In an era where women like Mary Kom, Indra Nooyi and Mithali Raj are celebrated worldwide for shattering gender stereotypes, there is still a section of women whose dreams are killed and who are silenced even while expressing their feelings.
One such area where girls are deprived of their basic rights, is Kolkata’s Rajabazar. From dowry and child marriage to domestic abuse, issues that are supposedly a thing of the past are still prevalent in Rajabazar.
Born in 1989, Shahina Javed’s story was not much different. Though her parents never consciously treated her and her three brothers any different, the discrimination was there in her face.
Recalling her childhood over a telephonic interview with The Better India, she says,
Throughout her teenage, she saw her neighbours and friends being subjected to physical torture by the male members of their family. Just when she was getting used to the sorry state of affairs, an incident shook Shahina.
“I saw a man brutally hitting his wife on the road. No one from the colony tried to intervene or even offered the woman any help. I took her to the hospital but she refused to lodge a complaint, fearing the future of her children. That incident gave me several sleepless nights and inspired me to act against the existing situation.”
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In 2008, she collaborated with like-minded friends and started Roshni Youth Group.
As anticipated, she faced backlash from her family and people from her community, but Shahina did not give up.
A couple of city-based organisations also started helping Shahina in her crusade. Since the last ten years, she has invited experts on self-defense, career counselling, higher studies, public speaking and so on.
Besides empowering girls through her organisation, Shahina also presides over the informal Community Panchayat.
Today, around 40 girls are undergoing training in football. In fact, a player from the men’s team is coaching the girls.
This was not easy at all, says Shahina. She adds, “The men’s soccer team did not allow us to use the ground and parents advised their daughters against playing sports. But when we won a couple of local matches, people came around.”
23-year-old Mehzabeen, who was once not even allowed to go outside Rajabazar, is a filmmaker now. Sharing her journey with TBI, she says,
Meanwhile, Naheed, now a chauffer at Kolkata’s Park Hotel, is self-sufficient.
“I was a victim of physical and mental torture. It was difficult for me to come out of that zone and move on. But after counselling, I decided to learn driving. A city-based organisation funded my driving course. Today, I am earning enough money that can not only sustain myself but also my family,” Naheed tells TBI.
She is currently pursuing Masters in Social Work from Calcutta University.
Shahina has been instrumental in changing the narrative for girls and women in Rajabazar. Her message is simple and straight:
