Book For Children
[UNDER DEVELOPMENT]There continues to be a paucity globally of children's books with Muslim women characters The purpose of this unique children’s book, focused on shining a spotlight on Indian Muslim women, is for girls in India to find aspirational role models. It is for tiny activists, mini feminists and girls who are ready to take on the world. The book will provide little girls with faces and stories which will move them towards the highest reaches of success and tell them that it is safe to climb and that it is their space too.
Rising Beyond the Ceiling (RBTC)is the first compendium on Indian Muslim women of Independent India. It brings together women who are inspirations in politics, have achieved excellence in academics, broken stereotypes through police, pilots and sports stars, who can serve as role models and help change perceptions. The children’s book, which is the first of its kind, will draw on the RBTC compendium. It will be a simple illustrated version and introduce listeners and readers to a group of eleven inspiring Indian Muslim women.
The products developed under the Rising Beyond the Ceiling (RBTC) Project are envisaged as a public good and not for commercial purposes. The publication will be available free of copy right with requirement to include reference and credits to the source. The children's book is for publication in English. However, organizations will also be able to translate the book in Hindi and local languages as per their needs.
Rising Beyond the Ceiling (RBTC)is the first compendium on Indian Muslim women of Independent India. It brings together women who are inspirations in politics, have achieved excellence in academics, broken stereotypes through police, pilots and sports stars, who can serve as role models and help change perceptions. The children’s book, which is the first of its kind, will draw on the RBTC compendium. It will be a simple illustrated version and introduce listeners and readers to a group of eleven inspiring Indian Muslim women.
The products developed under the Rising Beyond the Ceiling (RBTC) Project are envisaged as a public good and not for commercial purposes. The publication will be available free of copy right with requirement to include reference and credits to the source. The children's book is for publication in English. However, organizations will also be able to translate the book in Hindi and local languages as per their needs.
Rising Beyond the Ceiling- "The World Is My Oyster"
Rising Beyond the Ceiling- "The World Is My Oyster"
Illustrator: Aashti Miller, Millerink Graphics, Mumbai
Writer: Sabah Usmani, Founder 6 Ft. Love, New York
Editor: Daphne Yin, Senior Consultant, Washington D.C.
The RBTC children's book story is of a ten-year old girl Aisha Khan and her exploration of what she wants to become when she grows up. In this adventure she meets with ten RBTC inspiring women.
Aisha goes to a neighborhood school. Amina Ahmed is the teacher of class IV. She is friendly and joyful. Amina is always looking for ways to make her assignments interesting, engaging and that which stretch children’s imagination. Today’s assignment it to think and write about what you would like to be when you grow up. Aisha is a little confused about today’s assignment as she has never thought about this before. Her mind is full of questions. What can I be? What are the possibilities for me living in my small town? Where can I get ideas?
Aisha goes to her mother.Aisha - Mommy can you please help me with an assignment”?Mommy- Sure, what is it about?Aisha- We have an assignment about who we wish to be when we grow up. I am confused and I do not know where to begin.Mommy- Hmm, lets start thinking about the different Professions.Aisha – Oh yeah, maybe I can be a Pilot. It will be fun to drive an airplane. I can also be a Sprinter as I run amazingly fast.Aisha’s mother becomes thoughtful. She is aware that Aisha has not seen women from her family go for work. There is no role model for her. This is such an important question for Aisha to answer. How can I help my daughter make the right choice? She pondered.Mommy- Women in our family have generally stayed home taking care of the family. This is important. But you can always be anything that you find interesting, anything that aspires you. Follow your dream.Aisha – Yeah! That is extremely exciting. I will keep looking for ideas.Mommy – There are so many examples where women have shown exemplary success. We find them across all fields such as Engineers, Professors, Scientists, Social workers, Doctors, Artists and even as Prime Ministers.”Aisha – Do you know someone who has been successful?Mommy – Yes, I know many.Ayesha’s mother opens the website of ‘Rising Beyond the Ceiling’ on her laptop and shares stories of a hundred women who have accomplished their goals in different fields.Mommy- Look, Aisha these are our role models. We will make a list of ten women from among them. You can meet each one of them, talk to them and ask questions. This will help you in making your choice.
