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.

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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.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru police have arrested a 27-year-old NRI on his return from Saudi Arabia in connection with an Instagram post allegedly containing derogatory and provocative remarks about the Hindu religion, officials said on Monday.

The accused, Abdul Khader Nehad, a resident of Ulaibettu in Mangaluru, was working in Saudi Arabia when the post was uploaded, police said.

A suo motu case was registered at the Bajpe police station on October 11 after an allegedly offensive post circulated from the Instagram account ‘team_sdpi_2025’. Police said the content was flagged for being provocative and derogatory in nature.

During the investigation, technical analysis traced the Instagram post to Nehad, who was residing abroad at the time, a senior police officer said. Based on these findings, a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him.

On December 14, Nehad arrived from Saudi Arabia at Calicut International Airport in Kerala, where he was taken into custody on arrival. Police said further investigation is underway.

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News Network
December 17,2025

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Melkar, Dec 17: The 17th Annual Day and Graduation Ceremony of Melkar Women’s PU and Degree College, themed “Fusion-2K25,” was celebrated with dignity and enthusiasm, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s academic journey. The programme reflected the college’s steadfast commitment to academic excellence, character building, and the holistic development of students.

The event was inaugurated by Mr. Asif Mohammed, whose presence greatly enriched the occasion. The celebration was further graced by the chief guests Mr. P. B. Ahmed Mudassir and Mr. Nissar Fakeer Mohammed, along with the distinguished guests of honour Mr. B. A. Nazeer and Mr. Ibrahim Gadiyar. In their inspiring addresses, the guests encouraged the graduating students and appreciated the dedicated efforts of the management, faculty, and students.

The annual report was presented by the Principal, Mr. Abdul Majeed S, highlighting the institution’s academic progress, notable achievements, and extracurricular accomplishments during the academic year.

The presidential address was delivered by the esteemed Chairman of Melkar Women’s PU and Degree College, Dr. Haji S. M. Rasheed, who emphasized the vital role of education in empowering women and shaping responsible citizens. He also stressed the importance of discipline, dedication, and perseverance in achieving success.

Cultural programmes and academic recognitions formed an integral part of the celebration, showcasing the talents and achievements of the students. The graduation ceremony was a proud moment for the outgoing students as they were formally conferred degrees and wished success in their future endeavours.

Ms. Mashmooma Fathima served as the Master of Ceremonies. The welcome address was delivered by Ms. Fathima Nida, and the programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Ms. Ayisha Suhana.

The event successfully achieved its objectives and was highly appreciated by the guests and attendees.

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News Network
December 7,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 7: A 34-year-old fruit and vegetable trader in Mangaluru has reportedly lost ₹33.1 lakh after falling victim to an online investment scam run through a fake mobile app.

Police said the scam began in September, when the victim received a link on Facebook. Clicking it connected him to a WhatsApp number, where an unidentified person introduced a high-return investment scheme and instructed him to download an app.

To build trust, the fraudster asked him to invest ₹30,000 on September 24. The trader soon received ₹34,000 as “profit,” convincing him the scheme was genuine. Over the next two months, he transferred money in multiple instalments via Google Pay and IMPS to different scanner codes and bank accounts shared by the scammers. Between September 24 and December 3, he ended up sending a total of ₹33.1 lakh.

When he later requested a refund of his investment and promised returns, the scammers demanded additional payments, claiming he needed to pay a “service tax” first. Even after he paid a small amount, no money was returned, and the scammers continued pressuring him for more.

A case has been registered at the CEN Crime Police Station.

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