Meet the Maker

 
Syed Waseem Rizvi, who claims to be the writer and producer of the film, is actually the Chief of the UP Shia Waqf Board. It is alleged that Waseem Rizvi, handpicked by the saffron regime, is a clear tool in their hands. Interestingly, Rizvi claims that the film is shot in Ayodhya. Question is, who gave permission for the shoot? To top it all controversial RSS leader, Indresh Kumar is featured as a ‘Hindu leader’!

Desperate in the face of rising opposition, a sinister game plan is afoot to use the UP Shia Waqf Board chief, Syed Waseem Rizvi as the chief generator of Shia-Sunni conflict using the Ram Mandir and Ayodhya. The trailer and poster of the film, ‘Ramjanmabhoomi’ scripted by Rizvi was ‘released’ last Monday, and has already generated its share of intra-community tensions. Almost all senior Sunni and Shia leaders of India have officially condemned this trailer and have asked the govt to stop this hate film. They have also petitioned the govt demanding that a criminal case be filed against Waseem Rizvi.

We at cjp.org.in delved deep into this controversial, even hate-filled trailer that has already generated tensions. A criminal case has already been filed against it in Mumbai. (फिल्म ‘राम जन्मभूमि’ के ट्रेलर के खिलाफ केस दर्ज, धार्मिक भावनाएं आहत करने का आरोप) (ट्रेलर रिलीज के एक दिन बाद ही विवादों में घिरी ‘राम जन्मभूमि’)

What does an analysis of the trailer reveal?
This trailer is about actual incidents of 1990 when kar sevaks were shot at by the UP police when they attempted to break the law in force. However, the narrative has been twisted a la the narrative of the VHP-RSS (sangh) that only depicts ‘peaceful Hindutva kar sevaks’. Worse, these scenes are interjected by fabrications and falsehoods, the absolutely false propaganda of ‘Muslims provocating the Hindutva people.’ Thereafter a series of incidents of violence depict violence by Muslims against Hindus. There is also a snide reference to the police who are conspiring with Netaji (1990 chief minister, Mulayam Singh).

This trailer is a complete short film in itself, there is nothing more left to understand. 
Sign boards of the Shia Waqf Board are strategically placed within it. The Shia Waqf Board chief Waseem Rizvi is also ‘acting’ in the trailer. Controversial RSS leader Indresh Kumar who was charge sheeted in the Ajmer Blast case also has a guest appearance as a part of a television news show within the film. 

There is a titillating and caricatured ‘villain’ in the short film, Jaffar Khan who is not only shown as a terrorist but a Shariya Board member who drinks alcohol and commits Halala (having a relationship with his own daughter in law). There are scenes of Muslim men shown lynching ‘innocent Hindutva kar sevaks.’ The setting is also sinister: popular ‘Muslim’ icons and flags often depicted during festivities are shown as the backdrop for the aggression of violent ‘Muslim mobs.’ 

Hate and Incitement in Waseem Rizvi’s Film
The most controversial scene planted within the film is clearly aimed at dividing Muslims along the Shia vs Sunni sectarian divide. Waseem Rizvi is sitting across the table and uses objectionable words derogatory to the Khalifa and founder of the Umaiyyad dynasty, respected by many Sunni Muslims.
 
(Note: We are not using the words here as they are both inciteful and provocative. This anti Sunni statement by a Shia character in the film who is the Chairman of UP Shia Waqf board in real life is undoubtedly depicted with intent to instigate Shia vs Sunni conflict in India).

What readers must note that this has been part of a not so hidden strategy of the BJP-led Sangh Parivar. Recall September 14, 2017 when BJP leader Subramanian Swamy called for uniting Hindus, creating division among Muslims. 
 
Media fans the flames:
Rabid mainstream channels like Times Now are fanning the controversy while websites with a clear Hindutva bent are actively promoting it.
Examples of pro-Hindutva websites promoting this film

1. Swarajyamag: Watch: Ram Janmabhoomi, A Film By Shia Waqf Board Chief Who Supports Ram Temple, Targeting Social Evils In Islam
2. Brajesh Mishra tweet https://twitter.com/brajeshlive/status/1064020215376166912
3. http://www.5dariyanews.com/news/252810-Ram-Janambhoomis-trailer-based-on-the-radical-conspiracy-of-Babari-on-Ram-temple-construction-has-been-launched-in-Lucknow
 
Who and what is Cinecraft Productions?
 
