Category Archives: Women/Girls(since May26-2021)

Amina Arif Kadiwala, an urdu medium student from Mumbai bags AIR 1 in NEET UG 2024

Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA :

Amina Arif Kadiwala

Amina Arif Kadiwala, an Urdu medium student, has achieved an extraordinary feat by securing the first position in the All India NEET UG 2024 examination. Hailing from Madni High School in Jogeshwari, Mumbai, Amina outshone approximately 25 lakh students across India to claim the top spot. Her success is particularly remarkable given the competitive nature of the exam and the high level of preparation required.

Amina’s journey to the pinnacle of NEET UG 2024 is a testament to her dedication, hard work, and perseverance. As an SSC student from an Urdu medium background, she faced numerous challenges but remained steadfast in her pursuit of excellence. Her achievement has not only brought pride to her family and school but also serves as an inspiration to countless other students from similar backgrounds.

Madni High School, known for its commitment to providing quality education, played a significant role in nurturing Amina’s talent. The school’s supportive environment and dedicated teachers provided her with the guidance and resources needed to excel in her studies. Amina’s accomplishment underscores the importance of providing equal educational opportunities to students from all linguistic and socio-economic backgrounds.

Aspiring to study MBBS, Kadiwala has studied till class 10 in Urdu and then took admission into SVKM’s Mithibai College. She completed her schooling at Madni High School, Jogeshwari.

She revealed that initially, it was a challenge for her as she was weak in English, but slowly she learned the language and aced the exam

Amina’s success story has garnered widespread acclaim and admiration. Her exceptional performance in the NEET UG 2024 has opened doors to some of the best medical colleges in the country, paving the way for a promising career in medicine. As she embarks on this new journey, Amina is determined to continue working hard and making a positive impact in the field of healthcare.

In an era where the importance of education cannot be overstated, Amina Arif Kadiwala’s achievement stands as a beacon of hope and motivation for aspiring students across India, demonstrating that with determination and hard work, any obstacle can be overcome.

source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Indian Muslim> Positive Story / by Muslim Mirror Staff / June 05th, 2024

Rummana Hussain and the ghost of female Muslim heroes

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA / New York, U.S.A / Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA :

Rummana Hussain’s conceptual artistic imprint on the state of India is relevant now more than ever. Dealing in the currency of feminist expression, postcolonial thought and perennial ideas, Rummana’s India is both doubly colourful and doubly dark.

In an inaugural show in its new West Village location, New York’s Institute of Arab and Islamic Art presents The Tomb of Begum Hazrat Mahal an exhibition encapsulating Rummana Hussain’s artistic ruminations about the space our bodies occupy in present and past through one of India’s most prominent Muslim woman.

Bangalore-born Rummana Hussain (1952-1999) was a pioneer in conceptual and performance-based political art in India during the 1980s and 1990s.

She was part of the Sahmat collective, a platform for liberal, secular engagés multidisciplinary artists including Safdar Hashmi, Bharti Kher, and Manjeet Bawa among others.

In this recreation of The Tomb of Begum Hazrat Mahal (1997), the respectful visitor enters a one-room shrine.

“In seeing The Tomb of Begum Hazrat Mahal today, I remembered Hussain’s bold feminist reclamation of her Muslim body through the reincarnated aura of Begum Hazrat Mahal to question monolithic identity, national narratives, and systemic marginalisation”

Various objects signify a site of lamentation, pride, and remembrance.

On the floor, occupying a central location, 12 votive-like papaya halves sit atop a mattress of uncooked rice, evoking both an altar to womanhood and fertility, and a symbolic funerary pyre.

In front of them stands an installation of offerings comprising amulets, dried roses, shells, and incense sticks, tied in a rope.  

Against the three other walls is a calligraphic sculpture from rusty metal that reminds of a sacred spell and the embodiment of time, and an image frieze of detailed black and white triumphant photographs showing a woman’s arms, wrists, and hands.

In one of these frames, a woman raises her fist up as if calling others to join in. In another, she holds an ominous knife. Images of flames are interjected between the simulacra of archives.

