Development of Madrasa Education in India: A Historical Overview

Abstract

In India, madrasas have an ancient history. Madrasas have always contributed welfare to the society. From the very beginning it is meant to serve the educational and religious needs of the people. Through various periods, it always reveals how madrasas and its system shaped the religious and educational platform of India. UNESCO reports that from Medina mosque (7th century) to 10th century (Ghazni period) and till 17th century, the role of madrasa education in imparting education was firstly in teachings of the Qur’an, theology, law, history, the Arabic language and literature and later became centers for religious and secular learning. According to the recent data madrasa education system educate over 1.5 million students per year and it has been significantly contributing to universalization of education after SSA (Sarva Siksha Abhiyan) and plays an important role in socio-cultural and economic advancement of the Muslim community to prepare an increasing number of students for higher education. To know the concept and history of madrasa education in India and its contribution of providing quality education, this paper unveils the madrasas from the age of Ghazni to independent India and the formation of madrasa boards. This study also clearly focuses on the traditional growth and timely changes of madrasa education system.