One Pakistani intelligence report indicates that potential terrorists are spotted and recruited by Jihadi leaders and organizations from the ranks of the poor, unemployed, uneducated, and possibly brainwashed youths at mosques or madrassahs. Belonging to an extremist organization gives these otherwise powerless youths a sense of identity and relevance. This is a phenomenon also common to the recruitment strategies of some of the political parties.

CAUSES, EFFECTS AND RESPONSES

Madrassas generally do not charge tuition and attract very poor students who would not receive any education otherwise. They also provide boarding, lodging, and clothing. In essence the madrassas seem to provide sustenance to economically weak individuals. performing the role of providing welfare in a country which does not have a social security net.

President Pervez Musharraf’s doctrine of enlightened moderation has received a mixed welcome. The objective is to re transform the madrassah into its original identity as a center of learning, progressive thinking. However this effort at transformation is meeting up with stiff resistance, not because of its goals but because of the methods employed by the government, and the perceived motivation behind the transformation. Equally important is the fact that the resources required to bring about this transformation are simply not there.

Commendable as the government’s efforts are, they address only the symptoms of the problem, and work only towards changing these institutions. The root causes go unaddressed, with the result that terrorism and extremism will simply find other venues, to grow from and flourish in. Poverty and lack of education provide fertile soil and a rich harvest for these causes. The wars, invasions, occupations and blatant religious discrimination in the West at official and cultural levels have only added further fuel to the fire.

Some of the blames and claims against madrassahs are well grounded and justified. The true causes and historical significance offer great insight into the problem. Even so, madrassahs have become a target of convenience for many governments in their frenzy to identify the real roots of terrorism. As often is the case, there is another side to the story. Providing a balanced view of madrassahs, the film will explore the problems for which they are being blamed and from where they come.

Ironically, problems such as terrorism affect madrassahs as much as the rest of the globe and symptoms are showing. A centuries-old institution of learning is threatened. Through the eyes of one young boy, the issues at stake for the bettering of humanity become clearer. The film explores how culture and faith can continue to grow in the face of political and economic turmoil while laying to rest some misconceptions, which if not checked are dangerous enough to fan the flames higher.

Good or bad, the influence of madrassas on rural people and the poorer sections of the urban proletariat is undeniable, and will continue to increase as poverty increases.