EDUCATION AND EMPOWERMENT OF MUSLIM WOMEN IN WEST BENGAL ABSTRACT

EDUCATION AND EMPOWERMENT OF MUSLIM WOMEN IN WEST BENGAL ABSTRACT A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF KALYANI FOR THE FULFILMENT OF THE AWARD OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN EDUCATION By SARMILA TALUKDAR (DAS) UNIVERSITY OF KALYANI FACULTY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION KALYANI, NADIA, WEST BENGAL 2015

UNIVERSITY OF KALYANI FACULTY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION KALYANI, NADIA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA Prof. (Dr.) Jayanta Mete Residence : Department of Education Simantapally, Santiniketan University of Kalyani Birbhum, Pin 731235 Kalyani, Nadia, W.B. Phone : 9433476662 Email : jayanta_135@yahoo.co.in Date : This is to certify that Smt. Sarmila Talukdar (Das), a research scholar of the Department of Education, University of Kalyani, has done her research work on a significant problem entitled EDUCATION AND EMPOWERMENT OF MUSLIM WOMEN IN WEST BENGAL under my supervision and guidance for the award of Degree of Philosophy in Education from University of Kalyani. Smt. Das worked to my satisfaction on this problem and has fulfilled all conditions of the rules and regulations relating to the nature and period of Doctoral research in the University. The result embodied in this thesis have not been submitted to any other university or institution for the award of any Degree or Diploma. It is recommended that her thesis which is her original work, be accepted for evaluation for the award of Ph. D. Degree of University of Kalyani. (Dr. Jayanta Mete)

DECLARATION I do hereby declared that the work reported in the Thesis entitled Education and Empowerment of Muslim Women in West Bengal in original and has not previously been submitted to any other university or institution for the award of any Degree or Diploma. The present thesis is being duly submitted to the University of Kalyani for the evaluation of Doctor of Philosophy in Education. Any reference to work done by any other person or institution or any material obtained from other relevant sources have been duly cited and referenced. Date : Sarmila Talukdar (Das) Research Scholar, University of Kalyani, Kalyani West Bengal

Introduction The empowerment of women has become one of the most important and modern phenomenon of 21 st century not only at National level but also at the International level. After World War II, International treaties put great focus on human rights, specially women s right. In India the feminist activism picked up momentum during later 1970 s and women participate in all activities, such as education, polities, media, art and culture, service sectors, science and technology. In the last 40 years, women's role in the society has changed dramatically. Women comprise a large proportion of workforce and their status also rises as well. Although the situation has improved, women are considered as different from men, more precisely, gender inequalities still exist in both workplace and family. In this essay, I will explain the causes of this inequality and critically assess the extent of the barriers to and the restrictions within employment experienced by women. Women's subordination was historically determined by their physical weakness and coercion. Women's lesser capacity for violence as well as for work has been an essential factor for determination. Women's biological capacity is much more limited than men. They have not only been less able to perform certain tasks, but also have less ability to protect themselves. Religion in India is characterized by a diversity of religious beliefs and practices. Indian Subcontinent is the birthplace of some of the world's major religions; namely Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, Islamism. Throughout India's history, religion has been an important part of the country's culture. Religious diversity and religious tolerance are both established in the country by the law and custom; the Constitution of India has declared the right to freedom of religion to be a fundamental right. In India religion has always been the most important factor in defining and determining social relations. Muslim constitute the second largest religion and thus the largest minority. Women since ages have been a victim of these outrageous practices wherein India being a multi-religious society, every community has its own personal laws because of which the women of that community suffer the most. The women belonging to the Muslim community have been brought to the mainstream a

