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

Rashid un-Nisa: India’s First Woman Urdu Novelist and a Pioneer of Education

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , ,

Patna, BIHAR :

Rashid un-Nisa’s life and work continue to inspire, reminding us of the importance of education and the courage to advocate for change in the face of resistance.

Representative image of girl students. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Rashid un-Nisa, India’s first female Urdu novelist, wrote Islah-un-Nisa, advocating for women’s education and reform. Born in 1855 in Patna, she was also a champion of girls’ education, founding Bihar’s first girls’ school. Her novel, published in 1894, addressed social issues and encouraged women to seek education. Rashid un-Nisa’s pioneering efforts in literature and education have left a lasting legacy, inspiring generations of women and contributing significantly to India’s literary and social history.

The premise of Islah-un-Nisa is something like this: “I am aware of the fact that there are many problems in our Muslim families. I also want to remove these problems. But instead of giving any sermons for this, I have chosen an interesting way to do this work the way of writing a novel.”

Early life and family background

Rashid un-Nisa, also known as Rashidatun Nisa or Raseedan Bibi, was born in 1855 in Patna, Bihar, into a scholarly family. Her father, Shamsul Ulama Syed Waheeduddin Khan Bahadur, was a prominent Islamic scholar. Growing up in a rich intellectual environment, Rashid un-Nisa received her education at home through private tutoring. Though formal schooling for girls was rare, her intellectual curiosity was nurtured in this setting.

Her marriage to Maulvi Mohammad Yahya, a lawyer, introduced her to progressive literature, particularly Mirat-ul-Uroos by deputy Nazir Ahmad, which deeply influenced her views on women’s education and reform. 

Islah-un-Nisa: Breaking new ground

Rashid un-Nisa began writing her most famous work, Islah-un-Nisa, around 1868, though it took over a decade to publish due to challenges as a female writer in a male-dominated field. With the help of her nephew, Mohammad Suleman, the novel was finally published in 1881. Its significance as the first Urdu novel written by an Indian woman cannot be overstated.

The novel advocates for women’s self-improvement through education and moral upliftment, tackling issues such as superstitions, societal constraints, and regressive customs. It promoted the empowerment of women and their active participation in social reform, much like the themes Rashid un-Nisa had encountered in Mirat-ul-Uroos.

Jamia Millia Islamia’s research scholar, Dr. Uzma Azhar, comments on the novel, stating, “Islah un Nisa is the first novel in Urdu literature authored by a woman (1881). Rashid un Nisa came from an educated family of Azeemabad (now Patna, in Bihar) and later started a girls’ school as well.

Titled “Islah” meaning “to rectify/reform”, and “un Nisa” of women, it conveys ways through which a woman could improve herself.  She has advised women on broad mindedness, importance of education against ignorance and has also tried to talk about the lives of literate women of that era through her story. 

The main story of Bismillah is followed by further similar short stories. She has given delightfully detailed descriptions of the various traditions around marriage, pregnancy, birth of a child in simplified common language interspersed with local regional songs, making this book an interesting historical document.”

The novel’s appeal stretched beyond its time, with later editions being released in 1968, 2001, and 2006, highlighting its enduring influence in India and Pakistan.

Social reformer: Championing girls’ education in Bihar

Rashid un-Nisa didn’t limit her reformist spirit to literature; she founded the first girls’ school in Bihar, a revolutionary step at a time when educating girls was controversial. The colonial administration even recognised her efforts, with Lady Stephenson, wife of the lieutenant governor, personally praising her work during a school visit.

Her educational philosophy was grounded in the belief that women’s education could transform not only their own lives but also the wider society. By ensuring access to education, Rashid un-Nisa opened new avenues for countless women, many of whom went on to contribute significantly to education and reform.

Educational Philosophy and Social Impact

Rashid un-Nisa’s educational vision was deeply embedded in her literary work. Islah-un-Nisa reflects her belief that intellectual and moral growth were essential for women. Her protagonist, Bismillah, navigates societal challenges, embodying the values of enlightenment and self-improvement. Through conversations between her characters, Rashid un-Nisa critiques harmful customs and superstitions, urging women to rise above them.

Senior journalist and well-known historian Shams Ur Rehman Alavi notes, “Islah un Nisa, gave message to women to shun regressive cultural practices that were a burden on them, and instead, aim at achieving excellence in all fields.

Through conversation of characters, she emphasised that it’s not just about ability to read and write, but learning and expertise in all spheres, which was the need of the hour for women. It must be remembered that it was a period, when all the social reformers were not so enthusiastic about women’s rights and adequate priority was not given to women’s higher education, as some of them still felt that basic literacy was enough, so that a woman could communicate through letters with husband in case he is away or be able teach own children a bit.

Sample this from a paragraph in the novel: Mir Waaez’ wife says, ‘Beti is mein bhalaa kya buraai hai [What’s wrong with this]’ and Karim-un-Nisa replies, ‘Aap badi hain, aap ki baaton ka jawab dena be-adabi hai magar….be-adabi maauf ho….ye rasm buri hai...[You are elder and it is disrespectful for me to speak but I need to say that this custom is bad’.

The writer shows her disgust towards superstitions also that are continued in the name of ‘tradition’ and disses fake healers as well as those who are obsessed with spreading fear about apparitions and paranormal. On one hand, language and Urdu idioms heard in households of the era, keep the reader fixated, the unique description of the rituals that brought financial burden on households and forced families into debt, was clearly aimed at discouraging the practice of going to money-lenders and falling in this trap, which affected the families.“

The novel blends traditional and progressive values, challenging superstitions while depicting modern aspirations. It offers a vivid portrayal of customs like marriage and childbirth, making it not only a piece of literature but also a historical document of women’s lives at the time.

