On India’s 70th Independence Day, Bareilly’s Barelvi madrasas openly flouted the Uttar Pradesh government’s order that the national anthem must mandatorily be sung at all such Islamic educational institutions across the state on the occasion of Independence Day.
The students at the Manzar-e-Islam – the biggest Barelvi madrasa in the city – hoisted the Tricolor in the presence of teachers, however, they did not chant the national anthem. Interestingly, around 500 students, gathered in the open prayer hall to sing ‘Sare jahan se achha’, a patriotic song in Urdu by poet Muhammad Iqbal.
The madrasa authorities disallowed video graphing the event. Mediapersons were not allowed to cover the main event, which lasted for over an hour, reported Hindustan Times.
“Traditionally, we do not sing the national anthem during Independence Day or Republic Day celebrations. We only followed convention this time,” a senior cleric said, reported HT.
The decision to oppose the government order was taken by senior cleric Asjad Miyan, a direct descendant of 20th-century Islamic religious leader Ahmed Raza Barelvi. Ahmed Raza’s dargah (shrine) in Bareilly is the most revered religious site for members of Sunni Islam’s Barelvi sect. It manages over a thousand other dargahs in various parts of the state, 300 of which are situated in Bareilly and nearby districts.
