JAC : A JOURNAL OF COMPOSITION THEORY ISSN : 0731-6755

FINDING VOICE IN NOISE : THE PERSONA OF MUKTHARN BIBI IN THE NAME OF HONOUR

Deepthi C P Guest Lecturer Bishop Jesudasan CSI Arts & Science College Email- [email protected]

Abstract- In June 2002, Mukhtar Mai, a Pakistani woman from the impoverished village of Meerwala, was gang-raped by a local clan known as the Mastoi — punishment for indiscretions allegedly committed by the woman's brother. While certainly not the first account of a female body being negotiated for honor in a family, this time the survivor had bravely chosen to fight back. In doing so, Mai single-handedly changed the feminist movement in , one of the world's most adverse climates for women. By July 2002, the Pakistani government awarded her the equivalent of 8,500 U.S. dollars in compensation money and sentenced her attackers to death — and Mukhtar Mai went on to open a school for girls so that future generations would not suffer, as she had, from illiteracy.In this rousing account, Mai describes her experience and how she has since become an agent for change and a beacon of hope for oppressed women around the world. Timely and topical, "In the Name of Honor" is the remarkable and inspirational memoir of a woman who fought and triumphed against exceptional odds.

Keywords – feminity, voice, honour

In the Name of Honour: A Memoir is not just a tale to read and entertain. It is not a gamut of events full of suspense and adventure. But, it tells the real life of a Pakistani Muslim peasant Gujar woman who turns to be the voice, consciousness and inspiration to thousands of women who craves to find their voice. The harrowing life of Mukhtar Mai touches everyone who reads it. The excruciating pain she suffered tugged the courage and confidence out of her. In June 2002, journalists throughout the world began to hear of the gang rape of a Pakistani woman from the impoverished village of Meerwala.The whole trail of incidents begins with the most nauseous and gruesome event happened in her life. On the night of 22 June, 2002, Mukhtaran Bibi, an illiterate peasant Gujar woman was gang raped by four men of the Mastoi clan in front of the whole village and with the permission of jirga or the village council to save the honour of the Mastoi caste. While she pleaded for mercy, hundreds of jeering villagers stood outside the hut. The young woman was forced to walk home naked after the horrifying ordeal. A Mastoi tribal council allegedly ordered the rape to punish a transgression supposedly committed by her brother; he was accused of having sexual relations with a woman of the higher Mastoi tribe. Deciding that the boy had impugned the honor of the tribe by engaging in sexual relations with its female member, the tribal council ordered that Mai be raped in order to restore its honor. It was later discovered that the accusation against Mai’s brother was fabricated by members of the Mastoi tribe in order to cover up their own sodomization of the boy. While certainly not the first account of a female body is being negotiated for honor in a family, this time the survivor, Mukhtar Mai, bravely chose to fight back. In doing so, Mai single-handedly changed the feminist movement in Pakistan, one of the world's most adverse climates for women. By July 2002, the Pakistani government awarded her the equivalent of 8,500 U.S. dollars in compensation money and sentenced her attackers to death and Mukhtar Mai went on to open a school for girls so that future generations would not suffer, as she had, from illiteracy.

