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

Anjuman-e-Islam was the first Indian institution to offer mid-day meal to students

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Education - Gold Medallists, Toppers, Merits, Achievers (wef. June 12th, 2023), Leaders, Women/Girls(since May26-2021)

Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA:

Students of Ajnuman-e-Islam
Students of Ajnuman-e-Islam

Long before India became the first country to introduce mid-day meals to children in government schools to supplement their nutritional needs and to encourage poor families to send their children to school, Anjuman-e-Islam, a Muslim institution had started the scheme in Mumbai.

Ajmunan-e-Islam ursu school was established some 150 years ago. It was the brainchild of a group of progressive Muslim intellectuals of Mumbai.

The initiative for this was taken by Badruddin Tyabji, the first Indian barrister of the Bombay High Court, Qamaruddin Tyabji, the third president of the Indian National Congress, his elder brother and lawyer Nakhuda Mohammad, Ali Roge, businessman and social activist, Ghulam Mohammad Munshi, The school came up at Babula Tank near Umarkhadi in the then Bombay province and started as a small place.

An old picture of the Anjuman-e-Islam in Bombay

In 1893, ‘Anjuman-e-Islam’ was shifted to a building opposite Victoria Terminals (presently ‘Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus’) from where it continues to operate.

At that time many facilities were provided to the students coming to study in ‘Anjuman’. The facilities included a mid-day meal comprising boiled eggs, bread, and bananas.

It was established a year before the establishment of  ‘Aligarh Muslim University’ (AMU) in Aligarh by Sir Syed Ahmed with the sole motive of providing modern education to Muslims.

‘Anjuman’ school initially ‘only admitted boys and it was much later that it opened the doors to girl students. In 1936, a separate school for girls was also started by the name ‘Saif Tayyabji Girls High School’ on Bellasis Road.

The students of Anjuman e islam taking part in a cultural programme

This school, which started on 21 February 1874 with three teachers and 120 students, has now transformed into 97 institutions. Today more than 1.1 lakh students are studying right from nursery classes to PhD – are enrolled in its educational institutions. Interestingly, 70 percent of students enrolled are the first ones from their families to receive education.

Anjuman-e-Islam played a major role in India’s freedom struggle. Many people including Moinuddin Harris and Mustafa Fakih of ‘Anjuman’ were sentenced to imprisonment during the freedom struggle. Many policy meetings for the freedom struggle were held on its premises.

‘Anjuman’ has a long history in nation-building.

Mumbai police commissioner Dr Sanjay Pandey addressing the students of Anjuman-e-Islam

Today the main administrative office of the organization is located at the same place where the seed of ‘Anjuman’ was sown. Five colleges – two catering colleges, a business-management college, a home science college, and a law college – have been established on the institute’s three-acre campus. In addition, there is a polytechnic, a junior college for women, and two schools in both English and Urdu medium.

The campus also has a large library and a research center.

Sir Karimbhoy Ibrahim, Haji Yusuf Haji Ismail Sobani, Justice A. M. Qazi, Justice Faiz B. Tayyabji, Sardar Sir Suleman Kulsoom Mitha, Hussain B. Tayyabji, Usman Sobani, Mohammad Haji Ahmed, A. I. Maskati, Hadi C. Tayyabji, Saif F. B. Tayyabji, Akbar A. Pirbhoy, A. K. Hafeez, A. R. Persons like Antulay, Moinuddin Harris, Dr. M. Ishaq Jamkhanwala, Sami Khatib made special efforts. Presently Dr. Zaheer Kazi is its President.

`Anjuman’ has two main objectives, first – ‘to provide quality education at minimum cost’ and second – ‘to prevent any student from being deprived of education due to lack of funds’

More than 50 percent of the students in ‘Anjuman’ come from economically weaker sections. Anjuman has created a ‘Special Zakat Fund’ to enable these students to complete their education. The economically weaker students are given a 50 to 100 percent discount in education fees.

Vice Chancellor of the Amjuman-e-islam Dr Sahir Qazi and Governor of Maharashtra

The Anjuman is inspired by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad’s message that ‘Education given from the heart can bring revolution in the society’, the organization has been doing this work. The ‘Anjuman’ has more than 40 percent girls on roll.

Today the institution offers courses like Engineering, Medicine, Architecture, Pharmacy, Hospitality, Catering and Hotel Management, Law, Business Administration, Home Science, and Teacher’s Training.

Some, 3000 employees work in the Anjuman institutions. In the year 2000, `Anjuman’ was awarded the ‘Best Educational and Social Institution in Maharashtra’ by the State government. Recently the institution has been awarded the ‘Sir Syed Award of Excellence’ of AMU, Aligarh University.

