Now, Varanasi women run madrassas

Updated on: Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Education has really caught up with Muslim women in Varanasi. While many of them are setting true example of women empowerment through education and livelihood promotion, some have even stormed a hitherto male frontier by successfully running madrassas.

“After completing my studies, I want to become a teacher because it is a noble profession and will dispel the darkness of ignorance,” said Juli Siddiqi, a native of Mirzamurad who is pursuing her graduation at Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth (MGKV) with English and History as subjects. Juli’s enterprising younger sister, Juhi Siddiqi, is a step ahead. Also a BA final-year student, she and another girl Tanbeer Khanam run Madrassa Itehadul Musalmin in Mirzamurad. And her’s is not an isolated story.

Zarina, another Intermediate-pass Muslim girl, runs Madrassa Gulshan-e-Madina in Bhatpurwa village. “Along with teaching the kids, I am also pursuing my studies to become a graduate,” she told TOI. Like Juhi and Zarina, many other Muslim girls have come forward to discharge their duty towards a community that needs urgent attention to enhance the educational level. Nisha Bano runs Madrassa Talimate Hind in Pampapur, while Sahiba Bano started Madrassa Ahley Sunnat Garib Nawaz in Kundariya. Ashrun Nisha and Afsari Bano teach kids at Madrassa Khwaja Garib Nawaz in Rupapur and Samina Bano and Sabina Bano have started Madrassa Arabiya Garib Nawaz in Chowki Kapsethi.

All these girls are getting support from organisations like Good Weave, Global Fund for Children and Human Welfare Association (HWA) for educating children.

Around 500 children are getting education in these madrassas in Sewapuri and Araziline blocks of Varanasi. “We realise that a new era of women’s empowerment is coming with education. Education and livelihood activities are now in the hand of women and young girls in the deprived sections of the society. It is not a matter of only higher-class people, but empowerment is being felt even at the grassroots,” HWA director Rajni Kant told TOI on the eve of the International Women's Day on Monday. Besides, many girls have also been running ‘Tarakki Centres’ in areas like Benipur, Kurauna, Sajoi, Dindaspur, Harsos with more than 750 children. They also provide vocational training to young girls and personality development. Girls like Tabassum, Tarannum and Rubina teach at Madrassa Ansar-ul-Ulum in Sajoi village. They also joined the cutting and tailoring course operated under MEGA-SKY project supported by USAID and Education Development Centre (EDC), New Delhi.

While all these madrassas came into existence last year, some other progressive Muslim women like Razia Begum and Jamila Begum have also been running madrassas in different areas for the past many years. Razia runs the Madrassa Gausia near Bari Masjid and Jamila also runs Madrassa Kwaja Garib Nawaz at Rahimpur in Lohata.

Now, Varanasi women run madrassas

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