2 number of times be it because of unequal treatment from birth. Equality and empowerment of women are necessary to bring about an egalitarian human society. Societies can not succeed by suppressing the talents of half of their member. Promoting gender equality and empowerment of women was declared as an important millennium development goal adopted by the Millennium Summit held in New York in September, 2000. This summit stressed the need of eliminating gender disparity in education and achieving universal primary education. Education constitutes the key instrument of social transformation and development. Like other parts of the world there are large disparities in the economic, social, political and educational opportunities available to men and women in India. Gender discrimination begin early in life, with female infants having a lower chance of survival owing largely to parental neglect. After 65 years of Indian independence, the women of rural and urban areas have no power of decision making except a very few because they still remain economically weak and socially handicapped and lack of education. Except some higher educated conscious women, most of the women do not know that they had a right to freedom and they can aspire for freedom. But it is the 21 st century that brought about dynamic changes and new concepts which affected the status of women, giving them fresh dignity and importance. India has the third highest concentration of Muslim world wide after Indonesia and Pakistan. The Muslim population was 138 million out of a total population of 1028 million in 2001. On the other hand, Muslim Constitute the Second largest religious minority. No country can afford development without considering woman who Constitute about half of the population women s empowerment encompasses their enhanced status in social; political and economic spheres. Empowerment of Muslim women is imperative as Muslim women continue to the victims of traditional Social Structure of the Community. Education is the birth right of every Muslim. Islam puts considerable emphasis on its followers to acquire knowledge. Investment in education is the best investment one can take, because it eventually leads to intellectual property. There are a deep seated misconceptions among various communities that Islam does not encourages women to receive education and does not allow employment of women. But the very

3 first word of the first verse in Glorious Quran emphasizes that the need and importance of education. It is imperative on all Muslim men and women to receive as much knowledge as could enable them to differentiate between what is truth and what is false. Prophet Mohammed s wife Khadeeja, in one hand, was a successful business women and she was a devoted Muslim women at the same time. So women education and employment is not restricted from the Prophet s from the very beginning. It is the religious duty of every man and woman to seek knowledge (Hadith of Prophet Muhammad). But later on, this position of women in Muslim society is deteriorated. The present gender-based discrimination, coupled with socio-cultural barriers, limits access and participation of women in education as in other fields. It is truth that these barriers have not sanctioned in the religion of Islam. Many religious books point to the fact that women are not trialed badly by Islam. Unfortunately, in actual practice, the tendency seems to be to overlook or misinterpret the principles and orders of the Quran and consequently to accord to the woman an inferior status Objectives of the Study : The following objectives laid down for the study:- To find out the percentage of literacy of Muslim women in West Bengal. To find out the status of Muslim women in society. To analyse the socio-cultural position of Muslim women in society. To find out the economic position of Muslim women. To estimate the participation of Muslim women in polities. To find out the religious role on education of women. To estimate the empowerment of Muslim women. To estimate the growth and population of Muslim family & role of women. Significance of Study : The role of education in facilitating social and economic progress is well accepted today. Education is an important factor to create a new social order. It is considered as one of the most important indicators of social development. The literacy

4 rate among Muslims in 2001 was far below the national average. It is true that different comprehensive measures have been adopted to improve the education of Muslim women, but it is not adequate. Due to lack of education they are socially and economically oppressed. Empowerment of women implies process by which women power of selfrealisation is promoted and reinforced. They develop the capacity for self-reliance cut crossing the relationship subordination on account of gender, social, economic status and the role in the family and society. It encompasses the ability to make choices control resources and enjoy participatory relationship within family and community. Empowerment also encourage their ability to lead social movements in removing the obstacles in their progress, in a proper way through different organised sector. Women s empowerment is closely connected with women s education. It is not possible for a women to acquire freedom without economic self-sufficiency. The Muslim women are one of the weakest social group in Indian society. There always has been a confusion about the status and rights of Muslim women. The confusion arises due to the significant differences about the status and rights of Muslim women in textual Islam, in Islamic history and tradition and in Islam in practice at present. This self-sufficiency depends on education. But Muslim girls remain deprived of education owing strict pardah system. They could not free to take education as general woman. Religious orthodoxy is very common feature for Muslim community. The inherent backwardness of the general mass of Muslim remained the same. So very few of them got opportunities to have education of proper standard. Muslim women belonging to the lower ranks of the society practically had no education. Education, is a powerful vehicle for bringing about change, a panacea of all evils and a patient weapon for prevention plays a central role of the society. The Government of India and Government of West Bengal provides some efforts for improving the educational status of Muslim women. The Central Government s flagship education programme termed as Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (Total Literacy Mission) has rightly focused attention to give impetus to minority education including that of Muslim girls.

