Rising Beyond the Ceiling

INVITING NOMINATIONS

RBTC 100 West Bengal 2023

Rising Beyond The Ceiling (RBTC) proposes to shine a spotlight on one hundred Muslim women from West Bengal who have who have contributed in nation building in a range of fields - From politicians, academics, lawyers, doctors, creative artists, administrators, police women, entrepreneurs, social workers, authors, journalists, media and other fields.

We invite your nominations of inspiring Muslim Women living and working in West Bengal in any profession or sector. Please send your nominations with a 250 word brief and photo to risingbeyondtheceiling@gmail.com or contact Coordinator West Bengal, Professor Shabina Nishat Omar at shabinaomar@gmail.com

SHABINA NISHAT OMAR, Coordinator, Rising Beyond The Ceiling, West Bengal. Officer on Special Duty, Education Directorate, Department of Higher Education, Govt. of West Bengal; Professor and Head, Department of English at Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose College, University of Calcutta, Kolkata. Click side arrow for profile and contact details

Prof. Shabina Nishat Omar is currently Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Education Directorate, Department of Higher Education, Govt. of West Bengal and is also Professor and Head, Department of English at Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose College, affiliated to University of Calcutta in Kolkata. She has served previously for 19 years as Professor and Head, Department of English at Milli Al-Ameen College (for girls), affiliated to University of Calcutta, out of which she spent 15 years as Principal. She was previously Teacher-in-Charge of the English Department of Aliah University, where she designed the Draft Syllabi for the undergraduate and postgraduate courses in English 2010.
She is the Honorary President of WICCI (Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry) State Higher Education Council, West Bengal, and an invited member of All Ladies League (ALL), Kolkata Chapter. In 2021 she was felicitated by Daamini SHE Award for her contribution to women’s empowerment through education, in 2019 with the Rotary Award for Teacher Training, in 2018 by at the DISRUPTT Women’s Leadership Award at the Women’s Day Summit in Kolkata, and the prestigious Loreto College Alumni Achievement Award in 2011. In 2003 she was as International Visitor by U.S. Department of State to visit Harvard University and participate in academic programmes as educator and today she remains a member of U.S. Exchange Alumni.
She has been an invited speaker at cum academic expert since 2012 at nearly fifty UGC Faculty Development Programmes conducted by various UGC-HRDCs (University Grant Commission – Human Resource Development Centres) across the country and spoken in Jamia Millia Islamia, Gujarat University, Ranchi University, University of Mysore, Saurashtra University, Sonipat Women’s University, Haryana and Rani Durgawati University, Madhya Pradesh on various aspects of Higher Education, Digital Resources and ICT, Gender Studies and English Language Teaching. She has been an invited delegate from 2014 to 2019 in Higher Education Workshops conducted at National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) under MHRD, Govt. of India. She was an integral part of the first pioneering initiative of MHRD called ARPIT (Annual Refresher Programme in Teaching) for which her MOOCs and Online Lectures were uploaded on SWAYAM as a part of the first ever Faculty Development Programmes implemented through the digital education initiative of Govt. of India.
An alumnus of Loreto College, Kolkata, and University of Calcutta, Kolkata, Prof. Omar has numerous publications in several national and international books and journals. An academician, educational administrator, writer, orator, gender activist, trainer and mentor who considers herself to be a lifelong scholar, Prof. Omar is dedicated and committed to the cause of educational development and empowerment of women.
For information contact at shabinaomar@gmail.com
References / Sources:https://www.linkedin.com/in/shabina-n-omar-5449ab9

SAHANA AHMED. Leadership Team, Rising Beyond The Ceiling, West Bengal. Novelist, Short Story Writer, poet, India Country Chair – World Peace, G100 Club. Gurugram, Haryana. Hometown: Bardhaman, West Bengal

Sahana Ahmed, née Chowdhury, was born in Katwa, Purba Bardhaman. Being a military child, she had an itinerant upbringing, attending eleven schools in all. A graduate of Institute of Hotel Management, Kolkata, Sahana holds a master’s degree in Tourism Management. She has worked with leading universities and corporations in India as an English Language and Soft Skills trainer. At present, she is the India Country Chair for the World Peace Wing of G100 Club.
Sahana has been helping shine a light on remarkable women through her work with the UK-based SheInspires Network. In July 2021, she founded the Rural Tourism Council for WICCI (Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry). As its National President, she launched Green Buddies, a countrywide Responsible Tourism campaign for school children.
Sahana is a widely published fiction writer and poet. An alumna of University of East Anglia’s Creative Writing India Workshop, she was a finalist in the inaugural Juggernaut Short Story Contest, in 2016. Combat Skirts, her debut novel, was set in Calcutta against the backdrop of the Kargil War.
Sahana was recognised among 99 Achievers of India for the year 2021 by The Indian Achiever’s Club. She lives in Gurugram.
References/Sources
www.sahanaahmed.com

Nominations of Inspiring Muslim Women From West Bengal

Shattering stereotypes in uniform (In alphabetical order)

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. PAPIYA SULTANA ALAM, Deputy Commandant of State Armed Police, and the Additional SP, Traffic, Murshidabad Police District. Click side arrow for profile details.

Papiya Sultana Alam is the Deputy Commandant of State Armed Police, Second Battalion, and the Additional SP, Traffic, Murshidabad Police District. She is the first Muslim woman police officer in the state. An alumna of Bauria High School, Papiya went on to do an MBA, before marrying a software engineer in May 2006.
The girl, whose role model is Kiran Bedi, did not lose sight of her dreams, even after her marriage and a brief stint at a private firm. Hard work, determination and love for the uniform saw Papiya sail through the written and interview rounds of WBPS in the first attempt.
“I always wanted to be a part of the administration and serve society. This job will give me enough scope to fulfil my dream,” she says.
“I will be very happy if girls in my community draw inspiration from me. Unless Muslim women take part in the administration, the situation will not change,” she adds, thanking her husband for being supportive.
References / Sources:https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/ride-of-the-role-model-time-for-muslim-women-to-come-forward/cid/1256453#

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. RESHMA NILOFER NAHA. India's only women river pilot. Kolkata. Click side arrow for profile details.

Reshma Nilofer Naha is an Indian maritime pilot who guides ships from sea to Kolkata and Haldia ports. She became the first Indian as well as one among the world's very few female marine pilots do this, after qualifying as a river pilot in 2018. She received the Nari Shakti Puraskar Award in 2019 from the former Indian President Ram Nath Kovind.
She joined the Kolkata Port Trust in 2011 as a trainee and became Hooghly River pilot in 2018. She holds a B.E in Marine Technology from Birla Institute of Technology, Ranchi.
References / Sources:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reshma_Nilofer_Nahahttps://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/indias-only-woman-river-pilot-bags-prez-award/articleshow/68365754.cms

Achieving Academic Excellence ( In alphabetical order)

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. AFRIN ZEENAT. Professor of English at Dallas College, Richland Campus, University of Arkansas. Home Town: Kolkata. Click side arrow for profile details.

Dr. Afrin Zeenat is a professor of English at Dallas College, Richland Campus, University of Arkansas. She graduated from Aligarh Muslim University, India, and moved to Bangladesh after marriage. She got her first master’s degree and taught English Literature at Dhaka University for about 10 years.
During her teaching time there, she received a Junior Fulbright Scholarship. The scholarship offered her the opportunity to complete her second master’s in the U.S. Zeenat completed her degree in English at the University of Arkansas and returned to Bangladesh.
Her academic path did not stop there. Zeenat then applied for her PhD at the University of Arkansas. This time, she came back to the U.S. for her education and worked as a teaching assistant for six years.
References / Sources:https://www.linkedin.com/in/afrinzeenat

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. AMINA PARVEEN. Assistant Professor in Political Science, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal. Click side arrow for profile details.

Amina Parvin is an Assistant Professor in Political Science at Dhupguri Girls’ College, affiliated to University of North Bengal. Previously, she has worked as a Guest Faculty in Haldia Law College. She has presented papers on Political Culture & Societal Integrity and published material on ‘Intellectual Terrorism: A Threat to Educational System & World Peace’, ‘Islam & Jihad: Illusion & Reality’, and Rashtra Bigyan Sufalam with Katha o Kahini Prokashani. She is an academic YouTuber (Professors Club) and works with various NGOs. Currently, she is a National Service Scheme Program Officer in her college.
References / Sources:http://dhupgurigirlscollege.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Amina-Parvin.pdf

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. AYSHA MUNIRA RASHEED, Scholar of English & Deputy Director, Centre of Continuing and Adult Education. AMU, Aligarh. Home Town: Kolkata. Click side arrow for profile details.

Aysha Munira Rasheed (PhD) has been teaching Graduate and Post Graduate Courses in English and ELT since November 2000 in the Department of English, Aligarh Muslim University. She has also been guiding PhD theses and MA level dissertations. Her research specialties include Islamic Literature and Culture, Comparative Literature, Gender Studies, and Postcolonial Studies. She has presented research papers and delivered invited plenary talks in several national and international seminars and conferences on related topics in India, USA, UK and Italy.
Dr. Rasheed is associated with some international journals as editor and reviewer. Her essays and reviews have appeared in national and international journals of repute and also as chapters in books. She is associated with the Government of India enterprise, e-pathshala, as a module writer. One of her important publications is "Palestinian Anti-colonialism and Literature” in The Encyclopaedia of Postcolonial Studies (2016) published by Wiley-Blackwell. A recent publication of hers is a research article and translation titled "Poetic Resonance of the Message of Sir Syed and the Aligarh Movement: Translating Syed ki Lauh-e-Turbat and Talba-e-Aligarh ke Naam by Iqbal, and Tarana-e-Aligarh by Majaz" in Oxford of the East: Aligarh Muslim University (1920-2020) Centenary Commemorative Volume, 2020.
She serves with the Centre of Continuing and Adult Education and Extension, AMU, since January 2018 in the capacity of Deputy Director.
References / Sources:https://www.amu.ac.in/faculty/english/aysha-munira-rasheed

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. NAZNIN MULLICK, Professor at Jhargram Government College, Sanskrit Scholar. Howrah District. Click side arrow for profile details.

Professor Naznin Mullick is popularly known as the Muslim Sanskrit teacher. She hails from Andul in Howrah district and has broken stereotypes about Sanskrit, one of the oldest surviving classical languages, perceived to be a Hindu one. Her childhood was fraught with difficulties, as her father left her mother along with four daughters to fend themselves and remarried. Her mother, Shamima, vowed to educate all her daughters and made sure they attended the local government school.
Naznin went to the Khudiram Study Circle for free books and also got a government scholarship for minorities for being a meritorious student. Her initial plan was to pursue a career in Geography, but the high fees for admission made her take up Sanskrit.
After graduation, she got admission in Calcutta University for her Master’s and then decided to study MPhil and later a PhD too. Her MPhil dissertation was on Genesis, a comparative study of the creation of universe in Quran and the Vedas. She is writing her PhD thesis on the creation of the Universe in Sanskrit/Indian literature and Iranian literature.
Currently, she is a professor at Jhargram Government College.
References / Sources:https://www.wbmdfc.org/upload/unsungAchievers/document/Naznin%20Mullick_1595520902.pdf

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. SAJIDA BANO. Professor, Income tax advisor and advocate. Kolkata. Click side arrow for profile details.

Sajida Bano is a retired Professor of The Bhawanipur Education Society College, Kolkata. She was the first woman from her locality – Metiabruz – to go to university. She recalls that till the mid-1960s, there was no high school for girls in the area. When Maulana Azad Memorial Girls High School opened, she became one of its earliest students. Teachers were hard to find and after the first batches graduated, many would come back to coach their juniors. Few of Bano’s schoolmates went to college; she was the only one to complete a master’s degree, then an LLB, and a PhD. She is also an income tax advisor and an advocate.
References / Sources:https://www.telegraphindia.com/opinion/the-stately-pleasure-dome/cid/374392#.Y0HJDJ6QjxU.link

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. SAMINAH KHAN, Co-ordinator of Saifee Golden Jubilee English Public School, Kolkata. She is also a Research Supervisor in Seacom University, Bolpur, Shantiniketan.

