Reflections on 2023 and a call for support 🧡
Reflections on 2023 and a call for support 🧡
Dear MBM guests, listeners and supporters,
2023 was a year of growth and commitment for Main Bhi Muslim (MBM). The podcast crossed a new milestone, completing 25 episodes this year. ✨
The year started with a thought-provoking and moving conversation with author and playwright - Annie Zaidi, followed by an International Women’s Day special episode with folks at LedBy Foundation, and then MBM found itself on the stage at the Godrej Leadership Forum.
The following months I had a remarkable interaction with two scholars who helped bring forward the life and legacy of the late Kannada feminist thinker and writer, Sara Aboobacker. MBM then had the privilege of hosting Parcham Collective’s co-founder, Sabah Khan and two of its talented and amazing footballers, Madina Bi and Fatima Shaikh. We wrapped the year with deeply moving and hopeful conversations with Zoya who shared their journey being a transperson followed by an episode with poet and educator - Sabika Abbas, where we honoured Shaheen Bagh and the power of love and resistance.
Much like the previous years, MBM worked to expand the understanding of Indian Muslimness through all these episodes and has consistently endeavoured to bring forth voices that can do so. The more I work on MBM, the more I realise how wide and expansive this identity is and it is always a privilege to have guests who share their unique experiences on the podcast.
These experiences unravel stereotypes, binary fixations and flattened narratives that do injustice and harm to the vibrant and bustling ethos of the Indian Muslim community. At the same time, MBM aims to shed light on the stories that are often not heard enough within the community too. There are countless voices and experiences that go unheard in the paraphernalia of politics, news, dominant actors, and sometimes can lead to a limited understanding of this identity.
Finally and most importantly, the work of MBM is to be a space that rejoices in the multitudes of Indian Muslimness and celebrate the guests’ journeys, resilience, and freedoms.
In the coming year, the work is to deepen this commitment and bring voices that richen our understanding of Indian Muslimness. In doing so, MBM needs the support of you all, and here’s how you can do it:
Share episodes and encourage your friends / family / social groups to subscribe:
The moment one clicks on mainbhimuslim.com, they are prompted to subscribe to the podcast. This ensures that they will subsequently receive all the episodes directly in their inbox. Subscribing to mainbhimuslim.com is the best way to help support and grow this space.
Rate and review the podcast:
Spotify listeners, you simply have to click on the stars that appear next to the podcast title and give it a 5-star rating.
Apple Podcast listeners, once you have found MBM on the platform, simply scroll down, where you’ll see ‘Ratings & Reviews’. Simply rate it with 5 stars or leave a review, as prompted by the platform after you rate the show.
Follow Main Bhi Muslim on Instagram:
MBM’s only active social media presence is on Instagram. You can follow the page there to receive updates on new episode releases too.
Your support on different platforms can enable driving up the listenership and help MBM expand its reach. The podcast has some really interesting conversations and collaborations planned for in 2024. I hope you find them just as enjoyable, encouraging and meaningful as I do.
Thank you for being here. Your presence and attention has kept MBM going and helped it thrive. Wishing you all calm, ease and many joys in 2024.
With warmth and gratitude,
Mariyam Haider
Producer and Host, Main Bhi Muslim