Hijab Row: Indian Media and its veil of Hypocrisy

It is not surprising that some women still fancy wearing “heavy” veils, even though they literally hinder them from becoming their best selves. Of course, everyone has their own personal choices and preferences; and we have no right to ridicule them. But it is particularly concerning how a small row over hijab-wearing at one of the schools in Karnataka has rocked the entire world. The group of school girls involved in the hijab issue has been repeatedly incited by top leaders and celebrities. Are they not the same people who in fact, have clamoured their whole lives to free women from the shackles of repressive subjugation? Then why such double standards? Not only that, women who have never worn any covering over their heads have also come forward and provoked gullible crowds to jump into the pit of servitude. Very sadly, this petty case has immediately drawn the attention of the international media. The Washington Post, The New York Times, BBC, The Guardian — all are screaming at the top of their lungs. They have seemingly shifted their pitch from the “notion of liberation” to bondage! This has only further poured fuel on this fire of controversy. The global coverage of this issue has emboldened the agitating groups. More and more violent mobs have taken to the streets. Is this the ethics of journalism? What is contrastingly noteworthy here is that all these top media people never yelled when M Lavanya, a 12th standard student of Sacred Heart School in Tamil Nadu, committed suicide because she had reportedly been tortured and coerced into converting to Christianity. Many such instances are happening on a daily basis. Why do big media houses remain silent against such godless activities by specific religions?

While I do not subscribe to a whole lot of misleading opinions, both in favour and against the burqa, a few comments by level-headed people have caught my attention.  A scholar from Lahore – Khalid Umar, who now lives in London, laments with frank earnestness by saying – “Staying in a beautiful country like India you are still fighting to wear what Muslim women in Islamic nations are; trying to get rid of! How much more political can you get? When living abnormal & imposed life is conditioned as a normal one, a normal one surely seems like a terror! True is the saying that it is all about a perspective. For Islam, their perspective has become a talk & laughter of the world.” A similar concern is also shared by another lawyer from New Delhi, Subuhi Khan. 

The Washington Post, The New York Times, BBC, The Guardian — all are screaming at the top of their lungs. They have seemingly shifted their pitch from the "notion of liberation" to bondage! This has only further poured fuel on this fire of controversy. The global coverage of this issue has emboldened the agitating groups. More and more violent mobs have taken to the streets. Is this the ethics of journalism?

Khan, in her lecture to a crowd, remarked recently: “The first wife of Prophet Muhammad —Khadijah al-Kubra was a businesswoman who freely interacted with both males and females; she never confined herself within the four walls of a household. There are a number of undesirable practices in our society that have brought a bad name to our culture. This has ultimately misled our impressionable youths as we have witnessed in the hijab controversy now.” Again, roared the Governor from Kerala – Arif Mohammed Khan – “hijab is a tool of suppression. Quran makes no mention of hijab."

The above comments deeply touched my heart. They are genuine voices showing how women have been subjected to inhuman oppression and exploitation for ages how religion has been deliberately misinterpreted to bully women into submission. This writer has met with a number of progressive but distressed parents with their daughters, who disagree with the excessive subjugation of women. They often take to social media to express their displeasure.  

Without going further, I do believe that the sense of “rationality” and “piety” should go hand in hand in the 21st Century.   Feeling of “equality” alone can help create a conducive environment to broaden one’s outlook. True, what one prefers to wear or practice in personal life should not be a matter of others' concern. But it should also not encourage a holier-than-thou attitude among the community.  Each of us should be "accommodative”, considerate and equal in the public and academic sphere. Nothing should stand in one’s way of personality development. God will shower His blessings upon us  if we learn to live and also let others live in peace and harmony.

Very importantly, we should not fall prey to the propaganda of media houses that come with big brands. They are around only to throw the thick veil of hypocrisy over us! Better cry out against their disservice to humanity.