Social work students interacted with Ms. Jazeera ; a lady silent crusader

( Published in Jamia Journal http://jamiajournal.com/2013/11/13/jazeera-the-woman-who-took-on-the-kerela-sand-mining-mafia-speaks-at-jamia/  )

Identify the issue, enrich your understanding, mobilize the people and take action on the same issue is the social work approach of activism, class theory, but a unique, incredible and exemplary approach of social action taken by Ms. Jazeera a Muslim, burqa clad woman against the sand mafia challenged the theory and create a new way of social action. The social work students came across this unique and bizarre approach while interacting with her.

The Subject Association of Department of Social work organized an interaction session with field activist on 6^th November where invitee Ms. Jazeera shared her journey and experience of fighting alone against the mighty sand mafia from the past one and half years. The interaction session which lasted for a couple of hours commenced with recitation of Quran by Mr. Abu Hafeez, welcome words by Sarah Abrar followed by a documentary show about her. Dr. Habeebul Rahman, the Student Advisor, introduced her to the audience.   After this Ms Jazeera shared her journey from a village of Kannur district in kerala to capital of the country and shared her bitter but indeed inspiring experience of fighting against sand mafia in which her own relatives are involved. According to her when she was pregnant with her younger son, she moved to her native village to live with her family. This was the time when she came to know a very shocking and deplorable condition of the Neerozhukkumchal beach where all her childhood memories are painted upon and which is in dire state due to rampant illegal excavation of sand. That is when she started her crusade which grew nationwide after a long silent protesting without any loud sloganeering. Her three children ( 14, 11, and 1 years old respectively) are all her team members. Her battle started from Village Street, travelled to district headquarter, state capital and now to Delhi at Janter Manter since one month. She is fighting the issue in Supreme Court, National Human Rights Commission and in Green Tribunal. Breaking all stereotypes of Muslim women Ms Jazeera is demanding the sand mafia should be pushed out of her village. She received lures and threatening  calls and allegation that she is linked with some suspected terrorist outfits. She recalled  Chipko Andolan and 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. 

Ms. Shobha, a PhD scholar in the department  interpreted her words in English as she was sharing her story in Malayalam in full of confidence and during Malayalam speech any one can feel her warm and soulful words. The experience sharing was followed by a question answer session which each member of the audience thoroughly enjoyed. Dr. Sanjai Ingole, in the concluding remarks, related the Jazeera model of strike to the social work knowledge and said these types of activist are great source of inspiration and learning for the students. Leaving the venue, Jazeera asserted that she will definitely win the battle if she is alive, and pleaded one more chance to come back to Jamia and meet the students to share her joy after the victory.  

                    अनकही कहानी 

असरारुल हक़ जीलानी 

हर रोज़ की तरह आज वो अपनी दोस्तों कि बातें नहीं सुनाई, कक्षा में हुई किसी पाठ का चर्चा और अपनी ख़ुशी, परेशानी या कोई और कहानी नहीं सुना रही थी बल्कि चुप चाप ख़ामोशी से चलती चली जा रही थी यु लग रहा हो जैसे उसके साथ में  हूँ ही नहीं। उसने आज पिट्टू कि बदमाशी कि शिकायत भी नहीं कि मुझ से और न ही उसने लंच कि तारीफ की। वो मेरी बातूनी बेटी कहा चली गई जो एक पल भी नहीं चुप रहने वाली थी जिसकी कहानी कभी खत्म ही नहीं होती थी।स्कूल बस से उतरने के बाद वो  मेरी तरफ प्यार से लपकी भी नहीं और न ही वो  अपना बैग मेरी तरफ बढ़ायी।  मैं भी चुप चाप उसके पीछे पीछे चलती रही यहाँ तक के राजू कि दुकान भी गुज़र गई जहाँ वो अक्सर लेज़ या चिप्स  खरीद देने कि ज़िद्द किया करती थी और वो गली भी कब का पीछे छूट चूका था जहाँ वो कुत्तों को कुछ चिप्स खिलाया  करती थी और पूछती थी मम्मी ये कुत्ते रात को कहा सोते हैं ? इनके  घर नहीं होते  क्या? मैं भी आज घर के काम से थक चुकी थी इसलिए सोचा चलो अच्छा है नहीं बोल रही कुछ तो ज़यादा सही है। लेकिन मुझे उसका चुप रहना खलने लगा था क्योंकि जो काम  रोज़ हो और अचानक एक दिन न हो तो कुछ कमी सी लगने लगती है। फिर भी मैं ने कोई पहल नहीं कि यहाँ तक हम दोनों घर पहुच चुके थे।  