Dr. Saminah Khan is the co-ordinator of Saifee Golden Jubilee English Public School, Kolkata. She is also a Research Supervisor in Seacom University, Bolpur, Shantiniketan. She is a teacher educator in Hope Institute of Bengal (B.Ed section) Howrah. She was a guest lecturer in Institute of Education for women, Hastings House. She also was a guest faculty in Aliah University, Departmentof Education. She conducts various workshops, counselling and training sessions for students, teachers and parents for various organisations and educational institutions. She is a resource person and advanced trainer for Oxford University Press, India. She was the ambassador for LXL Ideas Bangalore formerly known as Edumedia. Dr. Khan is the founder vice principal of an English medium school for underprivileged children run by the Calcutta Muslim Orphanage, Kolkata. She started another school for the underprivileged in Akra, Metiabruz, in 1998.
Along with teaching and training, she has published 10 articles and research papers in reputed refereed national and international journals and 24 chapters in books on training and education. She is a participant and has presented various papers in well known national and international seminars in India. She is a regular invitee as a resource person, key note speaker in various national and international seminars, workshops, panel disscussions and conferences. She is a well known jury member for various cultural and literary events in educational institutions in India. She also acts as an Evaluator, Scrutinizer, Head Examiner, Papersetter of various Boards, Councils and Universities. Dr. Khan is a part of the curriculum framing committee of the one year and two year B.Ed course in Aliah University. She has acted as a Counselor for B.Ed (ODL Mode) of Netaji Subhas Open University, and West Bengal Primary Education Board one year and Two Years ODL Course for Government Aided School Teachers.
She is the recipient of the National Award for Excellence in Education by AMP, 2021, ‘Nation Builders Award’ by Rotary Club and Inner Wheel Club of megacity Kolkata, 2015, among many others. She is the president of Lions Club of Kolkata empowering and is the curator of a networking event for women called “AAO GUFTAGU KAREIN”. She has been the coordinator for the British Council International awards in her school since 2016. She has worked as a research associate for various research projects by Wipro, Trier University, Germany, and many other educational organisations. She is also a member of the World Peace movement.
References / Sources:https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-saminah-khan-31032a46

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. SANA RAHMAN. Assistant Professor of Sociology, Presidency University. Kolkata. Click side arrow for profile details.

Born and brought up in Kolkata, Sana Rahman, 32, hails from a family which believes in gender equality and has been a constant source of support and motivation to her. She has pursued her education from reputed institutions like Loreto Day School, Presidency College (University of Calcutta) and University of Hyderabad and has been awarded with certificates of merit and scholarships.
With the belief that a teacher can mould young minds for a better tomorrow she started her professional journey in the field of academics as a teacher in The Levelfield School which is located in rural Bengal but globally known for its innovative teaching methods and unconventional ideas. As soon as she cleared her NET-JRF she got the opportunity to teach in Aliah University, Kolkata. She's been working in the renowned Presidency University as Assistant Professor of Sociology for the past three years and has been simultaneously pursuing her Ph.D. As she has always had an inclination towards women centric issues, she chose to work on women entrepreneurs for her Ph.D research. Sana has also participated in International & National Conferences and presented papers titled as 'The Pitiable Objects: Media's Perception and Projection of Muslim Women in India' and 'The Muslim Women of Urban Bengal: Histories, Memories and Contemporary Experiences'. She is hopeful that her academic research would help the policy makers understand the challenges of women and would also guide NGOs and other bodies to carry out their women centric projects.
In her leisure time Sana loves to paint or indulge in any form of art work. She has also been penning down her sea of imagination in the form of poems and stories which have always found a place in her school and college magazines and online magazines. Through her poems and short stories she intends to contribute towards the making of a more egalitarian society. Sana firmly believes there is no end to achievements as there is no end to dreams. According to her there is no bigger blessing than to have the capability and capacity to contribute towards the world for good.
References / Sources:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sana-rahman-74b616145

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. SHABINA NISHAT OMAR. Officer on Special Duty, Education Directorate, Department of Higher Education, Govt. of West Bengal; Professor and Head, Department of English at Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose College, University of Calcutta, Kolkata.

Prof. Shabina Nishat Omar is currently Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Education Directorate, Department of Higher Education, Govt. of West Bengal and is also Professor and Head, Department of English at Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose College, affiliated to University of Calcutta in Kolkata. She has served previously for 19 years as Professor and Head, Department of English at Milli Al-Ameen College (for girls), affiliated to University of Calcutta, out of which she spent 15 years as Principal. She was previously Teacher-in-Charge of the English Department of Aliah University, where she designed the Draft Syllabi for the undergraduate and postgraduate courses in English 2010.
She is the Honorary President of WICCI (Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry) State Higher Education Council, West Bengal, and an invited member of All Ladies League (ALL), Kolkata Chapter. In 2021 she was felicitated by Daamini SHE Award for her contribution to women’s empowerment through education, in 2019 with the Rotary Award for Teacher Training, in 2018 by at the DISRUPTT Women’s Leadership Award at the Women’s Day Summit in Kolkata, and the prestigious Loreto College Alumni Achievement Award in 2011. In 2003 she was as International Visitor by U.S. Department of State to visit Harvard University and participate in academic programmes as educator and today she remains a member of U.S. Exchange Alumni.
She has been an invited speaker at cum academic expert since 2012 at nearly fifty UGC Faculty Development Programmes conducted by various UGC-HRDCs (University Grant Commission – Human Resource Development Centres) across the country and spoken in Jamia Millia Islamia, Gujarat University, Ranchi University, University of Mysore, Saurashtra University, Sonipat Women’s University, Haryana and Rani Durgawati University, Madhya Pradesh on various aspects of Higher Education, Digital Resources and ICT, Gender Studies and English Language Teaching. She has been an invited delegate from 2014 to 2019 in Higher Education Workshops conducted at National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) under MHRD, Govt. of India. She was an integral part of the first pioneering initiative of MHRD called ARPIT (Annual Refresher Programme in Teaching) for which her MOOCs and Online Lectures were uploaded on SWAYAM as a part of the first ever Faculty Development Programmes implemented through the digital education initiative of Govt. of India.
An alumnus of Loreto College, Kolkata, and University of Calcutta, Kolkata, Prof. Omar has numerous publications in several national and international books and journals. An academician, educational administrator, writer, orator, gender activist, trainer and mentor who considers herself to be a lifelong scholar, Prof. Omar is dedicated and committed to the cause of educational development and empowerment of women.
References / Sources:https://www.linkedin.com/in/shabina-n-omar-5449ab9

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. YASMEEN SHAMSI RIZVI , Management Expert, Asst. Professor at Jamia Millia Islamia Delhi. Hometown: Kolkata. Click side arrow for profile details.

Yasmeen Shamsi Rizvi is an Assistant Professor at Jamia Milia University, Centre for Management Studies. She is also PhD guide for research scholars. Yasmeen Shamsi Rizvi was born and brought up in Kolkata and she did her schooling from Welland Gouldsmith School in the same city and then moved to Aligarh Muslim University to pursue her higher education.
She completed her BSc and MSc degrees in Biochemistry and then pursued MBA in HRM & Marketing from Aligarh Muslim University. She completed her PhD from Amity University in 2010 in Organisation Change Management and HRM.
She has over 20 years’ experience in teaching in MBA and Post Graduate Management programs in several premier institutes.
References / Sources:https://jmi.ac.in/hn/cms/faculty-members/Dr_Yasmeen_Shamsi_Rizvi-3489

Leadership in Administration (in alphabetical order)

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. JAMEEL FATHIMA ZEBA, Indian Administrative Service (2018 Batch). West Bengal Cadre. Sub-Divisional Office, Katwa, Purba Bardhman. Add profile details.

Brief Description 250 words
References/Sources
https://www.indianbureaucracy.com/jameel-fathima-zeba-ias-posted-as-sdo-katwa-purba-bardhaman-wb/

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. SOFIA ABBAS. Deputy Magistrate, Government of West Bengal. Working for the upliftment of Rag-pickers. Coochbehar. Click side arrow for profile details.

Sofia Abbas is a bureaucrat serving the Government of West Bengal as a Deputy Magistrate and Deputy Collector presently posted at Coochbehar district of West Bengal. A post graduate in English Literature, she has always been an outstanding student with a zeal to serve the nation, ergo she cracked the arduous West Bengal Civil Service Examination in her first attempt and secured a rank among the top 30. Before joining the coveted Civil Services, she was engaged as a teacher in a Government School. Owing to her profound passion for teaching she manages to take time out of her busy schedule and give free coaching to struggling IAS/WBCS aspirants belonging to the economically weaker section. As an administrator she is primarily focused on the 3 E's for Women: Education, Emancipation and Empowerment. She is also associated with a few NGOs working for the upliftment of the socially backwards as she herself belongs to a very humble background. As an Executive Magistrate, her job involves the implementation and smooth running of both Central and State Government's developmental and welfare schemes. As a crisis manager, she along with the police, is responsible for mitigating law and order situations arising under her jurisdiction. She is a people's bureaucrat, found on the field either inspecting the quality of developmental work done by Government agencies or interacting with the people about their needs to cater to them in a better and a more effective way.
References / Sources:https://www.indianbureaucracy.com/sofia-abbas-wbcs-appointed-ocw-p-ar-department-wb/

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. SYED TANVEER NASREEN, Director of Indian Cultural Centre in Male, Maldives. Professor of History and Professor-in-Charge, Department of Women’s Studies, University of Burdwan. Click side arrow for profile details.

Dr. Syed Tanveer Nasreen is the Director of Indian Cultural Centre in Male, Maldives. She is a Professor of History and Professor-in-Charge, Department of Women’s Studies, The University of Burdwan, India. She holds a PhD from Jawaharlal Nehru University on the topic: Identity of Muslim Women in India. Prof. Nasreen has authored three books, and edited five more, along with several articles in national and international journals, on gender and the identity of minority women. Her proficiency in Sanskrit has led her to interrogate the position of women in the Dharmasastras, the legal texts of ancient India, and compile a Descriptive Catalogue of Sanskrit-Bangla manuscripts at Sripata Srikhanda, India.
In recent years, Prof. Nasreen has taken up activist roles in addition to policy advocacy for the equal constitutional and human rights of Indian Muslim women, spearheading the movement against triple talaq in India. She is also a trained classical dancer and a theatre enthusiast.
References / Sources:https://www.anu.edu.au/events/why-the-triple-talaq-must-stop-interrogating-a-slice-of-contemporary-history-in-india

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. TARANNUM FIRDOUS, West Bengal Civil Service (2018). First Muslim girl from Siliguri to join the WB Civil Service. Click side arrow for profile details.

Tarannum Firdous is the first ever Muslim girl from Siliguri to clear West Bengal Civil Service, the most prestigious civil service competitive exam in the state, in her maiden attempt.
“I would like to suggest my sisters that come what may, never surrender to the fate and keep working hard to realize your dreams,” her advice to Muslim youth. Tarannum, who had always been a promising student, impressed her teachers with her wit and determination. In no time, her school teachers would quickly identify her potential, and when the time came, they conveyed the same to her father. Luckily for her, Mohammad Ali took note of the news and promptly changed his thought about a girl child pursuing higher education and let her continue with her dreams of further studies.
In February 2016, Tarannum was applying for WBCS in 2017. Despite her past obstacles and continuously trying conditions, she cracked WBCS in 2017 in her maiden attempt, indeed an exceptional feat especially for Muslim girls.
After clearing the prelims she reached the mains, eventually qualifying for an interview on September 4, 2018. At this time, greater difficulties had started setting in as she was 8 months pregnant then. A true inspiration and fighter that Tarannum is, she sailed through this difficult time as well and confidently appeared in the interview.
Finally the biggest day of her life came on September 20, 2018 when all her toils paid off and her name appeared in the selected list of West Bengal Civil Service (Exe) examination.
References / Sources:http://twocircles.net/2020apr09/435863.html

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. ZAINAB SAYEED, Indian Revenue Service (2011). Kolkata. Click side arrow for profile details.