Ayesha is thrilled with this idea. She is now sitting with her mother, drawing up the list of ten women that she will meet. Will they give her time? Will they be nice to her? What will she ask them? Will this really help her to choose what she should be doing when she grows up? These questions are flying around her mind and she drifts into deep sleep.
Profiles of the ten women role models whose sketches and stories are featured in the fictional story in the children's book entitles " The World is My Oyster" (UNDER DEVELOPMENT)
FATHIMA BEEVI. Supreme Court Judge. Kerala Click side arrow for profile.
Fathima Beevi was born in Pathanamthitta in what was then the Travancore State in Kerala on 30 April, 1927. After completing her law studies, Fathima Beevi started her career in 1950 in Kerala's lower judiciary. Over the next three decades, she served as the Munsiff in the Kerala Subordinate Judicial Services, the Chief Judicial Magistrate, the District & Sessions Judge and a Judicial Member of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, before being elevated to the Kerala High Court as a judge in 1983.
Fathima Beevi made history in October 1989 when she became the first female judge to be appointed to the Supreme Court since it was established in 1950. That wasn't all, she was also the first Muslim woman judge to be appointed to any position in the higher judiciary in India.After retiring from service in 1992, Beevi served as a member of the National Human Rights Commission. In 1997, she was appointed as the Governor of Tamil Nadu, and served in this position till she resigned in 2001.Fathima Beevi is an alumna of Trivandrum's Law College. In 1950, she became the first woman to top the Bar Council of India's exam
Fathima Beevi made history in October 1989 when she became the first female judge to be appointed to the Supreme Court since it was established in 1950. That wasn't all, she was also the first Muslim woman judge to be appointed to any position in the higher judiciary in India.After retiring from service in 1992, Beevi served as a member of the National Human Rights Commission. In 1997, she was appointed as the Governor of Tamil Nadu, and served in this position till she resigned in 2001.Fathima Beevi is an alumna of Trivandrum's Law College. In 1950, she became the first woman to top the Bar Council of India's exam
REHANA KHAN. Professor /Academician. Delhi Click side arrow for profile.
Rehana Khatoon,72, is a scholar and former Head of the Department of Persian, University of Delhi. She is the author of Encyclopedia of Persian Language and Literature (India and Pakistan). She was honored by the Government of India, in 2014, by bestowing on her the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, for her contributions to the propagation of Persian language and literature.
Rehana received master’s degree in Persian 1973, M. Phil 1975 and doctorate degree in Persian in the year 1980 from Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. She started her academic career as a Research Associate and received UGC Fellowships and awards namely Doctoral Research Fellow, Research Scientist–A and Career Award. She joined Department of Persian, University of Delhi in 1980 and since then was associated with the department as a faculty member. Ms. Khatoon was inspired by her father, Professor Nazir Ahmed, a professor of Persian at Aligarh Muslim University, who was also awarded the Padma Shri in 1987, twenty seven years earlier.
Dr. Rehana Khatoon has contributed to 32 books and 180 articles and research papers in Persian, English, Urdu and Hindi published in India and abroad. She has also chaired over 70 national and international conferences and attended more than 100 conferences in India and abroad. She has contributed rare original research to the Persian Literature and guided PhD students from USA and other part of the globe.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rehana_Khatoon
Rehana received master’s degree in Persian 1973, M. Phil 1975 and doctorate degree in Persian in the year 1980 from Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. She started her academic career as a Research Associate and received UGC Fellowships and awards namely Doctoral Research Fellow, Research Scientist–A and Career Award. She joined Department of Persian, University of Delhi in 1980 and since then was associated with the department as a faculty member. Ms. Khatoon was inspired by her father, Professor Nazir Ahmed, a professor of Persian at Aligarh Muslim University, who was also awarded the Padma Shri in 1987, twenty seven years earlier.
Dr. Rehana Khatoon has contributed to 32 books and 180 articles and research papers in Persian, English, Urdu and Hindi published in India and abroad. She has also chaired over 70 national and international conferences and attended more than 100 conferences in India and abroad. She has contributed rare original research to the Persian Literature and guided PhD students from USA and other part of the globe.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rehana_Khatoon
KHUSBOO MIRZA. Scientist, ISRO. Bangalore Karnataka Click side arrow for profile.