The alumni of `Anjuman’ are today working in high positions in various fields like business, technology, arts, sports, media, medical science, and politics in many countries. Former Chairman of Fortune Company and Indian Oil Corporation, M.A. Pathan, former Chief Minister of Maharashtra A. R. Antulay, famous actor Dilip Kumar, Ismail Merchant of `Merchant of Merchant Ivory Productions’, former Deputy Editor of `Illustrated Weekly’ Fatima Zakaria, former editor of `Mumbai Mirror’ and `Sunday Times’ Farida Naik and famous cricketer Salim Durrani. Celebrities have been alumni of ‘Anjuman’.

Students at the Convocation of Anjuman-e-Islam

Dr. Zaheer Kazi, current president of ‘Anjuman’, says, “We are constructing a state-of-the-art building in the Sabu Siddiqui College campus in Byculla. There will be an incubation center as well as post-graduation and PhD courses taught there. “Besides, there will also be an integrated center.”

Apart from this, a health education campus will be built in Kalyan-Bhiwandi or Panchgani, in which MBBS courses, Dental College, College of Nursing, Physiotherapy, and Homeopathy will be started. Pharmacy, law college, degree college, and high school for girls will be started in the Solapur campus. Also, land acquisition for catering, pharmacy, and high school-cum-college in Panaji, Goa is in the final stages.

He said, “’Anjuman-e-Islam’ has partnered with MIT University in Cambridge, England, and its five Faculties of Engineering, Master of Business Administration (MBA), Pharmacy and Elementary Education. In addition, ‘The Kalsekar School of Pharmacy’ (Panvel), and The Maryland School of Pharmacy’, Baltimore, (Washington DC) have been approached for collaboration with Anjuman-e-Islam. Philadelphia’s ‘Temple University’ asked ‘A. of Anjuman-e-Islam’ for cooperation. R. Antulay College of Law has also been contacted.”

‘Anjuman’ has 97 educational institutions including schools and colleges. These include pre-primary schools (15), primary schools (15), secondary schools (20), junior colleges (10), polytechnics (4), degree colleges (15), other institutions (10), proposed institutions (2), Consists of hostels, auditorium (3), support units (2) and orphanage (2).

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Chaya Kavire, Pune / November 22nd, 2023

When freedom calls…

Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , ,

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Meet Shahana Parveen, a homemaker-turned entrepreneur, who was able to improve her financial condition significantly by simply taking the first step towards freedom.

Shahana Parveen. (Photo |Sri Loganathan Velmurugan, EPS)

Hyderabad : 

Shahana Parveen, a dedicated wife and mother of three, had never envisioned herself as a businesswoman. For two decades, her life revolved around her family, raising her children and maintaining her household. However, unforeseen financial struggles and a strong determination to secure a better future for her children led her down a path she had never imagined. 

Shahana’s life took an unexpected turn six years ago when her family moved to a rented house owing to deteriorating financial condition. Her father, a retired army officer, encouraged her to open a general store. She had never received any business training before as she got married immediately after finishing her class 10 from Kendriya Vidyalaya. It was during this time that she connected with SAFA, an organisation working in the Old City area for the socio-economic empowerment of women. 

SAFA, led by Rubina Nafeez Fatima, has been able to reach out to around 3,741 women in the area through its Micro Enterprise Development Program (MEDP) and other projects that help women entrepreneurs formalise their businesses. SAFA aims to help around 250 women through its project Ujaagar. It provided business training to about 50 women, out of which 36 finished their course in the first cohort. The Department of Minority Welfare, Government of Telangana later provided Rs 1lakh as loans to each of these women to encourage other women in the community as well. The project is being supported by WE Hub, led by Deepthi Ravula.

Shahana began attending business classes with SAFA, which eventually led her to explore opportunities for personal and financial growth. Even though she was managing a small grocery shop, she did not know the basics of handling the business. “Women in my community do not have the freedom to go out and work on such initiatives. For me, my children and SAFA became the driving force. During those six weeks of training, I would go and attend classes and my children would manage the shop meanwhile,” Shahana Parveen said. 

After immediately joining SAFA, Shahana was made part of a Self-Help Group (SHG) consisting of ten women. Collectively, they learned some basics of business including profit margins, savings, and the intricacies of running a business. This enabled Shahana to navigate the complexities of business paperwork, including licensing and identity proofs. She became aware of credit schemes offered by banks and could secure a loan worth Rs 1 lakh. 

She also received a personal loan from SAFA, amounting to Rs 20,000. She committed herself to repaying these loans to the best of her ability, steadily improving her family’s finances.