Zainab Sayeed graduated in Mass Communication from Jamia Millia Islamia in 2011. She got an overall rank of 107 in the UPSC examinations in 2014. She also scored 220 marks out of 275 in the interview, which were the highest marks that year. Zainab joined the Indian Revenue Service. Zainab hails from Kolkata and prepared for UPSC from Jamia’s Center for Coaching and Career Planning. Zainab wears the hijab, making her the first hijab-clad civil servant.
References / Sources:https://archive.siasat.com/news/zainab-sayeed-hijabi-upsc-topper-who-scored-highest-marks-interview-798476/

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. ZOYA AHMED. Revenue Service Officer, West Bengal Civil Service. Click side arrow for profile details

Zoya Ahmed is a Revenue Service Officer (WBCS) , working under Land and Land Reforms Department, Government of West Bengal, in North 24 Parganas. Prior to joining the current service, she was employed as an assistant teacher in a primary school under the Department of Education, Government of West Bengal. Simultaneously, she was also pursuing a diploma in Elementary Education (D.El .Ed). She also holds a master’s degree in English from Maulana Azad National Urdu University, after completing her honours degree from Calcutta University.
She has been dedicatedly involved in reaching out to the masses on a personal level, providing social service or distributing relief material. Coming from a traditional background, she would like to motivate and encourage other women to be economically and socially independent.
References / Sources:https://www.facebook.com/zoya.ahmed.756

Impassioned authors and poets ( In alphabetical order)

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. ALMAS KABIR HUSSAIN Author & columnist, Kolkata,West Bengal. Click side arrow for profile details.

Almas Kabir Hussain Author, columnist, TEDx speaker, gender issues, festival curator, ex-trend spotter & market researcher, ex-journalist, reformed blogger. Almas was born into an eccentric 43-member Bengali Muslim joint family. Author of the novels : Daughters of Char Chinar & Venus With A P*nis. She can trace her ancestry to the Nawab of Jalpaiguri on her paternal side and the Nawab of Simri Bakhtiarpur on her maternal side. Hussain is the fifth daughter in a close-knit nuclear family of five girls headed by her feminist Abbu, G. Kabir.
She studied at Loreto House and Loreto College, Kolkata and graduated with a BA (English Honours). Widely travelled, she is fascinated by world literature. She read Creative Writing at Oxford University. For most of her professional life, Hussain worked as an advertising Copy Writer and Graphic Designer. She has been the proprietor of two advertising agencies, Via and Diva. Mesmerised by stories since childhood, she is a voracious reader and typically watches at least one film a day. Due to the nature of her husband’s transferable job, Hussain has lived in many cities all over the world including Kochi, Bangalore, Jamshedpur, Dhaka, London, Chennai and Teheran, in roughly that order.
References / Sources:https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/almashussainhttps://www.leadstartcorp.com/authors/almas-hussain/

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. MOUMITA ALAM. Poet, Author of "The Musings of the Dark". Jalpaiguri, West Bengal. Click side arrow for profile details.

Moumita Alam is a poet, teacher and a contributory writer of People's Review. She is the author of ‘The Musings of the Dark’. Her poems have been published in Saraanga, The Bibliophilia Cafe, The Freedom Review, Litterateur RW, etc., and her articles are regularly published in People's Review and are appreciated by many. In her own words, she belongs to the grassroots, the real India. She is non-conformist and vocal about the common people – the oppressed class. Her poems have been talking about current events since 2019, covering subjects like capitalism and fascism. They are echoes of the pains of people who are suffering, dying and being dehumanised.
References / Sources:https://peoplesreview.in/author/moumitaa/

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. NUZAR MANNAN. Author . Kolkata, West Bengal. Click side arrow for profile details.

Author or AN ACCIDENTAL BLOODLINE and six and a half steps: a collection of six short stories
References / Sources:https://www.amazon.com/six-half-steps-collection-stories-ebook/dp/B07QFN4KNM

RBTC West Bengal Nominee SAHANA AHMED. Novelist, Short Story Writer, poet, India Country Chair – World Peace, G100 Club. Gurugram, Haryana. Hometown: Bardhaman, West Bengal

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. SHAHNAZ NABI. Poet, Critic, Playright. Kolkata. Click side arrow for profile details.

Shahnaz Nabi is an Indian writer, poet, playwright and critic. She was born in Kolkata, West Bengal .She completed her post-graduate studies in Urdu from Calcutta University. She received her Ph.D degree in 1989. The title of her thesis was “The Development of Urdu Criticism after 1960.”
Shahnaz started writing poems when she was hardly thirteen. Her first poem published ina Urdu magazine in 1974. She has written short stories and dramas too. Her mother tongue is Urdu but she is well-versed in English, Bengali and Hindi. She has translated many Urdu short stories and poems into Bengali. She translated “Ghaddar”, a Urdu novel by Krishan Chandar into Bengali. She has written extensively for children. Her social and political plays have been staged throughout West Bengal.
She is a political activist . She was an elected Representative from 2k-2005 on a CPI(M) ticket and acted as a Accounts Committee Chair-person in Calcuuta Municipal Corporation.At present she is teaching in the department of Urdu, University of Calcutta.She is the Vice-Chairman of West Bengal Urdu Academy.
Books
. Bedi – ek Jaiza (1985 ), Bachchon Ke Dramay (1989 ), Bhigi Ruton Ki Katha (1990) , Bish-Shas Ghatak (1992), Mujhe Mat Chhuo (1993) , Lisannyat aur Daccani Adabiyat (1993), Urdu Drama, Agha Hashr aur Saide-Hawas (1998),Ghalib aur Kalkatta (1999), Agle Padao say Pehle (2001), Fort William College Aur Husn-e-Ikhtelat (2003) , Mansurat-e-Bangala , Vol-I, Part-I Dastan/Qissa (2006).
Forthcoming books:
1. Feminism : Tarikh –o-Tanqid2. Pas-e-Diwar-e Girya (poetic collection)3. Mansurat-e-Bangala ,Vol-I, Part-II, Akhlaqiat-o-Mazhabyaat.
Dramas written & Staged:
1. Hawala Jatra : On Scams & other Political and Social evils.40 Shows- Street Corner2. Aatma Ki Pukaar : On Land Reforms -40 Shows- Street Corner3. SholoN meiN Ghira Bachpan : On Child labour- 20 shows4. Hum Aik HaiN : On Communal Violence in Gujrat (50 Shows)-both hall & street corner5. Feel Good : On wrong notion of development(2003-04),60 Shows . street corner.6. Laut Ke Buddhu Ghar Ko Aaye : A drama favoring Vernacular schools.Staged. both hall & street corner7. Kahe Ko Biyahi Bides : A drama on domestic violence. Both hall &Street Corner.8. Jungle Mein School : A drama on Adult Education. Played byChildren. 20 shows

References / Sources:https://www.rekhta.org/poets/shahnaz-nabi/profilehttp://shahnaznabi.blogspot.com/

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. SUFIA KHATOON, multi-lingual performance poet, artist, literary translator. Co-Founder of Rhythm Divine Poets Community Kolkata. Recipient Kavi Salam Award 2018. Click side arrow for profile details.

Receiver of The Kavi Salam Award 2018, Sufia Khatoon is a multi-lingual performance poet, artist, literary translator and facilitator. She is the Co-Founder of Rhythm Divine Poets Community Kolkata and the Editor of EKL Review. She has authored “Death in the Holy Month” shortlisted for Yuva Puraskar by Sahitya Akademi 2020 and Ger-mi-na-tion from The Red River publication.
She has presented her poems in The Festival of Letters, Yuva Sahiti Delhi and Avishkar Young Writers Festival Dibrugarh 2019 by Sahitya Akademi, Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival 2019-20 and Ethos Literary Festival Kolkata 2018-19 respectively. She has also received the Amio Santa Award 2017 for her social efforts.
Her works have appeared in Indian Literature Journal, Aainanagar Journal, Bengaluru Review, The Alipore Post, Mad Swirl, Indian Periodical, TMYS Review, Narrow Road Review, Poetry Dialogue, New Indian Express, The Yearbook of Indian Poetry in English 20-21, Kolkata Cadence anthology 21, Shape of a Poem anthology 21, Poetry of Dissent anthology 21, The Best of Mad Swirl 2020 anthology, 100 Poems Are Not Enough anthology by Pan MacMillan India and Walking Bookfairs 18 and forthcoming anthologies like North Indian Language anthology by Sahitya Akademi, etc.
Her short story 'Papayas of Gobra' was longlisted for Bengaluru Review Short Story contest 2020. Her stories have been featured in Tell me your story, Asateer anthology, 17 women and their stories, TMYS Review,etc.
She has worked on a poetry installation called 300 Peace Poetry Prayer Flag installation which has been widely appreciated; she aims to collect more poems from poets from all over the world and build the installation throughout her life.
References / Sources:https://www.newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/books/2019/aug/20/when-agony-meets-fragility-2021277.amphttps://madswirl.com/gallery/khatoon_sufia/

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. PINKY LILANI. Author, Motivational Speaker, Food Expert. Kolkata. Click side arrow for profile details.

Pinky Lilani is an author, motivational speaker, food expert, and women’s advocate. Born Nusrat Mehboob Lilani, she is the founder and chair of several awards recognising influential women and leaders, including the annual Women of the Future Awards and the Asian Women of Achievement Awards. She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2007 for services to charity and as Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2015 for services to women in business.
Pinky was born in Calcutta and studied at Loreto House. In 1974, she graduated from Calcutta University with an Honours degree in Education and English. She continued her studies, gaining a post graduate diploma in Social Communication Medias from the University of Bombay in 1976. In 1978, she moved to the UK where she completed a diploma in Management Studies at the Council for National Academic Awards and a Diploma in Marketing at The Institute of Marketing in 1988. A development consultant with major food companies in Europe, she is the author of two cookbooks, Spice Magic: An Indian Culinary Adventure (2001) and Coriander Makes the Difference (2009).
Pinky was listed on the BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour Power List of 100 most powerful women in the UK in 2013. In 2014, she was named as one of GQ and Editorial Intelligence's 100 most connected women, and she was commissioned as a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London. In 2009, she was named one of the 30 most powerful Muslim women in Britain by The Times and Emel magazine.
References / Sources:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinky_Lilani

Taking entrepreneurship forward ( In alphabetical order)

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. MUSREFA HOSSAIN. Founder-Member and CEO of GD Hospital & Diabetes Institute, Kolkata. Click side arrow for profile details.

Musrefa Hossain is the Founder-Member and CEO of GD Hospital & Diabetes Institute, Kolkata, one of the premier hospitals in the city for diabetic treatment.
Musrefa Hossain completed her schooling from La Martiniere, Kolkata, in 2005 and then went abroad to study Biomaterial Science and Tissue Engineering from University of Sheffield and Bioscience Enterprise from University of Cambridge.
She came back to Kolkata and went ahead with her dream project of establishing GD Hospital & Diabetes Institute, a unit of Pataka Industries. Her mantra for success has been delivering quality healthcare to people from every walk of life.
References / Sources:http://gddihealthcare.com/ceo

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. NARJIS FATIMA. Graphic designer, Founder of Rusari, an apparel brand specialising in hijabs and headscarves. Kolkata. West Bengal. Click side arrow for profile details.

Narjis Fatema is a graphic designer and the founder of Rusari, an apparel brand specialising in hijabs and headscarves. Her fashion journey started with a Diploma in Fashion Design from INIFD Kolkata and then she went on to do her master’s in Fashion Design from INIFD Bangalore. Working with various fashion brands and acquiring experience in Marketing Management, E-commerce Optimization, Business Planning, Graphic Designing, Fashion Illustration, and Computer-Aided Design (CAD), finally arriving at starting Rusari in 2018, previously known as Rusari by Narjis. An online search for everyday college hijab and clothing options led her to realise that there is a gap in the market when it comes to a balance between trending fashion, comfort, and modesty. She was aided in her entrepreneurial journey by Udhyam Foundation.
Rusari makes a conscious effort to work ethically with manufacturers and suppliers from start to finish, wherein everyone is treated and paid fairly. The packaging is biodegradable and recyclable, keeping in mind the importance of the environment during the production processes.
Rusari also recognizes the importance of community outreach and conducts support programs such as community development and women support programs.
References / Sources:https://rusari.in/pages/our-story-1

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. RUKHSHI KADIRI ELIAS. Founder of Taajira, an e-platform for women entrepreneurs. Kolkata. Click side arrow for profile details.

