TCN Special Series: Part 2 on Anwari Noor Jahan
By Anjuman Ara Begum, TwoCircles.net,
Anwari Noor Jahan, 48, is a social activist and Muslim rights activist based in Khurelkendra, Imphal East district, Manipur. She talks about her ordeal she underwent while fighting for her community in Manipur.
Please tell us briefly about your work.
I am a social activist and I work on the rights of Muslims in Manipur. I work on the issues of violence against women and so far I have helped about 500 women who were victims of domestic and other violence. I also work on customary laws and discrimination against women. I am now associated with All Manipur Muslim Pangal Women Organisation.
Anwari Noor Jahan
What is the condition of Muslims in Manipur?
Manipur has a population of three lakh Muslims but the community is very backward and not much educated. As far as the higher education is concerned, since 1970 there had been no Muslim student in the state-run medical colleges though some students studied in some private colleges which are very expensive. On May 3, 1993, a clash took place between the Meitei Muslims and Meitei population in Manipur. It created a division in the society. In 1994, two Muslim boys got selected in medical colleges. We started a movement for 8% reservation for Muslims in all educational institutions run by the government. In 1997, the state government assured 4% reservation. From 1997 to 1999, 15 Muslim students studied in medical colleges as benefit of the reservation policy. But no Muslim student could study there after 1999. On November 4, 2010, All Manipur Muslim Pangal Women Organisation, Minunthong, Imphal issued a press release asking for the continuation of reservation in educational institutions for Muslims.
You said you were targeted for your work on Muslim rights. Please explain the incident.
In the year 2008 I was attacked. I was attending a meeting organissed by All Manipur Anti-Drug Association at J.M Hall, Imphal. While attending the meeting I got a phone call at around 5 pm from someone asking me to come out of the Hall and have a word with him. Myself and Abdul Hanif, 26-year-old boy, came out. We were walking together in the road when unknown people started firing at us. I was injured while Abdul Hanif died in Sijawa hospital at around 6-7 PM. I was badly wounded with wounds in my back. I was hospitalized initially at Sijawa hospital and then was transferred to Public hospital at Hatta, Imphal and was there for 5 days. Bombs were also planted in my house. PULF, the militant group did this crime. They have several factions and each faction demand us we support their faction. But an individual can support only one not all. Moreover I don’t want to get involved with any of the group. Hence they attacked. We have formed All Manipur Muslim Pangal Women Organisation and we will continue doing our work for the rights of Muslim population in Manipur.
What about your family?
I am married and I have two children, one son and one daughter.