A Muslim student from a school run by Vidya Bharati, a Sangh Parivar institution, has topped the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) examination. Sarfaraz Hussain came top in the Class X exams by securing 590 marks out of 600. The 16-year-old was a student of the Shankardev Shishu Niketan in Betkuchi, on the southern fringe of Guwahati, run by Shishu Shikshya Samiti, Assam, which is affiliated to Vidya Bharati.

“I am proud to have been a student of this school. It is because of the school that I have been able to secure the top position in the state,” Sarfaraz Hussain said.

“I had no problem chanting prayers in Sanskrit, including the gayatri mantra,” said Sarfaraz, adding that he had always scored 100/100 in Sanskrit till Class VIII.

“Many people are asking about my son attending a school run by the Sangh Parivar. What is the problem? Our first identity is Assamese. Moreover, my daughter had graduated from the same school three years ago. When I first took them there, the headmaster asked me if I was sure about this step. He said they would have to chant various slokas, including the gayatri mantra and saraswati vandana. I agreed, because I was more interested in quality education that shapes character,” said Sarfaraz’s father Azmal Hussain, who works in a Guwahati hotel.

”When our forefathers could lay down their lives alongside our Hindu neighbours fighting the British, I don’t see any reason why my children should not attend this school. Aren’t children of families belonging to various faiths going to schools run by Christian missionaries?” asked Hussain.

“A few years ago, another student from Barpeta found a place among the top 20. Our schools have Christian students and Muslim teachers, too,” said Baruah, who is a professor at Assam Agricultural University.

By Premji