Poonam Nath

‘Operation Sindoor’ to be included in Uttarakhand madrasa curriculum

Digital Desk: The Uttarakhand Madrasa Board has announced that "Operation Sindoor" – India's recent military strike against terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir — will be included in the official madrasa curriculum.

Board Chairman Mufti Shamoon Qasmi announced on Tuesday after meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, during which he praised the cross-border operation as an "epic" act that deserves classroom attention.

"We met with the Defense Minister and congratulated him and the Prime Minister. "Pakistan is an evil country, and this operation taught us a valuable lesson," Qasmi further stated.

He further stated that the inclusion seeks to "mainstream" madrasas and align them with national opinion. "To bring madrasas into the mainstream, we will include this operation in our curriculum," he added.

The Uttarakhand Madarsa Board Act of 2016 offers the board power over curriculum design and textbook approval. Mufti Qasmi has advocated integrating Sanskrit and Hindu scriptures into madrasas, although these ideas are still pending.

Operation Sindoor represents the board's initial step toward patriotic religious education. The state administration has intensified its campaign on unregistered madrasas, closing nearly 180 for operating without proper accreditation. In December 2024, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami issued a directive that imposed recognition norms.

The initiative gathered pace after the Madrasa Board's Recognition Committee convened for the first time in nearly five years on February 27, just one day before the enforcement action began.

Mufti Qasmi was outspoken in his criticism of the Congress party, accusing it of historically separating Muslims from India's national identity. "Under CM Dhami's leadership, we are committed to reversing that trend," he told reporters.

The decision has aroused debate in the political and educational communities. Supporters hail it as a constructive step toward national integration, while detractors say it would further politicize religious education.