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

Dadasaheb Phalke Award conferred on Waheeda Rehman

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Chengalputtu, TAMIL NADU / Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA:

Waheeda Rehman, 85, is a towering legend of Indian cinema known for iconic roles in films like ‘Guide’, ‘Pyaasa’ and ‘Kaagaz Ke Phool’

Waheeda Rehman


Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on September 26 announced that veteran Bollywood actor Waheeda Rehman would be conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award for 2021, honouring her stellar contribution to Indian cinema.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the 85-year-old actor through an X (formerly Twitter) post. “Delighted that Waheeda Rehman Ji has been honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award. Her journey in Indian cinema has left an indelible mark. A beacon of talent, dedication and grace, she embodies the best of our cinematic heritage. Congratulations to her,” he said.

Ms. Rehman has been critically acclaimed for her roles in Hindi films, prominent among them being Pyaasa, Kaagaz ke Phool, Chaudhavi Ka Chand, Saheb Biwi Aur Ghulam, Guide and Khamoshi.

The announcement coincides with the birth centenary of Dev Anand, who had worked with Ms. Rehman in the classics like Guide (1965), an adaptation of R. K. Narayan’s book; and crime thriller C.I.D. (1956), which was her first Hindi film. Earlier, she had acted in Telugu films Rojulu Maraayi and Jayasimha, which were released in 1955.

“In her career spanning over five decades, she has essayed her roles with extreme finesse, leading to a National Film Award for her role as a clanswoman in the film Reshma and Shera. A Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awardee, Waheeda ji has exemplified dedication, commitment and the strength of a Bharatiya Nari who can achieve the highest level of professional excellence with her hard work,” said Mr. Thakur.

The Minister said: “At a time when the historic Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (women’s reservation Bill, 2023) has been passed by Parliament, her being awarded this lifetime achievement award is a fitting tribute to one of the leading ladies of Indian Cinema and one who has dedicated her life after films to philanthropy and the greater good of society.”

The award will be presented during the 69th National Film awards ceremony. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award selection committee comprised prominent Indian cinema personalities, Asha Parekh, Chiranjeevi, Paresh Rawal, Prosenjit Chatterjee and Shekhar Kapur.

Ms. Rehman has worked in more than 90 films. She won the Filmfare Best Actress Award for her roles in Guide and Neel Kamal (1968). She also bagged the National Award for Best Actress (1971) and was honoured with the Padma Shri by government in 1972 and the Padma Bhushan in 2011.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Entertainment> Movies / by The Hindu Bureau / September 26th, 2023

Waheeda Rehman’s Tamil Nadu connect

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TAMIL NADU :

Thanjavur-based Shahida Malik, the elder sister of Waheeda Rehman, talks about growing up with her ‘Chand’.

Waheeda Rehman with Shahida Malik | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Many rejoiced at the news of veteran actor Waheeda Rehman being conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award for 2021.

But quite above the fan frenzy, is 92-year-old Shahida Malik, Waheeda Rehman’s elder sister based out of Thanjavur, who has been moved to tears of joy at the recognition of her beloved sibling, nicknamed ‘Chand’ (moon and a term of endearment in Urdu), whose innate talent has been finally given its due.

It often comes as a surprise to many that Waheeda Rehman is actually from Tamil Nadu. She was born in Chengalpattu.

With a beautiful dance sequence that marked her debut at the age of 17 in the 1955 Telugu film Roju Marayi (remade as Kaalam Mari Pochu in Tamil), Waheeda Rehman’s body of work spans several decades of unusual roles. Her career in Hindi started in 1956 with the Guru Dutt production CID. 

“Waheeda’s Roju Marayi dance was so famous that people used to throw money at the screen whenever the song came on,” says Shahida. “We were amazed to see the reaction to our sister and so proud of her success.”

Trained in Bharatanatyam

Born in 1938 to district commissioner Mohamed Abdul Rehman and Mumtaz Begum, Waheeda was the youngest of four daughters. She and her sister Sayeeda trained in Bharathanatyam.

Shahida, who is seven years elder to the actor, remembers the family fearing for Waheeda’s poor health in her early childhood. They were also worried about the reaction to girls from the Muslim community taking up dance or films as a career.

She was first noticed as a performer at a Bharatanatyam recital for a cultural show organised during a visit by India’s last Governor-General C. Rajagopalachari by her father when he was posted at Vishakapatnam (in what was then the Madras Presidency).