फिर आगे हम  दोनों कि शुरू होने वाली थी अपनी अपनी आप बीती सुनाने की  और बैठ कर एक साथ सीरियल देखते  हुए चाय का लुत्फ़ लेने का लेकिन वो नहीं दिख रही थी कहीं भी, न ही कमरे में  न ही टीवी के सामने। फिर थोड़ी देर बाद वो बाथरूम से निकली और मुझ से बग़ैर नज़र मिलाए बालकनी  में जा कर बैठ गई।  मैं ने सोचा  शायद थक गयी होगी या मन अच्छा नहीं होगा या शायद क्लास मैं  किसी ने कुछ कह दिया होगा। अगर ऐसा था फिर भी मुझे उसके करीब जाना चाहिए था और पूछना चाहिए था, उसके सर को गोद लेकर प्यार से चूमना चाहिए था जो मैंने नहीं किया।  फिर वक़्त आया पिता जी घर आते ही उससे चिपट कर चॉकलेट मांगने की लेकिन आज वो भी नहीं हुआ। गुड़िया  के पिताजी घर आए चुके थे और मैं चाय भी लाकर उनको दे चुकी थी लेकिन कुछ अगर नहीं हुआ था तो वो था मेरे घर की गोरैया का चहकना। यु लग रहा था जैसे घर कि रौनक़ ही ख़तम हो गयी हो, यहाँ कोई रहता ही नहीं हो सिर्फ एक गुड़िया के न चहचहाने से।  उसके पिताजी के पूछने के कारण जब मैं उसे उसके कमरे में  ढूंढने गयी तो उसे  नहीं पाया और उसे पाया तो उसी बालकनी में बैठे हुए जहाँ वो दोपहर को बैठी थी। यानि वो तब से यही बैठी है और मै उसकी ख़बर भी नहीं ली उस वक़्त मुझे अहसास हुआ कि  मैं ने ग़लती कि है उसकी आज कि अनकही कहानी को नज़रअंदाज़ करके।

उसके पिताजी प्यार से उसके सर पे हाथ रखते हुए पूछा ''बेटा क्या हुआ है तुम्हें ? तुम क्यों चुप चाप बैठी हो पापा से चॉकलेट नहीं माँगोगी?''

''पापा स्कूल के  बस ड्राईवर ने मुझसे ………....... । '' इतना कह कर वो रोती हुई  अपने कमरे कि तरफ चली गई और हम  दोनों अवाक् खड़े एक दूसरे को देखते रह गए। 

 A poem: DRAW GREEN VALLEY

 I entered in the weeping and crying valley,
valley of the wounded soul,
valley of the bleeding Himalaya
Once upon a time
this was the healthy green valley
but now it became red valley
after the war with blue body.
Now a days blue became red
The wounded Himalaya is still bleeding
The ghost of the development scratched
flesh of the mountain
The blue body of water pelted stone
over green life of the mountain
so trees are lying like a dead body in the battle field.
Pulled and dragged thousands of soul
washed away thousands of hamlet
erased name and fame of the people
but hope is every where
Painters of the nation came
To draw their green life 

I wrote this poem when I went for need assessment during the disaster in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand. In the train I wrote half of the poem when I was entering in the Dehradun valley and completed it in Bhagirathi Asharam, Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand on 27^th of July 2103.