Challenges and Triumphs
Shahana Parveen’s journey was not without its challenges. Her husband initially did not support her business endeavours. Over time, her husband could see the progress she was making which somewhat made her entrepreneurial efforts more sustainable. However, she never got a clear green signal from him. 

Shahana and other women who finished the training through project Ujaagar had the opportunity to meet with KT Rama Rao, the Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Government of Telangana. “That was the best thing that happened to me. KTR sir recognised the resilience of Muslim women and encouraged us to share our challenges and support one another,” she said. This meeting boosted Shahana’s confidence and determination to continue her journey. 
It is to be noted that due to upcoming elections in the state, the loan transactions have not been completed due to the code of conduct being enforced. The cheques these women received from the government can now only be cashed in after the elections are over. 

Since embarking on her entrepreneurial path, Shahana Parveen’s profits have seen a 50% increase, allowing for greater savings. “I can repay my loans and also fulfil all my children’s needs,” she said. “I want to ensure the best future for my children. I want to support their educational dreams,” she added. 

Shahana’s aspirations do not end here. She envisions starting a wholesale business, sourcing goods in bulk and empowering others to join her entrepreneurial journey. She plans to stock products such as oil cartons, which can yield a significant profit margin. Additionally, she utilises her tailoring skills, ensuring that she remains proactive in her business endeavours. She has motivated and involved ten to fifteen more women to take training with SAFA, empowering others in her community. Shahana Parveen’s journey from a homemaker to a businesswoman is a testament to her resilience and determination.

Dilafroz Qazi set up Kashmir’s 1st pvt engineering college against all odds

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

JAMMU & KASHMIR:

Dilafroz Qazi
Dilafroz Qazi

Coming from a modest family of furriers in Srinagar’s Chattabal area, Dilafroz Qazi laid the foundation of the Srinagar School of Management (SSM) in 1988—exactly when the seeds of separatism and violence were sprouting across the Kashmir valley. Investing in management, engineering, and technical education was virtually sailing against the wind.

With a bachelor in Law—and no money in hand—Dilafroz set up a small training center of short-hand, typing, cutting, and stitching at Rajbagh. Soon it grew into the valley’s first private polytechnic operating from a tiny space of a hotel. Parallel to the militancy’s meteoric rise, SSM spiraled into Kashmir’s first private engineering college in 1996. It is now a full-fledged engineering college alongside its school of management and a polytechnic.

Thirty-five years later, SSM boasts an impressive alumni base of more than 30,000 students—a number of them have reached top positions in management, corporate, and government sectors. They include Bisma Qazi of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Naveed Tramboo of Indian Revenue Service (IRS), Ursilla Tabassum, Iqbal Hassan Mona, Abidah, Wajeeza, Adeel Aslam and Gowhar Shamim Mir of Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) and many others like Auditing Officer Sheikh Muzammil and Executive Engineer Umar Jan.

Dilfaroz Qazi (Extreme left) in her college

Established on a plateau close to the archaeological site of Parihaspora, SSM still carries the distinction of being Kashmir’s only private engineering college imparting technical education at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. It conducts degree courses in civil, mechanical, computer, electrical and electronics, and communication engineering and postgraduate courses (M.Tech) in mechanical engineering and electronics and communication engineering.

SSM also conducts the courses of Masters in Computer Application (MCA) and Business Administration (MBA) besides Bachelors in Business Administration (BBA). Diploma courses in six engineering disciplines are conducted at the SSM Polytechnic which, in 1988, was the first step towards privatization of technical education in the erstwhile State of J&K.

A massive infrastructure, including teaching blocks with smart classrooms, libraries, computer and science laboratories, playfields, auditoriums, and two hostel blocks have come up at the campuses, 20 km from the capital city of Srinagar.

The governing council of the institute comprises eminent educationists, administrators, technocrats, and professionals. Similarly, the faculty comprises highly qualified and trained teachers. SSM has to its credit several awards and recognitions in capacity building, education and communication, sports, and cultural activities.

Dilfaroz Qazi (in Red gown) at the convocation of her college

The embryonic stage of Dilafroz’s ambition ran parallel to an era of death and devastation across the valley. She got married to the Srinagar resident Qazi Shabir who came in as a support in the early 1990s but the environment of education was hugely disturbed by curfews, hartals, encounters, and operations by the security forces. These were the days when militants burned down a large number of the valley’s educational institutions, including schools and colleges.

As the situation began to show some semblance of improvement, Dilafroz acquired a chunk of land at the hillock of Parihaspora to set up her dream college of engineering. But she landed in an unexpected trouble.

