New Delhi: Breaking religious barriers, 12-year-old Muslim girl Maryam Asif Siddiqui has aced an interschool competition on knowledge and understanding of the key Hindu holy book- Bhagwad Gita — with a hundred per cent score.
Class VI student from Mumbai, Maryam won the first position at the ‘Gita Champions League’ contest, defeating over 4,500 participants from 195 schools who were tested by International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in January this year.
Maryam, who received the prize on March 15, is simultaneously studying the Gita, the Bible and the Quran.
“I have always been inquisitive about different religions and often read free material on them during spare time. Last year, my teacher told me that there is a Gita competition where I should take part. I asked my parents about it and they too supported my idea of participating in the contest,” Maryam tells the Gulf News adding that “I really like the Gita. There were stories on how Krishna told Arjun how to lead life, how to respect everybody, how to execute one’s responsibilities. I liked all these things.”
The Gita, believed to be advice of Hindu deity Lord Krishna, is a 700-verse Hindu scripture that is a part of the epic Mahabharata. Its call for selfless action inspired many leaders of the independence movement, including the Father of India Mahatma Gandhi who referred to the Gita as his “spiritual dictionary”.
A student of Cosmopolitan High School, Mira Road, Maryam has always had conversations based on religion with her parents and had studied material provided by ISKCON for almost a month before answering the 100-mark multiple choice question-based test.
The English version of the book was given to students by ISKCON for the purpose of preparation. A teacher was also appointed to help students understand the book in detail.
“This was the first time I had attempted to read the Gita. We were also shown videos in school to help us understand the book better. Actually, when I used to visit my Hindu and Christian friends, I would get to know fascinating stories about their culture and different festivals. This got me interested in the Gita and the Bible,” she added.
The most important teaching that has stayed with her after reading the Gita is that “humanity is the ultimate religion.” Maryam feels that the most fascinating part in the Gita is that of ‘Lord Krishna.’
“He was so knowledgeable and cool. He taught so many nice and good things to his disciple Arjun,” Maryam says excitedly.
For her, there is only one God who is addressed by different names.
“I believe that there is one God, but we call him by different names. My parents have played a big role in making me realise that we should respect all religions. We even celebrate all festivals,”
she adds.
Maryam’s father feels knowledge of all religions should be instilled in children at a young age.
“Our family believes that one needs to respect and accept all religions. No religion preaches hatred or wrong. However, there are some members who misguide us. Before these have a bad influence on the children, we need to talk to them [children] and make them understand what is right.
In order to break free from religious discrimination, it is important for children to have an understanding of all religions and be sensitive towards them,” Maryam’s father Asif Siddiqui, who is the editor of a local magazine, tells Gulf News.
“We encouraged Maryam to recite the Gita, though in English, to make her understand the importance of the Mahabharata in Hindu religion. She prepared a whole month for the contest. We are delighted,” he adds.
Maryam’s teacher Sapna Brahmandkar feels proud she scored hundred per cent in the competition despite being from a different religion
“Every year, this exam is conducted in schools across the city. Since this subject is new to Maryam, she asked me to explain it to her. I took some classes. She asked many questions, but grasped everything quickly. It is because of her hard work that she won the competition,” Brahmandkar said.
Muslim cleric Maulana Umer Ahmed Ilyasi was also elated at the achievement.
“It is a matter of joy that a Muslim girl has won the first prize. Whether it is Gita or Quran, these are religious scriptures. Religion unites and not divides,” said Ilyasi.
