Dear Dr Bhaskar,
Why are you surprised by the attitude of the Principal of the Madrassah? All religions including Islam are jealously and steadfastly guarded by the religious zealots and anybody stepping into a rival religion is nothing but an intruder. It is unfortunate but a fact of life.
Having said that, I must admit that the only Islamic religious preacher and scholar for whom I had the utmost respect and reverence was Mr. Ismail Banerjee. He was, as I heard, a Hindu Brahmin who adopted Islam and became a true Islamic scholar. As a student representative of the F H Hall of Dacca University, during the 1960s, I invited Mr. Ismail Banerjee to conduct the annual 'Milad Mohfil' and the associated function of the Hall and he impressed all of us immensely by his scholarly speech.
Having said that, I must admit that the only Islamic religious preacher and scholar for whom I had the utmost respect and reverence was Mr. Ismail Banerjee. He was, as I heard, a Hindu Brahmin who adopted Islam and became a true Islamic scholar. As a student representative of the F H Hall of Dacca University, during the 1960s, I invited Mr. Ismail Banerjee to conduct the annual 'Milad Mohfil' and the associated function of the Hall and he impressed all of us immensely by his scholarly speech.
How things have changed now. It seems people had more religious freedom and tolerance then in the 'Islamic' Pakistan than in the 'secular' Bangladesh now. We Muslims are unfortunately regressing and it seems we are at a loss to find the way to arrest this slide.
- Anis Rahman
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