Govandi’s Daughter Makes the Country Proud by Pursuing MBBS
Mumbai:
In the heart of Govandi, an area grappling with challenges like limited access to education and rising crime, a remarkable tale of triumph emerges. Khan Sadia Kawsar, a resident of this humble locality, is defying odds by pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor, thus becoming a shining example for the aspiring youth of her community.
Despite the dearth of quality educational institutions in Govandi, Khan Sadia Kawsar’s journey stands out as an inspiration. A local official highlighted the prevalent issues, noting that the area often makes headlines for crime-related incidents, with little attention from politicians or concrete initiatives from religious leaders to address the root causes. The suggestion to uplift Govandi’s image centers around establishing better educational institutions and providing improved training for the younger generation.
Khan Sadia Kawsar, a second-year MBBS student, is the daughter of Hafiz Alauddin Sahib, a respected figure in the community and a dedicated honey trader. Despite the challenges, Hafiz Alauddin spared no effort in providing religious education to his children. An accomplished computer engineer himself, he played a pivotal role in guiding Sadia towards her academic pursuits.
Sadia’s academic prowess became evident early on, consistently scoring high marks in school. Her remarkable achievement of securing 98.5% in the twelfth examination from the Govt.Jr.College in B. Kothakota, Andhra Pradesh, paved the way for her current pursuit of a medical degree at the Fathima Institute of Medical Sciences in Kadapa.
Khan Sadia Kawsar’s journey symbolises the triumph of determination and hard work. Her success challenges societal stereotypes, proving that with determination, even the daughter of a humble businessman can achieve great heights. Hafiz Alauddin Khan, reflecting on the challenges he faced to support his children’s education, emphasised the importance of unwavering faith in God and the merit of one’s children.
Originally from Basti district, Uttar Pradesh, Hafiz Alauddin Khan is not only a devoted father but also a prominent scholar and supporter of religious institutions. Along with his contributions to organisations like Darul Uloom Deoband and Jamiat Ulema, he maintained a focus on his small honey business, always expressing gratitude for Almighty’sblessings.
Hafiz Alauddin’s advice to parents echoes a belief in the inherent merit of their children. He advocates trust in God and encouragement of the youths, emphasising that success is destined for those who persevere.
In the face of societal challenges and limited opportunities, Khan Sadia Kawsar’s journey serves as a guiding light, illuminating a path of hope and possibility for the new generation in Govandi and beyond.
source: http://www.clarionindia.net / Clarion India / Home> Editor’s Pick> Features> Indian Muslim / by Mohammad Alamullah, Clarion India / December 18th, 2023
Chhatwan Village (Keotiranway Tehsil, Dharbhanga District),BIHAR:
Photo: Afrin’s success in securing the Special Survey Law Officer position reflects her dedication and hard work. The achievement has illuminated her family’s name, adding to the legacy left by her grandfather.
The festive atmosphere in her village is palpable as the news of Afrin's success spread, making her not only a source of pride for her family but also an inspiration for the younger generation in the region.
Darbhanga:
In an impressive performance, a Muslim girl from Chhatwan village in Keotiranway Tehsil of Bihar’s Darbhanga District, has excelled in the online Computer Based Test (CBT) conducted by the Bihar Joint Entrance Competitive Examination Board for the coveted position of Special Survey Law Officer in the state’s Revenue and Land Reforms Department.
Shagufta Afrin, hailing from a family with a strong academic background, secured an impressive 283rd rank out of 1947 in the examination, specifically in the General Khatoon quota for the Special Survey Law Officer position.
Daughter of Muhammad Shahabuddin Rizvi, an engineer, and Nuzhat Parveen from Chhatwan village in the Keoti assembly constituency, Afrin has made her parents proud. Her success story is on the lips of all and sundry in the village and its neighbouring areas.
The festive atmosphere in her village is palpable as the news of Afrin’s success spread, making her not only a source of pride for her family but also an inspiration for the younger generation in the region. The achievement is particularly significant as it brings recognition to the entire region.