“Ironically, the biggest hurdles were created by a prominent mainstream leader who perceived my college as a threat to his conventional vote-bank even as I had nothing to do with politics. He engineered and encouraged several attacks on my construction workers; his musclemen torched a number of our structures. I put up resistance by way of refusing to surrender and got FIRs registered over every single attack. It was not easy those days to file an FIR over a grenade attack”, Dilafroz narrated to Awaz-The Voice.

After the 1996 elections, the said leader was back in power – this time as a minister -. Dilafroz claimed that the entire administrative and Police machinery acted on his instructions. “There was never an action over the FIRs we filed. The official machinery sabotaged our plans. Everyone from DC’s and SP’s office to Tehsildar and SHO sided with the politician and created untold hurdles. I am sure any other man, let alone woman, would have abandoned it and bought peace. But I thought I must fight it out until I break completely”, Dilafroz added.

The campus of SSM College, Parihaspura

When we applied for the University recognition and affiliation and t officers, deans, and registrars from the University of Kashmir and the State-run Regional Engineering College (REC) visited our infrastructure, their behaviour was completely hostile and demoralizing.

“I experienced male chauvinism and misogyny. They raised irrelevant and irrational questions. They asked how a woman with no engineering background and qualification could operate an engineering college. But, notwithstanding all these adversities, I managed to get recognition and affiliation to the SSM as I set up the best infrastructure and employed the best possible faculty”, Dilafroz added.

“One day, while I was shuttling between the government offices in Srinagar for the recognition of my college, I came across a local lady IAS officer namely Tanvir Jehan. I learned from her that the entire government machinery and bureaucracy was pitted against me. Are you the woman, she asked incredulously. When I narrated my story of ambition and struggle to her, she empathized and provided every possible support. By the grace of Almighty, I am now heading a full-fledged engineering college with management courses and I am struggling to set up J&K’s first University in the private sector”, Dilafroz asserted.

Over the years, the competition as well as the procedure of admissions has changed drastically. When Dilafroz began to raise the valley’s first private engineering college, even the government had only one—the REC which subsequently became the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar. Now, in addition to several private engineering colleges, six engineering colleges are run by the University of Kashmir, the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) Awantipora, the Central University of Kashmir, and the Cluster University Srinagar. The Union Territory government operates one more engineering college at Ganderbal.

Dilfaroz Qazi with eminent educationist Prof Neerja Mattoo

“With the expansion of the private and government polytechnics and engineering colleges, our roll of students has fallen phenomenally from 3,000 to just 1,300. Until recently our intake limit was around 666 seats. Now we can’t admit more than 115 students in a year. And, contrary to the procedure outside J&K, all admissions here are done by a State-run authority. We are also barred from taking the students under the Prime Minister’s special package for the J&K students. All the beneficiary students of J&K are distributed among the colleges outside. The stepmother’s treatment is still unabated”, Dilafroz added further.

Dilafroz pointed out another irony. According to her, the University of Kashmir is charging a fee of Rs 80,000 for B.Tech courses. IUST is charging Rs 75,000. Her SSM is charging only Rs 38,000 to Rs 40,000 per student. “Still our allocation of seats is reduced and we are made to renew the University affiliation every year”, she lamented. 

“We have two times B+ NAAC accreditation and we figure in the top 10 engineering colleges in India. Still, the University of Kashmir didn’t grant us permanent affiliation in the last 25 years. There are biases and prejudices which can’t be explained. J&K is the only State/UT in the country where engineering admissions are done by a government-run authority called BOPEE. Whatever I have earned, I have invested in this institution. I don’t have dreams of making billions for my luxurious life. I am just pursuing my dream of establishing a full-fledged private university in J&K in which the Union and the UT government should support me”, Dilafroz said.

According to her, as many as 18,000 J&K students of her college have got high-salary jobs in the government sector and the private sector across India and abroad.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Ahmed Ali Fayyaz, Srinagar / November 18th, 2023

UAE: Indian woman showcases 30 kg handwritten Quran at SIBF

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Books - Holy Quran, Koran / Translations, Commentaries / by Indian Muslims (wef. February 11th, 2025), Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Community Involvement / Social Issues, Inventions, Innovations (wef. Nov 30th, 2021), Museums, Libraries (wef. April 16th, 2022), Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , ,

KERALA:

The holy book, which weighs 54 kg with the cover, measures 28.5 inches long, 22.5 inches wide, and 4.5 inches high.

UAE: Indian woman showcase calligraphic handwritten Holy Quran at SIBF 2023

Abu Dhabi:

A 46-year-old Indian woman has displayed her handwritten Holy Quran in Arabic calligraphy weighing over 30 kgs at the 42nd Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF).