One, this film is produced by Cinecraft Productions which has only two videos on their Youtube channel. The first is this trailer and the second is their showreel, which is of an extremely unprofessional poor quality. Significantly, the showreel shows that Cinecraft Products has also made films for the government of Uttar Pradesh. Only two videos can be found on youtube by Cinecraft both posted on November 18, 2018 this also includes videos made for the Govt of Uttar Pradesh on Asha Bahu before the Ramjanmabhoomi film was made.

Description of the movie Ram Janmbhumi on youtube channel

Hindi Movie “Ram Janmbhumi” ( राम जन्मभूमि ) written & produced by Waseem Rizvi (Chairman of Shia Waqf chief, Uttar Pradesh) The movie deals with issue of Ram Janmbhumi & Halala. Produced under the banner of Cinecraft Productions and Directed by Sanoj Mishra film Ram Janmbhumi stars Actor Manoj Joshi, Govind Namdeo, Najnin Patni, Rajveer Singh, Disha Sachdeva and Aditya in important role. The film poster is quite intriguing as there is a saffron flag on the top of the dome of Babari Masjid.the poster will sure make the headlines inthe media in coming days. The movie is all set to hit in screen in the end of December 2018.

Who is Indresh Kumar?
RSS leader Indresh Kumar, apart from being charge sheeted in the Ajmer blasts case is an active pro-Israel and pro-US leader. Reports have shown that he and 75 others have participated in the Haifa centenary celebrations in Israel. Today, Indresh is a national executive member and the Sahprachar Pramukh in the RSS. His name cropped first when Malegaon blasts prime accused Colonel Shrikant Purohit mentioned him during interrogation.

Both Waseem Rizvi and Indresh Kumar appear to enjoy a special relationship. Since June July this year on social media, Waseem Rizvi, Shia Waqf Board, has been openly supportive of Indresh Kumar’s stand saying, “Muslims should stop eating beef. Killing of cows should stop. Meat of cows is ‘haram’ in Islam as well. You can’t stop mob lynching, security can’t be deployed everywhere. So a law should be made awarding strict punishment to those killing cows.” There is more. “I think Indresh Ji’s statement has a point. Religious sentiments should not be hurt. If law is made to stop killing of cows, lynching will stop. You can’t kill someone who is given the status of mother by a community,” Rizvi added.

Related Articles:
1. Catch News
2. ANI report
3. Haribhoomi.com
4. Navbharat Times
5. Siasat.com
6. Newkerala.com

Trigger Warning: This trailer is full of communally sensitive and potentially offensive content
 

Film Trailer:

ref: Ayodhya firing incident 1990
 

 
Detailed Breakdown of the Trailer
 
The Trailer starts with Super Text in hindi – Ayodhya 2 Novemeber 1990

–Shot of Ayodhya Saryu ghat
–Cut to a Muslim Villian Shouting Slogans (as if Muslims are provocating violence)
–Cut to Hindus shouting Jai Shree Ram (as a reaction to Muslim provocation)
Super text: Chali thi goliyan
–Cut to Police firing indiscriminately and killing the kar sevaks.
Super text: Beh raha tha khoon
Montage of several dead Kar Sevaks
–Cut to speech by a Hindutva leader in a hall with a ram mandir banner and a shia waqf board banner in the background.
 
The Shia waqf board banner says “ek kadam ekta ki ore”. (note: Waseem Rizvi had published a brochure with similar title एक रास्ता एकता की ओर शीर्षक वाले इस पांच सूत्रीय प्रस्ताव  https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/india/shia-wakf-board-explanation-proposal-mosque-in-ayodhya-and-mosque-in-lucknow/articleshow/61726438.cms)

The speech blames politicians for appeasing Muslims “kuchh rajnitik partiyan keval musalmano ke vote bank ki rajniti karne ke liye poore desh ka mahaul kharab kar rahi hain”

Cut to the same ‘Muslim villain’ saying “masjid musalmano ki hai” montage of the Muslim villain checking automatic rifles. “aur inshallah wahan babri masjid qayam hokar rahegi”
Cut to Muslim mob wearing skull caps carrying a green flag with star and crescent “lynching and hacking two saffron clad kar sevaks.”
–Top angle view shows brutally hacked kar sevaks, and camera zooms in to show a donation box in the dead kar sevak’s hand which has hindi text “Shree Ram mandir nirman me apna sahyog den”
–Cut to the Muslim villain eating sweet (laddus) the board in the background has text “all india shariyah board”

Waseem Rizvi is stiing across the table and tells the villain uses the provocative words that we have decided not to use
(note: this is extremely provocative dialogue against the founder of Umaiyyad dynasty who is respected by many Sunni muslims.
This anti Sunni statement by a Shia character who is chairman of UP Shia Waqf board is undoubtedly an intentional scene to instigate Shia vs Sunni conflict in India.)

