Majiziya Bhanu was selected thrice as the strongest woman of the state by the Kerala State Powerlifting Association. But there’s a twist- she wears a hijab.
Hailing from Vadakara, Kerala, Bhanu is a bodybuilder and a winner of the women’s segment of the Mr Kerala competition in Kochi which took place earlier this year.
If a woman is free to show her body, she should be free to cover it, she believes. “It is only after their names are announced that one realises that the contestant is a Muslim,” she said. “I feel proud to wear the hijab, which is a part of my identity. It does not limit me in any way but gives me dignity and strength.”
She is, however not the only Muslim in this field, but is yet to hear of revelations of another performing in a hijab.
Earlier and still a dental student, she has won national medals in powerlifting and arm-wrestling.
“In the initial days, men used to stare at me as I had my hijab on. But soon they realised that I was as serious as them in my workouts. Then all the eyes disappeared,” Bhanu told IANS.
She disclosed how her village did not have any facilities, and that after her dental training, she would travel sixty kilometers by train to a gymnasium in Kozhikode.
“I used to return around 9 pm. Initially, it was tough, but I slowly gained the confidence to travel alone and, eventually, it became a part of my routine.” she said. The weightlifting champion is currently in her final year.
She lauded her parents support. “I hail from a very orthodox village here and my parents agreed to let me pursue my passion of bodybuilding.”
After she succeeded, the village decided to get a gym, whose visitors have been inspired by her story.
“Many young girls and women have started coming to me to seek advice on what needs to be done as they also want to do what I am doing. Now there is a gym in my village itself,” she said.
Bhanu is all set to participate in the World Arm Wrestling Championship 2018 in Turkey next month.
“I never knew I could make it as funds were needed for the trip. I did knock on quite a few doors and finally managed — a few well-wishers have sponsored my trip. At times, when I went scouting for sponsors, I felt that some did not wish to sponsor me as I was a Muslim woman,” she said.
And of her future plans, she said her first goal is to finish her studies as it was her parents’ dream to make her a medical professional.
“Once I finish it, then I will pursue my dream of setting up an academy which will be a multi-disciplinary one, including martial arts, powerlifting, arm-wrestling and bodybuilding. It would give special importance to girls. I am sure I will be able to pursue my passion and wish to empower women,” she added with confidence.
