MARRIED MOSLEM

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 257, 22 June 1932, Page 8

MARRIED MOSLEM

YORKSHIRE GIRL ADMITS WAS NOT A LOVE MATCH. The Begum Shaukat Ali, formerly Miss Formsby, a Yorkahire girl, now known as Alesha, recently discussed her marriage to Maulala Shaukat Ali, the Indian Moslem leader, who is 60 years old, says the Dail Mail. "It would be nonsense," she said, "to pretend that this is a love match, but I respect my hushand. He is a great and fine old man, and wonderfully kind to me." She did not care to discuss her mother and other relatives in England. "I have three sisters," she said, "and II don't want their chances in life to he spoiled by something for which they are not responsible. "For the world my marriage to Shaukat Ali may he a nine day's wonder. For me it is a life's business." The Begum spoke affectionately of her son, aged three, who is now dead. "I cannot take the boy home to England to he dispised there," she said. "Obviously my home is India, and I will suffer for his sake. "I do like pretty things," she continued, "but I h'avfc finished with youth, although I am only 23. "I made mistakes long ago, hut now I am the wife of a great man. That is ali that matters." Of her school life in Yorkshire she said, "Once I loved all lcinds of sport. I was captain of the netball game. I played hoclcey and cricket, and was fond of dancing* and swimming. I even enjoyed playing football in . shorts, it sounds rather immodest to say that now." Asked what first made her think of life in the East, she replied, "Visits to many cinemas, I guess." She confessed that she had no Fr.glish friends in Bombay, but declned that she did not intend to rcmain in the seclusion of her new home. The Begum was weaving bright flowing robes and the veil and slippers of the true Maslem woman, but she admitted that she had not adopted an Indian style of dress permanently, but only to gain the confidenee of the people among whcm she Fves now, whose hostility has been aroused by her marriage.