Shaista Fatima/New Delhi

Enterpreneur Tabassum Haq’s first Ramazan after her interfaith marriage to her former colleague Subodh Jain who is her husband was memorable.

“At my parents’ home in Old Delhi, we were used to donating food to people who needed it during the month of fasting, and I wondered how would I do it here,” she told Awaz-the Voice. The Jains are strict vegetarians and some don’t even use garlic, tubers, and anything fermented as a matter of religious belief.

When she mentioned it to Subodh Jain, a former Television professional, the entire family rallied around her. “My mother-in-law offered to join and so did my brother-in-law for distributing food,” Tabassum said. The family ended up serving food to a lot of people during the holy month.

The family continues feeding people during Ramazan as part of the Muslim tradition that has come into their khandaan (clan) because of their Muslim daughter-in-law.

“I am cooking right now darling..” was Tabassum’s reply as Awaz-the Voice spoke with her on the phone. She was cooking food for serving for Iftar.

Tabassum with husband Subodh Jain

Tabassum, 44, is a journalist turned entrepreneur whose interfaith marriage changed her life. She continues to retain and follow her faith while respecting the food restrictions while cooking for the family. She is the founding director of two companies Dazzle Events and Parisa Communications.

Tabassum lost her father-in-law soon after she was welcomed by the Jains in their East Delhi home. Her mother-in-law passed away in 2020 after fighting a long battle with brain cancer. Tabassum, a devout daughter-in-law that she is, looked after her bed-ridden mother-in-law with full love, care, and affection.

She was in hospital and Tabassum spent the whole day feeding and helping her and returned home only in the evening.

“Subodh is my spine, he’s my pillar of strength.” was her reply when asked how she manages her daily chores given her busy lifestyle. My husband never asked me to, rather never forced me to follow a particular faith or religion; he respects my religion and believes in me completely,” said Tabassum.

Tabassum Haq born and brought up in a Muslim family fell in love with and later married Subodh Jain in the year 2008. They have two children, a girl, and a boy.

“My kids support me in my rituals, they remind me to offer my prayers, my duas..”

Tabassum Haq on a Naval cruise

When asked how she manages everything she says, “Frankly speaking when you have a supporting family anything is possible, I am a multi-tasker, so up management comes easily to me..”

“I love making food for my family, feeding them, they rely on me and it gives me strength,” she says.

Talking about her religious beliefs Tabassum says, “I believe in Allah but my relationship with the Almighty is very personal, I may not offer namaz five times a day but I recite Aytalkursi (a verse in the Quran for safekeeping of the individual), and Chaar Kul (four verses recited to keep evil spirits at bay) daily."

She believes in serving humanity and follows the mantra of sabr and shukr (patience and gratitude). “Opinion of others hardly ever matters to me, I am because of a Supreme power and that is my status,” she told Awaz-the voice.

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During Ramazan, she prepares food and offers meals for Iftar to the needy on a large scale, she says, “Anything is possible when you have the support of your partner…Subodh helps me in every step, he encourages me to follow my faith and beliefs, and even my munchkins remind me to offer my prayers and eat sehri (before dawn meal) and iftar (after dusk meal).