“Father was asked to use only local artistes in the programme. Waheeda and Sayeeda were roped in for the dance,” recalls Shahida. As mentioned in the 2015 book Conversations with Waheeda Rehman by Nasreen Munni Kabir, the family went through straitened times after the death of Mohamed Abdur Rehman in 1951.

Veteran actor Waheeda Rehman at an event in New Delhi | Photo Credit: –

“Our father was transferred constantly, and this affected our studies. My elder sister Zahida and I managed to study up to Class 8, but Sayeeda and Waheeda didn’t get even that far. They worked very hard to stand on their own feet,” says Shahida. 

Foray into films

Waheeda Rehman’s success in the Roju Marayi song led to a meeting with actor-producer-director Guru Dutt, who eventually signed her up for a three-year contract with his production house in 1955, persuading Waheeda and her mother to shift to Bombay from Madras.

Their creative partnership flourished in films like Pyaasa, Twelve O’ Clock, Kaagaz Ke Phool, Chaudvin Ka Chand and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam. With a ringside view on the world of films, Shahida has many memories of her sister’s heyday as a young actor, and also chaperoning her to shoots in outdoor locations. 

Waheeda Rehman in the Telugu film ‘Rojulu Maaraayi’ | Photo Credit: The Hindu Archives

Shahida and Waheeda are the only two surviving sisters. Family members, irrespective of their age, refer to their star relative affectionately as ‘Chand Khala’. “I nicknamed her after the moon, because she was destined to rise high in life and shine. I am so happy, I cannot stop crying,” says Shahida.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Entertainment> Movies / by Nahla Nainar / September 27th, 2023

Asian Games 2023 boxing: Nikhat Zareen settles for bronze; Parveen Hooda secures Paris 2024 Olympic quota

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Hyderabad, TELANGANA:

India’s Nikhat Zareen bowed out in the women’s 50kg semi-final after losing 3:2 to Thailand’s Chuthamat Raksat. Parveen Hooda is assured a medal in the women’s 57kg.

Nikhat Zareen 
(Boxing Federation of India (BFI))

Two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen finished her campaign in the women’s 50kg event with a bronze medal at the Asian Games 2023 boxing tournament in Hangzhou, the People’s Republic of China.

Nikhat Zareen lost her semi-final bout against Thailand’s Chuthamat Raksat by a 3:2 split decision. Zareen and Raksat faced each other in the quarter-finals of the world championships earlier this year and the Indian boxer had come out on top then.

In Hangzhou, both Nikhat Zareen and Chuthamat Raksat started the bout cautiously, the two only able to land soft punches with measured jabs. In the final round, the Thai boxer managed some decisive hooks to take control and won the bout by the barest of margins.

“My experience was great. I had very good bouts in these Asian Games,” Nikhat said. “Today, unfortunately, I couldn’t win the semi-final match against Thailand. But it’s fine, I will take this as a learning lesson.

“I’ll definitely come back stronger. I’ll learn from my mistakes from this competition, and I definitely look forward to that.”

Earlier in the day, Parveen Hooda made it to the women’s 57kg semi-finals by defeating Sitora Turdibekova of Uzbekistan by unanimous decision. The 23-year-old Indian boxer, by virtue of making the top four, secured a maiden Asian Games medal as well as a quota for the Paris 2024 Olympics next year.

However, as National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes’ participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.

Boxing at the Asian Games 2023 is also a Paris 2024 Olympics qualifier event. In men’s events, the gold and silver medallists in each of the seven weight divisions will be issued a quota to Paris 2024. In the women’s categories, four quotas will be on offer for all categories other than the 66kg and 75kg, for which there will be two berths on offer like men’s.

Parveen Hooda will face Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yu Ting in the semi-finals on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Jasmine Lamboria missed out on a medal after she lost by RSC (referee stops count) in the women’s 60kg quarters against Ungyong Won of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The Indian boxer endured three standing counts in a space of one minute before the referee stopped the bout.

source: http://www.olympics.com / Olympics.com / Home / by Anurag Peesara / October 01st, 2023

Mohammed- The Maulana Football Coach

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

Patna, BIHAR / DELHI:

In a small suburb in the Islam-dominated Jamia in Delhi, Mohammed Ameen manages to live a life which breaks norms and is still happy. . .

