#CuriousTitans Book Review: Mothering a Muslim by Nazia Erum
“Are we from Pakistan, Mamma?” is one of the most hard-hitting chapters from the book, which illustrates the struggle of Muslim children in India who grapple with their identities as Indians.
Nazia Erum’s “Mothering a Muslim” is a poignant collection of narratives that sheds light on the struggles of Muslim families in India. The book is a compilation of interviews with 145 families across 12 cities and highlights the challenges faced by Muslim parents in raising their children in a society that often discriminates against them.
Nazia also delves into the fear of Muslim parents, who give their children non-Muslim sounding names in order to avoid them being targeted.
The book touches upon the discrimination that Muslim students face in schools, with teachers struggling to handle cases of bullying and name-calling directed towards Muslim classmates. The book highlights the impact of Islamophobia, which has moved from drawing rooms to classrooms and school corridors, leading to a negative impact on these kids. The author asks thought-provoking questions like “If we can’t handle discussing sex or sexual abuse with kids, then how can we handle cases of misogyny, homophobia, casteism, and Islamophobia?”
Nazia also addresses the issue of radical Islamic values within the Muslim community and the taunts faced by Muslim women who do not wear a hijab. Nazia quotes ‘Just as hijabis are often ostracized or treated differently outside the community, the non-hijabis are attacked within’.
Overall, “Mothering a Muslim” is a moving and powerful book. It is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the complex issues of identity, discrimination, and marginalization faced by minority communities in India.
