But isn’t this disorienting for young men growing up in Mumbai in 2006 who may wish to be part of the world outside, a world of jobs and job interviews. The retort is quick: “Why do you think the Quran does not allow for well-rounded students?”

The students here aren’t allowed to watch TV or to interact with girls or even watch a movie. Eighteen year-old Abdul Qadir is an ace student, he has spent two years here and says the Quran has taught him all he needs to know about contemporary times. He doesn’t appear enthused about either Shah Rukh Khan or Irfan Pathan — otherwise popular, especially with young Muslims — and says that he couldn’t care less. “Why should they be our role models?”

Even the winds of change are tentative. Director Sufi says he is keen to introduce computers, “some amount of English,” and would be delighted if his boys became doctors, professionals, but hastens to add: “Hamare mazhab pe aanch nahin aani chahiye. (Our faith must not be tampered with).” When asked if this insularity and this obsession with faith can fuel anger, Sufi says vehemently “No, in Islam, you are taught to swallow anger, not go about avenging wrongs.”

For poet-lyricist Javed Akhtar, this betrays a sense of denial. “Huge protests were held here against the Danish cartoons. If there was so much concern about besmirching the name of the Prophet, then why did we not see protests against the use of Mohammed’s name in Jaish-e-Mohammed, a terrorist outfit? That would have sent the right signal.”

... contd.