For close to a year we have been debating if Shafin Jahan would be a good husband for Hadiya. How nice and caring of us! Especially when most of us in our personal lives find comfort in others’ miseries. It’s a bitter truth, but admit it. For instance, whenever the electricity goes, the first thing I do is ring the neighbour’s bell and see if it’s working. If it doesn’t, well and good. But if it does, then I end up abusing everyone from the power minister to the lineman. The point is we are that kind of people.
Now the trouble is Hadiya is a 25-year-old woman. In India, every woman above the age of 18 can marry whoever she wants. We didn’t question Manju Warrier when she married Dileep, did we? Somewhere deep in our hearts, ഹൃദയത്തിന്റെ വടക്കു കിഴക്കേ അറ്റത്ത്, we all felt she deserved better, but we lived with it.
So what’s different? Hadiya was once upon a time Akhila, a Hindu. And she married a Muslim. Many conspiracy theorists see love jihad in it. But then what is love jihad? A sinister plot hatched somewhere in the alleys of Syria or Iraq by Abū Bakr al-Baghdadi or possibly the last terror strike by Osama bin Laden before he was taken down by American special forces?
Now the trouble is Hadiya is a 25-year-old woman. In India, every woman above the age of 18 can marry whoever she wants. We didn’t question Manju Warrier when she married Dileep, did we? Somewhere deep in our hearts, ഹൃദയത്തിന്റെ വടക്കു കിഴക്കേ അറ്റത്ത്, we all felt she deserved better, but we lived with it.
So what’s different? Hadiya was once upon a time Akhila, a Hindu. And she married a Muslim. Many conspiracy theorists see love jihad in it. But then what is love jihad? A sinister plot hatched somewhere in the alleys of Syria or Iraq by Abū Bakr al-Baghdadi or possibly the last terror strike by Osama bin Laden before he was taken down by American special forces?
Now there is a problem with that theory. We are then saying women are brainless creatures incapable of anything, not even making their own personal choices like what food to eat, what dress to wear, who to make their partner, which is not a nice thing to say even if you believe it to be true. Every love affair in that case is a terror plot.
Hadiya may be the victim of a conversion racket, but she is certainly not a victim of love jihad. And even if she is a victim of a conversion racket, she is a willing victim. It’s her choice, she is free to follow any religion she wants to.
Hadiya may be the victim of a conversion racket, but she is certainly not a victim of love jihad. And even if she is a victim of a conversion racket, she is a willing victim. It’s her choice, she is free to follow any religion she wants to.
But let us not deny the existence of a conversion racket. Hadiya did not fall in love with Shafin Jahan. The marriage was arranged by her guardian and Popular Front worker Zainaba. It’s an old trick employed across every sector. It’s called establishing ownership. At a time when Akhila’s conversion to Hadiya was under challenge in the high court, Zainaba and her friends in PFI sought to arrange a wedding. Once the marriage takes place, the conversion is sealed and can’t be undone, so to say.
And long before that, when Akhila approached her friends’ father for advice on knowing Islam better, she was sent to the Sathya Sarani, run by the PFI. Let us be honest. If my daughter’s Muslim friend comes to me wanting to know more about Hinduism, would I send her to the nearest Bajrang Dal office? Never. At the most, I would ask her to read Amar Chitra Katha.
And long before that, when Akhila approached her friends’ father for advice on knowing Islam better, she was sent to the Sathya Sarani, run by the PFI. Let us be honest. If my daughter’s Muslim friend comes to me wanting to know more about Hinduism, would I send her to the nearest Bajrang Dal office? Never. At the most, I would ask her to read Amar Chitra Katha.
PS: 1) The article reflects the mood of Kerala, albeit in a mild manner 2) Hadiya’s father by constantly calling Shafin Jahan a terrorist is labelling Muslims as terrorists. Totally uncalled for