MERI MAA : A poem by the words of construction worker children through my pen

मेरी माँ 

अपने अस्तित्व को सुरक्षित लेकर 

जब शाम को घर आती है मेरी माँ 

मेरी नन्ही सी जान को सीने से 

भींच लेती है मेरी माँ 

वो चली जाती है छोड़ कर लेकिन 

रोटी कि अस्तित्व घर लाती है मेरी माँ 

चली जाती है ईंट को ईंट से जोड़ने 

फिर ऊँचे मकान को अस्तित्व देती है मेरी माँ 

सर पे भविष्य के मकान को लिए 

अस्तित्व को बालू में पीस लेती है मेरी माँ 

फिर रात को मेरी बहन के रोने पे 

कितने आँसुओ को पी लेती है मेरी माँ

अब स्वयं के प्रमाण में माँ का न होना 

मेरे आत्मा को रुलाती है मेरी माँ 

बेटा बसा है शिक्षा में अस्तित्व तेरा 

हर रोज़ ये कह जाती थी मेरी माँ  

SUNO BHI, DEKHO BHI KAHO BHI

सुनो भी देखो भी कहो भी 

असरारुल हक़ जीलानी 

 देखा नहीं तुमने जो मैंने कहा, सुना नहीं तुमने जो मैंने किया। अक्सर लोग सुनते हैं तो देखते नहीं और अगर देखते हैं तो सुनते नहीं। शब्दो को सिर्फ सुना ही नहीं जाता बल्कि उसे देखा भी और तोला भी जाता है, चलती फिरती, दौड़ती -भागती, नाचती - गाती हिंसा और अहिंसा कि नगरी को सिर्फ देखा नहीं जाता सुना भी जाता है। दीवारों पे लिखे शब्दो को सिर्फ देखा या पढ़ा नहीं जाता बल्कि सुना भी जाता है क्योंकि दीवारों  को सिर्फ कान ही  नहीं होते बल्कि ज़ुबान भी होता है। 

शब्दो के बारे मैं आपको किस ने कह दिया है कि ये सिर्फ लिखा होता और इसे ज़ुबान या हरकत नहीं होती। दरअसल हमने अपने कानो को ज़ुबानों को कह रखा है कि वही सुनो और वही देखो जो सारी  दुनिया देखती है या जो हम  देखना चाहते है,और वही कहो जो सब कहते हैं ।  हमने वो देखा ही नहीं जो दुनिया कि चलती फिरती बोलती आवाज़ दिखाना चाहती है और हमने वो सुना ही नहीं जो किरदार कि कठपुतली दुनिया के रंगमंच पे कर रहे हैं।  आओ तो सही ज़रा सुनें भी कहें और देखें भी। 

So that India can sing peace song

On Sunday PM Manmohan Singh will fly to Russia and then to China is buzzing news these days for these three country but China whose relation with India have been uneasy. China recently get ready to give two nuclear reactor to Pakistan which is also a big foe of India. On one side India is going for nuclear deal with Russia but neighbor country is already involve in shaking hand for arm and nuclear deal which is a matter of big thought. At the same time Pakistan's action of violating the case fire in Kashmir region is also a big problem for India for which Neighbor country like China should have to intervene in the scene but behind the curtain both are holding their Hands. India defence body and Foreign Policy maker should have work in futuristic manner so that in future the secure India can sing peace song.

 

Need of joint effort to make country green

Plants, trees and forest are the pieces of green soul of the earth as a gift of nature like a loaf for human life without which imagination of existence is out of thought. We are not only breathing because of this greenery but thousands of other activities and needs are being fulfilled by the lending hand of the greenery. Inspite of these great performances of nature, we have harassed and assassinated the soul of the green abode which is amiable property of the earth. Now there is real need of bring the charm back and turn the green body alive and fresh.

