Monthly Archives: February 2020

Sarfaraz Khan 2.0 – Interview

Sports, , , , ,

Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA :

SarfarazKhanMPOs09feb2020

Naushad Khan’s logic in telling Sarfaraz to move from Mumbai to Uttar Pradesh for the 2015-16 season is still unclear. Granted, the father has always had the best interest of his highly-talented son on his mind, but something didn’t add up. Sarfaraz  battled these same questions, and then some, before coming to terms with it, tears and all. He was ready to give up.

This was the same 12-year-old who had scored 439 runs in 431 balls in a Harris Shield game for Rizvi Springfield. The fledgeling who had featured in two Under-19 World Cups for India. The wonder kid who had been bought for Rs 1.75 crore by Royal Challengers Bangalore and was one of three retained in the side – besides Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers – in 2016.

Two months on, he has 745 runs in five games at an average of 186.25. En route, he also became sixth on the all-time list of most first-class runs scored before being dismissed – 605 runs including 301*, 226* and 78.

DH chatted up the 22-year-old on cricket, fitness, and the ever-looming shadow of his father.

Excerpts:

Did you think you would return to Mumbai, let alone score all these runs?

I have played two World Cups for India, I am the youngest player in the Indian Premier League, I did some great things in the Harris Shield and then I was a nobody. Almost every day since the time I was a child my name was in the papers. I was used to people telling me how I am the next big thing in Indian cricket. Overnight, literally, I was left out by RCB, I had moved to Uttar Pradesh, and I had an ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) tear to recover from…. I was a has-been. I felt like this at 17. You think about it, how would you have reacted to all this pressure when you’re 17?

Tell us about your time in UP, and the impact the injury had on you.

My cricket was going nowhere in UP, and I had almost given up on it (cricket) because I felt like if I wasn’t playing for Mumbai there was no point. See, the decision to move to UP was my father’s. I didn’t understand why he would do that and I was angry with him for some time, but that’s how father and son relationships are sometimes. You get angry and forgive and move on. He is the greatest thing to have happened to me. Without him, I would be nowhere. So, then I told him that if I am being ignored and my career as a cricketer is over I might as well end it with Mumbai. It really was my final wish. Never did I think I would be here now. I am grateful for MCA (Mumbai Cricket Association) for giving me this chance.

How did you bide your time during the cooling-off period?

We have ‘nets’ at home. My father made it so I could train. I had spent too many days sleeping in tents at grounds. He also had Musheer to focus on now so it made sense. So, I spent every single day trialing at those nets. It was like therapy for me. I was so angry, sad and depressed that I had to rely on what brought me happiness. Sadly, even that didn’t work because it made me hungry for more but I didn’t know where to get more from. Thankfully, Mumbai accepted me back. I know I scored a triple hundred and a double hundred in back to back games, but that hunger didn’t die out. In fact, I didn’t even eat before those innings because I wanted to remain hungry.

How difficult was it to accept it when RCB let go of you? Were you that unfit?

It was a very sad day for me. I was a child. I mean, it was tough enough to be let go but you were also told you were unfit. You really think the world is out to get you at this point. All I was taught all my life was to play cricket. That means bat, bowl and field. My father was a cricket coach and he didn’t teach me fitness. Of course I was overweight but I was still able to do everything so I didn’t see what the issue was until RCB told me. By then people also agreed and they didn’t give me a chance to prove myself. In the sense, they tagged me as this fat boy and they kept calling me fat. It was very hard to deal with. The knee surgery was tough on me. I was unfit at the time. On such a big stage when this happens you feel like everyone is only looking at you and judging you. It’s very tough for a young boy to come to terms with all that.

How did you turn it around, fitness-wise?

Once you spend some time with international cricketers and watch their routines, you realise what you need to be at their level of fitness. My talent as a batsman was never in doubt, no one dared doubt that,but they only wanted me to be fitter. I didn’t hire anyone but just worked on the simple stuff. Instead of eating big portions, I ate smaller. Instead of just focusing on cricket, I dedicated time to cardio and lifting weights. It’s the things everyone learns with age. You must remember, I was a child then. I am mature now, in every regard.

Tell us about your relationship with your father.

I’ll be honest with you, it is very irritating sometimes because he’s always in coach-mode. We do not go a moment without talking about cricket. It’s a lot of information and sometimes you just want him to stop. I do not want to hear about all the things I didn’t do right. Sure, he says I did well when I do but the ‘you need to work on this’ or ‘you need to improve on that’ seems like I constantly have things to fix. I agree that am not  perfect and he’s looking to make me perfect. It’s good in the sense of motivation but it’s tiring if it is thrown at you all the time. But he is my father. I love him more than anything and, again, if not for him I would be a nobody.

