Tag Archives: Muslim Women of Assam

Nargis, Hafiza and working hard against poverty, society to become doctors

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Dalgaon (Darrang District), ASSAM :

Nargis Sultana being felicitated by her neighbours after her she scored a distinction in her matriculation examinations

The academic success of the daughter of a Maulana in Assam’s Darrang district has revealed the determination of Indian Muslim women to defeat adversities and break stereotypes for giving wings to their dreams.

Nargis Sultana, the daughter of a Maulana who passed the High School Leaving Certificate Examination or Matriculation examination in 2022 with distinction despite facing various challenges, studies for more than 12 hours to fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor.

Nargis is the second daughter of Samsher Ali and Nasira Khatoon, residents of Kachari Bheti in Dalgaon in the Darrang district.

Born in a very backward and remote area, Nargis had to walk 5-6 km daily from her home and cross a river to reach her school for her primary education.

Being the daughter of a Maulana, many residents in her village asked her to learn Islamic textbooks including the Holy Quran instead of going to school for modern education. But Nargis was determined to go to school and her parents backed her.

Maulana Shamsher Ali (Left), the father of Nargis (In white dress) and his family

Nargis Sultana told Awaz-the Voice, “I was a student of Anandaram Barua Academy in Siliguri when I appeared for the Matric examination or Class X final in 2022. Besides my hard work and dedication, I want to give credit to the teachers for my success. After knowing my poor financial background they (teachers) helped me to continue my education.”

Anandaram Barua Academy did not charge any fee and provided free tuition from Nargis for her education from the Class ninth and Tenth.

In the Matric exam 2022 Nargis scored 96 (out of 100 marks) in Social Science, 95 in Mathematics, 92 in Assamese, 90 in Elective Subjects, 90 in English, and 78 in General Science.

Nargis got is studying at Ajmal College in Hojai and pursuing a science stream for her higher secondary examination.

“Many people and teachers have helped me financially to continue my education. They have pinned high hopes on me. So, I cannot disappoint them. I am studying more than 10 hours daily so that I can excel in 12th stands due next year. I want to become a doctor. I will try to become a gynecologist and serve the poor people in rural areas by reducing maternal and infant mortality rates among them,” Nargis said.

Nasira Khatoon while expressing gratitude to the almighty Allah and those who have helped her daughter to continue her education, said she is hopeful that “Nargis will become a successful doctor in the future to serve humanity.”

Hafiza Begum (Left) being felicitated

Similarly, another Muslim girl student from Dalgaon in Darrang district Hafiza Begum has also proved that poverty cannot be an obstacle to academic excellence.

Hafiza, daughter of e-rickshaw driver Habib Ullah, has told Awaz- The Voice that she had passed the Matriculation examination from Adarsh Jatiya Vidyalaya, Dalgaon by securing distinction marks.

Hafiza is determined to become a doctor and later prepare for the Union Civil Service Examination.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by Munni Begum, Guwahati / May 05th, 2023

Waheeda Rahman revived traditional Assamese jewellery and started a venture

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ASSAM:

Jewellery designer and enterpreneur Waheeda Rahman

National award-winning Waheeda Rahman not only sells traditional Assamese jewellery she also extricated the traditional jewelry from the brink of extinction by designing the same. 

Today Waheeda is a brand of traditional jewellery and her creations glitter in national and international markets.     

Traditional jewellery is the pride of Assamese culture as it has its unique features and values. Unfortunately, many traditional pieces were about to be lost to posterity – some have already vanished – when Waheeda intervened.

awaz
One of the jewellery pieces designed by Waheeda Rahman

Made of gold and lac, many traditional jewellery items were somewhat heavier and lacked resale value, so people reduced their use. Instead, they resorted to imported jewellery. 

As a result, the popularity of Assamese jewellery gradually declined.

Nearly three decades ago Waheeda Rahman started her journey of looking for the lost and extinct ornament designs of Assam. 

She travelled across Assam and collected the designs from Satras, manuscripts/ Sanchipaat, and Tai-Phake museum. 

She was shocked to find that most of them had become extinct from the market. Only 12 designs were still prevalent which included Motalukaporia, Kornoxingho, and Nogortul.

Waheeda Rahman with eminent personalities of Assam

“Since my childhood, I had a fascination for designs. I used to draw patterns on my Mathematics copy and later got caught by my teacher. Even though Mathematics was never my favourite subject, the teacher was my favorite. I used to admire the designs that I saw on the saris that my teacher wore. Then, I wasn’t quite sure that I would step into designing. But I was confident of doing something big for my Assam. Such confidence and determination have made me what I am today,” Waheeda Rahman told Awaz-The Voice.

