18-year-old Hindu girl teaches Quran to Muslim kids in temple premises

[email protected] (Anuja Jaiswal | Times of India)
September 6, 2016

Agra, Sep 6: In the communally restive western UP, an open-air classroom held every evening in a temple premises in Agra's Sanjay Nagar colony offers hope and also a rare insight into the state's composite culture. Here, 18-year-old Pooja Kushwaha, who is herself a normal class XII student by the day, turns into teacher at dusk giving away lessons to 35 Muslim kids in the area lessons in Quran.

hindu gal
With her impeccable accent tiding over difficult Arabic phonology involving a variety of syllables and emphatic consonants, the young girl looks every inch of the teacher the parents of these kids always wanted. Reshma Begum, mother of 5-year-old Alisha, one of Pooja's students, said, "It is a marvel to see her achieve this rare distinction at so young age. I am very pleased to have her as my kid's teacher. Her religion is the last thing on my mind or any other parents' that I know."

So, how did she learn Arabic? "Many years ago, there was another woman of mixed faith in our locality. Born to a Muslim father and Hindu mother, Sangeeta Begum used to hold Quran classes for the kids. I got interested in the holy book and started attending her classes. I made steady progress and was ahead of all others in her class soon," Pooja said.

Due to some personal problem, Sangeeta Begum had to discontinue her classes and she requested Pooja to keep alive this legacy.

"She taught me an important tenant of Islam, that there is no point in gaining knowledge if you don't share it," the 18-year-old says with maturity that belies her age.

She does it all for free. "Most of the kids are from poor families. They do not have money to offer and I do not want it either," she says. As the number of kids in her classes grew, her house became too small to accommodate all the kids. Elders in the locality readily offered her premises of a temple for her classes.

Pooja's elder sister Nandini, who is a graduate, also imparts local kids lessons in Hindi and Bhagwat Gita. "These children are from underprivileged backgrounds and giving education to them is a great work. I am proud of my daughters," their mother Rani Kushwaha says.

And how does the general Muslim population in the area see her efforts?

One of the city's most prominent Muslim leaders, 70-year-old Haji Jamiluddin Qureshi, who chairs many social forums and has a school of his own, says, "It's heartening to know that such rare examples of communal harmony exist in our city. A teacher is a teacher and her religion doesn't matter as long as she knows the holy scripture well. Moreover, Islam doesn't object to anybody learning Arabic or reading Quran."

Comments

Rikaz
 - 
Tuesday, 6 Sep 2016

Yogesh, Islam means peace, peace amongst entire human kind....not just for Muslims.....don't worry kafir does not mean anything but non believer of Islam...that is...of course you are a non believer...

SHAAN
 - 
Tuesday, 6 Sep 2016

Dear YOGESH...

KAFIR means non believer, it is not a bad word.

ISLAM says there is no God but ALLAH
Muhammad pbuh is the last messenger of God
QURAN explains what THE CREATOR wants his CREATION to do...
QURAN is unchanged since its revelation
ALLAH invites his creation to challenge what it says...
Now
YOU need to do YOUR job of finding what QURAN says.
IF QURAN says dont drink Alcohol than find out if it is Good for YOU or not ..
QURAN says PORK is haram , Check scientifically and research Y QURAN prohibits it.. It is harmful to human body and creates many diseases...
Dont just sit at home and follow cheddi instruction.. Cheddis are dumping YOU far from GOD and also asking you to reject NA TASYA PRATImA ASTI... (There is no image of God).

Think and use your intellect which God has given you... If you are honest and Truth in searching for God... God will Guide you

Ahmed..K
 - 
Tuesday, 6 Sep 2016

Yogesh,

Muhammad pbuh is not God ... (He is a messenger and We Muslims dont worship Muhammad pbuh but We follow him the way he showed us)

ALLAH is the only one God who is worthy of Worship...
Do you think Stones can help U .. U guys are deceived for long time that u can worship thru Stones... A blatant LIE from the powers of those who Control people like U.
Stones can neither help U nor harm U...
Y can't U PONDER on what QURAN says... Just read once by yourself and try to REFLECT on what it says on GODs that is man made.

If U R really intelligent then U will know that Stones cannot do anything.. Just believing is not intelligent...
Even animals know who is God. They never worship Idols... Sometimes the Dogs make urine in them...
Think and PONDER, dont waste time by arguing. If someone is inviting YOU to look into QURAN that's cos of the TRUTH.

Althaf
 - 
Tuesday, 6 Sep 2016

#10 Yogesh, Mangalore
Dear Yogesh
There should be a strong reason behind one who convert his faith to islam. After studying quraan people will come to know that islam is the real religion and Allah is only true god. My request to you is have guts and read quraan. May Allah open your heart & Eyes.
Also Allah is only the god and Muhammed Is the prophet of Allah.

FAIR FAIR FAIR
 - 
Tuesday, 6 Sep 2016

People from all religions should have access to read the holy scripts with translation from all religions.
Leave them alone,
If you want just preach them your true teaching and ideology.
But never entice or force them for conversion.

This way the brotherhood can remain intact.
The society will hot have haterdness.