Legacy

Rashid un-Nisa passed away in 1929, but her contributions to literature and social reform endure. She is remembered not only as the first Urdu woman novelist but also as a pioneer of women’s education in India. Her novel Islah-un-Nisa remains a powerful reminder of the struggle for women’s rights and education during an era resistant to change.

Her school continues to inspire generations, and her work has been reprinted several times, testifying to her lasting influence. As Dr. Uzma Azhar reflects, “Islah-un-Nisa offers delightfully detailed descriptions of the various traditions around marriage and other social practices, making it an interesting historical document.”

Rashid un-Nisa’s life and work continue to inspire, reminding us of the importance of education and the courage to advocate for change in the face of resistance.

Sahil Razvi is an author and research scholar specialising in Sufism and history. He is an alumnus of Jamia Millia Islamia. For inquiries, you can email him at [email protected].

source: http://www/thewire.in / The Wire / Home> Culture / by Sahil Rizvi / October 13th, 2024

Masroor Jahan: The Eucalyptus That Was Uprooted

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Women/Girls(since May26-2021),

Lucknow, UTTAR PRADESH :

Remembering the prolific Urdu writer from Lucknow whose novels and short stories were full of insights about the lives and concerns of women.

Photo: Mehru Jafar/WFS

The prolific Urdu writer, Begum Masroor Jahan, quietly slipped into literary immortality in her beloved Lucknow on September 22 at the age of 81. Though she left behind an astonishing legacy of some 65 best-selling novels and more than 500 short-stories, the news of the passing of this titan did not even make it to the leading Urdu publications of India, what to speak of English and other languages. 

Masroor Jahan belonged to that remarkable generation of Urdu women writers, born between 1925 and 1940, which includes novelists Nisar Aziz Butt, Altaf Fatima, Jilani Bano and Khalida Husain; and the short story writer Wajida Tabassum. With her passing, only two living representatives of that generation remain – Butt from Pakistan and Bano from India.

Born on July 8, 1938 in an educated and literary household in Lucknow, Masroor Jahan’s father, Sheikh Hussein Khayal Lakhnavi, was considered a good poet. Her paternal grandfather, Sheikh Mehdi Hasan Nasiri Lakhnavi, also had a collection of poems to his credit and was the author and translator of many books. Masroor Jahan had a passion for reading stories from an early age.

Her first short-story ‘Woh Kon Thi?’ (Who Was She?) was published in the Qaumi Aavaaz from Lucknow in 1960. Just two years later, she published her first novel Faisla (Decision). She began writing under the pen-name of Masroor Khayal – among others – which she later changed to Masroor Jahan at the advice of her publisher. 

From her paternal side, her milieu was feudal, while her father was a teacher and the domestic atmosphere was middle-class. She was married at the tender age of 16 to Syed Murtaza Ali Khan, a nawab. Due to this background, her short-stories portray the minds and matters of all these three classes.

She claimed that whatever she wrote was given to her by her personal experience and observation, and was not fictitious. In a few instances, she even mentioned the real names of people living with her in her novels and when asked about this, pat came the response that she did not fear those folks ever going to court.

Her writings were popular with not only older homemakers but also students. Her stories published in the Urdu journals Beesveen Sadddi and Hareem had a seminal role in the upbringing of Lucknow’s middle-class young women. One of the standards of literary success is also that they be read and liked by every class of society. In that respect, many of her novels went into multiple editions. 

Though Masroor Jahan’s forte was the novel, she turned her attention to short stories in the later years of her life and it can be said that the real form of her art is manifested in these tales. The simplicity of her story, the popular manner of writing and easy imagination were the qualities that distinguished her from her contemporaries, including her fellow-Lakhnavi, Naiyer Masud, who passed away in 2017, and Altaf Fatima, who hailed from Lucknow and died in Lahore last year.

Masroor Jahan belongs to the pantheon of female writers like Rashid Jahan, Ismat Chughtai, Quratulain Hyder, Hajra Masroor, Khadija Mastoor, Razia Sajjad Zaheer, Sarla Devi, Saleha Abid Hussain, Bano Qudsia, Jamila Hashmi, Zaheda Hina and Jilani Bano who drew attention to the woman who is present somewhere in society in some form through their short-stories and novels. She witnessed the era of the Progressive Movement as well as that of modernism, post-modernism and other trends in literature, but did not attach herself to any movement or trend. 

But while presenting them, she did not adopt the conservative manner  particular to some female fiction writers; neither did she adopt the kind of boldness which tramples upon cultural values in the heat of realism.

Whether her topics consist of middle-class or lower-class women, or the Anjuman Aras being nourished in high palaces, or the educated woman of the new society, she always maintained a cautious manner in the presentation of these matters and problems, especially when it came to sexual and psychological tension. She was acutely aware of how the decline of feudalism – when the life of Muslim households of northern India scattered owing to economic and moral decline – made women the ‘altar’ of the false honour of men. She created her stories by making women the subject through small incidents and characters.

Boorha Eucalyptus. Photo: Rekha

Masroor Jahan also wrote romantic stories like the classic Boorha Eucalyptus (The Aged Eucalyptus) from her eponymous collection published in 1982, as well as stories where a helpless woman is hung on the cross of relationships. Then there are women who are the epitome of love and loyalty at one place, but at other places, create problems in others’ lives.

