Book: Muslim Women in Political Process in India
Writer : Zenab Banu
Publisher :Shipra Publication
Review by Aazeen Kirmani
Professor’s Zenab Banu’s ‘Muslim Women in Political Process in India’ delves into the rarely touched and seldom considered subject in India’s academic and political arena. Political participation is a farfetched fantasy for a group which is still at nascent stages of its struggle against culturally imposed injustices like arbitrary divorce and deprivation of proprietary rights.
The Islamic and constitutional rights of Indian Muslim Women not withstanding they form a miniscule percentage within the overall 10.8% female representation in the Indian Parliament. This figure is in self well below the global average of 20% female representation in politics. Ironically countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan rank higher than India in terms of female representation in parliament.
While Muslim women played an enormous political role during India’s freedom struggle it dwindled steadily post independence.
‘From 1952-2010 there were only 15 Muslim women who entered the Upper House either through elections or nominations.’
‘The picture is not much differenta t state level. Less than 8% women are represented at the State Assemblies .Muslim women are also negligible.’
The author pertinently points out that ‘If Muslim women were represented according to population there would have been always around more than 35 MPs (assumed that half of the 13.5% would be Muslim women). But Muslim women’s membership never went beyond three in any of the sixteen Lok Sabha. There were about five occasions when no single member was there’
The reason for lack of Muslim women’s political participation is often blamed on Islam. However is not Islam but the patriarchal structure of the society which is responsible for it. ‘Though Quranic teachings are gender friendly but male dominated society dictates to confine Muslim women within the wall of the house.’
Majority of Muslim women fought Lok Sabha elections as Muslim candidates particularly the seventh Lok Sabha onwards. The author points out that the secular political parties of India need to play a more active role in bringing Muslim women to the political forefront.
The author concludes that ‘there is also graet need for internal critique and al least educated Muslim men should attempt an honest criticism of condition of women in their community and consolidate efforts for change and reform. They also tend to be defensive and reactive. Time has certainly come to be proactive for improving Muslim women’s status in India.
India being a secular democratic countrythere is much more political and social space available to Muslim women in India compared to their sisters in many other Muslim countries. To avail this social and political space, increased awareness among women is needed. The greatest stumbling black is poverty. One finds even great urge for modern education among women but poverty pulls them down’