Apostles of Transformation

Foreword

Societies need to be reminded from time to time about those of its individuals who excelled and became role models to emulate. The essays collected in this volume are one such effort, a commendable one, to remind readers of a younger generation of some such personalities in recent times. The list is illustrative, not exhaustive. It is also community-specific and focused on the Muslim segment of India’s diverse population.

The reason for being selective is easily understood. Demographic and socio-economic data indicates that a substantial body of our citizens of Muslim faith, the second largest in the world and numbering around 200 million, are educationally and socially amongst the most backward segments of our population. They lag behind in gender equality and gender justice. A High Level Government Committee on the Status of Women in 2015 assessed that ‘through a combination of family, caste, community and religion, among others, patriarchal values and ideas are constantly reinforced and legitimized.’

In this context, those few who excelled and charted a bold new path need to be recognized. The essays do that in good measure but lead us to two other questions: did they become trend-setters? Do we find them making conscious effort to induce others (including those across class barriers) to emulate?

Everything else apart, an answer would seem to lie in access to education and to opportunities that emanate from social reforms. Field studies have shown that the three critical areas are education, social mobility and workforce participation and in each of these, Muslim women in India lag behind others in the larger community. Each of the examples before us tests positive on these three counts and gives us a clue to the road to success.

Desegregation of data is revealing. Less than 10 % of Muslim women have completed schooling. Only 29 % of Muslim women participate in the workforce compared to 70 % of others, and social mobility is ←ix | x→severely constrained on grounds of tradition and patriarchy. The equality and justice bestowed on them by faith is denied by tradition and practice.

About the Volume

The first chapter by Dr Faiza Abbasi is titled ‘Illustrious Women of the Muslim University at Aligarh’. The chapter is a compilation of prominent individuals who created a mark for themselves as alumni of AMU. It highlights the achievements of these individuals in their respective fields and traces their origins to the specific department/area of study/specialization at AMU. It establishes that AMU is a prestigious centre of learning given that it has shaped the thinking and careers of so many illustrious individuals of the nation.

The second chapter by Dr Shah Alam is titled ‘Vanguards of Change: Vignettes of Muslim Women Politicians in India’. The chapter documents the contribution of Muslim women to the Indian political structure. It also stresses the transformation in their representation in the mainstream political milieu in the pre- and post-independent India. Acknowledging the distinctive roles of Muslim women political leaders, the chapter also provides the bio-sketches and the contributions of some selected leaders. It establishes that there is a long list of prominent Muslim women who have shared the feminist platform provided by the Indian Women’s Movement to promote the cause of Indian women in general and Muslim women in particular despite facing numerous challenges because of the patricentric environment.

The third chapter by Dr S. Chandni Bi is titled ‘A Muslim Lady Icon: An Unknown Face’. The chapter is about the life and contribution of a remarkable woman who lived a very ordinary life in the service of people in her locality. She overcame many personal challenges and deployed family values much ahead of her time. While helping the society around her, she never compromised on the education and value systems of her own family and gave them all a decent life to live. The author makes the point that such ordinary people with extraordinary contributions should be recognized and celebrated.←xiii | xiv→

The sixth chapter by Dr Juhi Gupta is titled ‘Heralds of Social Change: Women of Abdullah Family Paving the Way for Future Generations’. Philosopher, reformist, academician, and a pioneer of women’s education, Shaikh Abdullah was a legendary personality whose ferocious efforts resulted in the emancipation of countless neglected women. He was accompanied by his wife and daughters in fulfilling his life’s mission of empowering Muslim women and children of early nineteenth-century India. These bold women played pivotal roles in influencing their surroundings in their own unique ways. Mumtaz Jahan, wife of Shaikh Abdullah, is hugely commemorated for her path-breaking role in popularizing education among young Muslim women in Uttar Pradesh. Women in Shaikh Abdullah’s family set a benchmark of success in diversity. Despite stiff opposition from clergy and orthodox Muslim families, they thrived in establishing a space for other Islamic women to survive and emerge victoriously. Their strong voices significantly impacted nineteenth-century Islamic society. The chapter aims to pay honour to the legendary lives of the wife and daughters of Shaikh Abdullah who modelled a path for generations to ←xiv | xv→come. Their awe-inspiring examples serve as an an epitome for those who seek empowerment, especially women and young girls, who constantly live under the pressure of orthodox patriarchal structures.

The ninth chapter by Professor Sabiha Hussain is titled ‘Muslim Women Contributors to the Legacy of Urdu Literature: Ismat Chughtai and Qurratulain Hyder’. The chapter looks at the contributions of Muslim women at the beginning of the rise of feminism and the women’s movement in India. It especially aims at targeting the legacy of Muslim feminist writers of India who stood at the front line of bringing feminist thoughts in Indian literature. As much as it is enthralling to celebrate the wavelength of feminism in present-day India, it is essential to celebrate the heritage of unyielding Indian women on whose shoulders the modern feminism ←xv | xvi→shines bright. This chapter highlights the writings of the post-independence authors like Ismat Chughtai and Qurratulain Hyder etc and their contributions to feminist thoughts and movements. Affectionately called Ismat Aapa in the literary circle, Ismat Chughtai is a bold voice in the face of Indian feminism. Her legacy is commemorated by some and critiqued by others. Padma Shri Ismat Chughtai was outspoken and unapologetic about writing taboo themes. Qurratulain Hyder was an editor, scholar and translator. She is one of the most outstanding literary names in the Urdu literature. Qurratulain Hyder started modern and experimental writing long before most other Indian writers explored that road. Hyder was a pioneer of philosophical perspectives, cultural mores, customs and traditions in Urdu language. The present write-up is to commemorate these brave women who refused to budge before conservatives. Chughtai and Hyder’s writings spoke loudly about female sexuality and femininity, middle-class gentility and class conflict. Although their works were initially resisted, by society, they fiercely stood their ground and kept rising again, charming her readers with her thought-provoking stories.

The eleventh chapter by Mr Rasheed Kidwai is titled ‘Begums of Bhopal: Towards Muslim Women’s Education’. The chapter is the extraordinary story of the Begums of Bhopal and their contribution to women’s education, upliftment and development. Through successive generations, ←xvi | xvii→the women of this dynasty treaded a path that was free from dogmas and biases. They led by example and showed to their community and their subjects that women are capable in many areas including administration.