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Journalism of Courage
KOZHIKODE, NOVEMBER 12: A couple of decades separates Thottiyil Kunhibeevi from C.H. Jameela, but the two have together leaped over an age-old mindset. In conservative Malappuram, the two Muslim women are municipal chairpersons presiding over the lives of tens of thousands of people.
There is another thing common to them. Till a couple of months ago, neither Kunhibeevi nor Jameela had anything to do with public life or politics, had never made a public speech and never imagined themselves holding a public office. The former was a retired government official in her late 50s, the other a school teacher in her 30s. In Kerala, where local bodies wield considerable power, they hold crucial positions.
And against many odds. “Many people here still believe that women should stay home,” says Jameela, “but they had no choice this time. I have been asked to cover myself up fully in the Islamic way, and I always have my husband or brothers to accompany me whenever I go out on official inspections or tours.”
The lives of the two changed after the Muslim League chose them for the Malappuram and Tirur municipalities as it was the turn of these civic bodies to reserve the chairperson’s job for women this time. There weren’t many others to choose from.
For Kunhibeevi, this was the third battle against circumstances. The first was right back in childhood, when she wanted to study beyond primary school. “I was a bright student, but girls are not expected to study much here. It was only because my teachers pleaded with my father to let me go to school for a few more years that he agreed. People found it inconceivable that a Muslim girl would go to high school.”
In her village, she had only one role model — a neighbouring teacher. So, after school, Kunhibeevi opted for a teachers’ training course, only to leave it midway when she got a government clerk’s job. “Many felt outraged that a Muslim girl could work in an office where strangers come and go. I was lucky that I was the daughter of a locally influential musaliar, and they did not dare do much.”
During her campaign two months ago, she had to cope with the local hardcore Sunni segment that felt a woman entering public life was “un-Islamic”. But Kunhibeevi wasn’t to be deterred. “I had retired from the Revenue Department and had nothing to do. I thought why not try doing something for the people?”
Jameela is quite candid about her own reasons. “I and my husband have no kids and I used to feel bored after coming back from classes in the local school.” She also admits that but for reservation for women, she would have never become a municipal body chairperson.
Not surprisingly, the Muslim League has considerable control over the two. A bunch of partymen stomped into Kunhibeevi’s official chamber uninvited while she was being interviewed for this paper, occupied seats and started listening critically. Jameela’s interview was occasionally disrupted by telephone calls from partymen demanding to know why she was being interviewed. Jameela also admitted to knowing nothing about files and administration, and says that all official decisions are taken according to the “advice” of partymen.
While more and more women may be getting into the political field, that attitude may take time changing. In nearby Kollam, 24-year-old lawyer Sabitha Begum has been elected the Mayor of the newly-formed city corporation. The CPI(M) picked up Sabitha, who has no political background to speak of, for the same reasons that the Muslim League chose Jameela and Kunhibeevi in Malappuram district. So complete is the party’s control over the young Mayor apparently that sources say the local CPI(M) area committee decides even which public function she will attend.