Many novels and short-stories have been written on the debauchery of nawabs and landlords. Wajida Tabassum had become famous at one time for writing such stories. Masroor Jahan too wrote many stories on this topic. But where she made the sexual waywardness of the nawabs her theme, she also presented the positive traits of their character.

In the character of begums too she tried to present every aspect of their life. These stories of a particular milieu express the solitudes and splendours of this culture, whose traces have themselves now become legend. 

‘Kunji’ is a classic story of this milieu. Kunji was an extremely beautiful young dancer. Audiences were enthralled by his performances in the nautankis where he presented his dance. People of the highest rank were devoted to his coquetry and beauty. Nawab Zeeshan lost his heart to Kunji. He arranged for the whole nautanki troupe to stay near his harem and gave a beautifully decorated room attached to his bed-chamber to Kunji. In his love for the male dancer, he even forgot the beauty of his begum Anjuman Ara. 

Anjuman Ara was amazed at what had happened to the nawab. She was also embarrassed thinking that her rival was not some woman, but a man. Indeed, she herself liked Kunji’s dance; but found her husband’s attachment to him obnoxious. One day when the nawab was off visiting the nearby village, she went to Kunji’s room. The dancer was bewildered by the unexpected sight of a beautiful woman in front of him. ‘I am Anjuman Ara, the begum of Nawab Zeeshan’, she says.

She looks around the room, which had feminine dresses and other articles of feminine adornment everywhere. But the beautiful youth sitting in front of her bore no relation to femininity. His long black hair appeared artificial. She tells him with great gravity that she liked his dance. Despite this praise, Kunji begins to consider himself inferior in front of her. He is also embarrassed listening to praise from her mouth; and he did not have the courage too to look towards her. Firstly, it was the awe of beauty and then that aspect of ridicule in her praise of him which he felt. Despite primping and preening for several hours, he could not compete with this beauty and femininity. People kept encouraging his coquetry now but real beauty was present before him. For the first time in his life, Kunji’s heart beat in a different manner.

He looked at Anjuman Ara with eager eyes. She too was looking in his direction. Their eyes met and lowered. Anjuman Ara’s beauty and femininity had brought to life a man whom the praise and admiration of others had patted to sleep. Anjuman Ara was stupefied reading the message of yearning in his eyes; and worried too. She  immediately got up to leave. Kunji too regained consciousness, and said slowly, ‘You’re leaving so soon.’ Anjuman Ara replied, ‘Yes. The nawab will be here soon and then you too will have to change your appearance.’ When Nawab Zeeshan stepped into Kunji’s room upon his return, he saw that instead of the preening dancer he sought, a man was sitting there; and there was a heap of hair before him. 

At the point where Masroor Jahan ends the story, looking at Anjuman Ara and Kunji one by one, the reader feels that he has seen with his own eyes how one beauty gives birth to another. Had she wanted, she could have presented Kunji like Ismat Chughtai’s ‘Lihaaf’ (indeed she cited Ismat Chughtai as an early influence and had attempted to make her female characters bolder after the latter’s advice). The nawab of Lihaaf too was happier with boys and left his Begun Jan. But Masroor Jahan did not let Anjuman Ara become Begum Jan. For her, homosexuality was not the refuge Chughtai hinted at for her protagonist. 

Unlike ‘Lihaaf’, with which the former was often compared to, Kunji was based on a real-life character. In an interview conducted just five months before her death, Masroor Jahan named Kunji as her favourite real-life character from her stories.

The short-stories of Masroor Jahan with their absent and present realities are those milestones of her creative journey which will not be easily forgotten. About her own stories, she used to say, ‘Actually life is not unidirectional, it has a thousand aspects; and every aspect is a complete world in itself. The fiction writer is a pulse-reader of life. It is her duty to present every aspect of life in its proper context.’       

Among the 65 novels she wrote, the social realist Nai Basti (New Colony) is of special interest. Published in 1982, this was topically different from all her novels. Indeed, to my knowledge, this is the first Urdu novel where the problems of nameless city settlements – which are called ‘illegal’ – have been narrated. Premchand had made the rural poor the subject of his novels, but in this novel are the urban disadvantaged, who have their own problems and life – and values that are being trampled on.

I got acquainted with Masroor Jahan barely a month ago when I read Shafey Kidwai’s lucid review of her two recent collections of short-stories namely Naql-e- Makaani (Migration) and ‘Khuvaab der Khuvaab Safar (A Journey Dream After Dream) in the Friday Review of The Hindu.

From there, I sought out the January/February issue of the monthly Chahaar-Su, issued from Rawalpindi, which was dedicated to Masroor Jahan and consists of an excellent and quite revealing interview of the writer with the editor Gulzar Javed. These readings also sent me down memory lane to my maiden visit to Lucknow back in 2014 when I was invited to the Lucknow Literature Festival.

It was there too that I made the acquaintance of the lovely and erudite Saira Mujtaba; I sadly do not recall any conversations we might have had with regard to her late grandmother, Masroor Jahan. Now when I think about that visit, I am disconsolate because I know I should have been spending time with the living monuments of Lucknow like Begum Masroor Jahan and Naiyer Masud, rather than admiring the dead buildings of that city. That regret will always be mine!

Masroor Jahan’s quintessential short-story The Aged Eucalyptus talks about the eponymous tree which is a witness to the eras, revolutions, stories and secrets of the haveli where it had stood so proudly for decades in addition to being the recipient of the imprinted affections of the doomed love affair of the two main protagonists, Maliha and Ahmer.

Later on, the aged eucalyptus would provide solace to Maliha as she held it to console herself in her lover’s absence. The story ends with the uprooting of the aged eucalyptus in a storm overnight.

