A struggle for equal rights in Ranchi
By Kashif-ul-Huda, TwoCircles.net
A 19 year old Muslim girl has successfully changed a 50 year old tradition. Nazia Tabassum, a student of History is making history of her own.
It all started when breaking stereotypes, the girl in hijab won the election for the post of Joint Secretary at the Ranchi University Student’s Union. Soon after, she turned to Anjuman Islamia to become a member to participate in their upcoming election process that was scheduled for January 27th, 2008. Her application for membership was denied because Anjuman never had a female member in its 50 year history. It was time to change history, and that’s what Nazia Tabassum did courageously.
Anjman Islamia is an organization of Muslims of Ranchi in Jharkhand that runs a number of educational institutions and a hospital. It has more than 1200 members, none of which are female. When Nazia Tabassum applied to become a member of Anjuman in December 2007, her application was denied. She was told that it was because the organization’s by-laws did not allow women to become members.
Undeterred, Nazia went to the State Commission for Women. A constitutional body which among other things take steps against cases of gender discrimination. The lawyer representing Anjuman argued that the by-laws as written in Urdu stipulates that only a male adult Muslim can become a member.
On Thursday 24 Jan 2008, Jharkhand’s State Commission for Women (SCW) ruled that nothing in the by-laws of the organization prevented women from becoming members. The rules clearly state that any Muslim over the age of 18 can become its member.
Lakshmi Singh, chairperson of SCW observed that it seems to be an unwritten rule that kept Muslim women away from becoming members of Anjuman. Arguing that rules of Anjuman do not discriminate against women, she said “The rules no where say that women are prohibited. It is altogether a
different case that in the last 50 years no woman has become a member or contested election. I have suggested the Anjuman Islamia committee to encourage women’s participation and ensure that women too participate in elections.”
SCW referred the matter to Bihar Wakf Board, which governs all waqf properties of Jharkhand since the state does not have a waqf board. On Friday, Capt (Retd) M Anwar, administrator of the Bihar Wakf Board, stayed the election scheduled for Sunday, promising to send a team to supervise the future election.
Nazia Tabassum when contacted by TwoCircles.net was happy with the development. She termed it as a fight for justice and rights of Muslim women. She wants to make the Anjuman Islamia organization more responsive to the needs of poor Muslims and having women as members or in leadership roles will help achieve that. Being a student leader, she had the support of both male and female students and Muslim women.
Nazia can not contest elections for Anjuman’s office since its by-laws require all contesting members to be at least 30 years of age. But her legal victory has opened the doors for Muslim women who now can become members and contest elections. Her struggle has raised interest for young Muslim students and fresh young blood will only make Anjuman Islamia a stronger and more effective organization that is more responsive to the needs of the Muslims of the area.
Old guards that have been controlling various Muslim and waqf organizations should take notice and change themselves before they are forced to change.