A Muslim girl goes to school
An analysis

A Muslim girl goes to school is an autobiographical account by the author, Sara Abubakar where she shares her experience of being a Muslim girl going to school for the first time from her community.  The story is set in a small town of Kasargodu, Kerala where the major inflow of money into the market is from smugglers from Gulf countries. A detailed demographic description of the town which embraces the Chandragiri River from three sides, the two famous masjids one the top of hillock and other next to river, the travellers bungalow and the small village adjacent to the town across the Chandragiri River all set a pleasant  mood to the reader.

The story starts when Sara is born into her affluent Muslim family with considerable influence in the society after long prayers for a girl child. The much awaited birth was on the same day as of Prophet Mohammed. She grew up like every other girl amidst the atrocities and injustice practiced against women by men in the society and her own set of fantasies. Although she was the most loved one of her grandparents, parents, brothers and uncles she always wished if she could live as carefree as a boy. Even though she was into a orthodox Muslim family, her father did not allow her or the family members to follow illogical practices such a piercing six holes into the ear lobes of a girl child. Instead he inoculated his daughter which back then many of the parents won’t agree t do. He also objected the idea of getting her married before she turn sixteen or clearing her matriculation exam. The story develops when Sara is sent to school for the first time from her locality; though it is a girl’s school, a Muslim girl going to school was not so common during those days. Sara was admitted to school as per the wish of her father that she should at least complete matriculation and become a role model for other girls that if she can emerge from the cage of ignorance and be educated them others could also. Though  the story portrays Sara’s family as breaking the conventional ‘rules’ of dos and don’ts for women, throughout the story her mom doesn’t appear to be much happy about the idea of Sara’s school going. Somewhere the story portrays the mother as a typical housewife who doesn’t have words against her husband’s choices and decisions. Given a chance she would be happy to get Sara married or refrain her to ‘womanly chores’ like stitching knitting, religious education and getting her prepared for married life. For her ‘breaking the barriers ‘ was until having a secular neighbourhood  where she prays for the Hindu women for during their pregnancy  and helping them finding a good match. All these yet resort back to the expected duties of typical women with only one difference of a secular neighbourhood. Sara’s mother was also not so very happy with her going to school without covering the hair and was frequently upset whenever the community commented over it.

One yet another important and strong character worth to be mentioned in the story is Sara’s elder brother who breaks all the conventions of a “Muslim” family; supporting and encouraging his only sister to participate in sports which even the broad minded father dislikes. The story has a crucial twist when Sara’s father asks her to discontinue her studies once she is back home late after playing throw ball. Though she was accompanied back home along with both the brothers, her father is upset and scold her regarding her safety. This is a crucial break point in the story which makes a reader think about the safety issues of women even back in those days. Sara’s father who was well determined to make his daughter study suddenly thinks about stopping the same. At this point her mother even hopes to get her married. The story is further moved forward when the elder brother convinces Sara to continue with her studies. One thing to be noticed in common here is that both the father and the elder brother gives so much importance to Sara’s ‘act of going to school’ (which is the first among their community) rather than she getting educated. For them school going is of more importance rather than the knowledge gaining of Sara and cares less about her grades. However we should admit the fact that a girl or rather a Muslim girl going to school was almost impossible during those days. But the theme of the story finds less space or importance in the current context. Thus the story acts as a kind of historic account of a series of happening related to a Muslim girl going to school.

Padam onnu oru vilapam a Malayalam feature film (2003) which received much appreciation from the state film board also portrays the life of a Muslim girl, but with a different story line. Shahina, the female protagonist of the film is a Muslim girl who is studying in 10^th grade and loves to go to school. Later her relatives and family members decide to get her married to man who is a father of a child though Shahina is completely ignorant of a family life. Rasaq, the man she is married to sexually exploits shahina by drugging her and ditches her later saying she isn’t fit for a family life. Shahina, who was overwhelmed by the thought of going back to school soon, discovers that she is pregnant and will have to quit the school. Even though the story cannot be directly connected to the fiction, the film too captures the distress of a Muslim girl life. Early marriage, limited or no access to education has always been a hindrance in a Muslim girls life. Sara Abubakar has given complete justice throughout the story to bring out these issues.

The story brings a lot emotion within it. It has many high and low moments. The story starts off with a happy environment and continue till Sara is been asked to discontinue school. Later the story takes a completely low moment when both the brothers of the author dies and leaves us in a state of silence along with the author. The story leaves us void at this point where she finds no meaning to her life and tears. Suddenly the author draws a curtain on her memories and brings us back where we finds her happily settled and awaiting her son’s call from abroad which kind of bring an end to the ‘story of  a Muslim girl going to school long back’.