Rummana Hussain, Tomb of Begum Hazrat Mahal (Detail) 1997 © Estate of Rummana Hussain. Image Courtesy Talwar Gallery

The room is devoted to a woman, an invisible physical body which radiates from each of the static objects. Begum Hazrat Mahal (1820-1879), née Muhammadi Khanum, was born into a poor family.

She was sold and entered the royal harem of art-loving Wajid Ali Shah, the last king of Awadh, a kingdom that occupied the area of the present-day northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Trained as a harem attendant, she would eventually rise to become the king’s concubine – one of his favourites. Beyond her charms, Begum Hazrat Mahal owes her entrance on the historical stage foremost to her political prowess and courage.

The British-owned East India Company operated in Awadh since the early 19th century. The Company increased its grip in 1856, when it directly seized control of Awadh, citing poor governance and the need to uphold the rule of law to justify their annexation (an excuse known as the “Doctrine of Lapse”).

A Chief Commissioner was rapidly appointed. This caused the king to leave Lucknow and seek refuge in Calcutta. The Queen Mother of Awadh petitioned Queen Victoria in person for her son’s rights, in vain. Wives, including Begum Hazrat Mahal were left behind in occupied Lucknow.

Rummana Hussain, Tomb of Begum Hazrat Mahal (Detail) 1997 © Estate of Rummana Hussain. Image Courtesy Talwar Gallery

After this brutal annexation, discontent grew in several parts of India against the British and the interference of the Company, culminating in a mutiny and revolt in May 1857. Rebels looked to Awadh’s Crown Prince as a successor to his absent father when they captured Lucknow.

But Birjis Qadr, the son of Begum Hazrat Mahal and Wajid Ali Shah, was still a child then, too young to assume power. In his stead, Begum Hazrat Mahal took over Awadh’s revolutionary affairs, actively leading the armed revolt during her regency, towards the reinstatement of Indian rule over Awadh in July 1857.

She continued resisting British rule well after the retaking of Awadh by the occupying troops in 1858, as she refused various offers of collaboration. She died in exile in Kathmandu, Nepal, as an unwavering freedom fighter. Today, a humble stele near Kathmandu’s Jama Masjid marks her tomb.

Rummana Hussain, Living on the Margins, 1995, performance at the National Centre for Performing Arts, Mumbai

When Rummana Hussain first showed The Tomb of Begum Hazrat Mahal to the public in 1997, it was during a period marked by the tragic aftermath of inter-communal violence.

During the 1980s, radical Hindu nationalists campaigned to build a temple on the site believed to be the birthplace of Rama, where a mosque had been erected since the 16th century.

They took to the streets of Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, en masse in 1992. Security lost control of the crowd which eventually stormed into the site, demolishing the mosque.

This ignited weeks of violent clashes between Hindu and Muslim communities, causing the deaths of thousands. A later investigation on the destruction of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya pointed out the responsibility of leaders and supporters of the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the political party of India’s incumbent Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.

Babri Masjid launched a turning point in Hussain’s artistic journey towards a more intimate, politically-conscious form of expression. In Dissected Projection (1993), she explored the multilayered meaning of ruins and dislocation through an allegorical work that exposes a fracture, a shattered piece of terracotta.

In her show Multiples and Fragments (1994), Hussain engaged with historical and domestic oppression in an installation of pigmented pieces of fabric on a clothesline, to denounce the colonial extraction of indigo in India and unpaid housework traditionally performed by women and girls. Labour is always physical and violence first hurts the most vulnerable.

In her 1995 performance Living on the Margins, Hussain screamed while holding papaya halves, shapes that represent a universal vessel and the female anatomy.

Her works have been exhibited in the India Pavilion of the Venice Biennale in 2019, and in multiple institutions across India, Canada, Australia, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States during her lifetime and posthumously.

In seeing The Tomb of Begum Hazrat Mahal today, I remembered Hussain’s bold feminist reclamation of her Muslim body through the reincarnated aura of Begum Hazrat Mahal to question monolithic identity, national narratives, and systemic marginalisation. She wanted to say, we can turn the hate in love, we can turn the oppressed, the victims, into heroes they will one day celebrate. We can tell our own stories. They matter.