Rukhshi Kadiri Elias, born and brought up in Kolkata, is the founder of Taajira, an e-platform for women entrepreneurs. It was founded in March 2019 with an idea of "a world of woman homepreneurs".
Taajira is now a platform for more than 20,000 women to showcase their professional expertise. It has fast become one of the favourite virtual destinations for home-made cuisines, confectionery, clothes, lingerie, night wear, baby wear, potted plants, organic beauty products, decorative home items, cosmetics, beauty and health services, coaching, and social work.
What began initially as a means of encouragement and promotion through small scale exhibitions mainly for Muslim homepreneurs has now become an inclusive network for woman from all communities and has spread its wings well beyond Kolkata to Delhi to an international client base ranging from KSA to USA.
References / Sources:https://www.awazthevoice.in/women-news/muslim-housewives-turn-homepreneurs-using-social-network-7089.html

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. RUSHDA HUMAIRA. Founder of RUSHK, Artisanal Chocolates. Howrah. West Bengal. Click side arrow for profile details.

Rushdah Humaira is the Founder of RUSHK, the first and only artisanal, bean-to-bar organic chocolate brand in West Bengal. She is an alumna of The Bhawanipur Gujarati Education Society College. Resolved to give people a taste of real chocolate, Rushdah sources her beans directly from Idukki in Kerala. Mindful of sustainability and eco-friendly practices, the young chocolate-maker has also been conscious about her packaging from the very beginning. The lockdown simply pushed her further to start the brand with the right intention and at the right time. “The journey has been exciting so far, though the struggles are many because certain leading brands are so well-entrenched in Indian minds that they continue to dominate their palates. Also, we are conditioned to believe and expect chocolates to be sweet in taste. But it feels good to see the perception changing. However, we still have a long way to go, though the demand for handcrafted chocolates is increasing,” says Rushdah, whose brand’s bestsellers include 70 and 77 per cent classic cocoa.
References / Sources:https://www.indulgexpress.com/food/2021/dec/24/rushdah-humaira-is-on-a-dark-and-delicious-mission-with-rushk-37983.html

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. SHAGUFTA HANAPHIE. Founder-Director of SHE, an award-winning PR & Event Management group. Kolkata Click side arrow for profile details.

Shagufta Hanaphie, the Founder-Director of SHE (Shagufta Hanaphie Events), is an award-winning PR & Event Management consultant. She was educated at Rani Birla Girls’ College, Kolkata, and Gossner College Ranchi.
In 2020 Shagufta launched SHE (Shagufta Hanaphie Events), emerging as a prominent Personal Branding & Brand Awareness expert in West Bengal. She runs the NGO ‘Best Friendz Society’ (registered under sections 12A and 80G), working toward sustainable social change through education for children and women. She is also the editor of ‘BENGAL 21’, a book about unsung Heroes from Bengal.
Shagufta has received many accolades and recognitions for her work, including Women Economic Forum Award 2018 for PR & Events, Best PR Persona Award 2019 at Press Club, Best Social Worker 2020 from News Mania, and Iron Lady Award 2021.
References / Sources:https://www.linkedin.com/in/shagufta-hanaphie-25651825/

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. SHAMIMA BEGUM. Potato Farmer. Hooghly. West Bengal. Click side arrow for profile details.

Shamima Begum, hailing from Molaypur village in Hooghly, is a potato farmer empowered by PepsiCo’s and USAID’s Sustainable Farming Program. In 2019, PepsiCo and the US Agency for International Development approached her Self-Help Group ‘Eid Mubarak’, of which she is the Group Leader, to enrol with the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) initiative which empowers women in agriculture and helps build a more sustainable food system.
Through the training programme, she learned end-to-end cropping in the fields and now aids other women farmers through Eid Mubarak. Shamima, who was a quiet homemaker, is now an inspirational agent of change for many other women farmers who too want to undergo a transformative journey such as hers.
References / Sources:https://www.femina.in/trending/achievers/shamima-begum-from-homemaker-to-potato-farmer-community-leader-209427.html

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. UZMA FIROZ, Owner of Style Addict, Jewelry Brand. Kolkata Click side arrow for profile details.

Uzma M Firoz is the owner of Style Addict, a jewellery brand that retails semi-precious jewellery such as kundan, polki, etc. Uzma started Style Addict with an exhibition in 2015 and is a part of many popular events in Kolkata, including fashion shows and carnivals. The brand has been featured by media outlets such as The Indian Express, The Telegraph, Akhbar-e-Mashriq, Times of India and Sanmarg, and counts many Bengali film stars as clients. It has a sizeable following on social media, with more than 30,000 followers on Instagram.
Uzma is an alumna of Bhawanipur Gujarati Education Society College.
References / Sources:https://www.instagram.com/style_addict_jewellery/

Leading with Legal Acumen ( In alphabetical order)

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. FARAH NAAZ, Lawyer & Writer.Paschim Burdwan, West Bengal. Click side arrow for profile details.

Farah Naaz is a lawyer and writer. From working in the television industry, then establishing her own firm of advocates in Delhi, to writing in national newspapers and the international press, she is a goal-shifter. In her late forties, she aspires to write a great Indian novel. From advocating resolutions in domestic violence cases to socio political events that affect the common man, Farah has done this all. Her writings reflect on what it means to live through turbulent times like these and she has by-lines in Livewire. Her stories reflect on the various changes that have shaped India during the last 30 years. She left her home at the age of 16 in pursuit of education and she is glad to report that the process of acquiring knowledge is still on. She is an alumna of Aligarh Muslim University and Delhi University. She is the first in her family to be a lawyer practising in Delhi High Court. She hopes to be an example for all the girls that leave their hometown to carve a niche somewhere else.
References / Sources:https://livewire.thewire.in/author/farah-naaz/

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. FATEMA NISSA. Law Officer, WB Legal Service. Currently posted at the Board of Madrasa Education. Kolkata, West Bengal. Click side arrow for profile details.

Fatema Nissa is a Law Officer working with the West Bengal Board of Madrasah Education, a gazetted post under the Government of West Bengal. She holds a master’s degree in Law and started her career as an advocate at the High Court Calcutta.
Fatema was born and raised in Kolkata by a single mother in a middle-class family of first generation learners. Her parents’ highest educational qualification was std. 10 and education, primarily earned through scholarships, has helped her propel ahead in life.
She was married off right after college conforming to societal norms, but destiny clearly had something else in store for her. Despite of being academically qualified to be an Advocate, she was a victim of domestic violence. After she gave birth to her daughter she set her foot on a new road. She started earning whatever she could in order to support herself and her daughter since she was abandoned by her husband and her in-laws. A failed marriage taught her that failure is not an identity but only an episode in life.
After successful stints at High Court Calcutta as well as at Supreme Court, she cleared the West Bengal Legal Service Exam conducted by WB Public Service Commission, and is now a Law Officer for the Government of West Bengal as a Group A Gazetted Officer.
References / Sources:https://www.facebook.com/nissa.fatema

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. HERA NAFIS. Advocate, Bar Council of West Bengal. Founder HSN & Associates, Kolkata. West Bengal. Click side arrow for profile details.

Hera Nafis, an advocate enrolled with the Bar Council of West Bengal, is the founder of the law firm HSN & Associates, representing formidable women in litigation and advocating and dedicatedly working towards bridging access to justice for the unrepresented and oppressed. She completed her master's in law from Jindal Global Law School.
Hera has extensively advised and represented multinational corporations, HNIs, political parties and public sector undertakings before various High Courts and tribunals in India. Her core areas of practice includes criminal litigation, real estate, matrimonial disputes and banking & finance. She devotes a significant amount of her time and resources towards pro bono cases.
In addition to her core areas of practice, Hera has also published several articles and has taken part in many conferences. She has also been felicitated for her outstanding work in social litigation.
References / Sources:https://www.linkedin.com/in/hera-nafis-51406515b

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. SHARIFA CHOWDHURY. Lawyer with Supreme Court, Delhi High Court. Home Town: Malda, West Bengal. Click side arrow for profile details.

Sharifa Chowdhury belongs to the city of Malda Town in West Bengal. She did her schooling from Dow Hill School in Kurseong and then moved to Kolkata for higher studies. She completed her graduation in Political Science from Rani Birla College and then got her LLB degree from Calcutta University, Hazra Campus.
Sharifa is a result-driven legal professional with over 16 years of experience in handling cases related to general litigation, real estate, legal advisory, guarantees, indemnities, joint venture, sale, lease or mortgage agreement.
Sharifa has experience in handling litigation in the honourable Supreme Court as well as Delhi High Court, District and Sessions Court in NCT of Delhi and NCR and other Sessions Courts.
References / Sources:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarifac

Professionals in Medicine & STEM (In alphabetical order)

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. HENA NAFIS. Nutritionist and Wellness Consultant, Kolkata. West Bengal. Click side arrow for profile details.

Hena Nafis is one of India’s leading nutrition and wellness consultant. Her expertise in nutrigenomics, weight loss, and lifestyle management has benefited 25,000+ people globally. As a t2 – The Telegraph – columnist for 15+ years, she is dedicated to educating people about different nutritional requirements and the advantages of long-term healthy habits.
She has made a mark in the field of nutrition and lifestyle since 2004. She provides practical, personalised and smart solutions helping people navigate their unique lifestyle demands and still achieve good health. She firmly believes that you don’t have to give up on life to be healthy. She successfully runs a health food cafe ‘Eat Good Food’ in Kolkata.
References / Sources:www.henanafis.com

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. MADIHA AHMED. Socio-cognitive development specialist, edupreneur, author. North 24 Parganas. West Bengal. Click side arrow for profile details.

Madiha Ahmed is a socio-cognitive development specialist, edupreneur, author, and a neuroscience and biohacking enthusiast. She is a TEDx Speaker and Dell Aarambh Consultant as well. Madiha is the founder of RealpacTech Impact Events and Experiences, RealpacTech Development Solutions, RealpacTech Academy, MA Cares, Qrater Foundation and Indian Horsewoman.
She is an ex-student of Masonic Montessori, The Park English School, Loreto Dharamtala, Loreto House, Shri Shikshayatan College (under Calcutta University), and Modern Academy of Continuing Education. She considers herself a dreamer and a doer, a lifelong learner, and a global citizen who loves “to connect people and ideas for a peaceful world”.
Madiha works with government, corporate and social sectors across several domains and age groups, starting from pre-primary kids to high school to university students, educators, companies and parents. She believes working deeply with these three powerful forces – parents, educators and students – along with the government and corporate sectors would lead to a better India.
References / Sources:https://www.ted.com/talks/madiha_ahmed_glimpse_into_the_mind_of_a_woman_who_said_yes

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. NAZMA PARVEEN. Doctor & Political Opinion Writer, Murshidabad. Click side arrow for profile details.

Dr Nazma Parveen is a Medical Doctor from Murshidabad, and a political opinion writer. She was born in Birbhum, West Bengal, but completed her education from various places in India, as her father was a Doctor in the Armed Forces. She did her MBBS from Government medical college Latur, after which she did her fellowship in Clinical Cardiology from Apollo Kolkata. She has been working in various Army organizations as a medical officer, as her husband is also in Army. She has a keen interest in politics and has been writing on various socio-political issues for the past 5 years. Her opinion pieces have appeared in various reputed platforms like The Hindu, The News Minute, National Herald, etc. Along with her profession, she is associated with an NGO, Fatima Old Age Home, which takes care of abandoned old people, and works for the education and upliftment of the underprivileged. Her aim is to empower the minority community, especially women, so that they can be an important part of nation building. She is currently employed with Indiabulls Pharmaceuticals.
References / Sources:https://muckrack.com/nazma-parveen/articles

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. UZMA NAFIS, MD. Critical Care Medicine. Kolkata. West Bengal. Click side arrow for profile details.