–Cut to Men in skull caps firing at policemen and Waseem Rizvi is also with the police, and they shoot down the attackers.

–Cut to a hindu family watching television (some urdu news channel) and on TV news the RSS leader Indresh Kumars saying “is desh ke andar neta jo virodh kar rahe hain, uphas kar rahe hain, unko sharm aani chahiye”
–Montage of muslim family also watching news and sadhus listening to RSS leader’s statement on radio.

—Cut to: a mob chasing a girl who is running away to save herself
—Cut to: the daughter in law of the Villain Muslim telling her husband “aap bhi usi bheed ka ek hissa hain jo haath me talwaar lekar insaaniyat ka khoon karne par aamada hai. Aur wo bhi islam ke naam par.
And Arif Khan slaps his wife gives talaaq to the girl “main aarif khan isi waqt talaq deta hoon, talaq talaq talaq”

Voiceover of the girl “hum ek aise mazhab me paida huye jahan ghar ki bahu ke saath Halala ke naam par ghar ke sasur hum-bistar hua karte hain”
Visual of the villain Muslim (father in law) sitting with alcohol bottle on table with two glasses, he drops a pill in a glass, then a scene of having sex with the daughter in law.

Cut to : Hindutva leader giving speech “Babar ne jo kalank kiya hai us kalank ko dhwast karna hai.
(Note : right after Halala, dialogue against Babar and kalank is justifying typical anti Muslim propaganda by the Sangh). 
Cut to : Muslim villain “agar aisa hua to hindustan me Islam khatre me pad jayega”
Cut to : riot scenes burning vehicles, bicycles, carts etc.

Cut to : Hindutva leader “Hindu sahishnu tha, Hindu sahishnu hai, Hindu Sahishnu rahega” scene of saffrpon clad mob carrying saffron flags marching…
(Note : all dialgoes by the Hindutva characters in the trailer projects them as peaceful Sahishnu tolerant people)
Cut to : Muslim Villain “taiyyar ho jaiye, ek aur jung ke liye”
Cut to : Muslim mob attacking hindus
Many dead bodies of kar sevaks and sadhus being dumped by the police.
And a policeman burns the bodies.
Cut to police man stading against burning fire and smoke and speaks on his walky talky “Netaji aapne jo kaam kaha tha wo ho gaya hai”
(Note : Mulayam Singh is called Netaji by people, and he was the UP CM in 1990)

Cut to : scenes of policemen killing peaceful kar sevaks.

There is flame on the screen and the domes of Babri masjid in the background.
Trailer ends with super text “Coming Soon”
End plate of video is Ram Janmbhoomi film poster.

 

The post Modi Yogi’s UP Shia Waqf Board Chief in the dock for Controversial Ayodhya Film appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Sriram wears multiple hats, that of a director, editor, writer and more
 
Born on 25th August 1979 in Daltonganj, Jharkhand India, Sriram completed his Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from Banaras Hindu University (B.H.U) India in commercial art in the year 2001. After which he came to Mumbai and under tutelage of legend late Ashok Mehta, he endeavoured to beautify camera work of films like Kisna, Waqt, Family, No entry, God Tusi Great Ho, Meridian, part of pop culture. His creative genius also nourished some corporate ad films. His film profile maps a wide range.

 
In a career spanning more than two decades, he has seen how the corporate and corrupt politicians have exploited natural resources.
 
Deeply concerned about the issue of privatisation of water, where corporate giants are selling water at exorbitant rates, unaffordable for common masses, on this world environment day he decided to walk from Mumbai to Jharkhand and tell people on the way that water, forest and land belong to the people of India. And we must at least get free water.

 
He documented his journey on Facebook live, interacted with people, and visited many schools in Maharashtra, MP, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.
 
He ended his walk on 9th September in Ranchi.

 
Local environment groups joined his rally in Ranchi and walked from Bhagwan Birsa Samadhi to Bapu Vatika. The corporate control over people’s water, mineral and forests is against the nature and it is also unconstitutional.
 
His film on the Uranium mafia, Spring Thunder is scheduled for its world premiere on September 23 at BASAFF (Bay Area South Asian Film Festival), USA. The film showcases the fight in rural India between sustainability and development against the backdrop of Uranium mining. Showcasing the tussle between ‘Sustainability’ & ’Development’ in the context of rural India, ‘Spring Thunder’ narrates the story of a Uranium mining tender at the highest plateau of India, enriched with thick forests where various native communities are living. Starting from conflict of policymakers, to crime, money, politics, and rage at the local level concerning land acquisition to universal environmental concerns. The selfish political inadequacy leads the local tribes to unite and retaliate for the survival of their existence.

 
He wants like-minded people to support him in his long term mission of having free water in India and short term goal of promoting his film on the conflict of sustainability and so called development.

The post A Walk to Remember: One man’s journey from Mumbai to Jharkhand on World Environment Day appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Every once in a while one chances upon instances of Indian ingenuity, colloquially known as ‘jugaad’. But in a perverse take on this ability to subvert challenges and find solutions, villagers in Eastern Maharashtra are participating en mass in the production, sale and consumption of a highly addictive substance, locally known as Kharra. It is a powdered concoction containing Betel Nut (Supari), Tobacco Flakes and Calcium Hydroxide (Lime/Choona). It is prepared using a jagged edged wooden contraption. All ingredients are ground and crushed together and then sold in pouches. The name Kharra in fact comes from the grinding sound made during the production of the powder.

 
I discovered Kharra on my first trip to Nagpur and Yavatmal region a few weeks ago. What caught my attention was that this ubiquitous wooden contraption was present at all paan stalls not just along the highway or in rural areas, but also inside Nagpur city! Paanwalas could be seen hard at work grinding the Kharra and it got sold within minutes! It begins early in the morning in the villages. I was taking a walk in Yavatmal and the entire neighbourhood reverberated with the KharrKharrKharr grating sound of Kharra being manufactured. Freshly ground kharra was selling like hot cakes!
 
Apparently freshly ground Kharra is in high demand. The heady mixture is known to give the consumer a ‘high’ and is highly addictive. So strong is the lure of Kharra, that even women and children haven’t escaped its temptation.

However, while there is a ban onpaan masala and gutkha, curiously kharra remains outside the purview of the ban and is easily available to even children and teenagers, many of whom have grown addicted to it. This is disturbing as the law is quite clear on the subject of protecting children. As per a 2015 amendment to the Juvenile Justice Act (Sec 77), “Anyone giving a child any intoxicating liquor or any narcotic drug or tobacco products or psychotropic substance, except on the order of a duly qualified medical practitioner, is liable for seven years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 lakh.”
 
What’s worse is that Nagpur is the Oral Cancer capital of the world! According to data with regional cancer registry in Nagpur, more than one third of total cancer patients suffered from oral cancers or Tobacco Related Cancer (TRC). According to a study by Indian Council of Medical Research, 50 per cent of cancers in men and 20 of those in women can be directly linked to tobacco use. Over 10 lakh deaths occur due to tobacco in India every year and Maharashtra accounts for 10 per cent of that figure. Experts say about 4 lakh new cases of tobacco related oral cancers crop up every year in just Central India with a majority of those being reported from Nagpur and adjoining areas.

 
My visit to the region was related to NGOs who are working in the area of child protection in rural/tribal areas, there we had chance to interact with the villagers and members of Village Child Protection Committee (VCPC). When I asked them if anyone in their village suffers from any kind of addiction or ‘nasha’, initially people declined as to them addiction is only related to alcohol or other drugs. Kharra is not considered a narcotic substance or drug by them.
 
I persisted and went on to ask those around me how many consume Kharra. Shockingly, most of the people raised their hand and accepted they chew Kharra. They keep it in the mouth or chew it for long time and the juice gets absorbed through the fine membranes of cheek, inside the lips and under the tongue. After chewing for anywhere between a few minutes to a few hours, they spit the residue. There were tell-tale reddish brown marks on walls everywhere.

 
Now, it is important to note that it’s not as if Kharra or similar substances are not consumed elsewhere in India. People in Mumbai and Gujarat are known to consume Mawaa, a version of kharra that is not ground, but rather crushed between the palms after wrapping it in polythene. Even Khainithat is popular in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and parts of Eastern India (and Nepal), is prepared by rubbing it together with lime, but without the Betel Nut. 

Image and Video Courtesy: Amir Rizvi
 

The post A Day Does Not Begin in Eastern Maharashtra without Kharra  appeared first on SabrangIndia.

I am in Yavatmal for an assignment and thought of finding the facts about the farmer poisoning in this area. I went to Yavatmal Govt Hospital, Sri Vasantrao Naik hospital in Yavatmal.I met Dr. Elke, medicine department, he is in-charge of briefing about the hospital/patient data. 
The dean had asked me to meet him.
 
