Breaking the Silence

The Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan was formed in January 2007 at a national conference in Delhi attended by 500 women from different parts of the country. It is a democratic organisation of Muslim women, led by Muslim women, and which strives for the citizenship rights of all and particularly Muslim women. The BMMA believes in the values of equality, justice, and fairness enshrined in the Holy Quran as well as the Constitution of India. In its 16th year, it's membership has crossed one lakh across 15 states. BMMA believes in democracy and secularism as propounded by the Constitution of India. We believe peace and justice to be the fundamental tenets of Islam. We oppose the denial of women's rights in society and strive to build Muslim women's leadership across the country. We work on the issues of education, livelihood, health, security, and law reform. We are opposed to communalism and violence and believe in communal harmony, mutual respect, and religious co-existence.

Breaking the Silence-Lived Reality of 2500 Indian Muslim Women in Polygamous Marriages reveals the harsh conditions of those who have been impacted by polygamy. It unpacks their lives through indepth case studies and detailed quantitative data to understand the emotional, social and economic toll of polygamy and its impact on women's health, relationships, dignity and rights.

It is a study for the sake of transformation hoping to move the state and the community into action for family law reforms. It seeks to give voice to those who are silently suffering within the 4 walls of their home. It calls for action which moves the community towards justice, equality and compassion. Legislative protection is an important tool for social transformation and this study hopes to achieve that goal.