Muslim
women are challenging both the conservative Muslim clergy and the Hindu Right’s
politics of polarisation
ByZakia
Soman
In recent
years, we have seen the emergence of a new Muslim woman. She is bold and
articulate. She is not willing to be confined to the four walls of her home and
wants to participate in the democratic discourse taking place in the country.
Importantly, she does not trust the orthodox clergy to represent her. She is
aware of her rights as a citizen and as a Muslim within her religion. She does
not tolerate violation of her rights by anyone.
Ordinary
women led the democratic movement against triple talaq, and they are now
protesting against a discriminatory and unjust law that makes religion the
basis of citizenship. Muslim women are proudly saying that we are Indians and
we are Muslims. Several petitioners against triple talaq invoked gender
equality provisions based on the Constitution. Women are yet again seeking to
uphold the Constitution by protesting the religion-based Citizenship Amendment
Act (CAA), which is seen in conjunction with a possible National Register of
Citizens (NRC).
Women are
challenging the long-established tradition of all-male clergy claiming
leadership of the Indian Muslim community. Women are also challenging the
rightist politics of religious polarisation. They are building a new narrative
invoking democratic values of justice, equality and secularism enshrined in the
Constitution. This is refreshingly different from the calls to protect the
Shariat and Islam commonly attributed to the Muslim leadership.
Census and
other official data suggest that Muslims have consistently slid into
backwardness and poverty since Independence
The image
of a conservative religious male as spokesperson of the country’s largest
minority has been hugely problematic not just for Muslims but for India
It has been
difficult for ordinary Muslims to cast-off the stranglehold of the clergy,
which has consistently enjoyed political patronage. The absence of a democratic
leadership within the community has contributed further to the problem.
Rightist politics has hugely benefitted from this phenomenon. But women’s
democratic leadership can possibly change things.
Muslim
women have always been caught between political considerations and personal
marginalisation. They have suffered in matters as such triple talaq and
polygamy, owing to patriarchal misinterpretations of religion. The Shah Bano
episode is just one example of Muslim women being denied their rights under the
family law. It is shocking that this was done in the name of secularism.
Between 1986 and now, things have changed for the better. A new voice has been
taking shape, particularly in the present decade. It has been a voice seeking
mutual respect, harmony and justice for all. But the political parties and the
clergy have been unmindful, even dismissive, of this voice. The Congress does
not want to anger the ulema and the BJP benefits from demonising the Muslim. It
is an ode to our democracy that fellow citizens are welcoming this voice.
Women’s
voice has been gaining strength and finding support within the community as
well. The movement against triple talaq received huge support from the wider
public. The nightly debates on TV channels saw women bravely taking on the
ulema who were all arguing for perpetuating the patriarchal status quo. They
have always stonewalled any effort to reform Muslim personal law. The women
openly questioned their understanding of religion, and spoke eloquently about
the Koran and the gender justice principles contained in it.
The Shahi
Imam of Jama Masjid declared that there was no threat to Muslims when the CAA
was passed. Many among the ulema said that there was no cause for concern. But
ordinary women sensed the threat to their citizenship from the combination of
the CAA and NRC.
They
asserted their Indianness by joining the protests led by students in different
parts of the country. Muslim women protesting alongside fellow compatriots
waving the national flag is a wonderful and patriotic image. It is a
celebration of India