Jyoti Punwani writes: Then, as now, powerful forces mobilised groups of men against women’s choice. https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/theres-an-echo-of-the-shah-bano-case-in-the-hijab-controversy-7774077/
Today the country's Leftists, Liberals and feminists find themselves standing shoulder to shoulder with organisations that support the Taliban, carry out Islamic punishments for 'blasphemy' and harass Muslim girls who wear jeans in Colleges. These organisations are invited on media channels as the young women's spokespersons... The tragedy is those who have struggled for decades to reduce religiousity in public places have been reduced to fighting for more of it...
Comment: I do object to making an equivalence between religiosity in public space and political assertiveness of the parties concerned. The girl who was sloganeering say Allah u akbar clearly said in her interview to NDTV, that it was not the school which propelled her to shout that slogan, but the guys from outside who were forcing her. We have to recognise that the Mullas also like this kind of response because it gives them more power, that same with the dharam sansad guys. Even people who want to show their "religiosity" want to exhibit it and are allowed to do so, then it will take the wind out of the sails of the political assertiveness. This will happen more when we also ask local people to reflect on the religious symbolism.. For example the whole fiasco at the Ganga, has been taken badly by a majority of Hindus.. The only reason why they dont say it aloud is because their criticism is tom-tomed by people like us.. We have to demand that those who project religious symbols, should apply the religious principles in their social and political behaviour.. We have to hold their politics to their reigious values.
The Problem is that most of us liberals , Socialists and People on the Left are shy of engaging in anything considered "spiritual" or "religious", That is also because of our understanding that all things "rational" only comes from the logic, positive sense based knowledge, which has total consistency. We aren't humble enough to admit that we are falable, and perhaps dont understand as much as we think we do..