But look deep and it seems that this is not quite the complete truth. The BJP (Team Orange) does have one world famous Hindu-converted muslim in its ranks, one who is a self-proclaimed devotee of Lord Krishna and who was duly elected from the Lord’s playgrounds of Mathura-Vrindavan (Uttar Pradesh). Her name is Aaisha Bi and the aforementioned Lalu Yadav is a long-time fan.
On the road to victory, Aaisha’s (original) Hindu roots have been emphasized (in the Hindu). How else to explain the “nari-shakti” image above (see link below)? Hindus are fond of the concept of a woman-leader and
there are a plethora of legends, old and young, where the woman conquers all (when all men have failed). In contrast, her day to day living as a devout muslim remains un-explored, an equilibrium that both the Orange and Coconut gangs have taken care not to disturb. We wonder very much about this equal opportunity vow of silence.
Incidentally, our (respectful) opinion is that this violent god-woman imagery is
taking things a bit too far, a nightmare vision of Indian women being transformed into millions of Lorena Bobbitts. Still, given the real-life nightmare social scenario prevalent in India today, we males have forfeited our right to complain.
If fans like us were given the vote we would have certainly elected the dream-girl “Basanti” image (from
the Hindi movie Sholay), a lady who dances on broken glass in honor of her
lover (we understand that the Coconuts would sneer at the very idea, but then there is no pleasing everyone).
We end with the words of the first Fan. The (ex) boss of Bihar had once promised his people that black money stored in Swiss banks will be used to make the roads of Bihar as smooth as Hema Malini’s cheeks (alas, none of the promises have been kept). But image wise, unquestionably the best of them all. Shabash, Lalu-ji and Salaam.
………..
Film star Dharmendra, now a BJP MP, could not have
thought in his wildest dreams that his second marriage to “Aaisha Bi R.
Chakravarty” alias Hema Malini would come to haunt him one day.
Dharmendra had converted to Islam to marry Hema Malini as Hindus are not
allowed second marriage. Their marriage was solemnised on 21 August
1979 in Bombay in accordance with Islamic rites. He had married Hema
while his first wife Prakash Kaur was still alive. Had he not contested
the Lok Sabha elections from Bikaner, the matter probably would not have
come to light.
While filing his nomination papers as a BJP
candidate before the returning officer, Dharmendra had written his name
as Deol Dharmendra Kewal Krishn concealing his Muslim name Dilawar Khan
and wrote the name of his first wife in the respective column. When his
political rivals brought the issue to the notice of election authorities
and the general public, he denied his conversion to Islam and change of
name.
But Delhi magazine Outlook published a photocopy of his Nikahnama
(marriage document) which clearly said that Dilawar Khan Kewal Krishn
(44 years) accepted Aisha Bi R. Chakravarty (29 years) as his wife on
21 August 1979 at a mehr of, Rs 111,000 in the presence of two legal
witnesses…’ The nikah was solemnised by Maulana Qazi Abu Talha Misbahi
Faizabadi.
Two Congress leaders of Madhya Pradesh, Akhtar Baig and KK Mishra filed a
lawsuit against him in Indore’s sessions court demanding rejection of
his nomination papers on account of submission of false information and
concealing his conversion to Islam and adoption of a Muslim name,
demanding trial under section 420 of
IPC.
According to Akhtar Baig and Congress leader from Rajasthan, Nawal
Kishore Sharma, under Hindu Marriage Act, a Hindu cannot take a second
wife if the first wife is still alive. However, he can marry for a
second time if he has divorced his first wife or embraced Islam.
………
Link (1): http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/once-a-dream-girl-shes-now-giving-nightmares-to-rival/article5938365.ece
Link (2): http://www.milligazette.com/Archives/2004/16-30Jun04-Print-Edition/163006200433.htm
……
regards
PS FWIW our coconut friends also consider the Hindu god-woman image as not quite conforming
to feminist ideals. This is perhaps because
feminists (just like Quakers) always stand for
peace, they would never advocate cutting of the balls of demons even while they are out destroying the bodies and souls of innocent women.