Burqa Ban - How justified!
Recent blockbuster Delhi Belly has shown how the sanctity of Burqa has been compromised to execute a heist – albeit in a tit-for-tat move. And it is not the first of improper show of Burqa. Time and again, poor Burqa has been used as per convenience across the spectrum – from political impropriety to criminal connivance.
Some Islamic scholars opine that Burqa is not prescribed by Islam. It is distant cousin and poor imitation of Hizab which is more Islamic. Multitudes of theories explain the origin of Burqa – as an innovation to save female pulchritude from the scorching sun, a manifestation of medieval male chauvinism, a piece of distinguish Mughal nobles' pride from subject, a shield to save women from exploring males eyes and so on.. But like most historical theories, each theory raises more questions than answer.
Whatever may be the origin, Burqa is a reality today. As per prevailing doctrine, Burqa should be donned by Muslim females while going out; but more often the doctrine has been compromised to save personal identity and hide behind a religious veil. An unwritten law in India is – not to ask the person to show her identity if wearing Burqa. It is assumed to affront the religious dignity. It again has been worked in favor of anti-social.
With couple of European counties banning Burqa, there is a growing clamor in India also to ban Burqa. Though Europe has set precedents in many cases, India as a sovereign country should not import all European rules. Europe runs buy it own constitution and constituency. Even though largely Christian, many European countries have banned Cross also in schools as they expose religion identity. They have banned turban too. They think it might lead to religious profiling which is against constitution’s secular tenets. The growing uneasiness with Islam may have a undertone in this decision.
But India is a different story .Motley of religions has existed together for centuries here. And profiling is there at every corner. You tell your last name and you are profiled (South or North, East or West, Upper or Lower or Schedule, Hindu or Muslim). So will India ban the names also give us Unique Identity like “1020202AS”? Jokes apart, let’s critically analyze, what Burqa epitomizes
a.) It hides your personal identity
b.) It exposes your religious identity
You must have seen lissome girls, covered tip to toe riding Scooty to save their skin from inclement weather. You wish, they would have shown their beautiful face. Hunks zooming past you with helmet tell the same story. Celebrities in tinted glassed cars, newly wed with their long ‘Ghoongat’, page 3 people with big sunglasses (even in night ), farmers with big ‘Pagari’ with Safa hanging over their face - are will going to ban all ? Isn’t crazy? And if not why ‘Burqa’ is singled out?
At Indian public places, religious identities are galore. Tilak, Sindoor, Turban, Cross, Sticker on Car, Idols and Statues - professes your religious identity. Are will going to ban all? Isn’t crazy? And if not why ‘Burqa’ is singled out?
So, personally I feel, we are not doing justice to Burqa. There are so many items which will fit into this tribe. So ban all or none. Be fair! Religious profiling should not crescent our innate consciousness.
However, I have an ethical question. Which one is our greater identity – as a human being or as a religious creature? Does human carry religious identity or does religion carry human form? Should a person forsake his or her human identity for sake of religion?
Burqa is one of those contraptions which absolutely hide your personal identity and only exposes religion identity. It hides the beauty and very existence of human.
I personally feel, human identity is best identity. Even God has to come in human form now and then - as per anecdotes. We do not need to hide human identity behind anything, howsoever great it may be.
But it would be best to left for individual and not ask for government intervention.
About Author: Vivek Singh is author of fast selling book “The Reverse Journey”
Google preview can be seen at
http://books.google.com/books?id=vMBy...
Some Islamic scholars opine that Burqa is not prescribed by Islam. It is distant cousin and poor imitation of Hizab which is more Islamic. Multitudes of theories explain the origin of Burqa – as an innovation to save female pulchritude from the scorching sun, a manifestation of medieval male chauvinism, a piece of distinguish Mughal nobles' pride from subject, a shield to save women from exploring males eyes and so on.. But like most historical theories, each theory raises more questions than answer.
Whatever may be the origin, Burqa is a reality today. As per prevailing doctrine, Burqa should be donned by Muslim females while going out; but more often the doctrine has been compromised to save personal identity and hide behind a religious veil. An unwritten law in India is – not to ask the person to show her identity if wearing Burqa. It is assumed to affront the religious dignity. It again has been worked in favor of anti-social.
With couple of European counties banning Burqa, there is a growing clamor in India also to ban Burqa. Though Europe has set precedents in many cases, India as a sovereign country should not import all European rules. Europe runs buy it own constitution and constituency. Even though largely Christian, many European countries have banned Cross also in schools as they expose religion identity. They have banned turban too. They think it might lead to religious profiling which is against constitution’s secular tenets. The growing uneasiness with Islam may have a undertone in this decision.
But India is a different story .Motley of religions has existed together for centuries here. And profiling is there at every corner. You tell your last name and you are profiled (South or North, East or West, Upper or Lower or Schedule, Hindu or Muslim). So will India ban the names also give us Unique Identity like “1020202AS”? Jokes apart, let’s critically analyze, what Burqa epitomizes
a.) It hides your personal identity
b.) It exposes your religious identity
You must have seen lissome girls, covered tip to toe riding Scooty to save their skin from inclement weather. You wish, they would have shown their beautiful face. Hunks zooming past you with helmet tell the same story. Celebrities in tinted glassed cars, newly wed with their long ‘Ghoongat’, page 3 people with big sunglasses (even in night ), farmers with big ‘Pagari’ with Safa hanging over their face - are will going to ban all ? Isn’t crazy? And if not why ‘Burqa’ is singled out?
At Indian public places, religious identities are galore. Tilak, Sindoor, Turban, Cross, Sticker on Car, Idols and Statues - professes your religious identity. Are will going to ban all? Isn’t crazy? And if not why ‘Burqa’ is singled out?
So, personally I feel, we are not doing justice to Burqa. There are so many items which will fit into this tribe. So ban all or none. Be fair! Religious profiling should not crescent our innate consciousness.
However, I have an ethical question. Which one is our greater identity – as a human being or as a religious creature? Does human carry religious identity or does religion carry human form? Should a person forsake his or her human identity for sake of religion?
Burqa is one of those contraptions which absolutely hide your personal identity and only exposes religion identity. It hides the beauty and very existence of human.
I personally feel, human identity is best identity. Even God has to come in human form now and then - as per anecdotes. We do not need to hide human identity behind anything, howsoever great it may be.
But it would be best to left for individual and not ask for government intervention.
About Author: Vivek Singh is author of fast selling book “The Reverse Journey”
Google preview can be seen at
http://books.google.com/books?id=vMBy...
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