labrys, études féministes/ estudos feministas
julho/dezembro 2015 - juillet/décembre

 

Society Reformation by Muslim Women

Ayesha Khatun

Abstract

Today, Indian Muslim women are rethinking about their own society, struggling and progressing well. Though for a long time they stayed inside and even now there are attempts to keep them inside the four walls in India but a number of Muslim women are trying to come out and helping others as well.  Whenever there is any crisis regarding gender issues, Muslim women equally participate in an organized way and register their protest. The paper aims to discuss in details the contributions of some of the Muslim women in contemporary times and their lived experiences especially of Jamila in Hyderabad, Rehana near Deoband, Yasmin in Mumbai and my own in Birbhum (West Bengal). Our aim is to focus on the Muslim women’s contributions and critically examine their role in bringing social change from within.

In recent years the Muslim women are trying to progress in the society with their own ideology by doing different work in different fields. Although they have lived in the dungeon behind the veil created by the society. Even today the problem is still persisting. Yet the Indian Muslim women are facing all odds and trying to liberate themselves. They have tried to cross all hurdles and are trying to establish themselves with their ability and logic nationwide in different fields. This way few women of this kind of spirit along with their household chores can enlighten other fellow mates and set an example.  We can name a few- Ayesha Khatun- from Birbhum,  Rehna- Uttar Pradesh, Jamila from Hyderabad, Hasina from Malda, Yashmin  from Mumbai, Sabina from Lukhnow, Hamida from Kashmir, Tanji from Bangaluru, Tahmina from 24 Parganas, Banu from Murshidabad, Tanveer Nasreen from Burdman, Salina from Hoogly and Kishawar from Muzaffar Nagar.

I will briefly discuss some of the above mentioned women’s life, their change in mind set and their idea of reformation of the society.         

 

Rehna from Muzaffar Nagar (UP)

Rehna was born in Muzaffar Nagar. When she was a child, her mother Botul passed away and she lost her childhood. Her step mother started torturing her. Little Rehna sometimes had to go without food.  Sometimes her books were snatched away and she was not allowed to sleep on bed. To add to her troubles even her uncles used to torture her physically. Rehna’s father Bashir Ahmed loved her dearly but he was helpless. One day Rehna went away to her maternal uncle’s house. But there also she did not get any love and affection as she was a girl and on top of that an orphan.

 Rehna got married at the age of 14 years. She thought this marriage would bring some love in exchange of her physical labour rendered to the family. But her situation did not change. Rehna was from a poor family and soon she gave birth to five daughters and one son. This was the turning point of her life and she began to strive for human rights. From her childhood she used to think of ways to take revenge of people who tortured her, misbehaved or molested her. She did not want to spare any one.  She soon started her education and slowly realized where the roots of trouble were. So she changed her mind of taking personal revenge instead, turned towards the society to uproot the cause of the troubles. She mainly started her work in Muzaffar Nagar, Shyamli, Burhana and Shahapur all in the district of Utter Pradesh.  

 When she started her work, her in laws criticized her and called her “Road side girl”. Some even advised her husband not to allow her from going out of the house since she is disgracing the family.  So she was physically assaulted several times by her husband. Some raised questions asking if she was a Muslim girl. She did not know how to react to such situations. But Rehna did not bother much; and took her own complaints to the Police station.  Then she would seek their help for many other problems she faced in her work, so the people started addressing her as the second wife of the Police.

Even after all this she did not stop fighting, she thought that the hurdles at work are making her more skilful and she became even more confident. Although her work was mainly concentrated to the household rivalries but slowly she started having confrontation with the Maulvis. The Maulvis lived in Deobandar and her house was close by. She found that weal women were always restraining from doing various activities. She started to safe guard them.

Young girls used to be married off by the consent of the Maulvis. Rehna announced a “Jihad” (holy war) against such evil doings. Maulvis got very angry with her interference in their work.      

Rehna got more confidence from “Imrana”- we are familiar with this name since she is a victim and is a example of humility. Rehna was the one to fight her case in the court and also won it. Although she wins the battle but she became the target. She was also attempted to be murdered but she managed to survive somehow. But a fresh torture started on her- someone or the other filed a case against her.