Dr. Uzma Nafis is a medical practitioner since 2006 and has been diligently serving the people of West Bengal as well India. She completed her MD in Anesthesia from KPC Medical College.
She works in the Intensive Therapeutic Unit and Critical Care Unit of Belle Vue Clinic and other hospitals and nursing homes. She fearlessly served the people of West Bengal during the COVID-19 pandemic and treated over 1000 patients. She is diligent and empathetic towards her patients.
References / Sources:https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-uzma-nafis-56b485109

Making an Impact through Media ( In alphabetical order)

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. AFREEN HAQUE , Author & Assignment Editor, Akbar-e-Mashriq. Click side arrow for profile details.

Aafreen Haque is an Assignment Editor at Akhbar-e-Mashriq, the largest Urdu daily newspaper published in Kolkata, with a presence in Delhi, Ranchi, Lucknow, Bhopal, Asansol, Siliguri, and Srinagar. She works for Mashriq News, a YouTube channel, and a Hindi magazine published from Dehradun, Chanakya Mantra, where she covers all beats, viz. politics, crime, women & children, and films. She is also the Director of Mashriq Art Foundation.
Aafreen is the author of two Urdu books, ‘Parwarish’ and ‘Dadi Amma ke Nuskhe’. She has been a guest on talk-shows in All India Radio and Doordarshan.
References / Sources:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5OjE_owJMk

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. BUSHRA HAMID, a.k.a. Silvy, is a professional emcee, TV host, RJ, talk show host, voice over artist, orator and content creator. Kolkata. Click side arrow for profile details.

Emcee Silvy is an awarded and highly reputed artist, anchor, RJ, TV host, voice over artist and professional emcee for more than 18years. With more than 3500 shows globally comprising of corporate events, concerts, weddings, Sangeet, press conferences, launch, RnR, Funtakshari, team building sessions, corporate cricket tournaments, state and central government events etc., she has had a long stint with televised media where she started working as a TV show host along with pursuing her post graduation and gave in her papers as a creative head of the channel, Taaza tv, in 2016. Her stint at Power FM included hosting 2 prime time shows, morning and drive sessions for a couple of years.
Bushra is well known for her humour and energy, doubled with grace and class with which sheconducts all her events, tv shows and radio sessions. She has also lent her voice for multiple non fiction and fiction shows on various channels, TV shows and TVCs in multiple languages.
References / Sources:https://www.linkedin.com/in/emcee-silvy-hamid-97571010a

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. GHAZALA YASMIN, Head, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Aliah University. Documentary filmmaker on issues of gender and minority representation. Click side arrow for profile details.

Ghazala Yasmin is the Head, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Aliah University. She leads independent research and policy discussions towards future academic training in Gender and Media Studies.
Impaneled with the Ministry of Information and Cultural Affairs, She makes documentaries on issues of gender and minority representations. A presiding thematic of her filmic work has been problematising notions of self and the other, of normality and deviance, of the local and the global, through diverse narratives.
Ghazala is an alumna of International Visitors Leadership Program on Education and Activism for Young Women 2017- sponsored by the U.S Department of State, involving women leaders from 24 countries. She is already working with fellow IVLP Alumni on how to expand the impact of her work, and mentor younger girls to create a gender innovation lab.
An official delegate to a professional leadership program to the People's Republic of China entitled Women Change-makers: Harboring Hope, Fostering Growth 2019, she focused on women empowerment, poverty alleviation, educational and economic opportunities. The Delegation exchanged notes with Women Leaders, Provincial Heads, Social Entrepreneurs, Academicians, and Scientists from various ethnic minorities in China.
Ghazala is a Google News Network certified trainer on the global Mis/dis-information scenario and she has trained more than 2000 journalists, media professionals and students to verify and debunk fake news, access data visualization tools and create content online. She is a Member of the Curriculum Advisory Board for the BBC Young Reporter global project to impart media literacy at the school level.
She is a National Resource Person for conducting online lecture videos for the Ministry of Human Resource Development University Grants Commission for College and University Faculty on Gender and Representation in Media at UGC HRDC Jamia Millia Islamia, UGC-HRDC BPS Women’s University, Sonepat, SSGT University, Gurugram and various others.
A media educator, filmmaker, policy analyst, feminist activist and social innovator, her work incorporates gender and minority empowerment through inclusive mainstream education, skilling and capacity building. A regular panelist and political commentator for international level debates on television, she addresses gender inequality and ally with progressive movements to build on a transformative feminist leadership.
References / Sources:https://aliah.ac.in/department/people-details.php?key=journalism-and-mass-communication&id=24

RBTC West Bengal Nominee 2021. SHABINA AKHTAR, Assistant Editor at The Telegraph Online, Kolkata, West Bengal. Updated profile details

An alumna of the prestigious International Visitors Leadership Programme by the US government for journalism, I have over 10 years of experience in providing 360 degree expertise in newsroom management. I specialise in editing, page making, ideating, news placement, writing excellent news articles, features and interviewing Bollywood celebrities. Having been trained under some of the best editors of India, I have developed excellent news sense and editing skills. However, my strength lies in features, lifestyle and entertainment sector. I have also experience of having headed the DNA After Hrs, Jaipur. It is a daily city edition, which is an individual pullout that is all about lifestyle, entertainment and trends. Apart from bringing out the daily pullout I have worked closely with my team to bring out special editions and guided my juniors to come up with some excellent feature ideas. Currently, I am working as the Indian correspondent for The World Economic Forum.
Sources/References
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shabina-akhtar-4313626/?originalSubdomain=in

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. SYEDA SAADIA AZIM. Writer, former television reporter and ex-Policy and Culture Advisor, US Consulate, Kolkata. Click side arrow for profile details.

Syeda Saadia Azim worked as Policy and Culture Advisor at the U.S. Consulate in Kolkata. A former mainstream television reporter, her experiences span over two decades of field work in the remotest parts of east India.
A native of Bihar, with a Master’s degree in Botany, Saadia extensively writes fiction and non-fiction for several publications such as the Equator Line, First Post, etc. An avid reader holding professional degrees from the Chicago Booth School of Business and Foreign Service Institute - Virginia, U.S., she chooses to write about inequality, faith, and resilience.
She lives in Kolkata with her mixed family of Hindus and Muslims and is proud to showcase the diverse social fabric at home and around. Her first publication, "A Narrow Lane and Other Stories" is a collection of short fiction highlighting the lives of the ordinary in challenging times in the world's largest democracy India. Currently she is working on her debut novel on contemporary India.
References / Sources:https://www.linkedin.com/in/saadiaazim/

Creative contributors to the Arts ( In alphabetical order)

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. ALIMA KHATUN, Master Artisan. Shilp Guru Awardee. Bibhum.West Bengal. Click side arrow for full profile.

Master artisan Alima Khatun received the Shilp Guru honour in 2011. She was the first national awardee for the craft of Nakshi Kantha. She has been doing Nakshi Kantha embroidery at home since the age of 14, drawing inspiration from Kala Bhavan, the Arts department at Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan. She is the recipient of many awards at the state and district levels. She has won the National Award for excellence in Kantha work in 1988.
Alima Khatun trains about two thousand girls under a government scheme. Her work is innovative and outstanding in terms of craftsmanship.
References / Sources:http://www.daricha.org/artists_details.aspx?ArtistID=69AWNBP3KIAT

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. FARHA KHATUN. Editor & Film Maker Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal. Click side arrow for full profile.

Farha Khatun is an editor and filmmaker known for directing the documentary ‘Holy Rights’ which won the Best Film on Social Issues award at the 67th National Film Awards in April 2018. She also co-directed the documentary ‘I am Bonnie’ which also won the Best Film on Social Issues award at the 65th National Film Awards. Her other accolades include a Special Jury Mention at Mumbai International Film Festival in February 2018 and the Best Documentary award at Kolkata International Film Festival in November 2016.
Farha is an alumna of Vidyasagar University and Roopkala Kendro and works with the Film Division of India. Her films have been screened at the IAWRT Asian Women’s Film Festival – Delhi, the Jogja Netpac Asian Film Festival – Indonesia, IFFI – Goa, Dharamshala International Film Festival, HOF International Film Festival – Germany, etc. among others.
References / Sources:https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/filmmaker-farha-khatuns-documentary-film-holy-rights-discusses-the-topic-of-triple-talaq-and-woman-quasis/article34289636.ece

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. LOVELY BIBI. Naqshi Kantha Artisan. Birbhum. West Bengal. Click side arrow for full profile.

Nakshi Kantha artisan Lovely Bibi was a child bride. Her husband had a government job until he was diagnosed with mental illness and was laid off. Eventually his pension stopped and left the family in utter peril. Since her husband, who was the only earning member of the family, was incapacitated, the responsibility of feeding the family of five fell upon Lovely.
Once in distress, Lovely found solace and a means of earning money in her artistic skills. Although minimally educated, she knew the nuances of Kantha weaving since the age of 15. To further hone her abilities, she joined and completed the Rural Craft Hub (RCH) programme run by Banglanatak dot com, a not-for-profit organisation in Kolkata. That done, she participated in the Diageo-British Council Young Women Social Entrepreneurship Development Programme in Kolkata in 2014.
Once armed with new and modern design techniques and with the knowledge of the market, Lovely embarked on her journey as an entrepreneur. Today she has created business linkages with many small shops in Birbhum as well as in Kolkata. She travels across India to showcase her products at exhibitions.
References / Sources:https://yourstory.com/2015/08/lovely-bibi/amp

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. NAFISA ALI. Actor, Politician, Social Activist. Kolkata. West Bengal. Click side arrow for full profile.

Nafisa Ali is an actress, politician, and social activist. She has accomplishments in several fields. She was the national swimming champion from 1972 to 1974. In 1976, she won the Femina Miss India title, represented India at the Miss International contest, and was declared the second runner-up. She was also a jockey at the Calcutta Gymkhana in 1979.
She has acted in several Bollywood films, the notable ones being Junoon (1978), Major Saab (1998), and Life in a... Metro (2007). In September 2005, she was appointed the chairperson of Children's Film Society of India (CFSI).
Nafisa Ali contested the 2004 Lok Sabha elections unsuccessfully from South Kolkata. On 5 April 2009, she contested the Lok Sabha election from Lucknow on a Samajwadi Party ticket. She then re-joined the Indian National Congress party in November 2009. In October 2021, she joined the All India Trinamool Congress ahead of the 2022 Goa Legislative Assembly elections.
Nafisa is associated with Action India, an organisation working to spread AIDS awareness.
References / Sources:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nafisa_Ali

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. MIA MAELZER, Award winning Actor. Kolkata. West Bengal. Click side arrow for full profile.

Mia Maelzer is an award-winning actor best known for her leading role in The Field, a short film by Sandhya Suri that is in The Criterion Collection now. The film won The Best International Short Film Award at Toronto International Film Festival 2018 and had its first premiere at the Telluride Film Festival. This film was also nominated at the prestigious BAFTA 2019 followed by the Indian Film Festival Los Angeles, where it won the grand jury award 2019.
Mia graduated from the National School of Drama (NSD) in 2016. She is primarily trained in American acting by David Lee Strasberg (New York), European Acting by Ariane Mnouchkine (Paris), Koodiyattam (Ancient Eastern Acting Method) by G. Venugopalan (India), Classical Indian Acting by Rita Ganguly (India), along with many other forms across the world.
The UNESCO-recognised actress has been noted for her contributions to world cinema. In addition to The Field, she was seen in Beyond the Clouds by Majid Majidi, in which she not only played a role, but also worked as the Acting Coach and Casting Assistant for the Academy Award winning Iranian Director.
The other important films in her credits are Tikli, Laxmi Bomb, and Ek Betukey Aadmi Ki Afra Raatein. She has been nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role at various Film Festivals in France and the UK. Her most popular roles, before she won a national scholarship, were in two commercial films, Shaadi Ke Side Effects (Hindi) and Target Kolkata (Bengali).