Football, as a game, has broken a lot of barrier in terms of religion and war. It is a well-documented fact that the Nigerian Civil War was stopped to watch Pele and his team play in the 1960s. If the game could stop a war, one can imagine its power over the other earthly, trivial matters.

Khel Now Football caught up with Mohammed Ameen, who originates from Patna but is currently staying in Delhi. Ameen is a Maulana, a person associated with formal qualification following study at a madrassa or darul uloom. Ameen comes across as a noble Muslim, who would go about his work and would lead a sedentary life in a city job.

Astonishingly, Ameen breaks the cliché. The middle-aged man is a sports coordinator for CEQUIN, an NGO which works on a variety of issues affecting women and girls such as violence, leadership, economic empowerment and other social benefits. You must be wondering that why are we writing these stories; but there’s a common link: FOOTBALL.

Football Is My Religion I Jamia I Mohammed-The Maulana Coach 

Ameen trains girls in and around his area and said, “I train both the junior and senior girls equally hard. I want to see the senior girls mature in a way that they can train the next line of girls in the years to come,” says Ameen, who earns meagerly.

“Football is a team game, and the girls forget their stress while playing,” adds the gaffer. “There energy on the pitch brings a change in the community and shows a new door to the girls in the area. I’m working in the Jamia area and there are various challenges in the work I’m trying to do.”

One of them, he says, is the fact that he’s a Maulana. “People in general and parents in particular usually say that I’m a Maulana and I teach girls to play football, which adds a poor connotation to the notion. I usually stay silent, and they get my answer.”

Talking on our special segment called ‘Football is my Religion’, Ameen concludes with a brilliant message. “Football is played all around the world by white, black, men and women equally. There is no religious division in the game, and it should be that way forever. It connects people like nothing else.”

source: http:www.khelnow.com / Khel Now / Home / by Punit Tripathi / April 17th, 2017

IIT Kanpur professors Bushra, Nitin awarded INSA Fellowship for 2023-24

Amazing Feats, Education - Gold Medallists, Toppers, Merits, Achievers (wef. June 12th, 2023), Women/Girls(since May26-2021), World Opinion, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Kanpur, UTTAR PRADESH:

Professor Bushra Ateeq is Special Senior Fellow, and teaches at the Department of Biological Sciences and Bio-Engineering (BSBE) of the IIT Kanpur.

IIT Kanpur professors Bushra, Nitin awarded INSA Fellowship for 2023-24

Kanpur: 

Two professors of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, Bushra Ateeq and Nitin Saxena, have been awarded with the prestigious Indian National Science Academy (INSA) Fellowship for the year 2023-24.

Professor Bushra Ateeq is Special Senior Fellow, and teaches at the Department of Biological Sciences and Bio-Engineering (BSBE) of the IIT Kanpur.

Professor Nitin Saxena, Founding Coordinator of the Center for Developing Intelligent Systems (CDIS) at IIT Kanpur, is from the Computer Science and Engineering Department of the institutions.

“I am delighted to share that two distinguished members of our faculty, Prof. Bushra Ateeq from the Department of Biological Sciences & Bioengineering, and Prof. Nitin Saxena from the Department of Computer Science & Engineering, have been honoured with the prestigious Fellowship of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) for the year 2023-24”, Director IIT Kanpur, Abhay Karandika, wrote on social media platform X, earlier known as Twitter.

“The INSA Fellowship recognizes the research of scientists from diverse fields and supports them to further their research with necessary assistance”, he added.

Professor Bushra Ateeq

Dr. Bushra Ateeq joined Department of Biological Sciences and Bio-Engineering (BSBE) at the IIT Kanpur in February 2013. She was trained as a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Arul Chinnaiyan’s group at Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan. Prof Bushra also served there as a Research Investigator (Junior Faculty) before joining IIT Kanpur.

Prior to this, she was a postdoctoral trainee in Dr. Shafaat Rabbani’s group at McGill University, Montreal. She served a brief stint as a Research Associate at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi and National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi. She received her Ph.D. from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).

Dr. Ateeq is primarily interested in exploring the genetic and epigenetic changes that initiate cancer and its progression by employing novel strategies and approaches. Her overarching goal is to explore the molecular events that drive cancer and facilitate the process of acquiring resistance towards chemotherapeutic drugs, in hopes that these discoveries can lead to the development of more effective therapies against specific causative pathways or alterations.

