“What makes her special beyond all this is the fact that she remains quite untouched by it all. When one is endowed with power it affects him/her with pride but she has been careful not to use it arrogantly. Her commitment to service thrust her into the centre stage in politics and now many women look up to her for leadership.”___________________________
by Zanita Careem
(April 05, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Politics seems to be getting murkier - if it is possible to get any more murky — than it already is. Public cynicism is at its height. When we ask people to name politicians with integrity, their instant recall system seems to suffer a paralytic stroke. No names are thrown up. But, however, we can’t dismiss the entire lot as corrupt, there is a gentle breeze of freshness, some have their ideals intact and hope that he or she will never lose his/her joie de vivre.
One such politician is Ferial Ashraff. She continues to hold the dream her husband had, a dream he infused in to her, a dream to work for the people in general and for the Muslims in particular.
Yes, of course, there will be those who will ask us what her claim to fame is. Others will say she is no political heavyweight. For me it didn’t matter. Fame and power are incidental. Strength is what all our women are about. though Ferial calls her entry into politics accidental, the mere fact that she used this accident to her advantage and proceeded to make an unqualified success of it, makes her a woman to be reckoned with. The enthusiasm she injects to all she does, be it meeting journalists, talking on TV, or addressing meetings, adds to her strength.
We have observed all her actions, watched her in Parliament, her eloquence in speech in English, Sinhalese and Tamil. What emerged at the end of it all were Ferial Ashraff the politician, the successful woman and widow.
On all fronts she faces dilemmas common to our times but this frail young woman (literally young in politics) has learnt to cope with it all.
Muslims are proud of her being the first Sri Lankan Muslim woman Cabinet Minister.
All the speeches made by Ferial reflects her commitments and proves she has the welfare of the people at heart.
What makes her special beyond all this is the fact that she remains quite untouched by it all. When one is endowed with power it affects him/her with pride but she has been careful not to use it arrogantly. Her commitment to service thrust her into the centre stage in politics and now many women look up to her for leadership.
For some time she relinquished her duties at the Ministry and also gave up her leadership of the National Unity Alliance.
Now with the wide rift between her and Rauf Hakeem, leader of the Muslim Congress what will be her political legacy in the future?
Expressing open support for Chandrika Kumaratunga, Ferial doesn’t plan to just bask in the glory of being where she is. She is an ardent subscriber to her late husband’s beliefs, goals and aspirations. With her determination and will power she will continue to be inspired by the legacy her husband left behind. Recently on her request the Kalmunai UC was upgraded to the level of a Municipal Council.
Today, having stepped over the sidelines into the vortex of politics, she is beginning to be recognised as a woman in her own right.
She says "I have the confidence and trust that I can achieve something for the people I represent while staying with this government".
She also expressed belief that the PA government could solve the problems of the Muslim minority and that her late husband M. H M. Ashraff had joined the PA because he had faith in the leadership of President Kumaratunga. (Observer Friday 22).
She also assured she will endeavour to keep the party together and prevent any possible fractions. "I believe I am the one who can keep the party together." (Observer, Friday 22.)
Soft spoken but articulate she shrugs off the political fallout resulting in the unfortunate division among her former political colleagues but one wonders whether this division will be good for the party in general.
The strength of a woman has never ceased to amaze me. I have always believed that a woman is much stronger than a man. Ferial Ashraff has reinforced that belief of mine.
As the political differences between the Muslim Congress and NUA increases following Rauf Hakeem’s recent political moves to oust Ferial Ashraff, she becomes the focus of increasing attention and speculation.
What then does she feel is the most challenging problem at this hour?
Will she reconcile with Hakeem or will she form her own party?
Ferial who exudes supreme confidence reveals an acumen much beyond her years while handling the political crisis. Her one message is quite loud and clear. She always maintains that she will continue with the work her husband started.
May be or may be not this idealistic expectation will become one of the possible humps in her political journey ahead.
In a previous interview she said that her goal may be the same but the route will be different to that of Ashraff.
Her name and image is widely known and Ferial will put to the test her expectations to emerge as a woman of considerable substance willing to stand firm in her convictions.
Lastly is it because she is a woman that she is discriminated against in what is usually described as a male dominated world?
We hope Mrs. Ferial Ashraff will carry on with her political obligation that has become a burden on her shoulders.
The final consensus is whether she will emerge as powerful as some of the other women who have been predominant in South Asian politics.
There will be many changes after this article goes to print. Now Mrs. Ashraff continues to be the NUA leader, and it is her responsibility to help achieve political stability in this moment of crisis.
- Sri Lanka Guardian
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