The Women: A Sociological Reading Beyond The Niqab

In the history of all prominent civilizations the matter of woman has got a crucial space. Today
in the neo liberal modern society also gives much attention to the issues of women. Even though
the bitter situations of the women have been continuing, in various society its levels are differ.
The definition of women also framing by the men, in more than 90% of the Indian cinemas the
dress selection and makeups of the heroin and lady characters select by the man!! What the
women should be, what she should express and what not be are coined by the man. How the
lady should come out and what are the sects she should appear also indirectly determines by
the man. The change would be start from the home. Our Indian social systems and mores are
cling with the patriarchy! Through education, enlightenment, framing strong laws and literacy
we can improve the condition of the women. Here woman considers as an apparatus for
political gains, economic gains and religious gains. The birth of the terms like love jihad and
Shishu Vadika are instance for creation of women apparatuses. In Indian situation political and
economic empowerments are most significant features for the women empowerment. All sorts
of patriarchy and male dominance over women can be stopped through gradual positive
actions.
Patriarchy and the Woman
Dress considers as the part of culture and personality, but in the globalisation period this
statement is not fully right, there are multi concepts and opinion over this entity. No one can
say this dressing pattern is right and that is wrong. Each and every religion put forward their
own suggestion and pattern for dress code. Most of the social institutions including religion is
under the hold of patriarchy, so in the dress case of women these institutions have their own
interest than the male.
In the dress matter of the man all religions have almost unanimous dress pattern. But in the
case of woman it is differ, after the marriage she should put ‘’sindhooram’’ over her forehead
as a sign of a wife of a man. Ghunghat or Pardha becomes her dress, Ms becomes Mrs, and she
compels to add the name of her husband as a tail with her name, and she sends to the homes of
husband as his own commodity!! But in the case of man there is no any change after marriage
like his wife, he does not put ‘’sindhooram’’ or no add the name of his wife with his name and
he was mister and he continues as mister even after his marriage!

The Muslim Women
As a women live in society is hard, In Muslim women identity the survival in a multi society
is very hard, she has been facing innumerable problems. It is not from the religion, Islamic
texts and the versus of prophet has took very clear honourable stand over the case of the
women! When you will arise the question about the society like Afghanistan and Iraque,
actually by the name they are Islamic societies, but by their deeds and actions they are only
tribal societies.
In the terms of Emile Durkheim (1858 – 1917), they keep mechanical solidarity, in the text
Muquadhima Ibn Khaldun (1332 – 1406 ) mentiones about the dessert society. Primarily they
are tribes, 99% of tribal societies follows the values of patriarchy, they believes in war and
fights for their existence. As a renaissance leader of humanity prophet Muhammad (Peace be
upon him) attempt to socialise Arab tribal society by text, deeds and the versus. When the
coming of the prophet that tribal society were in dark age, they buried their girl babes with
alive, they followed indefinite war and plunged in liquor, even tribal Arabs says, after my death
may put a grape plant over my tomb, through its root if I could drink the liquer I will be more
satisfied !! it was the society, prophet addressed such a society, and he taught them ethics,
norms , values. He said you do not bury your girl babe, she is your huge wealth, you should
care , protect, and should give education for her. If you do like this almighty Allah gives you
eternal blessings. He said them the heaven situate under the feet of your mother!! You all have
to respect women !! A day should come here , in that day women should can go even at
midnight without any fears from Halarul Mauth to Sana’.He taught them socialism , secularism
and democracy through his versus and deeds. After the thrilling win of Mecca war prophet
wished to pray in Ka’aba shareef, this noble shrine’s key were in the custody of Abbas a non
Muslim , he gave the key to prophet and prophet did namas and prayer in the shrine. Among
Prophet’s followers assumes the key of noble shrine may given in my custody ! but prophet
give back it into Abbas a non Muslim in Mecca, through these kind of actions prophet taught
them the value of ethics and justice. He civilised them, he gave a text named as noble Quran
which start by saying you read in the name of Allah.. after decades this communities follewers
became the knowledge makers and well known researchers in the history, they became the
followers of the Greek Hellenistic Ideology. Such as Muhamad al- Khwārizmī , Ibn-Sīnā,
Geber, Al-Jazari, Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Kathīr al-Farghānī, Muhammad ibn Zakariyyā