I would like to think that the aged, kind, empathetic eucalyptus was not only a metaphor for the doomed love affair in the story itself but for Masroor Jahan’s own life, patiently accumulating the various sorrows of her life, in which she had to contend with the early deaths of her brother and her son, as well as another brother who went missing in 1973 but never returned (her 1980 novel Shahvar is dedicated to him), and which she never spoke of.

The aged eucalyptus for me also reflects not the physical passing on of Masroor Jahan, but the uprooting of a whole way of life and a system of thinking and feeling which was Lakhnavi culture.

It is now up to her younger successors like Anees Ashfaq and indeed Saira Mujtaba (to whom Masroor Jahan’s last volume of stories Khuvaab Dar Khuvaab Safar is co-dedicated and who is currently translating a collection of her grandmother’s short stories into English) to pen the dirge of Lucknow in our own time.

Raza Naeem is a Pakistani social scientist, book critic and award-winning translator and dramatic reader currently based in Lahore, where he is also the President of the Progressive Writers Association. He can be reached at: (email protected).

source: http://www.thewire.in / The Wire / Home> Books / by Raza Naeem / October 07th, 2019

In Five Years, TWEET Empowered 8,257 Women, Sets Goal to Reach 50,000 in Next Three Years

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

NEW DELHI :

New Delhi:

Since its founding in 2019, the Women Education and Empowerment Trust (TWEET) has empowered 8,257 women and now aims to reach 50,000 more in the next three years. TWEET also announced plans to host a National Women NGOs Conclave in April 2025 to foster capacity building, collaboration, and effective resource utilisation.

At a press conference held here Sunday, TWEET’s Chairperson, Rahamathunnissa A. shared the organisation’s vision to promote social and economic empowerment of women, enabling them to lead dignified lives with equal participation in society. She emphasised TWEET’s mission to support women in need, tackle the root causes of women’s issues, and offer comprehensive support through multifaceted initiatives.

A five-year progress report was also presented, with highlights of the programmes and areas where women have benefited under TWEET’s initiatives.

Educational Empowerment:

TWEET believes that education is the foundation of empowerment. The organisation offers merit-based scholarships for girls to pursue higher education at prestigious institutions domestically and abroad. The one-year campaign “Freedom from Illiteracy” from August 2022 to July 2023 mobilised educated women to teach non-literate women nationwide, extending literacy to underserved communities.

Economic Empowerment:

To promote economic independence, TWEET supports small business ventures such as boutiques, tiffin services, and cosmetic shops, as well as home-based businesses like detergent units.

TWEET’s support has empowered many women to become self-sufficient, enabling them to start sustainable businesses. Moreover, training sessions equip women with skills to establish their own start-ups, creating additional income for their families.

Emotional and Financial Support to Widows:

Recognising the challenges faced by women who have lost their spouses, TWEET provides counselling and financial support, ensuring they can live dignified lives.

Mahila Help Desk

This initiative empowers women by raising awareness about various government welfare schemes and guiding them to access these benefits. This programme helps women achieve financial stability by utilising government support for their livelihoods, paving the way toward a dignified and self-sufficient life.

Life Skills and Safety Programmes:

Collaborating with Special Police Unit for Women and Children, Delhi Police, TWEET conducted self-defence training programmes for girls and women. Through sensitisation initiatives, TWEET raises awareness about women’s rights and social issues, including domestic violence, empowering women to advocate for themselves and their communities.

TWEET provides internship opportunities for female students from diverse disciplines and has also established a hostel to support both students and working women.

The press meet was also addressed by TWEET General Secretary Shaista Rafat, and Treasurer Dr. Sharnas Muthu.

TWEET also announced the unanimous election of the following trustees as office-bearers for the next three-year term.

Chairperson: Rahamathunnissa A, an educationist, writer, and trainer
Vice Chairperson: Zeba Zaferali Baig, a social worker and counselling expert
General Secretary: Shaista Rafat, an expert in grassroots development
Secretary: Rajeena Beegum, an educationist and social worker
Treasurer: Dr. Sharnas Muthu, specializing in psycho-social and legal support

The extended team includes Khalida Parveen, a social worker; Dr. Jueria Reemi, a healthcare specialist, and Fakhira Atheeqe, a social entrepreneur working with women and children with special needs.

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News> Report / by Radiance News Bureau / October 27th, 2024

‘Experience in theatre teaches more than Ph.D’

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Karnataka (under research project), Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , , , ,

Mysuru:

Experience gained in theatre teaches more than Ph.D which leads one to the path of righteousness and for actors it is important to be humble as arrogance will lead to their down fall,  said senior theatre actor Julekha Begum, in city yesterday.

She was speaking at the monthly interaction programme Maatina Mane, organised by Rangayana at Bhoomigeetha. “An artiste must live the character on stage withstanding hunger and struggle. It is also important to note that artistes do not belong to any caste, creed or religion. They will have to face problems that come in their way and every house must have an artiste,” said Julekha Begum remembering her struggling days when she faced difficulties to provide education to her children.

Speaking on the occasion, Rangayana Director Satish Tiptur said that arts, which are on the verge of extinction and stories that are stored in the minds of artistes should be a part of the syllabus.

“The interaction programme has been organised to identify and recognise the real stakeholders of art and to bring out various art forms that have been neglected over the past decades,” he said.

Earlier, the programme was inaugurated by playwright Kotiganahalli Ramaiah.