Why do you think he decided to move you to UP?

I think sometimes it’s difficult for parents to accept it when their kids do better than them. You understand, na? I am not saying my father is a bad person. In fact, he is my god, but I think he moved me to UP because of all the attention I was getting. It was so difficult to move. I remember crying the whole time I was packing to move. I kept all the clothes with the Mumbai logo on it in a safe space. I didn’t want to let go of that. I didn’t believe I would wear it again, but I couldn’t let go of whatever memories of my first love. I can’t believe I get to wear the MCA logo again. It’s surreal.

Signed by Kings XI Punjab

You have no idea. I was just happy that they bought me in the auctions. Just when I thought everyone had forgotten me, they bid for me. It was also my best IPL (180 runs in eight innings) so I was happy. They have retained me for another season and I am in great form.

What are your expectations, not just in the IPL but in general?

When I was 17-18, I had a lot of expectations. I was young and I wanted the world, but as I grew up I understood that expectations are not a good thing. I had to lower them. Ambition is  very different from expectation. I am very ambitious and very hungry to go places, but I have learnt to focus on the process and not on what will come, or what I could maybe get if I put in the work. The trick is to just put in and work. No hopes, nothing.

Great to have two talented cricketer’s from the same household?

I genuinely think he is more talented than me. He is a brilliant left-arm spinner and he is a very, very good batsman. I cannot stress on how good he is. He picked up ten wickets in a match recently. He’s so much more talented than me. Again, this is my father’s doing. Without him, we would be nowhere.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Interview / by Roshan Thyagarajan / DHNS / February 08th, 2020

Saudi NRI promoting education in Hyderabad

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Leaders, NRI's / PIO's, Videos, , , ,

Hyderabad, TELANGANA / SAUDI ARABIA :

MMS01MPOs06feb2020

Hyderabad:

 Arshad Pirzada’s successful career in Saudi Arabia has enabled him not only to help his family but also serve the community through education initiatives.

Whether it was learning skills from various General Motors representatives at Al-Jomaih Automotive Company or learning from the Indian expatriates, Pirzada’s hard work has paid off.

“Okay, I had gone to the Kingdom to alleviate the economic woes of my own family. But should one stop there? Shouldn’t he think about the people he has left behind in his city who were in the midst of an economic crisis for a long time?” Pirzada asks looking back at his stay in Saudi Arabia.

The moment one asks Pirzada about the ups and downs in his life, he goes back to the times of grandfather (maternal) who was the Collector of Rychur, formerly a part of Nizam’s Hyderabad State. Those were the days when there was peace and prosperity prevailed. But the 1948 Police Action changed all that.

Speaking about how began his journey to educate a miniscule part of the community, he says, “My children are well settled. My wife, on the other hand, is a teacher of Quranic Arabic, author of a book and an entrepreneur in her own right.  She designs and sells mostly Bridal ware. This where my active association with Mount Mercy School comes in,” he informed.

Mount Mercy School
Mount Mercy School

Established in June 1999, the school in its early days has gone through the pangs of growth. There was always a galore of challenges. Initially only 56 students enrolled. Yet, through better infrastructure developed and word of mouth, there are now 850 students.

MMS04MPOs06feb2020

Pirzada mentions, “Not many among us realise how bad the literacy levels are among the Muslims. For example, around 30 to 40 percent of the kids in MMS are first-generation learners who come from families with limited financial resources. Also, whatever money we make is pumped back into the development of facilities at the school.”

He said, “In today’s competitive, globalized market, soft skills are just as important as the hard skills. We also polish the kids and prepare them for interviews for different competitions, contests and tournaments as well.”

Although the journey that lead to him to forming Mount Mercy with others is one that many Hyderabadi gulf migrants will identify with. That too, whether or not they came from the same background as Pirzada.

source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> News> Hyderabad / by Daneesh Majid – Researcher/Writer / posted by Minhaj Adnan / February 04th, 2020

Ayesha Noor, the Karate champion from slums of Kolkata conferred with Tejaswini award

Sports, World Opinion, , , , , , ,

Kolkata, WEST BENGAL :

AyeshaNoorMPOs15feb2020

Ayesha Noor, four times gold winner, also known as ‘golden girl’ of Kolkata, has been conferred with ‘Tejaswini’ award at the ICCR, Kolkata organised by Songoti on 2nd February 2020.