Jaleena Hussain, who hails from Indian state of Kerala, has spent over a year creating a unique edition of 114 surahs, covering 604 pages.

Speaking to Sharjah 24, Jaleena said writing the Quran was her way of fulfilling her desire to memorize the Holy Book.

She expressed gratitude to the Sharjah authorities for allowing her to showcase her talent.

Jaleena, a former rubber plantation worker and Urdu teacher, has been recognized by the Arabian World Records and the India and Asia Book of Records for her handwritten Quran.

VIDEO: Largest handwritten Quran in Arabic calligraphy presented at SIBF - GulfToday

source: http://www.siasat.com / Siasat.com / Home> News> India / by Sakina Fatima X / November 12th, 2023

Sisters Bushra, Sadia, Anam bring laurels to Naxal insurgency-hit area

Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , , , , ,

Sherghati (Gaya District), BIHAR:

Sisters Bushra, sadia and Anam
Sisters Bushra, sadia and Anam

Sherghati, a small town in the Gaya district of Bihar which till recently was known for the Naxal insurgency is in the news for good reason. Three daughters of a local artist Imran Ali – Bushra, Saadia, and Anam – are studying to become doctors.

The three sisters are perhaps the first ones from a middle-class Muslim family in the district to have achieved this distinction.

In the recent NEET examination Bushra, the youngest of Ali’s daughters was declared successful and she followed in the footsteps of her sisters, Saadia and Anam, and joined the Medical College.

Aman Imran, the firstborn of Imran Ali and Zareen Kausar, is pursuing her doctorate from the National Institute of Homeopathy (NIH), Kolkata, one of the country’s top medical colleges. The second daughter Sadia Emala is studying in her final year of degree course at Mahesh Bhattacharya Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata.

Bushra Kausar has also been admitted into the Government Homeopathy Medical College and Hospital. The sisters have chosen homeopathy.

People in Sherghati are proud of the three sisters and everyone speaks about them.

Imran Ali and Zareen Kausar live in the Urdu Bazaar locality. On May 21, Imran Ali was awarded the Rajiv Gandhi Global Excellence Award 2023 in New Delhi.

imran ali douters
Imran Ali and Zareen Kausar withtheir daughters and  son

He runs an advertising agency and undertakes projects for publicity painting and advertising flex hoardings.

He is also a musician and given his music for the Bhojpuri films. He also performed the official functions on Republic Day and Independence Day for two decades.

Anam, Saadia, and Bushra grew up in a middle-class family, and through hard work reached this position.

The Sherghati sub-division was once highly infested with Naxal violence.

While studying at DAV, Bushra Kausar became the state topper in the inter-school slogan writing competition and was awarded ₹ 10,000 by the then Deputy CM of Bihar Sushil Kumar Modi.

She cleared her medical entrance examination on her second attempt and got admitted into the Medical College. She is planning to sit again for NEET to join the MBBS course in a medical college.

Imran Ali and Zareen Kausar believe that daughters are born to lucky parents.

Zareen Kausar said that along with becoming doctors, her daughters have set their eyes on the civil services. “You should not ignore your daughters but give them enough opportunities to move forward,” she said.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Seraj Anwar, Patna / November 09th, 2023

How Jamia helped a scholar raise her daughter

Education, Women/Girls(since May26-2021)

NEW DELHI:

Suhra fought with her family and patriarchal society at large to pursue higher education, overcoming many hurdles.

Suhra with her daughter / Picture by Abdul Shafeeque KP

Jamia Millia Islamia, one of the heritage universities of our country, last year celebrated its 102nd foundation day. Gerda Philipsborn was a founding member of Jamia who fled from Germany when the Nazis came to power. Her biggest contribution to the university was to take care of young children. To commemorate her, Jamia named its daycare centre after her.

Comparing Suhra Hasan to Gerda Philipsborn may be a stretch, but Suhra somewhere touches the motive of Gerda’s foundational ideas. She hails from a village in Kerala, from a family that was expected to marry her off before the age of 20. She fought with her family and a patriarchal society at large to pursue higher education, overcoming many hurdles.

She does not call them hurdles, though, but serendipity. However, for a Muslim girl reaching college and university was a dream, mainly because of compromised economic conditions and societal and religious pressure.

What is tougher? Being a woman in our society, being married, being a mother, being a PhD scholar? Suhra is everything: a married woman, a mother, a scholar who recently finished her PhD at my university, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.

Mother scholar

Suhra joined Jamia for her PhD in 2015. She met her future husband on campus and got married in 2017, giving birth to a daughter in 2019. Usually, couples practise family planning according to comfort, affordability, etc, but Suhra planned everything around her PhD schedule.

