Rising Beyond The Ceiling (RBTC) is an initiative born out of the need to change the stereotypical narrative about Muslim women in India. It is a celebration of achievement, endeavor and diversity of India Muslim women. RBTC shines a spotlight on Muslim women's contributions to nation building in a variety of ways and professions. Founded in April 2020 this initiative aims to make Muslim women's stories more visible, provide positive role models for future generations, nurturing young women's confidence and ambition in all spheres. RBTC works across various platforms- the website, publications, multimedia as well as an outreach young women's mentorship programme. Besides, Uttar Pradesh, RBTC is putting together inspiring profiles from fourteen states in India that are home to nearly eighty percent of the country’s 100 million Muslim women population. Besides State and National levels, there is a RBTC 100 list under finalization of Global Inspirations which includes women who have done their initial studies in Indian institutions and are now making their mark in countries across the globe. A compendium of Inspirations from the Past of amazing Muslim women who are not with us now, but on whose shoulders we stand today provides the historical perspectives. We are also excited about our amazing under 30 Youth Inspirations 100 list.
We continue to welcome your nominations of inspiring Muslim women in India at risingbeyondtheceiling@gmail.com
There is a stereotype narrative surrounding Muslim women in India. However, the millions of Indian women, who identify themselves as Muslim, reach across a spectrum of ethnicities and languages, states and union territories, do not look the same or sound the same, and contribute towards nation building in a variety of ways. Studies and surveys, including the first comprehensive study of Muslim women in India in 2001, discussed in the book “Unequal Citizens”, have identified that the interest in Muslim women is caught up in misconceptions that usually leave Muslim women invisible. Stereotypes of Indian Muslim women, entrenched in the trinity of triple talaq, multiple marriages and purdah have held them hostage for so very long. It is also commonplace to view Muslim women in India, and also globally, as a monolithic category, while they are in reality highly differentiated and heterogenous.
Rising Beyond The Ceiling
I founded the Rising Beyond The Ceiling out of the need to change the stereotypical narrative about Muslim Women in India. I believe that we ourselves must put forward and build a narrative sharing the inspiring stories of the lived reality of Muslim women’s lives, in all their diversity, to go beyond the societal stereotype. Through shining a light on the untold stories and celebrating the achievements of Muslim women in India, we aim to make them more visible and drive a new narrative. The profiles of courage and excellence of Muslim women across the states in India further demonstrate how they have overcome and addressed the hierarchies of gender, class and regional location and also extrapolate conditions that facilitate success and, can be overcome, making the path easier for the next generation of women.
The focus in developing the categories and curating the lists of inspiring Muslim women is to capture the diversity of their contributions to nation-building. I celebrate all the one hundred RBTC honorees spotlighted in this publication for rising in their chosen spheres. The word “Rise” is associated with several meaning - to appear above the horizon, to increase in intensity, to attain a higher level, to come into being and to exert oneself to meet a challenge. Learning about the life journeys of the honorees from Uttar Pradesh, I can see they have done all of these and are substantive contributors to the progress of the country. While the RBTC Uttar Pradesh Inspiring Muslim Women’s list is first of its kind and ground-breaking, it identifies only a very small sliver of the many phenomenal Muslim women in the state. More stories of courage, grit and service need to be told from across all the districts of the state. RBTC will continue to spotlight inspiring Muslim women from the state annually each year.
Hundred Inspiring Muslim Women of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh is the largest state in India with an estimated current population of 240 million, The Muslim population in Uttar Pradesh is estimated to be forty-four million (19.3%) and has nearly 22 million Muslim women.