Professor Nitin Saxena

Professor Saxena has completed Bachelors in Computer Science from IIT Kanpur in 2002 and completed PhD under Manindra Agrawal in 2006. His interest area is Computational Complexity Theory, Algebra, Geometry and Number Theory.

Professor Saxena is a visiting Graduate Student in Princeton University (2003-2004) and National University of Singapore (2004-2005); a postdoc at CWI, Amsterdam (2006-2008) and a Bonn Junior Fellow (W2 Professor) at Hausdorff Center for Mathematics, Bonn (2008-2013).

source: http://www.ummid.com/ Ummid.com / Home> Education & Career / by Ummid.com news network / September 18th, 2023

Descendants of Rasoolullah are half Indians by blood

Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Community Involvement / Social Issues, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), World Opinion, , , , , , ,

SAUDI ARABIA / INDIA :

Al-Masjid-al-Haram
Al-Masjid-al-Haram

Imam Hussain was the grandson of the Messenger of Allah and Imam Zainul Abidin was his son. According to historical accounts in reliable texts the mother of Imam Zainul Abidin was a Sindhi woman. Imam Ibn Qutiba in Kitab al-Ma’arif, provided detailed information on this fact.

The Muslims refer to Imam Hussain descendants as Sayyid. Despite the fact that Sayyid’s were described as being half Indian by renowned Indian researcher Syed Sulaiman Nadvi in his book on Arab-Indian Relations. He claimed that Sayyids have always been half Indian, while other Muslims may or may not be half Indians.

This is possibly the reason why the Prophet Mohammad claimed in a hadith that he received cold breezes from India. (Mustadrak Al-Haakim Hadith 4053.) and Hazrat Ali also (RA) added,

 قال علي بن أبي طالب: أطيب ريح في الأرض الهند، أهبط بها آدم

عليه الصلاة والسلام فعلق شجرها من ريح الجنة

India is the land of best wind,  Saydana Adam was sent to India, where He also planted the fragrant Paradise plant.’ This close bond between India and The Prophet is not limited to this; in one of his hadiths, the Prophet said that Adam (peace be upon him) was sent to Indian region.

According to Syed Sulaiman Nadvi, when Hazrat Adam descended from the sky and was brought to India, which was described as paradise.

History is full of instances of such connections. Examples include Hazrat Uthman bin Abi Al-As Thaqafi, Hazrat Huqam bin Abi Al-As, Hazrat Mughira, Hazrat Rabi'ah bin Ziyad, Hazrat Abdullah Ansari, Hazrat Umair bin Usman, and Hazrat Asim bin Umar, among others, who travelled to India to spread Prophet Mohammad’s teachings.

Kitaab Ul Ma’arif and Arab-o-Hind Ke Ta’alluqaat

After Hazrat Umar was elected as a Caliph, a close friend of the Prophet, he asked a traveller about what he thought of India.

The traveller responded as follows

: بحر ھا در و جبلھا یا قوت و شجرھاعطر (he said Indian mountains are rubies, its rivers are pearls,and its trees are fragrances.)

According to a legend, there were many Indian settlers in the Arab region at the time the Prophet declared his Naboovat (Prophethood), and Indians were well settled there even at that time. Indian swords were famous in Arabia even prior to the time of the Prophet.

In addition to the sword, a variety of Indian commodities were discovered in Arabia, and they were there in such large quantities that Syed Sulaiman Nadvi noted that the port of Abla, which is close to Basra, received such a large quantity of Indian goods that the local Arabs thought Abla was a miniature version of India.

Teak wood, swords, cotton and silk cloth, lemons, oranges,bananas, cinnamon, cloves, rubies, pearls, and other items were among the exports from India to Arabia.

The writings of Qazi Athar Mubarakpuri, Syed Sulaiman Nadvi, Akbar Ali Khan Qadri, Gustave Le Bon, and others are testimonials of good relationship between Indians and Arabs during the time of the Prophet.

This is likely the reason that Ibn Qutiba, as opposed to other historians, claimed that Hazrat Zain Albidin’s mother was an Indian.Many Sufis in India during this time worked to spread the teachings of the God-sent Messenger and his Indian associates. They arrived in India made themselves at home and benefited from the lessons of the Sahaba.

The Hindu religious texts examined by Al-Bairuni in Kitab Al-Hind more than a thousand years ago reveal that they are remarkably similar to Islamic teachings.The religious practises of the people of India, according to a sizable group of Sufis and academics, are remarkably comparable to the Messenger of Allah’s description of Wehdat (oneness of god). For this reason, Islam is still the major faith in India today.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Sayyed Taleef Haider, New Delhi / September 29th, 2023

Fouzia Tarannum: AIR 31, managed to clear the exam while working as an IRS

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

Udupi, KARNATAKA:

Background: 

Fouzia Tarannum started her preparation for UPSC in December 2010. She quit her job as a Business Analyst with Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. In CSE 2011, she cleared with AIR of 307, thereby joining the IRS (IT). The attempt in 2012 didn’t see any improvement in her rank/service.

Her preparation journey: Once posted she started feeling the difference in service – IAS and IRS. She felt that she should try one last time for her dream service and give one last attempt. A few weeks before 2014 prelims she jumped into preparation mode.

What made her successful this time? She reread the standard books, along with the sources available online. She feels that a big part of the improvement in rank to AIR 31 this year was due to her growth as a person, becoming more mature, having seen more of this world and a creeping sense of practicality and realism in approach, compared to an over-idealistic one earlier.

Her advice:  She advises that UPSC is actually looking for more rounded personalities with problem solving approach and an analytical mind. The UPSC journey should be looked at in this light, and not merely reading of books.

How difficult it was to prepare with her job? She felt a deep sense of duty and responsibility towards her work that she doesn’t compromise on her present work while giving this attempt. She had to be more than justifying the salary that she was taking home.

Though it was tiring at times, but she made sure that at office, she would concentrate on work, and at home on preparation efforts.

How did she balance both? The balance came from management of time. There will never be enough time; rather we have to make time for everything. She took no leave before prelims, took 30 days leave before mains and 5 days leave for interview.

How did she plan her studies? She studied for atleast 2 hours a day, on working days – depending on her work day either early morning or late night – August to December 2014. She also managed to take a few Fridays off after the prelims results, so as to get 3 days of continuous studies.

She finished weekly newspapers that she piled up and studied for about 4 hours a day, on weekends and holidays.

How did she manage her different subjects? She focused on revising her strong areas (economy, geography, etc.) and re-prepared her weak areas (history, culture, sociology, etc.) along with preparing for the newly introduced topics.

She focused on current events and ensured that she remained updated with GS.

Optional Subjects: she chose Sociology as optional because it takes lesser time to prepare in comparison and enjoyed reading this subject, though she had never studied this subject academically.

Her tips for Ethics- GS Paper 4: She just read a few solved papers and looked up definitions on all the terms used in the syllabus and made short notes. She suggests that one must give true answers to most situational questions/case studies.

Did she practice writing answers? She says she couldn’t practise writing due to lack of time and also feels that if she had practised, she could have scored better.

Tips to write answers: She gave many examples in her answers, and tried to keep them interesting to whoever was to read them.

Time Management: There is a dire need for short, productive periods of reading through the day. For instance, she read the news feeds after returning from lunch at office, watched news/saved videos while travelling to and from office, etc. Such reading of 15 minutes in short bursts 4-5 times a day really adds up and contributes immensely to our efforts.

Whenever she felt low in her studies: She use to take up a subject that she liked and enjoyed when she would feel depressed. This really helps make our efforts more productive. She suggests one should be judicious in the time one allots to various “sub-subjects”.

Writing style: She feels short, to the point, bullet points, covering as many dimensions and aspects as possible is the best way to write answers. She didn’t focus much on word limits, for some answers she looked for more space and for some she just jotted down half a page. She suggests interlinking of topics and use of diagrams/charts. She also underlined important points while writing.

Her suggestion: A lot of resources are available online, one must have a look and settle for what works best and not waste time on internet unnecessarily.

Do not lose focus and never lose faith. Stay consistent in your efforts. Believe in yourself! Don’t forget to keep learning and to keep improving!

Though a certain amount of luck is required, hard work does pay!

” She says- “I have not studied in big “Ivy League” institutions, nor do I have any civil servants in my family. I come from a very simple, ordinary, loving household, where education has never been very important”.

source: http://www.civilsdaily.com / Civils Daily / by Root

A student at the age of 92, Salima Khan is new Internet sensation

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Bulandshahr, UTTAR PRADESH: 

A student at the age of 92, Salima Khan is new Internet sensation
Salima Khan is seen with Dr Pratibha Sharma and her great-grand daughter-in-law

Salima Khan is a new Internet sensation who enrolled herself in Chawli Primary School in Bulandshahr at the age of 92, becoming an inspiration to many. 

