A Deobandi in RSS: The story of Maulana Waseem-ur-Rehman

I don’t know how many of you came across this story of a graduate from Deoband making it through the UPSC Civil Services Examinations

The story is good and inspiring but the odd thing is the way in which it has been reported.  Note the differences (in blue) and enjoy (emphasis mine):

From: Madrasa student cracks civils by Mateen Hafeez | TNN

Mumbai: At a time when eyebrows are being raised about education standards in madrasas, a maulana from the Darul-Uloom-Deoband in Uttar Pradesh has passed the country’s most elite examination, the civil services exam, in his fourth attempt. For his interview, the maulana took training from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-run institute Samkalp at Paharganj in New Delhi.

Maulana Waseem-ur-Rehman, 31, is the first student from a madrasa to clear the civil services exams. Rehman comes from a poor family in Siddharth Nagar, Basti, UP. He stood 404th among 734 successful candidates. Rehman, who took history and Persian as optional subjects, wrote the exam in Urdu.

He told TOI that he worked for four years. “In three earlier attempts, I failed in the prelims. As this was my last chance, I worked harder,” he said.

Rehman completed five years of schooling in a madrasa, Ahyaul Uloom, before joining Darul-Uloom-Deoband. He did a threeyear course in Islamic studies, Hadith, the Quran and Shariat laws.

He did not know there was a syllabus for the civil service exam. “I had to collect books and notes from several places and would study at night and early morning as I had to attend MD classes during the day.”

(Responding to the question)…Was studying for the civil services exam difficult, since he came from a different academic background? (he said) “Yes, but madrasa education has given me the power to think and I have good knowledge of philosphy since it was explained properly in the madrasa,” he said.

About his experience at the RSS-run Samkalp, Rehman said, “I did not feel any bias. They are doing a good job,” he said.

So far, so good…Now read this report: Madrasa student cracks UPSC. It is almost identical except for the addition of this sentence to the third para above:

“In my three earlier attempts, I failed in the prelim exams. This time, it being my last chance, I worked harder and made it a point to pass the exams. By the grace of Allah I am among the successful candidates,’’ he said.

Also interesting is this tidbit:

…Those on the interview panel for the exam asked Rehman to explain why the ratio of males to females is more equal for Muslims than for other communities. “I answered everything in the light of Islam and they were convinced by my replies,’’ he added.

I would be very keen to hear what he said.

Talking about his experience at the RSSrun Samkalp, Rehman said, “It was a great time. They even informed me that I was selected for the coaching class and called me up regularly until I joined them. I did not feel any biased attitude over there. They are doing a good job,’’ he said. Of 825 IAS aspirants trained by Samkalp, 295 have passed the exam this year.

Now for the twist:

From Not aware of IAS institute’s RSS connection – Deoband cleric (from IANS). Note the snide insinuations:

…”I was not aware that Sankalp, the coaching institute located in Jhandewalan (New Delhi), was run by the RSS,” Rehman, 31, told IANS. “I had only gone to them for the interview test coaching and they held four-five classes and a mock interview,” he said.

Sankalp is a coaching institute run by RSS for civil service aspirants. It has minimal charges and ropes in retired civil servants — preferably those close to the right wing Sangh parivar ideology. Claiming to be a highly professional institute, Sankalp boasts of a high success rate. It has several branches in Delhi and other cities.

Rehman had to start from scratch as nobody in his circle knew how to go about the preparations for the exams. “I collected the relevant books and took coaching from institutes other than Sankalp,” he said.

Congratulations Waseem-ur-Rehman and we hope your story inspires many others. Well done!

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The great joke that is Indian media – part 2 *must read* 

The great joke that is Indian media… 

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7 Responses

  1. edbooked says:

    If education enables one to think freely and more clearly by using one’s God-given ability to reason, how is it that adverse consequences are administered when one dares to contradict the philosophies of the instructors. Blind faith is not educated thought. There are none so blind as they who refuse to see, even when confronted with overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Neither does philosophical logic render one educated. Any good philosopher can lead you down the wrong path if you first buy into the philosopher’s basic assumptions. Don’t believe all you hear. The search for truth is a continuous journey. Critical thinking is essential to an educated person. Often fimes wisdom comes only after one has accumulated a degree of experience from which one can more wisely compare and contrast the potential of present situatiions.

  2. Well, the first thing that is proved is that muslims are not operssed minorty in India as they are fond of telling. A muslim in India, if he/she wants to be, can become anything they like ( can the Hindus in Pakistan or Bangladesh say so ? )
    The other thing to be noticed is that he was able to break thru not because of Madrassa, but inspite of Madrassa
    By the way does Mujjahudin or Taliban or Harqat ul Ansar operate coaching centres where minorities can get help without discrimination ? ( RSS is often called terrorist outfit by pseudo-secularists and placed in level of muslim terrorist organisations )

  3. Indian Patriot says:

    RSS is a Majority Terrorist Group in INDIA and they Even Collecting Funds from UK and Other European Communities of INDIAN”s. It’s A revealed Fact that RSS planned to ASSASSINATE THE FATHER OF INDIA. They are doing DRILL and Physical Training across the country too.. So Government banned RSS Many time in the country for their activities. RSS still not believe in INDIAN SECULAR Constitution.

    INDIA given birth to several religions. for example Budha, jaina, Sikh are born in INDIA. Now a days You can only find them rarely in INDIA… but they are still Major relegions in other ASIAN countries like China, Japan, Thailand Nepal etc.

    Aryans who came from Hindukush Mountains searching for better life and grass fields to feed their COWS, finally they found a wonderful civilization in the Vally of INDUS River with living DRAVIDIAN. Finally attacked those Dravidians invaded INDIA and made cast systems in INDIAN Community. We lost the Great Civilizations because of the Aryan’s Attacks and Wars. The Aryans Lost their control over the INDIAN community lately when other relegions reached the Land. People who where suffering from CAST system wanted to breath freely.. so they accepted other religions.

    Aryans still wanted to control the INDIAN society through a hidden strategy posting ARYANS in the Major administrative Civil service positions and even in the Military. They Reforming Politics according to their views which will lead secular INDIA to a critical situation.Bajrang Dal, RSS, BJP are the results of that. so be aware of that.

  4. B Shantanu says:

    Indian Patriot: I have not seen you on this site before, so welcome.

    However your comment leaves much to be desired – riddled as it is with several glaring inaccuracies, false statements and innuendos…It is also poorly composed which suggests to me that this is a “boiler-plate” comment using a pre-defined template (or a poor cut-and-paste job).

    I am letting your comment stay for this time around but be aware that future comments in this vein may be deleted without notice.

    Re. the various points you have raised, for RSS and Mahatma Gandhi’s assasination, you will find a document under “Docs and Slides” on the “Links” page or (click here) for more on this subject. Pl. read that.

    Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs are not “rare” in India – If you are from India, you would know this.

    As for the “Aryan Invasion Theory” – I would humbly suggest you do some reading on the side, starting perhaps with this two posts:

    The Aryan-Dravidian Controversy

    and Revising the “Aryan Invasion of India” Theory

    You may also find this interesting: On “AIT”, Islamic Invasions and “Whitewashing History”

  5. sandeep says:

    Dear sir,

    i am totally appreciation of RSS i am also a sawaysewak but sir i want to know Sankalp coaching centre for preparing of IAS Services dear sir Please tell me about this matter

    thanks

    sundeep

  6. B Shantanu says:

    Sandeep, I am not aware of the address myself but I am forwarding your email to some people who may know.