Khushboo Mirza, 35, is a scientist at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) at Bangalore. Khusboo was part of the team of 12 engineers of the Check-Out Division of Chandrayan 1 ( India's first lunar probe) which carried out the thermal, vacumm and assembling checks of each component of the satellite which was launched in 2008. Khusboo was also chosen in the group which was to build Chandrayaan 2. This second lunar lest to dispatch in 2009 got deferred and was launched on July 22, 2019. Khusboo was honored by the ISRO Team Excellence Award in April 2015. Ms. Mirza belongs to Chaugori Mohalla, a tiny, traditional Muslim neighbourhood in Amroha district of Uttar Pradesh. Khusboo’s father, an Engineer, died when she was seven. Her mother, Farhat, broke norms to run the family's petrol pump to keep her children in school. Khushboo graduated from Krishna Bal Mandir High School in Amroha. She applied for B. Tech at Aligarh Muslim University and completed her Engineering degree from the Zakir Hussain College of Engineering and Technology, AMU, Aligarh. Besides her scientific achievements, Khusboo was a district level volleyball player. She also became the first girl to fight an election in AMU. Though she did not win, her participation encouraged other girls to take the opportunity in following years. Ms. Mirza started her career as a software engineer at Adobe Systems Incorporated in June 2006. After working there for 5 months left the lucrative job to join ISRO in November 2006, Khushboo’s mother, Farhat, accompanied her daughter to ISRO training programmes across the country. Ms. Mirza has been working with ISRO for 14 years now and was recently promoted to director-rank Scientist-F position in June 2020.References/Linkshttp://archive.indianexpress.com/news/amroha-girl-chose-jeans-not-burqa-joined-isro/376807/https://www.dreshare.com/khushboo-mirza/https://www.ummid.com/career/Khushboo_mirza_from_amroha_to_moon.htm
ILMA AFROZ, Indian Police Service. Simla, Himachal Pradesh Click side arrow for profile.
Ilma Afroz, 26, Indian Police Service (2018, Himachal Pradesh Cadre) hails from Kundarki village in Moradabad district of Uttar Pradesh.
Ms. Afroz graduated from St. Stephen’s College in Philosophy and went on to study at Oxford University in London. She later also had a chance to work as an intern with Bill Clinton Foundation in New York and United Nations Redd+ programme in Indonesia.
Despite studying and working at the best institutions in India and abroad, Ilma always felt that something was missing in her life. Ilma was born in a farmer’s family and faced several economic and societal challenges after her father died when she was just fourteen. Ms. Afroz was reminded of the children in her village who used to see her as a role model for change in their lives and decided to join the Indian Civil Services.
Two years after her return to India, she qualified for the coveted Indian Police Service securing the 217th rank in the list of 990 recommended for India’s top government posts. Ilma is currently an IPS probationer under training in Himachal Pradesh. References/Linkshttps://www.jagranjosh.com/articles/upsc-success-story-of-ips-ilma-afroz-in-hindi-1592211391-2https://www.ummid.com/news/2018/May/02.05.2018/ilma-afroz-from-oxford-to-upsc-civil-services-2017-updated.html
Ms. Afroz graduated from St. Stephen’s College in Philosophy and went on to study at Oxford University in London. She later also had a chance to work as an intern with Bill Clinton Foundation in New York and United Nations Redd+ programme in Indonesia.
Despite studying and working at the best institutions in India and abroad, Ilma always felt that something was missing in her life. Ilma was born in a farmer’s family and faced several economic and societal challenges after her father died when she was just fourteen. Ms. Afroz was reminded of the children in her village who used to see her as a role model for change in their lives and decided to join the Indian Civil Services.