5 Education of Muslim women leads to their empowerment, since it removes some of the obstacles to economic, social development and religious superstition also. In West Bengal Muslim population is high. It is the responsibility of Government to educate them and the education can help to enhance the capacity of Muslim women in West Bengal. So this study was conducted on education and empowerment of Muslim women in West Bengal, specially Murshidabad and Nadia districts. Scope and Delimitation : The study was conducted to estimate the empowerment of Muslim women in West Bengal with special reference to their education, economic and social status, employment position, political awareness and participation, reproduction consciousness and the conservative approach of society considering those points the study was delimited under the following heads : 1. Geographical Area : If the study can be conducted through out West Bengal with the huge number of Muslim women in different areas, then the study can not be completed within a limited time and period. For this reason to make the study intensive and to complete it the study have been done on the basis of statistics from Murshidabad and Nadia districts of West Bengal. 2. Rural and Urban Women : The study was conducted with all types of women such as students, teachers, home makers, politicians and other categories of women in Murshidabad and Nadia districts. This study was restricted to some selected Muslim women of rural and urban areas. 3. Dimension : The study was conducted for the estimation of development of Muslim women and their position of empowerment on the society. In the present study, education has been selected for assessment of development of women empowerment.

6 Methodology : The study have been carried out through descriptive survey method.the present study have been based on mainly primary & partially secondary sources of date which will be collected with the help of questionnaire & interviews from the Muslim women in Nadia and Murshidabad District of West Bengal. Variables In the present study the following variables have been considered this variables can be divided into two categories. 1. Independent variables. 2. Dependent variables. Independent Variables In the present study the followings are independent variables. Educational level (i) Ill iterate (ii) Primary (iii) Secondary (iv) Graduate (v) Higher Education. Dependent variable Empowerment is the only Dependent variable. Tool and Techniques : The following tools will be used for collection of date for the study : 1. Structure of proforma to estimate the educational status of Muslim women. 2. Socio-economic status scale. 3. Questionnaire for participation of Muslim women in various profession (Teacher, social workers, labour class, political leaders, Govt. employees and others). 4. Interview of all sections of Muslim women including students.

7 Population and Sample : Women of all categories, i.e. professional, home maker, political leaders under all socio-economic status group, labour class, student, and participatory of different political and social organisation were included as sample. Sample Size : More than 403 Muslim women have been participated in the present study. Sample Character : Muslim women of different sectors of Nadia and Murshidabad District. Discussion : According to the census of 2001, the literacy rate among Muslim women 50.1% which is far below from national average and it is also below from other religious communities in India. There is no doubt that the Muslim women are educationally backward. The literacy rate among Muslim women is 49.75% which is 28.89% lower than the average literacy rate (68.64) of West Bengal. There is no educational indicator except literacy rate on which data are available to show the status of Muslim women or for any other religious groups. There is also a common belief that Muslim parents feel that education is not important for girls and that is may instill a wrong set of values. Even if girls are enrolled, they are withdrawn at an early age to marry them off. This leads to a higher drop out rate of Muslim girls. The interactions with them indicate that the problem may lie in non-availability of schools within easy reach for girls at lower level of education, absence of girls hostels, absence of female teacher and availability of scholarships as they move up the education ladder. It is found that the state of education among Muslim women is even not so remarkable though it is increased from the past. The cultural traditions do not allow Muslim girls to take advantage of co-educational schools, especially if they are far away from their homes. The Muslims are economically disadvantage group in West Bengal as well as India enrolling girls in school is one half the battle, because it is meaningful only if they complete the minimum of 8 years of schooling which requires that their families