Ayesha lost her father in 2010 and her mother Shakila Begum sews clothes at home. Ayesha’s coach MA Ali took her in his wing from the slums of Beniakupur, Kolkata and groomed her into a karate champion. Ayesha teaches nearly hundreds of girls from the slums self-defense for free because she has a mission of empowering girls. She wants to them fight against crimes against women especially rape.

Due to her constant efforts hundreds of girls from various slums of the city have learnt the technique of self defense. It is because of her efforts, many children from poor families have become self-reliant.

Jawhar Sircar, IAS (Retd.), Former CEO, Prasar Bharati handed over the award to her on the behalf of the organization.  He said, ‘There are several Tejaswini like Ayesha in every house of Bengal. Ayesha’s story will inspire them and help them to dream big.”

Earlier, The United States of America had honoured Ayesha Noor as “Hero of Gender Equality” at American Centre in New Delhi. A documentary about her journey from the slums in Kolkata to winning gold at the international level despite her health condition called, “ Girl connected” was made by the International Television series (ITVS) and screen globally. It was also telecast by Doordarshan (Delhi).

source: http://www.twocircles.net / TwoCircles.net / Home> Indian Muslim> Lead Story> TCN Positive> Women / by TCN News / February 05th, 2020

Depicting various hues of life with Urdu poetry: A dying art

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

Image Courtesy: Nohar Patrika
Image Courtesy: Nohar Patrika

“Quidquid Latine dictum sit altum videtur” (“Whatever is said in Latin seems profound”), they say, and the language’s sonorous tones aren’t confined to religion, but law and medicine too. In the South Asian millieu, Urdu has the same position with its assimilative nature and its courtly pedigree giving it refinement as well as ability to express elaborate, sophisticated concepts. Its poetry is the vanguard.

And once we avoid the trap of confining Urdu poetry to its romantic aspect — though that is the area where it is fairly prolific and popular — we find that, like any other long-standing literary tradition, it also spans a wide expanse of life beyond love and longing, and in a variety of styles.

In fact, there are few issues of the human condition or for the natural world that Urdu poets have not covered in the few centuries the language has existed so far, beyond the usually known motifs of the pining lover, the cupbearer or the tavern, the flame and the moth, and so on. Let us see something new.

Take the sky and Jaleel Manikpuri, in an eloquent negation of man-made borders and divisions, writes: “Main kis sar-zameen ki qadr karun/Asmaan saath saath chalta hai”, and on wind, Nawaz Deobandi brings out its misuse as agency for human depredations: “Yeh jala diya, yeh bujha diya, yeh kaam kisi aur ka hai/Na hawa kisi ke saath thi, na hawa kisi ke khilaaf hai.”

Image Courtesy: SantaBanta.com
Image Courtesy: SantaBanta.com

Other human emotions and traits also figure. On wisdom, Allama Iqbal says: “Guzar ja aql se aage, ke ye noor/Chirag-e-raah hai, manzil nahi hai”, Saqib Lakhnavi on the “pleasure” of difficulty, observes: “Bu-e-gul kaliyon mein rahi thi magar reh na saki/Main to kaanton mein raha aur pareshan na huya” and Shad Azimabadi, on “sharafat” (integrity), says: “Gulon ne khaaron ke cherhne par siva khamoshi ke dam na mara/Shareef uljhe agar kisi se, to phir sharafat kahan rahegi.”

Likewise, there are many more, and let’s take up a few more unexpected topics and issues, with an attempt to give “shaairs”, who are not well known outside committed connoisseurs or scholars, their place in the sun — as far as possible.

What could be a better topic to begin with than “hamdardi”, or empathy, with Ameer Meenai telling us: “Khanjar chale kisi par tadapte ham hai ‘Ameer’/Saare jahan ka dard hamare jigar mein hai”, or “himmat”, which conveys more than courage, as Pandit Brij Narayan Chakbast brings out the difference between its possessors and others: “Ahl-e-himmat manzil maqsood tak aa bhi gaye/Bandahe taqdeer qismat ka gila karte rahe.”

Or take human breath, which Arzoo Lakhnavi advises: “Ae saans! Na aa ke dil mein hai zakhm/Thes abhi hai jab hawa lagti hai” and Fani Badayuni looks on offered medicine with some trepidation: “Fani! Davaye dard jigar zahar to nahi/Kyun haath kaanpta hai mere charah-saaz ka.”