She planned to be pregnant after fieldwork in Kerala because that needed a lot of travelling. Transcribing the fieldwork can be done sitting at home, and Suhra mentally prepared herself to go through her pregnancy during this phase because there would be less need to go out.

But nothing went to plan, and she had to take her daughter to fieldwork in unknown places in Kerala, meeting new people and exploring other dimensions of research work. “Nothing went according to plan; everything happened simultaneously,” Suhra says.

She had become pregnant in her third year of PhD, and had to visit the university to make use of the library. It was a bit awkward for her initially because this was something new on the campus. The BA students, in particular, would stare at her.

But it all turned out beautifully — people started giving her extra support, which encouraged her to be on campus during her pregnancy. Even the security guards gave her tips on how to take care of herself and what to eat during this time. She returned to her home in Kerala in the ninth month of pregnancy and took six months of maternity leave.

She returned to campus when her daughter was five months old. She did not have anyone to help her raise the child. She and her husband raised her while doing their PhD work.

The recent trailer of Anjali Menon’s film Wonder Woman has the line that “it takes a village to raise a child”, but in Suhra’s case it took a university to raise a child. “My pregnancy, my baby, my husband never become a hurdle to my PhD,” Suhra says.

Supervisor

For a PhD scholar, choosing a good supervisor is most important. Suhra got a very good supervisor who helped her with everything.

“Pregnancy is not a disease; it is something very beautiful. You are giving birth to a human, so rather than feel awkward, make good use of this time because once you give birth, you won’t have much time to study,” she advised Suhra.

Suhra lived up to the advice and made good use of her time on campus, where friends helped her with food and reminded her to take her walks and drink juice, etc.

Her husband, also being a scholar, had a busy schedule and his meetings collided with Suhra’s. So her supervisor made a comfortable space for the baby in her cabin where she brought toys and stationery. So, along with supervising her students on research, she also babysat.

Gender roles

Suhra’s husband managed to be a part of the baby’s care. But Suhra believed that in the initial stages, a baby needs its mother more than anything else, and considered herself the primary parent to some degree. But in the past one year, during her PhD submission, her husband became the primary parent. He played with the baby outside the library while Suhra studied late. She would step out of the library in time to feed her.

Talking about her husband’s support, she says: “I know we should not glorify the parenting responsibilities he has taken but considering the patriarchal set-up we are raised in, and the conditioning we have received, his role as a primary parent is immense while my presence was limited to nights.”

Umm-e-Alaa

Umm-e-Alaa is Suhra’s Instagram handle. Alaa is her daughter’s name, and Umme-Alaa means “daughter of Alaa”. Her daughter has given her a new identity: on campus, people know her daughter more than Suhra.

Suhra’s friends keep saying stuff like “Alaa’s first walk was in Jamia”. Suhra says: “For us, Jamia is a university but for her, it is home.”

The child is familiar with all the places on campus because she has friends everywhere. Suhra writes messages on social media about her work on campus and asks people to babysit. Many come and spend time with Alaa, and that is how she (Alaa) became friends with so many people from different regions of the country.

Alaa loves the place. She has her own accreditation to departments and libraries. Jamia has a statue of Mirza Ghalib with a book in hand. Alaa calls him “Uppappa (grandfather) with the book”, her mother’s department “Ummichi’s Mam’s House”, and her father’s department “Vaappachi’s Mam’s House”.

Suhra has given her a childhood without compartmentalised relationships. For Alaa, the whole university is family, and when she goes back home she is unable to understand the concepts of “our family” and “their family”.

“Often people ask me whether it is having a child that took me longer to do my PhD. But I would say pregnancy and childbirth have been instrumental to facilitating my research,” Suhra says.

“I was in the field for data collection during my pregnancy and resumed fieldwork when Alaa was three months old. My daughter’s presence acted as a research tool that made rapport-building with families of prisoners easier. The motherhood identity acted as a cushion, and I was met with empathy by those families.”

At last, when I ask about her PhD journey, Suhra says: “My thesis is also her thesis.”

source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph Online / Home> India / by Nehal Ahmed / February 07th, 2023

Stories of courage reverberate amid calls for change

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , ,

KERALA:

Nilambur Ayesha, Sameera & Ayishumma Thavanur share their struggle to claim rights.

Khadeeja Mumtaz and Nilambur Ayesha during the Muslim Women’s Conference in Kozhikode on Saturday | E Gokul 
Khadeeja Mumtaz and Nilambur Ayesha during the Muslim Women’s Conference in Kozhikode on Saturday | E Gokul 

Kozhikode :

The Muslim Women’s Conference with the theme ‘Equality is Justice’ held in Kozhikode became a platform for an open discussion on property rights issues being faced by women in the Muslim community and other violations of fundamental rights. 

