Editorial
The world will witness the end of yet another calendar year. It's the time to look back and reflect upon the past year, relish the accomplishments, learn from the mistakes and set novel goals to move forward. Here is another issue of Aura with an array of engrossing...
Is the Minority Even Human?
The Holy Qur’an encapsulates, however, the inalienable humanity that cannot be denied to anyone, no matter how vulnerable or marginalized: “Indeed, We honoured the progeny of Adam, and bore them across land and sea and provided them with good things for their...
Aura Readers’ Club – Gujarat
Aura Readers’ Club Gujarat organized a Review by Experts of Aura’s November 2022 issue. The speakers included Advocate Patricia Gonsalves, Dr Swaleha Sindhi (Faculty and Academic Advisor), Dr Tejal Bhatt (Pathologist and MBBS), Rizwana Baldiwala (Senior Teacher),...
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh Bloomsbury; 2022
A searing novel located in the midst of the Syrian Revolution, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow is Canadian-Syrian Zoulfah Katouh’s debut work. It is an extraordinary, poetic work tracing loss, grief, and the idea of one’s home as it is being robbed in front of one’s...
Face to Face with Nasreen Saiad
Nasreen Saiad is former President, Sisters’ Wing of UKIM and is currently a member of its Central Shura. UK Islamic Mission (UKIM) is a registered charity organization formed in 1962 to “cater for the needs of a new growing Muslim community” in the UK. It works in...
Face to Face with Professor Sukhdeo Thorat, Former Chairman, University Grants Commission
Professor Thorat is a renowned economist, theoretician, professor and educationist. In November, Aura interviewed him on the year gone by and the major issues of social justice, education and policy that need critical attention. Q. How do you look back at the year...
HIV/AIDS: A Painful Barrier to a Healthy Lifestyle
The stress of living with a serious condition such as HIV not only damages mental well-being but also poses a great risk of developing mood, anxiety, and cognitive conditions. Mental health and AIDS are positively correlated. Several mental health issues including...
Nabeela Syed
Nabeela Syed is the 23 year old Advocate and a Muslim woman of Indian origin, was elected to Illinois General Assembly in the 2022 United States midterm elections. At her victory speech, she spoke of her historic victory: “My name is Nabeela Syed. I’m a 23-year-old...
B Srimathi
B Srimathi is a 20-year old Adivasi woman from the Irula community of Thumbibettu village in Tamil Nadu. She has become notably the first member of her community to get a medical seat, and she has taken admission in Tirunelveli Government Medical College and wants to...
Ela Bhatt Passes Away
SEWA, the Self Employed Women’s Association set up by Ela Bhatt in 1972 was a trade union of women with dozens of sub-institutions that worked on the principle: “the poor do not need charity, they need an enabling mechanism to strive and come out of the vicious circle...
The Prayer of Maryam (AS)’s Mother
Oh Allah, grant us, by your grace, righteous offspring. Bless us and our offspring with a pleasant upbringing the way you had blessed Maryam (peace be upon her). Entrust us and our offspring the way you had entrusted Maryam (peace be upon her) to the best people and...
Sonia Gandhi/Halima Yacob vs Rishi Sunak: The Irony
if all these celebrations are considering the fact that the same British who looted and oppressed India and treated the Indians as slaves for more than two centuries are going to be ruled by an Indian, which Indians have the moral right to do so? Is it the RSS and BJP...
Bhopal Gas Disaster ’84: Women’s Narratives, Survivors’ Voices & The Evasion of Corporate Responsibility
The iconic photo that came to represent the disaster, taken by Raghu RaiDecember 2022 marks 38 years of the horrifying Bhopal Gas Disaster, a tragedy of epic proportions where over 500,000 people were exposed to methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas due to a leak in the Union...
The Last Letter
Arya feels the abuse has had knock-on effects, particularly with trust in relationships. She also struggles to close the chapter in her life because the abuser had never admitted the crime or said sorry. Remember to teach your children something about sex education.I...
Why does the ‘Devadasi system’ still exist after 75 years of independence?
Translated by Saumiya KFirst published in Dawat NewsThe affected women of the poor and backward classes are deprived of the right to dignified life and justice.Throughout human history, women have been subjected to immense atrocities in several ways. They have been...
A Visit to a Mosque…
Until I visited Masjid-E-Khadria in Benson Town (Bangalore), I never thought women were allowed in mosques. It all started with an invite that I saw on Facebook asking people from all faiths to visit the mosque regarded as one of the most beautiful mosques in the...
I am Successful, but Unhappy
Translation: Al Jamia Al Islamia, Santhapuram (2018-24 Batch)I said: Observe a child who seems extremely joyful when he possesses his favourite toy which he craves for. But when he was dreaming about it, he was less happy. Also, he becomes silent and thoughtful. Do...
