Media personality and journalist Drowpadi Thampi caught up with National President of National Women’s Front (NWF)
Q: Madam, Hijab is the current hot topic in the country, especially in the south. How do you view the controversy?
A: Well, this is an unwarranted and unnecessary controversy stirred up by the vested interests. The issue of Hijab starts at the Government PU College for Girls at Udupi in Karnataka. The College Development Committee, which is responsible for setting the uniform policy, is headed by a member of legislature K. Raghupati Bhat. Its 21 members did not include any minority members. And there were reports about the members coercing the principal to impose ban on Hijab. So, a plot and conspiracy to instigate communal hatred is there in raising up this Hijab issue. It is the pattern which the country has been witnessing for some time. So, it’s an agenda of alienating.
Q: It seems that the refusal of six girls to follow the instruction of the college authorities not to wear Hijab led to the controversy; Is it not fair to conform to the uniform code of educational institution and avoid religious identities in the educational institutions?
A: How can you say so? The girls have been coming to the college, wearing Hijab and attending classes without any problem until the principal was made to force the girls to remove Hijab. Wearing the dress of one’s choice is a right enshrined in the Constitution. Forcing the girls to remove Hijab is transgression on their right and violation of the Constitution. The girls, as far as I know, haven’t violated the uniform rules of the college. They were just covering their heads with a scarf which in no way harm the pattern of the uniform. And the college authorities too had no objection to this practice, until the hardliners wanted to stoke it as an issue. Faith & identity is a right envisaged in the Constitution, and Muslim women cover their head as a mark of their identity.
Q: Does Qur’an enjoin women to wear burqa?
A: What is said in Holy Quran needs to be explained by the scholars of Quran. With regard to your question about burqa, I would like to say that, the issue here in question is not burqa, but Hijab. Hijab is just covering the head with a scarf which is different from burqa. Nobody has raised a demand to wear burqa in class rooms. Burqa is being dragged as a tool to confuse people.
Q: You are saying that wearing a dress of one’s choice is one’s right, and if it is so, why the community is forcing the girls to wear Hijab?
A: Who told you that the girls are forced to wear Hijab? Take the example of this particular college itself. Out of the 76 Muslim girl students studying there, a few girls wanted to wear Hijab. Other Muslim girls were not wearing Hijab. Had it been by compulsion then why all Muslims girls are not wearing Hijab? No Muslim organisation or leader has ever compelled the girls to follow Hijab.
Q: Hardline Muslim elements too seem to be flaring up an issue of no significance. Why can’t Muslim women cope with other communities so as to keep the communal harmony and peace?
A: I don’t understand how the communal harmony is disrupted when Muslim women wear Hijab? Is the communal harmony so fragile? It has been the practice of Muslim women in Karnataka to wear Hijab and purdah while they go out of their houses. So, the real issue is hatred against Muslim girls gaining education.
Q: That means, you believe that it is part of fear mongering ?
A: We heard the horrible calls of ‘Haridwar Sansad’. We hope sensible people too come out against such calls for violence. Wiping out the cultural identity of the victims too is one of the steps of genocide. By forcing Muslim women to give up Hijab, they have multiple goals to achieve. I am sure, Muslim women will fail them.
Q: If the court orders not to wear Hijab in educational institutions, the girls who are strictly following the religion would choose to wear Hijab than continuing their education. So, wouldn’t it be detrimental to the community?
A: We cannot compromise on both faith and education. No heinous force can prevent Muslim women from empowering with faith and education. When adverse situation arises, the community will find out alternatives to make sure that the girls are not denied education.
Q: What if the court takes a stand that Hijab is not an essential religious practice as per Quran?
A: I am not for speculations. With all respects to the judiciary, let me point out that interpretation of Quran should be done by the Quranic scholars within the community. Our courts are for interpreting the Constitution and laws of the country and to ensure Constitutional rights to all citizens. So, I would like to plead the court not to engage in interpreting Quran and grant the freedom for the community to interpret and practise the faith.