Joyee – Breaking Boundaries: The Women of Mukti Voice Take the Field

Members of Mukti Voice, including Rina Halder, Namita Jana, Mausumi Mousumi Naskar, Tapashi Halder, Tamasi Roy, Brihaspati Halder, Durga Gayein, Sumita Halder, Rita Banerjee, Ganga Mondal, and Amuna Mondal, embarked on a journey to challenge the gender norms that often confined them to limited social spaces. Recognizing how these norms restricted their access to areas like clubs, playgrounds, and markets, they decided to reclaim these spaces in an unconventional way: through football.

Together, these ten women formed a team they aptly named ‘Joyee’, meaning ‘Conqueror.’ Their initiative didn’t stop there; they reached out to local adolescent girls, encouraging them to join their endeavor. This led to the formation of a second team in Sridharpur, in the Nagendrapur GP, Mathurapur block of the Sundarbans. Both teams underwent professional training for two months, subsequently participating in several local matches and earning praise from women and some men within their communities.

Among the members of Joyee was 42-year-old Rina Halder, who lived in a household where women’s desires were often overlooked, and their mobility, controlled. Determined to be part of the football team, Rina sought to convince her family. Despite initial resistance, she resolved to join the team independently. After attending several coaching sessions, she shared photos and videos of their practice sessions with her family. Seeing Rina in action, they finally gave their approval, marking another small yet significant victory for the women of Mukti Voice.