Bihar’s Underprivileged Families Send Children to Distant Madrasas for Education

Every year, Saddam, a resident of Bagdahara village in Bihar’s Araria district, undertakes the significant task of escorting children to a madrasa situated hundreds of miles away in Maharashtra. This April, he was entrusted with the responsibility of taking 100 children from his village to a madrasa in Latur, where they would receive free education, a vital opportunity for many in this impoverished region.

Saddam’s own educational journey mirrors the path he now facilitates for others. He recalls his own years spent studying in a madrasa in Gujarat, where he and his friends were sent by an elder from their village every year via train. This tradition of seeking education in distant madrasas has become a lifeline for families in Bihar, where local educational resources are often insufficient.

On April 11, this year, Saddam boarded the Patna Purna Express, accompanied by his six-year-old son, his wife, and three daughters. However, their journey was interrupted at Deen Dayal Upadhyay junction in Uttar Pradesh when they were asked to disembark by the Railway Police Force. Faced with this unexpected challenge, they produced the necessary documents and even arranged for parents to communicate with officials via phone, ultimately allowing them to continue their journey.

Yet, the obstacles did not end there. Just eight hours into their journey, as the sun set, they were once again halted and required to leave the train in Madhya Pradesh. This persistent disruption highlights the broader issues faced by families seeking educational opportunities outside their immediate environment.

For many families in Bihar, especially in districts marked by extreme poverty, sending children to madrasas in other states has become a necessary recourse. The allure of free education and the promise of a better future drives these families to make significant sacrifices. The journeys are often fraught with challenges, but the hope for a brighter future keeps them determined.

Source: scroll.in