Writer Abdul Rashid coordinated the event. Department of Kannada and Culture Joint Director V.N. Mallikarjun and Rangayana  Deputy Director M.D. Sudarshan were present.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / October 27th, 2024

Marzia Pathan who shot into fame guiding traffic assumes political role

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

Mumbra, MAHARASHTRA :

Marzia Pathan, spokesperson of the NCP Students’ Wing

A young woman wearing a hijab is directing traffic on the streets of Mumbra, a muslim majority area Mumbai and a video of this scene posted on social media makes her a social media sensation two years ago. During Ramadan, this young woman and her friends manage traffic late into the night, even till 2 AM, in Mumbra.

She is Marzia Shanu Pathan, a social worker from Mumbara, Mumbai, maharashtra.

Through her social work, Marzia is always in the spotlight. She voices concerns for underprivileged and minority groups and. Recently she was appointed as the National Working President of the Nationalist Student Congress, an affiliate of the National Congress Party faction led by Sharad Pawar’s faction.

Marzia Patan being falicitated by NCP chief Sharad Pawar

Marzia received her appointment letter from Sharad Pawar, the party’s National President, and Jitendra Awhad, the party’s National General Secretary.

Marzia told Awaz-the Voice, Marathi, “This position comes with significant responsibility. I aim to work extensively for youth and students, especially in education. I intend to address the many issues students face.”

Marzia stated, “Due to financial hardships, students are facing numerous challenges these days. My focus will be on ensuring government scholarships reach them. Often, essential government schemes are announced for the needy sections, but due to administrative apathy or lack of awareness, many remain unaware of these schemes. I want to bridge the gap so no one is left out. Our country will progress only if today’s generation is educated. Therefore, resolving youth issues will remain my priority.”

While speaking about Marzia’s contributions, Jitendra Awhad once compared her to Malala Yousafzai, saying, “After the Taliban captured Pakistan’s Swat Valley, Malala fought for her right to education, even taking a bullet in 2012. Later, a protest for women’s education rights was organized in Mumbra, led by a young Marzia, just 10-12 years old then. Since that time, I’ve seen her work. I firmly believe this young woman is poised to lead not just Mumbra, but all of Maharashtra.”

Marzia Pathan with eye surgery patients

Marzia is known as a spirited young activist in Thane. She is the daughter of Ashraf Shanu Pathan, former Leader of the Opposition in the Thane Municipal Corporation.

This father-daughter duo has been working to address fundamental issues in Thane for years, from water and waste management to health and women’s safety.

Marzia’s activism has helped resolve various issues in Mumbra and Thane.Through her organization, MSP Care Foundation, Marzia began her social work journey. An educated leader, she actively represents student concerns to the administration. She also organizes awareness programs on the Constitution among students and youth.

Under her leadership, Mumbra hosts monthly eye-checkup camps for residents, where cataract surgeries are provided free of charge for senior citizens.

Marzia Pathan in her school

Recently, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) recommended halting funding for madrasas to the Chief Secretaries of all states and union territories. They also proposed recording the attendance of children in these madrasas, which created a national uproar. However, the Supreme Court recently stayed NCPCR’s recommendation.

In response, Marzia made efforts at her level to prevent the discontinuation of madrasa education. Through videos, she passionately explained why funding and the traditional teaching methods in madrasas are essential, and her video went viral.

In the charged political climate of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, her appointment brings a significant boost to the party.

Marzia’s robust social work, dedication to following through on initiatives, strong grassroots connections, and social media presence will help expand the party’s organization and aid election campaigns. Wishing such a young, dynamic personality continued success in her social journey!

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Bhakti Chalak, Pune / November 02nd, 2024

Iqra Farooq, Srinagar Tailor’s Daughter, Finishes 2nd in JKAS Exams

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

Zakura (Srinagar), JAMMU & KASHMIR :

Iqra Farooq Bhat, from Zakura, Srinagar, has secured the highest rank in the Kashmir region and the second rank overall in Jammu and Kashmir in the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service examination.

Daughter of a tailor, Iqra invested three years in intensive self-study to prepare for this challenging exam. She shared her passion for making a positive impact, saying, “I have always wanted to reach a position where I can make a difference.”

Despite financial constraints, Iqra remained focused, proving that determination and self-guided learning can overcome obstacles. Unlike many who attended coaching centres, she chose to prepare independently through online resources.

“I didn’t opt for coaching and believe it’s unnecessary if you can effectively utilise the internet. It provided me with everything I needed,” she explained.

Iqra’s journey was challenging, especially due to her family’s limited finances. Her father, Farooq Ahmed, faced hardships at times, yet Iqra’s parents continually supported her.

“My mother and father never let me feel the weight of our financial struggles. Their belief in my potential kept me motivated,” she recalled.

After receiving her exam results, she expressed relief and gratitude: “I wasn’t sure I’d rank this high, but I’m thankful to Allah for this blessing.”

Ahmed said, “Every parent strives to do their best for their children. My daughter worked hard, and God has rewarded her.”

Iqra, who has been driven by a desire to help others since childhood, is committed to serving her community. “I want to support future aspirants and remind them not to lose hope. Even if they don’t qualify the first time, they can continue working hard,” she said.

She explained, “Coming from a humble background doesn’t mean you can’t dream big. You can succeed with the right resources. My family supported me financially, emotionally, and materially. Coaching can guide you, but ultimately, it’s your effort that matters.”

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News> Markers of Excellence / by Radiance News Bureau / October 31st, 2024

Meet IAS Farah Hussain, second Muslim woman to crack UPSC exam, her family has 3 IAS, 1 IPS, 5 RAS officers

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

Nawa Village (JhunJhunu), RAJASTHAN :

With her family’s support, Farah Hussain passed India’s toughest exam, the UPSC, in 2016 at the young age of 26, securing the 267th rank.