Our report from Yeovatmal:
Dr. Elke said till yesterday (Wednesday October 11,2017) 445 patients have been admitted for poisoning due to chemical spaying in the farm. The first patient of poisoning came in on July 6
and to date 445 persons are admitted in this hospital, all victims of pesticide poisoning.
 
Eleven have so far died out of the 445 seriously ill who had been admitted. The success rate of saving lives is 98%. ( Last year though lesser number of patients came and 6 died, the survival was 96%, this year there has been a marginal improvement in saving lives)

Dr Elke said that this year it has rained better than the last year. (it is drought affected area, the rainfall was less than the requirement but more than last year).The plants grow taller 5-7 feet if rainfall is adequate and this year due to rainfall plants grew tall. (mostly cotton Kapas plants, but same chemicals are also sprayed on Tuar daal and Soyabean too). The height of plants matter: when it is at the same or the higher level than the height of the person spraying it, the particles/fumes come back to the person, and they get soaked in the chemical, being affected and vulnerable totally. 

    
 
Poisonous Pesticide

The organic Phosphorus Compound in the chemical is what caused poisoning. Most commonly Monocil (popular pesticide brand name) is used, it contains Monocrotophos, exposure (inhalation) of monocrotophos causes poisoning. It affects many vital organs in the body, and the deaths are caused due to a respiratory muscle paralysis. 
 
Most of the farmers know how lethal this compound is, therefore, they hire poor labourers for spraying, the labourers take up this risky spraying job in seasons because they paid more than normal wages. Hence, most of the patients admitted in this hospital are the labourers, they are from the same or nearby villages. 
 
There are many more poisoning cases and patients are being treated in various government and private hospitals. Total numbers can be availed from the collector or the civil surgeon. 
 
Every year new brands of pesticides are entering the market, some farmers who had used similar pesticides previously never had this experience. There is no awareness or standard of toxicity in similar chemicals. 
 
This is happening all over Vidarbha region, Dr. Elke could give data only about Yavatmal hospital. He said there is a separate data of suicides by drinking poison with poison, that is very common in Vidarbha and they regularly get such cases. 
 
I also met a relative of two patients who are now out of danger. 
 
Rajarao Wadkar has his son Vijay Rajaram Vadkar and a relative Haribhau Manik Kundekar admitted in ward no 19 of the hospital. They were lucky to reach hospital in time (on 30th sept and 1st oct), they are from Bhari Village only 9 kilometre from Yavatmal. 
  
Background:
The Indian Express has reported on October 8 and 9 that on October 3, two and a half months after the first death, the government ordered a probe and announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to families of each of the deceased. This was after court proceedings, when on October 6, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court issued notices on a PIL seeking criminal action against the officials concerned and pesticide firms. While no action has been taken against anyone so far, Minister of State for Agriculture Sadabhau Khot on Tuesday said, “Officials responsible will be made answerable.”
Cotton cultivation experts and researchers have said the cumulative effect of several factors, such as humidity, spraying of pesticide cocktails and use of a new kind of spraying machine, seem to be behind the deaths of cotton growers in Maharashtra. The number of deaths climbed to 32 on Sunday.
According to these reports, since July 19, 18 farmers have died in Yavatmal and 14 in surrounding districts in the cotton growing belt of the state. The two fresh deaths have been reported from Nagpur and Akola.
 
 
 

The post Reporting from Ground Zero, Yeovatmal: Pesticide Deaths in Kapas (Cotton)Cultivation appeared first on SabrangIndia.

I don't remember when I started praying and keeping my Rozas ( the fast during Ramzan). Every child starts aping their parents and I guess I used to do the same. During Ramzan as kids we had the half ticket concept, either fast for half a day "aadhe din ka roza" or the more popular was "aadhe mooh ka roza": we were allowed to eat using one side of the mouth. The right side of the mouth was the favorite side to chew among us, kids.

We lived in a joint family and there were siblings and cousins of similar ages.

Even our pet parrot Mitthu used to ape the rituals of the home, he was taught to say "Nabiji Rozi bhejo" (Prophet Ji send us bounty). Often, we got confused on whether it was "Dada Abba" (Grandfather) praying or our Mitthu, he used to make gibberish-like sounds which resembled, in sound, the tilawat (Quran recital). Many a time we got up in the night wondering what was wrong with Dada Abba, why is he praying so loud at this hour, and found Mitthu happily busy with his tilawat.

We lived in the Rourkela Steel City. In Odisha, it was very cosmopolitan with neighbours from all over India. Many of my non-Muslim neighbors used to join us during Iftar (breaking the fast during Ramzan) and similarly we used join in the feasts after their Pooja(s) and Havan(s) (Hindu prayers).

