Srinivas Padma: Personal Musings on Life, Growth, and Connections

The announcement will help the man marry his fiancee, who is in the US. An Islamic seminary here has ruled in favor of marriage through the Internet, after a man asked if such weddings were valid. However, the wedding will be valid only if it is performed in the presence of witnesses, the Darululoom Deoband seminary said on Tuesday, while allowing such marriage under Shariat law. The nikah should be performed in the presence of two witnesses and an advocate who would solemnise the wedding by announcing the acceptance of the bride and groom, the fatwa department of the seminary said.

New Delhi, Dec. 28: Contrary to common perception, literacy level of Muslims is better than that of Hindus in seven Indian states, says a new book authored by noted demographer Mahendra K. Premi. At an all-India level, while the literacy level of the male population for all religious groups is 75.3 per cent and of Hindus 76.2 per cent, it is 67.6 per cent for Muslims, says the book Population of India in New Millennium: Census 2001. However, in Andhra Pradesh, while Muslim males enjoy a literacy rate of 76.5 per cent, that for Hindu males is 69.5 per cent. Similarly, in Gujarat, while Muslims have a literacy level of 82.9 per cent, it is 79.1 per cent for Hindus. In AP, female literacy level among Muslims is 59.1 per cent as against 49.2 per cent for Hindus. Again in Gujarat, 63.5 per cent of Muslim females are literate compared to 56.7 per cent Hindus. Mr Premi’s book reveals that both male and female Muslims enjoy better literacy levels in seven states — Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh,...