On advice, Bebak Shahjahanpuri wryly holds: “Kami wafaa mein agar ho to voh jafaa na kare/Salah dete hai kya kya salaah kar mujhe” and for effort, who can better Mirza Ghalib himself, making good use of shared religious imagery, with: “Kuch farz hai sab ko mile ek sa jawaab/Aao na, ham bhi sair karen Koh-e-Toor ki.”

Akbar Allahbadi makes a definitive stand on human nature with: “Tarkeeb-o-taklif lakh karo fitrat kahi chupti hai, Akbar/Jo mitti hai voh mitti hai, jo sona hai who sona hai”, while Bahadur Shah Zafar, the emperor of poets more than subjects, has some frank advice on on”s good and bad points: “Na thi haal ki jab hame apni khabar, rahe dekhte auron ke aib-o-hunar/Padi aapni buraiyon pe jo nazar, to nigaah mein koi bura na raha.”

But despite all, love however can crop up — though in various unexpected guises — and Jigar Moradabadi likens it to a story being told to some eager listeners with: “Koi hadd hi nahi shahd mohabbat ke fasaane ki/Sunta ja raha hai, jisko jitna yaad hota hai.”

On the other hand, Maulana Hasrat Mohani, whose ghazal of a former romance that still pricks the heart (“Chupke chupke raat din..”) has never been bettered, gives tassavur or imagination a new spin with, “Tassavur mein bhi in ke kuch ajab aalam nikalta hai/Isi par to meri hairaniyon ka dam nikalta hai” and Asr Lakhnavi tries the same with dreams: “Gulon ki god mein jaise naseem aake machal jaaye/Isi andaaz se in par khumaar aankhon mein khvaab aaya.”

There are much more, specially on the overarching issues of life and death, and love which may cause and also transcend them, but the habit of quoting an apt Urdu couplet on any occasion — on the pattern of a Biblical or Shakespearean reference — is dying out. Learn the language or use one the sites offering transliterated versions, but don’t let it happen. (IANS)

source: http://www.indianewengland.com / India New England / Home> News> Entertainment> Leisure / by Vikas Datta / July 22nd, 2018

Why I converted to Islam and buried my Hindu identity: Dalit Camera founder

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, , ,

TAMIL NADU  :

Periyar had suggested Ambedkar convert to Islam. After years of research, I too found Islam to be the only religion in India that could annihilate the caste system.

Raees Mohammed at a Dalit Camera event | Photo: Baidurya
Raees Mohammed at a Dalit Camera event | Photo: Baidurya

I learned one thing in my eight years’ experience with the Dalit movement through Dalit Camera assignments, and my research on caste for the last 14 years. Babasaheb Ambedkar was right when he said that leaving Hinduism is the only way to fight caste.

Dalit Camera is a digital platform that documents voices of Dalits, Adivasis, Bahujans, and minorities through a website and a YouTube channel by the same name.

Following his footsteps, I chose to leave Hinduism and embrace Islam on 30 January 2020 in Kodungallur, a historical town in Kerala’s Thrissur district. Kodungallur is where the first Indian mosque was built. I am now Raees Mohammed.

The date is significant. It is the day when the first Hindutva terrorist Nathuram Godse assassinated Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. It is also the day when our beloved brother Rohith Vemula, who fought against caste discrimination in Hinduism, was born.

 A religion for emancipation

In my childhood, as a devotee of Lord Ayyappa, I had been to Kodungallur six times. It is also where CPI-ML (undivided) Kerala state secretary Najmal Babu embraced Islam in 2015. Rationalist Thanthai Periyar (father) had said that if one wanted to annihilate caste in 15 minutes and live with self-respect, then Islam is the only solution. Periyar had also suggested to Babasaheb Ambedkar to choose Islam as a religion for emancipation.

In my years of research, I too found Islam to be the only religion in India with the strength to annihilate the caste system.

The anti-caste movement  has been the longest ongoing socio-cultural movement in India. The main demand is to consider ‘untouchables’ as equal citizens in Hindu society, and to be located under the ambit of the Constitution rather than Hindu religion. But I was curious why this easy solution to annihilate caste via Islam has never been even a reference point in Dalit movement and Dalit literature.

Fight for equality

In January, I was invited to Kodungallur to address a gathering on the dangers of fascism, and against the proposed National Register of Citizens, the National Population Register, and the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.

Muslims are battling for their citizenship rights in Narendra Modi’s India today. But theirs is a battle different from the struggle of Dalits. The former is for justice and citizenship. The latter is for something as basic as self-respect, to be treated as an equal human being. In that sense, Dalits have it much worse.

