A Book that Every Artist Should Read
Perhaps my wandering mind had not registered this name, Mukhtar Mai, when it became an international stand in word for woman courage in 2002. That’s why when I found ‘In the Name of Honour’ at the DC Books, Trivandrum, I did not feel any particular attraction towards this book. However, I decided to collect it for I have the habit of reading the first person narratives of the women from the ‘rest of the world’. From Sojourner Truth to Bell Hooks, from Mary Roy to Mata Amritanandamayi, from Naseema to Nalini Jameela, from Coco Fusco to Rekha Rodwittiya, from Mahasweta Devi to Ajitha, from Protima Bedi to M.S.Subbalakshmi, from Leela Seth to Helen, I adore them all for the kind of lives that they have led and also for reclaiming their due space in a chauvinistic society.
Once I read the book, I was captivated. To be precise, I grew an inch more as a human being. ‘In the Name of Honour’ recounts a different story; story of a woman, Mukhtaran Bibi who was raped in the name of honour. On 22nd June 2002, Mukhtaran Bibi, an illiterate divorcee from the Punjab province of Pakistan was raped by four men from the Mastoi caste, in front of a jeering and castrated public. The reason for this atrocity was a simple caste based family feud. Hailing from the comparatively lower Gujar caste, Mukhtaran’s twelve year old young brother Shakur was accused of having sex with a twenty three year old woman from the Mastoi caste. The tribal court, jigra was called and the solution was to make one of the Gujar women to appear before the jigra. The lot fell on Mukhtaran Bibi and she faced the jigra. The verdict was done in the most inhuman and infamous way. She was raped by four men of the Mastoi caste.
Delayed justice and dearth of funds are the two reasons that take people from rural Pakistan to go before the tribal court, where the law is done in the Machiavellian fashion. The case against Mukhtaran’s brother was a concocted one. The mastois wanted to prevent the gujar families buying land in the same area. Also they wanted to have Mukhtaran, as she was a divorcee, a fallen woman before the religion. It is usual in Pakistan, when a woman is raped or violated to settle a dispute between feuding families she takes away her life ending all the controversies. The mastois expected the same to happen with Mukhtaran Bibi. But she did not commit suicide.
The news of this attempt on Mukhtaran’s modesty became an international issue. National and international human rights organizations and the press mobilized the public opinion on behalf of Mukhtaran Bibi, who stood against the evil men and decided to fight it out till she got justice. She recognized the fact that the lack of education led girls to permanent slavery. When the compensation money came from the government, what she wanted was a school for the girls. Mukhtaran Bibi, the one who taught the village girls Quranic verses from her memory became Mukhtar Mai (the honourable sister).
The transformation from Mukhtaran Bibi to Mukhtar Mai is filled with trials and tribulations. A society that expected the wronged woman to commit suicide stood in awe when it found her fighting for historical cause. Rumors flew thick and fast as Mukhtar Mai started getting funds for running the school from various agencies. She was accused of being a person sold off to the western ways. However, she withstood all oppositions. She waged the war well and the war for dignity still continues. Many wronged sisters from all over Pakistan have become her allies. She champions their cause and also fights for the cause of girls’ education.
Mukhtar Mai has not taken off her purdah. Time and again she has reiterated that she is an Islam and she would continue to follow the rules of the religion. She does not deny the role of religion for she believes that it is her weapon to fight against all what has been against the very spirit of it. She speaks for the right of women in international forums.
Many of the Indian contemporary artists have painted or dealt with the issues of women who are forced to live inside the purdah. They have become emblematic of the wrong deeds of a particular religion. The symbolism of these works is still valid. However, those artists who are interested in the humanitarian causes, including the women’s causes, should be reading this book, In the Name of Honor. It helps one to think more like a human being.
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