Outside, scores of brunch-goers live, love, laugh. If it’s dissonance we are meant to acknowledge, I acknowledge it. I closed my eyes in the silent white cube of the Institute of Arab and Islamic Art and saw images of the relentless violence and bullying Muslim women continue to face in Narendra Modi’s India.

In this reconstituted tomb, it’s hard to feel alone. Around me swarmed many other ghosts, of ordinary Muslim women – from Afghanistan to Iran and beyond – crushed and slain in their contemporary defence of freedom and justice against oppressors. Many have been killed in their fight.

A shrine calls for a quiet prayer, I realised.

Farah Abdessamad is a New York City-based essayist/critic, from France and Tunisia.

Follow her on Twitter: @farahstlouis

source: http://www.newarab.com / The New Arab / Home> Features>Culture / by Farah Abdessamad / December 08th, 2022

Azra Nalatwad on her weaver-turned-doctor father’s inspirational life

Kurnool, ANDHRA PRADESH / Bengaluru, KARNATAKA:

Dr. Azra Nalatwad’s forefathers were from a tiny town named Karnul in Andhra pradesh and had migrated to Karnataka. Behind her success of becoming a doctor is an incredible story of hard work and grit that lifted a poor family of weavers to a family of doctors. Dr Azra Nalatwad shared her and her parents’ inspirational story with Awaz-the Voice.

“My parents were extremely hardworking, poor, and struggled to make ends meet, particularly my father, Abdul Khader Karnu used to manually weave traditional saris through wooden looms, as machines had not yet arrived at that time.  During his early 20s, after a lot of labour, he would make one saree.”

His family was living hand-to-mouth existence. Though Abdul Khader struggled with poverty, he dreamed big – he was determined to become a doctor. Without any prodding or help, he studied by himself while weaving sarees. Back then, there was no societal help, counselors, or family push to improve his lot.  With sheer grit, he started to excel in his studies. He was so brilliant that he was sponsored for his studies in a boarding school.  During holidays, he would return home and help with the business of his father and brothers. 

“With great tenacity, he finally finished his studies to complete his MBBS and achieved his goal of becoming a doctor, specializing as an ENT physician.  He was the first in the family to be so. Our father paved the way to help us all come up as a family.” 

Her mother was a schoolteacher when she married Abdul Khader, who persuaded her to complete her MBBS and she became a gynecologist.  

Dr. Azra who teaches anatomy at Karnataka Medical College says, “On seeing my parent’s hard work and toil, I resolved to study hard as well. Early in my school days, I wanted to become a doctor. So, I focused on getting admission to MBBS, which I managed to get in the area without going to a hostel to my relief.” Dr. Azra says that her life was made smooth due to the hard work of her parents. 

Describing the life around her, she explains, “Around my neighbourhood, most of the girls would do some BST course, and then get married, but my parents spurred me on to do something significant and not hurry to get married.  My parents always had a vision that we as a family should not just study and stay at home to be engrossed and wrapped up only in our lives but use our enlightenment to serve the community.”

Dr Azra Nalatwad during her PG course

Azra’s family is a family of doctors. “My eldest sister is a dentist, her husband is a Pathologist (MD) and younger brother Dr. Adil is a neurosurgeon, his wife is a doctor with MBA and MBBS degrees.”

Interestingly, Azra’s husband is the only non-doctor in the family and it was deliberate. She explains: “When it was time for me to get married, my father told me that since there are many doctors in their family, it was better to find my prospective husband in another field. As a family, our conversations revolved around patients and their cases, so my father felt it would be better to get a non-medical groom.”

She married an engineer who working with one of India’s leading software companies.

To follow their father’s advice to his children that they must pay it back to society, Dr. Azra says, The siblings often organize free health checkup camps at Gulbarga.” (Gulbarga is now known as Kalaburagi and has developed to become a city).

She continued, “After writing my entrance test for the post-graduation, my father encouraged me to take the course wherever I get it. He taught me never to throw away opportunities. I was selected for anatomy and it took me to teaching.  I did a course to learn ultrasound technology, and in the hospital where my mother was working, I was appointed as a sinologist.”

