Category Archives: Amazing Feats

From Madrasa to University of Southampton: Kolkata’s Lad Breaks Stereotypes with International Achievements

Amazing Feats, Education, World Opinion, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Kolkata, WEST BENGAL / Southampton, U. K :

How a Madrasa student Mohammad Israr became a Maritime Archaeologist in the UK

Mohammed Israr on December 19, after the convocation of University of Southampton and in his uniform as Maritime Archeologist | Arranged

Kolkata: 

Madrasa Chaap is an abusive or slang term increasingly used to demean Indian Muslims. However, such people should meet Mohammad Israr, who, in the last decade, completed not only his Madrasa education (along with secondary school) but also his senior secondary education, graduation, and a Master’s degree from India’s top college and university. Recently, he earned another Master’s degree from the University of Southampton, that too as a fully funded student.

Last week, Israr, a resident of Kolkata, received his MSc in Maritime Archaeology from the University of Southampton. The 24-year-old, who comes from a modest family, aims to pursue a Doctorate in Philosophy (PhD) at an international university before embarking on a full-time professional career.

Israr’s father, the late Mohammad Mushtaque, passed away when he was only four years old. His father was a small businessman. Since then, Israr’s elder brother, Mohammed Istiak, has been supporting him.

But how did the journey of a Madrasa student, starting in the lanes of Elliot Lane, lead to the United Kingdom?

Inspired by a Friend to Pursue Additional Education Beyond Madrasa

“Since my father passed away early in my life, I was sent to a Madrasa (Jamia Abdullah ine Masood, Kolkata) for studies. However, my childhood friend Hassan Abdul Ghaffar, who attended an English medium school and excelled in academics, inspired my interest in modern and professional courses,” Israr told eNewsroom over phone from Southampton.

His friend is now a software engineer working with Accenture.

“Because of Hassan, I developed an interest in studying at colleges and universities considered mainstream in our country. After my initial studies at Madrasa, I joined Jamia Arifia Madrasa in Allahabad (now Prayagraj), which was recognized by Aligarh Muslim University,” he explained.

Shaikh Abu Saeed, the Founder of Jamia Arifia | Arranged

Jamia Arifia’s curriculum includes English, Mathematics, Science, and Hindi alongside traditional subjects. However, Israr, with clear goals in mind, pursued senior secondary education at AMU.

“After completing higher secondary school, I earned a bachelor’s degree in History (Honours) from AMU. Then, I enrolled at Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad, and completed a Master’s degree in History there,” he mentioned.

While studying in Hyderabad, Israr worked at Genpact to support himself financially.

Balancing Work and Studies

Israr worked tirelessly to achieve his degrees. “I had to attend classes from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and then work from 3 p.m. until midnight. Sometimes, I had to work until 3 a.m. It was a tough schedule, but I succeeded,” he said.

Daring to Dream Big

Israr’s story is not just inspiring for Madrasa students but also for those pursuing modern education.

“After my Master’s, I applied for a fully funded MSc in Maritime Archaeology at the University of Southampton. Although I came from an arts background, I challenged myself to pursue a science-based Master’s degree. Initially, it was difficult, but I began enjoying it. Archaeology is a part of history, but the study of maritime archaeology is still uncommon, especially in India. Nonetheless, I completed the course successfully,” said Israr, who proudly embraces his Madrasa background in ‘New India.’

“In my journey so far, my mother, Amna Khatoon, has been my backbone, supporting me in every decision,” he added.

source: http://www.enewsroom.in / eNews Room India / Home>Bengal> Education / by Shanawaz Akhtar / December 28th, 2024

Two Muslim youths secure first and second rank in CA exam

Amazing Feats, Education - Gold Medallists, Toppers, Merits, Achievers (wef. June 12th, 2023), , , , , , , , ,

Kota, RAJASTHAN / Koday Village , GUJARAT :

Kota’s Shadab Hussain and Shahid Husen Shokat Menon of Koday village, Gujarat both secured top two positions

Shadab Hussain (Left), and Shahid Shokat Memon, first and second rank holder of CA Exam

Kota/Kolkata:

He was frantically trying to find out his result online. But slow internet connectivity was playing a truant. A quick call made to his office colleague brought the sweetest news to his ears. He was in a sense of disbelief.

