By Kulsum Mustafa for TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: Cine actor, former Member of Parliament, and one projected by the media as a strong supporter of women and human rights, Shabana Azmi gave a royal ditch to hundreds of Muslim women when she failed to honor her commitment to be the chief guest at the third national convention of Bhartiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA) held in Lucknow on 11th October.
Showing total disregard for all norms and tradition Shabana did not even show the basic courtesy of informing her host that she was not coming. The BMMA members, who had gone to receive her at the Amausi airport, got a rude shock when they discovered that Shabana was not on the Mumbai-Lucknow flight on which she had been booked. Deeply concerned about her well-being they called her up. After many futile attempts Shabana picked up the phone. Sans any regret or explanation she simply told them that she had cancelled her programme for Lucknow.
Shabana Azmi with children of Kaifi Azmi School at her village in Azamgarh in Nov 2008. PTI photo
Back at the venue red faced, the organizers had to tell the media and the public, both of whom had been waiting for Shabana in the sultry heat all afternoon that madam was not coming.
The organizers explained how it was only after several e-mails, telephone calls, and personal meetings that Shabana had finally consented to attend the convention.
“Only when she gave us her acceptance to attend that we printed her name on the invite. We sent her air tickets, booked her a room at a five star hotel in Lucknow and were happily awaiting her arrival when we learnt that she was not coming,” Noorjahan, BMMA member conducting the programme told the audience.
“We are deeply unhappy about this let down. But we were never more convinced than now that this movement for our rights will have to be run on our own strength. BMMA poor, semi literate volunteers will carry it forward. We should not depend on any celebrity for help, for leadership,” is how Noorjahan described Shabana’s irresponsible behavior.
Terming it as a ‘hadsa’ (grave mishap) she said that BMMA volunteers were strong enough to carry on with this great mission and ensure that their dream of a more equal world for Muslim community became a reality.
Though Shabana did temporarily disappoint the hundreds of women who had gathered from across 15 states of India at the venue to hear her, but she has caused herself more permanent harm by her callous attitude towards a very important section of society. For someone who just a few months back shook the whole country by her statement that Indian democracy is unfair to Muslims and that it makes only “token gestures” instead of addressing the real issues Shabana has shown that she is no better than those who have failed to support Muslim community. Shabana not only let down her community despite being a woman she let down so many women. The lady has shown total disregard for the cause that she claims to uphold and also trampled upon public sentiments. These can sound a death-knell for any one in public life.
“Shabana’s stinging attack on the country’s polity sounds so hollow now. She seems to cry foul only when she or her own kith and kin are affected. This is total hypocrisy,” said a BMMA office bearer in anger and disgust.
Asserting that Indian Muslims are given an unfair deal in India Shabana had even gone as far as to accuse the Muslim leadership of inefficient handling of community sentiments and called it a failure to project ‘true Islam.’
When Shabana got a chance of sharing the ‘real’ issues with the masses she failed to do so. Shabana’s anger only boils when she allegedly is not able to buy a flat in Mumbai. She created media hype about it suggesting that the root cause was the fact that she was a Muslim.
She contradicts herself when she claims before the whole world that she has led a ‘liberal, bohemian life and religion played no part in her family.
Shabana must clear the cobwebs of confusion about her personal life before she attempts to address the problems of the community.
Is she a ‘victim of discrimination?” Or victim of circumstances?