Dr. Azra Nalatwad’s father died during the COVID surge. “He continued to see patients even during the pandemic; never isolated them and eventually caught the virus and succumbed to it while during his duty in Gulbarga.”

Azra worked at different places like Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh, Ernakulam in Kerala and now she is in Bengaluru.  Mother of two growing-up boys, she travels in her car from Bengaluru to Kolar daily for her anatomy teaching classes.

She explains, “I took up the teaching line in anatomy and was interested in ultrasound, so I went towards the clinical side for one and a half years, I also worked in Manipal Hospital as a senior resident doctor. Night duties in the hospital became problematic with my son as my mother-in-law was not there with me, so I quit that job and came back to teaching.” 

She however loves her teaching job, “The new generation of doctors do not talk to their patients because of the long queues of people waiting to see them and they want to see as many patients as possible in a day, so impatiently, they quickly write something out for the patients and push them out to directly go for CT scans, ultrasounds without noting the signs and symptoms in the patient.  There is no personal touch or caring.  Once again, after their illness is diagnosed, they do not convey to the patient properly what was the problem and what steps to take, nor do they serve the patients their options.  The doctors need to show them different modalities of treatment which and required them to communication properly.

“Therefore, I encourage my students to develop doctor-patient communication skills with more empathy and compassion, some emotional attachment is necessary.  A patient needs to feel trust in a doctor to return to them. In the early days, a patient would only go back to their favourite doctor holding him in great esteem. These days it is sad to see patients changing the doctor midway during the treatment while complaining that the previous one was noncommittal and indifferent or even rude.  These days, most of the doctors are cold and detached.

Dr Azra Nalatwad at the hospital (wearing a black Abayya)

She says her students are becoming aware of the bad doctor-patient cases as newspapers report about incidents of people assaulting doctors. “We guide them so that they will not learn through bitter experience but rather as we say, prevention is better than cure, so we teach them that when they are checking female patients, they need to take their consent and explain why they need to touch her body.” 

I tell students, “You suddenly cannot ask her to lift her clothes without her consent, even if one is checking the wrist, the patient needs to be informed what the doctor is doing.”  Thus, we teach our students to inform the patient before doing even a tiny procedure or even checking the pulse or temperature as a form of respect between the doctor and the patient and leave the lines open for good communication.  Just directly touching the patient does not work nowadays.  Teaching is a great responsibility where one does not just teach and go but has to inculcate empathy, sensitivity, communication skills, and other qualities in our students.” 

Brightening up, she said, “One thing I am looking forward to is I am going to open my clinic very soon working as a family physician, serving my residents, and treating small illnesses, which do not require complicated procedures.”

She continued, “Why I want to start my clinic in Bengaluru is to ease the burden of the poor in a modest area.  Nowadays, for simple sicknesses, people are going to big hospitals and get embroiled in unnecessary expenses and procedures. The OPD fees will be more than Rs. 500 or Rs. 750, an outrageous amount not required for small illnesses which is ripping the pockets of the poor.  Things like a common upper respiratory tract infection, ear pain, or other little illnesses do not need an OPD visit but rather a small affordable clinic with a small fee such as Rs. 50 or Rs. 100 to make it very light and easy for them.”

She explained, “In big health centers, there is a lot of corruption going on where they hoodwink patients into paying large amounts of money for unnecessary tests, procedures, and treatment.  I feel if I can help the poor in a smaller way such as this evading all the bribing that happens in big clinics and enabling health care at their doorsteps, figuratively.  I want to ensure that they get immediate help and cure for their illness without running to mega hospitals to give large amounts of money which they cannot afford, to get treated.” 

To pay tribute to the man who worked hard and changed his destiny, Dr Azra says she would name her hospital after her father. That she says would take a little time. Right now, besides taking care of her parents-in-law and husband, she has to look after her 12-year-old son and four-and-a-half-year-old daughter. 

Rita Farhat Mukand is an independent writer

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by Rita Farhat Mukund / May 14th, 2024

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Nikhat Zareen, Minakshi strike gold as Indian boxers conclude Elorda Cup campaign with 12 medals

Hyderabad, TELANGANA / INDIA :

Besides Nikhat and Minakshi’s gold medals, Indian boxers won two silver and eight bronze medals to better their last edition’s record of five medals.

