Bold Vision, Collective Action: Bengaluru Meeting Charts Path to Educate and Empower Dropout Children
Bengaluru | 14 July, 2024: In an emotionally charged and purpose-driven gathering at Shaheen’s Regional Office on Richmond Road, community leaders, educationists, and activists came together with a common mission: to combat illiteracy, drug addiction, and societal neglect by empowering dropout children from marginalized communities through education, values, and mentorship.
Fighting Illiteracy with Hope and Purpose
Dr. Abdul Qadeer called on civil society to rise above apathy and address the root causes of marginalization: illiteracy, drug abuse, beggary, and social extravagance.
“A dropout child is not a failure — it’s a child failed by society. We must act before their innocence is lost to drugs or their future drowned in poverty,” said Dr. Qadeer.
Veteran journalist and associate of JIH Syed Tanveer highlighted how Shaheen’s educational and social reform initiatives in Bidar had made a significant impact, turning the district into a 90% beggar-free city, drastically reducing drug addiction, and promoting simple, dignified marriages through the Easy Nikah movement.
Reviving the Role of Mosques and Community Spaces
Dr. Qadeer emphasized the need to rejuvenate the role of Masjids beyond just places of prayer.
“The Prophet ﷺ turned Masjid Nabawi into a center of transformation. Today, we must revive that vision. Masjid committees must engage in education, rehabilitation, and social reform,” he said.
Voices of Support: Clerics, Scholars, Activists Echo the Call
Prominent Islamic scholar Moulana Asif Khan Madani, convenor of the Karnataka Muslim Mushawarat, passionately supported the initiative:
“No child deserves to be left behind. This is not just about education — it’s about healing broken hopes. Educating the dropout children is the most urgent need of our time,” he said.
Activist Tanveer Ahmed of Active Bangalore Foundation spotlighted his campaign “Raah-e-Nijat”, focused on eradicating drug abuse among youth.
“We’re losing our children to substances. It’s not just an individual crisis—it’s a community emergency,” he warned.
Moulana Dr. Maqsood Imran, Khateeb of City Jamia Masjid, praised the Shaheen-led change in Bidar and endorsed replicating it across Bengaluru:
“We must build a city where there are no beggars on the streets, no drugs in schools, and no child denied education. That is the true spirit of Islam and humanity,” he said.
Community leader Masood Abdul Khader pledged full support to the cause, urging more NGOs to step forward and align their efforts for maximum impact.
Formation of ‘Bangalore Change Committee’
In a major takeaway, participants unanimously agreed to form an Ad-Hoc Coordination Committee for Change in Bangalore, tasked with mapping dropout students, engaging communities, and implementing the “Bidar Model.” Moulana Maqsood Imran volunteered to coordinate the committee and Feroz Abdullah, a well-known face of Bengaluru’s social sector, committed his time and resources to the cause.
A Message of Unity, Action, and Accountability
The meeting concluded with a powerful dua (prayer) by Moulana Maqsood Imran Rashadi, invoking divine guidance and community strength.
The mood was clear: It is time to act. Time to say no to illiteracy, no to drugs, no to social neglect. And yes to education, dignity, and collective progress.
Key Quotes:
🗣️ “Illiteracy is not just a problem — it’s a crisis of justice and opportunity.”
— Dr. Abdul Qadeer
🗣️ “A society that ignores its dropouts is preparing for its own downfall.”
— Syed Tanveer
🗣️ “The real ‘Sadqa’ is lifting a child from the street into a classroom.”
— Moulana Maqsood Imran
🗣️ “Masjids must become more than places of prayer — they must become engines of change.”
— Azeem Azeez
🗣️ “We cannot allow weddings to be celebrated while children are left uneducated.”
— Masood Abdul Khader
🗣️ “The first line of defense against drugs is dignity and purpose — and that starts with education.”
— Tanveer Ahmed
🗣️ “From Madrasas to mainstream — that is the journey we must enable for every child.”
— Moulana Asif Khan Madani
🗣️ “We cannot build a better society unless we build better futures for our children.”
— Feroz Abdullah
🗣️ “The greatest form of community service today is saving a child from ignorance and addiction.”
— Bahauddin
