In an interview with The Wire‘s Arfa Khanum Sherwani, first-time Samajwadi Party MP Iqra Munawwar Hasan spoke of a vision for leadership that embraces all communities.
The free-wheeling discussion in which she answered questions from two other journalists as well, Hasan, who is also called Iqra Hasan Chowdhary went over her background and the symbolism of her election from Kairana.
Key elements of the interview are presented below, in English.
How does it feel to be elected as a member of the parliament?
I feel proud to be in this position. I’m aware that this is the big stage of democracy and I have been given this responsibility and I hope to fulfil it to the best of my capacities. Even as I was in the parliament today, many of our older members told me that I am entering this arena at a time when things seem much better, when the opposition is in a far better shape. I saw the unified and strengthened front of the opposition and I am proud to belong to it.
What is your political and academic background?
I studied at the Lady Shri Ram College of Delhi University, and then at the University of London. My masters was based on electoral reforms because having grown up in a political family I was always interested in the functioning of a democracy. My hypothesis and research was based on how the current electoral system promotes majoritarianism and how if a preferential voting system was implemented it might reduce the instances of hate speech. However, during the second wave of covid, when I had returned home, there were cases against my brother and my mother, and I had to take care of the house. From that point onwards began my legal battle against the BJP, and now that I have an opportunity to step into the political arena, I feel this is just a continuation of that battle.
What has changed in these elections?
From where I come, around 2013, a lot of seeds of hatred had been sown amid the various communities. Most of these communities are made up of farmers, and the BJP government had promised to double their incomes and give them a better MSP, but now they are facing disappointment. In these elections, farmers who were divided on the basis of religion and caste have come together and have been united by their common problems and complaints. I have noticed that these elections have not been about any larger national narrative but rather about the smaller problems of people, and I have seen my community adopt a more localised perspective while voting. Instead of voting for absent politicians who win on the basis of [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi’s name, they have chosen to put their faith elsewhere.
Do you think the SP has really helped Muslims in earlier terms?
If you say that SP has not helped Muslims enough then there must be some truth to that. I agree that the efforts that were made earlier might have been lacking, but the party has faced the consequences of that already. Now that the party has regained some power they are in a better position to fulfil their duties.
Regarding the recent atrocities against Muslims, we have tried helping the two victims in our region, but the fight against hatred is a long term fight and until there are strong laws condemning it, nothing can be done. The extremist Hindutva narrative has done a lot of damage in society, but undoing that will take time and cannot be rushed. SP’s ideology is fundamentally not discriminatory, but speaking up too loudly might not be a tactful way of countering the poison in people’s minds. In short, secular leaders may still cause polarisation if they voice their opinions too strongly.
Do you think you are a dynast?
Yes. I must acknowledge that I do come from a privileged position, and I am grateful that because of my background I have been able to rise to the role I now hold. I hope to use this privilege in the best way possible, and work honestly for all the communities that surround me. I may be privileged, but I don’t want people to feel like I cannot be their voice, or I cannot support them in their time of need. Through my hard work I hope to erase the fact that I am a dynast.
Modi seems to consider himself to be a messiah of Muslim women, do you agree?
Absolutely not. He can continue believing whatever he wishes, but many Muslim women are unhappy with him because no matter his actions, his intentions are well known. In the case of the triple talaq, Modi turned something civil into a criminal act, and I believe that he did this with the simple purpose of putting more Muslims in jail. There should have been more discussion on this topic, and people from the community should have been consulted. In many cases today, women are just abandoned, and men refuse to divorce them or offer them the shelter of any financial support.
How do you want people to connect with you?
During my election campaign I called myself the daughter of the community and that is how I want people to look at me. I come from a region where there are many different religious and caste groups, but in the past election I have seen a brotherhood emerge, and hope to strengthen that. I want to prove that just as a Hindu leader represents all religions and castes, so too a Muslim leader can do the same.
What is your plan for the next five years?
In the next five years I hope to work for the progress of my constituency and community. I have always felt that education, especially for women, is an important field and I hope to give my attention to that. Since I also come from a farming background, I also hope to give a voice to the issues of farmers whenever I can. As a leader, I also want to make sure that the medical facilities under my governance are being run honestly. As a leader, as a part of the opposition, I hope that we can put aside past issues and focus on the current needs of people. Now that the opposition is stronger, I hope that they will be able to raise their voice and be heard.
What is the significance of the dupatta covering your head?
This is a representation of my faith, my culture, as well as a sign of respect. From where I come, this is something both Hindu and Muslim women wear, and I believe that speaks a lot about the diversity of Indian culture as well as the kind of interplay of culture we see in society.