Two years after her return to India, she qualified for the coveted Indian Police Service securing the 217th rank in the list of 990 recommended for India’s top government posts. Ilma is currently an IPS probationer under training in Himachal Pradesh. References/Linkshttps://www.jagranjosh.com/articles/upsc-success-story-of-ips-ilma-afroz-in-hindi-1592211391-2https://www.ummid.com/news/2018/May/02.05.2018/ilma-afroz-from-oxford-to-upsc-civil-services-2017-updated.html
NILOFER KAFEEL, Politican, Minister. Chennai, Tamil Nadu Click side arrow for profile.
Nilofer Kafeel is a Tamil Nadu politician, a member of the 15th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, from the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party. Ms. Kafeel is currently the Minister for Labour, Population, Employment and Training, Urban and Rural Employment and Wakf Board in the Government of Tamil Nadu.
Ms. Kafeel represents Vaniyambadi segment of Vellore in Tamil Nadu Assembly. Under her stewardship, the Tamil Nadu government has been taking steps to safeguard rights of the children in the state, including taking stringent action against companies, which engage children as laborers as well as under National Child Labour Policy for Children.
Nilofer Kafeel is trained in BEMS-NEHM, affiliated with the Naturo Electro Homoeopathy Medicos of India
References:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nilofer_Kafeelhttps://twitter.com/drniloferkafeel?lang=enhttps://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/130619/tamil-nadu-taking-steps-to-safeguard-rights-of-children-minister.htmlhttps://www.skillreporter.com/2018/07/regional/tamil-nadu/tamil-nadu-govt-to-impart-skill-development-training-to-two-lakh-youth-in-2018-19-minister-nilofer-kafeel/
Ms. Kafeel represents Vaniyambadi segment of Vellore in Tamil Nadu Assembly. Under her stewardship, the Tamil Nadu government has been taking steps to safeguard rights of the children in the state, including taking stringent action against companies, which engage children as laborers as well as under National Child Labour Policy for Children.
Nilofer Kafeel is trained in BEMS-NEHM, affiliated with the Naturo Electro Homoeopathy Medicos of India
References:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nilofer_Kafeelhttps://twitter.com/drniloferkafeel?lang=enhttps://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/130619/tamil-nadu-taking-steps-to-safeguard-rights-of-children-minister.htmlhttps://www.skillreporter.com/2018/07/regional/tamil-nadu/tamil-nadu-govt-to-impart-skill-development-training-to-two-lakh-youth-in-2018-19-minister-nilofer-kafeel/
MUMTAZ M. KAZI. First Asian woman locomotive train driver. Mumbai Maharashtra. Nari Shakti Puraskar Awardee (2017). Click side arrow for profile details.
Mumtaz M. Kazi, is the first Indian woman to drive a diesel engine train. She is also Asia's first woman locomotive driver.
Mumtaz was born and raised up in Mumbai and hails from an orthodox Muslim family. She wanted to follow the footsteps of her father, Allarakhu Ismail Kathwala, who served as an employee in the Indian Railways and pursue a career as a full time train driver. After initial disapprovals Ms. Kazi’s family encouraged her and she applied for a job at the Railways following her graduation from Seth Anandilal Podar High School in Santacruz in 1989.
Mumtaz Kazi was selected for the post of engine driver and in 1991, at the age of 20, started driving a train. Mumtaz has been driving the engines of various types of trains and is currently spearheading local trains along the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminal and Thane route, one of the most congested railway route.
Ms. Kazi has received several awards and recognitions. In 1995 she was recognized by the Limca Book of Records as the first Asian female locomotive driver in 1995. She received Railway General Manager Award in 2015 from the Indian Railways. Ms. Kazi also received the national Nari Shakti Puraskar award from the President of India in 2017.
References/Linkshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumtaz_M._Kazihttps://yourstory.com/2017/03/mumtaz-kazi-locomotive-driver?utm_pageloadtype=scroll
Mumtaz was born and raised up in Mumbai and hails from an orthodox Muslim family. She wanted to follow the footsteps of her father, Allarakhu Ismail Kathwala, who served as an employee in the Indian Railways and pursue a career as a full time train driver. After initial disapprovals Ms. Kazi’s family encouraged her and she applied for a job at the Railways following her graduation from Seth Anandilal Podar High School in Santacruz in 1989.