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In this rousing account, Mai describes her experience and how she has since become an agent for change and a beacon of hope for oppressed women around the world.The life of a woman was crushed to nothingness and her honour, so insignificant to others, was smothered. The whole community gazed at her pitiless and scornful, not any does seem to have the courage to be sympathetic. She ‘drifted like a ghost’, petrified and shunned to the world, back to her home naked heading instinctively through the now unfamiliar paths of the Punjab province, the so- called Land of the Pure. Scorching in her humiliation like the chick that was burnt in the kitchen fire for none of its fault, she realised that prayer is impossible and even the streams of tears have already drained. “Rape kills her. Rape is the ultimate weapon: it shames the other clan forever” (11), how easily ‘rape’ turns to be a means of ‘honour justice’? Woman is an object of exchange, given to save honour or to take revenge. Mukhtaran Bibi was asked to beg pardon before the jirga for a crime falsely accused to her twelve year old brother Shakur. The Mastoi clan alleged Shakur of committing zina or adultery with a Mastoi woman Salma of more than twenty years old. The powerful and authoritative Mastoi men had beaten and sodomised Shakur for an allegiance they themselves have cooked up. Mukhtar Mai, just like any other woman wanted to kill herself by swallowing acid. The watchful eyes of her mother prevented her to do so. She was there devastated, drowning in the besieging meaninglessness and enveloped by a world of lies where gossips scudded as black crows or white pigeons. News spread to the village that she thwarted the reconciliation and was not ready to marry a Mastoi man and so she welcomed her destiny. Time gave her to realise the inner strength that slumbered hitherto without her knowledge. The decision to take revenge upon them by fighting back was her outrage, a relentless rebellion. With the support of her father, she files charge against the four men. The policemen also took advantage of her illiteracy and made her to put her thumbprint in a blank sheet of paper which they filled up with another story. They were in fact, steered by the Mastoi clan. Meanwhile, the incident was published in a local newspaper and was known to the whole world. Reporters gathered in front of her house as well as men and women from various human rights organisations. The tribal system, her status as a woman and the religion forbade her from claiming justice. But, she was a completely different woman now, determined to keep seeking justice and truth in spite of the police pressure and the ‘tradition’ that silenced women so far. Mukhtar Mai turned to be a symbol within no time. She became a public face of a story that actually concerns thousands of Pakistani women. The policemen discarded her story as insane and lie. But she was carefully questioned by a judge, who was considerate and sympathetic towards her. Mukhtar Mai reckons him as polite and distinguished with a wish to seek the truth. Finally, after days of interrogation and trial, she grabbed success in her fight. On 31 August, 2002 the antiterrorism tribunal condemned the six men including the four rapists to death. The horrible incident had such an impact to change her perspective. The Meerwala village was her world before. As a child, she enjoyed the life with her siblings. She was a perfect woman as per the tribal standards. Her marriage was not a success. She could easily get a divorce from her good- for- nothing husband with the help of her father. Later on her life was confined in her home teaching village children the Holy Koran from memory and recitation. Of course, she has earned a respectable position among her villagers. But she was weak because she was a woman and a woman of low caste.

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For the first time she became aware of her rights. She says in a reproachful and regrettable way that “no one ever told me Pakistan had a constitution, laws and rights written down in a book” (28). Crippled in her own illiteracy, she thinks it as a great shame on her part not being able to make up her own mind to important things rather blindly following others. To begin a school for the girls was thus her dream and the yearning to treat both men and women equally existed deep within her. With the money offered by the president of the general council, her school began ‘beneath the trees’. The illiterate daughter of peasant farmers turned to be revered as ‘respected big sister’. This was the result of her brave action to speak up even though she had been taught to be silent. The school admitted even the boys from the Mastoi clan. The life of Mukhtar Mai is the life of other women also. To many other women she is an inspiration. To some she is a foil. Mukhtar Mai establishes a sisterly affection with Naseem, an independent journalist. Mukhtar Mai speaks of her: “She’s the complete opposite of me: active, vivacious, clearheaded, articulate, not afraid of people- or of saying what she thinks” (83). Mukhtar discloses her heart to her confides her fears and regains her self- confidence through that channel. The deplorable story of Dr. Shazia and the woeful tale of Kausar relive the saga of Mukhtar Mai. The condition of women and the way they are treated do not change, however they are educated or respectable. Mukhtar Mai lost her case in the High Court, but she continues to be the inspiration to many. Her stubbornness shields her and that attracts others to her. The Pakistan government even resisted to give the passport to her. The fight still continues and she knows how to fight. In her own words: “despising men is not the way to win respect. The solution is to try to fight them as equals” (110). The Memoir ends as a reminder to the readers that the afflictions toward women still continue. The Memoir has close affinity to each one of our lives. The contemporary scenario, the protests to save women and young Malala speaking up to the world elevates the relevance of this Memoir. Written in a documentary style, the Memoir deals with real incidents in a realistic way. The story moves in time. Her past is revealed. Her childhood triggers her nostalgia. The hopes she cherish frame her future. The Memoir is divided into seven sections. The first section carries no name or no name can be given to it that describes the incident that changed her life. ‘A Most Remarkable Judge’ depicts the various trials and her decision to build a school. The victory over the men is dealt in ‘Breaking the Silence’. ‘Destiny’ is a suitable name given to the section on her childhood and marriage that shaped her destiny. ‘The Way Things were in Meerwala’ discusses the various activities of her school. The High Court,s verdict is treated in ‘Dishonour’. ‘Kausar,s Tears’ enlists the replica of Mukhtar Mai’s life. In the Name of Honor: A Memoir is an example of an account on honor crime. ‘honour killing’ or ‘crime of honour’ is a tit for tat revenge system which operates widely in Pakistan. It takes place when a clan believes it has had a wrong done to them, and as a punishment they inflict torture upon a woman belonging to the clan who has wronged them. Basically a woman from the accused family becomes the vehicle for the revenge punishment. These women were beaten, tortured, disfigured, raped, and killed for crimes which they weren’t even responsible for. This narrative is a reminder that these atrocities continue throughout the world on a daily basis. This is the story of a

