Chudakkad Muslim Womens Parivar - Ki Stories Work

Empowering Chudakkad Muslim Women's Parivar: Stories of Resilience and Triumph

1. Oral Story Circles: Held in verandas or after Friday prayers, these circles have no agenda except sharing. A story is never judged; it is received with “Njan undu” (I am there with you).
2. Notebook Archives: Since many women are semi-literate or not confident in writing, the Parivar uses shared notebooks where one woman scribes for another. These notebooks travel from house to house.
3. Community Performances: Select stories are turned into short skits or street plays, performed at local kaniyam (market squares) or during nercha (religious feasts), often challenging clergy who silence women’s voices.
4. Intervention through Story: A story about dowry harassment, once shared, leads the Parivar to send two elders to counsel the family. A story about a girl forced to drop out leads to a tuition collective.

Fathima — SHG Leader and Microcredit Organizer

Findings