 2023, 260 pages. Madrasas in India boast a storied past, serving as beacons of Islamic education and cultural values since the medieval era. Central to this tradition is the Madrasa Nizamiyya, a revered educational model that originated in the Seljuk Empire. These schools were not mere religious centers; they were esteemed hubs of multifaceted learning, where students delved into subjects as diverse as philosophy, medicine, mathematics, and astronomy. In the 18th century, Shah Waliyyullah of Delhi, recognizing a deviation from the core values of the Madrasa Nizamiyya, took upon himself the task of reinvigorating Islamic education in India. Disturbed by the stagnation he perceived in Islamic scholarship, he embarked on a mission of curriculum reform. Drawing inspiration from the Nizamiyya ethos, Shah Waliyyullah championed a more comprehensive Islamic study approach. His reforms went beyond just subjects, promoting a pedagogy rooted in understanding Islamic teachings' core essence, fostering critical thought, analysis, and discourse. As a testament to his visionary efforts, the current madrasa system in India marries traditional Islamic teachings with subjects like mathematics and science, making education both religiously rooted and contemporarily relevant. Yet, the contemporary journey of madrasas in India is a tightrope walk between veneration and skepticism. While they are lauded for preserving Islamic heritage, they often grapple with perceptions marred by media and political narratives, as exemplified by the statements made by politicians linking madrasas to extremism. Furthermore, the Indian political arena sometimes casts madrasas as electoral tools, amplifying their position in sociopolitical debates. However, recognizing their indispensable role, initiatives like the 2017 government program strive to harmonize madrasa education with modern subjects, ensuring students are adept at both preserving traditions and facing today's world challenges. Offering a concise overview of the state of madrasas in India, Nilanjana Gupta's "Beyond the Madrasa: Muslim Communities and Educational Institutes in India Today" stands as a significant and timely addition to the discourse surrounding Madrasas in the country. In an era where the role and relevance of Madrasas in India are subjects of intense discussion and End Page 150 sometimes misconceptions, her book offers a fresh perspective. The title itself suggests a deep dive into the evolving world of Muslim education in India, extending beyond the conventional image of Madrasas. The book concentrates primarily on the present but also delves into historical contexts to provide a comprehensive understanding. It emphasizes that madrasas, historically, were never uniform entities. Instead, their characteristics and nature varied significantly based on regional influences, prevailing political regimes, and the specific socio-political dynamics of their time and location, a trait that continues to be evident in contemporary observations. This book stands out for its foundation, which is derived from in-depth interviews with those actively involved in the daily operations of madrasas rather than from the writings of others. It provides a thorough overview of madrasas across India, from Gujarat to Assam and Kashmir to Kerala. The book explores their curricula, graduates' higher education and how they're being operated. The author explores these institutions and finds a quite different story, in stark contrast to charges that they are "harboring terrorism." Every institution the author visits aims to inculcate in the thousands of students who walk through its doors each year the principles of responsible and productive citizenship. In the first chapter, the author explores the unique history of the madrasa system in Kerala, shaped by the state's distinct cultural and religious context. These Islamic educational institutions date back to the early days of Islam in the region, a development closely linked to Kerala's historical trade ties with Arab nations. Initially, these madrasas primarily taught Islamic theology, jurisprudence, and the Arabic language. However, they have undergone significant evolution, setting them apart from their counterparts in other parts of India. A key aspect of this evolution is the incorporation of local culture and traditions, especially the Malayalam language, into both the curriculum and teaching methodologies. The author takes the reader through various notable madrasas in Kerala. The Samastha Kerala Jam...