Afrin’s grandfather, the late Muhammad Zubair, served as a joint director of agriculture, and her late grandmother was a dedicated housewife.
Afrin diligently prepared for the competitive exams after completing her civil engineering degree from Delhi.
Afrin’s success in securing the Special Survey Law Officer position reflects her dedication and hard work. The achievement has illuminated her family’s name, adding to the legacy left by her grandfather.
She attributes her success to the unwavering support of her parents. Her younger brother, Aman Rizvi, is pursuing MBBS, while her younger sister, Shumaila Rizvi, is currently in Grade 8.
Numerous well-wishers, including local leaders and activists, have congratulated and extended their good wishes to Afrin.
Prominent personalities such as Muhammad Shamim, Heera Seth, Mukhya Fateh Ahmed, Muhammad Mustafa, Faiz Muhammad, Sajjad Alam, Sagheer Alam, Phool Babu, Iftikhar Ahmed , Muhammad Aslam Khan, and Sagheer Najam have joined in celebrating Afrin’s success and have offered prayers for her continued bright future.
Afrin’s achievement not only symbolises personal success but also serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration for the community, showcasing the potential for excellence.
source: http://www.clarionindia.net / Clarion India / Home / by Team Clarion / December 23rd, 2023
Her work pinpoints the sources of aerosols and their role in driving regional climate change in India, besides equipping the Ministry of Environment with the right knowledge regarding policymaking.
Dr Gazala Habib never imagined she would be a scientist one day. She recalls entertaining the idea of becoming one while watching the 1969 Bollywood spy thriller Yakeen at her home in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, but the moment was short-lived.
In the movie, Dharmendra plays a swashbuckling scientist who battles everything from enemy agents to his own doppelganger as part of a secret mission to save the country. “As much as I wanted to be like him, I also knew that it was out of the question. I came from a small town and a very conservative background, and had not heard of any woman scientist growing up,” says Dr Habib, now 49.
Eventually, Dr Habib did get to live her childhood dream. A professor at the Department of Civil Engineering of the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi), her work focuses on measuring air pollutants, particularly aerosols, in ambient air using innovative equipment and approaches.
Dr Habib set up and heads the Aerosol Research and Characterization Laboratory at IIT Delhi
She also set up and heads the Aerosol Research and Characterization Laboratory at IIT Delhi, which undertakes cutting-edge research on sources of aerosols and their impacts on human health. “We strive to fill up the significant gaps in our understanding of personal exposure to particulate matter [PM] in urban areas. This will assist policymakers to better measure the impacts and inform policy initiatives,” she explains.
Dr Habib says only limited studies on PM have been conducted in India, and that too mostly at one or two locations. “None of them provide an overarching assessment of human exposure in an urban context — integrating a variety of typical exposures across a typical day, and being useful in comparing different types of exposures throughout a person’s daily activity,” she details.
Much of the work has been carried out as part of the Emissions Inventory Building Activity under the National Carbonaceous Aerosols Programme-Carbonaceous Aerosol Emissions, Source Apportionment and Climate Impacts (NCAP-COALESCE), a multi-institutional research and capacity building initiative funded by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. Dr Habib is the project incharge and coordinator in IIT Delhi for this programme.
“India does not have a uniform emissions inventory system [to measure total emissions from each pollutant from each sector]. The work under NCAP-COALESCE aims at equipping the Ministry of Environment with the right knowledge to aid sound decision-making on pollution policy,” she says.
To that end, Dr Habib and a team of researchers have developed a Versatile Source Sampling System (VS3), which will measure emissions and help monitor pollutants. The compact unit allows air to be drawn through a preweighed filter at a known rate, thus collecting particles in the air on its surface. The filter is weighed again to determine the mass of particles collected, and by dividing the mass by the total volume of air, the particle concentrations can be measured.
