Muslim girls break tradition: Contesting students' union elections in Aligarh Muslim University (AMU)

Asma Javed

When Asma Javed put forward her candidature for the post of president of students' union, it was a sort of breaking the tradition in Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).

No girl student had ever contested the election. Earlier, the girls college was separate and had its own union but after the recent recommendations of Lyngdoh committee, AMU became the first among central universities to hold the campus elections.

Asma is the daughter of a police official. She feels that the time has come for Muslim women to participate electoral politics as well. While she is contesting for the post of president, two other girls--Naheed and Samia are candidates for the post of Vice-president and secretary.

The elections are being held today. Victory and defeat are not as important in this election. What is more important is the message.

The confidence with which these girls have decided to contest the polls, is a positive signal. Today they are contesting, tomorrow they will surely be winning.

For decades, it has been men who have dominated the political arena and almost all the social spheres and we didn't seen much of a difference, perhaps, the time has come now for Muslim women to take the reins and bring about the change. Read an earlier post 'Triumphant Shireen walks into university without veil'.