File image of Indian boxing star Nikhat Zareen. Image credit: BFI

Astana, Kazakhstan:

Reigning world champion Nikhat Zareen and Minakshi clinched gold medals as the Indian team concluded their Elorda Cup 2024 campaign with 12 medals in Astana, Kazakhstan on Saturday.

Besides Nikhat and Minakshi’s gold medals, Indian boxers won two silver and eight bronze medals to better their last edition’s record of five medals.

Nikhat (52kg) continued her dominance in the ongoing prestigious tournament as she outclassed Zhazira Urakbayeva of Kazakhstan with an unanimous 5-0 scoreline to add yet another gold medal to her coveted medal tally.

Minakshi started the day for India with a bang when she defeated Uzbekistan’s Rahmonova Saidahon 4-1 in the women’s 48kg final to give India its first gold medal of the competition.

Meanwhile, Anamika (50kg) and Manisha (60kg) suffered losses to end their campaigns with silver medals.

Anamika fought valiantly but conceded a 1-4 loss against reigning world and Asian champion China’s Wu Yu while Manisha faced a 0-5 defeat against Kazakhstan’s Viktoriya Grafeeva.

Medallists:

Gold: Minakshi (48kg) and Nikhat Zareen (52kg)

Silver: Anamika (50kg) and Manisha (60kg)

Bronze:
(men) Yaiphaba Singh Soibam (48kg), Abhishek Yadav (67kg), Vishal (86kg) and Gaurav Chauhan (92+kg); (women) Sonu (63kg), Manju Bamboriya (66kg), Shalakha Singh Sansanwal (70kg) and Monika (81+kg).

source: http://www.firstpost.com / First Post / Home> FP Sports / May 18th, 2024

Hyderabad Student Hiba Fatima Khan Achieves Top Marks in Cambridge English Exam

Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

Hiba Fatima Khan, a student from Hyderabad, has been awarded the prestigious Outstanding Cambridge Learner Award for achieving the highest marks in India for the Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) examination.

Cambridge Assessment International Education recognized Hiba’s remarkable performance, formally announcing the award via email and honoring her at a felicitation event with an official certificate and letter of appreciation.

Hiba’s journey from Dubai to India during the Covid-19 pandemic brought significant challenges, including adapting to new languages such as Hindi, Telugu, Sanskrit, and French. Despite these hurdles, she maintained a strong focus on English.

Her father, Shaji Khan, expressed immense pride in her achievement, noting her dedication to English and her academic interests. Initially inclined towards automobile engineering until the 8th grade, Hiba later shifted her focus and excelled in her chosen subjects.

Hiba achieved a perfect score of 100/100 and A+ grades in her Cambridge IGCSE exams, which included subjects such as English, Special English, Economics, and Environmental Management. Reflecting on her success, Hiba emphasized the importance of understanding the marking scheme, practicing past papers, and constant revisions.

She also credited her parents for their unwavering support and encouragement. “My parents have been my biggest support. Their encouragement and belief in my abilities kept me motivated throughout my preparation,” she said in an interview with DC.

Looking forward, Hiba, a student at Solitaire Global School, aspires to further her education in psychology and teaching, with a particular interest in studying in Finland, known for its top-rated education system.

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News> Markers of Excellence / by Radiance News Bureau (headline edited) / May 15th, 2024

Chikmagalur | A Muslim student Fatima Samiha chose first language Sanskrit Scored 590 marks in SSLC

Chikmagalur, KARNATAKA:

The 2023-24 ESL results have been unveiled, showcasing Fatima Samiha’s remarkable achievement. Hailing from Chikkamagalur district, Fatima, a student of Sri Sadguru Vidyamandir in Basarikatte, chose Sanskrit as her primary language and achieved a perfect score of 125 out of 125 marks in the subject.

Her exceptional performance extends across other subjects as well, with scores of 99 in Kannada, 94 in English, 83 in Mathematics, 69 in Science, and 100 in Social Science, resulting in an impressive overall score of 590 out of 625 marks, equivalent to 94.4%.