Mumtaz Kazi was selected for the post of engine driver and in 1991, at the age of 20, started driving a train. Mumtaz has been driving the engines of various types of trains and is currently spearheading local trains along the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminal and Thane route, one of the most congested railway route.
Ms. Kazi has received several awards and recognitions. In 1995 she was recognized by the Limca Book of Records as the first Asian female locomotive driver in 1995. She received Railway General Manager Award in 2015 from the Indian Railways. Ms. Kazi also received the national Nari Shakti Puraskar award from the President of India in 2017.
References/Linkshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumtaz_M._Kazihttps://yourstory.com/2017/03/mumtaz-kazi-locomotive-driver?utm_pageloadtype=scroll
TAJAMUL ISLAM. Kickboxing Champion. Bandipora, Kashmir Click side arrow for profile.
Tajamul Islam, 11, Kickboxer, Martial Artist. Young Tajamul stole the show as kickboxing champion when she knocked down her rival from the United States to become the world champion winning the gold metal in the sub-junior category at the World Kickboxing Championship in Andria, Italy in 2016. Tajamul started kickboxing when she was just 5 years old and went on to become a champion in her chosen sport.
Born in Tarkpora, a remote village in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, Tajamul is the first Kashmiri girl to achieve this feat. Islam studied in Class II, when she represented India in Italy, where 90 other countries participated.
Tajamul, one of five siblings born to Ghulam Mohammad Lone — a driver in Bandipora district of Kashmir. She credits her success to her father and urges parents to support their children, face and solve problems.
Eleven year old Tajamul today has set up her own sports academy called Haider Sports Academy in Kashmir which currently has 720 children. Her vision is that children from her academy have access to the best equipment, which she did not have, and reach world class sports including the Olympics.
References/Linkshttps://www.shethepeople.tv/news/meet-tajamul-islam-kashmiri-kickboxing-championhttps://asianlite.com/sport/film-on-kashmiri-kickboxer-tajamul-islam-in-the-making/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/how-tajamul-islam-became-world-kickboxing-champion/listshow/55536629.cmshttps://www.wionews.com/videos/kashmir-connect-tajamul-islam-world-kickboxing-champion-from-kashmir-wion-special-series-320279https://fb.watch/27JOr94QPE/
Born in Tarkpora, a remote village in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, Tajamul is the first Kashmiri girl to achieve this feat. Islam studied in Class II, when she represented India in Italy, where 90 other countries participated.
Tajamul, one of five siblings born to Ghulam Mohammad Lone — a driver in Bandipora district of Kashmir. She credits her success to her father and urges parents to support their children, face and solve problems.
Eleven year old Tajamul today has set up her own sports academy called Haider Sports Academy in Kashmir which currently has 720 children. Her vision is that children from her academy have access to the best equipment, which she did not have, and reach world class sports including the Olympics.
References/Linkshttps://www.shethepeople.tv/news/meet-tajamul-islam-kashmiri-kickboxing-championhttps://asianlite.com/sport/film-on-kashmiri-kickboxer-tajamul-islam-in-the-making/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/how-tajamul-islam-became-world-kickboxing-champion/listshow/55536629.cmshttps://www.wionews.com/videos/kashmir-connect-tajamul-islam-world-kickboxing-champion-from-kashmir-wion-special-series-320279https://fb.watch/27JOr94QPE/
NAGHMA ABBASI. Entrepreneur. Biotechnology. Delhi Click side arrow for profile.