Since Rehna was engaged in this kind of work- people did not even accept sweets from her during Id. Her father was also not allowed to visit the Mosque. He was even attacked by the anti socials in his house.

Rehna found that most of the men would assault their wives after getting drunk. So she started a movement against “Liquor”. She would take up cases of women who were a victim to this and lodge a complaint on the Police station. So she now has 7 cases running in her name. She also worked in the field of “Women Trafficking”. She has rescued one girl and helped her to start an new life she helped to study. Not only had that she taken out a warrant against those who had sold her.

This way Rehna continued her work against the wrong doers, drunkards, Maulvis, women traffickers etc.  Although she got many worries yet she was inspired to continue her good deeds by the affected people and also the local government. They have benefitted from her work. They have always blessed her and have awarded her. Rotary India, Asoka award Hindus, she became a social leader.

Now she is willing to work with new generation and train them up so that they can continue the noble work till the society does not accept the Muslim women on the same platform as men and give them the equal human rights- Rehna’s work will continue. Rehna does not mind sacrificing her life for this good cause.

 

Jamila Nishad Hyderabad

She was born in Hyderabad, old City. She started her work after the riot of 1992. She first joined herself with some others but later left that and started her own organization named “ Sahin”. In 1998 her office was burnt by the anti socials. She again looked for a new accommodation and set up an office there. She was again affected by the Gujrat riot. She started a full- fledged work with 29 slums, Muslims, Dalits and OBC.

Seeing the effect of the riot Jamila understood that if this religious rivalry was not prevented then India can never progress. She also found that in such riots women and children were the worst sufferers. So her work was now restricted to safe guarding “female gender” and “communal Harmony”.

Doing this work – she gathered some memorable experiences. She found that she was attacked by women whom she had once helped. They have helped to break into her office.” “ Jameya  Milliya” an Islamic Institution had filed a case against her saying that she is going against the religious bounds. But she fights her case and also wins. Jamila helps to give legal support to all Muslim women who have got a Talak   (Divorce) from their husband. This also had an adverse effect on her. those husbands turned against her and filed a case saying that she was misguiding their wives and taking them to the wrong path. Jamila has motivated the women to go against their husbands. For Human rights Jamila had to visit the court for several times.  

Jamila saw a positive sign after this. Those Muslim women joined her in her work. Some political parties have also supported her on many occasions but not always.

Many Hyderabad’s Muslim girls joined her work - among them an ordinary girl who has only studied up to class VIII has travelled up to South Africa- Ghana at the age of 24. Another girl at 21 years has been to Joan berg.   Besides Jamila has travelled many places- Africa, Europe, Italy, Bangkok, Bangladesh, Nepal, Srilanka and America to spread her work.

Jamila has seen life very closely and has learnt to compose poetry books- Lava, Lamhe ki Saugath, Lamhe ki Aankh, Butterfly, Paris’s etc.

Jamila also got many awards for her work. Bringing poetry to life.( Devi), Promoting Dokhni Language award, Government award, lady award etc.

Right now she works directly with 1000 girls. Indirectly she is working with 300-5000 girls. She is working very hard to present her work in front of people.  She has become a member of Nov national Allowance of Women in Telenga level meeting etc.

Jamila wants that girls should get equal rights and a healthy life. 

 

Yasmin

Yasmin was born in Mumbai city. In 1992 when there was Hindu- Muslim riot and this riot made her a social worker. She helped to send relief to people. She risked her own life and visited door to door to find out how each one is keeping. Slowly this way she became a social worker. The name of her organization was –“ Awaaz Niswaah” meaning “ girl’s voice”.

In 1992 she had an office in the Hindu locality. The Hindu people used to pass comment on the women in Burkhas and try to agitate them. So they were forced to leave that office. While they were engaged in doing this sort of work- they realized that there were several Muslim women who were being tortured in the house. Muslim men indulged to polygamy. They were driving their wives out of the house without any reason. They even gave them Talak when they liked. That is why Yasmin’s Organization started working for their rights. They started a “Nikaah nama”. They put aside all old rituals and started a “Family counselling”   in their office. Muslim women started flocking to their office to get justice.