Fatima is the daughter of Muhammad Rafiq from Chikkamagaluru and Selikhat Begum from Panemangalore.

source: http://www.thehindustangazette.com / The Hindustan Gazette / Home> News> Latest News / by The Hindustan Gazette / May 12th, 2024

Empowering Minds: Dr. Ayesha Sultana’s Visionary Impact on Online Islamic Learning

TELANGANA :

Dr. Ayesha Sultana stands as a beacon of innovation in the realm of Islamic education, particularly for youth and women, through her pioneering online initiatives. Armed with a profound grasp of both Islamic studies and psychology, Dr. Sultana is on a steadfast mission to imbue moral values and Islamic teachings in the hearts of the youth, with a special focus on empowering women, through accessible and dynamic courses.

Her latest endeavor, the “Taalimul Islam Certificate Course,” stands as a testament to her unwavering dedication to delivering high-quality education. Tailored for children up to 14 years old, this comprehensive 10-week online program provides an interactive platform to acquire fundamental Islamic knowledge. Transitioning seamlessly from physical to online classes, Dr. Sultana, former assistant secretary of the Women’s Wing of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Telangana, has impacted over 1500 women during the pandemic.

Under the esteemed banner of Al Huda, Dr. Sultana established the Ayat Al-Fariya Islamic Academy, a sanctuary of knowledge catering to women and children alike. Here, hundreds of women benefit from Quranic teachings and personality development courses, while children engage in interactive sessions on Quranic memorization and Islamic principles.

In her pursuit of holistic development, Dr. Sultana organizes summer short courses for children, blending physical activities with essential Islamic values. Moreover, she offers initiatives such as the “Fahm e Quran” course and “Talaash e Qadr” series for women, enriching their Ramadan experience.

Dr. Sultana’s commitment to empowering youth extends to organizing online competitions for children, where participants are recognized and awarded certificates and trophies for their accomplishments in various categories, including video competitions, speech contests, and oral exams. With 300 children joining the course and 100 already certified, the impact of her initiatives is palpable.

The journey of Al Huda Islamic School began in 2013 in Khammam, Telangana, under Dr. Sultana’s guidance. Initially offering offline classes for women, complete with free transportation facilities, the school provided courses such as Certificate in Islamic Studies, Diploma and Memorization of Quran, Basic Arabic Grammar, Tafseer, Seerah, and Personality Development until 2018. Hundreds of women benefited from these courses, with many now actively involved with Jamaat-e-Islami Hind as volunteers and members.

Dr. Sultana’s dedication to education led her to conduct motivational lectures in numerous colleges, including medical and engineering institutions, and to organize moral classes for school children. Despite her busy schedule as the assistant secretary and Dawah secretary of Telangana, she spearheaded various women empowerment programs throughout the region. With the onset of the pandemic in 2019, she seamlessly transitioned to online classes, offering a plethora of courses and short programs for women, including Akse Furqan, Dawah classes, Qasal ul Ambiya course, Qurb e Ilaahi, and numerous quiz and exam series, engaging over 1500 women.

In 2023, Dr. Sultana expanded her online educational initiatives with the establishment of Ayat Al Fariya Online Academy under the auspices of Al Huda Islamic School. Introducing short courses for women, such as Tafseer and Memorization of Surah Mulk, Surah Rahman, and Surah Yaseen, the academy continued to positively impact hundreds of women. Additionally, pre-Ramadan courses like Shahru Ramadan, along with courses during Ramadan such as Fahm e Quran and Talaash e Qadr series, were conducted, benefitting a vast number of participants.

Despite her demanding schedule, Dr. Sultana remains resolute in her commitment to providing education free of charge.

Her recent accolades, including the Rastra Ratna Puraskar Award from the Veniyl Foundation, attest to her dedication to nurturing young minds. Additionally, she has been recognized with the Best Educator and Academician Award from the Book of Excellence and the Worthy Well Foundation, earning her a place in the prestigious Book of World Records.

Beyond her educational initiatives, Dr. Sultana is also an accomplished author, with titles such as “Beyond Ramadan” and “Embodied Wisdom” under her belt. As the Assistant Editor of Radiance News Portal and a member of the Aware Trust at Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Markaz, she continues to inspire and empower individuals through her tireless efforts in education and community development.

