Girls Islamic Organisation (GIO) Goa, running under the patronage of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, organised a campaign on ‘Female Foeticide – a curse for the society’ from January 9 to 16. It invited two well-known and revered personages representing two major religions, MUHAMMAD IQBAL MULLA, Secretary Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and SHRI LAXMISWAMI SHANKARACHARYA, Swansthapak, Bharat Seva Ashram, Kanpur to address the people and guide them against the cruel act of foeticide. SABA SAYED took this opportunity to interview them. Excerpts:
How did you come to relate yourself to this issue of Female Foeticide?
IQBAL MULLA: The statistics and other evidences brought forth by the press, magazines and various news channels exposed the seriousness of the problem of female foeticide and also made me aware that very few people are working to eradicate it. Islam as a religion enjoins us to erase such evil practices from the society; hence we allied ourselves to the problem. A meeting was held wherein our Jamaat and its segments such as GIO (Girls Islamic Organisation) in Goa decided to have a strong week long campaign in order to make people aware of the same.
SHANKARACHARYA: The issue raised by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind is a matter of concern not for the Muslims but for the non-Muslims as there scarcely may be a case [of Female Foeticide] among the Muslims. This issue should have been raised by us, but, I feel ashamed that we are not the ones to raise voice against this problem. I was invited in a small gathering by them [JIH] in Delhi and it was there that I was informed about this conference and asked to be a part of this and that is how I came to be a part of the campaign.
What has been your stand on this issue?
IQBAL MULLA: I am a part of the campaign personally as well as being a member of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind. I feel that everyone who understands the seriousness of the problem should become a part of it and play his/her role in eradicating it.
SHANKARACHARYA: Since I belong to the Hindu community, my role is to address my people and make them aware of the problem of female foeticide and to learn and help ahead the initiative made by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind.
What do you think was the period that marked the rise in Female Foeticide?
IQBAL MULLA: Historically pre-independence or post-independence I don’t really know but certainly the change in the mindset of the people was seen in the last fifteen years; the girl child was deprived of her status and considered inferior to the male child; the greed for wealth among the people and various other factors have marked an increase in female foeticide.
SHANKARACHARYA: Initially in my community female foeticide happened because people fear dowry and surrendering to the demands of their in-laws; hence they would kill their daughters. I feel that then there were not many murders compared to the present day. In this modern world the most educated are the ones involved in this act. Reason behind it is the mentality that a small family will save wealth for a better life. Second and the most affective is the problem of dowry; it’s one of the ugliest practices which force the parents dislike a girl child. This dislike among the middle class is limited to their thoughts as they have neither means nor the knowledge to control the birth but the wealthy class knows the technology and has the means to do it. And the shameful part is that they think abortion is merely an act of getting rid of the unwanted, and do not realise it’s a murder in itself. Not just murder but a planned, cold blooded murder.
What according to you are the medium that encouraged the spread of female foeticide?
IQBAL MULLA: First, there are some religious and traditional beliefs – such as only the male child has the right to criminate the body of his parents, sustains the household and inherits the property: a girl cannot do all this – that have created a desire among people to have a male child. Secondly, there is the assumption that a girl child would require a lot of investment by the parents but no return. Thirdly, there is yearning of taking the name of the family further which only a male child can do and not a female. These false beliefs have altogether contributed a lot to rise of the problem. In Islam Allah guides people that male and female are equal; only their domains are different.
SHANKARACHARYA: Some of the social beliefs such as dowry, that only male child can carry the name of the family, and the mentality that a small family would save wealth for a better life and the desire to show off wealth, have encouraged the spread of female foeticide.
Do you consider the population rise in India is also a reason for Female Foeticide?
IQBAL MULLA: As far as the population is concerned, the western countries are impressing upon India to control its population; then Female Foeticide was not on the surface. The idea behind it was that there should be birth control, family planning, etc. What I understand is that they meant to say there would be more hands and no bread but I disagree. I think there is enough land and with right equipments there would be enough production. Asia is a big market for the western countries to sell contraceptives and other products in the name of population control. And wherever such laws of population control are enforced, they have greatly suffered.