al-Rāzī, Al-Biruni, Al-Khazani, Alhazen and Ibn Khaldun came out from the heredity of this
community.
If we analyse the activities of prophet Muhammad we can see he was a liberal feminist! He
talks for women , he given the right to women in property in 1400 years back, not only that in
his ideology all economic duties are over the head of man. Even Europe given the right to cast
vote to women only in 1893.In this back ground we can understand the real picture of the
woman entity.
Nowadays the Muslim woman is a subject of discourse over her dress, freedom and so on.
When Thavakkul Karmani got Nobel Prize she faced a question, when asked about her Hijab
by Journalists and how it is not proportionate with her level of intellect and education, she
replied, “Man in The early times was almost naked, and as his intellect evolved he started
wearing clothes. What I am today and what I’m wearing represents the highest level of thought
and civilization that man has achieved, and is not regressive. It’s the removal of clothes again
that is regressive back to ancient times.” When Mother Theresa received Nobel prize in 1979
no one asked such question over her head scarf and noble dress !!

Youngest Nobel laureate Malala Yusaf Sai also defended the question over her Hijab and she
given better answer for it, ‘’freedoms that came so easily to me as a Muslim girl living in a
multicultural, accepting and tolerant British society. Education was my prerogative. The
headscarf covering my hair was my liberty. After 9/11, everything changed. My headscarf —
the Hijab — had become something I actively had to defend. Suddenly the Hijab was seen as
a symbol of oppression. As if a man had forced me to dress in a certain way. As if it wasn’t my
choice to dress how I felt was right for me’’. Malala continues with saying her role models,
‘’the extreme misogynistic mentality Malala was subjected to by the Taliban was so alien to
the morals I was raised on as a Muslim. A world away from the strong female role models my
faith taught me about — Fatima, for instance, the daughter of the Prophet, and her daughter
Zainab — who, in a time when women had no voice, gave public speeches condemning
oppression and standing up for their rights’’.
Snia Mirza is a well-known Indian tennis player, as a Muslim woman she also faced such
question of her dressing!! This kind of brutal questions facing only by Muslim woman not
others, here veils the real value of the attaining and records of Muslim women, it is very
deplorable and should be avoidable.

If any women receive the Islamic ideology she also faces the same questions over her dresses,
Kamala Das (Kamala Surayya), Yvonne Reddley also faced such questions, Indian patriarchy
does not allow the conversion of women especially into Islam, it considers as the falls of their
political apparatus, they does not understand the freedom of thinking and freedom fundamental
rights to women !!
Recently the Oscar winner A R . Rahman’s daughter Khadija appeared in a channel program
wearing with Niquab,. Khatija was introduced on stage during an event which celebrated the
10th anniversary of Slumdog Millionaire. A R Rahman had gone on to win Oscars for the film’s
album and the event saw his daughter interviewing her music maestro father. When she
appeared at the event covering her face in a Niqab style, the said video went viral and many
fans started bashing the musician. According to them, Rahman promoted regressive thoughts
and it claimed that he forced his daughter to wear a hijab during public appearances.
Shocked by the allegations directed towards him by trolls and messages on social media,
Khatija Rahman went on to clarify on the matter. She took to Facebook to share her thoughts
on the ongoing controversy by maintaining that she has been wearing the hijab out of choice
and promoted the concept of #FreedomtoChoose. She wrote, “The recent conversation of
myself on stage with my dad has been doing the rounds although I didn’t expect such an
overwhelming response. However, there were certain comments which said that this attire is
being forced by my dad and that he has double standards. I would like to say that the attire I
wear or the choices I make in my life does not have anything to do with my parents. The veil
has been my personal choice with complete acceptance and honour. I’m a sane mature adult
who knows to make my choices in life. Any human being has a choice to wear or do what
he/she wants and that’s what I’ve been doing. Hence, kindly don’t make your own judgements
without understanding the exact situation.”
A R Rahman, on the other hand, took on the trolls by sharing a picture on Twitter. He supported
his daughter’s statements by sharing a picture of his family with Nita Ambani wherein while
Khatija sported a hijab, his other daughter Raheema was seen without it. His wife Sairaa too
wasn’t seen wearing a hijab.
Once Hillary Clinton also faced a question, In a 2010 interview, when asked what designers
she likes to wear, Hillary Clinton replied, “Would you ever ask a man that question? ”

