The Library That Serves as a Safe Space for Muslim Women
Exposure to education offers hope to Mumbra’s most marginalized
Co-authored by rashi arora
When Reshma Sheikh told her parents about Saleem, the man she wanted to marry, she met an unexpected response — a tight slap on her face. Saleem, who was from a different community than that of Sheikh, worked with her at a local supermarket. Sheikh’s parents continued the physical abuse for months to protest the relationship. But Sheikh was firm on her decision. She eloped, only to face abuse again — this time at the hands of her husband. The 23-year-old endured the harassment for four years before she decided to seek help from Rehnuma Library — a women-only reading room and counseling center located in the heart of Mumbra.
Mumbra is a suburban town in western India, located on the outskirts of Mumbai, India’s financial capital. The town developed after the 1992 Mumbai communal riots between Hindus and Muslims, after which several Muslims fled to Mumbra, fearing for their safety. Today, it’s one of the biggest Muslim ghettos in the country, notorious for its illegal constructions, high crime rates, and religious orthodoxy.
Mumbra is often targeted for its Muslim identity under the rising Hindu right-wing extremism in the country. Several…