In the same land of this country where back breaking effort are being taken to increase forest area, an amazing tradition and bizarre relationship building movement are also going on which have energy to make country green with joint effort. An exemplary village of Bihar, Darhara where people traditionally plants a sapling on the occasion of girl child birth by her name and nourish till it turn to tree. On other hand of the same hand country where recently nature devastated the thousands of hamlets above the mountain, people are engage in a movement headed by Himalayee Paryavaran Siksha Sansthan, Uttarkashi named as Raksha Sutra Andolan. In this movement people binds a ring around the trunk of tree to build a sister brother relationship and people gets ought to save the tree till death.

women are tieing the raksha sutra arounthe tree trunk in Uttarakhand

Think for a while when both traditional revolution which confine to some villages and a Bhagirathi valley movement will come out of their respective zone and walk to the every corner of the country by holding fingers of the environmentalist, then India can become lung of the world. It can only be possible if you, as a unit of this world will welcome it with zeal and zest and prevail other to do the same. If you and your family pledge to plant a tree on the occasion of daughter’s birth and tie a Raksha Sutra around the trunk of the tree on the occasion of the Raksha Bandhan then the area of forest will spurt and reinstate the soul of green world.

POEM : The Countryside

The countryside

The  country  side  location

Like the valley of God’s creation

A  hut  in   the   wood

Where I spent my childhood

The  family  is  large  as  much

The cattle, tree, stream and much

We  live since years

Without having fears

In the web of relation

With love and affection

The  stars  in  the  deep  night

Twinkling like the heaven’s sight

The blowing wind and breeze

Kept  the  conflict  freeze

The  village  in  brief

A place without grief

Nourish Your 5^th Space

The four direction east, west, north and south seems surrounded us but actually the four unleash us to go anywhere with or without holding hand in hand with the same. The direction didn’t bind us but we are bounded to the four either of the direction or space. Without catching finger of the direction we loose our home, school, work place and whole world this means our body and soul will confine themselves at one place and we would not enjoy or take solace from the vast and beautiful nature. This shows that our body and soul will loose their identity. The direction keeps us on the right track, helps us to reach our goal, give drive to the wheel and wings to the plane.

Same as the above our life is encircled by four spaces namely family, work place, entertainment and friend where we live, enjoy, get livelihood, company, support, helping hand. Thousands of other boxes of need including these play great importance in human life to build and make body & soul fresh and alive. These four spaces collectively walk side by side of our bigger world and without which this world will become disable and destitute. These four spaces give us cause to live, shoulder to walk, pace to reach at end with smooth thoughts, support emotionally, story to live with smile and lots of other stand. What is our bigger sphere? Our bigger sphere is self or individual identity comprises of body and soul which we can call 5^th space.

On this earth, so called growing and racing world no body have time to stand as a helping or sharing hand due which these four spaces has been devoid of proper support, sense of humor, cause of peace and company. In the contemporary world individual are individualizing themselves and thus these four spaces are shrinking and at the same time an urge to create 5^th space and have scope to extend their territory. This space exists but hidden inside us, only need to consciously create the 5^th space where you can feed the soul and nourish it. The 5^th space is a space where you can spend time with self and whatever your soul needs. Reflection and introspection could be one style of being in the 5^th space where you can reflect your action. On the bed before sleeping think of question such as how many times you spoke lie, how many bird you feed, how many insect you saved or how many time did you avoid crushing ants on the road or anywhere else, how many animal did you feed? These all will give you satisfaction, peace, boost your morale, develop your self as unique personality and bigger aspect is that it will give you an idea to spend the next day with good deeds. You can spend this space to serve the society, help the people, maintain a small garden in your house, creating an artificial bird house in our surroundings, garden or home, to feed birds or animals, to spend time with your grand parents or pet. These all can be your 5^th space and the ambit of this space would be large as much you want. Maintaining diary is a part of reflection and documentation of your life but you can make it as you separate space where you can spend time with you diary to write new stories, feelings and emotions and to peep in the past.

Every thing start from self, if you will nourish it and make it heals and hearty then possibilities of success and peace will increase because of your energy, stable mind and positivity given by 5^th space. Thus at contemporary time it is an urge to create 5^th space by every individual and need to live few hours in twenty four hour of the day to nourish self.