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single event so gruesome, it should have killed its victim. But instead of succumbing to societal expectations, this author fought back. Her story is one of suffering and despair, but also courage, dignity and hope. In spite of everything Mai had to go through, instead of her turning to suicide which was the normally expected option left, something propelled her to get up, report the crime to the police, and demand justice. The police tried desperately to silence her, taking advantage of her illiteracy to create false reports on blank papers which bore her thumbprint. In spite of such illegal efforts, Mai’s story began to make national headlines, and then the world literally arrived at her door, ready to hear her voice. Having spent most of her life unable to read and write, Mai had been victimized not only by her attackers, but also the police and government because of that illiteracy. Mai was determined that what had happened to her would not happen to other girls and women: with that blood money, Mai started a school, to give the girls strong voices and to teach the boys that a woman’s body is not a war zone. While the international articles made the world aware about Mai’s story, her memoir adds further depth to her ongoing journey towards justice. Change has come slowly, but the struggle continues. She talks about how silence, obedience, and the denial of knowledge are passed on from mother to daughter in an endless cycle of ‘honor': “Submission is compulsory,” she explains, then insists, “… knowledge must be given to girls, and as soon as possible, before their mothers bring them up the same way they were raised themselves.” This book was ghost written for Mai. It was translated first from Mukhtar’s native language into French, and then into English. It is written in casual speaking style. The simplicity of the writing makes it all that more accessible for people of all walks of life. In this amazing collaboration with reporter Cuny, who specializes in covering women's issues and who recorded hours of conversation, Mai presents a portrait of determination in overcoming low caste status and stifling tradition and this inspirational story attracted international attention. On 12 January 2006, Mukhtar Mai’s memoir was first published in by OH! editions under the title Deshonoree. It has been published in 23 languages including English by Atria under the title In the Name of Honour. Her autobiography ranked 3rd on the best seller list in France and movies about her are in the making. In 2009, in the book Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas D Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, Mukhtar Mai was the subject of chapter four, Rule by Rape. The book is an expose about women and gender apartheid. In 2006, Mukhtar Mai’s story became the subject of a documentary called Shame by Mohammed Naqvi, which won multiple awards including the TV Academy Honour (special emmy) by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Her story further became the subject of a play and two documentaries which got universal acclaim. In the Name of Honour: A Memoir, though a translation and the author has not penned it by herself summarises the tears of thousands of voiceless women. The deep humanitarian vein pulls the reader towards it. It questions our morality. It pricks our conscience as to whether it is right to be silent when the rights of others are thwarted. It baffles us of our duties when certain are thought to be marginalised. The Memoir renders a big salute to Mukhtar Mai. More than that, it compels one to tear away the gauze of silence from life forever.

REFERENCES MAI,MUKHTHAR ,IN THE NAME OF HONOUR: A MEMOIR,TRANSLATED BY LINDA COVERDALE,VOL 2,NEW YORK,ATIRA PUBLICATIONS 2016

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