AHMEDABAD, 2 May — Communal violence has almost nipped the dreams of Nargis Shaikh in the bud.
A Muslim from a middle class family of Gujarat, she aspired to be a doctor. But the sectarian frenzy that has gripped this state since February made her stay at home and not appear for the Grade 12 examinations.
She cannot therefore appear for the entrance test to a medical school.
Nargis’ is but one shattered dream among scores of Muslim students like her who could not write their examinations when violence broke out in the Muslim dominated Dariapur and Kalupur neighborhoods in this principal city of Gujarat.
Fearing for their safety, parents of some 3,500 Muslim students in Ahmedabad did not permit their children to appear for the Grade 10 and Grade 12 examinations that began April 18.
Another 9,000 Muslim students elsewhere in the state were also scheduled to appear for their tests, but there are no reliable estimates how many actually wrote their papers. Muslims apart, a number of other students too could not appear for the examinations.
University student Muhammad Arif, also of Dariapur, laments that he could not appear for his examinations because of the failure of the authorities to ensure his safety. "I had to drop the idea of sitting for my final examinations. Life is more precious than exams," Arif said.
Arif aspires to be a chartered accountant. For this, a first class degree is essential. Now he’s not sure if he will ever be able to appear for his final examinations. Like Nargis, Arif’s future too is on hold.
Amin Mansoori had scored 87 percent in the Grade 10 examination two years ago and hoped for a career in IT. But he must first get past the Grade 12 examination.
"I concentrated on my studies throughout the year. But when the time came for the Grade 12 exams I could not move out of my house in the Kazi Muhalla and suffered a nervous breakdown as rioting took place right in front of my eyes," said a distraught Mansoori.
As the Indian Parliament debated the continuing strife in Gujarat that has claimed over 900 lives, this aspect of the tragedy — Muslim students not being able to appear for their examinations — failed to receive the attention it deserves.
Said Rehmat Bibi, mother of 17-year-old Moinuddin Pathan, who refused send her son for the examinations: "Life is more important than his career. Let Moinuddin lose one year of his academic life. I will never let my son die as I have already lost my husband."
Rehmat’s husband died in the carnage in the Naroda Patia area in which 78 people were killed in the space of a few hours.
The Gujarat government had claimed that it would ensure the safety of Muslim students appearing for the examinations but this did not cut any ice with parents.
"Can we trust the police who guided the Hindu mobs to kill us?" said a parent.
"We have seen pictures of policemen sitting in a bus along with a few students. Instead of a rifle, he was armed with a cane. What protection can a mere cane provide?" asked another parent.
It was a feeling echoed not only in Ahmedabad but also in cities like Bharuch, Himmatnagar, Modasa and Baroda where Muslim students could not appear for their examinations. One suggestion made was that Muslim students be permitted to appear for examinations at schools run by the community instead of at the centers mandated by the authorities. This was, however, rejected by the state government.
"We only wanted to ensure the safety of our students. We requested the authorities to conduct the examinations in Muslim schools so that students would not lose a year. But our request fell on deaf ears," said Badruzzman Pathan, principal of F.D. High School that is run by a Muslim trust.
The Supreme Court has directed the state Education Department to conduct separate examinations for students who could not appear for the tests because of the violence.
Gujarat Education Minister Anandi Patel has promised to do so. "We will conduct the examination afresh at nine centers within six weeks.
Nearly 24,000 students, mostly Muslims, will appear for the examinations. We will step up safety measures."
But the question uppermost in the minds of most Muslim parents is: Will this be just another empty promise of the Gujarat government?