I remember my first Roza, a serious Roza of not eating the entire day, it was one of the biggest achievements of my life; I wanted to prove that even I was grown up, I could achieve this; I was about 6 years old.

My mom dissuaded me initially saying it is not a compulsory ritual for children, but I did not think I was a child and insisted on keeping the Roza. Getting up during Sehri was an adventure, the most exciting part of keeping Roza, (Sehri was at about 4am in the morning) and the excitement lay in eating the last meal before fasting.

There was a Durga Pooja Pandal near our house, and those days the artisans used to make large installations of the Durga goddess on the site itself. Their work used to begin 2-3 months in advance. I was completely fascinated by the making of those elaborate Durga Pooja installations. Sometimes I used to spend entire day admiring the process and Amma (Mom) used send someone to call me for lunch.

When I insisted on keeping my first Roza, Amma knew I would not feel hungry if I was at the Pandal; so she asked my elder brother to drop me off at the Pandal in the morning. There I spent the entire day, at the Durga Pooja Pandal, chatting with the artisans, playing with their clay. Amma was right, I did not feel thirsty or hungry, did not even realize it was my first Roza, it was almost evening when my brother came to call me home, for Iftar.

After 40 years of my first Roza, when I look around at our mohallas and cities, society at large, I see a huge difference. Practising the faith was easy and relaxed, there was little conflict, parents had no problem sending Muslim children to play at the Pooja Pandal, non-Muslims never had any issue with Muslim festivals. There was no television and no religious preachers entered our lives. Our faiths and religious sentiments were not so fragile that we needed religious fatwas.

With the increasing influence of Arabian practices on Indian Islam, (an Arabisation, a sort of purification of Islam started taking place) and many Indian practices have started changing. "Khuda Hafiz" has become "Allah Hafiz" because Khuda is a Persian word. Ramzan is becoming Ramadan, because in Arabic it is pronounced with a “d”, not a “z”. And visiting Durga Pooja Pandal has become Shirk (the sin of practicing idolatry or polytheism).

I see similar changes in Hindu society, where people are going back to the so called "Vedic Era" and becoming more intolerant towards each other.

Ramzan Mubarak,
Khuda Hafiz.
 

The post My First Roza was in a Durga Pooja Pandal: Amir Rizvi appeared first on SabrangIndia.

In the Quran it is mentioned that those who are killed in the cause of Allah are alive. All the Islamic Messengers (1,24,000 messengers) are also considered alive (by most of the Islamic schools) because they all came for the cause of Allah and died for the same.

It is also mentioned in the Quran that if anyone who asks for forgiveness and comes to the Prophet (pbuh) then the Prophet (pbuh) also prays to Allah on behalf of that person for forgiveness. This is called praying through waseela (in the name of Prophet).

Therefore, many early schools of Islamic belief pray to Allah in the name of Allah’s Prophet/s (pbuh) and in the name of Martyrs and Saints.

There are few schools of Islam who don’t subscribe to the above philosophy and they consider it against Islam, therefore, they don’t go to the Dargahs; some even go to the extent of demolishing Dargahs.

The Dargahs are more open and secular places of worship than Mosques. The concept of Dargah is non-judgemental, and there contain, in this worship, the ancient traditions of respecting gender equality.

Gender discrimination is a new phenomena within Dargahs; earlier Men, Women, Children, Muslim, Non-Muslims, Transgenders, LGBT, anyone and everyone, was allowed to enter and pray, pay obeisance in their own way.

 The Prophet's Mosque (Al-Masjid Al- Nabawi) in Medina holds the Prophet Muhammad's burial chamber. The keys to this holy site and the mosque's minbar were kept by a group of eunuchs originally from Abyssinia, known as the Guardians.

Saudi Arabian portrait photographer Adel Quraishi has trained his camera on this theme: the handful of surviving Guardians of the Prophet’s burial chamber at Medina. Prophet Mohammed lived, died and is buried there, and every Muslim aims to visit the site at least once.

Since the Ottoman Empire, the keys to this holy site have been kept by eunuchs – originally from Abyssinia, later wider in origin.   They are eunuchs who entered the role long ago, and are now at least 80 years old – one is said to be 110, which would fit with research suggesting that ‘reduced testosterone gives eunuchs increased life expectancy’.

Be that as it may, three of the eight photographed in 2014 have died since the photographs – the only ones ever permitted – were taken, and only three remain fit to carry out their full duties. The Guardians are eunuchs, not because they have access to women’s accommodation, but for the spiritual aspect of a faith that is undistracted by sexual desire and uninfected by ritual impurity.