The conference organised by the Centre for Inclusive Islam and Humanism at Nalanda Auditorium on Saturday also witnessed Nilambur Ayesha, Sameera Bukhari and Ayishumma Thavanur sharing the struggle they took up to claim their rights in the community. 

“Women should be treated with respect and love. In Kerala, many women are suffering torture from their husbands and in marriages, they are just focusing on mahr and dowry. After receiving dowry, the women are treated in a pathetic manner,” said Nilambur Ayesha, who also shared how she struggled to overcome the restrictions of conservatives in the community and became the first female film actor from the Muslim community.

Similar is the case of Ayishumma Thavanur who has been fighting for the past five years for her three daughters to inherit their sole property. “Since we don’t have any sons, our sole property, which was registered under my late husband’s name, has to be partitioned and a portion should be given to the husband’s brothers also. As per  Islamic law, my daughters can’t inherit the property fully. But we are facing financial issues and we are fighting for my daughters’ rights. God didn’t make such rules that make human lives difficult, but they are made by the elites and patriarchal society. This should be changed,” Ayishumma said. Meanwhile, Sameera Bukhari shared her painful experiences that she faced in her married life and how she overcame it and became a motivational speaker.

C H Musthafa Moulavi, advisor for the Centre for Inclusive Islam and Humanism, said that Muslim Personal Law is entirely against the teachings of the Quran. The conference had special sessions led by experts on various issues being faced by Muslim women such as inheritance, guardianship of children and permitting divorce in marriages. 

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Express News Service / March 05th, 2023

Veteran Actor and Mehmood Ali’s Sister Minoo Mumtaz Dies in Canada

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, NRI's / PIO's, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), World Opinion, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA / Toronto, CANADA:

Photo Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Minu_Mumtaz.jpg

Minoo Mumtaz aka Malikunnisa Ali, the veteran Hindi actor and comedian Mehmood’s sister, died in Toronto in Canada on Saturday.

She was recently diagnosed with cancer and her health deteriorated quickly, leading to her demise, ETimes reported.

Mumtaz’s nephew Naushad, confirming the news to the publication, said, “Since she was old, 80 plus, there wasn’t much to be done. She was one of the loveliest people I had ever met”.

Her younger brother Anwar Ali, who is also part of the film industry and is now a producer, wrote, “Regret to inform that my loving sister Minoo Mumtaz, passed away (in Canada) a few minutes ago… Deep gratitude to the film fraternity, press, media, fans, friends, for decades of love and adulation showered upon her.”

Born to a family of four brothers and four sisters, Mumtaz was the daughter of Mumtaz Ali, a dancer and character artiste in Hindi films in the 1940s. She was renamed Minoo by actor Meena Kumari, her sister-in-law and Mehmood Ali’s wife.

While she started her career as a stage dancer, Mumtaz appeared in several Hindi films in the 1950s and 1960s as a dancer and character actor. She made her debut with Sakhi Hateem, and moved on to play the lead opposite Balraj Sahni in Black Cat (1959) and appeared in several Guru Dutt films including Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960) and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962). Other Hindi films that she appeared in include Taj Mahal, Alibaba, Ghoonghat, Ghar Basake Dekho, Insan Jaag Utha, Sindbad, Jahanaara, Aladin, Gazal, Dharmaputra. She also appeared in the 2002 television serial Chalo Chale Pardes.

Expressing her condolences on the late actor’s demise, author Bhawana Somaaya wrote, “#MinooMumtaz lead dancer of Hindi movies in the 50s and the 60s dies in Canada. Condolences to #AnwarAli family.”

Actor Nasirr Khan also mourned Mumtaz’s death.

Mumtaz is survived by her husband Sayyed Ali Akbar, son and three daughters who lived with her in Toronto.

Namrata Ganguly is a Correspondent at Silverscreen India, and can be reached by email at namrata@silverscreen.in

source: http://www.silverscreenindia.com / SilverScreen India / Home> Hindi> News / by Namrata Ganguly / October 23rd, 2021

Two Circle Network’s Seed Fellow Sufi Parween Wins Laadli Media Award

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

BIHAR / Kolkata, WEST BENGAL :

We are happy to announce that TCN’s SEED Fellow Sufi Parween has won the 13th Laadli Media Award for her exceptional contribution to gender-sensitive reporting. 

