How would you react if you were told someone, somewhere in India teaches the Sanskrit and Quran? Would you be pleasantly surprised or salute the person doing so for breaking stereotypes? Rasiya Mohammedkutty does exactly this at an education centre in Kerala.
Being a devout Muslim, knowledge of the Quran came easy to her and soon enough she developed an interest in Sanskrit. Sanskrit was however not Rasiya’s first choice after she graduated in Chemistry from CMS College in Kottayam, Kerala. She developed an affinity for the language after she was approached by a group of Viswa Sanskrit Prathishthan volunteers, who approached her with leaflets regarding Sanskrit classes in 2012.
What makes her stand out even more is the fact that she does not look at this as breaking stereotypes of any type and rather feels that language and knowledge have nothing to do with religion. One cannot help but agree to her and echo her thought. Rasiya also holds a degree in the Neuro Linguistic Programme (NLP) degree, which qualifies her to counsel and teach autistic children.
Teaching is one of the rare professions where one passes on to others the knowledge attain and Rasiya believes that there is no place for any discrimination when it comes to attaining knowledge. She has this spirit deeply instilled in her 96 students among which are her daughters.
180 students have so far learnt Sanskrit under Rasiya and her students include well known Muslim preacher and scholar Rasheed Baqawi. About one-fourth of her students are Muslims and even though its immaterial since language and knowledge are open to all, in a country like ours this is no doubt an example to be followed.
Rasiya is a part of several training and teaching camps for women and has inspired a 60-year old lady to continue her education after completing her tenth standard exams through alternative education.
Rasiya also conducts Quran classes at her institute where she has diligent Hindu students who attend and take keen interest. What Rasiya has attained via her initiative is promoted the peaceful co-existence of religions and proven that indeed knowledge and education can succesfully break barriers.
