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RESILIENCE: Stories of Muslim women
The book captures the lives of 11 Muslim girls who had a rather unconventional education.
In the early 1980s, well-known social activist Shabnam Hashmi* started SEHER, an adult education centre for the girls of the extremely orthodox Nizamuddin Basti in New Delhi. She picked girls who had no money and zero opportunities – extremely poor, ‘talaq-shuda’, burdened with children and old parents. And she turned them into women with knowledge, jobs, opinions and financial independence.
That’s because Shabnam did not teach just the alphabet and numbers. She taught the girls about patriarchy, gender, equality and human rights. She gave them confidence and the power to dream.
Interspersed with the girls’ stories are interviews with Muslim women lawyers, academics, social workers and novelists as the author tries hard to make sense of Muslim Personal Laws and the state of women in Islam.
There is also an exploration of the fascinating history of the Basti, the legend of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, the quawaali, the Shah Bano case, Triple Talaq and more.
Most of all, there is inspiration, hope and courage.
*Safdar Hashmi’s sister
In the early 1980s, well-known social activist Shabnam Hashmi* started SEHER, an adult education centre for the girls of the extremely orthodox Nizamuddin Basti in New Delhi. She picked girls who had no money and zero opportunities – extremely poor, ‘talaq-shuda’, burdened with children and old parents. And she turned them into women with knowledge, jobs, opinions and financial independence.
That’s because Shabnam did not teach just the alphabet and numbers. She taught the girls about patriarchy, gender, equality and human rights. She gave them confidence and the power to dream.
Interspersed with the girls’ stories are interviews with Muslim women lawyers, academics, social workers and novelists as the author tries hard to make sense of Muslim Personal Laws and the state of women in Islam.
There is also an exploration of the fascinating history of the Basti, the legend of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, the quawaali, the Shah Bano case, Triple Talaq and more.
Most of all, there is inspiration, hope and courage.
*Safdar Hashmi’s sister
138 pages, Paperback
First published August 28, 2019
6 people want to read
About the author
Shubha Menon
5 books22 followersShort bio:
Shubha Menon is the author of two books. Her first book, The Second Coming is a tragiComedy and has been published by HarperCollins India.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/pqheoym
http://preview.tinyurl.com/nvcu9m2
Her second book is RESILIENCE: Stories of Muslim Women, narrative non fiction, published by Frontpage Publications.
https://tinyurl.com/y34z4kz2
A copywriter who dropped the 'copy', she is a writing coach and a practising Buddhist. She dreams of living in the hills where she can read, write and grow climbing roses. She lives in Delhi with her husband,
daughter and two Dachshunds.
Shubha Menon is the author of two books. Her first book, The Second Coming is a tragiComedy and has been published by HarperCollins India.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/pqheoym
http://preview.tinyurl.com/nvcu9m2
Her second book is RESILIENCE: Stories of Muslim Women, narrative non fiction, published by Frontpage Publications.
https://tinyurl.com/y34z4kz2
A copywriter who dropped the 'copy', she is a writing coach and a practising Buddhist. She dreams of living in the hills where she can read, write and grow climbing roses. She lives in Delhi with her husband,
daughter and two Dachshunds.
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