By: Mohammad Mozumder

Mohammad Mozumder — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:30:32 +0000

Thanks a lot, Dr. Samia Huq for writing this wonderful piece. I find this essay provocative enough, especially in terms of thinking about the so-called conservative Madrassa educated (and thus prone to be “fanatic and dangerous”) group of people—even worst if they are female—and in understanding their existence as a problem for secular modernity. What I like most of this piece is when you talk about the *taleem* participants: a-political politics with “religious undertones.” It is interesting to know how the veiled Muslim women, who are supposed to be, as the prejudiced modern secularist narrative goes, the worst victim of the dogmatic Mullahs or/and their oppressive husbands as well as brothers, contemplate and create avenues for political activism. Unfortunately, the author decided not to tell the readers more about the fascinating story. Thus we do not have answers to some pertinent questions: how do those “oppressive” Mullahs, “repressive” husbands and/or brothers of those women respond to the initiatives? How do the “progressive” secular agents approach, react, or go along with those veiled women’s activism? My second observation is about the apparently uncritical use of the Global Gender Gap (GGG) index, which assumes a universal standard loaded with reductionist assumptions. I believe the shortage of space is one of the main reasons for not responding to those questions. If so, then I look forward to reading the full version of the analysis somewhere soon. Thanks again.

Comments on: Secularism and the freedom to transform lives

By: Mohammad Mozumder