India looks to Malaysia for modernising Islamic education

India is keen to take tips from Malaysia to modernize Islamic education system in the country and bring about changes in the curricula to prevent radicalisation of youths.

New Delhi is likely to send teams of officials to Kuala Lumpur in the coming months to learn about de-radicalisation programmes of Malaysia, particularly on the way the religious education system has been modernised in the South-East Asian nation. The teams will include officials not only from security agencies, but also from the Ministry of Human Resource Development and the Ministry of Minority Affairs. Representatives and experts of minority organisations will also join the official delegations for interaction with their counterparts in Malaysia, sources in New Delhi told DH.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi evinced keen interest in de-radicalisation programmes run by Malaysia when the Muslim-majority nation’s Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi called on him in New Delhi early this week.
Muslim education system was essentially religious in character. It was patronized by the Muslim rulers who held orthodox views regarding perpetuating Muslim faith in lands they invaded and settled

Muslim educational system worked for the preservation and transmission of culture. Study of the authentic work was compulsory. Rules and regulations pertaining to their culture were strictly followed. The centers of learning situated in different parts of the country bear eloquent testimony to this fact. Besides, development of right thinking, development of humility, intellectual eminence and development of the self as a useful man of the world were the purpose of learning.