Muhammad Zahran Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Preparations to launch the Markaz Knowledge City, which aims to provide facilities for world-class technical and professional education especially to Muslim students in the southern Indian state of Kerala, are in final stages. This was announced at a press conference here by Sheikh Abubacker Ahmad, also known as Kanthapuram A.P. Abubacker Musaliyar, general secretary of All India Sunni Jam'iyathul Ulema and Jamia Markaz Ssaquafathi Ssunniyya. Sheikh Abubacker, who was in the Kingdom to perform Haj, lauded the Saudi government for making exemplary arrangements that ensured a successful Haj pilgrimage this year. He pointed out that the main aim of the knowledge city is raising a new generation of Muslims with high moral values and a deep knowledge of science and technology. The all-round development of backward communities, especially Muslims, in the fields of technical and professional education is a major priority, he said. The knowledge city will be set up at Kaithapoyil near Thamarassery on the Calicut-Wynad National Highway, he said. The knowledge city is an affiliate of the Markaz Ssaqafathi Ssunniya, a charitable religious institution in Karanthur near Calicut, which will manage the project. The Markaz has already purchased 125 acres of land for the new project. The first phase will cost around 3 billion rupees. An engineering college, a polytechnic and a Unani Medical College are being planned in the first phase. Business management courses in various streams, including information and communications technology, will be one of the key features of this education project, he said. An international school and a multi-specialty hospital are also being planned, he said. The goal is to make available professional education to the needy members of the community, Sheikh Abubacker said, adding that other students will pay fees fixed by the government in compliance with rules and regulations in the state. Proceeds from the knowledge city will be utilized for day-to-day operations of the Markaz at a later stage. More than 50,000 students have graduated from the Markaz since its inception in 1978 after completing various courses. They included 8,000 orphans and 7,000 religious scholars. The Markaz has also been expanding its charitable activities outside Kerala to empower weak sections of society. As many as 160 schools have already been opened in West Bengal, the eastern Indian state where Muslim students have limited access to educational facilities. Similar charitable activities are extended to other Indian states, such as Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Bihar under the Markaz supervision. Around 350 needy students from Haryana and West Bengal are currently studying at Markaz-runs schools and colleges. These pupils are also provided with free food and accommodation. The Markaz will celebrate its 35th anniversary at its campus in Karanthur on Jan. 4-6, 2013. A large number of scholars and leaders from within India and abroad will take part in the celebrations.