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. NUSRAT JAHAN, Actor in Bengali Cinema, Elected Member of Parliament from Basirhat Consituency in 2019. West Bengal.

Nusrat Jahan (born 8 January 1990) is an Indian actress who predominantly works in Bengali cinema. She joined active politics in 2019 and elected as Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha from Basirhat constituency as a Trinamool Congress candidate.
Jahan was born in a Bengali Muslim family in Calcutta (now Kolkata), West Bengal, India to Muhammed Shah Jahan and Sushma Khatun on 8 January 1990. She completed her schooling from Our Lady Queen of the Missions School, Kolkata and then went to college in Bhawanipur College, Kolkata graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree.
References/Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nusrat_Jahan

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. RAFA YAESMIN, SaReGaMaPa Little Champs 2022 Child Singing Sensation, Malda, West Bengal.

SaReGaMaPa Little Champs 2022 contestant Rafa Yeasmin who impressed judges, juries on the show is a 13 years old singer from Malda, West Bengal. She is learning music when she was 3 years old. Rafa Yeasmin surprised judges Anu Malik, Shankar Mahadevan and Neeti Mohan by her Yodeling Skills and Senorita Performance on SaReGaMaPa Little Champs 2022 zee tv singing reality show. She Sung it really well considering her Spanish, Hindi Singing, High and Low Octane tones. Shankar Mahadevan Who composed Senorita Song praised Rafa Yeasmin and told, one of the finest Senorita performance i have ever seen till date. Shankar ji further praises Rafa’s Operatic high notes in the beginning of her performance.
This is not the first time Rafa Yeasmin participated in any singing reality show. Before SaReGaMaPa Little champs, Rafa Appeared as a contestant on Super Singer Junior on Star Jalsha (2019), Taare Zameen Par on Star Plus (2020). Jonita Gandhi, Tony Kakkar and Shankar Mahadevan were the Judges on Taare Zameen Par star plus show. This is second time Rafa Yeasmin is performing in front of Shankar Mahadevan in a judges panel of saregamapa little champs 2022 zee tv singing show.
References / Sources:https://www.bollywoodfarm.com/rafa-yeasmin-wiki-bio-age-family-education/Instagram: @rafayeasmin (2.5K Followers) As of October 2022YouTube: Rafa Yeasmin (2.43K subscribers) As of October 2022Facebook: Rafa Yeasmin (7.6K Followers) As of October 2022

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. ROSHNI ALI, Film Maker and Activist. Kolkata. Click side arrow for profile details.

Roshni Ali is a filmmaker and activist. Born in 1991, in Kolkata, Roshni graduated from St. Xavier's in Mass Communication. She started her career as a reporter in The Telegraph and created Cultbuzz, a group of artists and entrepreneurs. Roshni loves travelling and began showing interest in film-making during her graduation days at St Xavier's. She was also a part of a Theatre group 'Lok'.
Roshni shot to fame due to her activism over climate change. She filed a PIL in Calcutta High Court for banning of all fire crackers during Diwali. The high court ruled in favour of her stance only to be overturned by the Supreme Court. But she seems relentless when it comes to her fight for the environment. She has begun activism against a hydro power project in Dibang valley, Arunachal Pradesh and uranium mining at the Amrabad Tiger Reserve.
References / Sources:http://www.roshniali.com

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. SABIHAR BANO. Nakshi Kantha Embroidery Artisan. Birbhum, West Bengal. Click side arrow for profile details.

Master artisan Sabihar Banu is 82 years old but her artistic and firm hands keep her going. She received a National Award in the year 2004 from then President of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.
Sabihar learned the art of Nakshi Kantha from her mother and grandmother and started practising it since the age of 12. She made a village scene on a four-by-four metre length of cotton cloth, working on it from 1995 to 1998 and this won her the National Award.
The accolade opened several doors for her to display her skills and impart the same to many. The union government set up a training centre wherein even today, she teaches a group of 15 to 20 students every year.
Sabihar has participated in several exhibitions in India and abroad, viz., Italy, Canada, France, and Germany. One of her artworks is displayed in the living room of former President of USA, Barack Obama.
References / Sources:https://www.getbengal.com/details/the-artiste-who-put-bengals-kantha-stitch-in-obamas-living-room

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. TAJKIRA BEGUM. Promoting Nakshi Kantha Embroidery. Birbhum, West Bengal. Click side arrow for profile details.

Tajkira Begum is a symbol of success and determination for the community of Nakshi Kantha artisans in Bolpur subdivision in Birbhum district. She used her embroidery skills to empower hundreds of women. She used to earn Rs. 15-20 per day when she she got the opportunity to pursue her skills more seriously, with support from an NGO. She trained in diversified products and business intelligence; then, she started teaching some women who joined her. Together, they formed several self-help groups, and Tajkira, the entrepreneur of this group, brought orders from diverse markets and customers and distributed the work to more women in her village to generate a direct source of income for them, thus strengthening their collective.
Today, Tajkira is a brand in herself. She comfortably travels across the world – to Germany, France, the USA, Denmark, etc. for exhibitions and provides Kantha training in local schools and art institutions. She engages 600 women in paid work; the wage artisans, who used to earn not more than Rs. 500 per month previously, are now earning approximately Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 5,000. Small women entrepreneurs earn between Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 15,000 per month.
References / Sources:https://www.thebetterindia.com/226647/tajkira-begum-rural-woman-entrepreneur-kantha-embroidery-products-west-bengal-india/

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. TAKDIRA BEGUM. Nakshi Kantha Embroidery. Birbhum, West Bengal. Click side arrow for profile details.

Master craftswoman Takdira Begum won the Shilp Guru award in 2009 and a National Award for Kantha embroidery in 1996. She has been creating award winning Nakshi Kantha embroidery pieces for more than 40 years.
Married at 19, Takdira soon had three daughters, but longed to create something for herself. She decided to use the skill she had learned from her grandmother and mother in Kantha embroidery. Together with the support of her husband, the women in the community were encouraged to be trained and work with her, revitalising the art form. This work fits comfortably between the womens’ expected, traditional roles and their desire to work and earn an independent income. There are no time pressures on the workers; they collect the fabric from Takdira, take it home to work on in their own time, then drop it back when it’s finished.
Takdira’s working group now consists of over 100 women.
References / Sources:https://www.sookitwist.com/ethically-made

Inspirations from Politics (In alphabetical order)

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. FIRDOUSI BEGUM. Politician, First woman MLA from Sonarpur constituency. South 24 Parganas, West Bengal. Click side arrow for profile details.

Firdousi Begum is an Indian politician of All India Trinamool Congress. In 2011 and 2016, she was elected as MLA of Sonarpur Uttar Vidhan Sabha constituency in West Bengal Legislative Assembly. She is the parliamentary secretary of the department of panchayats and rural development since 2014.
She joined All India Trinamool Congress as a lady Councillor of Rajpur-Sonarpur Municipality in 2004. She was vice-chairperson of Rajpur-Sonarpur Municipality from 2009 to 2013. She is also the first lady Member of Legislative Assembly since 2011 from Sonarpur constituency. Firdousi Begum is also a member of the district planning committee of South 24 Parganas and a member of the standing committee of privileges and finance excise, development, and planning.
References / Sources:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firdousi_Begum

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. MAUSAM NOOR. Politician, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha. Malda, West Bengal. Click side arrow for profile details.

Mausam Benazir Noor is an Indian politician serving as Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, from West Bengal and Vice Chairperson of West Bengal Commission for Women. She has served as President of Malda district Trinamool Congress. She has also served as a Member of Lok Sabha for Maldaha Uttar from 2009 until 2019.
Noor hails from a political Bengali Muslim family of Malda, West Bengal. Her uncle A. B. A. Ghani Khan Choudhury has served as Minister of Railways in the third Indira Gandhi cabinet. She studied at La Martiniere Calcutta and received a Law degree from Calcutta University. After her mother Rubi Noor (the then incumbent Member of Legislative Assembly of West Bengal for Sujapur constituency) died in 2008, Mausam entered politics. In early 2009, she was elected to the Legislative Assembly from the same constituency and in May she was elected to the Lok Sabha. Noor was elected president of the West Bengal Youth Congress in 2011. Two years later, she was elected president of Congress's Malda district unit. In January 2019, she switched to Trinamool Congress after her proposal of an electoral alliance with the party for the 2019 general election was turned down by the Pradesh Congress Committee.
References / Sources:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mausam_Noor

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. SABINA YAESMIN. Politician, Cabinet Minister of State for Irrigation and Waterways, Government of West Bengal. Kolkata. Click side arrow for profile details.

Sabina Yeasmin is an Indian politician who has been serving as Cabinet Minister of State for Irrigation and Waterways, North Bengal Development in the Government of West Bengal. She is an MLA, elected from the Mothabari (Vidhan Sabha constituency) in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.
Born in Malda, she graduated from Gour Mahavidyalaya in 2000 and completed her post-graduation from University of North Bengal in 2002. She is the first Muslim woman minister in Government of West Bengal. Sabina was Sabhadipati of Malda Zilla Parishad before contesting the assembly elections. In 2008, she won a seat in the Malda Zilla Parishad from Kaliachak – I.
References / Sources:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabina_Yeasmin

RBTC West Bengal Nominee 2021. SAJIDA SULTAN AHMED, Politician, Member of Parliament, Only Muslim Woman MP in 16th Lok Sabha, Kolkata, West Bengal.

Sajda Sultan Ahmed is an Indian politician and a social worker. She was elected to Lok Sabha in a by poll from Uluberia parliamentary constituency of West Bengal by margin of over 4.74 lakh votes and become member of Sixteenth Lok Sabha.
References/Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sajda_Ahmed

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. SHEHNAZ QUADERY. Politician. Ex-Vice Chairperson of the WB Commission of Women. Government of West Bengal. Malda, West Bengal. Click side arrow for profile details.

Shehnaz Quadery has served as Vice Chairperson of West Bengal Commission for Women in the Government of West Bengal from 2011 to 2014 . She was nominated as the General Secretary of Trinamool Congress of West Bengal between 2011 and 2014. She currently serves as a member of the State Minorities Commission from West Bengal since 2014 and is also a member of All India Trinamool Congress. She also serves as the Vice President of Trinamool Congress Malda district since 2020.
Shehnaz Quadery, born in 24th June 1952, belongs to one of the most respected families in Indian politics. She is the niece of politician ABA Gani Khan Chowdhury. She completed her schooling from La Martiniere School for Girls, Kolkata, and then completed her graduation from Shree Shikshayatan College in 1973.
Shehnaz joined the Trinamool Congress and served as several posts within the party starting from General Secretary to now Vice President, Malda district. Shehnaz Quadery is also the Member of the Legislative Assembly from Ratua, Malda.
References / Sources:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shehnaz_Quadery

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. SOFIA KHAN. Politician, social activist. General Secretary of Minority Cell, Trinamool Congress. Kolkata. Click side arrow for profle details.

Sofia Khan is a politician, social activist, teacher and TV panelist. She completed her MPhil in Zoology and B. Ed from Calcutta University and is currently a teacher of biology at a Government High School in West Bengal.
She has influenced the life of many through her extensive social work during the pandemic, ranging from empowering women to helping the needy. She is also involved with various activism groups, serving as the Secretary at the prestigious Rotary Club of Calcutta, and Udaan ¬– Empowering Women, to name a few.
She is the founder of Sufi Humanity Foundation, an organisation that works for the underprivileged across India. She joined the West Bengal ruling party Trinamool Congress in January 2021 and very quickly moved up to the rank of General Secretary of the Minority Cell through her hardwork and dedication.
References / Sources:https://english.newstracklive.com/ampnews/sofia-khan-says-mamta-banerjee-is-best-and-worthy-candidate-sc2-nu292-ta292-1181596-1.html

Change Makers in Social Development ( in alphabetical order)

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. AALIMA REHMAN. Biker for a Cause. Co-founder Umeed, Youth Mascots and We Are One to create social awareness. Corporate lawyer at LO2 Ventures Pvt. Ltd. Kolkata. Click side arrow for profile details.

