Both the supporters and critics of the Maharashtra government’s move to declare madrasas that do not teach modern science, mathematics and English as “non-schools” are missing the crux of the issue.
The Maharashtra minority affairs minister says: “Madrasas are giving students education on religion and not giving them formal education… We have asked them to teach other subjects as well. Otherwise madrasas will be considered as non-schools and will not be eligible for government funding.” The state has sought to be even-handed: The term, “non-school”, will also apply to vedic schools that only teach religion.
Securing the release of the Catholic priest, Father Alexis Prem Kumar, from his Afghan Taliban captors should be viewed in different ways. The Jesuit priest himself said on arrival at the Delhi airport from Kabul: “It is because of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi [that] I am here. He saved me.” What Father Alexis said was an understatement. He alone, having faced possible execution, knows the wave of hope and trough of dejection as the prime minister took personal charge of the negotiations to secure his release.
The priest was abducted on June 4, 2014 from Sohadat village, 25 km from the provincial capital of Herat. At the time, he was in a school, overseeing Jesuit aid and rehabilitation work among Afghan refugees. The news of his release was first broken to his anxious family, with whom the PM spoke, as well as to the public through Modi’s tweet. The PM not only spoke to the priest at Kabul airport but also ensured that the father and brother of the victim could come to New Delhi to receive him. The PM also enabled the family members to stay on in Delhi overnight.