Bulandshahr (Uttar Pradesh): 

Remember Swara Bhaskar’s much acclaimed film “Nil Battey Sannata” released in 2016 where the ace actress goes back to school, attending class right with her daughter much to her dismay?

The plot is “recreated” in real life in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh though for a different reason where a Muslim woman in a video is seen sitting in a classroom with her great-grand daughter-in-law.

Salima Khan is a new Internet sensation who enrolled herself in Chawli Primary School in Bulandshahr at the age of 92, becoming an inspiration to many.

The immediate reason behind Salima Khan’s inspiring endeavour at this age is to receive pension given to elderly citizens under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS).

The government under this scheme gives a monthly pension of Rs. 200 to elderly citizens of 60 to 79 years and Rs. 500 thereafter.

“Amma used to come to me with a request to help her in getting pension. I promised her help provided she come to school every day for at least half an hour and learn something”, the Headmistress told media.

Despite facing a number of age-related issues, including hearing loss and weak eyesight, Salima Khan started coming to school and attend classes.

“Salima is a regular student and is never absent. She is attending the school since the last ten months. In this period, she has learnt a lot of things”, Dr Sharma said.

“Even at this age the interest and dedication with which Salima Khan learns is motivatinf for other students”, she added.

Salima who was unable to recognise letters is now able to write her name with fare fluency and can also confidently count up to 100.

“Acha lagta hai padhna. School aana bahut badhiya lagta hai. (I like to study and attend school)”, 92-year-old Salima Khan said in the video now going viral.

Inspired by Salima Khan, as many as 25 other women of the village, including her daughter-in-laws, have decided to go to school.

source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home> Education & Career / by ummid.com news network / September 29th, 2023

Kashmir’s 10th topper Farhana wants to become a doctor to carry forward legacy

Education, Education - Gold Medallists, Toppers, Merits, Achievers (wef. June 12th, 2023), Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , , , , , , , ,

Srinagar /Bijbehara (Anantnag District), JAMMU & KASHMIR:

Farhana Imtiyaz with her mother and sister
Farhana Imtiyaz with her mother and sister

In a heartening development, two Kashmiri girls – Sadaf Mushtaq and Farhana Imtiyaz Makroo – have topped the 10th class examination conducted by the J&K Board of Secondary Education (BOSE) by scoring 498 out of 500 marks.

While their achievements are similar their stories run on two different tracks.

While Sadaf comes from Srinagar’s well-off family, Farhana who is from south Kashmir’s small town of Bijbehara, (Anantnag district) has faced many challenges in life.

Farhana Imtiyaz told Awaz-the Voice on the phone from her home in Bijbehara that she had lost her father when she was in eighth standard. “My mother never let me and my siblings feel the pinch of economic deprivation this tragedy brought us,” she said.

Her mother Lateefa Akhtar has been supporting the family with her meagre income of Rs 5,000. She works with Anganwari (Integrated Child Development Services, ICDS) in her town.

No wonder Farhana hero-worships her mother. “She never lost hope and courage nor did she allow us, the children, to feel depressed. We continued to focus on our education.” Her elder brother is preparing for his medical entrance examination and has joined a coaching centre in Srinagar while her younger sister is in school.

 Farhana has excelled in academics throughout her schooling.

Farhana said she believes in “the power of consistency and determination; these two have been the guiding principles in my studies. Nothing is impossible as long as one is persistent and focused.”

Inspired by her late father, who was an Ayurvedic doctor and had a clinic in the town Farhana says she wants to become a doctor and “carry forward his legacy.”

She says her father was a generous practitioner and would give medicines and offer treatment to the poor free of cost.

She wants to qualify for both the NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) and AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) examinations for the MBBS course so that she can join the best Medical College.

Farhana says she believes that one’s financial circumstances should never hinder one’s pursuit of education and dreams.

Farhana with her younger sister

Farhana says her Mamu (maternal uncle) Mushtaq Ahmed Wani has been another source of her strength. “Her uncle had given the family’s apple orchard to her family for using the proceeds of harvest for their needs.

She said her uncle’s support saw the family through difficult times. Farhana expressed her gratitude to her Mamu, and his contribution to making her dreams come true is immense.