Nagma Abbasi is a Biotech professional and Founder and CEO of NextGen Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd. Dr. Nagma Abbasi’s career spans over a decade working with research institutes and leading companies in Life Science industry across various verticals like Product management, customer segmentation, brand management, and strategic marketing. One morning she received the news that her position was dissolved. However, this became her turning point in her life and she opted on the entrepreneurial voyage to establish NextGen, building on her knowledge of gaps and needs. NextGen Life Sciences since its inception in 2014 has captivated to be a single source of facility and to cater the research needs of scientists in the field of Molecular biology, Cell Biology, Immunology, Healthcare, Drug Development and more and help accelerate life sciences research. NextGen’s key achievements are consistent growth for the last five years in terms of revenue and profitability. NextGen has been featured and awarded as Entrepreneur of the Year in Trading Business MSMECCII Genentech Asia Awards 2020; Company of the year 2018 by The CEO Magazine; Top 20 Best Life Sciences Start-Ups by Silicon India Magazine. The company is collaborating with partners from USA, Europe, Singapore and other South East Asia countries for distribution, manufacturing and R&D, and initiating the freezer program, for quick, easy and local access to a comprehensive range of lab consumables. Dr. Abbasi attended IMT Ghaziabad, A.M.U., Aligarh and Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Delhi for her studies in Business Administration, Doctoral studies in Molecular Genetics and Post-Doc studies in Molecular Biology. Source:https://www.theenterpriseworld.com/dr-nagma-abbasi-empowering-innovations-in-biotechnology/https://startup.siliconindia.com/vendor/nextgen-life-sciences-purchasing-convenience-and-comprehensive-services-for-life-science-industry-cid-6093.html
ZAINAB SAYEED, Administrator. Indian Revenue Service. Kolkata, West Bengal Click side arrow for profile.
Zainab Sayeed, is the first Muslim woman from West Bengal to crack the Civil Services Examination, 2014. She topped the UPSC interview by scoring highest marks. Zainab scored 220 out of total 275 marks in the interview and secured a rank of 107 in the examination. She joined the Indian Revenue Service. She works at the Custom and Exercise Department of the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. Ms. Sayeed graduated in English from St Xavier’s College, Kolkata. Thereafter, she went to Delhi and enrolled at the AJK Mass Communication and Research Centre at the Jamia Millia Islamia University and completed her Masters in Convergent Journalism in 2011. While pursuing her Masters, she simultaneously signed up at Jamia’s coaching centre for the UPSC exam preparation. Zainab appeared for the Civil Services Exam in 2012 and 2013 but was persistent. She got a job in the English daily ‘The Telegraph’ in Kolkata. While she worked in the editorial department of The Telegraph, Zainab continued to prepare for the examination with single minded focus. Her persistence and perseverance paid off and she cleared the examination in 2014. Zainab Sayeed, is from Chitpur in North Kolkata and belongs to the Bohra community. She wears the traditional ‘Rida’ (headscarf) since she was 13 years old. When asked in an interview why she wore the attire which is a religious marker her reply was that the Rida is part and parcel of her persona and one should wear clothes one feels comfortable in. She cited the instance of a Prime Minister who wore a turban which is also a religious symbol.
References: https://iasexamportal.com/meet-zainab-sayeed-highest-scorer-in-upsc-interviews https://syskool.com/zainab-sayeed-irs-from-kolkata/ https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/zainab-sayeed-tops-upsc-interview-round-283973-2015-07-22
References: https://iasexamportal.com/meet-zainab-sayeed-highest-scorer-in-upsc-interviews https://syskool.com/zainab-sayeed-irs-from-kolkata/ https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/zainab-sayeed-tops-upsc-interview-round-283973-2015-07-22
ARFA KHANUM SHERVANI. Journalist. Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh Click side arrow for profile.
Arfa Khanum Sherwani (born 1 November 1980) is a television journalist. She is currently senior editor at The Wire. She has worked as a senior anchor with Rajyasabha TV. She also hosted a daily analytical show on current affairs at evening prime time called Desh Deshantar. Arfa Khanum Sherwani is the only TV journalist to have covered minority issues as a full fledged reporting beat. She was the first TV journalist to have covered Sachar committee report. She has researched on Dalit issues extensively by visiting Dalit villages across the country. Sherwani had earlier worked with Aamir Khan Productions for Satyamev Jayate. She was also associated with NDTV as anchor/reporter for several years. She covered the Afghan Presidential Elections 2014 from Kabul and became the only Indian crew to have done so. She also covered the Iranian Presidential election 2009 from Tehran and made two documentaries on Iranian society and women. Sherwani is a former elected Vice President, AMU Old boys' association and a Member of South Asian Women in Media. She is a recipient of the Chameli Devi Jain Award for Outstanding Women Media persons, 2019, the Sahitya Samman and the Red Ink Award.