India Is ‘Secular’ But Doesn’t Think Twice Before Changing For Muslim Women

On December 31, six students in Government PU College for Girls in Udupi, coastal Karnataka, were barred from entering the class. The students claimed that they were not allowed to attend classes for the past 15 days on the grounds of flouting the ‘new’ dress code as set by the college administration.

The six girls were cladded with the hijab or headscarf typically worn by women from the Muslim community, which apparently violated the uniform dress code set by the college. The students then filed a writ petition in the Karnataka High Court against this prohibition, which is currently being heard by a larger bench.

Following this incident, colleges in Kundapura, Chikkamagaluru and other parts of Karnataka erupted with scuffles between pro and anti-hijabis. The latter mainly consisted of men from right-wing Hindu groups.

In a rather amusing incident, some boys affiliated with the Hindu Jagrana Vedike went to college sporting saffron shawls in protest against some girls attending classes wearing hijab at the Government Pre University College, Kundapur and Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College in Udupi.

India, A ‘Secular’ Republic

The incident prompts us to reimagine the secular credentials of the country, which has been accommodating in various aspects allows for exemptions to particular communities based on their beliefs and customs. For example, the Sikh community is exempted from wearing helmets while driving as it intrudes with their turbans as enshrined in their religion.

Similarly, the tribal communities of India are permitted to have permanent tattoos on any part of their bodies compared to other candidates who are allowed to have one only in the inner forearm or reverse palm under specified conditions.

So then, why are we prohibiting Muslim women of a similar affirmative action when the constitution has laid provisions for the same?

For the longest part of our known history, the country has encouraged pluralism and multiculturalism.

But this has been under constant degradation over the past decade, especially the last three years when Christians, Dalits, Sikhs, and especially Muslims have been slammed with the burden of majoritarian obligation. 

Against Majoritarianism, But Also Patriarchy

From the Sulli Deals to the Bulli Bai Case, where women were auctioned online through doxed information and unsolicited pictures; objective remarks against Muslim women- mostly journalists, activists and writers have grown continually over the years without any legitimate action spotted in either of the cases.

They are at the helm of trolls’ targets, their gender and their religion puts them at a juncture where neither Muslim men nor Hindu women seem to promise much. Their war is against the shackles of patriarchy and the growing cultural nationalism but at the same time, they are fighting against the dictations of saviour tropes and a struggle to preserve their identity. 

Hijab does not interfere with matters of surveillance nor can it hurt someone’s sentiments.

At a time, when global leaders from US Representative of State from Minessota- Ilhan Omar to Apsana Begum, the British MP for Poplar and Limehouse and Halimah Yacob, current President of Singapore wear hijab, despite being at some of the highest offices in the world, in countries with marginal Muslim population, where are we heading as a country by relegating the provision of liberal education on the basis of someone’s choice of clothing and faith?

Contrary to the government’s flagship program, ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ boasts of encouraging female education in the country. However, the effort here seems to disenfranchise and humiliate and not educate and liberate Muslim women.

To force someone out of a hijab is as oppressive as forcing someone into it.

This can be considered a violation of Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, which enshrines the freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess, practise and propagate religion only restricted on the grounds of public order, morality or health. 

Perhaps, these women are not feminine enough, or Muslims have already been relegated to a secondary status in the country, curtailed of all rights. 

Featured image is for representational purposes only.