Title: Mothering A Muslim
Author: Nazia Erum
Publisher: Juggernaut
Nazia Erum runs a fashion start-up, and is the mother of an
adorable little girl. But from the day Myra was born, she found herself asking
questions she didn't have answers for. It began with her daughter's name –
should Nazia choose a traditional Islamic name or a more non-religious sounding
one so that her daughter couldn't be identified as a Muslim? Nazia was not the
only modern middle-class Muslim asking this question. Soon she discovered that
finding the right name for Myra was the least of her worries. Talking to over
100 children and their parents across 12 cities, what Nazia uncovers is deeply
troubling. She heard stories of rampant bullying of Muslim children in many of
the country's top schools, of six-year-olds being hit by their classmates because
of their faith, of religious segregation in classrooms and of anxious Muslim
parents across the country who monitor their children's dress, speech and
actions to protect them. In Mothering a Muslim, she finally lifts the veil on
this taboo subject, one that is spoken of only in whispers. Urgent, gripping
and heartbreaking, this is essential reading for every Indian.
Bigotry — the intolerance, fear, and hatred of those
different from ourselves — is a common occurrence in the world even today. It
is, however, considered wrong almost universally because it robs others of
their rights as human beings through discrimination and persecution. And among
all forms of bigotry, it is religious bigotry that is by far the most common. Due
to religious bigotry people are willing to kill each other even in a secular
country like ours. I wonder what it is like in countries where they have a
national religion!
The most worrying aspect of this ‘epidemic’ is that it has
spread its vile roots even in the innocent yards of schools. Kids, who have no
actual idea of what religion is, hurl abuses at each other and sometimes even get
physical based on religious differences. Set amidst this backdrop, Nazia Erum’s
‘Mothering a Muslim’ explores the thoughts and dilemmas of a community that
finds itself embattled in India’s current political climate. It raises
questions and examines bullying in the so-called secular, liberal posh schools
of Delhi NCR and elsewhere.
Religion has always been a sensitive issue in our country.
Not very long ago we witnessed partitions based on the fault lines of religious
sentiments. Was it right? That is not the question we need to ask ourselves any
more. Was it enough to purge our religious notions? – is what we need to
understand.
Islamophobia has seeped into the very corridors of our
schools and homes and this is what Erum tries to tell the masses through her
book. She uncovers a deeply disturbing picture of what it means to grow up as a
Muslim in India. She has provided a set of guidelines for parents and teachers
on what steps they can take if their child/ward is being subjected to communal
bullying.
Erum also writes about how many Muslim parents, including
herself, have developed inherent fears about their kids being singled out
because of how their name sounds like. The most striking part of her book is
when she goes beyond the trials of raising a child whose identity is Muslim.
She brings up a key dilemma of being Muslim that seems to plague the community
causing an internal crisis of identity.
To some the book may come across as a one-sided monologue
where the sentiments of non-Muslim mothers are not being taken into
consideration. There’s always two sides of a story — ours and theirs. But
shouldn’t we, as educated people, start saying a single story with a mutual
voice? It’d be good to be just ‘humans’ and not labeled as anything else. Erum
has tried to say just that through her book and it applies to everyone.
A worthwhile read all things considered!
Amazon * Flipkart
I'd like to thank the publisher for letting me review the book.
I do hope you end up liking the book when you read it. Thank you so much for
stopping by, and happy reading!
* I received a review copy
from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
** Picture courtesy:
Amazon.in