In comparison with other air monitoring equipment, VS3 is more sophisticated, sensitive and capable of measuring emissions, particularly small particulate matter, from a variety of sources such as residential cooking stove, open biomass burning, brick kilns and vehicles. While the technology was developed in IIT Delhi, Dr Habib says it is being used across NCAP-COALESCE partner institutions to understand complexities related to carbonaceous aerosols.
Challenging the traditional mindset
By her own admission, Dr Habib’s journey into the scientific world was not easy. “My father was a telephone operator, and my mother a primary school teacher. I am one of the eight siblings. We did not have luxuries, but my parents, especially my father, prioritised our education,” she says.
Her parents were strict about school, but their expectations relaxed a bit when time for enrolling in college arrived. “There were people in my family who were like, ladkiyon ko zyada padhane ki zaroorat nai hai [there is no need to educate girls much]. At one point, my father also contemplated the idea of my marriage after BSc,” she says.
“They expected my brothers to do engineering, and thought I should do a science degree and start preparing for IAS. But I felt that my brother was more admired by my parents because he was inclined towards engineering. He is 10 minutes older than me, and I thought to myself, if he can do it, why not me?” she adds.
With a little help from her brother, she managed to convince her parents to study engineering. Later, she gained admission to Bachelors of Engineering at the National Institute of Technology, Raipur. Subsequently, she pursued MTech in environmental engineering from Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur.
Dr Habib’s earliest memories revolve around working with a large group to identify carcinogenic compounds present in emissions generated from burning crop waste in rural India
Rigours of research
Dr Habib believes destiny defined the trajectory of her career. “I was contemplating about PhD, when a junior directed me to a vacancy at IIT Bombay. I managed to apply just in time,” she says.
There were only two vacancies, and on account of a particularly gruelling panel interview, she recalls putting down her chances of selection as next to nil. However, she got selected. Her PhD mentor was Chandra Venkatraman, a Professor of Chemical Engineering and Climate Studies at IIT Bombay, who Dr Habib says “changed her way of thinking”.
“I was very shy and conventional. I remember telling her that I had never travelled alone. I told her I am not the girl who can go out and measure pollution,” she recalls. Venkatraman laid her apprehensions to rest, and Dr Habib eventually joined her mentor to work on a project analysing emissions from residential fuel sources.
The five years at IIT Bombay groomed Dr Habib to become the scientist she is today.
“I remember I started work in January and she immediately put my name up for speaking at an international conference in October. I was from a Hindi medium background, and did not even know English! She taught me to make my first PowerPoint presentation and my first Excel sheet. She taught me not only science, but also communication. Whatever I am today, it is because of her,” says Dr Habib.
Dr Habib’s earliest memories revolve around working with a large group to identify carcinogenic compounds present in emissions generated from burning crop waste in rural India
Her earliest memories revolve around working with a large group to identify carcinogenic compounds present in emissions generated from burning crop waste in rural India. “I learnt a lot from this group about how to collect samples, what kind of machines to use and how to use them,” she says. This was soon followed by her first international trip to France, where she got to work with Olivier Boucher, Director of Research, French National Centre for Scientific Research.
The coursework was demanding, and added to that was the pressure to get married. “I think the rush to get women married is also why a large number of them end up dropping out of PhDs or giving up their careers,” she adds. After consulting Prof Venkatraman, Dr Habib decided to get married only after finishing her PhD, a promise she ended up keeping.
The rigours of research eventually got to her and she remembers a point in her PhD when she became depressed. Her time at the University of Illinois, and then University of San Diego, for postdoctoral work, worsened things. “I felt lonely during my US stint, but rediscovered myself after frequenting a mosque based on a colleague’s advice,” she says.
Entry into academic sphere
In June 2008, Dr Habib joined IIT Delhi as an assistant professor. In November the same year, she got married.She was regularised in her post in 2010, and promoted as an associate professor in 2018. In March this year, she became a professor.
