Resilient. Undeterred. Unsilenced. The women of Shaheen Bagh have shown what it means to be one in the face of adversity. At the anti- Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) – National Population Register (NPR) – National Register of Citizens (NRC) protests that they started after December 15, 2019 in solidarity with the students of Jamia Millia Islimia University who were subjected to police brutality in the wake of the protests against the CAA.
Almost a month later, they’re still on the streets, under a pink canopy, refusing to budge until the government backs down and owns up to its mistakes. Armed with posters that read valiant slogans and photos of leaders who defined secularism and made India live it, dot the area of Shaheen Bagh throughout.
With children in their lap and a song on their lips, the women sing, ‘Hum Dekhenge’ and chant ‘Inquilab Zindabad’ in company of the posters of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar – the Father of the Constitution – just going to show that the women will do what it takes to save what India stands for – pluralism, freedom of expression and equality for all.
Supporting them are people who see the unholy trinity of the CAA-NPR-NRC for what it is. They’ve taken to art to show their resistance and have painted the area in colors of brave defiance, showing that they won’t back out and won’t back down.
In rebellion and resolve to not make the fight a Hindu-Muslim issue, the women talk and discuss issues related to the CAA-NPR-NRC saying why it is a Constitution issue, as they take turns to tend to the young and provide food, medicines and other supplies to the women present at the protest.
Efforts to break their protest have been constant, with people asking the Delhi Police to intervene and clear the stretch occupied by the protestors. However, with the Delhi HC’s intervention, the demonstrators are here to stay and the police have been told to work a way around to ease traffic woes.
Shaheen Bagh is now a playground of resistance and in its garden blooming voices of dissent that will continue to resound through the country and inspire the people of India with an example of courage that cannot be cowered down upon.
Related: