Lucknow: A Shia cleric’s demand to impose a dress code within the historical imambaras has evoked mixed reactions from the city’s residents. While some feel that modest dressing by tourists is essential to maintaining the sanctity of the monument, others have questioned the timing of the demand and the authority of religious heads to issue such diktats.
“Tourists should be mindful of local customs and the sanctity of the place they are visiting. There is nothing wrong with the demand and it will help restore the the tehzeeb and culture of Lucknow. For long, the Bada Imambara was under British control, and during this period, most of these rules were discontinued. People eventually started taking the place for granted and even creating nuisance, something that I witnessed during my thesis,” said historian Roshan Taqui.
He said memoirs of yesteryear mention how people who were inappropriately dressed took up a place in one of the ‘burjees’ on the main gate to watch programmes being conducted within the monument, but did not enter the premises, The Times of India reported.
Invoking the imposition of dress code in other religious places such as Delhi’s Jama Masjid and Amritsar’s Golden Temple, blogger and writer Rana Safvi said, “I have been to several religious places around the world; be it a temple, mosque or church, people have to follow a dress code at all places. As in the Vatican city and all churches of Europe, such codes are followed worldwide. There are general norms of covering head, shoulders and knees, and there is nothing wrong in that. The Imambara too comes under the category of a living monument and isn’t just a tourist place. Hence, it should be accorded due reverence.”
Echoing similar sentiments, Prof Sabira Habib said, “Each place has its rules. I was stopped from entering a church in Vienna because I was wearing a salwar suit and not a skirt which was the dress code there. When both men and women are being asked to respect the people’s sentiments, I see no harm,” she said.
Chief of All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board, Shaista Amber said, “The monument has a mosque too and certain rules should be adhered to within the precincts. Not just women, but men too should stay within their limits and maintain discipline.”
Activist Rubina Shaikh of the Bhartiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA), however, presented a counter-view. “This will send a wrong message to tourists. If the person’s intention is clean, clothes should not be made an issue. Every person has a different approach to attire and that too should be respected,” she said.
Scientist Saman Habib said that if a dress is acceptable to society outside a monument, it should not be a barrier while gaining entry into a monument. “Tourists don’t come to the Imambara to offer namaz and I am sure nobody wears over-the-top, unacceptable clothes there. It is an ASI-protected monument and not a private property, and so such diktats should be opposed. I also find the board outside the mosque asking non Muslims to stay out as highly offensive,” said Saman.
Theater artist Salim Arif questioned the timing of the demand being made and said, “I understand that the religious sanctity of the place should be maintained, but why is the demand being made now? However, if such a demand really helps in keeping the overall atmosphere of the Imambara sacred, and checks uncalled activities within, then it is understandable.”