Education for Rights and dignity : A lesson for National Literacy Mission

Munni Begum’s struggle for life with dignity

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat



Pratapgarh district of Uttar-Pradesh is known for its feudal background where land relations are still intact and status-quoists forces are still powerful to dominate political discourse. Just four hour drive from the state capital Lucknow, Pratapgarh’s powerful caste forces are still effective and politically active. The local Zamindars had sucked the blood of the small and marginal farmers predominantly from the Dalit-backward-Muslim communities. A large number of Muslims here hail from Ansari community mostly working with unorganised handloom sector. The Dalits live in deeply difficult circumstances without owning any land. It was the land of Baba Ram Chandra Das who led historic peasant revolt of Avadh in late 1920s against unjust taxes imposed by the cronies of the local royalty. When the movement grew powerful the upper caste leadership of the congress party foiled it with false promises. Unfortunately, those who became symbol of revolt against the feudal oppression have been co-opted by the religious fundamentalists and Pratapgarh is very much in the grip of power elties.

In the Patti Tehsil of district Pratapgarh, a lean, tall lanky Muslim woman has created storm by her grits and determination against injustice. Led by her personal dedication and selfless public service, 35 years old Munni Begum has become the voice of the rural marginalized people particularly landless peasantry. Munni Behin has been organizing Dalit and Muslim women to fight for their land rights. She would go the village on her cycle covering her head, take down the dusty uncomfortable terrain with her grits and courage. Whether it is the issue of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme or others, Munni would fight with officials for the rightful wages of the rural poor particularly women and get them justice. She became hugely popular figure in her region compelling some of her friends to see a good political fortune for her. She contested the Zilla Parishad which is basically a district Government, and defeated her opponents with a handsome margin in the year 2000. All her opponents were defeated. The district administration was under the influence of the BJP leaders who were determined to defeat Munni Begum. But she was fielded by the common people of Pratapgarh hence she was firm. She was given the victory certificate next morning as the political parties tried to influence the verdict.

Munni was people’s candidate and political parties used huge money to influence the voters. She did not have money but people collected funds for her and in all her campaign cost Rupees Thirteen Thousand only against her powerful political opponents who spend millions of rupees to win the election. She campaigned on cycle and reached every house hold on her own.

But being a people’s representative was not an easy walk for Munni Begum. She did not come from a powerful family. Her parents were landless agricultural workers. Her father was mostly into the loom work and as the facts are clear these days, he was finding it difficult to run the family. Under compulsion, he got Munni married in 1983 when she was just 12 years of age. Her husband himself was an illiterate but working in a factory making aluminum utensils in Baroda, was just 14 years of age.

Married life had its own problems especially when the family live on subsistence. Immediately after marriage, her husband had to leave to Baroda for his work. He promised her to write letter. When Munni asked him ‘how would he write when he did not know about it’, he said, ‘well, I have some friends and hence I would ask them to write to you.’ After getting first letter, it was difficult for Munni to read the letter hence she went to a neighbor who could read it. She wanted to respond the letter. This woman was her neighbor, a non Muslim yet very friendly with Munni. Munni went to her to write letter to her husband but every time she tried to write the letter, her father in law would not allow his daughter in law to help Munni under the pretext of work. Munni got fed up of various ifs and buts from this woman and decided that unless ‘I am able to write a letter myself, I will not write any letter’. And next fortnight was very tough. Munni started learning Ka, kha, Ga, Gha..the alphabets in Hindi from the young school going siblings. She would write on the walls, on the floor with coal. Chalk or note books were luxury for her so she would use all those things which were available and were not expensive. That was her first victory. She then decided to enroll her with younger siblings and got passed 8th standard. She then appeared for High School by enrolling herself privately. She passed out with flying color. She then joined a local ‘English’ school and started teaching young kids. She was getting a remuneration of Rs 500/- for that. She also started earning from taking sewing classes for local women. When she wanted to appear for the intermediate classes, her husband was diagnosed with tuberculosis, a common problem with those working in looms and dusty work. Yet, Munni never looked back. She appeared in the board for 12th and passed her examination. Her determination was paying. Circumstances around her were difficult. She was earning and taking care of her husband too. By this time she had a son who was growing. Munni would take care of her ailing husband, then small child and her in laws. But now she was a public figure also but at the same point of time, determined to change her destiny. She finished her graduation too. Her dream of having a degree fulfilled a dream for a community as well where women are in the purdah and not relegated to living inside home.

