The Women’s Wing of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Kerala organised its first ever conference on January 24. At the end of the conference SHAFAQUE ALAM talked to the State President of the Wing K.K. FATIMA ZUHRA on the various aspects of the conference and the organisation. Excerpts:
What were the objectives of this first ever conference?
Today women are looked down upon by the male-dominated society. They are not given equal status and right. They have been suffering from cradle to grave. So with hope to uplift the women we organised the conference.
Why it took years to organise it.
A conference exclusively for women is a new concept. So we had to plan and finalise all sorts of things it needed and that delayed it.
What are you doing to empower women?
We have been educating them through seminars, pictures, documentary films and even by going door to door on how to live well and uplift themselves especially the mothers, because they are the first teachers of their children and have large responsibilities on their shoulders to nurture, educate and make them responsible citizens.
What if all women enter public life?
We are not asking women to throw their family and enter public life. Why do people bother about it! Even after fulfilling the duties toward their respective families, women have a lot of time in hand. What is the woman doing at home? She is in the world of cinema and in T.V. serials. Her mind is being polluted continuously. So it is better to do something creative rather than feeding the mind with junk.
Please tell us something about GIO in Kerala.
Girls Islamic Organisation was formed in 1984 to help the girls in their social and educational activities. Currently we are more active in this field in Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Kannur, Kozhikode and Trissur.
What is the Women Wing of JIH Kerala doing for children?
We have special unit Baliga Sanjam for children. It has been working seriously for the proper Islamic and intellectual growth of children.
Do you have your magazines or newspapers for women?
Yes, we do have. Arammam (Gulistan) is exclusively for women.
And colleges for girls?
We have Women’s Arabic College at Wandore, Kerala which has been catering to the needs of Muslim girls. We have also been providing financial help and scholarship for the deserved ones.
What is your future plan?
The women’s wards of Thiruvanandapuram, Kozhikode and Kottayam Medical Colleges will be renovated. We also think of adopting and reshaping the lives of some helpless widows. There is also a plan to start a pre- and post-marriage counselling centre in Malappuram district where the conference was held.
Your message to the people.
There should be no discrimination on gender basis, because Allah created men and women with no superiority over anyone. We should feel our responsibility towards the society and country and make the people understand who are unfortunately unaware of this.