  • Meet IAS Farah Hussain, second Muslim woman to crack UPSC exam, her family has 3 IAS, 1 IPS, 5 RAS officers

Success is the result of determination and self-confidence, as IAS Farah Hussain has shown. Growing up in a Muslim family in the Jhunjhunu area of Rajasthan, Farah Hussain broke stereotypes that suggest Muslim girls receive limited education and are often married off at a young age. With her family’s support, Farah passed India’s toughest exam, the UPSC, in 2016 at the young age of 26, securing the 267th rank.

With this achievement, Farah became the second Muslim IAS officer from Rajasthan. By passing the UPSC exam without any coaching, she set an inspiring example for millions of young people. Aslam Khan from Jaipur was the first Muslim to join the All India Services. Farah succeeded in her second attempt.

Farah was born in Nawa village in Jhunjhunu district. Even as a young girl, she was determined and came from a family of administrative officers from the Kayamkhani Muslim minority community, primarily found in the districts of Sikar, Jhunjhunu, Churu, Nagaur, and Bikaner in central and northern Rajasthan.

Farah Hussain graduated from Government Law College, Mumbai, where she studied law and became a criminal lawyer. As a young girl, Farah participated in a beauty competition and dreamed of becoming a doctor.

Her father, Ashfaq Hussain, was a District Collector. Her elder brother is a lawyer in the Rajasthan High Court. One of her uncles served in the police force, and another held the position of Joint Secretary in the state government. Two of her cousins are currently officers in the Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS). In her family, more than 14 members hold top positions.

Right from the beginning it was there in the family that Farah Hussain too have to go in the same field. Seeing her father and the family atmosphere she too decided to become an IAS officer and serve India.

Farah Hussain once said, “I am really glad that I was born in a well educated family. My father always said that for a person to attain anything big he must attain education. Education is real wealth and with its help a person can attain great heights in life. It is sad that Muslim parents do not give attention to their daughter’s education. We Muslims blame the government for everything but we don’t try hard enough ourselves to attain our right.”

The officers in the family are:

  1. Liaquat Khan, IPS: Liaquat Khan was selected as RPS in the year 1972. After getting promoted, he became IPS and retired from the post of IG. He was also the chairman of the Waqf Board. He passed away in 2020.
  2. Ashfaq Hussain, IAS: Ashfaq Hussain, younger brother of former IPS Liaquat Khan, was selected as RAS in 1983. In 2016, he got promotion as IAS. He has also been the special government secretary in the education department, Dausa district collector and Dargah Nazim. He retired in 2018.
  3. Zakir Khan, IAS: Following the path of elder brothers Liaquat Khan and Ashfaq Hussain, Zakir Khan also became IAS directly in 2018. At present, he is a collector in the district Sriganganagar.
  4. Shaheen Khan, RAS: Shaheen Khan, son of Liaquat Khan, is a senior RAS officer. Presently posted as Chief Medical Officer. Earlier, he has aslo been Ashok Gehlot’s OSD (Officer on Special Duty).
  5. Monica, DIG jail: Shaheen Khan’s wife Monica is also an officer. She was selected as jail superintendent. Monica was working as DIG Jaipur.
  6. Shakib Khan, Brigadier, Indian Army: Liaquat Khan’s nephew Shakib Khan is a Brigadier in the Indian Army. Currently, he is posted in Hisar.
  7. Salim Khan, RAS: Liaquat Khan’s nephew Salim Khan is a senior RAS officer. He is working in Jaipur on the post of Deputy Secretary, Education.
  8. Shana Khan, RAS: Senior RAS officer Salim Khan’s wife Shana Khan is also an RAS officer. These Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan are posted in Jaipur.
  9. Farah Khan, IRS: Farah Khan followed in her father’s footsteps and went a step ahead of him. In the year 2016, he got 267th rank at All India level. Then she also got the distinction of being the second Muslim woman from Rajasthan to become an IAS. Presently Farah is posted in Jodhpur.
  10. Qamar Ul Zaman Choudhary, IAS: Qamar-ul-Zaman Chaudhary, husband of IAS officer Farah Khan, is also an IAS of Rajasthan cadre. They are originally from Jammu and Kashmir. Presently working in Jodhpur.
  11. Javed Khan, RAS: RAS officer Salim Khan’s brother-in-law Javed Khan is also RAS. He is serving as PS to Minister Saleh Mohammad in Jaipur.
  12. Ishrat Khan, Colonel: Indian Army Brigadier Shabik’s sister Ishrat Khan is a colonel in the Indian Army. 17 years ago, he was commissioned in the Indian Army in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After getting promoted, she became a colonel.
  14. (Inputs from One India Hindi)

source: http://www.india.com / India.com / Home> Education / by Analiza Pathak / October 30th, 2024

Education a Vital Tool for National Progress: Rehana Riyaz Chishti

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

RAJASTHAN :

Ratangarh:

The sixth talent award ceremony of the Muslim Welfare Society took place at the Town Hall here Monday, celebrating academic excellence and achievements across various fields. The event opened with Quran recitation by Hafiz Suhail. Society patrons, including Mohammad Anwar Qureshi, President Abdul Sattar Tanwar, Secretary Mirajuddin Pathan, and Treasurer Qasim Nirman, welcomed the guests with shawls, garlands, and mementos.

Rehana Riyaz Chishti, Chairperson of Rajasthan State Women’s Commission, presided over the event, emphasising that recognition cultivates talent, which, in turn, contributes to national and societal advancement. “Education is a vital tool to change the destiny of nations,” she remarked.

