SM Fasiullah for BeyondHeadlines
Books are a great source of knowledge. And the people who teach are luminaries. But students and teachers at Jamia are inspired by an auto rickshaw driver Ms Jazeera, a silent crusader fighting against sand-mafia.
Contrary to the traditional approach of social activism – ‘identify the issue, enrich your understanding, mobilize the people and take action on the same issue’ – Ms Jazeera has showed a new way of social action.
Through her silent struggle of about one and a half years, she becomes an inspiration for all who come across social evils and irregularities in society.
Addressing a students’ gathering in an interactive session at Jamia Millia Islamia’s Social Work Dept., she shared her journey and experience of fighting alone against the mighty sand mafia.
She has been fighting against the rampant exploitation of a stretch of shoreline near Pazhayangadi town in Kannur District of Kerala. She is fighting the issue in Supreme Court, National Human Rights Commission and in Green Tribunal.
All the way from the local town, she took her silent protest at district offices to state authorities; and now she’s protesting at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi since last month. Ms Jazeer’s three small children are her strength who sits with her, in addition to her Madrasa-teacher husband who remains absent at places of protest but supports her cause.
Ms Jazeera’s way of protest is unique as it’s without loud sloganeering or politically colored flags or leaflets. This unique and bizarre approach inspired social work students of Jamia.
Dr. Habeebul Rahman, the Student Advisor at Social Work Dept. of Jamia, played an instrumental role in organizing the interactive session. A documentary about Ms Jazeera was also screened.
“Breaking all stereotypes of Muslim women Ms Jazeera is demanding the sand mafia should be pushed out of her village,” Dr. Rahman said.
While recalling Chipko Andolan, she said that for those who are not associated with the issue might not be able to assign the importance to the same and might even laugh away from it, but those who could understand the gravity of it will never be able to sit back and relax.
Dr. Sanjai Ingole, in her concluding remarks, related the Jazeera model of strike to the social work knowledge and noted that these type of activists are great source of inspiration and learning for the students.
Ms. Shobha, a PhD scholar in the Social Work department, interpreted Ms Jazeera’s talk in Malayalam into English.