Seeing this, the Ulema got very angry and took out a charge sheet in Yasmin’s name.  That time Yasmin’s organization was not financially strong. But they got financial aid from another organization named “Forum”  

  In the short span of 1992-2001 –Yasmin had changed her office 28 times for various reasons. Sometimes because of Riot sometimes because of communal problem. Now many oppressed women who escaped being killed by their husbands or tortured in their in-laws place came and joined Yasmin.

The organization tried to incorporate new ideas.  Muslim girls left the four walls of their houses and wanted to see the world. These women had never gone out of Mumbai. They wanted exposure, they also wanted to do further studies and learn English. Some even wanted to be photographers. They felt that they were deprived and have seen nothing.

One surprising thing to consider that Yasmin also came from an orthodox Muslim family. The women of their house were not allowed to go out. But Yasmin had ignored all rules of the house and came out to be a social worker.

 

Ayesha Khatun

In the Birbhum district of West Bengal Mahammod  Bazar in the remote area was my village-“Heruka”

From my childhood we had restrictions. I was very ambitious. On one side I would think of doing something big and on the other side I had restrictions. There were restrictions in our thinking- our village had restriction to do anything. Teachers who taught us- they also restricted to teach only a certain part. So this made our thoughts under nourished. I was then a student of class IV. A year senior to me was Saira Banu. She was getting married at that age.  I asked my father-“Why was she getting married, will she not study further?” 

My father said that she was dumb and cannot talk so she is getting married. But I knew that she could speak. In two years she was murdered in her in-law’s place.

 Now I asked my father again- he replied- “ Her Parents did not want her to live.” That time I did not understand him.

Just after sometime we were subjected to torture for higher studies. The Muslim society started blaming us to have violated the rules of the Koran and we have left the “Poordah”. Their rude words made me a revolutionary from inside.

In my growing period I saw so much torture around me- there was so much partiality between girls and boys. All this used to agitate me. The sinners are talking about religion used to surprise me. I used to listen to ask that they said and quietly wait for someone among us to protest. But no one did  but I found  how they tortured my family.

I opened my mouth in the pretext of Saira Banu, “Why was she murdered?”

“What did the religion say?”

“What did her mom and her relatives say?”

“What had the society to say?”

Everyone said the same thing- she was not a good girl. If she was not a good girl – why should anyone murder her? What has the court to say?

 Court is helpless with millions of pending cases. Then the law is also blind and cannot see.

So whom to say? What to say? I myself started talking in my work. I told them education brings awareness and awareness brings “Freedom”  I was thinking of “Women’s liberation”. When I myself did not know the true meaning. I enjoyed the Total freedom when I found myself free from all bindings. My flag for freedom was the insults that I was subjected to for all these years. We were blamed to have violated the “Poordah System”. So I started learning “Muslim Personal Law.” And working on it. Muslim women were divorced without any reason and it is not a big thing for the men to give “Talak”.  Muslim girls are so helpless- they neither get their husband’s property nor their father’s property.  Since a Muslim father has to sell his land to arrange for the dowry to give in his daughter’s marriage. The Muslim girls keep losing their rights. But if we go by the law- we find that in the year670 year after 40 years only Muslim girls were supposed to get their husband’s property as well as father’s share. So by now the Muslim women by now should have been financially strong. Muslim widows could re-marry. Muslim girls could select their own groom. So considering all this a Muslim girl should have been the most powerful in the world in terms of intelligence and wealth. A woman should only decide how she wants to lead her life. But nothing like that happened. A Muslim gilr only has to bear the burden of Talak. They are getting trodden by the male dominated society.  They are just mint to render service in running the house.

So I kept on insisting them. Read and read- understand what you read. Education will teach you to talk and be logical.

In the 1999, girls had the right to choose their groom. When I said this I was insulted by my “Would be” . He slapped me on my cheek with his slippers of his right foot. I was dumb founded, insulted and cried a lot and my tears washed away all the emotional ties I had.

This was the turning point of my life. And marked the beginning of my expression. We the backward Muslim women started an organization. We started to arouse Human rights in women. We worked for Schedule tribes.  We were concerned about their higher education. If there are reserved seats then why is the condition of the backward class so pathetic?

