In what can only be described as a plot twist worthy of a Bollywood screenplay, actress Swara Bhaskar, known for her endless declarations on feminism and women’s rights, stirred up a storm of controversy after meeting radical Islamic cleric Sajjad Nomani, alongside her husband Fahad Ahmed. The meeting, which took place ahead of the Maharashtra elections, raised eyebrows across the nation, as Bhaskar, seeking the support of a man known for his extreme views, seemed to abandon the very principles she claims to uphold.
Woman escapes Brahminical patriarchy #SwaraBhasker #LoveJihad pic.twitter.com/C0WhFonouJ
— Eminent Intellectual (@total_woke_) November 17, 2024
The Feminist Who Loves a Radical
Swara Bhaskar has long touted her love for feminism, advocating for women’s rights in all forums—be it social media, television appearances, or the latest drama she’s cooking up in Bollywood. Her self-righteous tirades on gender equality have been as loud as her social media presence. But who would’ve thought that the same feminist icon, who took to Instagram to lecture everyone on women’s empowerment, would end up cozying up to a cleric who believes sending girls to school is a one-way ticket to Hell?
Suvar aa b4 and after pic.twitter.com/97LJkZFqLR
— Harsha Patel 🇮🇳 (@harshagujaratan) November 17, 2024
Yes, that’s right—Swara Bhaskar, the woman who often decries patriarchy, decided that meeting Sajjad Nomani, who has openly opposed female education and supported regressive views on women’s freedom, would be a fantastic idea. It’s almost as if she thinks her feminist credentials come with a side of irony. After all, who better to align with than someone who believes educating girls is “Haram” (forbidden) in Islam?
Sajjad Nomani: The Radical Feminist Ally?
If you were to ask any rational feminist what they think about a man who believes girls should not go to school, you’d expect them to recoil in horror. Not Swara Bhaskar, though. She thought meeting Sajjad Nomani, who openly opposes female education and supports regressive views on women’s freedom, would be a clever way to secure votes for her husband. After all, why fight for the rights of women when she can ally herself with someone who actively works against them?
Nomani, known for his hardline views on women’s roles in society, doesn’t just stop at school bans. He’s also a fan of keeping women locked away at home, far from the “corrupting” influence of modern education and interaction with the outside world. In fact, he once declared that Muslim girls should stay away from schools entirely, with a stern warning that sending them to college would send them straight to Hell. But no worries for Swara Bhaskar, who probably focused more on the bigger picture—securing a few extra votes for her husband.
Swara Bhaskar: Taliban Fan and a Feminist?
But wait, there’s more! Swara Bhaskar’s new bestie, Sajjad Nomani, also has a soft spot for the Taliban. Yes, you read that right. This man, who claims admiration for the Taliban’s oppressive rule over women in Afghanistan, congratulated the Taliban for their “courage, calibre, and religious zeal.” One can only imagine Swara’s joy when meeting a man who admires a regime notorious for keeping women covered head-to-toe and denying them basic human rights.
Nomani’s views aren’t just extreme—they’re downright medieval. But hey, maybe Swara thinks she can feminist her way out of this one? Perhaps if she wears enough hijabs for “cultural respect,” it’ll all make sense in the end.
The Bhagwa Love Trap Conspiracy
And just when you thought it couldn’t get any more ridiculous, Nomani introduced Swara to his brilliant “Bhagwa Love Trap” theory. According to him, Hindu men allegedly conspire to “lure” Muslim women into relationships and convert them to Hinduism. These Hindu men supposedly get trained in Islamic teachings, armed with a mysterious combination of Urdu and charm, and then get rewarded with jobs, houses, and ₹2.5 lakhs for their efforts. One can only imagine how Swara must’ve reacted to this bizarre claim. After all, it’s not every day you meet someone who sees a vast Hindu-Muslim conspiracy in every relationship.
The Swara Bhaskar Feminism: For Sale
Swara Bhaskar’s meeting with Sajjad Nomani is a masterclass in political opportunism. Feminism, for Bhaskar, appears to be a convenient cloak to wear when it suits her—whether it’s bashing patriarchy on social media or cozying up to the very forces that seek to keep women confined to their homes. In this particular case, it seems that the cause of women’s rights is secondary to securing a few extra votes. As long as she can chalk it up to “political pragmatism,” why not make a deal with the devil, right?
A Feminist’s Nightmare
Swara Bhaskar’s foray into the world of radical clerics proves the flexibility of her feminist stance. Feminism, it seems, is just another tool to wield when convenient, with no regard for the deeper contradictions that come with it. As she rubs shoulders with someone who sees women as property to be locked away, it’s clear that Swara Bhaskar’s brand of feminism is more about optics than actual empowerment. So, let’s hope that the next time she delivers a lecture on women’s rights, she checks who she’s sharing a seat with.