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Boxing
and Burkhas
With
the entry of women in amateur boxing, the sport has taken on a whole new
meaning in the predominantly Muslim areas around the Kolkata dockyards.
Boxing, with all its physical and violent dimensions, is considered a
man's sport. Internationally, those like Laila Ali (daughter of Mohammed
Ali) have done their bit to break the glass ceiling, but it's no more than
a crack yet. But, deep in the heart of the Muslim-dominated boondocks of
Kolkata - areas like Ekbalpore, Metiabruz, Khidderpore and Garden Reach -
more significant cracks are appearing. A tribe of women, self-confessedly
uneducated and largely "backward" in an urban sense, are shedding their
burkhas (veils) and coming out in hordes to take up the sport.
Shahnaz Haider, Mehrunnisa, Farida Sultana, Razia Shabnam and Yasmin
Haider - even a couple of years ago, they had to don their burkhas the
minute they stepped out of their homes. They were forced to drop out of
school on reaching puberty. Needless to say, they were not permitted to
appear in front of male visitors. Life from then on was a long wait until
a suitable groom was found. And this, in twentieth-century Calcutta!
The first round of burkha-shedding started in the mid-1990s. It was rather
straightforward, if Razia Shabnam (23), a success story, is to be
believed. "There were a lot of boys from our area who went to the local
boxing clubs. When we passed those clubs, we would see them boxing, and a
lot of us grew quite interested in the sport and wanted to try our hand at
it. And that's how we started."
Razia started boxing relatively late in the day - when she was 20. Coming
from a family that wasn't as perturbed by the idea as many others were,
Razia fancied herself as a boxer and wanted to get into competitive
boxing. But it wasn't to be. She discovered that she just didn't have the
ability to go far enough. A meeting with Bengal Amateur Boxing Federation
(BABF) chief Asit Banerjee convinced her to have a go at being a boxing
official, and that's what she is now. After the National Institute of
Sports gave her the required certificate a few months ago, Razia became
the first Indian female boxing referee. She has been officiating in
international tournaments, including men's fights.
Surely it wasn't as simple as that? Selling this rather radical idea to
parents couldn't have been so easy for all the girls. Neighbors must have
made it difficult for the girls and their parents; the transition couldn't
have been so smooth.
"It wasn't," says Yasmin, one of the few who, even today, leaves her home
in a burkha to go to the South Calcutta Physical Culture Association - the
number one centre for women boxers. "I argued with my father for well over
a year before he finally gave his consent. Of course, he had his
conditions, like my wearing a burkha and not mingling with the boys at the
Centre. But he allowed me to go. Also, the fact that Razia was doing well
and making a career out of the game made it easier."
According to Banerjee, a large part of the reason for parents giving their
daughters the go-ahead now is the lure of decent employment. Says Banerjee,
"Organizations like the Railways, which employ a massive chunk of the male
boxers from these areas, still don't have jobs for women boxers. As of
now, there isn't anything. But we have been in touch with the authorities
there and recruitment should start soon."
Says Farida (18), "I came into boxing because I enjoyed the sport. My
brother used to box. I would watch him boxing and wanted to do it myself.
The officials here have told us that there will soon be job openings for
women boxers in organizations like Indian Railways. That's what I am
waiting for, because I come from a very poor background. I have been
allowed to box because of the possibility of a job."
Razia provides an update of women boxers from her locality: "At the
moment, around 25-30 women come for practice everyday. There are a few
more, but they can't come daily. I have spoken to a lot of parents, and I
think once the job market for women boxers opens up, a lot more girls will
start
coming. For me, it was because I wanted to do something new. My brother
was a boxer, and it wasn't difficult for me to box even if no job
opportunities came up. But for most, that's the driving concern."
Primarily due to the efforts of the BABF and the recent success of Bengal
boxers like Mohammad Ali Qamar, the sport is spreading to schools,
including girls' schools. Also, significantly, boys' schools are accepting
people like Razia as coaches. The somewhat elite La Martiniere School for
boys has been the only school to have boxing classes for students for a
long time, and has a good record in the sport. But at least 13 schools,
primarily in the Muslim areas, have recently included boxing in their
curriculum, and girls form an equal chunk of the students who opt for the
sport.
"The BABF's primary intention," says Banerjee, "is to focus on women's
boxing rather than men's boxing, which is at a good level anyway and is
going to progress fine as long as the machinery continues to run. But we
want to change the system, and want to bring in girls, especially Muslim
girls because they seem to be better equipped than a lot of others and are
more excited by the idea of breaking out. We have organized clubs with
high walls to ensure privacy for the girls. There are all sorts of
facilities to help them improve."
For the girls from Ekbalpore, the job's only just begun. According to
them, the number one priority is to "create an atmosphere in our
localities where girls will be allowed to box without being harassed about
it by their parents and neighbors". By the looks of it, and the momentum
that sheer
numbers create, it'll soon be a different world for the Girls From
Ekbalpore.
– Ajitha GS
June 15, 2003
By arrangement with
Womens Feature Service
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