Meet Sahla Nechiyil who demanded books as Mehr during her marriage where she can demand gold, jewellery or cash.

There is a tradition in muslim marriage known as “Mehr”, a compulsory payment by the groom to the bride at the time of marriage.

This Malayali muslim bride, Sahla Nechiyil went against the tradition to demand just 50 books where she had every right to demand gold, jewellery or cash as ‘Mehr,’ who hails from Kerala’s Malappuram district.

Image Credit: Indian Express

 

Sahla told Indian Express, ” I wanted to show the Malappuram Muslims that a wedding can take place without obsessing over the amount of gold transacted between both parties,” giving a hard hitting social message to the gold obsessed Muslim community in her region.

Sahla is a political science post graduate from Hyderabad university, who is now married to Anees Nadodi, who supported her decision. “Mehr is the right of the women, not the generosity of the man,” he added.

Anees Nadodi with the books Sahla demanded | Image Credit: Indian Express

Sahla handed Anees the list of the books she wanted and her husband went hunting for them, travelling from Kerala to Bangalore, to fulfill his wife’s desires, despite disapproval from both the families.

“They could not argue for long, because we were not doing anything against the religious texts,” said Sahla. Her book list included Islamic feminist literature, feminist literature, fiction and politics.

“The religious texts allow us to live according to our wish, yet these girls fear to speak up or decide for themselves,” she said. “Ani (Anees) had to struggle a little looking for the books I demanded. Making your husband struggle a little is the idea of mehr, anyway,” she added.

At the age 17, Eshaan Balbale bridged a muddy gap constructing 100 feets long bamboo bridge in just 8 days

Here’s the story of  a 17 years old Eshaan Balbale student of Thane’s Bedekar College who says just talking or politicizing over issues don’t solve out problems while working on them does.

Meet 17 years old Eshaan Balbale, who created a temporary bamboo bridge 100 feets long in just 8 days and promises for it’s maintenance so that the students in the area can reach their school with safely and hygiene. 

At such an age of 17, realizing the need of the hour to construct the bridge for the Sathe Nagar students and residents he did a tremendous job in just 8 days which politicians and corporations fail to do in years. He constructed 4 feet wide and a 100 feet long temporary bamboo bridge over the fetid nullah in just 8 days over which 50 people can cross the bridge at a time.

He was deeply moved to see the Sathe Nagar students walking through a 1.5 km long filthy, foul smelling sewage to reach school everyday as he spend most of his time in the area. Few residents had even lost their lives during rainy season when water level rises.

The bridge connects Sathe Nagar and PGMP Colony. Crossing the nullah daily for reaching schools was very risky for many children attracting various skin infections and diseases like malaria, dengue and many other, which was also being a cause for various students to drop school. Several parents were also reluctant to send their children to school. I felt terrible when I saw the children wade through the disgusting sludge,” he says. plan to visit the site at least once a month. If the bridge is used responsibly, it should easily last for a couple of years. In the meantime, I will repair the bridge as and when the need arises,” he promises.

Eshaan Balbale set up the NGO Nirbhay Yuva Pratishthan, where he encourages other youngsters to participate in similar philanthropic ventures. He marks his act as a new learning experience for him.

Eshaan’s future aim is to build toilets and improve sanitation conditions in the area. We wish him goodluck in all his future endevours and hope he becomes an inspiration to more young minds via his NGO Nirbhay Yuva Pratishthan.