Hum Khavateen to voice the trials and tribulations of Muslim women

A lot happened to Muslim women’s dreams, aspirations and identity in post-Partition India. The women’s journals, post 1947, are relatively moderate and inward-looking. Hum Khavateen (We, the women) takes a look at the voices of Urdu and Muslim women -their writings on issues ranging from political, social and international relations to fashion and tradition. These voices are participative – neither isolated nor ghettoised – shattering the stereotypes constructed around the post-Independence Muslim women.

In an attempt to get a historical perspective on Muslim women’s education, Delhi-based Nirantar, a Centre for Gender and Education, researched old books, magazines and newspapers. This compilation is a Hindi transliteration of original Urdu writings published in magazines likeTahzeeb-e-Niswan, Ismat, Payam-e-Ummid and Ustani, mostly before Independence or a few years just after it and systematically chronicles issues of culture, education, curricula, governance, and women’s right to vote, gender relationship and women’s rights movements. It also presents the socio-economic and educational situation of those days.

The range of issues is so vast and fresh that one thinks that these writings were done in the present times, and not decades, or a century ago, explained Bharadwaj. One is simply surprised to see extensive articles on subjects such as the Children of Chhattisgarh (Ismat: 1936), Women’s Education Department of Egypt University (Khatoon: 1911), and Activities and Education of Turkey Women (Ismat: 1951), she pointed out.

“We were struck by the reformative flavour of writings of women in Urdu magazines. The articles written by Muslim women were an eye-opener for their fearless sarcasm,” Dr Razia Patel, Chairperson of Rachana Vikas that works on issues related to deprived communities and as arranged these shows in Pune said.

According to the director of the play, Vinod Kumar, they have referred to various sections from the book. For instance, in an article by Aziza Khatoon, Sarkar Hawwa Nahin Hain in 1919, they were urging women to participate in governance; not to be afraid of the word government. What we have done in the 45-minute play is to give space to these forceful and attractive writing, said Kumar.

Some of the articles written by women between 1911 and 1927 in magazines like Tehzeeb-e-Niswan from Lahore, Ismat and Ustani from Delhi, Awaz-e- Niswan, Payam-e- Ummeed from Sitapur, Khatun from Aligarh, were edited by Purwa Bharadwaj and published by Nirantar were also included in the book Kalam-e- Niswan. A minimum of light and sound is used throughout while reintroducing the progressive nature of the century-old writings, Kumar said.