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India-Pakistan
Deoband can't decide schools for us, say girls
2007-07-09
LUCKNOW: Baquiyar Rizvi is as articulate or assertive as any student from LucknowÂ’s prestigious convent schools. The 17-year-old would like to "crack the IIT-JEE, take her own decisions and bring home a six figure pay packet one day," like all her compatriots.

The only factor that sets Baquiyar apart from the rest is a triangular green scarf secured in front with a safety pin, which covers both her shoulders. Part of her uniform in the Unity Mission School in old Lucknow, the scarf doubles up as a head gear during recitation of Koran or on special religious ceremonies held on campus from time to time.

Baquiyar has no complaints about this sartorial restriction. A devout Muslim, she respects the ulema "as seniors and more experienced holy men".
And bigger, and stronger, and armed, with numerous cousins ...
And that is where she would like to draw the line. The latest Deoband edict banning co-education makes the girl bristle. "I am not going to allow anyone else to run my life," she says. "Let them rule my parents... they canÂ’t rule me..." she adds as an afterthought.
Baquiyar, you'd make a good American, but I think your prospects as a live Pakistani are a tad uncertain ...
"Why should we be in ‘hijab’ or shy away from co-ed," questions Shgufta, her junior who incidentally aspires to be a space scientist. "Kya Sunita Williams space mein gayin thi female crew ke saath (Did Sunita Williams go to space with all female crew)," Shagufta asks.

It is the second time in last three years that Muslim women in UP are set to defy the Darul Uloom Deoband. Lucknow alone has more than half a dozen schools managed by the minority community including Career Convent, Eram Convent, Dabbles College, Brains College. None has shown any signs of cowering before the mullahsÂ’ edicts, so far.

Saturday, therefore, was yet another day for 5,000-odd students, both girls and boys, in the Unity Missionary School. Set up in 1988 by Twheedul Muslimeen Trust it’s founder, noted Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Sadiq, faced stiff resistance from fundamentalists then. Situation is not much different even 25 years down the line. "There are pressures from a lobby of parents and ‘ulema’ who still frown upon co-ed in Unity," said vice-principal T Z Naqvi. But Maulana Sadiq has refused to give in to the demand.

The school has mixed sections and also separate sections for boys and girls. Significantly, students from mixed section, says Naqvi, perform best. Girls from these sections are also more confident and sure of themselves, she said.

And it certainly shows. Aliza, student of class Xth, advises ulema to first purge the Aligarh Muslim University of the ‘evil practice’ and also points out that Sir Syed Ahmad was totally against ‘purdah’. Why all this drama now, she asked.

The principal of Aligarh Public School, a co-educational institute, Zakia Athar Siddiqui says the fatwa is aimed at taking Muslim girls back to 8th 18th century. This must not be allowed. "Let parents decide if they want to send their daughter to a co-ed institute.," she asked.
Posted by:John Frum

#3  India, indeed. Good catch, Liberalhawk.
Posted by: trailing wife   2007-07-09 17:29  

#2  "but I think your prospects as a live Pakistani are a tad uncertain ..."

Damned good thing she lives in India, then.
Posted by: Liberalhawk   2007-07-09 13:55  

#1  Did Sunita Williams go to space with all female crew)," Shagufta asks.

Decrepit Deobandi men can't compete with a female astronaut
Posted by: John Frum   2007-07-09 12:05  

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