New avenues in the education of indian muslims : case study of an islamic school in India

Abstract

This work carries out a case study of a new model of Islamic schooling located in the city of Bangalore, in South India. It examines the rise of this model that claims to bridge the gap between the formation of a strong religious identity and active contribution to the society. Drawing upon the dismal findings of the Sachar Committee about the educational condition of Indian Muslims, the study investigates the perception of religious identity and future plans of the current students of the school. Additionally, the study examines the life of a few graduates after school, and seeks to understand how the school helped shape their own identity upon contact with the wider world. It adopts a qualitative approach where participant observation, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions with the administration, students and alumni provide deep insights into the contribution of the school and the challenges facing it. The study concluded that, though in its infancy, the school has created strong affinity to faith in its students. Also, many of the alumni have excelled in various academic and professional fields. However, the school must address certain serious issues in order to be considered a viable alternative for successfully building up spiritually conscious, yet socially competitive graduates.