In the last 15 years, she has provided valuable data that helps understand air pollution better. For example, her team measured the impact of PM 10 and 2.5 particle concentration on mortality rates to assess that the numbers attributable to PM 2.5 particle concentration in Ghaziabad was 70% higher than Delhi.
“Exposure to PM has been recognised as a well known human health risk factor, however, its quantification for various regions, including India, is still not well established. In the last few years, we have undertaken many studies to help quantify this data by studying the impact of pollutants on different organs, including heart and lungs, as well as different demographic populations,” she says.
With respect to Delhi’s pollution problem, she says, “In the winters, we cannot stop talking about stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana. If you read the source apportionment papers from Delhi, you will find that pollution due to stubble burning lasts only a few days. The long-term problem that we should be solving is suspension of dust from roads. From a personal exposure perspective, vehicles account for 20 to 30% of PM 2.5 concentration,” she says.
She believes having a policy on effectively managing crop waste is the need of the hour. “In a paper we recently submitted to Nature, we discovered that despite the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, a majority of rural households still use fuel dung for energy. If they use crop waste for biogas generation in addition to cow dung, there is no need of pushing LPG down their throats. It will cost less also,” she adds.
Dr Habib thinks funding needs should be simplified and freed from the shackles of bureaucracy for the research to contribute more effectively to policy. Also, India should follow an integrated approach and make the data publicly available. “What we need is a network programme that brings scientists under one umbrella, gives them standard equipment, procedure and a common goal,” she says.
“Source apportionment studies are being done in India by state Pollution Control Pollution Boards (PCBs) and Central PCB in non-attainment cities, but there is no national network. Every state is following its own rules — so methodologies, data analysis and data curation methods are different. Therefore, you cannot compare data from two cities,” she adds.
At present, Dr Habib’s focus is on setting up a state-of-the-art laboratory where all kinds of devices related to air pollution safety and monitoring can be evaluated for their performance
State-of-the-art laboratory
At present, Dr Habib’s focus is on setting up a state-of-the-art laboratory where all kinds of devices related to air pollution safety (like air purifiers, masks) and monitoring can be evaluated for their performance. “We have just received a grant from the Department of Science and Technology under SATHI [Sophisticated Analytical and Technical Help Institutes]. The laboratory will be developed at IIT Delhi’s Sonipat campus. At present, gate number 3 of IIT Delhi has such a facility,” she says.
Dr Habib swears by the support of her husband, her 13-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter. “There are creches and day care centres on campus now, but they were not available when I had children. I do not think I would have been able to manage it all without my husband,” she says.
She believes that for more girls to study sciences and mathematics in India, discrimination needs to end. “When you put differences in their minds from the beginning, they start believing they are weak,” she says, adding that true equality can be gauged from the representation women receive. “I am still the only woman in the room in most conferences. This needs to change.”
“I never thought I would be able to do this. I had this epiphany a couple of times that I wanted to be a scientist, but the guidance came from somewhere, somehow. It was all god’s plan I say, because I never planned this,” she sums up.
source: http://www.rukhmabai.com / Rukhmabai Initiatives / Home / by Shikha Sharma / August 28th, 2023
Shahina Khanam, a resident of Hesla on Ramgarh-Argadda road, will be awarded a gold medal for being a topper for four years in BDS.
The medal will be awarded by Governor CP Radhakrishnan at the convocation ceremony of Ranchi University on May 2.
Topper Shahina Khanam is the sister of Rinkle Khan, the town vice president of AJSU. The family members are very happy with the news of getting the gold medal and there is an atmosphere of happiness in their house.
Shahina Khanam’s mother, father, brother, sister and other people distributed sweets.
AJSU Nagar Vice President Rinkle Khan said that earlier education was neglected in Muslim society. But now the Muslim society is also rapidly increasing its step towards education.
source: http://www.lagatar24.com / Lagatar / Home / by Manoj Sinha / April 26th, 2023
Sabahat Afreen’s life will make you believe in the adage: where there is a will there is a way. Being born into an educated and prosperous family, Sabahat realized early in her life that her family was not open to women coming out of the four walls of the house, bracing against all odds to create their identity. She was raised seeing all women in her family in purdah.
