MINA: Nafisa Ali is a former Miss India, national swimming champion, model, actress, jockey, socialite and social worker — all rolled into one. She is the daughter of the well-known Indian photographer Ahmed Ali. In fact, it is difficult to define her personality.
But the “Water Baby of Bengal,” who was crowned Miss India in 1976, and was runner-up in the Miss International contest in 1977 — was in a different mode in Mina and it was difficult to recognize her. Wearing “ihram,” she looked a completely different person. She was in a religious mode, taking care of her father and was far from the usual milieus she is used to. She utilized every bit of her stay at the holy places to “cleanse the inner self.”
Nafisa is a celebrity in her own right. Her face adorns the cover of leading magazines and newspapers in India; she is always in the news, though sometimes for controversial reasons. Nafisa said that she had come to perform Haj with her father who is not well but wanted nonetheless to make the journey. The two have come this time as part of the Indian Haj Goodwill Delegation headed by Jharkhand Gov. Syed Sibtey Hasan Rizvi.
Speaking about her Haj experience Nafisa said, “The Almighty made it very easy for us. And up to now, I have enjoyed every bit of my stay here. I prayed for my country; my country is my cause. I want India to prosper as a peace-loving, modern and tolerant nation. I am a person who loves peace and harmony so I also prayed for the end of terrorism, the very terrorism which my motherland is one of the worst victims of.”
She said all religions teach peace, love, coexistence, tolerance and modernity. But due to the behavior of a few, Islam has been labeled an intolerant orthodoxy. The image of Islam is being tarnished by a small group and Muslims must come forward to present to the world the correct picture of their divine faith.
Nafisa, born to a Roman Catholic mother and Muslim father, is married to a Sikh, Col. R.S. Sodhi, a renowned polo player. She contested unsuccessfully in the 2004 South Kolkata parliamentary elections.
She is unabashed about her political ambitions. Asked if she would stand for election again if offered a ticket, her reply: “If the opportunity arose, I would not shy away from the responsibility.”