Nicknamed "The Hijabi Biker", Aalima is currently a corporate lawyer at LO2 Ventures Pvt. Ltd. A student of La Martiniere, Kolkata, and Amity University, Aalima Rehman wishes to work towards creating safe spaces for women in the public sphere.
Aalima's decision to wear a hijab surprised her family and friends but she made it her identity. She was determined to break the barriers she was facing outside for being a muslim woman biker. However, Aalima is not only about being a hijabi biker. She took up social causes after completing her high-school education and assisted her mother to set up schools for the underprivileged, ‘The Little Stars School’ and ‘The Step Up School" Aalima went on to work with several organisations like the Indian Pluralism Foundation, Yeh Mera India, All India Dawah Centres Association (AIDCA), The Sirri Saqti Foundation, and The Calcutta Muslim Orphanage, etc. She has co-founded three organizations: Umeed, Youth Mascots and We Are One to create social awareness and carry out her social work activities.
References / Sources:https://www.wbmdfc.org/upload/unsungAchievers/document/Aalima%20rahman_1595429553.pdf

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. AMINA LASKAR, Fighting trafficking of Women. South 24 Parganas, West Bengal. Click side arrow for profile details.

Amina Laskar is a social worker fighting trafficking of women and children in South 24 Parganas and adjoining blocks of the Sunderbans. Even with meagre resources, she has undertaken the mission to rescue women, helping them fight the trauma and stigma associated with abduction and rehabilitation, thus providing them a second chance at life. Amina is a Political Science graduate from Calcutta University and after graduation, she started working with several NGOs as a volunteer. That is where she was touched by the number of cases of missing women and the plight of women in the rural areas.
Amina started an organization called Birangana Seva Samity that operates primarily from Canning. BSS begins with psycho-social counselling, healing the trauma of abuse, and telling the girls that they are not responsible for what has happened to them. Amina also tries to rehabilitate them by ensuring that they receive victim compensation and conducts awareness camps with the villagers to get rid of social stigma. BSS has come up with a framework of survivors' Self Help Groups (SHGs), including Uthhan, Swabhumi, Matribhumi and Muktangana.
The vision of Birangana Seva Samity is "To stop recruitment, transport, transfer, harboring or receipt of a person under the age 18 for the purpose of exploitation (including prostitution or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour and services, slavery or practices similar to slavery) and also to build a society where people can flourish without any discrimination."
References / Sources:https://www.wbmdfc.org/upload/unsungAchievers/document/Amina%20Laskar_1595517607.pdf

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. ANOYARA KHATUN. Children's rights advocate. Conferred India's highest civilian award for women, the Narishakti Puruskar, for her contributions to fighting child trafficking and child marriage in the state of West Bengal in 2017.

Anoyara Khatun (born c. 1996) is an Indian children's rights advocate. In 2017, at the age of 21 years, she was conferred India's highest civilian award for women, the Narishakti Puruskar, for her contributions to fighting child trafficking and child marriage in the state of West Bengal.
Khatun is the youngest of 33 women to receive this year's Nari Shakti Puraskhar (Women Power Award) – a prestigious Indian government prize for women who challenge the status quo and make a lasting contribution toward empowerment.A 21-year-old Indian woman, trafficked and enslaved as a child maid, was given a "Women Power" award by the president on Wednesday for returning home and stopping hundreds of other children from being forced into labor or married off. From the India's eastern state of West Bengal, Khatun was trafficked to New Delhi when she was 12 and forced to work as a maid in a middle class home.She escaped after six months and returned to her village in North 24 Parganas district, where she has been working as a children's rights advocate with Save the Children.
With the intention of changing the situation around her, she came in contact with 'Dhagagia Social Welfare Society' and Save the Children, where she learnt the concept of child rights. To reach out to a larger number of people, she initiated the process of forming groups which would be self-reliant in child rights. Within a short period of time Anoyara helped to reunite 180 trafficked children with their families, stopped nearly three dozen child marriages, rescued 85 children from child labour and got 400 children back into school.
References / Sources:https://www.globalcitizen.org/fr/content/child-trafficking-anoyara-khatun-women-power-award/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anoyara_Khatun

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. FIROZA KHATUN. Human Trafficking Survivor to Entrepreneur. North 24 Parganas, West Bengal. Click side arrow for profile details.

Firoza Khatun, a human trafficking survivor, always aspired to be an entrepreneur. Gradually, she started sourcing material from Kolkata and opened her own clothing store.
She is also a member of Utthan Survivor Leaders Council, where she encourages women to follow their dreams. Utthan works with individuals and collectives to bring healing, justice, and empowerment into communities, around issues of trafficking, sexual exploitation, and violence. Firoza works in the areas of survivor-led advocacy, peer-to-peer mentorship, education, skills development, and leadership opportunities that embraces all survivors, regardless of gender, age, or type of trafficking experience.
Firoza is also a Founding Member of ILFAT (Indian Leadership Forum Against Trafficking), a national forum created by 4000+ survivors of human trafficking, with a presence in ten states. ILFAT engages in policy and law consultation processes with the media to share their findings and experiences to strengthen the existing system.
References / Sources:https://www.csrmandate.org/indian-leadership-forum-against-trafficking-ilfat-a-platform-for-survivors-from-survivors-and-by-survivors/

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. MURSHIDA KHATUN. School Principal/Teacher. Social Activist against child marriage. Recipient of The Telegraph School Awards for Excellence 2019, Murshidabad. Click side arrow for profile details

Murshida Khatun is the Headmistress of Debkunda Sk. Abdur Razzak Memorial Girls High Madarsah. She fought marriage several times in her teens, would cycle to school as villagers chased her and pelted her with stones every day, and started giving tuitions while in school to fund her own education. Now she has an army of girls who work with her to stop child marriage in the villages.
“When I started off as a teacher I knew my job would not be limited to teaching students. I wanted to make the girls independent. My target was to see them continue their education because I knew that when they dropped out of school they would be married off, often against their will,” said Murshida, who received The Telegraph School Awards for Excellence 2019, presented by IIHM and powered by Sister Nivedita University.
Such has been her impact on the local people that when Murshida finally decided to take up an offer from a secondary school recently, the students of her school went on a hunger strike to convince her to stay back. They succeeded.
References / Sources:https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/a-feisty-champion-of-girl-power-in-calcutta/cid/1704296

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. NISHA MEHROON. Program Specialist, Sanjog India. Kolkata. Click side arrow for profile details.

Nisha Mehroon is a sociologist and researcher who works as a Program Specialist with Sanjog India, a technical resource organisation that works for equity for women, men, and transgendered persons and against all forms of abuse, violence, and exploitation.
Nisha has over 12 years of qualitative experience in executing and managing development projects and programs in NGOs, with expertise in evolving projects using participatory approaches and techniques. She is an expert in planning, implementing, and monitoring anti-trafficking projects. She is the recipient of Certificate of Valuing from Tafteesh, a coalition of survivors of human trafficking, lawyers, social workers, psychologists, researchers, and human rights activists, in recognition of her courage and service.
References / Sources:https://www.linkedin.com/in/nisha-mehroon-aa745120a/?originalSubdomain=in

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. RAHIMA KHATUN. Nari-O-Shishu Kalyan Kendra, village Khaskhamar Howrah district. ‘Rajya Mahila Samman’ for the year 2014 from Ministry of Women and Child Development of the Government of India. Click side arrow for profile details.

Rahima Khatun, a PG degree holder from Calcutta University, has devoted herself with a mission to self-help, empower and to protect the minority women, girls and children, especially in the rural society across five district of the state through her NGO ‘Nari-O-Shishu Kalyan Kendra’ (Women and Children Welfare Centre) at her native village Khaskhamar under the Bauria police station of Howrah district and later expanded it to neighbouring districts of Uttar Dinajpur, Murshidabad, Dakshin Dinajpur and South 24 Parganas.
NOSKK’s focus areas and programmes include child welfare, education, women upliftment, leadership training, participation, resolving health issues, rural awareness programme, unemployment, poverty alleviation, illiteracy, and tiding over lack of basic facilities of livelihood to resolve these issues.
The long list of programmes include Zari training (hand embroidery), vocational training, computer training, counselling centre, legal cell for women, Freedom Group Napkin Centre, adolescent friendly service, English-tutoring through Skype and Micro-Finance (SHG) etc.
Rahima is also a member of Child Welfare Committee of Howrah district. For her outstanding selfless work for the empowerment of women at the grass root level, the Ministry of Women and Child Development of the Government of India awarded her the ‘Rajya Mahila Samman’ for the year 2014 on the International Women Day on March 8 this year. This is a state-level award given by government of India but through the state government.
Earlier, she has received the ‘Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Prize 2011’ from West Bengal Board of Madrasa Education on November 11, 2011. She has attended several international seminars and conferences and also participated in the ‘Fourth World Women’s Conference’ held in 1995 at Beijing, China. In 1996, she attended the ‘Firth Asian Development Forum’ conference at Bangkok; a symposium on ‘Pakistan-India Local Government’ held in July 2007 at Lahore, Pakistan and also participated in seminars regarding women and children development in Bangladesh, Sweden apart from metros in India.
References / Sources:http://twocircles.net/2015apr03/1428043520.html

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. RUNU CHOWDHURY. Founding President Saahas Trust for cancer patients. Kolkata. Click side arrow for profile details

Runu Chowdhury is the founding president of Saahas, a charitable trust that raises funds to send aid to underprivileged cancer patients in various hospitals. A cancer survivor herself, she created a network of volunteers who assist her in making handmade articles such as woollen and crochet clothing, watercolour paintings, jewellery, bags and toys for sale. Apart from the financial aid, the trust also organises various awareness camps and blood donation drives. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Runu Chowdhury led her team to provide necessary aids like PPE kits, masks, sanitisers, food packets, etc, to hospitals and old-age homes. She has also been able to donate equipment and other articles like wheel-chairs for cancer hospitals, most notably a Vertical Autoclave for the RT-PCR Testing Laboratory of Saroj Gupta Cancer Centre & Research Institute, Kolkata. She is involved with various charities in and around Kolkata and regularly appears on popular Bengali TV shows to create awareness about cancer.
References / Sources:https://youtu.be/dXeAH1bBoA4

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. SAIRA SHAH HALIM, social activist, theatre person, TEDx speaker, educator, and writer. Kolkata. Recipient of the SAARC Women's Award, Dhaka 2019. Click side arrow for profile details.

Saira Shah Halim is a social and peace activist, TEDx speaker, an educator, a writer, a theatre personality, and an Image and Brand consultant. Saira started her corporate career with some of the top MNCs and corporate houses in training, learning and development roles. Having hung up her corporate boots a few years ago to work for more meaningful and impactful causes, Saira has metamorphosed as one of the more prominent social and gender activists of the country. She is known to take up the causes of the disenfranchised, politically marginalized and is a well-known face on Indian national television, speaking on myriad social and political issues. Her short film ‘Ek Khaas Aadmi’ can be viewed on YouTube, on NDTV Talkies. As a conscientious citizen she is known to hit the roads for just causes, and has been felicitated with numerous awards for her humanitarian and social work. She’s also a litterateur who pens political and social essays along with poetry. She’s also a popular culturist known to ideate psychedelic programmes reviving lost art forms and is a regular speaker at the literary festivals across the country. She was awarded with the SAARC Women’s Award by the SAARC Women’s Association, Dhaka, for her contribution in the cultural, literary and bi-lateral contribution with SAARC countries. Saira is a columnist with India Today and writes on policy and governance. She is a part of Kolkata Swasthya Sankalp, a low-cost dialysis centre that provides subsidized dialysis treatment to the underprivileged.

References / Sources: https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/event/2019/03/17/saarc-women-s-association-awarded-5-women-leadershttps://gyaanipedia.fandom.com/wiki/Saira_Shah_Halimhttp://www.ngbu.edu.in/newsite/Thought/Saira%20Shah%20Halim%20-Profile.pdf

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. SALEMA JAHAN. founding member and president of Nari-O-Sishu Kalyan Kendra organisation. Click side arrow for profile details.

