Hum Motey Hain To Kya Hua Dimagwale Hain

By Subhash K Jha

Tomorrow Wednesday 8 July, Shabana will be the main speaker at a global meet on violence against women.

Shabana Azmi left for Afghanistan on Tuesday night on an invitation from the United Nations for a global summit.

Ironically she was asked to be the main speaker at a summit on violence against women in one of the most violent countries in the world.

Apparently her entire family including her husband Javed Akhtar was concerned about the safety measures in the ravaged region and her visit there.

But has Shabana ever cared!

Excited as she packed her suitcase Shabana said before leaving, "Danger is fun.Yes I'm off to Kabul for a United Nations conference on violence against women."

Having represented India and woman on several international platforms this honour in a country known to repress women is of special importance.

"The subject us Silence Is Violence—End The Abuse Of Women In Afghanistan. It's supported by a report by the Human Rights wing of the UN and the Human Rights Commission in Kabul."

Shabana, it was felt, would be the right voice to navigate the summit on this sensitive subject. "The conference will discuss the findings on how women are treated in Afghanistan. We'll talk about ways to strengthen the capacity of the law enforcements and judicial institutions to curb violence against women."

Excited as she practiced her speech in her head for Wednesday (8 July) Shabana recalled her earlier visit to Kabul, "I had gone to Kabul as part of a Bollywood delegation headed by Sunil Dutt Saab during President Najibullah's regime.

He hosted a dinner for us where he sang the Mukesh number Mujhhe tumse kuch bhi na chahiye. Jadoo (Javed Akhtar) joked with him and asked whether he was singing it for the Russians!"

Before signing off Shabana made adig at her lately-increased girth. "Hum motey hain to kya dimagwale hain (so what if I'm fat I've brains)."