By Mohammed Talha Siddi Bapa
Bengaluru: Young mothers cradling babies in their arms, college students, professionals, educators, and women activists from Bengaluru and different parts of Karnataka gathered at the Agricultural Institute Auditorium here on Sunday as the National Federation of Girls Islamic Organisation (NFGIO) inaugurated its month-long nationwide campaign, “Embracing Femininity.” The event marked the beginning of a national initiative aimed at encouraging conversations on womanhood, identity, and the Islamic understanding of femininity at a time when women increasingly find themselves navigating competing social narratives.
The gathering drew participants from across Karnataka, with the majority coming from Bengaluru. The presence of young mothers attending the programme with infants in their arms reflected the inclusive atmosphere of the event and underscored the campaign’s emphasis on enabling women to participate meaningfully in intellectual and community life alongside their family responsibilities.
The campaign enters a wider public conversation in which questions of gender equality, women’s identity, and empowerment continue to be debated across academic, religious, and social platforms in India. While many contemporary feminist perspectives emphasise autonomy, equality, and freedom from traditional gender roles, NFGIO organisers said their initiative presents an Islamic perspective that views femininity as an integral part of a woman’s fitrah (God-given nature) and seeks what they describe as a balanced path between restrictive traditionalism and performance-driven models of empowerment.
The month-long campaign will be carried out across 18 states, involving 20 GIO zones and thousands of members through public conferences, campus discussions, seminars, counselling initiatives, listening circles, art competitions, exhibitions, and an international conference, among other activities.
Beyond Two Extremes
In her inaugural address, Adv. Sumaiya Roshan, President of NFGIO, said the campaign seeks to restore dignity to womanhood by moving beyond what she described as two harmful extremes – restrictive traditionalism that confines women and a relentless performance culture that measures their worth primarily through productivity and achievement.
She described femininity as an integral part of a woman’s fitrah rather than a weakness or an obstacle to leadership, scholarship, or public participation. Presenting what organisers called a “Third Space,” she advocated a balanced framework where women can contribute confidently to society without suppressing their feminine identity, while enjoying dignity, rights, and holistic well-being.
Islam’s Model of Dignity
Delivering the special address, Moh. Tashkeela Khanam, Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Karnataka, said Islam had transformed the status of women fourteen centuries ago by restoring their dignity, rights, and social standing. She argued that genuine empowerment extends beyond legal rights to include compassion, justice, mutual respect, and ethical relationships within families and society.
She maintained that rebuilding a culture that honours women does not require adopting new ideologies but reviving the principles already established by Islam.
Reimagining Womanhood
A symposium titled “The Third Space: Reimagining Womanhood Beyond Polarised Narratives” explored the psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions of contemporary womanhood.
Psychologist Dr. Zulekha Shakoor Rajani argued that competing social narratives often function like ‘broken mirrors’, distorting women’s perception of themselves. She urged women to recognise these influences and return to the Qur’an and Sunnah as the true compass for restoring balance, clarity, and emotional well-being.
Author and researcher Sarah Mehmood reflected on balancing purpose with family life. Drawing from personal experiences and stories of women she has known, she argued that balance is not about doing everything simultaneously but about fulfilling the responsibilities of each stage of life with sincerity while remaining firmly rooted in one’s values. She cautioned women against measuring themselves by unrealistic standards promoted through social media and performance-driven cultures.
Explaining the campaign’s conceptual framework, Afeefa Tahniyath, Vice-President of NFGIO, described femininity as a natural expression of women’s innate nature rather than a socially constructed weakness. She also introduced campaign initiatives including Women’s Support Groups, Listening Circles, and online counselling services aimed at strengthening women’s emotional and psychological well-being.
A Call for Reflection
Delivering the keynote address, Mrs. Rahmatunnisa A., National Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, said the true success of the Embracing Femininity campaign would be measured not by the number of programmes conducted but by the conversations and introspection it inspires within society.
Responding to a question on the campaign’s expected impact, she said she hopes it will encourage the Muslim community, particularly its educated sections, to pause and thoughtfully reflect on femininity as an integral part of a woman’s inborn nature, rather than viewing womanhood through the lens of constantly changing social ideologies. She added that the campaign also invites thoughtful women across India to explore the Islamic understanding of womanhood by returning to the guidance of the Qur’an and Sunnah and drawing inspiration from the lives of the Prophet’s family, the Mothers of the Believers, and other exemplary Muslim women.
Rahmatunnisa said the campaign ultimately envisions women as active contributors to rebuilding society by nurturing families, strengthening communities, and serving as ambassadors of Islamic values through their knowledge, character, and conduct. “If this campaign succeeds in inspiring such reflection and reconnecting women with their God-given identity, we would consider that its greatest achievement,” she said.
Women of Impact Honoured
One of the highlights of the inaugural programme was the “Women of Impact” felicitation, recognising accomplished women from diverse fields including education, journalism, entrepreneurship, literature, parenting, disability inclusion, and social service.
Among those honoured were educationist and social worker Dr. Farida Rahmatullah, Alina Alam (founder of Mitti Café), author Sarah Mehmood, entrepreneur Zeena, Shahida A & Mariyam Shahira (founders of Hamd Foods), Kaniz Fatima Aqthar Hussain (founder of Doers Success & NLP Practitioner), and digital journalist Sabiha Fatima Begum, among others.
The recognitions reflected the campaign’s emphasis on celebrating women whose contributions have strengthened families, communities, and society through service, enterprise, education, and leadership.
The programme also witnessed the release of the special print edition of AURA digital magazine, featuring articles centred on the campaign’s theme.
Nationwide Activities Planned
Presenting the campaign roadmap, Architect Sameen Momin, National Campaign Convener, outlined a month-long series of activities to be organised at national, zonal, and local levels, including public conferences, campus engagements, discussions, debates, art competitions, exhibitions, counselling initiatives, community outreach programmes, and a wide range of social media outreach through reels, podcasts, and digital content. She urged participants to actively engage with the campaign and carry its message into their respective communities.
As the programme concluded with du’a, participants gathered around the campaign displays while volunteers prepared for the month-long activities ahead. Organisers described Sunday’s inaugural not as the culmination of an event but as the beginning of a nationwide movement to encourage dialogue on womanhood through the guidance of the Qur’an and Sunnah. They expressed the hope that the initiative would inspire women, families, and communities to engage thoughtfully with the campaign’s central message and contribute to building a society where women can flourish with dignity, purpose, and authenticity.
