Ummath: A Novel of Community and Conflict by Sharmila Seyyid & Gita Subramanian

Author:Sharmila Seyyid & Gita Subramanian [Seyyid, Sharmila & Subramanian, Gita]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers India
Published: 2018-07-05T00:00:00+00:00

5

As they all read the letter, one by one, a nameless fear gripped them. Dark clouds covered their faces. ‘Vappa, why don’t we complain to the police about this?’

Both Umma and Vappa were shocked by Thawakkul’squestion.

‘What a question to ask, magal. Don’t you know that if we go and take this letter to the police and lodge a complaint, we’re the ones who will be in danger? And we’ll become vulnerable to those who are waiting for an opportunity to grind us underfoot. They say that when half the village is at loggerheads with the other half, the village idiot will rule the roost.’

From the time the anonymous letter arrived that morning, everybody was in a state of shock. Each read it several times over, barely able to believe the contents of the appalling document.

Warning

We have been watching how in the guise of doing social service, you have been indulging in anti-Islamic activities. We know that you are working as a prostitute in Tamil areas. You are a disgrace to the Muslim community. We will never allow the entire Islamic society to hang its head in shame because of you. You are an example of a sinful woman to all other Muslim women. Every time you leave the house you are going in search of your death and digging your own grave. If you change your behaviour upon seeing this letter, we will forgive you. Otherwise, the outcome will be disastrous. If you wish to save yourself from this danger, you should wear the abaya that is worn by all Islamic women and eschew all such activities immediately.

Thus,

Social Reformation Task Force

The word warning had been written in big thick letters and underlined. The writing was clear and classical. There was no address given of the sender on the envelope. Thawakkul tried to ascertain where it had been sent from. She peered at the stamp affixed by the post-office from where it had been sent. The letters were not clear. Adding up the letters that could be read, it seemed to have been stamped at Eravurere.

‘Thawakkul, don’t delay, magal. Get ready to leave this village, at least for the time being. I’ll escort you to your Maama’s house in Kandy. Stay there for a while until all this blows over,’ said Habeeb in a tone that brooked no argument.

Nisha agreed with him. ‘Vappa is right. In case you don’t wish to go to Maama’s in Kandy, you could go to Chachi in Kekirava…’

Thawakkul was bitterly disappointed with her parents’ reaction to the libellous note.

‘What are you saying?’ she challenged. ‘Why should I go and hide somewhere? What have I done? I said we would go to the police, but you won’t listen. A man who has courage and virtue will not write an anonymous letter like this. Why should I cower in fear because some man says “boo!”?’She nearly screamed out the last words. There was sweat on her face and her lips were trembling in anger.

But no one was in a mood to see her point of view.

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