Lajna Imaillah (Ahmadiyya Muslim Women’s Auxiliary), Calicut chapter, successfully organised a women’s conference on the theme ‘Role of Women in Shaping Society’ on 14^th December 2024 at KP Keshavamenon Hall, Calicut. The event saw participation from 183 attendees, including 55 non-Ahmadi guests.

As the president of Lajna Imaillah Calicut, my humble self presided over the event. The conference commenced with the screening of a documentary titled, Islam—Champion of Human Rights. The formal session began with the recitation of the Holy Quran by Athiathul Ghalib, followed by a warm welcome address delivered by Thooba Basheer.

The inaugural address was delivered by Faiza Salahuddin, Lajna Imaillah district president for Calicut and Wayanad districts, who emphasised the importance of women’s roles in society and highlighted the efforts to empower women. This was followed by a soulful rendition of a poem of harmony by Calicut Lajna members, adding a harmonious touch to the proceedings.

The keynote speaker, Muhsina Tahir, addressed the pivotal role women play in shaping society, focusing on their influence on future generations and their diverse contributions to social development.

The conference was enriched by inspiring speeches from the following distinguished guests:

Sreesita C S, Women Sub-Inspector of Police, Calicut, spoke on women’s empowerment, stressing the importance of autonomy and self-sufficiency.

Dr P K Radhamani, former Head of the Department of Hindi, Malabar Christian College, highlighted the transformative power of educating girl children.

Kshema Thomas, writer, travel vlogger, and District Insurance Officer, commended Lajna Imaillah for organising a rare women-led conference. She emphasised the vital role mothers play in shaping society and praised the organisation’s commitment to women’s empowerment.

K C Shobhita, ward councillor, discussed women’s freedom and equality while expressing admiration for Lajna Imaillah’s endeavours.

The event featured interactive and informative kiosks that captured the interest of attendees, among which were:

Quran Exhibition and Calligraphy Workshop: This stall showcased the Holy Quran in multiple languages and offered a calligraphy workshop, where attendees could explore various types of calligraphy and participate in hands-on activities which included writing Surah al-Fatiha.

World Crisis and the Pathway to Peace: This stall demonstrated the current global situation and outlined the pathway to peace as explained by the World Head and the present Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. It also highlighted the prophecies of the Community’s Founder in this regard and included banners that displayed a timeline of the Caliph’s warnings about the current situation, including images of his addresses at various parliaments and international platforms. This section also featured a ‘Wall of Peace’ where attendees were invited to pen down their thoughts on how to establish peace in the world.

Book Stall: A book stall was also set up, where a selection of Ahmadiyya literature was available for purchase. Notably, some of the guests showed keen interest in the literature and purchased books.

Plant Stall—‘Think Green, Act Green’: This eco-friendly section promoted environmental awareness by gifting 120 fruit and vegetable saplings to attendees. Lajna members also displayed their commitment to sustainability by sharing plants grown from self-sown seeds.

The conference concluded with a vote of thanks by Mubashira Noufal, followed by silent prayers and refreshments. As tokens of appreciation, guests received mementoes, plant saplings, and copies of the Malayalam Lajna magazine, An-Nur.