In line with her commitment to continuous improvement and advancement, Dr. Sultana announces the upcoming launch of the Taalimul Islam Level 2 advanced course for children from May 16th to May 31st. This 15-day program will further enrich the educational journey of young learners under her guidance.

Dr. Ayesha Sultana’s tireless dedication to Islamic education and community development continues to leave an indelible mark, inspiring countless individuals to pursue knowledge and virtue.

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Features> Pride of the Nation> Markers of Excellence / by Radiance News Bureau / May 11th, 2024

Sana Khan has changed lives of 10,000 poor children through education

Jasola Village, NEW DELHI :

Sana Khan, founder Rahat Foundation receiving an award in Dubai

Sana Khan set up the Rahat Foundation on 26 February 2010 and during the 14 years of its existence in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Maharashtra it helps women school dropouts. 

Sitting in her modest office in Jasola village in south east Delhi, Sana Khan, 47, told Awaz-the Voice that presently her most important project is about getting the school dropouts to complete their education. She gets such women admitted to the Jamia’s openm school of National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). 

Sana Khan says belueves that the right to education is universal and with this thought she has so far rehablitated 2,000 dropout children back into the educational mainstream.

Sana Khan not only sends the dropouts back to school but also takes the responsibility of imparting them skills and ensuring their job placements.

Her NGO teaches courses like digital marketing, fashion designing, etc. Interestingly, Rahat Foundation also managed to train 256 women drivers and helped them get licenses to drive.

Sana Khan says so far her NGO has employed about 10 thousand young men and women. They had acquired different skills at the classes of the Rahat Foundation. 

Of these, 6000 did learn digital marketing, and 4000 fashion designing . Sana Khan says she contacted the fashion designing industry located in Okhla Phase 2 in Delhi, while the digital marketing trainees gots jobs in the IT sector, call centers, Swiggy, Zomato, Ola, etc

Some beneficieries of Rahat Foundation

She also remains in touch with the companies where she enrolls the skilled young men and women of the Rahat Foundation for jobs.

Sana Khan said, “My father died when I was in my 8th class. I was 13 years old. I had two elder brothers and a mother in my house. I can’t even describe the financial difficulties we faced at that time. One day a person from an NGO touched our lives and everything started changing.”

“Back then I got support and today I am at the stage where I have created a successful world of my own. I always try to help others, ” she says.

Rahat Foundation takes utmost care of all their beneficiaries. It arranges their exam fees, books, etc. The NGO does occasional fundraising to meet its expenses.  

Sana Khan receiving an award

Sana Khan says she is careful in checking the genuineness of the beneficiery. She says there is a strict system of checking and whetting of a potential beneficiery. Rahat Foundation takens both boys and girls under its wings, she said.

Sana Khan has 70 people in her team who are divided into groups to form sub-units and working at the grass root in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra.

Sana Khan said that soon Rahat Foundation will set up its centers in Bangalore, Karnataka.

Sana Khan says that from time to time she organizes camps in which awareness about education is spread in society. So far, she has set up 500 to 600 campuses under the banner of Rahat Foundation.

Sana Khan receiving an award

Going down memory lane, Sana Khan said that when she did a mass communication course from South Delhi Polytechnic, New delhi in 2010, she also worked with the Sahara group of publications. 

“However, while working with the newspaper, my wish to help the needy kept over powering my mind and ultimately, I had laid the foundation of Rahat Foundation.”

Sana Khan says that today her NGO is well-known for its work and people do recognise her work. She said she received immense support from society during the Covid-19 pandemic when Rahat Foundation distributed blankets and dry rations to the people. It also ditributed school bags for children to keep their hopes alibe and essential medicines during that difficult phase.

Recently Sana Khan was honoured in Dubai, the UAE. She had already received several awards and honours from companies and forums in Bengaluru, and Delhi. 

Sana Khan is willing to help people who contact her on her  website and Facebook page. .