This is when I embraced Islam and buried my Hindu identity as Ravichandran Bathran. I do not want to refer to my Hindu name because if you dive deep, all Hindu names only indirectly refer to caste, and I don’t want this Raees Mohammed to carry the old baggage. The name is not the real problem. After all, my parents named me with so much love. But the problem comes when the Hindu society attaches that name to a caste and instils a stereotype of the hereditary occupation of scavenging. My father was treated badly because the Hindu society said he did a job that was considered filthy. This is hypocrisy of the highest order. First, you enforce a traditional occupation on some groups, treat their members badly, and then blame the people rather than the caste system.

My parents chose a Sanskrit name, an unusual practice among my relatives, who always chose names that are easily identified with Chakkiliyars or untouchables. But like my parents, I too experienced unequal treatment.

My education and earnings did not change my identity, and never will. But we are fed with this lie by none other than the Dalit movements.

My father worked as a sanitary worker and my mother was a sweeper in a local school. For the last 15 years, I worked to address the discrimination and untouchability faced by my parents and tens of thousands like them because of their work — sanitation workers/sweepers/scavengers.

We belong to Chakkiliyar/Arunthathiyar caste in Tamil Nadu, who are called, especially by fellow untouchables, as migrants or outsiders. The reason being that Arunthathiyars’ first language is close to Telugu. During my research in undivided Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Kashmir, and Karnataka, I found that in all these states, the sanitation workers were addressed as outsiders. It doesn’t matter whether they had migrated from other states. Interestingly, in all south Indian states, except in undivided Andhra Pradesh, sanitation workers speak Telugu. In Andhra Pradesh, they speak Hindi and a dialect closer to Odiya.

Scavengers and sweepers are not allowed inside the homes of upper-caste Hindus. Even the toilets are constructed outside the homes. Indian sociologists and anthropologists have a problematic understanding of caste and Indian homes, where Dalits have a separate entrance (as is visible from most buildings). Things are changing slowly in rural areas.

On the contrary, mosques have toilets within their premises. A toilet is not considered unholy. This is where I fell in love with mosques. I do not find any good reason why Dalits should continue to carry Hinduism on their shoulders.

Who’s a Dalit?

Many people request me to drop the word ‘Dalit’ form Dalit Camera. Dalit is not a term to refer to the physical body of untouchables, it’s a revolutionary concept that Dalit Panthers conceived of. Now, I don’t have a caste. But being part of Dalit Camera is a sign of solidarity I show to Dalit Panthers, and to my beloved Muslim brothers and sisters.

For us, Babasaheb Ambedkar’s image itself is enough. It conveys his ideology and idea of justice.

So, Dalits and Muslims have a battle to fight. The fight of Muslims is constitutional  in nature, but the fight of Dalits is social, which is more difficult. Many Dalits still do not know that they are being treated unequally because of Hinduism. It’s for this reason Dalits are not aware that they too might find themselves without citizenship one day.

Raees Mohammed, formerly known as Ravichandran Bathran, is the founder of Dalit Camera  @dalitcamera . Views are personal.

source: http://www.theprint.in  / The Print / Home> Opinion / b y Raees Mohammed / February 05th, 2020

An ode to khada dupatta

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, World Opinion, , , , , ,

Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

This ubiquitous garment owes its origin to the 17th century with the techniques changing over the years

KhadaDupataMPOs02feb2020

Hyderabad Based photographer Soumyajit Basu is known for his keen eye for intricate creations. This time he took up capturing the ‘Khada Dupatta’ which are the first choice of any true blue Hyderabadi ladies. He captured the beauty of the work with his models Afreen and Mehak and makeup done by Ayesha.

Originating in the 17th century, craftsman from Turkey and Persia were invited to India by Mughal Empress Noor Jehan and passed on the secret art of crafting to the nobles and their descendants. Later, the begums of Nizams of Deccan adapted the original Mughal style, especially in the form of khada dupattas which became the traditional attire of Mughal ladies.

Though this was a culture that was more defined in the later half of Asaf Jahi dynasty in Hyderabad, the montage gallery at Chowmahalla Palace, exhibits the royal dresses of Nizams Begums which include khada dupatta. The gallery also displays a tableau on the life of the begums. Quite a few don the khada dupattas — a four-piece ensemble that includes a trailing dupatta, one such khada dupatta adorned with intricate zari work weighs a whopping 17 kg.

