From Jamia to US: Madrasa graduate Furqan’s inspirational academic journey
Madrasas are often in news, mostly for wrong reasons. On the one hand, hundreds of madrasas are being shut down allegedly for being non-productive, on the other, a good number of graduates of independent madrasas are making great academic strides. BY MANZAR IMAM
One such madrasa graduate, Mohammad Furqan has qualified for the Masters of Global Affairs in Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, USA. His selection has been widely welcomed by graduates of different Indian madrasas and especially by the graduates of Madrasa Discourses Program run by the Keogh School of Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame.
Buoyed by the good wishes, Furqan said: “It all started with the Madrasa Discourses, and it would have not been possible without the great leadership of Prof. Ebrahim Moosa and Dr. Waris Mazhari. Coming from an ordinary family, I could have never imagined to study in the USA with scholarship.”
Hailing from Darbhanga district of Bihar, Furqan graduated with a Fazilat degree from Madrasa Alia Arabia, Masjid Fatehpuri, Delhi in 2016, after which he hid BA (Hons) in English literature from Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI). In 2023, he completed Masters of Arts in Islamic and Arabic Studies from JMI. While continuing his formal studies, Furqan also pursued the three-year research program for madrasa graduates named “Advancing Scientific and Theological Literacy in Madrasa Discourses”, offered by the University of Notre Dame. It is where he made the most of his time and had the opportunity to interact with a number of renowned academicians and scholars from different countries.
Recalling those years Furqan said: “It was indeed a life changing journey for me to connect with you all for more than five years”. Extending his special thanks to his Madrasa Discourses fellows Mohammad Ali, Manzar Imam, Mohammad Ehtesham, Mohammad Fozail, Muhammad Zeeshan, Mohammad Aadil Affan, Ghulam Rasool, Md Khaleeque Rehmani, Abul Aala Subhani, Syed Abdur Rasheed, Tajammul Husain, Saif ul Hadi and others, Furqan expressed his intention to remain connected with what he called “our shared commitment for our society and madrasa community.”
As a student of a madrasa coming from a humble background to being selected for Masters in Peace Studies in one of world’s leading universities, Furqan’s journey is a lesson for those critics of madrasas who flatly deny their relevance and contribution to the society and academia. Indian madrasas need some reform but more than that they need to sustain and serve the society to carry forward the rich academic and intellectual legacy which has been the mark of pride for India’s story of diversity and democratic dialogue.
(The author is a graduate of Madrasa Discourses Programme and he is Chief Mentor and Co-Founder of MJ Achievers Academy LLP, New Delhi)
