What does it mean to be a minority in India today? Is religion becoming the core of identity—for Hindus and Muslims? And why are safe spaces for women and marginalized communities more important than ever? In this episode of Beyond Borders, Aakriti Dhawan sits down with Sabah Khan—feminist activist, founder of Guftagoo, and co-founder of the NGO Parcham. From creating safe spaces for women to fighting majoritarian hate, Saba shares her front-line perspective on rising polarization, ghettoisation, and the shrinking idea of a secular India. We talk about: – Why Guftagoo was created exclusively for women – How Parcham uses football to unite communities – Whether India is becoming more divided – The political narrative around Muslims – Forgotten Muslim freedom fighters – What a just, secular India could look like – Advice for young people who want to “go beyond the border” 00:00 – Introduction 00:45 – Why she created Guftagoo: a safe space for women 02:00 – Why women need a place to “just be” without judgment 03:00 – How the community responded to Guftagoo 03:40 – The origin of Parcham & working with minorities 04:50 – Segregation and ghettoisation in cities like Bombay & Mumra 06:00 – Using football to bring Muslims and non-Muslims together 06:45 – Has religious division worsened in the last decade? 07:30 – Rising impunity & impact on Muslim identity 08:20 – Hijab, identity, and the politics of fear 09:10 – “Why don’t Muslims move to Islamic states?” — Responding to the narrative 10:15 – Forgotten Muslim freedom fighters & contributions to India 11:20 – The original idea of secular India 12:10 – Hate against minorities: Muslims, Dalits, Christians 13:00 – What Parcham wants India to look like in the next 5 years 14:00 – Advice to young people: “Your silence will not protect you” Disclaimer: This content is created for entertainment and conversational purposes only. We do not intend to hurt, offend, or target any individual or group. All views expressed are respectful and considerate. Aakriti Dhawan is a journalist and storyteller bridging India and Germany. Her podcast brings raw, thoughtful conversations on politics, gender, culture, animals, and the world we live in. #BeyondBordersPodcast#PodcastForChange#InspiringStories#WomenEmpowerment#IndoGerman#GlobalPerspectives#conversation#India #ReligionInIndia #IndianPolitics #MinorityRights #MuslimIdentity #HinduMuslim #WomensRightsIndia #FeminismIndia #SafeSpaces #SecularIndia #BeyondBordersPodcast #AakritiDhawan #SabaKhan #Indiansingermany#AnimalWelfareIndia#MeaningfulConversations 🔔 Subscribe for more 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1YR7... 📲 Follow us on Instagram: / beyond_borderspod