They are revered as mediators who cross boundaries, and there’s also a sense in which time is suspended for them, as they have never gone through the changes of adolescence. That state matches the suspension of time said to occur in the well-preserved state of the Prophet’s body.

Presently, no new Guardians are being taken on, so where once there were hundreds responsible for all aspects of running the mosque complex, the remaining few spend their days in a small room connected to the burial chamber itself.

They pray, clean the floor with rosewater and look after the set of keys which must be used in a closely-guarded sequence to access the chamber. Even Quraishi was not allowed to photograph the keys, but he was able to take an image of the chamber through which a constant stream of pilgrims pass: we see the architectural and decorative detail, but a long exposure time converts the worshippers to abstract marks passing through. Quraishi’s project, then, makes the most of the photograph as record: to look at the eight faces ranged – life sized or somewhat larger – around the ideally suited dimensions of Leighton House’s contemporary exhibition gallery is to look at the only pictures ever taken of an 800 year tradition which is set to disappear.

Ajmer Sharif Urs

During the Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisty in Ajmer, the prime reason for the huge participation of eunuchs is thanksgiving for their wishes being granted by him. The notion arose from the belief that the Khwaja had blessed eunuchs and allegedly, one of them even got pregnant after being blessed by him. There is a tomb of the eunuch (Hijde Ki Mazar) in Taragadh, Ajmer. This Mazar is believed to be the Mazar of the eunuch who was blessed and a disciple of khwaja garib nawaz.

Hijron Ka Khanqah is also an Islamic monument located in Mehrauli, South Delhi, India. The literal meaning of Hijron ka Khanqah is a “Sufi Spiritual Retreat for Eunuchs”. It is maintained well by the Hijras of Turkman Gate, in Shahjahanabad (present day Old Delhi) who are in possession of this 15th-century monument.

(The author is a communication designer)

References from the Quran:
ALI 'IMRAN (FAMILY OF IMRAN) Quran 3:169 171
وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَاتًا ۚ بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ
فَرِحِينَ بِمَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ وَيَسْتَبْشِرُونَ بِالَّذِينَ لَمْ يَلْحَقُوا بِهِم مِّنْ خَلْفِهِمْ أَلَّا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ بِنِعْمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَفَضْلٍ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
And never think of those who have been killed in the cause of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision,
Rejoicing in what Allah has bestowed upon them of His bounty, and they receive good tidings about those after them who have not yet joined them – that there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.
They receive good tidings of favour from Allah and bounty and that Allah does not allow the reward of believers to be lost

AN-NISA (THE WOMEN) Quran 4:64
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا لِيُطَاعَ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ إِذ ظَّلَمُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ جَاءُوكَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا اللَّهَ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمُ الرَّسُولُ لَوَجَدُوا اللَّهَ تَوَّابًا رَّحِيمًا
And We did not send any messenger except to be obeyed by permission of Allah . And if, when they wronged themselves, they come to you, [O Muhammad], and asked forgiveness of Allah and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah Accepting of repentance and Merciful.

Note: لَكُمْ دِينُكُمْ وَلِيَ دِينِ For you is your religion, and for me is my religion. (Quran 109:6)
لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ ۖ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ ۚ فَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِن بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىٰ لَا انفِصَامَ لَهَا ۗ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
There shall be no compulsion in the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong. So whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing. (Quran 2:256)

References:
1. Adel Quraishi's Portraits of The Guardians
2. A queer rights activist on her visit to the shrine of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti
3. Hijron Ka Khanqah
4.Hijra Chadar Ceremony At Ajmer Shrif 1
5.World of Hijras At Ajmer Urus ,, Qawwali 1

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History of clothing in Arabian Peninsula :

At around that time women wore dresses that revealed their necks, chests, even breasts as well as other parts of their bodies. They also drew their veils backwards while leaving the front parts wide open (understandable in the crushing desert heat). Consequently, when Islam arrived, they were ordered to draw their veils forward to cover their chest and to protect women from acts of disrespect.

Old Arab Fashion

Some think that the idea of 'the covering' was more about class than it was about religion. In pre-Islam urban centers of the Arabian Peninsula veiling was seen as a sign of privilege and a luxury afforded to women who didn't have to work. They were distinguished from slave girls and sex-workers, who were not allowed to veil or cover, and nomadic and rural women too busy working to be bothered with something so impractical as a face veil and the extra layer of clothing.

