Temple school in Pakistan where Muslim woman teaches Hindu students
Inside a Hindu temple in a shanty area in Pakistan's Karachi city, Anum Agha wearing the traditional hijab greets her students with 'Salaam' and gets a loud 'Jai Shri Ram' in response. Anum runs a school inside the temple in Basti Guru area. The school is situated in the middle of an informal Hindu settlement which, however, is facing constant threats from land grabbers.
Classes are conducted in the main area of the temple
In the informal settlement, 80-90 Hindu families live in a close cluster of wooden huts and some semi-constructed houses. "Everyone is surprised when I tell them about our school inside this temple but we had no other place to hold our classes when I first started coming here last year," Anum said. The classes are conducted in the main area of the temple.
Settlement isn't an ordinary piece of land for land grabbers
The lack of basic facilities is noticeable as one moves around the settlement located in Rehman Colony near Mahmoodabad but for land grabbers, it is not an ordinary piece of land.
Authorities cut electricity, water connections to the Basti
"There have been at least two incidents in last four years when some huts were set on fire and the Hindu families were threatened and told to get out of the area," Shiva Dharni, a community leader, said. Recently, authorities also cut electricity and water connections to the Basti, which was set up in the 60s when the Hindu families migrated from Sindh.
Muslim residents don't like my involvement with Hindu families: Anum
Anum reluctantly admits that some of the Muslim residents don't like her involvement with the Scheduled Caste Hindu families and her holding classes. "But I do it because these people are not even aware of their basic rights. Their children want to gain knowledge and education. Some of them attended other schools in the area but faced social and religious issues," Anum said.
I never talk about religion and avoid hurting sentiments: Anum
Anum said that Hindu elders were very happy that their children don't have to leave the settlement for education. Asked whether she has faced difficulties as a Muslim teacher, Anum said she did face challenges. "But I never talk about religion and avoid hurting their sensitivities. I try to keep them focused on different subjects and religion isn't one of them," she said.
