Al Jaseera: The woman with a mission

Jantar Mantar, a venue which has hosted high-profile strikes and movements over the years, has been witnessing a solo protest for the past few weeks by a burqa-clad Kerala woman against the illegal sand mining in her home state.

31-year-old Jaseera, mother of three, took her crusade to Delhi in October after her two month long sit-in strike in front of the state secretariat proved to be a dead rubber. Living under a temporary tent near the historic observatory  with 12-year-old Riswana, 9-year-old Shifana and a baby boy Mohammad, this silent protester is bent on to fight it out in the national capital.

Talking to TNIE ONLINE, Jaseera, a native of Neerozhukkumchal in Kannur, turns vocal and tells how it all began. The first revolutionary step she took was when she decided to drive an auto rickshaw to make a living. This decision had long term repercussions as she came from a humble Muslim background where progressive attitude was considered a taboo. “It was during my third pregnancy I came back to my village from my husband’s home in Kottayam only to see people including my brothers carrying the sand away from the coast. The robbery of the seashore, where I used to play as a child and wants my children to play, shook me and I decided to protest,”

Jaseera’s campaign against illegal sand miners started a long time back. She used to take the photos of sand smuggling in her phone and handed it to police. The illegal nexus between the cops and the sand mafia were so strong that her repeated complaints fell into deaf ears. Jaseera also remembers the days when she was fully pregnant but would stop trucks carrying sand on its way by lying across the road. “When I started agitation, everybody turned against me. They called me a lunatic,” she says.

However Jaseera’s protest at the Kannur district collectorate forced police to set up an aid post near the coast and ban mining activities along the one kilometer stretch. But that was not enough for her.

“My protest was not only for this village. It is for the entire state. This is to ensure that the coming generation will also get the benefit of seashore” she says. 

Jaseera is convinced that if a woman like herself can do this much, the government can always do much more.  Sure of herself, she moved her agitation to the state capital and staged a sit in for 64 days in front of the secretariat. After Chief Minister Oommen Chandy’s visit and his promise of action proved futile, this determined woman decided to board a train to Delhi.

Many leaders from the state including KPCC President Ramesh Chennithala and MP Sudhakaran called on her during the last two months and assured actions from the part of the government. But all these promises remained as just promises. Revenue Minister Adoor Pakash tried to pour cold water on her efforts when he hinted Jaseera had connection with some terrorist groups. She was hurt, but didn’t give up her battle.

Now the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has intervened and Jaseera hopes it would force the government to take action against this anti social elements. She laughs at district administration’s response to the NHHRC notice, and says that the collector in his report has included only the version of a committee of the local people which was formed in her village after she started the agitation. The Committee had rooted for sand mining claiming it was their traditional profession.

Despite the setbacks, Jaseera is happy that she could do something for the larger common good. “I have already won the battle,” she says, and seemed content as her efforts had bring a difference among the youth in her native place as many of them stopped being part of the illegal mining activities and took up other jobs for their livelihood.

Though Jaseera is yet to get a positive response from the authorities, She doesn’t believe in trashing Kerala government unnecessarily.  “Actually, I would like to talk to only Malayalam media. How can I condemn my own government in front of others beyond a limit?. My protest against the government is just like a ‘mother chiding her mischievous child’ she says.

In Delhi, Jaseera has the support of the Delhi Malayali Association, and many other right groups and some students from JNU. Many green activists, including those of the Yamuna agitation have called on her and some of her sympathisers have made arrangements for her children to continue their study. And this resolute mother is confident that her children would make her proud with their academic achievements.