The Errand of Mercy
Every one of us has surely experienced the sweetness of the fragrance of a beloved passerby. Even if the person has passed, some strongly smelling perfumes leave their prints on the memory of the people on the way and for some moments, we indulge in it. Have you ever...
Do Our Surroundings Influence Our Habits?
Former President, APJ Abdul Kalam has said: “You cannot change your future, but you can change your habits, and surely your habits will change your future.”Imagine going to a restaurant every day. On the first day, the waiter offers you different beverages like tea,...
The Shape Of Water
I said, to my daughter,‘My dear! Be like water!’Shapeless, amorphous,Fluid, formless, sinuous,The epitome of a leader! Prepare to alter your shape,Poured into pitcher or carafe.The world is your stage.You can be a cottony cloud.You can be the shower of rain,That...
Who are You to Judge Us
To some, you are to dominate the audience. To some, you act as a cultural canvas.To some, you are a mediation of religion,And of course, I am “mass media”, your so-called friend.We live in a world filled with hatred and far,And ‘you’ are acting as petroleum jelly, a...
Life is Like Baking a Cake!
Children’s Corner
Children’s Corner
Flash Fiction
Adalet Of Arabia
Unraveling ‘The Kerala Story’
The social media handles in India are again abuzz with a sensational story. A story that is initiated to further disturb peace in the society and spark a fresh controversy. In recent times, India has witnessed continuous efforts by some vested interests to keep the...
Gendered Violence in India: Misconceptions and the Way Forward
2022 marks ten years of the Delhi gang rape and murder case, more commonly known as the “Nirbhaya” (a pseudonym that itself has been debated and discussed for its problematic symbolism) case. At the time of the incident, I was 18 – and the memories of the constant...
The Narrative of Nationalism – Part III
First appeared in Zindagi e Nau in Urdu, September 2022 Issue Translated by Ayesha Khalid Islam and the Concept of Nationalism Islam rejects all concepts that discriminate against people on the basis of colour, race, caste, nation, etc. The message of Islam is the...
A Psychosocial Account of Deviant (Minority) Sexual Behaviors: A Critical Review
Translated by Musfirah Ruman -Part VI of a Continuing Series Sexuality is not confined to the male-female binary. Same-Sex Attraction (SSA) homosexuality and other variant sexual behaviours are manifestations of normal sexuality, and it is not a disease nor does it...
Dr. Mohammad Nejatullah Siddiqi (1931-2022)
First published in Radiance ViewsweeklyDr. Mohammad Nejatullah Siddiqi, the pioneer of Islamic Economics and recipient of King Faisal International Prize for Islamic Studies in 1982, breathed his last at 5:30 pm in San Jose, California on November 11 (about 4:00 am...
A Keen Farewell to a Queen
The following is a poem written by Sister Firdouse’s niece, Annam Nimra.It was an early Friday morning Unpredictable, unimaginable, incomprehensible My heart dropped with the loudest thud - We had lost a disguised angel. She never said she was leaving She never said...
Editorial
As November rolls around, there is an invariable association with the idea of Children’s Day. In today’s India this is even more profound. In the Global Hunger Index 2022, India has slipped six places, landing at 107 out of 121 ranked countries. The Global Hunger...
Child Rights in India: NCPCR & Recent Developments
Things like status of child care institutions in India, children with special needs, safety and security of children of government schools and pre-matric hostels, drugs and substance abuse among children, illicit trafficking, education status of children of women...
Aura Readers’ Club – Bihar
On 17th October, 2022, the monthly Aura Readers Club program was organized to review the October 2022 issue of Aura. This time, the mantle was taken up by Aura Readers Club Bihar, with a diverse and extremely well-qualified set of reviewers coming together for an...
What is World Kindness Day?
It is observed in many countries including the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia and the U.A.E. World Kindness Day presents us with the opportunity to reflect upon one of the most important and unifying human principles. On a day devoted to the positive...
Kindness in Islam and its Essence
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Kindness is not to be found in anything but that it adds to its beauty and it is not withdrawn from anything but it makes it defective.” (Sahih Muslim)Every year on November 13, people worldwide observe World...
Writers’ Workshop 2022: Report
For three exciting days, 35 girls and women came together in the shared pursuit of the written word. From refreshing their basics of writing, refining their skills to taking part in experiments and modules that challenged them, the Writers’ Workshop organized by...
Photographic Glimpses from the English Writers Workshop, Oct 8-10 2022
Chief Editor, Rahamathunnissa A during her introductory address to the participants.Syed Sadatullah Hussaini delivering the Keynote Address titled “Writing to Reform.”Journalist Javed Gaihlot (New Indian Express, Bangalore) being felicitated by the Chief...
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