I found that there was a problem in their infra structure. This field was very complex. The language in which they were taught as it was not in their mother tongue. So the Primary education was wrong and so their base was very weak. Thus they could not go much further. So I started work with the tribal children. In doing this I got another award. In 2010 a promoter wanted to build a school for these tribal children in the village and given estimation for a lump sum amount from the Government. O heard that and said that sum of money I could have a bigger room in Kolkata itself to teach the backward class. But the promoter did not listen. So I knocked the doors of the higher authority and forced them to listen to me. The promoter got angry and tried to run me over. I escaped somehow but the wheel of the car crushed all my fingers of my left toe.

On 21st 2011 I was travelling to Kolkata up Gandevta express – I got up in the lady’s compartment and found that 21 ladies had occupied 21 seats. They were lying down and not letting anyone to sit. I reminded them that they cannot do this as the seats were unreserved. I was working for human rights after all. These ladies were all high school subject teachers. They threatened me by saying that they know how to teach a mad woman like me a lesson. This way we started having hot discussion- when they started hitting me. They procked safety pins on my head- they kicked me all over- when I was have sense less they tried to throw me out of the running train but by God ‘s grace the GRP police rescued me.

On 5th November 2011 Saturday at pm. nearest - a village called me to open a small school there. When I went there I found that half the village was present there and they started questioning me as to which religion did I belong to before I turned to Christianity?  I was surprised by this. The situation was very complex there and I told them when did I change my religion of being a “woman”? They tried to lock me in a room and set it in fire. They did lock me up inn room but some of the village girls rescued me from getting burned. I told them that my work is to educate and education only brings awareness and awareness will bring liberation.

One day Muslim girls will be leaders. They will lead the family- Panchayat, Sabha, Samitee and over all the Country.

I made these leaders and took their account of work. So educating is a big work. I spoke to many women of the village and found that they were “drop outs from schools” . Their guardians had discontinued their studies for small reasons.  Some even kept them home to make them ready for marriage. I started giving them little support to start their studies again. The girls were under nourished so I also saw to their diet. So that they too can have a healthy living. Child marriage was common there – girls of 12, 13, 14 were married off. I tried to stop this by giving the girls small jobs. But I was again confronted with trouble in 2013 on 19 April. When a class IX student in Heruka Bathan was getting married- I tried to convince her parents to stop this wedding. But I was brutally beaten up by the local women of that village. I was the student of the same High school that was situated close by- but unfortunately the teachers of that school also supported child marriage. I was quite surprised to see this.

I told them that-“I will go on saying this – if you kill me- I have 1000s of revolutionaries working who will propagate my ideology”.

I kept on insisting that Child marriage means having sex with a child which is a sin. A girl should also enjoy sex as it is her human right.

We talk about social rights, religious rights, family rights, personal rights and National rights too of women and for their welfare. We want the share of our property but how can we protect it? So we had a “Demo Plot” in 2009. Here we had tried to cultivate the land of 1.5 hectares which also had pond dug over 10 kanta land. We cultivated fish in it. Made a coop for the ducks at the side of the pond. We could get eggs after every 40 days and earn about Rs10, 000/-. One seasonal vegetable and an orchard where we grew many desi or local fruits.

We also built a training center close by for women to train them. They would go back and cultivate their land in the same way as they were taught. We had 19 mango trees – one banana orchard and many fruit trees which made the area look evergreen until 26 January 2015 , I had   mentioned in a public meeting that our present political system had got damaged and don’t know which way is our country heading to . Some of the spectators in the meeting got so agitated hearing that – they set my farm on fire and reduced it to ashes in just half an hour.

Again I have slowly rebuilt my dream farm which throws light to our way to freedom.

 

Now I am presenting Rehna’s last letter for my people-

Rehna had fires the rapist with her gun and so she was sentenced to death – hung till death – by the Supreme Court of Iran on 25th October. She wrote her last letter to mom. It was a heart touching letter where she has insisted her mother not to lament over her death.  She says that she has summoned her own death. She thinks it is her fate. She does not repent for what she has done. In her last wish she has asked her mother to donate some of her body parts.

The hearth touching letter was presented in a public meeting by the authorities of the Human Rights. It was Rehna Jabbari’s last letter to her mother.

Dear  Soleh,

     Through Kisas ( legal letter of Iran) I came to know that I have reached the last day of my lifeas I would be punished by the Iran Law

I am little sad that you did not break this news directly to me- I am ashamed of that. If I knew I could have kissed your hand before my death.