Her award-winning story, “Bihar: These Muslim women break taboo by learning Madhubani painting – TwoCircles.net,” focuses on a transformative initiative among Muslim women in Bihar who have broken social norms by learning Madhubani painting, the traditional Indian art style.

source: http://www.twocircles.net / TwoCircles.net / Home> Journalism / by TCN News / October 27th, 2023

Book Excerpt: Barsa By Kadeeja Mumtas

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Education, NRI's / PIO's, Science & Technology, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Kattoor (Thrissur District),KERALA:

Khadija Mumtaz - Wikipedia

Barsa, written by Kadeeja Mumtas, is the first Malayalam novel to be set in Saudi Arabia and as its introduction states, is a record of “a woman’s scrutiny of Islamic scriptures and Muslim life”.

Barsa, as its introduction states, is the first Malayalam novel to be set in Saudi Arabia. Written by Kadeeja Mumtas and translated into English by K M Sherrif, the book acts as a record of “a woman’s scrutiny of Islamic scriptures and Muslim life”. 

Sabitha, the protagonist of the novel, after moving to Saudi Arabia, starts questioning every aspect of her every day life – including religion.


The novel traces her personal journey as she is caught amidst culture, religion, and personal agency, and struggles to assert her own identity.

One hot afternoon, Rasheed and Sabitha first stepped out like refugees on the large expanse of land surrounding the grand mosque which housed the holy Ka’aba. Other travellers who knew their way hurriedly moved on while the two of them stood hesitantly at the crossroads, unsure of their next step. The coppery glare of the sun sat on their heads like the legs of a giant spider.

Rasheed glanced at Sabitha. He could sense her discomfort in the headscarf and the abaya, looking like a lawyer’s coat, which the Malayali workers at the airport had helped her buy. But he thought that even in those uncomfortable clothes, Doctor Prabhakaran’s niece, with her wheatish complexion, had a particular charm. He wanted to tell her this with a little smile, but with his tongue stuck to the roof of his dry mouth. He just couldn’t do it, which was a pity. If he had, maybe the wrinkles on her forehead would have lost at least one crease.

A yellow taxi backed up and stopped near them. Th e face of a man with a shabby headdress clamped down by a black ring came into view, and an arm jerked out of the window at the driver’s seat. “Fain aabga ruh?” Rasheed guessed he was asking where they wanted to go and replied, “Mudeeriya Musthashfa”—the Health Directorate. He had gleaned the Arabic expression from the conversation he had had in halting English with the Palestinian doctor they had met at the airport emergency service. He had seen Sabitha too write it down in her diary.

“Ta’al ”—come. Th e driver opened the car doors and invited them in. As he could not understand the driver’s sarcastic remark, directed obviously at his fairly large suitcase, Rasheed, with some embarrassment, chose to put it on his lap as he sat down and leaned back comfortably.

As the car sped at breakneck speed, Sabitha felt a tremor run through her, but she suppressed it immediately. She felt helpless at having to depend on a complete stranger, an Arab driver whose language she did not know. But she was also reassured by Rasheed’s presence. They had reached this far, trusting strangers, many of whose languages they did not know.

As they boarded the Saudi Airlines flight to Riyadh from Mumbai, Thambi, the man from their ticketing agents Ajanta Travels, had said reassuringly, “The flight will take about four and a half hours. Someone from the Ministry will be waiting to receive you. There is nothing to worry about, Riyadh is a nice city. Okay then, happy journey!”

From the moment Thambi, with that characteristic city dweller’s way of waving goodbye had raised his hands and walked away, Rasheed and Sabitha had taken comfort in each other’s presence. They could make this journey together only because of their decision to stick to each other, come what may. At the interview in Mumbai, it was Sabitha who was selected first, as a lady gynaecologist. The interview for ophthalmologists had not yet been conducted and, as there were a large number of applicants, Rasheed was not too hopeful of getting in. When she was asked to sign the contract, Sabitha hesitated, “I will sign only if my husband too is selected.” She had by then realised that lady gynaecologists were much in demand. “You sign; even if he is not selected, he can come with you on a family visa and then try for a job there.”

The man at Ajanta Travels, a go-getter, tried to hustle her. “No, I am not that keen to go to the Gulf to work. I will go only if he also gets a job there.” Her stubbornness paid off . An interview was fixed for Rasheed as a special case.

Excerpted with permission from Barsa, by Kadeeja Mumtas, Yoda Press. You can buy this book at 20% off at the FII-Yoda Press Winter Book Sale on 21st and 22nd December 2018 in New Delhi. For more details, check out the sale page.

source: http://www.feminisminindia.com / Feminism In India – FII / Home> Culture> Books / by FII Team / December 21st, 2018