SHANKARACHARYA: No, that cannot be the reason because people don’t say that population is rising hence we need to go for Female Foeticide. Absolutely not! I would certainly say that the Government has a role in it as it makes no act against it, perhaps because it thinks that through this foeticide at least the population is coming under control. But I think the major influence is that of traditions and beliefs.
What role do you think education plays in it?
IQBAL MULLA: Education can be a great help in solving the problem but unfortunately it is encouraging it. It should instruct how the problem can be contained but rather it teaches how a girl can be a liability and makes no effort to improve the position of woman.
SHANKARACHARYA: I do not see any role of education in it because the educated ones are involved in this shameful act. And our problem is that the more modern we are becoming the crueller we have become.
What is your view regarding the various steps government has undertaken?
IQBAL MULLA: The Government has played a very important role in containing Female Foeticide. There are laws and punishments for the act. But the implementation of these laws is not visible. Though, certain schemes such as the ‘Ladli scheme’ are good attempts. Yet I think there are many more things that can be done.
SHANKARACHARYA: I am not happy with the work of the Government because the punishment for this crime is neither severe nor is the Government very active in its role. I think the punishment should be very severe so that it creates fear among people and also execution of the laws should be ensured.
What results are you expecting from this campaign?
IQBAL MULLA: One thing that has come up through the campaign is that a kind of awareness towards the issue has been created in the society. It is a good thing that this issue has come to the public notice. A kind of atmosphere has been generated, looking at which one can certainly say that though the campaign will end but the work wont. We are not just focusing the problem of Female Foeticide but all the crimes against women. We look forward to joining hands with the Government to ensure creation and implementation of more schemes for the good of women. We also wish to make the people realise that there is a life after death and everyone is responsible and accountable for his/her deeds.
SHANKARACHARYA: I expect awareness among the people against this cruel act. I am also very thankful to Jamaat-e-Islami Hind for giving me an opportunity of being a part of this campaign; and as I have said before this is not a problem among the Muslim community but among the non-Muslims. Even then they have taken up the case for the good of humanity for which I am very thankful to them.
Any unforgettable incident that you reckon in regard to the issue at hand?
IQBAL MULLA: I arrived in Goa just two days ago, there have been many incidents during the campaign but one incident that I recollect very well is the small enactment by a young girl of Standard VIII at the Margao conference wherein she called her mother from heaven to ask her why she killed her in her womb, what was her fault. It was really a heart-touching and effective performance. I could see tears in the eyes of the audience.
SHANKARACHARYA: Yes, when this idea for the campaign was conceived, I was in Kanpur and was invited to Delhi, during that time in Kanpur a middle class family with three daughters and one son became a tragic news highlight as the father was the only earning member of the family. When his only son fell ill, he did not have the money for his medicines. The daughters thought that perhaps they were burden to their parents as the latter would not be able to give the large sum demanded by the grooms’ families in dowry and now their brother is also ill, hence all three hanged themselves to the ceiling and the picture of the hanging girls was displayed in the newspaper. That is one thing I can never forget and I consider dowry responsible for their death.
Are there any other social issues you are actively involved in?
IQBAL MULLA: Yes, in Delhi there are issues such as alcohol, corruption, communalism, etc. We cooperate with other NGOs and in turn they cooperate with us as well. There are so many problems and I believe that all the problems have arisen in the human society because humans have diverted from the guidance shown by God. This diversion will prove sabotage to the humankind.
SHANKARACHARYA: Yes, today there are two large communities in India that of the Muslims and the Hindus. And some mischievous groups are trying to create trouble between the two and we are working against it. We have an Ashram called the ‘Bharat Seva Ashram’ wherein we have a branch called the Hindu-Muslim Ekta Samiti, through which we wish to dissolve all the misunderstandings among the two communities.