- Jamaat-Islami Hind, Kerala, Hira Centre Mavoor Road, Calicut - 673004
- [email protected]
- 0495 2722709
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The Sauda Padanna Fellowship is awarded to two exceptional research papers by women scholars. It supports explicitly those currently engaged in or intending to pursue research focusing on Muslim women, Islam, and community engagement in Kerala. We invite research contributions exploring broad themes related to women, inheritance laws, divorce, and single parenting.
Sauda Padanna, who passed away in 2013 at the age of 41, was a prolific leader, writer, and leading female face of the Islamic movement in Kerala. She was in the leadership of the Girls Islamic Organization from 1995 to 2005 and the Kannur district President for the Jamate Islami women’s wing. She was also a member of the Jamate Islami state council at the time of her demise. She was the key figure behind the expansion of GIO from the Islamic Colleges to the public institutions across the state in the late 90s. She was the Headmistress of Karunyaniketan Special School for Deaf while she passed away.
The discourse surrounding Islamic inheritance laws, divorce practices, and their implications for women has become a central theme in cultural and political debates in India, particularly after the ascendancy of the Hindu right wing to power. The enactment of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act in 2019, which criminalized triple Talaq, along with recent deliberations on the Uniform Civil Code, has reignited discussions on these issues of divorce and women’s rights for inheritance. Scholars from diverse areas—extending from academia to religion and the public alike—have expressed diverse views, both in support and opposition. This project, however seeks to shift the focus toward the everyday practices of divorce and inheritance and their lived experience among Muslim women and the women of
other communities. This exploration of the legal framework (both religious and secular) and its comparative analysis will provide critical insights into the complexities of Islamic laws, their practices, and the state-led law-making and regulations in India. Specifically, it will highlight the tension between laws that singularize Muslim women—such as the ‘Muslim Women Protection Act’—and those that break the community identity and universalize ‘Muslim women,’ like the proposed ‘Uniform Civil Code.’
The fellowship extends beyond the confines of legal frameworks and their associated discourses, advancing the inquiry into the multifaceted realities of single parenting among women. It seeks to examine the socio-economic, cultural, and psychological experiences of divorced mothers and their children, shedding light on the challenges they face in post-divorce life. Given that the protection of widows and orphans forms a foundational pillar of Islamic philanthropy, the fellowship will also explore the role of Muslim organizations and other charitable entities in supporting widowed/divorcee mothers. This aspect of the study will critically analyze communitarian engagements and their impact on these
women’s lives.
Furthermore, the research will address the social stigmas surrounding remarriage, particularly within the broader societal context, while investigating how Muslim women navigate, confront, or reshape these norms in their lived experiences.
Our focus broadly encompasses two themes: the law of inheritance and its practices among Muslims and other communities, and divorce practices along with their lived experiences among Muslims and other communities. We invite proposals that engage with, but are not limited to, the following areas:
The application has to be sent directly to [email protected]
Your application should consist of:
1. Who can apply?
Any interested candidate can send their application, the selection is based on the research proposal and CV.
2. Can I apply for both the topics?
Yes, you can apply for both the topics. However, the fellowship will be awarded to only best one among them.
3. Can there be multiple authors for a single paper?
Yes, there can be multiple authors. But the fellowship remains the same.
4. Can I submit a proposal if I have limited research experience?
Yes, applications are welcome from candidates with any levels of research experience. However, the selection will be based on a clear research plan and contribution to the field.
5. When will the fellowship be awarded?
The selected applicants will be notified.
6. Will my publications in the non-academic journals, newspapers or portals be considered during application?
Yes, please make sure those publications are mentioned in the CV. This will help us assess your research and writing skills.
7. Can I submit the proposal of an ongoing research which I am currently working on?
Yes, if it contributes to our project.
8. What if I have further questions after reading FAQs?
If you have any further queries, please feel free to contact us via email.
The discourse surrounding Islamic inheritance laws, divorce practices, and their implications for women has become a central theme in cultural and political debates in India, particularly after the ascendancy of the Hindu right wing to power. The enactment of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act in 2019, which criminalized triple Talaq, along with recent deliberations on the Uniform Civil Code, has reignited discussions on these issues of divorce and women’s rights for inheritance. Scholars from diverse areas—extending from academia to religion and the public alike—have expressed diverse views, both in support and opposition. This project, however seeks to shift the focus toward the everyday practices of divorce and inheritance and their lived experience among Muslim women and the women of
other communities. This exploration of the legal framework (both religious and secular) and its comparative analysis will provide critical insights into the complexities of Islamic laws, their practices, and the state-led law-making and regulations in India. Specifically, it will highlight the tension between laws that singularize Muslim women—such as the ‘Muslim Women Protection Act’—and those that break the community identity and universalize ‘Muslim women,’ like the proposed ‘Uniform Civil Code.’
The fellowship extends beyond the confines of legal frameworks and their associated discourses, advancing the inquiry into the multifaceted realities of single parenting among women. It seeks to examine the socio-economic, cultural, and psychological experiences of divorced mothers and their children, shedding light on the challenges they face in post-divorce life. Given that the protection of widows and orphans forms a foundational pillar of Islamic philanthropy, the fellowship will also explore the role of Muslim organizations and other charitable entities in supporting widowed/divorcee mothers. This aspect of the study will critically analyze communitarian engagements and their impact on these
women’s lives.
Furthermore, the research will address the social stigmas surrounding remarriage, particularly within the broader societal context, while investigating how Muslim women navigate, confront, or reshape these norms in their lived experiences.
Our focus broadly encompasses two themes: the law of inheritance and its practices among Muslims and other communities, and divorce practices along with their lived experiences among Muslims and other communities. We invite proposals that engage with, but are not limited to, the following areas:
The application has to be sent directly to [email protected]
Your application should consist of:
1. Who can apply?
Any interested candidate can send their application, the selection is based on the research proposal and CV.
2. Can I apply for both the topics?
Yes, you can apply for both the topics. However, the fellowship will be awarded to only best one among them.
3. Can there be multiple authors for a single paper?
Yes, there can be multiple authors. But the fellowship remains the same.
4. Can I submit a proposal if I have limited research experience?
Yes, applications are welcome from candidates with any levels of research experience. However, the selection will be based on a clear research plan and contribution to the field.
5. When will the fellowship be awarded?
The selected applicants will be notified.
6. Will my publications in the non-academic journals, newspapers or portals be considered during application?
Yes, please make sure those publications are mentioned in the CV. This will help us assess your research and writing skills.
7. Can I submit the proposal of an ongoing research which I am currently working on?
Yes, if it contributes to our project.
8. What if I have further questions after reading FAQs?
If you have any further queries, please feel free to contact us via email.