“When my office friend called me back, informing me about me having secured the first rank in CA examination, I was in a denial mode. I had heard that the president had called the topper and I had not received any such calls. But later, I realized that I had actually topped when the President of India called me to congratulate me on my achievement,” he shared.

CA Shadab Hussain with his family members

Overcoming adversities

Meet Kota’s Shadab Hussain, the tailor’s son, who made it to rank one in his first attempt for the Chartered Accountant (CA) exam this year. Shadab, overcame all adversities to make it big in his life. However, despite all the hard work and labour put in, he feels that his father is the bigger hero. “He is a ladies tailor and only a matric pass. My mother, on the other hand, is a school dropout, but they never compromised with our education. My three sisters are all graduates and my father kept motivating me to work. He always believed that I could top the CA exam,” he revealed.

However, the boy from Kota, who has kind of written history, by becoming the first Muslim to top the CA exam (old syllabus), had to face many financial constraints. He even took up a job as an accountant at a private firm. “It was really difficult for me. I used to study from 6 am to 10 am and then work from 11 am until six in the evening, following which I would again study till 10 pm. Long walks and badminton session were my way of distressing,” recounts Shadab, who now wants to join a big corporate house.

On being asked, why he chose to become a CA when aspirants come to Kota with the dream of cracking the engineering and medical entrance examinations, he replied, “The future at present looks bleak for the engineering aspirants. There are too many engineers around. That apart, it’s an expensive course, in comparison to doing MCom along with preparing to crack the CA exam.”

From Kota to Koday

CA Shahid Shokat Menon with his family members

Scoring only 13 marks lesser than Shadab, approximately 837 kilometres away from Kota, in Gujarat’s Koday village, is Shahid Husen Shokat Menon. United by their identity of being representative of the minority community, both have confronted their shares of adversities to make it to the first and second rank of one the most difficult examination to crack in India.

“I come from a small village in the Kutch region of Gujarat. My father is into business. So, financially it was not very difficult for us. But the biggest challenge was to travel 100 kilometres on a daily basis for my preparatory classes for the CA Integrated Professional Competence Course examination,” revealed Shahid.

Even as a school student, he had to travel 10 kilometres a day to his alma mater, St Xavier’s School. Commerce, as a subject had always interested him, hence CA was an obvious career choice for the 23-year-old. Surprisingly, when he had expressed his desire to become a CA, his family, where almost everyone is a businessman, supported him in every possible way.

He said, “When I took the decision of cracking the CA exam, I gave my 100 per cent for the preparation and left the rest to the almighty. I believed that since I had put in my best, my result would also be good.”

What it means for the community?

On being asked what it meant for the community, he said, “Two Muslims securing the top two rank for the CA exam is definitely good news for the community. Our success story for sure will inspire many. It feels great when leaders message to congratulate.”

Answering the same question Kota’s pride, Shadab said, “It’s really amazing to see Muslim youths performing well in competitive exams. It will also make people believe that hard work can help one scale any obstacle. Our success will make many realize that oue religion is not a barrier to our community and individual success. Talent and hard work are all that is needed to make it big in life.”

He also added, “Apart from joining a big corporate house, I also plan to do something for students from financially backward families. Once in a job, I will try my best to support the education of at least three students on an annual basis. We need to help such students so that the poor in our country get empowered.” Shahid too aspires to join a big corporate firm to make it big professionally.

source: http://www.enewsroom.in / eNews Room India / Home>Freshly Brewed / by Shabina Akhtar / January 27th, 2019

Muslim Girl’s Mastery of Sanskrit, Cultural Harmony Inspires Assam

Amazing Feats, Education - Gold Medallists, Toppers, Merits, Achievers (wef. June 12th, 2023), Uniquely Indian - Inter Faith (wef. February 08th, 2023), Women/Girls(since May26-2021)

Guwahati, ASSAM :

Ten-year-old Alia Nasreen from Nalbari excels in both the Quran and the Bhagavad Gita

Guwahati :

Assam, known for its diversity of races, languages, and cultures, has once again demonstrated the spirit of inter-religious harmony and unity through the remarkable achievements of a young Muslim girl from Nalbari.

Alia Nasreen Rehman, a ten-year-old student from Nalbari’s Shantipur, has captivated her community with her mastery of both the Quranic verses and the Sanskrit shlokas of the Bhagavad Gita. A student of Vivekananda Kendriya Vidyalaya, Alia’s fluency in these sacred texts has made her a symbol of cultural inclusion and mutual respect.

