Fleeting agencies: a social history of Indian coolie women in British Malaya

Q3 Social Sciences
Seng‐Guan Yeoh
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Abstract

this, myth number three alleges that there is an organised conspiracy by Muslims to overtake the Hindu population in order to capture political power. Yet again he quashes this suggestion by producing a graph which clearly shows that the rate at which the Hindu population is growing within the next 150 years will far outstrip that of the Muslims (Figure 9:1, p. 262). Myth number four is the idea that because Muslims practise polygamy they are increasing the population. Citing a study carried out by the Committee on the Status of Women in India in 1974, which revealed that all communities practise polygamy, the statistics show that of all the communities the Muslims were the least polygamous at 5.70% (with Hindus at 5.80%) whereas the tribal communities in India at 15.25% were the most polygamous (Figure 4:3, pp. 113–14.). He also makes clear that there is a general misconception that Islam encourages polygamy – rather he says that the Quran only permits polygamy subject to two stringent conditions – absolute equality among wives and marrying widows (Surah An Nisa – The Women, 4:3, p. 124). Myth number five suggests that Islam is against family planning. Yet again he counters this myth stating that there is no mention in the Quran prohibiting family planning – rather there are interpretations for and against. Numerous verses of the Quran and the Hadith – the actions and sayings of the Prophet (PBUH) – emphasise quality over numbers, the health of women and children and the right of children to a good upbringing. Although sterilisation is forbidden, birth spacing is encouraged. ‘The empirical data clearly indicate that Muslims as a religious group in India are not averse to acceptance of family planning. In fact, they are the fastest accepting population segment. They are much ahead in acceptance of spacing methods of family planning than their Hindu counterparts’ (p. 67). What is needed, he says, is for the religious leaders to be involved in ‘advocacy and programme implementation’ (p. 67). ‘Those Muslims’, he continues, ‘who think that Islam is opposed to family planning should, on their part, understand that Islam, on the contrary, is indeed the originator of the concept’ (p. 157). At a time when relations between Hindus and Muslims in India are worsening, and the once secular state of India is becoming increasingly subjected to right-wing Hindu fanaticism, Dr Quraishi’s book is essential reading for both Muslims and Hindus. While Muslims can take heart that some sane writing is prevailing, Hindus can acknowledge that fears which might have been instilled in them for malicious reasons, are groundless. As the author concludes, the purpose of his book is ‘about understanding this misinformation propagated and deliberately perpetuated to create a rift between Hindus and Muslims and polarise them for political gains’ (p. 261).
转瞬即逝的机构:英属马来亚印度苦力妇女的社会史
第三个神话声称,穆斯林有组织地阴谋超越印度教人口,以夺取政治权力。然而,他再次推翻了这一建议,他制作了一张图表,清楚地表明,在未来150年内,印度教人口的增长速度将远远超过穆斯林(图9:1,第262页)。第四个误解是,由于穆斯林实行一夫多妻制,他们正在增加人口。援引印度妇女地位委员会1974年进行的一项研究,该研究表明,所有社区都实行一夫多妻制,统计数据显示,在所有社区中,穆斯林一夫多妻最少,占5.70%(印度教徒占5.80%),而印度的部落社区一夫多妻最多,占15.25%(图4:3,第113-14页)条件——妻子和寡妇之间的绝对平等(Surah An Nisa——《妇女》,4:3,第124页)。第五个神话表明伊斯兰教反对计划生育。然而,他再次反驳了这一神话,即《古兰经》中没有提到禁止计划生育,而是有支持和反对的解释。《古兰经》和《圣训》中的许多诗句——先知(PBUH)的行动和言论——强调质量高于数量、妇女和儿童的健康以及儿童获得良好教育的权利。虽然禁止绝育,但鼓励间隔生育实证数据清楚地表明,穆斯林作为印度的一个宗教群体并不反对接受计划生育。事实上,他们是接受速度最快的人群。他们在接受计划生育的间隔方法方面比印度教同行领先得多(第67页)。他说,现在需要的是让宗教领袖参与“宣传和计划实施”(第67页)他继续说道,那些认为伊斯兰教反对计划生育的穆斯林应该明白,恰恰相反,伊斯兰教确实是这一概念的创始人”(第157页)。在印度印度教徒和穆斯林之间的关系日益恶化,曾经世俗化的印度国家越来越受到右翼印度教狂热主义的影响之际,库莱希博士的书对穆斯林和印度教徒来说都是必不可少的读物。虽然穆斯林可以相信一些理智的写作正在盛行,但印度教徒可以承认,出于恶意而灌输给他们的恐惧是毫无根据的。正如作者总结的那样,他的书的目的是“理解这种传播和故意延续的错误信息,以在印度教徒和穆斯林之间制造裂痕,并为了政治利益使他们两极分化”(第261页)。
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来源期刊
Round Table
Round Table Social Sciences-Geography, Planning and Development
CiteScore
1.70
自引率
0.00%
发文量
77
期刊介绍: Founded in 1910, The Round Table, Britain"s oldest international affairs journal, provides analysis and commentary on all aspects of international affairs. The journal is the major source for coverage of policy issues concerning the contemporary Commonwealth and its role in international affairs, with occasional articles on themes of historical interest. The Round Table has for many years been a repository of informed scholarship, opinion, and judgement regarding both international relations in general, and the Commonwealth in particular, with authorship and readership drawn from the worlds of government, business, finance and academe.
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