Submitted by admin4 on 25 February 2012 - 3:00pm
Indian Muslim
By Rafat Nayeem Quadri
Article from TwoCircles.net
Ahmedabad: “She wants to become a pilot, and come what may I will make my daughter study as much as she wants. I want her to ‘fly’ high in life”, this is what Mahboobbibi Ansari has to say.
Mahboobbibi lost her husband in the cruel communal frenzy of 28th February 2002. “It was for a difference of few seconds that I missed my husband behind and could run to save my life. They caught hold of him”, remembers Mahboobbibi who couldn’t control her tears as she proceeded to say “they cut his head with a sword and then burnt the entire body.”
Mahboobbibi Ansari
Her husband while running for his life thought of his elderly mother-in-law who was not able to run, so he turned back to catch hold of her hand that they grabbed him and his mother-in-law.
Her brother Nayeem Shaikh was hurt badly on head, assuming that he is dead they left him. However, after they had gone Nayeem told his tale that he literally stopped breathing and controlled it for few minutes when they were checking whether he was still alive.
Mahboobbibi, 25 in 2002, left alone with a three year baby girl had a tough time even as she brought up her daughter Ghazala who is 13 today.
Mahboobbibi says, “my only regret is that I should have had studied in an English medium school and had become a big officer type. But, nevertheless, I shall make my daughter study as much as she wants.”
When asked where she studies, Mahboobbi quickly responded, she goes to St. George School in Faizal Park, Vatva she moved recently from Naroda Patia.
Scars of Mahboobbibi are deep rooted. She lost at least two immediate relatives and her bhabi (elder brother’s wife) suffered head injuries and but she recovered after a long time, so was her brother. Mahboobbibi reiterates, “I can never forgive them, I want them to be punished if not hanged they should at least be given a life sentence. We were innocent people. What had we done to them or for that matter to the people of this world that my husband and mother were so brutally killed? Everyday that sad day dances before my eyes; I don’t want to remember it but I can’t forget it too.”
Today she is busy stitching as many clothes as possible which she gets from a ready made manufacturer. She wants her daughter to study so she is saving every little penny for her future. She doesn’t speak of savings for her daughter’s wedding; instead she wants to save the money for her daughter’s best education.
On Friday 24th February 2012 many such Mahboobbibis had gathered at ‘Dastak’ programme organised by the NGO Anhad and others. It was decided by the NGOs to salute the resilience of these strong women who lost their dear ones or got hurt themselves and are still struggling for life and betterment in life and live in a hope to get justice.
“Reflections of a Journey” – an exhibition
An exhibition of the photographs titled “Reflections of a Journey” was inaugurated by Shweta Bhatt (wife of Sanjiv Bhatt). It consisted of ten installations. Conceived and designed by eminent social activist and head of ANHAD, Shabnam Hashmi, the Exhibition while constantly raising the issues of injustice, conditions of the victims, mindless violence, experiences of the last ten years paid homage to the victims and invokes Gandhi and the Sufi traditions of Gujarat for spreading a message of communal harmony.
The exhibition used hundreds of photographs by Sahir Raza, who documented Gujarat carnage as a 15 year old photographer from Delhi. The exhibition has his photographs of the Sufi shrines from 2005 and photographs taken across Gujarat between 2007-2009. The exhibition also has photographs by Paresh Parekh taken across 8 districts of the colonies of the internally displaced and photographs taken by some journalists accessed from the internet.
A convention on ‘Saluting Women's Resilience’ held from 12 noon to 6pm saw the felicitation of the grassroots women activists speaking out at the convention. A documentary made by Arma Ansari on their struggles was also screened. A book is under production about their lives and struggles which will be released at the National programme in Delhi, said Shabnam who was accompanied by leading activists of Gujarat Gagan Sethi, Nafisa Barot, Shiba George and Zakia Sonam.
Candle light vigil
A candle light vigil was also organized in memory of victims of communal violence. Special prayers (dua) and recitation of sad poetry near the photos of the victims was also organsied to commemorate the decade and pay homage to the departed souls. Friday’s programme was concluded with the recital of the songs like “gar hosake to ab koi shamma jalaiye…is daure siasat ka andhera mitaiye…Zulmo sitam ki aag lagi hai yahan vahan..Paani se nahi pyar se isko bujhaiye..followed by the mourning.
(Rafat Nayeem Quadri is Editor, BILKUL, First English Fortnightly of Gujarat. She can be contacted at: 90999 27424 and rafatquadri@gmail.com)
Article from TwoCircles.net