Her father, Mukib-ur-Rehman, believed in the importance of understanding different religions, saying, “I am teaching my daughter the Gita because we all need to know about each other’s religions. We should not shy away from learning and reading anything.”

Mukib-ur-Rehman ensures that Alia receives a balanced religious education. “As a Muslim girl, I am also teaching her the Holy Quran and Hadith. We send her to the mosque to learn Arabic. She prays with me, although she is still very young for formal prayers,” he added.

Alia’s linguistic talent extends beyond spiritual texts. She can fluently recite Arabic alongside Sanskrit verses, impressing both her local community and educators. Her achievements have earned praise from both Muslims and Hindus, reflecting the spirit of coexistence Assam is known for.

However, her family’s progressive approach has not been without challenges. Mukib-ur-Rehman acknowledged that some within the Muslim community have criticised his decision to teach her the Gita. “There are some ignorant people who criticise her, but we ignore their words. We should study everything and remove all kinds of ignorance,” he stated firmly.

Alia excels in academics and the arts. She is a talented dancer, performing in Satriya and Kathak styles, and has won awards for singing and painting. “She has not taken any formal dance training, but this year, I have enrolled her in an art school where she will receive proper guidance,” said her father.

Recently, Alia was honoured with the prestigious Shilpi Sadhana Award from the Qazi Para Club in Behanpur, Nalbari District, for her exceptional talent. This recognition highlights her growing influence as a young ambassador of peace and understanding.

The support of Alia’s parents, Mukib-ur-Rehman and Papuri Begum, has been instrumental in her development. They ensure she receives quality education but also teach her about her culture, religion, and the importance of harmony. “We want her to become a real human being who respects all cultures,” said Mukib-ur-Rehman.

Alia’s story continues to inspire many in Assam, reinforcing the state’s identity as a land of unity in diversity. Her example stands as a powerful message against communal divisions, showing how understanding different faiths can strengthen societal bonds.

source: http://www.clarionindia.net / Clarion India / Home> Editor’s Pick> India> Indian Muslim / by Team Clarion / January 09th, 2025

Maharashtra: Latur’s Gaus Sheikh Defies Disability, Excels in Academics

Amazing Feats

Mahapur Village (near Latur), MAHARASHTRA :

The success saga of a youth who was born without hands. He was able to conquer disability with determination

Latur :

Disability may limit the body, but it cannot confine the spirit when fuelled by determination and support. This fact is exemplified by Gaus Sheikh, a young student from Mahapur, a village near Latur city in Maharashtra, whose extraordinary journey of resilience and success is a source of inspiration for many.

Born without both hands, Gaus Sheikh’s life was marked by challenges from the very beginning. His father, an employee at an ashram school, and his mother, a homemaker, raised him with love and positivity, considering him a blessing from Allah rather than a burden. Despite his physical condition, they nurtured his abilities, believing in his potential.

When Gaus started school, his peers wrote with their hands, but he was unable to do the same. Undeterred, his parents and teachers encouraged him to write by holding a pencil with his toes. Through relentless practice, he not only mastered the art of writing with his foot but also developed exceptional handwriting that could make anyone envious.

Academically, Gaus continued to shine. He consistently topped his class, scoring an impressive 89% in his 10th-grade exams and 78% in the science stream in 12th grade. Currently, he is pursuing his arts degree at Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University, Latur.

Despite the allowances granted to disabled students, such as extra time during examinations, Gaus has never sought such concessions. Instead, he completed his papers within the standard time of three hours and often with additional material, showcasing his exceptional capabilities and determination.

Reflecting on his achievements, Gaus humbly credits his parents for their unwavering support and sacrifices. He says, “Those who are aware of the hard work of parents, if their steps do not go astray, they lead us in the right direction. Do not hurt your parents who themselves bear the heat and rain and give you shelter.”

Gaus has adapted to his physical limitations with remarkable resilience. Describing his daily life, he shared, “Since I don’t have hands, my parents help with my bathing and feeding. However, I do as much as possible on my own. I eat food using a spoon with my feet, and I even operate my mobile phone with my toes.”