However, somewhere in her heart, Sabahat Afreen was like a Secret Superstar of the Hindi movie by that name. Afreen was raised in a small village in Siddharthnagar district of Uttar Pradesh by her advocate father and a homemaker mother.
Sabahat Afreen started living in purdah in 10th class and after passing her 12th standard, She was not supposed to move out of the house alone. This resulted in her not attending college and opting for home study and writing examinations as a private student for her graduation years.
She was completing her master’s degree when she got married. Her husband’s family was politically connected and prosperous. She could have easily lived in comfort; Sabahat did not like to dress up like a doll wearing jewelery and expensive sarees and lounging around all day.
She said, “My mother was fond of reading and writing. She had an impact on me too. I used to write poems and stories in my childhood. Mom and Dad always encouraged me. It is a different matter that my works were never sent for publication as they didn’t believe in getting a picture of their daughter printed in the newspaper.”
Sabahat Afreen with her book
She also realized the environment in her in-laws’ house was less conservative. “My father-in-law knew that I write, so he used to gift me a diary and pen; my husband also supported me.” She told Awaz-the Voice.
After marriage, she opened a secret account on Facebook and did not use her pictures for the DP. “I started writing stories on Facebook, my posts went viral. Someone suggested that I should send my stories to Neelesh Misra, (Editor, Gaon Connection, lyricist, and storyteller). His storytelling was popular. I emailed my story to him and he liked it. From that point, I was in his circle.”
Like Insia Malik (Played by Zaira Wasim) of Aamir Khan’s 2017 film Secret Superstar, she revealed her talent to the world by hiding her identity. Soon Sabahat Afrin was writing audio series, stories, and books for magazines and many apps across the country. She moved her two little daughters out of the closed environs of the village to Lucknow.
As it happens in such cases, most of the people who had opposed her once now praise and respect her. Her family is proud of her.
Recently her first story collection Mujhe Jugnuon Ke Desh Jaana Hai (I Want to Go to the Land of Fireflies)(Rujhan Publications, Rajasthan) was released. In it, Sabahat imagines in this country of fireflies women are also enjoying the same freedom as men, the doors of their hearts cannot be guarded, they too have the freedom to remarry after divorce, and they have the right to decide if they want to return to their husband’s house after feeling unwanted there.
Sabahat Afreen with friends
Her stories are set in the backdrop of Muslim culture, but she manages to show that when it comes to the status and rights of women, it’s the same every year. Sabahat wants to free the fireflies from the clenched fists of Afreen women.Her first remuneration of Rs 30,000 as a writer was encouraging for Sabahat. She felt that being financially strong should be the priority of a woman. Now she shares her pictures on social media and with her stories.
Sabahat has written amazing stories that she must have picked up from around her and kept in the secret chamber of her heart to let them metamorphose into another form. Her stories look familiar to readers; after reading each one of her stories, the reader feels that he has seen these incidents.
Sabahat has adapted one such incident into a captivating story. The story Khoobsurat auratein (Beautiful Women) starts with this sentence – “even good looks are like a punishment, wherever she went people’s eyes were fixed on her.’ The heroine of the story, Alia, is very beautiful.”
Sabahat Afreen with her daughters
Women are at the center of all Sabahat’s stories. The joys and sorrows of a woman, her dreams, her desire to fulfill them and social restrictions are the key elements in her stories. Sabahat is seen breaking these restrictions and traditions. Women in her stories are silent protesters except for Alia from her story Beautiful Women. However, they encounter opposition and in some cases, it’s also effective.
Sabahat becomes emotional while narrating her stories. She wishes to create a world for women where they have the freedom to fulfill their wishes and make their dreams come true. Her stories reflect her progressive thoughts.
