Khatija Rahman, daughter of composer AR Rahman, has reacted to author Taslima Nasreen's tweet on Khatija's choice of dressing. “Been only a year and this topic is in the rounds again..there’s so much happening in the country and all people are concerned about is the piece of attire a woman wants to wear,” she wrote in a long Instagram post recently.
On February 11, Taslima had tweeted a picture of Khatija with her face covered in a niqaab, and wrote that though she enjoyed AR Rahman’s music, she felt “suffocated” whenever she looked at his daughter. “It is really depressing to learn that even educated women in a cultural family can get brainwashed very easily!” she wrote.
In the post, Khatija wrote that she does not regret the choices she has made in life and thanked people who have accepted her the way she is. “Every time this topic comes the fire in me rages and makes me want to say a lot of things..Over the last one year, I’ve found a different version of myself which I haven’t seen in so many years. I will not be weak or regret the choices I’ve made in life. I am happy and proud of what I do and thanks to those who have accepted me the way I am. My work will speak, God willing.. I don’t wish to say any further,” she wrote.
Khatija's choice of attire was under scrutiny last year also when she was seen in a sari, and covering her face with a niqaab, when she shared a stage with her father. The photo had gone viral on social media with many trolling the Oscar-winning composer for imposing conservative clothes on his children. Rahman addressed the controversy with grace, sharing a picture of his family in which Khatija was seen wearing a niqaab, while his other daughter Raheema and wife were seen wearing salwars. The post, which he tagged #FreedomtoChoose, was appreciated and he was lauded for strongly making a point.
Now, with the subject of the niqaab back again, Khatija is out with her own explanation. In the post addressed to Taslima, she added: Dear Taslima Nasreen, I’m sorry you feel suffocated by my attire. Please get some fresh air, cause I don’t feel suffocated rather I’m proud and empowered for what I stand for.” She also took a dig at Tasleema who is known to stand for women's rights, and suggested she look up the definition of feminism. “I suggest you google up what true feminism means because it isn’t bashing other women down nor bringing their fathers into the issue,” Khatija wrote.
In another post, Khatija urged her supporters to refrain from using hate speech towards Taslima, and added another photograph with her father and sister. The photo again features her in a niqaab, while her sister is seen dressed in casuals. “Peaceful time with family away from “suffocation”,” she captioned the picture.