8 be able to resist the pressures of income generation and work in the home. For Muslim women, not being able to enter the schooling system seems to be the first obstacle. As for the working condition of Muslim women in West Bengal are concerned, it is found that about 60% women were house wife and remaining were working in different economic activities. Out of total working women maximum were engaged in agricultural activities, remaining were engaged in washing utensils, labour in breakwork, collection of polythenes, weaving of cans, swing, bidi worker etc. It is also found some Muslim women are teacher in madrassa and some of them also are teachers in general primary and secondary school, but the percentage is very low. Participation in decision making is an important tool to facilitate democracy in the country. Women in rural areas are still fighting for their participation in decision making. The women in Muslim are usually bound to live within the walls of the house. They are not participating freely in all families and social matters are illiteracy, low family income, large family size etc. It is found in the study that Muslim women, in present study, are a part of decision making in their family. But, it appears from the data that the women have not dominating power over the family in respect of daily expenditure for the family. It indicates that majority percent women take decision for household affair, so it can be pointed out that women enjoyed empower in the sector of decision making for household affairs. In Islam, women education is accepted. But in practice there is a religious dominance upon women. In this study shows that 37.97% women are bounded with the prejudices of their religion and other 59.06% women have no problem regarding their religious orthodoxy. Some of the Muslim women say that religious dominance is one of the obstacle of their education. In their opinion that it is one of the causes of backwardness of Muslim women. Religious education is better, but practice is not so healthy. Male member of the family in the name of religion try to dominate over women (45.91%). It is noted that the women have no desire to pray in Masjid with male members (78.66%). In many parts of the country, here are several gender based restrictions for women at home such as observing purdah. Purdah is a system in some Muslim societies by which women live in a separate part of a house or cover their face3s so

9 that men do not see them. Purdah is the symbol of seclusion. Purdah symbolises restriction to public appearance, public speaking, mobility, and many more. It is found from the conversation with Muslim women that most of the women do not wish to leave the custom of purdah as if this custom has been proved useful for their safety while moving around here and there. From this study, it is shown that 60.30% women believe in women conservation and only 35.73% of women say negative attitude of women conservation. Only some teenagers of women wish to do away with custom of purdah. Purdah is not considered as a means to restrict the freedom of women by majority of Muslim women in study area. On the other hand, it is regarded as a precaution to protect women from eve teasing and various other kinds of sexual harassment. A very small percentage of women expressed their opinion having freedom of movement outside the home without husband s permission. Only 29.01% women says that they have no problem if she spent night outside their house. Freedom of movement is one of the most important indicators of domestic empowerment for the women. This movement away from the home may have important implications for exposure to information development of interpersonal skills, increased self-confidence and opportunities to take independent action. Women are much more behind than the men in decision making of taking care of their children. It is found that mostly 77.67% women takes care according to their own decision but the upbring of child is the decision of their husband. The respondent s view about their daughter s education, nearly a positive view of respondent seen towards their daughter s education. In most cases the women gave their opinion for equal right in education of son and daughter. Even some of the Muslim women are agreed for daughter s education more important than son because her marriage in good family and they feel that if daughter is educated then she can handle her family easily. Political participation of women is one of the most important concerns among scholars, academicians and government. Mahatma Gandhi also believed that full and balanced development of the nation and establishment of a society is possible only when women participation actively and fully in the political deliberations of the