The world allowed me to live only for 19 years. I was supposed to die that night when my body would have been thrown in a corner of the unknown lane. You would find my body in the morgue- raped before death. Of course my murders would not be punished since we don’t have money nor power. It was my destiny. The sudden attack of that night has changed my life. The sudden attack has sent me to “Avil Jail”and not to any unknown lane. I was alone in the cell that was my grave when I got this news of life sentence.  Don’t worry this was my fate.

You know everything does not end with death. You have taught me that we are born  to get education and experience. We all have some responsibilities on our shoulder. We have to fight for our rights. You have only taught us this.

This reminds me of a childhood story related by you-

A person used be whipped everyday but one day he protested and he was brutally beaten to death. I learnt fom this that one needs to protest even if he has to sacrifice his life. We must accept death. You have taught me that in school also I should not forget my individuality. How minutely you taught your girls- the principles of life. But mom- you knew- wrong. Non of your teachings came to my use. In front of the court I was presented as a cold blooded murderer. I did not cry in the court nor did I plead since I had lot of faith in the legal body. But the court said I was a criminal and I did not repent for my wrong doing.

You know mom- I have never killed a mosquito  neither have I pressed a cockroach with my slippers. I have held the cockroach by its antenna and thrown it out of the window. A girl like me was accuses of a planned murder. After hearing my childhood stories the judge concluded that I was manly by nature. He did not notice my long polished nails at the night of the attack. So soft were my palm. I was so optimistic to get justice but all in vain.

Instead my hair was chopped off and I was to live in seclusion for 11 days. Do you see how in such a short span – your little daughter has grown so big?

Now listen to my last wish. Don’t cry- this is not the time to grieve.

Donate my kidney, bones, heart, eyes to the people who need it after I am hung. Please don’t disclose them my name. I don’t want them to go and offer flowers in my grave. Nor do I want you to sit in front of my grave in black clothes.

Just  forget my dark days.

This world did not love me and did not want me to be happy. Now death has taken me in its fold.

But God in Heaven will surely give me justice .i will point out all the police officers and lawyers who have betrayed me and given false allegation against me. Those who have camouflaged the truth and did not see the hidden truth.  My soft hearted mom remember- you and I shall be able to get justice in the court of heaven. The wrong doers will be punished. Lets see what God has in store for us. I want to hold you tight till I die- since I love you very much.

Daily mail

Rising B.D. 88 Romeo 88

Now we can see how Muslim girls are deprived of Human rights and we are fighting for it . We can understand this from the letter if the Irani girl’s letter to her mother. How she ended her life in the male dominated society.

Those male have brutally behaved with women folk. This world is a difficult place because a girl has to live those male – share the same roof and eat together. So their fight is with themselves- their family and society. The fight is with those who deprive them from their rights.

We girls are the soldiers who have to fight our own battles.

 

Biography

  Ayesha Khatun  Date of birth 12th July  1969; Educational qualification - History M.A/M.S.W/ Human Rights lawyer

Books published in Bengali - 1-Faridar Sat Khahan- (Seven-short story collection) 

                     2- Fire AAi ful baw   ( Nine  short story collection) 

                     3- Vangan Charit Katha (Novel) 

                     4-Roja (Novel)

                     5-Jaubone Protham Pa o kichu Proyojonio kotha ( For Adolescent Problems and solutions ) 

                     6-Nirab Karnofuli (collection of poems)

                     7-Bikalpo Barnoporichya ( for Tribal Child)

Award- 2003- Begum Rokeya Award for Faridar Sat khahon (from  Suraha Sampriti ,Kolkata)

           2008- Joung Writers award          for Fere Aai fulbaw (From- Bharotiyo Vhasa Porisad )

           2009- Illa Chand Smiriti Puraskar for  Faridar Sat khahon ( Bangiyo Shahitya Parishad)  

           2010- Kobita bangla Award , Dariya NAgar ,Bangla Desh ( Kobita BAngla ,Bangladesh )

           2012- Ajker Aparajita (Ruposhi Bangla TV channel ) 

           2012- Jaba puraskar (Paschimbanga Jaba Porishad).

 

 

 

 

 

labrys, études féministes/ estudos feministas
julho/dezembro 2015 - juillet/décembre