Muslim Think Tank Mulls over Education among Minorities
Patna: June 21, 2008
 A number of prominent Muslim leaders gathered for the Qaumi Aqliyati Talimi Bedari seminar at Sri Krishna Memorial Hall in Patna on Saturday spoke on the issue of education for the minorities saying the Muslims must assume responsibility for their own education and not depend on government handouts.
Senior Congress leader and a member of the Parliament Mohsina Kidwai, in her address, said that there was an urgent need of raising the standard of education among the girls and women of the Muslim community because "by educating a woman, you educate an entire family."
"Education is not only about books and exams. The goal should be to spread humanitarian values and rid the society of the communal disbelief and hatred," Mrs. Kidwai said.
 Dr. K. Rahman Khan, Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, in his speech, said that only Muslims were responsible for the lower education among themselves and the time had come when they stopped playing the blame game to hide their own mistakes.
"It does not make any sense to rely completely on the government. We all must assume some personal responsibility and stop blaming others for our own failures," Mr. Khan said.
Controversial social activist Teesta Setalvad, however, disagreed with many speakers and accused the government of deliberately ignoring the educational needs of the Muslims.
"While other communities are rising and prospering, Muslims have remained stagnant and the government cannot be exonerated from its responsibilities in making the playing field level for each and every Indian in the country," Setalvad said.
Others who also spoke on the occasion included Ameer-e-Shariat and general secretary of All India Muslim Personal Law Board said Maulana Syed Nizamuddin, Secretary of Anjuman Taraqqi Urdu Bihar Khaliq Anjum, former Supreme Court Chief Justice A. M. Ahmadi, Central Ministers A. A. Fatmi, Akhilesh Singh, and many others.
The event was organized by the Bihar Aqliyati Talimi Board.
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