His aspirations are equally inspiring. Gaus dreams of becoming a chartered officer and has already begun preparing for competitive examinations with unwavering dedication. He expressed, “I want to become an officer and serve society. I believe hard work and consistency can overcome any obstacle.”

His story is not one of seeking sympathy but rather a testament to strength and perseverance. “I don’t cry for not having hands. I practised writing with my toes, and my teachers and family supported me. I even started drawing, and today, I can draw beautiful pictures with a brush held in my toes. I can also play cricket using my feet,” Gaus shared proudly.

His teachers recall his journey with immense pride. One of them noted, “Gaus was never seen as different. His spirit always stood out. His handwriting was better than many students who wrote with their hands. He is truly an inspiration.”

Gaus Sheikh’s story stands as a powerful message for society. It challenges the perception of disability, proving that physical limitations cannot define a person’s capabilities. Through hard work, support, and an unyielding spirit, Gaus has turned his struggles into milestones, reminding us all that true success is measured by perseverance, not physical perfection.

source: http://www.clarionindia.net / Clarion India / Home> Editor’s Pick> India> Indian Muslim / by Team Clarion / January 04th, 2025

Yaseen Shan Muhammad’s Inspiring Saga: A Delivery Boy to a Civil Judge in Kerala

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Palakkad District, KERALA :

A detailed look at the pages of Yaseen’s book of life would give immense hope to all those dumped and depressed and staring at a bleak future

New Delhi :

All the adjectives to describe a person’s resilience would fade into oblivion when one talks about the dogged determination of a young delivery man catapulting onto the prestigious seat of a civil judge at the young age of 29.

The saga of Yaseen Shan Muhammad is bound to inspire all those striving to attain glory and success in any field. His courage of conviction and sincerity of purpose helped Yaseen a great deal in beating all the stacked odds and coming up with trumps in the Kerala Judicial Services Examinations 2024 qualifying to be a civil judge. His story is phenomenal; the key to success, according to him, is sheer determination and hard work. A detailed look at the pages of Yaseen’s book of life would give immense hope to all those dumped and depressed and staring at a bleak future.

LiveLaw interacted with Yaseen recently and shared his story to influence and motivate the young souls, considered the future of the country.  

Yaseen hails from Palakkad district of Kerala. His mother, a school dropout at 6th standard, got married at the age of 14 and divorced at 19. She gave birth to Yaseen, her first child when she was barely 15. He never had any contact with his father. The single mother had to look after her two children and their grandmother. She worked for daily wages and continues to be an Asha worker, the website said.

The family got a roof over its head through a state government housing scheme for the poor. Yaseen always wore used clothes and had no money to buy books. Forced by economic necessity, at an early age Yaseen started working as a newspaper and milk delivery boy and supported his family, but continued his studies diligently. There were times when he worked at construction sites as a labourer.

Yaseen recalled that he was a below-average student during his school days as he did not have sufficient time to focus on his studies and there was none to guide him. After his 12th standard, he did a diploma course in electronics. The diploma being a skill-based course, gave him more opportunity to find a job. He took up a small job in Gujarat for a year and returned to Kerala from where he graduated in Public Administration and then turned to pursue his legal education. He secured 46th rank in the state law entrance examination and got admission to the prestigious Government Law College, Ernakulam. During his graduation, he gave tuition to school kids. While pursuing a law degree, he worked as a delivery boy for Zomato. But the Covid pandemic forced him to forego his paltry source of income.

After enrolling as an advocate in March 2023 he began his career as a junior lawyer to Advocate Shahul Hameed at Pattambi Munsif –Magistrate Court. Interestingly two other lawyers from the same office, Shahina NV and Reshma NR had also cleared the Kerala Judicial Service Examinations and they encouraged him to prepare for the examination. Yaseen fondly remembers that having a senior like Shahul Hameed helped him immensely as he got proper guidance and an opportunity amidst daily court work. Securing second rank in the Kerala Judicial Service examination was something that he had never expected. His goal was to clear the examinations and secure a job. This was his second attempt and he had secured 58th rank in the first attempt but could not clear the mains examinations.

Yaseen started giving tuition to law students, helping them prepare for judicial service examinations, which in turn helped his own preparations as well. Yaseen expressed his deep gratitude to a close friend who supported him financially during his struggling time. “I tried for a personal loan which I did not get during Covid-19 and with exams approaching, I wasn’t able to work either. Looking back, I realise that many people like my close friend, Anjitha helped me navigate through difficult times during my LL.B. journey. Their support played a crucial role in helping me get through those challenges,” Yaseen was quoted by LiveLaw as saying.

