School where Muslim kids are happy to sing Hindu hymns!

 Sanskrit verses are part of the daily prayer for Mantasha Khan (class
IX), Inayat Ali (class VIII), Jofisha Khan (class IV) and 30 other
Muslim students who study at the Shaishvika Vidyalaya, a high school
with 269 students run by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

It's not just the Medha Suktam (a Vedic hymn recited to strengthen the
intellect) that they recite with perfect diction but they also chant
the Gayatri mantra, Surya mantra and shlokas (hymns) from the Bhagvad
Gita with equal ease, besides the Ramcharitmanas and the
Hanumanchalisa.

"Afsha Sultana Khokhar who passed from the school three years ago,
excelled in recitation of Sanskrit hymns, including Ganesh
Atharvashirsha (recited to invoke Lord Ganesh) and won prizes," the
school's Sanskrit teacher Jagrati Shrivastava recalled.
And their parents never objected. One of the parents —Shakil Khan —has
been encouraging his community members to send their children to this
school, founded in 1975. And the results are encouraging. In 1996, it
had four Muslim students. This year, out of 50 students who got
admission, 25 were from minority community.

"None from our community has problems sending children to the RSS
school. They are gaining knowledge. The school fee is reasonable (Rs
400 a month). And teachers impart good values. Students there are
cultured," remarked ex-student and cloth merchant Lal Ali, 38, whose
sons Fashil and Kamran study in the school.

Another ex-student and award-winning painter Riyazuddin Patel says,
"My ideology has matured after studying there. What I learned is
discipline, which is akin to the RSS."

Not that city's other RSS-run schools don't have minority students but
Shaishvika Vidyalaya has the most. The management didn't face any
problems from parents even though the school is surrounded by Muslim-
dominant localities.

"Parents are very cooperative. We're an educational institution and
don't promote communalism," said school principal Aparna Modak.

It was only when girls were asked to put on bindis that Muslim parents
requested they do so only during school hours. "But then we dropped
the regulation," said Modak, proud of the students the school has
produced.

Source : http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?

 

 

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