Sabahat says that she never went to the market alone and yet when people knew about her through her stories, she felt confident to move to a big city with her daughters. “I reached Lucknow and rented out an apartment and enrolled my daughters in a good school. Today my daughters are studying, and life has become a bit easier for all three of us.”
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Onika Maheshwari, New Delhi / January 03rd, 2024
Prof. Qudsia Tahseen, Department of Zoology at Aligarh Muslim University has been named as the National Committee representative for the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS), announced by the Indian National Science Academy (INSA).
Commencing her three-year term on January 1 this appointment emphasizes Prof. Qudsia’s contributions to the fields of Taxonomy and Biodiversity. She has the distinction of holding fellowships in all three prestigious National Academies.
The IUBS, founded in 1919, is a global non-profit organization dedicated to facilitating and coordinating biological research worldwide. Its mission spans diverse areas, with the goal of addressing global biological challenges. Prof. Qudsia’s appointment to the newly formed INSA National Committee for IUBS, consisting of seven experts, solidifies her role as a representative for India in the realm of biological sciences.
Prof. Qudsia while acknowledging her appointment said the committee, serving as the national arm of IUBS, is pivotal in advancing IUBS initiatives at a domestic level. This includes policy advocacy, tackling global challenges, setting research priorities, fostering collaborations, and promoting the sustainable use of biological resources.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> India News / by TNN (headline edited) / January 05th, 2024
The left-arm spinner, who was once dropped from the Bengal side, has used the WPL as a launchpad to make a national bow.
Saika Ishaque getting her India cap. (Photo | BCCI Women Twitter)
Chennai :
When Saika Ishaque received her India cap from captain Harmanpreet Kaur moments before the first T20I against England at Wankhede on Wednesday, the joy on her face was enough to express what it meant to her. Slightly behind her was Shreyanka Patil, the other debutant, who was cheering on with a beaming smile on her face. The two spinners who were the highlight of the inaugural Women’s Premier League were making their India debuts on the same day.
While Shreyanka’s coach Arjun Dev was watching from the stands, thousands of miles away in Kolkata, there were two people who were overjoyed by the success of Saika. Mithu Mukherjee and Shibsagar Singh. Former India cricketer Mithu had no words to express their emotions and Singh was overwhelmed by the shining moment of Saika. After all, the two of them had played a big role at a crucial point in Saika’s career when almost left the sport.
Having come up through age-group cricket at the domestic level, Saika was a household name in Bengal cricketing circles. However, a shoulder injury meant things went downhill fast and she was dropped from the state team.
That is when the left-arm spinner got in touch with Mithu who put her in contact with former India Under-19 and Bengal cricketer Singh. “It was a complete U-turn, there was a phase where nothing was going her way. She was dropped from the Bengal team and suddenly things changed. We worked on her action, wrist position a bit, but mostly it was about the lines she had to bowl for different batters and situations and not just keep bowling good length and go searching for wickets,” recalls Singh.
Saika with coach Shibsagar Singh. (Photo | Express)
Getting back on track, her confidence went up as the coach constantly made her practice against male cricketers who were playing at the state level. The instruction was to take her on, and despite being hit, Saika developed variations and adapted for different situations. While the results started to show in domestic cricket, the left-arm spinner was nowhere near the national radar. The two factors that became the turning points were the WPL and Jhulan Goswami.
Now, having seen her from the start, Goswami, who was with the Mumbai Indians, played a hand in Saika getting a chance in the inaugural season. “She came back and was playing well, but was not getting noticed. Many people know she is a good player domestically. At the same time, she needed someone to tell. Jhulan knew her talent from the start and how smart she was. That was a massive plus otherwise you don’t know whether she would have got picked or not,” says Singh.
Once she got the chance, Saika made the most of it, taking 15 wickets in ten games, helping Mumbai Indians win the title. Such was her performance that she was the only Indian spinner in the top ten wicket-takers. Immediately, the limelight was on her and everyone was tracking her bowling. She took the confidence into the domestic season and finished as the leading wicket-taker in the senior women’s T20 Trophy — 18 wickets in nine games. Another eight wickets in five Inter-Zonal games meant she had earned her India call-up.
