As the hijab comes under fire for being a symbol of patriarchy and women’s oppression, a new movement has begun to make people realise what really lies beneath the hijab and, in the process, shatter stereotypes related to Muslim women.
Deepak Ramola, a Mumbai-based educator, started a crowd-sourced art project called #UnderTheHijab, narrating life and experiences from behind the veil.
The Quint got in touch with Ramola to talk to him about how the project came about.
Ramola said he was provoked to start the series after a Syrian girl shared her experience of being called a terrorist by a German man just because she was wearing a hijab.
After the interaction, I read an article about how young people were being brainwashed into forming strong negative opinions about hijab-wearing girls and women. That is how the series was born.
The submissions started coming in as Ramola tagged two artists he is close to and their submissions started the project.
Women and men from around the world have forwarded their submissions for the project.
The impact and reach has been great as many hijab-wearing women and men whose wives wear them have written in expressing their gratitude.
All the illustrations are of faceless women and just their hijabs, showing that it could be anyone with hopes, dreams and aspirations under the hijab.
Each artwork brings with itself a stronger connect and striking impact as every artist has used a refreshing medium -- either illustration or painting -- to express themselves.
Some of the women contributors have been inspired by their history and works written about them by the likes of Marjane Satrapi, which formed the theme for some of the submissions.
You can also contribute to the project by creating your piece and tagging two others after that to help sensitise people to the hijab and also, to help the project grow.
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