Yaseen mentioned that he did not believe in offering motivational tips to others, but firmly believes that hard work eventually pays off. “Read judgments. Have subject knowledge. I don’t think there is a shortcut. Rather than reading more and more things, try to understand what you have read. For me, the main exam was the most difficult part. Since prelims were based on MCQs, I was confident of qualifying. My weak point was the English language. For Mains, Paper I is English. Since I studied in a Malayalam-medium school, it was difficult for me. Another difficulty was writing for a total of 12 hours in two consecutive days,” he said.

Yaseen believes it is mostly the circumstances that determine the growth of a person. “Maybe some privileges helped me enter the judicial services and overcome my situation. Being a male in this male-dominated society is an obvious advantage. If I were a girl born into similar circumstances, maybe society would not have afforded me the same privilege to overcome these difficulties. Maybe I have won, but a majority of the people with the same circumstances have failed despite attempts. It is not their fault but because the society is unequal. The majority have to give up on their dreams or are unable to study because of this inequality. I understand that I am one among the few who came up. I wish to represent the people coming from similar circumstances,” he said.

Yaseen’s ambition now is to study for post-graduation in law, if time permits. Beating his young age, Yaseen has a life story of hardships and hard work to tell the world. The rigours of his life have helped him understand the real meaning of empathy and resilience and he intends to bring these qualities into his role in the judiciary.

“I want to work by being part of the system. I will do my job honestly, sincerely, and as per my conscience.” He sees the role of a judge as an opportunity to help people and to do justice.

source: http://www.clarionindia.net / Clarion India / Home> Editor’s Pick> India> Indian Muslim / by Behzad Parvez, Clarion India / December 30th, 2024

Kishanganj born scientist develops Hepatitis-C vaccine in British university

Amazing Feats, Science & Technology, Scientists (wef. August 27th,m 2023), World Opinion,

Thakurganj (Kishanganj), BIHAR / Southampton(Hampshire), U.K :

UK research team makes significant discovery on path to develop vaccine against global viruses

It’s very pleasing to know that a major breakthrough happened in the global biological science research and innovation of a life-saving vaccine has Bihar connection. Dr. Mumtaz Naiyer, a postdoctoral scientist at University of Southampton, UK originally hailing from Kishanganj (Bihar) with his team has made a significant discovery in efforts to develop a vaccine against Zika, dengue and Hepatitis C viruses that affect millions of people around the world. In a study published in Science Immunology, researchers have shown that natural killer cells (NK cells), which are a fundamental part of the body’s immune system, can recognise many different viruses including global pathogens such as Zika, dengue and Hepatitis C viruses, through a single receptor called KIR2DS2.

A native of Thakurganj (Kishanganj), Dr. Mumtaz Naiyer, the first author of the paper, said: “This is a well-presented study and a significant advancement in this field that identifies the important role of the receptor KIR2DS2. Since I come from India, which has thousands of cases of dengue each year, I can understand the suffering of patients with dengue. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to ease the suffering of these dengue-affected patients.”

The study, which was funded by the Wellcome Trust and the Medical Research Council, analysed DNA from more than 300 patients exposed to the Hepatitis C virus, which showed that the KIR2DS2 receptor was associated with successfully clearing the virus.  The team then identified that the immune system targeted the NS3 helicase protein of this using the receptor and found that it prevented the virus multiplying. They went on to demonstrate that this same mechanism could be important for many different viruses for example the Zika and dengue viruses, which also contain a region within their NS3 helicase protein that is recognised by the KIR2DS2 receptor.

The researchers now need to determine whether these KIR2DS2+ NK cells are protective during acute flaviviral infections, and are hoping to develop a vaccine that targets natural killer cells.  They believe that a similar process could be used to target cancer.

Lead researcher Salim Khakoo, Professor of Hepatology, said the findings are very exciting and could change the way viruses are targeted by vaccines but warned that the research is still at an early stage, and animal studies/clinical trials will be needed to test the findings.

Professor Khakoo added: “Cancer treatments that use the body’s own immune system are becoming more common. Our findings present a completely new strategy for virus therapeutics which could be easily translated into the field of cancer. The next few years are going to be very exciting in this field.”