Her grits and determination was growing and her community started respecting her. She would go to the local block office and lead the group of women. Corrupt officers were afraid of her as they knew it well that Manna could bring thousands of women with her and surround the police station or argue with the block development officer against corruption, non availability of NREGA Job cards. She would go help find pension for the widows, physically challenged women, single women etc. Soon, her work gave her much name and fame in the area.

She started attending seminars and workshops and her personality changed a lot. The major change in her life came when she was elected the vice president of Uttar-Pradesh Land Alliance, in an annual convention in January 2008 in Lucknow. Munni Begum got opportunity to visit many places and spoke her mind. In December 2008, she joined a Padyatra in the Uttarakhand region for the land rights of the Dalits and Adivasi people in the Tarai region of the state. Munni was always determined to make her mark in the history. She brought out Muslim women and Dalit women from home, keeping aside her deeply disturbed personal life.

Several years back, she discovered that her husband was suffering from tuberculosis. She called him back and he was confined to bed for many years. Though some of us who had been working closely with her and would share her pains and happiness, knew about it, Munni never really informed any one of it. She would come to the meetings, would laugh and speak with firm convictions.

One day we met in Allahabad in a programme and discussing many things when she informed me that the condition of her husband was too bad. I could not believe how she kept this pain in her heart. She was earning and working. The money that she might have been earning was a meager amount as we all know the conditions of the rural India and the grassroots organizations and their payment strength. Munni had by that time completed her graduation final year and had planned to appear in the first year of the masters degree. It was a remarkable feat for a woman who was completely illiterate to study and reach at this level.

Just some days before she was to appear in her first year masters examination, Munni Begum’s husband passed away. It was shocking news to me yet she kept her composer. Some of us who knew about her understood the deep pain she was carrying yet always salute her strength. She was working with Tarun Chetana Sansthan where Mohammad Nasim Ansari or Nasim Bhai helped her intervene in the social sector. Nasim Bhai stood with her in her thick and thin. One day, I got a call from Nasim Bhai that her husband has passed away. She was not in a condition to speak so I conveyed my condolences to her. After some days, when Munni was returning to her normalcy, Nasim Bhai informed me that she might not appear in her examination as she was in the conventional ‘iddat’ period and according to traditions she was to stay inside home, moaning for the death of the husband for nearly 40 days. I felt bad about it as how can she be asked to sit inside home. Munni Begum was a public figure. More over she was the sole bread winner of her family. Living inside home would mean that family would lose the services of the only earning member as well as it would create more mental disorder for her. Some of us felt that the more she is out of her home for work, the better it would be for her health and mental status. It was also important for her to appear in her Master’s examinations as she has worked hard to reach to that stage. After initial problems, the local Muslim clergies realized that Munni was an important public figure and they should support her. Munni won heart of people and hence they stood with her.

She could not pass her examination last year but is reappearing for her Masters examination again this year. Her son is preparing for bachelor examinations in Allahabad. Munni Begum is now vice president of Uttar-Pradesh Land Alliance and struggling hard to give women of her region a reason to believe in their strength. She is always there to help those who are needy.

Munni Begum is a strong votary of women’s right. She is campaigning against injustice in the villages. There are many Munni Begums who might not speak converted English but working harder to change the lives of many. They are the role model who comes through struggle and hard work. They fight their daily battle. Munni could have made huge money through her politics but she did not. She still lives in very modest houses and drives her two wheeler in the village. For a woman to drive two wheeler is a difficult thing but Munni has made it possible. She want that the civil society should be developed at village level and that Muslim and Dalit women should be given land rights. Munni’s vision for women is for an equal partnership in development.

Today Munni Behin heads Nari Chetna Samiti which literally means Women Awareness Committee, a local civil society organization. She has already developed 25 Self Help Groups and educated 250 illiterate women of the nearby villages. Munni Begum is an inspiring woman with high aspirations. Her aim is to see that every person deprived of her right get justice. Munni leads with example. She has a whole history of struggle and determination behind her. One is hopeful that she will get required support from peoples and organizations who believe in equality and human rights so that she gets strength to continue with her battle.