MBM completes 4 years 🪴🎈
Thank you to all the listeners, guests and collaborators!
Hello hello to all Main Bhi Muslim (MBM) podcast listeners and subscribers,
MBM recently completed four years and this newsletter is to mark this milestone but also give you all a roundup of MBM’s work so far. The podcast produced and released four episodes that aimed to cover conversations with Indian Muslim women around identity, queerness, caste, socio-political realities, and how they weave into their aspirations, life learnings and choices.
EP26 - Creating safe space for Kerala's queer and other marginalised communities
In this conversation, MBM’s host, Mariyam Haider is in conversation with Sulfath Laila and Gargi Harithakam - co-founders of Kozhikode-based NGO, Vanaja Collective. The collective supports individuals and members from historically marginalised communities, closely working with Kerala’s queer community, helping couples overcome their families’ resistance…
MBM reinvented itself with a new visual identity which speaks to the ethos and aspiration of this space. The different experiences layered within one’s Indian Muslimness, its history, stories and fluidity all expressed in different ways through the conversations. Please do check out the new design created in collaboration with the wonderful Shazia Salam, through the link below:
MBM is all shiny shiny new new! ✨
Hello MBM listeners, supporters, guests - presenting the very new MBM visual identity ♡ In 2020, Main Bhi Muslim (MBM) began as a space between two women (me and my former co-host, Sabika Muzaffar) to discuss and share our experiences growing up with the
MBM also collaborated with the news organisation, Khabar Lahariya and produced an election special episode, where Muslim women voters from different districts in Bundelkhand region shared their aspirations, anxieties, hopes for their futures.
[Election Special] Baatein beyond the ballot
![[Election Special] Baatein beyond the ballot](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_280,h_280,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2e000746-67e1-4383-81c3-c1d7d29eb670_3200x1800.png)
What does it mean to be a Muslim woman from Bundelkhand living through its socio-economic and political realities? What are their aspirations and expectations from the upcoming elections? How do they imagine their futures as citizens of this country?
MBM was also chosen as one of the presenters at the 2024 South Asian Culture and Media Conference hosted by the Florida State University, where conversations with the podcast’s past guests - Madina Bi, Sulfath Laila and about late author Sara Aboobacker were shared and discussed.
For the second half of the year, more episodes and collaborations are in the pipeline and your support through increased listenership, reviews and subscription keeps MBM going. Please do continue supporting the podcast, rate and review it on different platforms, and share it with your loved ones and social circles.
This four year mark is only possible with the generous time and attention of listeners and the guests’ kindness and willingness to come on the podcast. To each one of you, thank you for being here.
And on that note, may the force be with us! ✨
Sincerely,
Mariyam
Producer and Host, MBM