Muslim Mahila Sahityiker Kolome 'Chirachorito Shikol Bangar ' Protibadi Swar./ মুসলিম মহিলা সাহিত্যিকের কলমে ‘চিরাচরিত শিকল ভাঙার’ প্রতিবাদী স্বর

Abstract

In the fast-changing global scenario if the 21^st century a considerable section of women of the Muslim community have left an indelible mark with their soul starting writings, revolutionary spirit and strong person. From the misuse of the Shariyat laws by the patriarchal society, the stifling and humiliating domestic space for Female to their journey towards self-realization of their worth, these female Muslim writers have time & again questioned, criticized and protested against the gender discriminatory paradigms of the society. Their objective have solely remained towards cherishing liberation for females holistically which reiterates the lives philosophy of Farjunnesha Chaudhuri, Begum Rokeya Sekhawat Hossain towards cherishing ‘Freedom for Women’ in the true sense of the term. The importance of being educated in Bengali alongside Urdu was pivotal step of the 19^th century progressive Muslim women in their journey towards self-reliance, self-dependency and women empowerment. This legacy is further taken forward by Utsa Sarmin, Sulfia Kamal and Selena Hossain through their writings in the 21^st century. My paper will close read selected fiction of the aboue trio and tend to explore the feminine world in their struggle towards empowerment. Utsa Sharmin’s ‘Cholo Banddhu Bangi’ explores Ayesha’s struggle against all odds to be ‘educated’ and use it as a weapon to usher in a change in society. Utsa Sharmin making Ayesha the precursor of the ‘Rokeya Nari Unnyan Samity’ is a her fictional representation of her ideology. Cholo Bandhu Bangi thus highlights on the power and impact of education, collective effort and the awakening of the inner voice to protect and resistance against the shackles of society binds a female individual with. In a similar vein Masuma of Sufia Kamal’s ‘Bijayani’ tends establish her individualidentity her self-worth in society. Malekha of Selina Hossain ‘Izrat’ questions the biased attitude of society regarding the ‘izzat’ of female. In the patriarchab society where females are threated to be violated and lose their so called ‘izzat’ even at the slightest instance, polygamy by males & is an accepted and established norm. Malekha trough her questioning of the biased discriminatory Shariyat laws and societal framework become an epitome, a representative figure, a voice of the innumerable suffering Muslim women over the centuries. Thus, this paper will focus on the struggle, the protest, the defenced of the female characters and the seeds of empowerment they scatter through the selected stories of Utsa Sharmin, Sufia Kamal, Selina Hossain. The modernization of the female space in their fictional world will be the focus of this paper.