10 nation. Thus, women s political participation has been considered as a major measure of women s empowerment. It is noted that Muslim women are interacted in politics but not active politics in rural area. But in urban area they are conscious about politics. Some of them are played an active part of the political programmes (29.28%). They cast their vote according to their own choice (81.64%). Due to lack of education, sometimes they are influenced by their husbands and other. But the girls student are much serious about their rights and duties. They wanted to improve their condition in participation of politics. Political activism of Muslim women as for other underprivileged groups is integral to social transformation. Unless women are brought to the decision making levels directly important Muslim issues will never be tackled with the seriousness they require. They faced many obstacles inside and outside the family. They faced many obstacles inside and outside the family. The traditional idea of most of the Muslim family tried to resist the women but they played the vital role in politics for more advantages of Muslim especially for women. A large body of available research has argued that cultural and religious factors caused high fertility among Muslims. Education is found to be one of the most powerful indicators of fertility. The study shows 74.94% women is taken a part of family planning. But most of the women are uneducated, so they have no idea regarding Family Planning. The decline the level of education had a direct negative impact on the fertility rate of the respondents. Fertility rate also decreased gradually with the increase in the educational level of the husbands of the respondents. Higher educated husbands of Muslim religion negated the fertility. Age at marriage of females was found as one of the best indicators of status of women and variable to influence fertility. It is found that lower was the age at marriage higher was the rate of fertility. Age difference between husband and wife played a vital role in fertility. The traditional Indian Muslim orthodoxy does not allow the women to come in contact frequently with the neighbouring people as well as outer world. In such circumstances, media, the window to the world about their rights and updating them in accordance with the present dynamic world. At the study area only 88.09%women has come in contact with media mainly electronic and 10.17% of respondents does not

11 access any type of media. Since the typical Indian married women psychologically accept their husband as guardian in all aspects of her life, husband s support and co-operation in family matter determines their levels of empowerment colossally. Almost 71.47% of respondents receives cooperation and followed by 26.30% did not receive cooperation at all. It may be ratiocinated that husband s cooperation in family matter is an important predictor determining the empowerment of women Conclusion : Empowerment is one of the main ceremonial concern when addressing human rights and development. Women empowerment includes the capabilities to decisions about personal and collective circumstances, decision-making ability, ability to choose a range of options, ability to inform other perception through exchange, education and engagement, increasing one s positive self-image and overcoming stigma, increasing one s ability in discreet thinking to sort out right and wrong etc. According to the United Nations Millennium Campaign, women work twothirds of the World s working hours, with growing food, cooking, raising children, caring for the elderly, maintaining a house etc. and universally is accorded by low status with no pay. This study deals with the pragmatic measurement of women empowerment within Muslim community people of India conducted over randomly chosen sample from Murshidabad and Nadia districts of West Bengal. At the length it may be convenient to say that the task of empowering of women is not an easy task rather, it is difficult one in such typical area like Murshidabad and Nadia districts where still a major portion of Muslim women are not aware of their self identity and esteem in the pressure of family matter. Permissive poverty of people along with traditional beliefs and orthodoxy for women folk is solely responsible for such immense deplorable condition of Muslim women. Women are conscious about family welfare but still they are to depend on husband because in most of the cases they are out of the access to money. Most of the respondents agreed for existing equal rights in society but they were not enjoying freedom of exercise regarding their opinion about vote, freedom of movement away from home without

12 husband s permission, daily household expenditure and child health care. Government of India and State Government of West Bengal adopted many measures regarding education and tried to empower the Muslim girls and women. Many NGOs like CINI (Child in Need Institute), Jabala Action Research Organisation, Child Welfare Home, Suprova Panchashila in Murshidabad districts are working for the improvement of minority groups, but the achievement lags far behind its aim. This may be due to greater emphasising on overall minority development in lieu of women empowerment. From this study, it is said that the literacy and decision making power in household affairs is increase, but it is not at par all over the two districts. Self help groups that have presently emerged as an earning tool of women in rural side, it can prove as a media of empowering this deplored class by rendering various governmental as well as non-governmental aids and training them to earn by their own, which can further change the gross socio-economic condition of the Muslim community. Education is important for everyone, but it especially significant for girls and women. This is true not only because education is an entry point to other opportunities, but also because the educational achievements of women can have ripple effects within the family and across generations. Brigham Young has therefore rightly stated : You educate a man, you educated a man. You educate a women, you educate a generation.