The Arrival of Black Abaya (the full body covering for women)
1932: British forces attacked Ottoman Empire and formed KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia it was the first Kingdom of a Bedouin tribe/family called Al-Saud).

 1939 to 1945: During World War II, in Europe the issue of mourning in accordance with etiquette and custom required wearing Black. (especially for the war widows).Same black fabric was also exported by the UK to the newly-acquired business destination called KSA.

The Saudi-British trade was not limited to oil and gas; it included everything, food, clothing, vehicles, arms and ammunition, civil construction, industries, media, refineries etc. All of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) needed a new identity and a family's personal code was imposed on the entire kingdom.
 
The world textile industry was a monopoly of the British Raj, mass producing jet black Sulfur dyed textile was a very profitable business (for the Brits!). This jet black fabric appealed to the Bedouin Royal Priests in KSA, it was more opaque than the mass produced white fabric, therefore the less opaque and more suitable to the KSA climate white fabric became official colour for the males.

 
And, the Kingdom immediately made this jet black fabric into the official dress code for women. During the same time, there was a need all over the world to impose constraints of all kinds, the governments during and after the World War II, needed rationing of food, and clothing. The textile industry had imposed many constraints on users to stop the wastage of cloth. (This, in turn, by default, brought in fashion design revolution within Europe)  

Now, in last 100 years or so, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has managed to export their own Bedouin family culture and tradition as "Islamic" culture and tradition. To justify the Black Abaya, people have come up with strange textual references, that say, for instance, that wearing any other colour is aping non-muslims, and by default, is then, against Islam. (While the black textile that the women are wearing is itself a British industrial mass produced cloth!)

Interestingly the recommended ‘ISLAMIC’ clothes for the Hajj Ritual is WHITE for both men and women, and it is mandatory for women to keep their face visible (not covered).

Saudi Abaya

New Businesses around the Abaya:
Germany's (Henkel) & UK's (Unilever) found a great business scope, they came up with a product called "Persil Abaya", it is specialised detergents for cleaning the black abaya. It is one of the most popular detergents and widely favoured in every Saudi, Qatari, Omani, Kuwaiti household.

Also the suppliers of both the Black and White fabrics (mostly European-reseller companies who source their fabric from Asia) and don't want KSA to change the dress code.  

 Re-inventing the Saudi abaya:
A Riyadh based designer Eman Al-Mandeel has updated the traditional black Saudi abaya with luxurious fabrics and colour – and her creations have been an unexpected success. While tolerance of Al-Mandeel’s designs in Saudi Arabia may mark a step towards greater acceptance of women in Saudi life, it is worth reminding ourselves that the many rights that women lack in Saudi Arabia cannot be bought on a shopping trip.

(The author is a communication designer)
 
Refrences:
1. The Abaya: Fashion, Religion, and Identity in a Globalized World by Elizabeth D. Shimek, Lawrence University
2. Sulphur Dye
3. French Fashion during the First World War
4. DISCOVER THE ARAB WORLD : British Museum
5. The History of the Abaya, By James Brack
7. Islamic women with hijab, niqab, mysterious eyes, purdah, chador, modesty, covered, hidden, secret, Islamic women covered from the world
8. Persil Abaya : Gives Abaya a pleasant fragrance, has a special fragrance that was chosen after research with Saudi consumers.
9. The impact of World War II on women's fashion in the United States and Britain, Meghann Mason, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
10. World War II and Fashion: The Birth of the New Look, Lauren Olds, Illinois, Wesleyan University 
11. Reinventing the Saudi abaya 
12. Saudi abaya comes into fashion
13.The color black may seem like an odd addition to fabric celebrating a wedding, but there was a reason for the color choice. German firms were the most important manufacturers of synthetic textile dyes and colorants in the early 20th century. In March 1915, several months after the beginning of World War I, the British navy began to blockade German ports, preventing any exports of goods overseas. As a result, the textile and paper industries in the still-neutral United States suffered a serious shortage of good quality synthetic (chemically based) dyes. "Sulfur black" was the one dye that firms outside Germany produced in quantity and of consistent quality. Some firms reverted to old technology, and tried to adapt old formulas for natural dyes to modern industrial needs, but the quantities were small and the color range limited, and not always fast to light or washing.

Fashion magazines from the period illustrate the efforts by many leading American textile and fashion manufacturers to create a fad for black and white clothing and accessories. French and English fashion firms, suffering under the same dye shortage, were also promoting black and white. In those countries, however, already at war, black and white clothing carried overtones of loss and mourning that were not yet relevant to most Americans.

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