The research paper can be accessed by here: http://immunology.sciencemag.org/lookup/doi/10.1126/sciimmunol.aal5296

source: http://www.milligazette.com / The Milli Gazette / Home> News> Science & Technology / by The Milli Gazette Online / October 02nd, 2017

For the love of teaching

Amazing Feats, Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Education - Gold Medallists, Toppers, Merits, Achievers (wef. June 12th, 2023), Karnataka (under research project), Leaders, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA / Billings (Montana), USA :

A Full circle

Tasneem Fathima Khaleel

Tasneem Fathima Khaleel has had a successful career in academia. However, quite remarkably, she came back to where she started – teaching. M A Siraj reports.

Few people end their careers where they first began; Professor Tasneem Fathima Khaleel is among those few. “I am excited about the opportunity to finish my career in the classroom. And, with a little help, I will be teaching in a new state-of-the-art…facility,” says Tasneem, the first-ever woman to have obtained a doctorate in the State of Mysore in 1970. Prior to returning as a professor of Botany, she served as the dean of faculty at College of Arts & Sciences for a decade at the Montana State University at Billings (MUSB).

Paving a new path

Tasneem has been teaching Botany in the United States for over 40 years and has received many awards for her teaching and research. She has headed, or has been a member on as many as 23 different academic bodies or advisory councils in the US. For her contribution to research, with nearly 50 research publications on subjects ranging from cyto-embriology to plant reproduction, she was awarded the ‘Outstanding Research Award’ in 1995 by the Montana Research Academy and has also won the Faculty Excellence Award five times.

The year 2014 was a special year for Tasneem – she had the rare honour of an award being named after her, for mentoring at the MUSB. Reno Charette, director for American-Indian Education, was adjudged the winner of the first ‘Prof Tasneem Fathima Khaleel Award for Mentoring’.

Tasneem studied in Bengaluru, before heading to the US in 1975 after marriage. An alumna of Central College, Bengaluru, she has coveted every opportunity to visit her ‘City of Gardens’ – which she ruefully admits is more a part of nostalgia rather than reality.

A passionate researcher, she recalls that very few women could be seen in higher studies in those days. Only a couple of them were pursuing PhD while she was registered in Bangalore University as well as teaching biology as an assistant professor at the University of Agricultural Sciences at Hebbal between 1968 and 1975. Her study of ‘Flora at the GKVK Campus’ and ‘Weeds in Karnataka’ are still quoted as seminal works.

Writing her own destiny

Tasneem had finished her BSc and MSc by the time she was barely 19 years old. Wanting to be a teacher, she had put in her application, but was rejected, as the dean told her, “You look like a school girl, how would the students take you seriously?”

Instead, he directed her to register for a PhD programme, which had just been started in the Bangalore University. The Doctorate took longer than usual to complete because there was lack of guidance and direction, and the programme had several fits and starts.

Finally, at 26 when she got her her doctorate, she was being looked as ‘a confirmed spinster’ in her own cultural surroundings. Marriage was nowhere on her mental radar. It took her brother several sittings to convince her of getting married.

Tasneem travelled a long and twisted path – one shaped by her culture and her drive to excel, to become the distinguished professor that she is today. For most Americans who had only preliminary idea of Islam, a woman with covered head and such drive for excellence and perseverance was a combination of incongruities. “Women have rights in Islam. Muslim women didn’t even have to fight for those rights. The religion has given them those rights,” she says.

Dr Stn Waitr, her successor, says, “Dean Khaleel has raised the level of rigour, excellence and success in the College of Arts & Sciences to a standard that should serve as a model for the entire institution.” Interestingly, Tasneem even built a herbarium at the MUSB, which has around 17,000 specimens and is currently engaged in digitising it. She recalls with pride that she was the most productive member on the faculty of science at the MSU, which has nearly 22,000 students today in two campuses. Tasneem’s most significant discovery was the finding of mammalian steroids in plants, which she says, are responsible for sex expression in plants.