Gabby Douglas also suffered the same , After winning Gold at the 2012 Olympics, Gabby
Douglas was immediately criticized for how she wore her hair, to which she shrewdly
responded, “Are you kidding me? I just made history. And you’re focusing on my hair?” These
are not stand-alone events. Too often women are victims to crude remarks that take the focus
away from their hard work and achievements and onto these one-dimensional caricatures based
solely on appearance.
Controversial Niqab Issue in Kerala
What is Niqab? Niqab is a veil worn by some Muslim women in public, covering all of the face
apart from the eyes. The niqab is a combination of head covering and scarf, or a one piece scarf
that covers everything but the eyes.
Kerala is considers as number one Muslim educated state. Kerala, is in top rank in Muslim
women education in India, here’s Muslim federations and Indian Union Muslim League
(IUML) have a crucial role in its academic achievements. Recently the Muslim Educational
Society (MES),Kerala’s biggest Muslim educational society issued a circular banns the Niquab
wearing in campus.
MES functions from 1964 in Kerala for educational empowerment of Muslim backward
community, they have more than152 institutions including Engineering and Medical colleges
all over Kerala and Tamilnadu.
There are lot of inconsistency and vague in their circular, the circular restricts female students
from wearing clothing that is “unacceptable to mainstream society”. According to Dr. Fazal
Gafoor MES Chairman, such clothing includes jeans, leggings, miniskirts, and face veils. “We
just want our students to maintain decorum in their attire,” he insists.
At first of all MES should define what is mainstream in India and Kerala , policy makers says
here is no mainstream but multistream!! So who are the mainstream society of Kerala? Actually
Niqab is a dress of a community, Indian constitution allows that community to wear it, and
why they should avoid their Niqab only for mainstream society? The circular is a creation of
highly patriarchichal mind set up, there is no even a single line for male student’s dress code!
The circular banns jeans to female students and allows male students to wear it !? What is the
logic and progressive concept behind it ? MES has responsible to give answer to society!! Why

feminists and so called social activists keep silence over this issue?? Leggings, Miniskirts also
ban for women ! Can MES say to jeans wearing, mini skirt wearing and hijab ,niqab wearing
women are immodest and cultureless and uncivilised ? In a secular society like Kerala will take
the issue for debate and discourse , no need to express fear and hesitation over it , MES
chairman says “We will implement our rules in our institutions. No one can interfere in that,”
.
Dr. Fazal Gafoor very vividly open his patriarchichal mind through describing what is descent
dress , ‘’Let me explain simply what I mean by decent dresses: clothes you and I would prefer
for our mothers and sisters’’. Here in college students are citizens above 18 year old, they do
have the freedom of choice to buy and wear, girls do not have the freedom to select their dress
for themselves ? Why should MES insist female students in patriarchichal slavery? Kerala
brothers and fathers purchase Jeans, leggings, miniskirts, T-shirts and so on for their sisters and
daughters, then how MES chairman can say it indecent dresses? He should apologise publicly
over his atrocity over the feminity of Kerala women.
An interviewer (from Scroll.in) asks the question to MES chairman, ‘’ Is there a possibility
that the Niqab ban could compel some students to desert your institutions? ’’ the chairman
gives the replay , ‘’The MES is least bothered about it. We will admit students who follow our
rules and regulations. Those who are unhappy with our decision can go to institutions run by
other religious groups’’.
This answer shows the irresponsibility of their mission, governments give them institutions and
seats for the upliftment of minority community, and how they can give an answer of
irresponsibility in public? Why they deny the inclusive policy ? When they follow the policy
of exclusion what is the meaning and need of existence of MES? Then why should government
gives benefits to MES? Never even a single student exclude in the name of such issues.
Governments, policy makers, minority commission, social activists and judiciary must
intervenes in such irrational decisions of such educational institutions. Already a Niqab wore
Muslim medical student debarred from MES College!
In the background of niqab issue some Malayalam newspapers covers the bribe issue of MES
for appointment of staffs and for donation to students for their admissions.Some news papers
says MES should undergo for social auditing. 65,000 female students are learning in MES

institution, among them howmany percentage of female students wear the Niqab ? there is no
even 2%, then what is the interest behind it ? Suppose if there hadn’t the Niqab in that circular
public might be call it circular as a circular of Talibanism or neo liberal Talibanism !!
Illogical dress patterns
Most of the educational institutions follow irrational logics in the matter of dress pattern to
their students, even in hottest climate the student compel to wear black coat suite tie and shoes,
widely teacher’s educational colleges impose Sari as their dress code, more number of students
faces discomfort to wear sari. Now a days UGC and government allows teachers to wear any
comfortable dress such Churidar, Kurtha and so on. To determine dress code and students
concerned matters student’s federations and student’s representatives should get voice to make
their opinion. Force full transformation can create anything positively. Today’s students are
tomorrow’s wealth of the universe. They should get their dignity and honourable existence.

[SHUKOOR UGRAPURAM is a Ph.D. Research Scholar in Sociology at Bharathidasan
University Campus in Trichy – 24. He can be reached at shukoorugrapuram@gmail.com]