Assistant Professor Dr. Shamshad Ali highlighted that honouring talent is an inspiring way to encourage achievement, stressing the importance of such events. Other esteemed guests, including Dr. Ehsaan Gori, Naseem Riyazat Khan, and Farzana Mansuri, spoke on the transformative power of education.

Top students, Alvira Chauhan, who scored 96.50% in Class 10, and Aksa Parihar, with 94.50% in Class 12, were awarded the Fatima Sheikh Award along with a cash prize of Rs.1100. In total, 74 students from Class 10 and 76 from Class 12 were recognised, along with 16 individuals who made notable contributions in various fields. Local journalists were also honoured.

Retired CBEO Mohammad Anwar Qureshi lauded the committee’s work, while the programme was co-hosted by Anwar Qureshi, Dr. Syed Mohammad Aslam, and Lal Mohammad. Committee members Abdul Jabbar Khokar, Nawab Ali, Ashfaq Ali, Hanif Khatri, Salim Kalal, Ramzan Neelgar, Usman, Hakim, Farooq, Ishaq Bagad, Liaqat Ali Khan, Imran, Sabir Nirvan, Haroon Nirvan, Zulfen Kanwari, and Advocate Raza Murad Alvi, Chief City Qazi of Ratangarh, were in attendance. Contributions included gifts by Yakub Gouri of Gouri Construction Company, mementos from Hakim Ali Maniyar Loha, certificates by Farooq Maniyar Loha, and religious books by Mohammad Ramzan Neelgar.

At the programme’s close, President Abdul Sattar Tanwar expressed gratitude to all guests. The ceremony underscored the role of education and talent recognition in shaping a better future.

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Pride of the Nation / by Radiance News Bureau / October 29th, 2024

Maulana’s daughter Abir Asad makes it to Civil services list through self-study

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

Mayo (Ajmer District), RAJASTHAN / NEW DELHI :

Abir Asad in front of the UPSC Office in New Delhi

New Delhi :

This is the success story of a Muslim cleric’s daughter who cleared the coveted the Indian Civil Services examinations held by the UPSC in her first attempt and without coaching. Her achievement is remarkable given the limited resources available to a Maulana.

Abir Asad’s name figured at the supplementary list of candidates who appeared in the Civil services examinations held in 2023, released by the UPSC recently. She has cleared it through self study and thus become an example of hard work, dedication, passion, and a visionary for the Indian youth.

From schooling to graduation, Abir passed all her examinations with high grades and distinction. She scored 92.8 percent marks in 10th, 97.5 in 12th, and graduated in Economics from Delhi University’s Hansraj College with distinction.

Abir’s name figures at position 35 in the list of remaining 120 candidates in the reserved category which was released by the UPSC recently. A release of the UPSC said, that 1016 candidates were declared successful in the Civil Services Examination, 2023 on April 16, 2024, in order of merit against 1143 vacancies.

Two days ago, the UPSC released a Consolidated Reserve List in order of merit which will be below the earlier list in respective categories.

The UPSC List with Abir Asad’s name

“As sought by the Department of Personnel & Training, the Commission has now recommended 120 candidates which include 88 General, 05 EWS, 23 OBC, 03 SC, and 01 ST, to fill up the remaining posts based on the Civil Services Examination, 2023. The candidates, so recommended, will be intimated directly by the DOP&T.”

Abir Asad would soon head to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, for training.

Abir has given the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) as her first choice, the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) as second and the Indian Railway Management Service as the third one. The allocation is done somewhere during the training and is also based on the vacancies available in the government departments.

Recently, the final list of 120 candidates was released by the UPSC, in which Abir Asad is ranked 35th.

Abir Asad’s brother Muhammad Basil is a software engineer, and mother is a homemaker. Her ancestry is from the well-known Kirthi Jafar of the Mayo district.

Abir Asad worked hard for one year. She studied eight to nine hours on normal days and added more hours close to the examination.

Abir credits her parents for teaching her the wages of hard work, explaining the importance of studies, and encouraging her at every step of her life.

“This formula that never lets children lose their spirit,” she said.

Abir said that if girls are given the freedom to read and write, encouraged, and provided equal opportunities there is no reason why Muslim girls should not do well in life.

She told the Muslim youth that instead of wandering around the neighborhood and wasting their time, they must focus on studying and writing.

Abir Asad’s father Maulana Muhammad Asad Al-Qasimi Al-Azmi said that he gave Abir the freedom to read and write and pursue her dreams.

He appealed to the Muslims to give their children the freedom to read and write and take care of their choice in which field they want to study further. He said that only education can change the fate of a Quom (Muslims).

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by ATV / October 30th, 2024

A 16th Century Princess Chronicles Early Mughal Life In India

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

INDIA :

Begum Gulbadan’s Humayun-nama, a remarkable chronicle of early Mughal life in India is the only work written by a woman in Muslim courts of Ottoman, Turkey, Iran and India.

An early Mughal princess

The Vagabond Princess by Professor Ruby Lal is a captivating historical biography of an early Mughal princess. Even though this is a work of meticulous historical research, it is an adventure tale and a travel narrative with a female protagonist which provides as much entertainment as any work of fiction.  The real wonder of this book is that it’s a true account of a real woman, Gulbadan Begum, who lived from 1523 to 1603.

The author Dr. Ruby Lal is a Professor of South Asian history at Emory University in Atlanta who wrote The Astonishing Reign of Nur Jahan (2018) which was a Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist.

