Shaheen Bagh and the Anti-Caa Movement: Claiming Public Space and Celebrating Muslim Women’s Agency
Abstract
The anti-CAA movement in Shaheen Bagh in Indian capital Delhi was a significant phase in the history of India where Muslim women emerged as a symbol of strength and agents of change in the society. These women, who were portrayed by the Indian media and academic discourse as the “body undercover” due to religious and social constraints, took to the streets to protest Indian state’s objective violence and stand up for their civic rights. This paper will explore how Muslim women have not only stood for their civic rights but also successfully transformed themselves from passive subjects to active participants in the public sphere, forging solidarity within and beyond their community.
This paper employs Habermas’ concept of “public sphere” to understand how the space that is dominated by the male voices was claimed by women through their resistance. It also uses Hannah Arendt’s concept of “appearance” to further underscores the significance of these women’s presence: by occupying public spaces, they not only demanded recognition but also reshaped the national political landscape.
I argue in this paper that the act of protesting was a powerful signifier of empowerment, which highlighted the significant role played by Muslim women of Shaheen Bagh and projected them as an agent of change in shaping the socio-political discourse of India. While exploring these dynamics, this paper also takes into account intersectionality of gender, caste and class and shows that how these marginalized and subaltern women redefined public discourse in India and brought in transformative change both within and beyond their community.