NIHAL
 - 
Tuesday, 6 Sep 2016

First of all I like to appreciate Pooja for restoring humanity and knowing different faith.
Mr. Yogesh I did not understand your theory of forced conversation, most of guys like you accuse Christian and Muslims for conversation. lets keep your theory and think there are 1000 of Christian education, healthcare institutions still why the population is below 3% in India secondly Muslim kings has ruled India for a such a long time still they are 13 to 14% why.
The word kafir is Arabic which means (non believers) and Quran tells killing a innocent is killing a humanity.. then where did that come from. I believe ALLAH as God and Mohammed as prophet.
I believe in my religion and I am not worried about conversion but that doesn't mean that I should not study other faiths. I learn bible and Quran I visit churches and mosques.
just come out of the cage and have some life bro...see the world through open eyes...don't keep hatred on anyone...

SK
 - 
Tuesday, 6 Sep 2016

What an achievement ..... Masha Allah ....

NOOR
 - 
Tuesday, 6 Sep 2016

Quran is not just to read...

Anyone who reads QURAN should reflect on what it says... The real miracle comes when we REFLECT and PONDER on it...
TRY IT.

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
December 16,2025

SMR1.jpg

Melkar (Bantwal): The 9th Annual Day celebration of SMR Public School, titled “EXCELLENTIA”, was held on December 15 with great enthusiasm and dignity, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s journey towards academic excellence and holistic development.

The programme was inaugurated by Dr. U. T. Iftikar Ali. The chief guests were Dr. Akhtar Hussain, Mr. P. Moosabba Beary, Mr. Zakaria Jokattre, and Dr. T. M. Abdul Rahuf—whose inspiring addresses motivated the students and appreciated the school’s contributions to education.

Mr. Abdul Nasir, Mr. Ibrahim Gadiyar, Mr. Razak Golthamajal, Mr. Sali Koya, Mr. Arshad Hussain, Mr. Ismail Balanoor, Mr. Feroz Bawa, Mr. Sahul Hameed, Mr. Abubakkar, Mr. Hameed K. Mani, Mr. Abdul Majeed (Principal, Melkar Women’s College), and Mr. Abdul Lathief (Former Principal, Melkar Women’s College) were the guests of honour.

The Annual Report was presented by the Headmistress, Ms. Fathimathul Zaheera, highlighting the school’s achievements and progress during the academic year. The Presidential Address was delivered by the Chairman of SMR Public School, Dr. Haji S. M. Rasheed, who emphasised the vital role of education in shaping students’ futures and stressed the importance of discipline, dedication, and consistent effort in achieving 100 per cent academic results.

Secretary of SMR Public School, Mr. Rifath Ahmed, and PTA President, Mr. Sandeep Kumar, were also present on the occasion.

The Annual Day celebration showcased the collective efforts of students and teachers and reaffirmed the school’s commitment to quality education and all-round development. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all dignitaries, parents, and well-wishers for their support. The 9th Annual Day—EXCELLENTIA—was a memorable and successful event, leaving a lasting impression on everyone present. 

SMR3.jpg

SMR2.jpg

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
December 3,2025

arrival.jpg

Mangaluru, Dec 3: A group of Congress workers gathered at the Mangaluru International Airport on Wednesday to welcome AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, but the reception quickly turned into a display of support for Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.

Venugopal arrived in the city to participate in the centenary commemoration of the historic dialogue between Mahatma Gandhi and Narayana Guru. The event, organised by the Sivagiri Mutt, Varkala, in association with the Mangalore University Sri Narayana Guru Study Chair, is being held on the university’s Konaje campus.

KPCC general secretary Mithun Rai and several party workers had assembled at the airport to receive Venugopal. However, the moment he stepped out, workers began raising slogans backing Shivakumar.

The university programme will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

This show of support comes just a day after Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar would lead the government “when the high command decides.” The chief minister made the comment after a breakfast meeting at Shivakumar’s residence—another public display of camaraderie between the two leaders amid ongoing attempts by the party high command to downplay their leadership rivalry.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
December 2,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 2: Mangaluru International Airport responded to a medical emergency late on Monday night. Air India Express flight IX 522, travelling from Riyadh to Thiruvananthapuram, was diverted to Mangaluru Airport after a passenger in his late 30s experienced a medical emergency on board.

The Airport’s Operations Control Centre received an alert regarding the passenger’s health condition. The airport activated its emergency response protocol, mobilising the airport medical team and coordinating with stakeholders including CISF, immigration, and customs. 

Upon landing, airport medical personnel attended to the passenger, assessed his condition, and arranged to shift him to a local tertiary-care hospital for further treatment. The passenger’s relatives accompanied the passenger, who incidentally received necessary medical care on board, which helped stabilise the situation.

Following the handling of the emergency, the flight departed for Thiruvananthapuram at 2:05 am on Tuesday.

"We appreciate the cooperation of all parties involved, and this incident reaffirms our ongoing commitment to prioritising passenger safety and readiness to respond to unforeseen emergencies with professionalism and care," the Airport spokesperson said. 

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.