Towards a better tomorrow

Manpriya Singh 

A background in applied sciences and debate on societal norms, human values, history, religion don’t make for an obvious association. However, Dr Sheema Khan credits both pursuits to critical thinking and logical reasoning. 

A chemist by profession (she’s a PhD from Harvard University), she’s been writing about feminism, Islam, multi-culturalism and human rights for over two decades now. “One of the things science teaches you is critical thinking and it is but natural to question and apply that thinking to other aspects of human existence as well. Science taught me to ask some of the most difficult questions about my faith,” she shares, while in Chandigarh on an invitation by The Consulate General of Canada in collaboration with Chandigarh Press Club, to have a conversation about, “Women’s Rights in a Contested Age.’ 

Women’s rights and Islam

Having spoken extensively on issues of security, civil rights and Muslim cultural practices, there is nothing that holds her back from voicing the opinions often left unsaid. 

As a Muslim woman, it must be intricate talking about women’s issues. “It is about interpretation and perspectives. Most of the interpretation comes from an era when men dominated, that’s why I call it ‘Hislam’. Now, we need to bring more and more women on board.”    

Women’s empowerment—a mirage? 

She pins the issues down to respect and what’s holding women back is, “the ignorance of their own potential. The moment we realize our potential and collectively say to ourselves, ‘We Can Do It’, we will be able to do it.”  Coming up is yet another book on personal experiences as a woman and as a Muslim. “I became a feminist because I countered so much of prejudice from my own community.” 

A chance to speak publicly about defending hijab  was almost thwarted, “because she was a woman. ” After a lot of intervention by some of the parties, “it was finally decided that I could write what I had to say but not speak. Some man would speak on my behalf, so it would be my words and not my voice. That’s when I put my foot down.” 

India is like coming back home 

As someone of Indian origin and having been settled in Canada since 1965, the visit to India has been nothing short of homecoming. “I am visiting the country after 30 years. It feels like coming back home and I am amazed at India’s progress. We were in Mumbai and there were these women groups who are working at the grassroots level and just learning about their strength and hope is amazing.” She goes back to Canada, with the hope that, “that next visit won’t be after 30 long years.” 

While in Mumbai, there is a slice of Incredible India that she carries back with herself. “I love the simplicity of Indians and oh the Mumbai chaat is amazing.”