Breaking Barriers

The autobiography of Nafees Fazal, the first Muslim woman to become a minister in South India, is a fascinating account of her political and personal struggles, her triumphs and achievements. Though coming from a very well-to-do family, she chose politics as her chosen profession – which was her aim in life from the time she was 13 as she idolised the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. But the path ahead for her as a devoted Congress party member was not easy, and strewn with numerous hurdles, including disapproval from her community. Nafees’ account of the many political twists and turns in her path, and the Machiavellian tactics used by her opponents make for absorbing reading. She is frank about what she terms as the ‘downfall’ of the Congress party, under Rahul Gandhi. Nafees is also forthright in talking about her religion, and what she thinks need improving. Though a devout Muslim who reads the namaz daily and has been on Hajj, Nafees is against the hijab. While she has fully backed the Modi government on the triple talaq issue and is for a Uniform Civil Code, she is not in favour of the Citizenship Amendment Act. She is also unsparing in her criticism of mullahs and maulvis who she feels have let down the community.