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- Burqa battles: For some, it's a matter of face
This story is from November 4, 2006
Burqa battles: For some, it's a matter of face
Who would have thought a few square yards of cloth would generate so much heat? But even as the world at large obsesses over the hijab-niqab-jilbab controversy, many Muslim women are saying quite firmly that it is no one's business but their own.
Who would have thought a few square yards of cloth would generate so much heat? But even as the world at large obsesses over the hijab-niqab-jilbab controversy, many Muslim women are saying quite firmly that it is no one's business but their own.
In Delhi, Binish Naqvi, an HR professional, doesn't cover her head because "being modestly dressed is enough".
And in Srinagar, Shugufta Qazi, financial advisor, J&K government, says she doesn't wear one to work for fear of being branded a fanatic. "Otherwise, I would love to wear it as it makes women feel comfortable in a male-dominated society."
Ultimately, it should be up to women to decide how they want to dress, points out Zeenat Zaidi, a professor of history. "A believer is a believer, there are no ifs and buts. God wants us to dress modestly, not cover ourselves from head to toe. In the age of globalisation, this is not even possible."
Besides, times have changed. Today, it's all very subjective. Many Muslim boys look for brides who don't observe any kind of purdah. A friend was recently rejected by a suitor because she wore a niqab, although my own sister was rejected because she didn't!"
The ones who don't wear it don't care. But what about those who do? Demurely veiled Nasatran would like men to go by the holy book too: "Men are enjoined to be modestly covered, not look at women and to keep their eyes lowered. But no one seems to follow these rules. So why make an issue about the veil?"
It's a question of double standards. As businesswoman Nazreen Ahmad points out: "Modesty doesn't lie in clothes, but in conduct. When we go to religious places or meet our elders we cover our head those are our values, no one told us to do that.
Today, if women keep purdah it is mostly because of family pressure although they will not admit it.
It is unfortunate that men get to decide the rights of women." Then she adds, "If I don't keep purdah, does that make me a lesser Muslim? I have gone for Haj, but never have I found it necessary to cover my face."
In Kashmir, there have been several attempts to enforce the burqa though it wasn't part of the traditional culture. "Burqa is obligatory for every Muslim woman," declares Asiya Andrabi, head of the radical Dukhtaran-e-Milat whose burqa campaigns in the past have found few converts.
Andrabi also says Shabana Azmi is no authority on the Koran and should be "written off" from the Muslim community for her remarks that are in "total contravention of Islamic tenets".
While British schoolteacher Aisha Azmi has fought and lost the battle to wear the veil in the classroom, a private co-ed school in Srinagar has made it compulsory for all its 25 women teachers. "Burqa-wearing is a pre-condition for every woman staff member as it is ordained by Islam," says Jehan Ara, principal of Al-Noor Public School.
Teachers are required to observe purdah even in classes. Meanwhile, the burqa battle has now made it to social networking sites on the Net. Views posted on communities like 'Hijab the symbol of modesty' (4,700 members), 'Men request women veil' (6 members), 'Hijaabis' (606 members) speak both for and against the veil.
A rather poetic sample from a woman member: "Man doesn't tell me to dress this way/ It's a Law from God that I obey/ Oppressed is something I am truly NOT/ For liberation is what I have got/ It was given to me many years ago/ With the right to prosper, the right to grow/ For God Himself gave us Liberty/ When He sent Islam/ To You and Me...
The veil's off on the debate at least.
With inputs from M Saleem Pandit, Srinagar
In Delhi, Binish Naqvi, an HR professional, doesn't cover her head because "being modestly dressed is enough".
Nasatran, a student of Aligarh Muslim University, wears the burqa because it "should be worn".
And in Srinagar, Shugufta Qazi, financial advisor, J&K government, says she doesn't wear one to work for fear of being branded a fanatic. "Otherwise, I would love to wear it as it makes women feel comfortable in a male-dominated society."
Ultimately, it should be up to women to decide how they want to dress, points out Zeenat Zaidi, a professor of history. "A believer is a believer, there are no ifs and buts. God wants us to dress modestly, not cover ourselves from head to toe. In the age of globalisation, this is not even possible."
Adds Binish: "In India, the choice depends on the family, the individual and sometimes the area you come from. My mother in Meerut stopped observing purdah 50 years back and the family supported her.
Besides, times have changed. Today, it's all very subjective. Many Muslim boys look for brides who don't observe any kind of purdah. A friend was recently rejected by a suitor because she wore a niqab, although my own sister was rejected because she didn't!"
The ones who don't wear it don't care. But what about those who do? Demurely veiled Nasatran would like men to go by the holy book too: "Men are enjoined to be modestly covered, not look at women and to keep their eyes lowered. But no one seems to follow these rules. So why make an issue about the veil?"
It's a question of double standards. As businesswoman Nazreen Ahmad points out: "Modesty doesn't lie in clothes, but in conduct. When we go to religious places or meet our elders we cover our head those are our values, no one told us to do that.
Today, if women keep purdah it is mostly because of family pressure although they will not admit it.
It is unfortunate that men get to decide the rights of women." Then she adds, "If I don't keep purdah, does that make me a lesser Muslim? I have gone for Haj, but never have I found it necessary to cover my face."
In Kashmir, there have been several attempts to enforce the burqa though it wasn't part of the traditional culture. "Burqa is obligatory for every Muslim woman," declares Asiya Andrabi, head of the radical Dukhtaran-e-Milat whose burqa campaigns in the past have found few converts.
Andrabi also says Shabana Azmi is no authority on the Koran and should be "written off" from the Muslim community for her remarks that are in "total contravention of Islamic tenets".
While British schoolteacher Aisha Azmi has fought and lost the battle to wear the veil in the classroom, a private co-ed school in Srinagar has made it compulsory for all its 25 women teachers. "Burqa-wearing is a pre-condition for every woman staff member as it is ordained by Islam," says Jehan Ara, principal of Al-Noor Public School.
Teachers are required to observe purdah even in classes. Meanwhile, the burqa battle has now made it to social networking sites on the Net. Views posted on communities like 'Hijab the symbol of modesty' (4,700 members), 'Men request women veil' (6 members), 'Hijaabis' (606 members) speak both for and against the veil.
A rather poetic sample from a woman member: "Man doesn't tell me to dress this way/ It's a Law from God that I obey/ Oppressed is something I am truly NOT/ For liberation is what I have got/ It was given to me many years ago/ With the right to prosper, the right to grow/ For God Himself gave us Liberty/ When He sent Islam/ To You and Me...
The veil's off on the debate at least.
With inputs from M Saleem Pandit, Srinagar
End of Article
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