“We don’t know if she would have moved up the ladder so fast if not for the WPL. It is such a platform like IPL, the entire country watches you and the platform is such that many players are from overseas and she dismissed most of them. What she achieved in that 20 days, after that her confidence has grown. That is why the tournament changed her life,” said the coach.
2023 has been a big year for Saika. For someone who once had to stop their studies because of financial constraints, it was Saika’s success in cricket that helped her family come up. Her late father introduced her to the sport, but since then she has been the breadwinner for the family, helping her mother and elder sister, for a long time now. Today, Saika is an Indian international cricketer. “It is a massive, massive thing for her family. Her father passed away, and she is the sole breadwinner, but she has always had the confidence that she will play (for India). The thing about her is she is not afraid. She never is,” says Singh who is working with Bengal U23 women’s team.
On her debut, Saika finished with 1/38 with England posting 197/6. In reply, India fell short by 38 runs. While the figures aren’t something that makes one sit up and notice, Singh feels this is just the beginning.
“This is just the first match, so nerves might have been there. Put her in any situation, she will say ‘no worries, I will take care’. To have that confidence is something. I feel she will play long for India. All she has to do is repeat what she has practiced all these years,” the coach signed off.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Sport> Cricket / by Gomesh S , Express News Service / December 07th, 2023
Being a medical doctor has always been a well cherished dream and a coveted profession, as it provides opportunity to save human lives. This public zeal towards the field of medicine gave rise to a number of academic institutions. Sensing the demand from students and parents, corporate sector also stepped in to provide courses for preparation of the NEET exam, as it proved to be a hugely profitable business for them. But this trend restricted the children of poor families from dreaming to become a doctor. However, some non-profitable institutions are rendering remarkable services to the nation by providing NEET coaching free or at a very low cost, like Ajmal Super-40 run by Ajmal Foundation.
Ajmal Foundation has been running this program for the last three years and its results have remarkably been improving by each year. The number of qualifying students of Ajmal Foundation in NEET exam last year was 245 which has this year increased up to 350.
This is indeed a huge gain for the Foundation, while a great hope for the underprivileged section of the society. Other institutions running on the same pattern are Shaheen of Bidar, Al-Ameen of Kolkata and Rahmani-30 of Patna.
The results for NEET 2023 were finally announced on June 13th this year. Just like every previous years, it was finely a nerve-wracking time for all the aspiring medical students who gave their best to crack this competitive exam. Among over 20 lakh applicants from across the country, half of the candidates could be declared as qualified but due to the seats limitations in the medical colleges, all passed candidates may not be the doctors they dreamed about.
The giant coaching institutions are busy celebrating the success of their toppers. But success of the non-profitable institutions should be celebrated and appreciated by common masses. Maulana Badruddin Ajmal, CEO Ajmal CSR and the philanthropic endeavours of Ajmal family, especially in the northeast of India, are laudable.
source: http://www.easterncrescent.net / Eastern Crescent / Home> Blog> National> North East / by Eastern Crescent Desk / December 02nd, 2023
Adeeba Ali showing her gold and silver medals with her father
The 19-year-old Adeeba Ali of Nizamuddin Basti, New Delhi, has raised the bar for those seeking to rise in life notwithstanding physical limitations. The para-athlete recently ended up becoming an inspiration to thousands of people as she won gold and silver medals in the 26th National Shooting Championship competition organized by Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy, Bhopal.
Amina Majeed Siddiqui of Awaz spoke with her at her home. Excerpts from the conversation:
How did you think about going to the National Shooting Championship competition and how many days did you prepare for it?
I had always liked sports, but soon after the accident, I started finding what was best for me. After a lot of searching, I met my coaches Subhash Rana and Rohit Sir. They showed me the path to getting back into sports. They suggested I start with competing on the track and gradually aim for the zonal, and the nationals. So after gradual preparation, I qualified for the National championships. It has been 10 months since I started preparing.