In her pursuit of excellence, Farhana advises aspiring students to display consistency in their studies. She firmly believes that unnecessary breaks and interruptions can impede one’s path to achieving excellent results.

Farhana emphasizes the importance of maintaining a steady focus and dedicating oneself to continuous learning and improvement. She encourages students to set clear goals, develop effective study habits, and remain committed to their educational journey.

His generosity and belief in her potential have alleviated the financial burdens that could have hindered her progress. Farhana expresses her heartfelt gratitude to her maternal uncle, recognizing his invaluable contribution to making her dreams a reality.

Her advice to those seeking to emulate her is: consistency and regular study are important; one must do proper time management and make daily study a compulsive habit.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Mehak Banday, New Delhi / July 01st, 2023

From Doraemon to activism: 12-year-old Hyderabad girl raises voice against addiction

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Hyderabad, TELANGANA:

12-year-old Tania Begum is working as an ambassador of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World – India.

Tania Begum
Tania Begum

Hyderabad : 

“Who among you smokes?” Standing amidst the bustling Amberpet market, a little girl confronted a group of five to six people with this simple question. As the crowd pointed to one of them, she fearlessly launched into an impassioned speech about the adverse effects of cigarettes. 

When not all kids of her age know much about addictions, 12-year-old Tania Begum is working as an ambassador of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World – India. Tania’s mind was sparked by the advertisements on television, prompting her to pose probing questions about drugs to her father. In response, her father, an activist himself, nurtured her curiosity and provided candid, age-appropriate answers to satiate her thirst for knowledge.

Gradually, Tania, the elder sibling in her household, began accompanying her father to various programmes in the city and marathons on Sunday mornings, related to addiction awareness. Witnessing the grim realities of addiction in the lives of many, Tania felt compelled to contribute. She found her voice and purpose in delivering heartfelt speeches during these events.

Reflecting on this unexpected turn of events, Tania’s father, Sallaudin Saikh, admitted, “As an activist, I never wanted my daughter to be part of any campaign. I even tried to dissuade her.” However, Tania’s passion only intensified as she delved deeper into her studies, devouring news articles, books, and YouTube videos on the subjects of addiction and drugs.

“I  loved watching Doraemon, a cartoon with cool gadgets that help people. I always wished I had similar tools to fight addiction and drugs in real life,” Tania said. Her wish came true when a foundation gave her posters and booklets to help with her mission. It was like having a real-life Doraemon by her side.

When her video, showcasing her dedication to the cause, was shared on the social media platform, Drug-Free World – India, an international organisation approached her. They were so impressed that they appointed her as their youngest brand ambassador at the astonishing age of just seven. Armed with posters and booklets from the organisation, the young campaigner began spreading awareness in schools, colleges, markets, events, and wherever her tiny voice could make a big difference. With unwavering support from her parents and a dedicated team of two more individuals, Tania embarked on a mission to educate her community.

In her eyes, alcohol stood out as the most prevalent addiction in Telangana, followed closely by painkillers. She could rattle off a litany of drug names and toxic substances that many adults were unaware of.

Tania held a strong conviction that celebrities promoting such substances were setting a harmful example. “I couldn’t fathom how many young people, much like herself, might fall into the trap of addiction influenced by these stars,” she said. She took to Twitter to voice her concerns and request these celebrities to reconsider their participation in such advertisements. Instead of support, her account was banned, and she had to create a new one to continue her advocacy.

Tania’s dedication to combating addiction continues to evolve as she sets her sights on addressing the growing issue of student addiction, particularly concerning the rising prevalence of e-cigarettes among children her age. Having read about this concerning trend, she has taken it upon herself to gather information and raise awareness about the dangers posed by e-cigarettes.

Closing liquor shop near school
Tania’s dedication knew no bounds. During her time at her previous school, Unison International, where she studied up to the 5th grade, she noticed a liquor shop in close proximity. Disturbed by the sight of her fellow students falling prey to addiction, she took it upon herself to approach the shop owner and advocate for its closure. With the support of her friends, she embarked on a daily mission to educate customers about the dire consequences of addiction. Their relentless efforts ultimately led to the shop’s closure, a testament to Tania’s indomitable spirit and unwavering commitment to creating a drug-free world.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by Renuka Kalpana, Express News Service / September 17th, 2023