One row no one must exploit

The trouble with identity politics is that it is more about politics than about identity. Or if it’s about identity, it is about the political leader and not that of the people he represents. The idea of identity politics is to lend personal expression a public platform But looks like in India, many so-called minority leaders are using the game to promote their name.

Take the example of President of the All India Majlise-Ittehadul Muslimeen Asaduddin Owaisi. His statement that tomorrow a hijab-clad woman will be the PM of India, is more sensational than anything else. His limited followers will surely be back-slapping each other over this.

But this is just what the other side is looking for. He’s given them a new rhetoric: if we give in to hijabwearing today, slowly we will have to accede to them a lot of things. Owiasi knew he would land on the front pages of newspapers and loop on TV channels; get all the publicity he wanted. It won’t get him votes but the statement of his will definitely get him more space in ‘Muslim politics.’

Mr Owaisi could also be making his contribution to polarising votes in Uttar Pradesh. It’s just like his other statement that SP and BJP are the same.

Forget power, look at the reality around. Muslims as a community are poor, underprivileged, uneducated, and underrepresented in services and politics. Right now being a Muslim means one may not have jobs, educational opportunities, or any other concessions like reservation. One can be lynched in certain parts of India for carrying meat. One can be surrounded and asked to chant something to prove his credentials. During any disturbance he can be rounded up and dumped in a jail.

Then let’s come to Muslim women per se. The hijab is an aspect of Islam that is a choice for women. Unlike the five pillars of Islam, not wearing one doesn’t disqualify you from being a Muslim. A woman who is wearing a hijab is exercising her choice while there would be other Muslim women who may not. A Muslim is a Muslim because they profess to be so, regardless of the physical markers.

And now we come to the question of political power. Let alone PM, we hardly have Muslim women MPs or even a chief minister. As for Karnataka, there may be just a handful of Muslim MLAs and no minister at all. One doesn’t know what kind of representation any of the parties offer Muslim women. In today’s scenario, it’s quite easy to hold out hope and build dreams but how long will it take for the community as a whole to at least reach a position of economic well being and proudly claim that the poor and downtrodden among them have been taken care of ?

Forget the PMO, let’s hope hijabi girls first get back to classrooms and resume academics.