nidhimahajn's review
3.0
This is the kind of book that you want to mark bits in because of the range of ideas presented in the collected essays — on food, culture, history, habits, literature, and so on. As Jalil writes in the Afterword, "It's akin to opening the doors of my house and saying: Come in, come and see who I am." A pertinent read in today's day and age to clear some of the cobwebs of the mind and embrace our syncretic heritage.
neenuchandramohan's review
2.0
This is a classic example of ' never judge a book by its cover' or rather the headline. This is just purely deceiving of what it promises. Some things here and there thrown at you. I really thought it might be something of what Muslims face in this world, the author's experience. Something that I would be able to see from a Muslim's perspective. But it disappointed in so many ways. The beginning was good, I wanted to read more, but when it started the literature part, the poetic words, it kind of lost my interest. I wasn't ready to read that much poetic words, it wasn't what I expected. So maybe that's just me, but I really didn't understand the point of that title in this book.
sapphicwarlord's review
hopeful
informative
reflective
3.25
As an Indian Ex-Muslim, this book was very nostalgic and reflective for me, and it did address issues of mingling of different aspects of a person's identity. While I do appreciate Jalil going in depth about her experiences as a north indian muslim, I felt she largely digressed from the topic for quite a large portion of the book. As an exercise in sociology, I believe she should've addressed more pressing topics and comprehensively, rather than just touching upon them as she did, this wasn't just an essay, it was a whole book with plenty of space. In any case, it was satisfying to read about the shared experiences of Ramzan and other festivities, although again, I could not relate to many.
booknbhook's review
3.0
This book covers a lot of topics which I could relate to being a Muslim, and having been told that I don't look like a Muslim by almost everyone I have come across. The first 4-5 essays and the last 5-6 essays were very relatable and were to the point but the author somewhere down the line mostly after the first 5 essays lost track of what she was talking about and she just went on and on about culture in different countries and her experiences over there , I know the book is a collection of essays about Islam and culture but I could not relate to them, I could not understand why they were in this book they were mostly the authors experience while visiting different countries and I feel the author could have done more justice to this book by writing more of her personal experiences like on one to one level with the other individuals when they told her that she does not look like a muslim and some more things.
shariq312's review
4.0
he book is comprised of 40 essays, written with sheer elegance that shows the diversity of Author's understanding to pursue life with an open eye.
In 1947, people have two choices; to stay in India, or migrate to Pakistan. So now, when you are an Indian and also a Muslim, what identity should be your pivotal slogan? Indian Muslim or Muslim Indian?
The Author brings a concern while telling India as a Multi-ethnic, Multi-religious and Multi-cultural country, which in the picture allows autonomy, but the reality of your identity there is judged and questioned, especially when your religion is Islam.
She presents Indian culture diverse and rich, that there seems no better country in the face of the world, but India. One may have many differences, but culture is what joins people in India, leaving religious differences behind. Her insights are acknowledged all around the world, and to win over her savvy wisdom, one has to consume the history of sub-continental culture; its rich art and history, which is a prolonged process.
Leaving the religious differences behind there is another factor which let people forget the biases; is the charm of literature. The book is a rich melody when the verses and couplets of all-time great Urdu and Hindi poets come to meet the reader's eyes.
There is something about this book, which shows how little I know to understand the ecstasy of literature, culture and religious differences. While knowing the fact of little knowledge, but realizing it, is an idiosyncratic experience.
The book Mothering A Muslim was also a rich delight to expand the knowledge of religion in a culture, which this book evolves with expansive insights.
In 1947, people have two choices; to stay in India, or migrate to Pakistan. So now, when you are an Indian and also a Muslim, what identity should be your pivotal slogan? Indian Muslim or Muslim Indian?
The Author brings a concern while telling India as a Multi-ethnic, Multi-religious and Multi-cultural country, which in the picture allows autonomy, but the reality of your identity there is judged and questioned, especially when your religion is Islam.
She presents Indian culture diverse and rich, that there seems no better country in the face of the world, but India. One may have many differences, but culture is what joins people in India, leaving religious differences behind. Her insights are acknowledged all around the world, and to win over her savvy wisdom, one has to consume the history of sub-continental culture; its rich art and history, which is a prolonged process.
Leaving the religious differences behind there is another factor which let people forget the biases; is the charm of literature. The book is a rich melody when the verses and couplets of all-time great Urdu and Hindi poets come to meet the reader's eyes.
There is something about this book, which shows how little I know to understand the ecstasy of literature, culture and religious differences. While knowing the fact of little knowledge, but realizing it, is an idiosyncratic experience.
The book Mothering A Muslim was also a rich delight to expand the knowledge of religion in a culture, which this book evolves with expansive insights.
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