The dress comprises of churidaar, a veil/dupatta which is six-yards in length, a kurta where the dupatta falls straight due to its heavy weight. This is accompanied by heavy jewellery which compliments the dress embroidered with zari and other work to give it a rich look. The dupatta is the largest part of the outfit and is made of tissue material.

Today, however, brides opt for net and even Banarasi dupattas since tissue does not fall gracefully. The colours preferred are usually golden yellow/ red and green. The silk tissue is hand-crushed and reduced to the width of a half metre. The border is adorned with handiwork of dabka, beads, mirrors, kundan and tikkis.

Golden trimmings on both sides of the borders give an antique touch to the royal ensemble. Front and back panels are embellished by handmade borders which are adorned with zardosi embroidery. Due to this, it has now become a traditional dress for all Muslim brides in Hyderabad.

SoumyajitBasuMPOs02feb2020

The culture still exists in Hyderabad today, more largely among Hyderabadi Muslims. The improvisation has been a gradual process. “So as a fashion and portrait photographer, it was necessary to visit the fashion history of the City of Nizams, as even today khada dupatta makes many ladies stand out when paired with right accessories,” says Soumyajit Basu.

source: http://www.telanganatoday.com / Telangana Today / Home> Lifestyle> Fashion / by Madhuri Dasagrandhi / January 27th, 2020

Sayed Qadri — Padma Shri awardee who supports Modi govt on UCC but is against CAA-NRC

Community Involvement / Social Issues, , , , , ,

Hyderabad, TELANGANA  / Pune, MAHARASTHRA : 

Padma Shri awardee Sayed Mehboob Shah Qadri has been working to ensure a more gender-equal society among Muslims for 50 years now.

Sayed Qadri | by special arrangement
Sayed Qadri | by special arrangement

New Delhi :

Sayed Mehboob Shah Qadri, or ‘Sayed bhai’ as he is endearingly called, is humbled and ecstatic in equal measure on winning the Padma Shri. 

The 89-year-old has been working with the Muslim Satyashodak Mandal (MSM), a progressive and reformist Muslim organisation, for 50 years now.

On 25 January, a day before Republic Day, the Narendra Modi government announced the list of Padma Shri awardees for 2020 — Qadri was among the 21 named. 

Just two weeks prior to announcement of the list, Qadri and his team from MSM had met PM Modi in Delhi and submitted a memorandum backing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC).

“The PM received it graciously. I told him the UCC should be brought into force immediately because our women need to be given equal rights,” Qadri tells ThePrint.

The Uniform Civil Code seeks to bring all religious personal laws under one umbrella. The BJP has promised to bring the UCC in its 2019 Lok Sabha manifesto.

Champion of gender equality

Qadri says it was an 1965 incident in his family that completely changed his perception towards equality and gender rights. His 18-year-old younger sister, then married with two children, was given triple talaq by her husband. “I was stunned that he could just abandon my sister and her children. I knew I needed to do something,” Qadri recalls.

Qadri had his sister enrolled in a tailoring programme, and knew that this would be a defining moment of his life. “She passed away two years ago — awaiting justice. I will never forget that,” he says.

In 1970, five years after his sister was given triple talaq, Qadri had a chance encounter with renowned social activist Hamid Dalwai in Pune. Dalwai was a staunch opponent of triple talaq and worked towards a more egalitarian society by establishing the MSM in March 1970. 

Qadri has been working with MSM since then to help empower women abandoned by their husbands, providing them legal assistance and counselling.

The triple talaq was termed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2018, after which Parliament passed the Triple Talaq Bill in 2019. While this was a huge achievement for MSM, Qadri says the organisation continues to work towards gender equality in the Muslim community.

Besides this, Qadri also wishes to normalise the practice of adoption among Muslims. “I told my wife that if we are to have a child, it will be through adoption,” says Qadri, who has an adopted son.

‘Govt should listen to women sitting in Shaheen Bagh’ 

While Qadri supports the Modi government on its stance on triple talaq and UCC, he opposes the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

“Muslims are a part of this nation, we live for this country and will die for it. There is no reason why Muslims should be targeted like this,” Qadri says.

He says the government should have a dialogue with the women protesters at Shaheen Bagh, and that BJP leaders should not target them.

“These are our mothers and sisters sitting at Shaheen Bagh, and across the country. They shouldn’t be targeted. The government must engage in a discussion with them,” he said.

Qadri believes Indian Muslims shouldn’t be held accountable for Partition, and they “shouldn’t have to pay for the sins of the past”.

source: http://www.theprint.in / The Print / Home> India / by Fatima Khan / January 28th, 2020