Waheeda did in-depth research on Assamese traditional ornaments, their preparative techniques, and the causes that led to their disappearance. 

She later brought all the traditional jewellery pieces to the market. Waheeda applied a new technique for quality and yet never compromised with the original design.

“The processing makes a lot of difference. Diverting from the conventional technique of using gold or silver over lac, I make ornaments of pure gold or silver because lac degrades the quality of the minerals. My jewellery with innovative designs might be a little expensive, but it is an investment for a lifetime,” Waheeda said.

Waheeda not only revived traditional Assamese jewelry but also created more than 500 new designs. Some of her original designs include the Nangol, Jakoi, and Khaloi, designs made out of motifs of different tribes, buds of tea leaves, the mist in Sohra (Cherapunjee), and the Kopou Ful among many others.

Waheeda now runs a boutique “Waheeda Lifestyle Studio” where she not only sells traditional Assamese jewellery but also traditional dresses. 

She exports her jewellery to all major cities in India as well as New York, London, Australia, Germany, and several other European and Southeast Asian countries. She has created employment for many young boys and girls in the field of jewellery business.

Jewellery crafted by Waheeda Rahman

Waheeda’s journey from being a rescuer of Assamese jewellery, designer, and entrepreneur was not easy but full of challenges. 

“Initially the people did not accept my jewellery saying that it are not traditional. For the initial years, I had no buyers and faced severe financial difficulties to pay my craftsmen. Moreover, many people have a prejudiced mindset that girls cannot be in the jewellery business. It is a male bastion,” the President’s medal winner Waheeda said. 

But Waheeda’s work was appreciated and she was able to bring a revolution in the market of traditional Assamese jewellery.

“Jewellery designing is like miniature sculpture. It is not only about making one look good. It should bring forth the personality of a particular individual,” Waheeda said. “And for doing that, a lot of creativity goes into the metals.”

Waheeda is now planning to set up a school to train the younger generation to design and preserve traditional Assamese jewellery for the future.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Daulat Rahman & Munni Begum, Guwahati / October 28th, 2023

A lost gold ring and a debt paid off 55 years later

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Dhaiali (Sivasagar District), ASSAM:

Former national discus throw champion Tayabun Nisha traced her childhood friend Julekha to return a gold ring the latter had lost in school back in 1967.

Tayabun Nisha (left) and Julekha
Tayabun Nisha (left) and Julekha

Guwahati :

When these two friends met after five decades, one paid off a debt never asked for and acted like the champion that she is.

Former national discus throw champion Tayabun Nisha felt heavy at the burden of an almost weightless finger ring of her friend Julekha, lost way back in 1967 at their Dhai Ali Girls’ High School in Assam’s Sivasagar.

More than 55 years later, Tayabun traced Julekha and arranged a reunion to reclaim those golden years that far outweigh the little ring. She gave her friend an envelope containing Rs 12,000 – the value of the ring.

“We were possibly students of class 7 or 8. Julekha was from an affluent family and she would come to school wearing gold jewellery. One day, she lost her finger ring in the class,” Tayabun, the first Assamese woman athlete to represent India in several international events, said recalling the incident.

“I used to go to school early to play games in the field. Those days, we had to clean our classroom. So, while cleaning it the next morning, I found the ring Julekha lost. However, I didn’t return it for the fear that I might be accused of stealing it and took it home. In due course, my father died and we faced a lot of financial difficulties. Perhaps, it was then that the ring was sold off by my family,” Tayabun said.

As time rolled by, the two friends lost contacts with each other and Tayabun landed a job in the railways in the sports quota but she was mentally disturbed all along.

“I used to think that since I cannot return that very ring to her, I will give her its value when I meet her. I thought I can expiate that way,” Tayabun, who has retired from service, said.

“But I had no idea about her whereabouts. So, I sought the help of my sister. After talking to a whole lot of people, she learnt where Julekha lives. Once I got her number, I called her up to say I would visit her. When I met her (on Tuesday), I told her everything. She initially refused to accept the value that I gave for the ring,” Tayabun said.

She said she would not have got the peace of mind if she had failed to locate Julekha and pay off the debt.

The softspoken Julekha was equally overjoyed to meet Tayabun after decades. “I feel happy that she came. I almost forgot her but she remembered me,” Julekha said.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by Prasanta Mazumdar / Express News Service / March 24th, 2023