New Delhi: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) has launched the monthly digital magazines exclusively for women in English and Urdu langues here at a ceremony. The English magazine ‘Aura’ was launched here by a noted public health doctor and activist Dr. Sylvia Karpagam while the Urdu ‘Haadiya was launched by JIH President Syed Sadatullah Husaini. Both magazines are being published under the supervision if the JIH women’s department.
Delivering the presidential speech, the JIH chief said the first issues showed that they would play an important role in creating awareness among women, imparting religious teachings and highlighting their potential. He congratulated the women team associated with them for bringing out the much-awaited and highly-necessitated women’s magazines.
Speaking about Aura, Mr.Husaini said: “The magazine aptly named ‘Aura’ represents the beautiful aura of a woman as envisaged in Islamic traditions. This Aura is characterized by the noble values of modesty, dignity, elegance and full confidence in the feminine being.”
Mr.Husaini said: “Islamic traditions give great respect to women along with their feminine character. With the decline of traditional gender roles, modern societies are moving towards typical ‘unisex’ societies where only masculine roles are cherished and feminine roles are grossly despised. A woman is forced to surrender her feminine personality and imitate her male counterpart to look modern and progressive. At times, she is even expected to reduce her personality to her body and become the object of lust and the subject of consumption. Traditional societies have subjugated her by snatching her individuality and her freedom and confined her to the dark prison of irrational and chauvinist traditions. The modern societies have come out with another form of male chauvinism where male lust and perceived superiority of masculine roles and persona make the woman a prisoner of fake freedom. The magazines are being launched in this backdrop to demonstrate a perfectly moderate path providing women with the much-needed freedom from both kinds of exploitation and gives her ideal form of liberty, perfect equality, and complete justice with the fullest protection to her modesty and highest reverence to her feminine character.”
Delivering the launching address as a chief guest of the event, Dr. Sylvia said, “the situation in the country is a cause of concern due to growing discrimination and ongoing targeting of certain communities. Even during pandemic lockdown, people had to bear the brunt of its serious consequences. Instead of following scientific methods on how to respond to a pandemic, some sections of the government and the media itself were communalising the issues. This had direct consequences on people’s health, on their psychological status, mental well being and their livelihood. Apart from them, the false and fake news have also been troubling all of us. In these circumstances, a magazine like Aura is a very timely and courageous step. I really appreciate its team for their dedication and creativity to bring out such a needed venture at this difficult time of the country.”
Presenting a keynote speech on the occasion, noted author and Asst. Professor at JNU Dr. Ghazala Jamil, said, “when most of the ‘popular’ women’s magazines have capitulated entirely to banal consumerism and lean-in feminism, it is heartening to see a handful of women’s magazines that are resisting the appropriation of women’s rights agenda by the market. The Aura’s birth is especially welcome because it will widen this agenda with Muslim women at the helm. The first issue looks spectacular. The Aura is a thinking, compassionate and inquisitive women’s magazine.”
Chief Editor of the Aura magazine Mrs Rahmathunnisa has stated that the objective of the magazine is to revive real feminine strength in the present scenario, where women’s magazines just revolve around ‘beauties’. “Through the pages of Aura we intend to make the suppressed voices heard loud and clear. Aura means emotional, mental and spiritual form of energy that feels around the body.” She added.
Editor of the Aura, Ms Ayesha Sultana said, “it attempts to engage with women’s voices and debates while centring social, political, economic, and personal experiences of women from different communities, drawing upon the framework of gender justice and social justice.”
Speaking on the occasion, editor of the digital Urdu magazine, Ms.Mubashshirah Firdos said, “today social media has become a key medium of our communication. It will be useful for humanity, if it is used positively for constructive works, otherwise, it can be very destructive. The aim of this magazine is to carry out the same constructive works.”
Delivering the concluding speech, all India Secretary of JIH Women’s department, Ms Atiya Siddiqua said, “talents of women need to be nurtured in a positive way. A magazine with positive thoughts is a timely step in this digital age. Efforts will be made to provide comprehensive content for readers through this magazine, covering all issues including religious topics.”
The launching ceremony was followed by an online panel discussion on the “Politics of Health and Gender” with public health experts and academics. Besides, Dr Sylvia, women’s activist and General Secretary of Women’s manifesto Dr. Sharnas Muthu, Ms.Hamida Rashid, mental health counsellor and founder of an NGO ‘With You, India’ were the panellists. Ms.Iman Fathima has moderated the discussion while Sub editor of the Aura Ms.Shayma S has presented the vote of thanks.
Principal of Government Inter College, Ghaziabad,UP Ms. Ela Mishra, well known poetess Ms.Shahnaz Shaazi , writer and blogger Ms. Zeenat Akhtar, former Member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board from Darbhanga Ms. Shahnaz Begum and renowned author from Warangal Ms.Javeda Begum also addressed during the launching ceremony. Ms.Fatima Tanveer, Ms.Safia Yasmeen and Sadia Yasmeen were also part of the ceremony.
Here are their official websites:
www.auramag.in
www.haadiya.in
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