 Asrarul Haque Jeelani

BSW-IIIrd year, Dept. Of Social Work

Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi

Email- asrarulhaque.jeelani5@gmial.com

My Experience With Dharaji

Before moving for Group Exposure to Narmada Bachao Andolan I was never heard or aware about Dharaji a group of five villages in Dewas district of Madhya Pradesh but now I installed a box in the name of Dharaji in my mind and heart. Story begin with an intense urge of my heart to go somewhere for any social cause, for the same I came to know about the Group Exposure program of Pravah and then I decided to go as a youth facilitator. With the entry in Narmada valley, landing on such part of the earth that is going to submerge, my mind surrounded by thousand drops of issues, voices of the tribal that is still echoing in small valley of my heart. After interaction with Alok da, Silvy di and number of tribal people got to know about the issue.

 

 

a small island surrounded by Naramada river

one morning near Narmada river

                

                 a child on the boat 

 

                                               

      a small hut over the hill

I returned back to all my four spaces with lots of questions, ideas with enthusiasm that were floating in my conscious mind and I didn’t come back to enjoy my four spaces but it was for dragging out some moment or time from all my four spaces to create a new space for doing something that I believe to do. We created a 5th space in a form of group named as V and Dharaji comprises of friends from Jamia, DU and IIT with the objectives to take Dharaji on map, to aware the people about the issue and Delhi based documentation and other work for NBA.

Dharaji helped me to create my 5th space where I enjoy very types of time to write poems, stories, to think and reflect the words that were came to my ear after courageously spoken by an old tribal man. You know what was that sentence it was '' ham hath jor kar kahte hain pahucha do meri aawaz ko''  and this said touched my heart. Even eye of an old women whispered in my ear, river Narmada narrate me their grief to decorate the words in the form of poems. I have written some poem and story, some of the poems wrote in Dharaji and some in Delhi.

activities with tribal's children

 

Through V and Dharaji group we put our effort and done some activities like Clean Drive at Jantar Mantar on December 12, 2012 by the idea of Rajat (IIT, New Delhi). It could possible by the share hand of my friends that my idea of Visiting Dharaji and A program ‘’ Narmada – the soul call’’ has happened successfully. A big learning that I encountered with was to take permission for organizing clean drive at Janatar Mantar from concern Police administration. Four people including me visited Dharaji and head office of NBA at Khandawa where my eyes got opportunities to run over the pages of the honorable Supreme Court Judgement. It was first time of my life to touch such heavy judgments report and studied. When I was diving inside the issue and exploring Dharaji , got chance to attend workshop of the British Council to organize any social action. And for this British Council funded me to organize a social action and Narmada – the soul call program has been successfully delivered in IIT, New Delhi before approximately 60 students. A phenomenal and unexpected feedback came from the audience side in which most of the student wrote their desire to go NBA and Dharaji and some of the student pledged to switch off the electric appliances before living room. Lastly it is Dharaji who show me the way or connect me to visit Uttarakhand in the dark day of Himalayan region.        

                             The soul call

                                                                                     © Asrarul Haque Jeelani

The soul call of Narmada

Call for soul

That has been stolen

Call for life

That has been vanished

Call for pace

That has been broken down

Please and again please

Return back

My soul, my life and my pace.

The soul call of Narmada

Call for stream

My energy and my strength

For saving my lovers,

My relatives,

Who are taking caring of me.

Call for my devotee

Who are not near by me

Please and again please

Give me freedom

Take me out of prison

The prison of the dam

Send back my devotee

To touch and feel my water.

POEM

The words have no more energy 

To acknowledge the hands of father,

a great shadow over head
 
Lap of mother, a bed of sound sleep 

Back of brother like van of school and
 
Helping mind of sister

who always consoled me whenever my mind tired

Who dare to return the same

No one but only

one can realize and 

walk, holding hands of them forever

Asrarul haque Jeelani