Tenth International Conference on Religion & Spirituality in Society

Abstract

This paper aims to cross the superficial debate of “liberal” vs. “conservative” themes within religious practices, and move beyond labels to answer questions about the functionality of certain Muslim practices with a special focus on “veiling” in Indian religious and social contexts. It gives an insight into what ways veiling is perceived by religious and practical people. It is argued that the veil emerges as a symbol of protest by the Muslim minority as an overt religious identity, and within Muslim majority areas, as social capital that helps women navigate urban places more easily within patriarchal norms. The practice becomes a passport to the public sphere dominated by men, and therefore, under such socialization, it becomes an act of coercion rather than will, seen as an option for the option-less, as the repercussions are subtle and covert. The paper explores the concepts of secular, religious, and fundamentalist frameworks. Research is based upon focused group discussions, interviews, and informal discussions with the Muslim women of the low-income urban neighbourhood of Trilokpuri in Delhi, India.