While her previous book concentrated on a later Mughal queen who was as powerful as her husband the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, this work focuses on an early Mughal princess whose contribution is not so much to statecraft but to memorializing through her writing the formative years of the Mughal Empire in India.

The life of Gulbadan

As the title suggests, Gulbadan’s life was one of astonishing journeys that very few others had undertaken in the sixteenth century. She was a beloved daughter of Emperor Babar, the founder of the Mughal dynasty in India. At the age of six, she undertook an arduous journey with her Mughal relatives from Kabul in Afghanistan to Agra, where her father had established his new capital. This journey took her across the Khyber Pass, a treacherous mountainous gap that allowed an entry point into India.

Once in Agra, she reunites with her beloved father and grows up in the new country of Hindustan, amid a plethora of languages, her native Turkish, Persian, and the emerging mixed tongue of Hindavi in India. Even when it seems there is a modicum of stability, her father Babar’s life is suddenly cut short when he prays for the survival of his son and heir Humayun and participates in a ritual where he barters a part of his own life to save his son.

The untimely death of Babar is a shock for Gulbadan, but even more disconcerting are the rebellions by various half-brothers who periodically betray their allegiance to Humayun, her half-brother who ascends the throne. 

A Mughal dynasty

Humayun’s reign becomes even more tenuous when he faces military challenges led by the Afghan ruler of Bihar, Sher Shah Suri, who defeats Humayun in Chausa in 1539 and Kanauj in 1540, forcing him into exile in Afghanistan.  These changing vicissitudes of the Mughal dynasty force Gulbadan into a peripatetic existence moving back to Kabul and then returning again to Hindustan after Humayun recaptures Agra. During the years of his exile from India, Gulbadan witnesses Humayun’s marriage to his favorite wife Hamida who gives birth to their future heir Akbar, and who also becomes a close friend of Gulbadan.

Akbar’s ascension to the throne marks a shift in Gulbadan’s personal life. In her early life, she had lived in gardens and tents and had traveled freely. With the growth in Akbar’s stature, Mughal women were consigned to the enclosed quarters of the harem in Fatehpur Sikri. While this was a mark of the rising prestige of Akbar, the Emperor, it was not a particularly pleasing option for his aunt, Gulbadan. Even though she is a mother and a senior advisory figure in the harem and also highly regarded by Emperor Akbar as a writer and memory keeper of her clan, she is increasingly restless by her confinement in middle age.

A pilgrimage to Mecca

Gulbadan successfully petitions Akbar to allow her to embark on a holy pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina with the women of the harem.  This is a formidable journey, even with Akbar’s support. First, the Mughal contingent arrive in the port city of Surat where they wait for the Portuguese to approve their passage as they have a monopoly over shipping routes. After much negotiation, and payment of requisite fees, two Mughal ships set sail for the haj pilgrimage.  Lal provides a detailed account of the journey across the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, and the Red Sea to arrive at the port of Jeddah, from where the party travels to Mecca. At Mecca, they are able to complete all the rituals associated with the Haj including the lavish giving of alms to the poor. The party then proceeds to Medina and completes the rituals of worship particular to that city as well.

Gulbadan and her associates do not return to Hindustan after completing the Haj but stay on in one of the elite neighborhoods of Medina. After some time, they attract the criticism of the Ottoman Sultan Murad III, who issues orders of expulsion for Gulbadan and her group.  Lal suggests that the lavish giving of alms, made possible by the immense wealth of Akbar and the Mughal Empire in a way threatened the sovereignty of the Ottoman Sultan.

The Humayun-nama

On her return journey by sea, Gulbadan faces being shipwrecked but escapes with her life and seeks refuge in Aden.  Unlike Mecca, the authorities in Aden are not hospitable or courteous. She is relieved to return home where she commands the respect of men and women as someone who is a haji or who has accomplished one of the pillars of the Islamic faith: pilgrimage to the Prophet’s birthplace.  Once settled in Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar commissions her to write a biographical sketch of Humayun. Gulbadan accomplishes this task with great finesse. Her book is an outstanding primary source document about the condition of life during the Mughal era in India.

The narrative begins with Lal’s examination of Gulbadan’s book Ahval- i- Humaun Badshah (Conditions in the Age of Humayun Badshah), at the British Museum in 1997. This is the only extant copy of this commissioned work that Gulbadan authored, but Lal soon realizes that the manuscript is incomplete, and it does not touch on her pilgrimage to Mecca or her life after the return. It is this gap that Lal seeks to fulfill in her research, trying to reconstruct events that happened during the pilgrimage including her group’s expulsion.

First female chronicler of Mughal life

As she recreates the life of Gulbadan, Lal reminds us that her work, popularly called Humayun-nama, is the only prose work written by a woman in Muslim courts including Ottoman, Turkey, Iran, and India. Gulbadan is a remarkable witness and chronicler of early Mughal life in India. Moreover, her life defies notions about women being constrained by Islamic institutions of purdah. Gulbadan did not accept the confinement of the harem and sought out travel to the holy cities of Arabia, appearing publicly to give alms to the poor.

Even upon her return she adopted the role of official historian and was not limited to traditional roles of wife and mother in the harem. At a time when the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is reducing Mughal history content in school history textbooks in India, it is all the more important to continue bringing the lives of Mughal women to the attention of the world. Ruby Lal has succeeded in giving us a biography of an extraordinary life that women in the twenty-first century in India and the world can draw inspiration from.

The Vagabond Princess:  The Great Adventures of Gulbadan by Ruby  Lal
 Yale University Press, February 2024.

source: http://www.indiacurrents.com / India Currents / Home> Books> Culture / by Lopamudra Basu / April 10th, 2024