Author of four books, 10 external and 17 internal grants at the MSUB, Tasneem is excited about beginning her teaching career once again. “It had never ended. I had maintained a room in my department building, even while I headed the faculty,” she says.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Content / by M.A. Siraj / June 26th, 2015

MSUB readies to part with long-time Professor Dr. Khaleel

Amazing Feats, Education - Gold Medallists, Toppers, Merits, Achievers (wef. June 12th, 2023), Karnataka (under research project), Leaders, NRI's / PIO's, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA / Billings (Montana), USA :

After teaching for over 40 years, Dr. Tasneem Khaleel is retiring

MSUB readies to part with long-time Professor Dr. Khaleel

Retirement party in honor of Dr. Khaleel set for 2 p.m., April 26 in the Beartooth Room in the Student Union Building. Food and refreshments will be served.

Retirement party flyer here

Contacts:

University Relations, 657-2266

MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES — Hanging on the wall in Dr. Tasneem Khaleel’s office are the many awards and accolades marking the dedication and service she has given to Montana State University Billings over the past several decades.

Khaleel is retiring at the end of this semester and her presence and legacy will be with the science department and University for years to come.

Dr. Christine Shearer, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said that without the dedication and perseverance of Khaleel, the College and its students would not be where it is today.

“Dr. Khaleel has devoted her professional career to Montana State University Billings in a variety of capacities. She has been a tireless researcher and developer of the internationally-renowned Herbarium, a deeply committed advocate for the sciences and science education, a leader of a complex and diverse unit, and has been a staunch supporter and mentor of female scientists and academic professionals in all disciplines,” Shearer said. “Her tenacity and resilience advanced the College of Arts and Sciences and its programs, including the establishment of the Women’s and Gender Studies Center, which serves the university and the community. Her involvement in Girls-n-Science impacted hundreds of young women planning STEM careers.”

Khaleel has been paving the way for women in STEM since the beginning of her career. She has the honor of being the first woman recipient of a Ph.D from Bangalore University, India, where she graduated with a degree in Botany in 1970.

In 1976, Khaleel would begin her tenure with MSUB, as would her signature project: the establishment, maintenance, and management of the internationally known MSUB Herbarium.

“The Herbarium is one of my professional accomplishments that I am most proud of,” Khaleel said.

Dr. Tasneem Khaleel, center, assists Heidi Carter, left, and an unknown student during a lab experiment. (Photo circa 1980)

Post-retirement, she will continue being involved in the herbarium, which includes some 16,000 vascular plant specimens, some of which date back to the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Herbarium serves as a tool for basic research in plant systematics, ecology, phytogeography, and evolution.

While Khaleel’s career is highlighted by the 11 years she served as dean for the College of Arts and Sciences, from 2004 to 2014, she has no regrets to returning to the classroom before retirement.

Throughout her time on campus, she moved up from an assistant professor to department chair and says coming full circle made her last two years with students, “the best.”

“I wanted to retire as a faculty member,” Khaleel said. “Having that time as Dean allowed me to hear so many perspectives that my focus shifted when I returned to the classroom. My focus shifted from teaching to learning, to becoming a mentor and being more supportive.

These last two years have been very rewarding.”

This year, Khaleel received the Walter and Charlotte Pippenger Excellence in Innovation Award.

For the last eight years the Tasneem and Shafiq Khaleel Endowment for Scholarships to Science has provided $1,000 awards to two students.

source: http://www.msubillings.edu/ucam/releases.2017/2017apr19Khaleel.htm / University Communications and Marketing / April 19th, 2017 / Montana State Univeristy Billings

Dr. Tasneem Khaleel – Professor, botany and biology, Billings, MT

Amazing Feats, Education - Gold Medallists, Toppers, Merits, Achievers (wef. June 12th, 2023), Karnataka (under research project), Leaders, NRI's / PIO's, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA / Billings (Montana), USA :

Tell me about your education?

My Ph.D is from India, at Bangalore University and I was the first woman to get a Ph.D from that university. I started education at a very young age because I started school when I was about 3. In those days there was not an age limit to start school, when your parents felt you were ready they took you to school. From then on it was up to you. When I started off, there was no kindergarten or pre-school, it was first grade. I sat on the teacher’s lap most of the time because I was so little.

Why did you study botany?

When I was a student in India, botany was a man’s field. They did not really take women in graduate courses for botany because they look at botany as a field science. Since the graduate seats were so limited they didn’t take a whole lot of graduate students. They thought if they took in a girl student, the only option for her would be to teach botany, not go out to the field.  They still looked at women in those days as better at home and in the classroom than in the field. That was a challenge for me. I just wanted to prove to them one could be in the field as well.

