The Indian muslim woman and her veil
Islam is by far the most talked about yet the least known religion. Women of this religion are subject to certain rules that should be followed. What does 62 years of independence really mean to the Indian Muslim women?
THE HIJAB came into being with Islam itself. It referred to the dressing up of women decently, since they were considered to be very distractive for men. The burqa, as it later came to be known, was essential since it helped women remain dignified and pure and at the same time attractive and yet not revealing. It gave them a sense of comfort and religious belonging. It was just a way of life that the Quran says is necessary and in fact an integral part of their Islamic religion and identity. The purdah system as we all know is a practice that has been going on ever since the idea of Islam originated. It basically refers to the ideal way of dressing wherein the entire body is covered except the eyes.
Shah Bano, the heroic lady who decided to take her husband to court for not giving maintenance and also divorcing her after 43 years of marriage, is amongst those, who have tried to raise their voice against the injustice that prevails in society against Muslim women.
The All India Democratic Women's Association, Women rights groups and other such alliances are usually curbed down very forcefully by other fundamentalist groups each time they come put to protest.
Sixty two years of independence should be a sign of liberation. Muslim women have done very well for themselves in life. They have been progressive and still maintained their dignity. e.g. Shabana Azmi.
This thinking is what requires to be liberated!
What one needs to understand is that no matter how connected we are to our identity, at the end of the day we are individuals and it is up to us to choose how we live, what we wear , how and where we eat etc. Despite six decades of independence, Muslim women in India face considerable challenges. Their poor socio-economic status reflects a lack of social opportunity which is exacerbated by their marginal status and also their illiterate husbands make things worse.
A few statements/facts:-
a) Nicolas Sarkozy said that the Burqa was “not welcome” in France (he has tried to ban it in his country).Sarkozy’s statement about Burqa, came at a time when he could have discussed more important strategic deals. In France, only about 1% of women actually wear the burqa. This statement attracted the angry criticism of Muslim leaders and clerics, besides a section of feminists around the world. Sarkozy’s own argument is that the number of women wearing the burqa is increasing and that this is a sign of religious radicalization.
b) The literacy rate of Muslim women was found to be 21.91 per cent - lower than even the poor national average of 24.82 per cent.
c) Sofie Ashraf, a young musician who raps while wearing a burqa is the perfect example why these stereotypes often do not apply. “We love Islam, so we wear burqa.” she says, and adds that it comes with a responsibility.
In a context where the Shari'a is used to justify women's subordination, it is imperative for Muslim women in India to enter the discourse on the Shari'a with reference to personal law, and challenge their historic marginalization from religious knowledge.
It is a known fact the Muslims in India are economically very poor , hence it shouldn’t be a problem for a female to also go out, work and earn for a living , but that is where the whole problem lies. What the Muslims” need to understand is that there is little relevance of burqa at workplace.
Financial constraints, gender bias and a patriarchal society are enough to make life hell for these women. Lack of opportunity defines their life and furthermore we burden them with religious practices.
It is time for these women to smile and laugh in the face of a history of repression and discrimination. Yes, the burqa is a good system, yet it is NOT mandatory and hence we must remember that. Today as we enjoy our independence for yet another year we must pledge to liberate the Muslim women and just let them be on their own. Let them decide what is correct and what is not. Let us just guide them and not bind them to our thoughts. Let us be progressive and only then can India, along with all its Hindu and Muslim men and women, progress.
The All India Democratic Women's Association, Women rights groups and other such alliances are usually curbed down very forcefully by other fundamentalist groups each time they come put to protest.
Sixty two years of independence should be a sign of liberation. Muslim women have done very well for themselves in life. They have been progressive and still maintained their dignity. e.g. Shabana Azmi.
This thinking is what requires to be liberated!
What one needs to understand is that no matter how connected we are to our identity, at the end of the day we are individuals and it is up to us to choose how we live, what we wear , how and where we eat etc. Despite six decades of independence, Muslim women in India face considerable challenges. Their poor socio-economic status reflects a lack of social opportunity which is exacerbated by their marginal status and also their illiterate husbands make things worse.
A few statements/facts:-
a) Nicolas Sarkozy said that the Burqa was “not welcome” in France (he has tried to ban it in his country).Sarkozy’s statement about Burqa, came at a time when he could have discussed more important strategic deals. In France, only about 1% of women actually wear the burqa. This statement attracted the angry criticism of Muslim leaders and clerics, besides a section of feminists around the world. Sarkozy’s own argument is that the number of women wearing the burqa is increasing and that this is a sign of religious radicalization.
b) The literacy rate of Muslim women was found to be 21.91 per cent - lower than even the poor national average of 24.82 per cent.
c) Sofie Ashraf, a young musician who raps while wearing a burqa is the perfect example why these stereotypes often do not apply. “We love Islam, so we wear burqa.” she says, and adds that it comes with a responsibility.
In a context where the Shari'a is used to justify women's subordination, it is imperative for Muslim women in India to enter the discourse on the Shari'a with reference to personal law, and challenge their historic marginalization from religious knowledge.
It is a known fact the Muslims in India are economically very poor , hence it shouldn’t be a problem for a female to also go out, work and earn for a living , but that is where the whole problem lies. What the Muslims” need to understand is that there is little relevance of burqa at workplace.
Financial constraints, gender bias and a patriarchal society are enough to make life hell for these women. Lack of opportunity defines their life and furthermore we burden them with religious practices.
It is time for these women to smile and laugh in the face of a history of repression and discrimination. Yes, the burqa is a good system, yet it is NOT mandatory and hence we must remember that. Today as we enjoy our independence for yet another year we must pledge to liberate the Muslim women and just let them be on their own. Let them decide what is correct and what is not. Let us just guide them and not bind them to our thoughts. Let us be progressive and only then can India, along with all its Hindu and Muslim men and women, progress.
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