Ramayana Quiz competition, Muslim students win in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 7 (BPNS)
The Ramayana all Kerala online quiz competition conducted by a noted publisher of Kerala turned out to be a big surprise after two Muslim boys emerged first and second.
In the online quiz conducted by the state’s top publisher, D.C. Books 1000 students participated in the online mode and Mohammed Jabir P.K and Mohammed Basith. M from Malappuram emerged first and second.
Interestingly both the boys are studying in Wafy course at the KKHM Islamic &Arts college at Wadakkanchery in Malappuram district. The Wafy course is an integrated eight-year course that includes Islamic studies up to Post graduation level and also awards a regular degree.
Jabir while speaking to BPNS said, “ The course has a paper on Indian religions including Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism and we had learnt it well giving us an edge in the competition.”
He said that the Wafy course syllabus helps the students to study all the religions and to understand their ethos well to live in a multi-religious and multi-cultural society. Jabir said that the Wafy syllabus was designed by coordination of Islamic colleges headed by Abdul Hakeem Faisi Adisseri who insisted that all the religious texts have to be learnt well so that students are equipped with the basic tenets of all the religions helping them a good base to live in a multi-religious society.
Jabir said that many students from the institution are now into comparative religions for their PhD and added that the WaFi syllabus was the major inspiration for these students to take up comparative religion as their PhD thesis.
The winner of the quiz competition said that he could understand that every student should study the religious text of others and said that he had studied in detail Ramayana as part of the school syllabus and that helped him in good stead in the competition.
He said that the sacrifice of power for the sake of the brother and to honour the father’s word in Ramayana are lessons to be learnt in life. He also said that the students will understand that Ramayana teaches the ideals of love and peace.
Jabir is now a final year Post Graduate student of the Wafi course and has completed a degree in sociology. His partner Basith is a fifth-year Wafi student and is pursuing graduation in Psychology.
The students appeared for the online Ramayana Quiz that was held between July 23 and July 25 by the DC Books.
Social activist Prasad Thykkandi from Kannur in Kerala while speaking to BPNS said, “ It is a great achievement by the two Muslim youngsters to win a Ramayana quiz competition. This is the need of the hour and everybody should study all religions this would help society evolve. Religion is a reality and we have to see how we are mutually respecting others. Both Jabir and Basith proved that they could win Ramayana quiz competition even though they were Muslims. This is a great moment for Kerala society at large and I appreciate DC books for conducting such a competition.”