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Onika Maheshwari, New Delhi / May 04th, 2024

Saria Khan of Lucknow is second topper in ICSC board exam

Lucknow, UTTAR PRADESH:

Saria Khan with her parents after the result

Saria Khan of Lucknow has become the second topper in the International Council for Schools Certification (ICSC) Board.

Saria Khan’s family lives in the middle-class neighborhood of Daliganj in the city. Her father Rais Khan is a lawyer by profession. She has two brothers senior to her.

After her results were declared, Saria said since she has an interest in Biology, she wants to become a doctor. She says medicine is a profession in which there is an opportunity to help others.

She said she is determined to become a doctor since her teachers have taught her not to have options in life. Options will not allow one to focus on the goal. Her parents and brothers have been supportive of her dreams and kept encouraging her to continue her focus. Saria says that she left no stone unturned in preparing for the board examination. She used to study for seven to eight hours after school.

The ICSE board released the 10th standard results with 99.97 percent clearing it. The result for the girl students was 99.98 percent and for boys 99.97 percent.

 There are four toppers of the exam: Hargun Kaur Matharu from Pune, Anika Gupta from Kanpur, Pushkar Tripathi from Balrampur, and Kanishka Mittal from Lucknow – with 499 marks (99.80%).

Saria says there is only one mantra for success in life -focus on your goal. While doing other work never forget the target. To become a topper, she studied hard and diligently.

“I could see my goal and stay focused by adopting different strategies. Today, I am very happy that I have reached the first step toward fulfilling the dreams of my parents. But the destination is still far away, and I have to work for it.

Saria and her family have been busy receiving the congratulatory message on phone and receiving guests who are dropping in to meet her.

“I will never forget this moment, the way the people of the country are showering love on me. I am even exhausted from attending to the phone, but I am attending to each call and visitor. A total of 110 students are included in the list of top three rank holders for the ICSE board 10th examination. In which there is a difference of one point each between the three ranks.

While four candidates secured the top rank with 499 marks out of 500, 34 students including Saria stood second with 498 marks. Similarly, 72 candidates secured the third rank with 497 marks out of 500.

The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations announced a merit list after two years. The results were declared based on an alternate evaluation scheme after the examination was not conducted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The overall pass percentage is 99.97, the officials said.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Tajo Khan, Lucknow / July 18th, 2022

SIO Jharkhand Honors Jharkhand Topper, Zeenat Parveen

Ranchi, JHARKHAND :

Ranchi :

Zeenat Parveen, daughter of a modest vegetable seller, has garnered attention for clinching the top spot in the Intermediate of Arts (I.A.) examination held by the Jharkhand Academic Council. With an impressive score of 472 out of 500, Zeenat, a student of Government Plus Two High School in Kanke, Ranchi, has become a symbol of inspiration for many.

Amidst a flurry of congratulations pouring in for Zeenat and her family, the Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) of India stepped forward to extend their felicitations and pledge their support. A delegation led by Aman Raza, State Secretary of SIO Jharkhand, visited Zeenat to honor her achievement. The delegation, including Nadeem Khan, Education Secretary, Mosaddique Maswood, Campus Secretary, and Abdus Salaam Shakir, assured Zeenat of assistance in her educational pursuits.

Zeenat’s journey to academic success has been marked by perseverance and determination. Despite financial constraints, she pursued her education diligently, transitioning from a private school for her matriculation to a government school for her intermediate studies. Her father, Sabir Ansari, sustains the family by selling vegetables door-to-door on his bike in the Pithouria area of Ranchi, while her mother, Shamsunnisa, manages the household and runs a small shop.

Zeenat attributes her motivation to her hardworking father, stating, “I always thought as my father is working hard, I should also give my best.” Her parents, proud of her accomplishments, wholeheartedly support her aspirations. Zeenat aims to prepare for the UPSC civil services examinations with the dream of serving the nation as an IAS officer, driven by her desire to contribute to society.

Despite her high expectations, Zeenat was pleasantly surprised by her top-ranking achievement. Her brother, too, achieved academic success with a first division and 78 percent marks. As Zeenat embarks on her journey towards her dream of becoming an IAS officer, she carries with her the support and admiration of her community and the promise of a brighter future.

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Education> Latest News / by Radiance News Bureau / May 03rd, 2024