Bulandshahr, UTTAR PRADESH :

When Governor Anandiben conferred the gold medal on the university topper in B.Sc Mathematics at the convocation, tears rolled down the cheeks of Shama Parveen. The tears were of joy and gratitude for making it through challenges both financial and personal.

Shama hails from Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, and she topped in B.Sc Mathematics at Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut with 89.80% marks in the subject in the final examination.

Shama Parveen turned emotional in memory of her tough life as the daughter of a rickshaw puller who, with his small income, could barely make ends meet.

However, her father Yunoon Khan cut corners to ensure that his daughter goes to school and later college. The daughter too didn’t disappoint him.

Shama Parveen says that her father taught her to work hard and honestly. “He mortgaged his belongings to raise money to pay my fees. My father had pinned high hopes on me. Today, I have been able to live up to his expectations,’ she told local media persons.

However, Shama’s achievement also came despite her physical disability. She has no sight in one of her eyes.

Due to her physical problem, people generally were not kind to the child. Her father Yunoon Khan says that when she was one year old, suddenly, the vision in her one eye started fading and as she grew up, it further declined.

He says that neighbours and relatives taunted his daughter and made uncharitable comments about her. They even taunted Yunoon Khan about his daughter’s condition.

He says: “I never paid attention to them and also taught my daughter to do the same. On the contrary.” On the contrary, he encouraged Shama to pursue higher education.

Shama cleared the 12th standard with good marks. Unlike others in the neighbourhood who confined their daughters to home, Shama got admission to B.Sc Mathematics at Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut.

Her father did everything possible to support her and Shama’s success was a beautiful culmination of Yunoon Khan’s mission.

Shama Parveen has topped examinations at the district level many times. She now wants to become an IAS officer.

However, being the eldest of her siblings, she says right now she wants to support her father financially as she feels responsible towards her siblings.

Shama says that every parent should provide higher education to their daughters. Education is the only weapon that can make one live life with respect.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Youth / by Onika Maheshwari, New Delhi / January 08th, 2023