Salema Jahan is the founding member and president of Nari-O-Sishu Kalyan Kendra welfare and development organisation established in 1979. It is registered as non-profit making society (NGO) for the rights and dignity of women in rual districts of West Bengal in India.
Salema has done M.A, B.Ed,M.Phil and a member of Juvenile Justice board.
During the last three decades, Nari-O-Sishu-Kalyan Kendra, has been able to spread out the welfare and development activities in a number of villages, panchayats, blocks and districts of West Bengal in India.
The organization strives for excellence inequity and gender-balanced society, capacity building of poorest of the poor, marginalized and sufferer women, socially excluded people and common people especially emphasizing children and youth.
Few events organized by NOSKK are:• Workshop and Cycle Ralley against child marriage (7 December 2019)• UN Day of Equality (27 September 2019)• Adolescent Friendly Service and Sanitary Napkin Production • Covid-19 Crisis Response • Sceme for Adolescent Girls(SAG)-KP(KANYASHREE PRAKALPA)Convergence Programme• Makerspace Workshop (18 February 2020)• Sports Day (18 January 2020)
References / Sources:http://www.noskk.in/events-category/all-events/

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. SHINY HOQUE. Entrepreneur, Mentor, Community leader with SHEROES. Add City. Click side arrow for profile details.

Shiny Hoque works closely with women, helping them scale their business, hone their skills, creativity and transform hobbies into professions. She has built and managed interest-based communities with more than 10 Lakh members for 4 years on SHEROES, a women-only social network. She has worked as a business associate at SHECO (SHEROES commerce) and mentored more than 3000 rising women entrepreneurs from different parts of India. She has been a business mentor of rural women of West Bengal while working in a project with GOOGLE (Google Internet Saathi) and SHEROES.
Her work started with building an online community titled 'Aspiring Writers' on SHEROES, a hub for women writers. She started it with around 100 women in August 2017 and today the number of members has reached up to 3 lakh and growing every day. She has helped more than 200 women to start writing from scratch and publish their own books. She has worked as a freelance writer as well early in her career. Her write-ups got published in Women's Web, SHEROES and Woman's Era magazine of Delhi Press, offline edition.
She helps women learn basic spoken English and this is her first budding entrepreneurship journey. She has helped more than 100 women personally and is currently guiding 1000+ muslim kids of Al-Ameen Mission all over West Bengal.
References / Sources:https://www.linkedin.com/in/shiny-hoque-51992615b

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. TABASSUM SIDDIQUA. Founder of Rehnuma-e-Niswaan. Click side arrow for profile details.

Tabassum Siddiqua is the founder of Rehnuma-e-Niswaan (ReN), an NGO serving the socially and economically disadvantaged sections of primary to secondary school students by supplementing the existing school curricula with non-formal education. It aims at providing these students opportunities for learning through modern teaching techniques as participative and experiential learning, soft skills, and vocational training, etc.
Tabassum formed ReN in 1999 as a community project. She was a schoolteacher in north Kolkata’s Narkeldanga area. On her own, she started guiding schoolgirls in crafts after classes. Over the months, this attracted the attention of state officials engaged in improving the condition of religious minorities. This facilitated a more professional and coordinated approach, and in 2000, ReN was formally registered. Later, in 2006, boys were also included in their programmes. ReN, at present, offers a fashion designing course to women. It also has another programme, Kashf, in which the ReN members visit schools and organise activities and inter-school competitions. The organization also offers scholarships to talented students.
References / Sources:https://www.awazthevoice.in/youth-news/urdu-speaking-kids-learn-to-speak-out-loud-act-bolder-4987.html

Shining in Sports ( in alphabetical order)

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. AJMERA KHATUN. Boxing Champion. South 24 Parganas. Click side arrow for profile details.

Boxer Ajmera Khatun has won five golds at the state and national level. She is known as the Venus Williams of her neighbourhood in Canning, where her sporting prowess is well-known. The daughter of a fish seller in Kidderpore Market, she had to overcome insurmountable odds to make her boxing dreams come true. Along with her sister Kashmera, she had to commute for about two hours every day to reach her training club in Kidderpore. “We walk from our home to the nearest railway station and then it takes one-and-a-half hours to reach Kolkata. It's quite an ordeal for us,” said Ajmera, who started learning the sport in 2009, wants to be a graduate to secure a job in the sports quota so that she can continue being a boxer.
Ajmera was featured in a documentary titled ‘Burqa Boxers’, directed by Alka Raghuram. The film weaved the stories of Ajmera and her contemporaries as they negotiate poverty and traditions and learn to face the biggest obstacle — fear. The film was awarded the top prize Grant Open Doors at the Locarno Film Festival co-production market in 2011.
References / Sources:https://www.globalindian.com/story/global-indian-exclusive/boxing-sans-burqa-these-zealous-kolkata-girl-boxers-pack-a-knockout-punch/

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. KASHMERA KHATUN. Boxing Champion. South 24 Parganas. Click side arrow for profile details.

Boxer Kashmera Khatun, along with her sister Ajmera Khatun, are known as the Serena and Venus Williams of their neighbourhood in Canning in South 24 Parganas. The daughter of a fish seller in Kidderpore Market, she has had to overcome insurmountable odds to continue her boxing training. Along with her sister Ajmera, she commutes for about two hours every day to reach her training club in Kidderpore. Funds constraint is a big hurdle as they don't enough to buy proper sporting gear. There are societal pressures as well. “Our aunt is strictly against us taking up boxing as a career. She and our other relatives object to our wearing shorts in the boxing arena saying that Muslim girls shouldn't do this,” says Kashmera. Braving all odds, Kashmera wants to participate in the Olympics someday.
References / Sources:https://www.femina.in/achievers/a-tale-of-gutsy-women-boxers-88168.html

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. RAZIA SHABNAM. Boxing Champion. Kolkata.. Click side arrow for profile details.

Razia Shabnam took to boxing in 1998 when the sport had just opened up for women in Kolkata. A first-year Arts student at Calcutta University, she decided to give boxing a shot, and was lucky to have participated in the national level boxing championship. She went on to become one of the first women boxing coaches in the country in 2001. Shabnam is also the first Indian woman to become an international boxing referee and judge and has been officiating at international boxing tournaments across the globe. In 2003, she coached a team from Bengal that participated in the National Games held in Hyderabad.
While her journey into the world of boxing came with obstacles, it was her father Rahat Ali Khan, a wrestler, who supported and encouraged his daughter. Having grown up in Kidderpore in a traditional Muslim family, where girls stay home or are groomed for marriage, Shabnam faced discrimination even when she started to go to college. Now, a doting mother, she coaches girls aged 12 to 18, most of them rescued from red-light areas in Kolkata. Through her NGO, New Light, she even provides them shelter.
Presently, Razia Shabnam coaches about 20 girls for three hours on weekdays, and six on weekends. Similarly, at the Kidderpore school, there are 185 youngsters training, of which 35 are girls. “I do my best to convince parents to let their daughters join boxing as it’s the safest sport for women,” says Shabnam.
References / Sources:https://www.globalindian.com/story/global-indian-exclusive/boxing-sans-burqa-these-zealous-kolkata-girl-boxers-pack-a-knockout-punch/

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. SARITA KHATUN. Boxing Champion. South 24 Parganas. Click side arrow for profile details.

Boxer Sarita Khatun has won a gold medal at a state level championship and nine medals, including a bronze, at the national level in 2012. The daughter of a mason in Nungi, Sarita was inspired to take up boxing after watching her elder brother learn the sport at a local club when she was just a child. Club officials noticed a spark in her and encouraged her, but her father was not convinced. He warmed up to the idea of his daughter taking up boxing as a profession only when she won a gold medal at a state level championship held in collaboration with the Indian Olympic Association. She was in Std. 7 at that time. After that, there was no looking back.
“My relatives say that since I am a Muslim girl, I shouldn’t be a boxer,” says Sarita. But her mother supports her passion. She accompanies her to training sessions and tournaments. She runs from pillar to post to arrange for funds for her daughter, so that she can get gloves, uniform, shoes, and a proper diet. Sarita strongly feels that boxing is an ideal game for women since it helps them stay fit and build a career.
References / Sources:https://www.femina.in/achievers/a-tale-of-gutsy-women-boxers-88168.html

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. TAHRINA NASRIN. Swimming Champion. First Indian woman to cross the English and Bangla channels. Uluberia, Howrah. Click side arrow for profile details.

Tahrina Nasrin was born in Uluberia, Howrah, Tahrina is the first Indian woman to cross the English and Bangla channels. She achieved those feats in 2015 and 2018 respectively. Belonging to a family of athletes – her father was a football player, and her brother is a shooter – Tahrina's first dive started as early as three years old in a local pond. Her parents wanted her to take up sports as a professional and at a very early age, they realised that swimming is what she is made for. She joined formal training when she was nine.
Tahrina completed her graduation from Calcutta University in English Literature and post-graduation from Vidyasagar University with English major. Tahrina caught people's attention when she created a record in the Bengal Games in 2009. From there onwards, under the coaching of Mansur Rahman Baidya, she started preparing for her dream to cross the English Channel. Finally, in September 2015, she created history by becoming the only Muslim woman to cross the 55 kilometre long English Channel, overcoming tides raging above 6.9 metres. She completed a fastest 16.1-kilometre one-way crossing of the Bangla Channel in November 2018.
She completed the first two-way crossing of the 32.2-kilometre Bangla Channel by a woman from Saint Martin's Island to Shah Porir Dwip of Teknaf and back in Bangladesh in world-record timing. Tahrina wants to cross all the seven channels of the world.
References / Sources:https://www.wbmdfc.org/upload/unsungAchievers/document/Tahrina%20Nasrin_1595521305.pdf

Strides in Corporate/Business Sector ( In alphabetical order)

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. ANAM AMBREEN , Business Owner & Founder, Homexperts, Kolkata. Click side arrow for profile details.

Anam Ambreen is the Founder of Homexperts and the State President of the West Bengal Real Estate Council for WICCI (Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry). She calls herself an optimistic visionary by nature. She greatly values everyone’s potential and remains self-motivated during the ups & downs of life. In her own words, hard work, unity, and passion are the three scaffolds that govern her entrepreneurship.
She completed her graduation from Sri Shikshayatan College, Calcutta University. Soon after, she acquired a diploma from Frankfinn Institute, which led her to work in the Hospitality and Real Estate industries for more than six years. She has worked with prestigious real estate companies such as Satellite Estates and Threshold Developments. She is a former Senior Territory Manager for NetAmbit HomeWise and a Business Development Manager at Axiom Estates. These stints contributed to broadening her horizons in preparation for her ultimate dream project: her own business.
Anam is also a member of Realtors & Estate Consultants Association of Kolkata and National Association of Realtors India. She has ventured into Interior Designing, with a creative eye for upscaling and designing the rarest and most inviting décor. Anam holds a master's degree in this field as well.
References / Sources:https://www.linkedin.com/in/anam-ambreen-4398a833

RBTC West Bengal Nominee. SHABANA CHOWDHURY ALI. Head of Instruction Design Add name of Company. at New Delhi, Home town: Kolkata. Click side arrow for profile details.

Shabana Chowdhury Ali is a Training & Development consultant with 10 years of experience and is currently the Head of Instruction Designs with a corporate training firm in New Delhi. She has worked with prominent names across various industries, including Myntra, Standard Chartered Bank, PepsiCo, Taj Hotels, and British Council, to name a few. She also actively works for Gender Equity and Woman Empowerment. Shabana’s interest in the social sector and her expertise in training has driven her to head a self-help group for women called Saksham that makes candles and organic soaps with added emphasis on sustainable practices. Through this group she hopes to empower women through knowledge and skill development. She is also a strong advocate for menstrual literacy and is working towards changing the mindset and conversation around the word ‘period’.
Shabana is a graduate in English Honours from St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata, and has multiple post-graduate degrees from University of Calcutta, University of Burdwan, and University of Madras.
References / Sources:http://linkedin.com/in/shabana-ali-6397aa45

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