How did this accident happen?
It was five years ago, I was looking out from the balcony of my house (Fourth floor). I foot slipped and I fell on the ground floor. I felt dizzy. At first, I thought I was falling backward but no, I was falling forward. Because of that my spine was fractured and due to that my legs do not work.
Have you participated in other competitions before this?
I have also participated in District Level, Zonal, para-zonal, North Zone, and Para National. This is my 5th match.
What inspired you to take up sports?
My inspiration is my father. He has always been promoting sports. He is very fond of cricket. So Papa knows the importance of playing sports. Just as education is important, sports are also important. Secondly, my ideal is Avni Lekhara (Olympian); she is the first woman who won gold medal in shooting and the Para Olympics, she is a big inspiration to me.
How did your journey in sports start, when did you think that you should go into this field?
I wanted to be associated with sports, so I started searching. Earlier I used to participate in basketball, football, and other sports. But after the accident, everything seemed to be over for some time. I searched for a new sport that I could play with my physical limitations. I wanted to leave the accident behind because whatever happened had happened. I had to see what I could do. I came to know about Para Games which people with disabilities can also play. This gave a new meaning to me. I came to know that despite being disabled one can still play. I came to know about shooting and that yes, I realized I am made for it, then I started playing. It was not so good in the beginning. Then with time, I got better. I gained a new identity and now shooting has become an important part of my life, if I don’t practice for a day, I feel something is missing in life.
What is your plan for the future?
I intend that I want to do better every day. I want to work very hard.
What message would you like to give to those who give up on small things?
Adeeba Ali with her mother Reshma Ali
I would like to say that you should have faith in yourself, because if you give up on yourself, how will others support you? If you have this feeling within you that no matter what happens to me, you can still do this work, then you can achieve anything. The most important thing is to have faith in yourself.
I also spoke with Adiba Ali’s mother Reshma Ali. She told me:
“Adiba used to lie on the bed after the accident and had lost courage. Then one day she thought about how she could move on in life and do better. Initially, she was bedridden for one and a half years. She slowly started reconciling to her condition and began painting. Despite being bedridden, she wrote examinations for 12th standard and did well. She is now pursuing a BA in English. After that she saw what else she could do, and then she watched Avni Lekhara’s videos and said that if she can do it, I can also do it.
“She had never held a pistol in her hand. Her coach Subhash Rana worked very hard on her. Adeeba practices for 8 hours. If one wants to achieve something in life one surely has to do a lot of hard work and Adeeba did the same. She has made all of us proud. I intend to organize motivational camps for people facing disabilities. I want to tell them my daughter’s story. I want to tell people that you can do a lot despite being disabled. We will guide people on how a new life starts from here.”
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Ameena Majid Siddiqui / December 25th, 2023
Fiza Nazir, the emerging martial arts sensation hailing from Jammu and Kashmir, has etched her name in the annals of sports history by clinching the gold medal in the senior women’s -56.7 kg weight category at the Asian MMA Championship 2023 (IMMMAF) held in Bahrain.
With unwavering focus, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of her dreams, Fiza Nazir has consistently demonstrated her mettle on grand stages. Currently training at one of Asia’s premier MMA schools, Fiza’s triumph in Bahrain has propelled her to new heights in the world of martial arts.
The gold medal at the Asian MMA Championship marks a pivotal moment in Fiza’s career, and she is now setting her sights on representing India in the upcoming World Championship later this year. Her success is a testament to her resilience, skill, and commitment to excellence.
Expressing her gratitude, Fiza acknowledges the crucial support of her sponsors, TCI Cements, along with the unwavering backing from her family and coaches. Their encouragement and support played a vital role in her journey to becoming a trailblazer for Indian women in the field of mixed martial arts.
source: http://www.greaterkashmir.com / Greater Kashmir / Home> Latest News / by GK News Service / December 26th, 2023
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