When did you know you wanted to become an educator?

Oh I loved teaching right from the beginning. One of the reasons you do your masters in any discipline in India was so that you can teach in college. When I graduated with my masters degree in botany, I was 19 years old at the time and so I went off to find a job. There was one person who was in charge of recruiting and allocating all of the lecturer positions. So I talked to him and said, I need a job but he took one look at me and said, you look like you just came out of high school. He didn’t think I would be impressive enough in front of a classroom and to be able to control a classroom, the kids wouldn’t take me seriously. So I sat there and cried, I wanted the job and he refused to give me something that I had a passion to teach. I didn’t want to keep all the knowledge to myself. So then he said how about if you went and did a Ph.D. and then came back a few years later and by then you will have grown up a bit. I took him up on that option but there was no Ph.D. program at the university so he said he would help start one, which he did. And then we got the university grant fellowship to support me and I did my Ph.D. By then I wasn’t interested in going to him anymore to teach because people were after me to come and teach being I was the first woman with a Ph.D. there.

Tell us about your passion, building the herbarium at MSUB?

The value of the herbarium is based on what plant collections you have in it. When I first came here there were just two wooden cabinets here, with maybe 500 specimens. And they said, this is your herbarium. It was shocking because where I came from there is a whole building dedicated to the herbarium. So I challenged myself to build a herbarium here.  The very first grant I wrote was to buy herbarium cabinets. The next step I did was to call out to local agents here who had small collections to see if they were willing to consolidate to a central location. The US Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Land Management and Rocky Mountain College were all very willing to give collections and we incorporated those in our herbarium. Over the years, the herbarium is a part of the national database with about 16,000 specimens.

Of the classes you teach, what is your favorite?

All of my classes are my favorite classes. I love teaching. I teach freshman biology, in fact that’s one of my most favorite classes to be honest. That’s when students are first starting out and I’m introducing them to biology for the first time and to get them excited about that. I really enjoy doing that and it gives me opportunities to mentor students because they’re just starting out. My second most favorite is plant systematics, they are both equally enjoyable classes for me. I just love teaching botany.

source: http://www.msubillings.edu/snapshots/2015-16/Khaleel.htm / msubillings.edu / by Cassie Winter, University Communications and Marketing / October 09th, 2015 / Montana State Univeristy Billings

MCIE Award for Support of Students with Disabilities

Amazing Feats, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA / Billings (Montana), USA :

Professor Tasneem Khaleel, Ph.D.

Professor Tasneem Khaleel is an extraordinary educator, who has set the standard for excellence among her peers and captured the hearts and impacted the lives of her students through exceptional teaching and caring.

For four decades, Professor Khaleel’s leadership in the Department of Biological and Physical Sciences has been innovative and visionary, influencing generations of science students.

Her absolute passion for supporting her students as well as MSUB’s mission have been recognized with numerous honors and awards. But, this year Dr. Khaleel is the recipient of an award she says she is proudest of—the inaugural Faculty Award for Exceptional Support of Students with Disabilities.

Tasneem’s positive nature and friendly manner are a welcoming presence, explained by her student nominator.

“Dr. Khaleel’s guidance has helped me adapt to college life. She patiently taught me how to use lab equipment and spent extra hours in the lab helping me with my assignments. I have talked to other students with disabilities, and they agree that she goes the extra mile to assure they have a fair chance,” her student nominator said.

“This reward is very meaningful to me,” she said. “These students are special to me. Anybody can teach an ‘A’ student—they just need pointed in the right direction. But to bring a student who has no confidence in their abilities due to his/her disability, who has to compete with the ‘A’ students in class, and to have the courage to come to class everyday. I think this is the biggest reward of teaching.”

She adds that she thinks it takes more courage on the part of the student than that of the instructor.

“The least the instructor can do is be supportive and give these students the self assurance they need to perform. Nothing is beyond their abilities.”

She is an example of someone who does not treat her role simply as a checklist of duties, but a mentor who uses her position to educate, inspire and encourage those around her.

As one colleague notes, “Tasneem is an exemplary educator and leader: She is innovative, she thinks about teaching and learning far beyond her own discipline, and she inspires others to do the same.”

source: http://www.msubillings.edu/faculty/2016/khaleel.htm / Montana State University Billings