The hundred 2021 RBTC Honorees from Uttar Pradesh celebrated in this book have displayed exemplary accomplishments in various fields. Though only a small sliver of the millions of women, they tell stereotype shattering stories of courage, grit and service from across many districts of Uttar Pradesh, including Lucknow, Aligarh, Agra, Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Prayagraj (Allahabad), Varanasi, Jalaun, Barabanki, Moradabad, Azamgarh, Shamli, Rampur, Sitapur, Farrukhabad, Bahraich, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Amroha, Shahjahanpur, Noida and Greater Noida, among others. The inspiring Muslim women from Uttar Pradesh fly drones and planes, they serve in the police and army, they are skeet shooters and bike riders, they write books and poetry, create art, play snooker and tennis championships, administer and govern, advocate for social issues, serve as lawyers, scientists and doctors, are entrepreneurs and corporate professionals and are substantive contributors to the progress of the country. They are first generation army officer, first Asian to receive nematology award, first Indian to get honorary doctorate from University in Germany, first Muslim woman vice chancellor of a university. They have expertise and recognition in a range of subjects- Sanskrit, Persian, Management, Tourism, Russian, Agriculture, Biotechnology, Aviation Robotics, Food historian and Food entrepreneur, Chartered Accountancy. Law, Medicine, among others. They serve as Deans of Law and Medical Institutes, as Executive Directors, Ministers, Member of Parliament, Member of Legislative Assembly, Chairpersons of Nagar Panchayat, Urdu Academy and Women’s Commission, Gram Pradhan and General Secretary, Principal of Colleges, Head of Services, also as Vice President of the National Stock Exchange. They serve in government, in the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Revenue Service, Indian Postal Service, Indian Information Service, As Commissioners of Sales Tax, Tax assessment officers, in the Provincial Agricultural Service and as Judges in Family Courts. From Scientist at ISRO to Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology, they have Founded Labs, organizations and Societies in unique areas. Their contribution to creative arts as actors, as visual artists with exhibitions across the country, as classical artists of music and dance, in filmmaking, as performative poets is valued and recognized. They have taken forward entrepreneurship in multiple forms from being the owner of enterprises selling leading brands of bread, to fashion and design, setting up educational institutions, Travel and Tourism business, handicrafts and women’s apparel. They established their own vermicomposting and consulting companies. They are making an impact through media as journalists, Editors of News Magazines, Opinion Pieces, News Readers, Authors, Founders of web channels, Political news casters and Correspondents. They are change makers in social areas ranging from girls education, social inclusion, bringing together women in unorganized sector, rights of single women, gender based violence prevention, child abuse, Muslim women’s rights, gender discrimination, disability awareness, mental health awareness. They have received a host of prestigious awards, such as Padmashri, Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar, are state awardees and have a host of awards and international recognitions that would run into pages.
Bravo to all RBTC Uttar Pradesh Honorees! Learning about your life journeys, I am energized about the potential of the next generation of women leaders in the community who have role models like you.
Game-Changers
As I develop the profiles for Rising Beyond The Ceiling, I read about and talk to Muslim women from different parts of the country. Through these writings and interviews, I am looking for what Muslim women achievers have in common. The many biases and barriers that have derailed women from exploring their full potential could fill a book. However, the bigger fascination for me is not only the women who were stopped, but those who refused to be slowed down. And what does that say about what we all can do going forward.
While all women achievers are distinctive and individualistic, I see some common pointers emerging. Most achievers have a supportive person or mentor, at some point in their lives whom they always mention in different ways. Mostly in the stories, the spouse or father has been mentioned. Many stories talk of taking on professional careers after completing motherhood or in some cases as a result of responsibilities after the loss of a spouse. Most have faced brickbats and backlash but were firm in their belief and continued on the chosen path. They tend to redefine themselves as an individual without limitations of gender stereotypes, and they have been encouraged and supported in their families. The whole world doesn’t need to be on the side of Muslim women achievers, and it almost never is. But one mentor, or teacher or parent or spouse offering encouragement is vital.
One of the RBTC initiatives under development is an analysis of existing research and studies on Indian Muslim women across the country. Many studies including Sachar Committee Report, statistical and micro studies on Muslim women reiterate that the majority are among the most disadvantaged, economically impoverished and politically marginalized sections of Indian society. Group inequalities persist as a significant social division and this is apparent in at least three areas- socio-economic status, education and work. Muslim women are differentiated along the fault lines of class, community and region. At the same time their minority location does qualitatively transform women’s experiences and perceptions in very distinct ways.
I continue to learn about and talk to Muslim women from different parts of the country. They have diversified my perspective and showed that Muslim women are not a monolith. As we take charge of the new narrative, inspired by their stories and successes, saying mashallah to their tenacity, we are shedding other people's narrow definitions of success and of us, Muslim women of India. The stories are for all young women and girls in India to seek their role models and mentors in their own districts and neighborhoods and to be inspirations themselves to future generations.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. ANJUM ARA, Indian Police Service (2012), Himachal Pradesh Cadre. Hometown: Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. SARIA ABBASI, Lieutenant, Indian Army, Home Town: Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. AMREEN WARSI, Airline Pilot with Spice Jet Airways. First Muslim woman captain on a fleet. Home Town: Lucknow Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. HANA KHAN, Airline Pilot with Indigo Airlines. Noida. Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. SAHARISH SIDDIQUI, Railway Protection Force Service (2010). Senior Commandant, RPF, Lucknow. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. ANAM ALI, Commissioned Officer, Indian Air Force. Home town: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. NAHEED ABIDI, Sanskrit Scholar & Author, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Padma Shri Award Recipient (2019). Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. SHIREEN MOOSVI , Author, Historian, ex Chairperson Department of History, ex- Coordinator Centre for Women's Studies. Aligarh Muslim University. Aligarh/ Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. AZARMI DUKHT SAFAVI, Professor, Persian Scholar, Founding Director of Institute of Persian Research & Dean Faculty of Arts, Aligarh Muslim University. Aligarh. Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. SABRA HABIB , Russian Language Expert, Lucknow University, Lucknow. Recipient of Pushkin Award Moscow (1991). Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. BUSHRA ATEEQ , Associate Professor IIT, Kanpur. Recipient of the Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar Prize (2020). Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. QUDSIA TAHSEEN, Professor of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University. Organization of Nematologists of Tropical America -ONTA- First Asian to receive the Special Award for sustained excellence in Nematology (2005). Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. QAMAR REHMAN, Nano Technology Scientist, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. First Indian to be awarded honorary doctorate by the 600-year old Rostock University Germany (2009). Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. AYESHA FAROOQ, Professor of Management, Department of Business Administration. Frank & Debbie Islam Complex. Aligarh Muslim University. Aligarh. Leading on large project of Government of India for training of artisans in Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. SHEEBA HAMID, Professor of Tourism, Department of Commerce. Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. Joint Secretary of National Executive Committee of Indian Tourism and Hospitality Congress. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. ANWAR JAHAN ZUBERI, First women Vice Chancellor of Calicut University (2007). First Muslim woman to become Vice Chancellor of an Indian University. ex- Dean Faculty of Social Sciences. AMU. Home Town: Azamgarh Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. FARZANA MAHDI, Vice Chancellor, Era University, Lucknow Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. NUZHAT PARVEEN KHAN, Dean, School of Law, Bennett University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. ZAKIA A. SIDDIQUI, ex-Principal Women's College, Founder Director Centre of Women's Studies, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. FAIZA ABBASI, Assistant Director, UGC Human Resource Development Centre; Coordinator, Centre of Academic Leadership. Aligarh Muslim University. Aligarh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. MOHSINA KIDWAI. Politician. Served as Member of Lok Sabha and also Rajya Sabha. Served in several Ministerial positions in the Government of India and Government of Uttar Pradesh. Hometown: Baragaon, Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. TABASSUM HASAN, Politician, Elected Member of Parliament (2019), Kairana, Shamli, Uttar Pradesh. First Muslim from Uttar Pradesh in the 16th Lok Sabha. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. NOOR BANO BEGUM, Politician, Elected Member of Parliament (11th and 13th Lok Sabha), Rampur, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. NAJEEBA KHAN ZEENAT, Politician. Elected Member of 16th Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh. Patiyali, Kasganj. Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. KAZMEEN JAHAN SIDDIQUI, Politician. Elected Chairperson, Nagar Panchayat, Phulpur, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. ZARINA USMANI, Politician, ex-Chairperson, State Women's Commission, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. SHAHANA BIBI. Gram Pradhan, Farrukhabad, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC Uttar Pradesh 100 Honoree. SHAMINA SHAFIQ, Politician, General Secretary, All India Mahila Congress. Ex-Member National Commission for Women. Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. PARVEEN TALHA. Indian Revenue Service (1969). First Muslim woman to serve in the Civil Services and as Member of Union Public Service Commission. Padma Shri Award Recipient (2014). Home Town: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. ZOHRA HASAN CHATTERJEE. Indian Administrative Service (1979) Uttar Pradesh Cadre). First Muslim woman to join the Uttar Pradesh IAS cadre and to serve in the top position as Secretary, Government of India. Home Town: Lucknow Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. HENA USMAN, Indian Postal Service (1999) . Deputy Director General (Marketing) at Dak Bhavan, Department of Posts. Home Town: Prayagraj ( formerly Allahabad) Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. SHAMIMA SIDDIQUI, Indian Information Service (1996). Additional Director General, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, New Delhi. Home Town: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
References/Sources
https://pib.gov.in/MediaInvitationDetail.aspx?InvitationID=155583RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. ANJUMAN NIKHAT JAFRI, Assistant Commissioner Sales Tax. Uttar Pradesh Provincial Civil Services (2010). Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. KANEEZ FATIMA, First Muslim women to join the Provincial Agricultural Services Uttar Pradesh. Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. NOORI ANSAR. Addl. Principal Judge, Family Court, Bahraich. Uttar Pradesh Judicial Services (2009). Click side arrow for profile details.
Noori Ansar, 40, is an Addl. Principal Judge, Family Court, Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh Judicial Services (2009). Noori hails from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh and has pursued her LLB and LLM from Aligarh Muslim University. She went on to serve as a Judicial Magistrate, Addl. Civil Judge, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Addl. District and Sessions Judge in various districts of Uttar Pradesh namely, Bareilly, Gonda, Ghaziabad, and Bahraich.
References/Sources:
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. BINNO ABBAS RIZVI, Zonal Officer, Nagar Nigam, Municipal Corporation & Urdu Poet. Lucknow. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. KHUSBOO MIRZA. Scientist at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Bangalore. Member of team of engineers for India's first lunar probe- Chandrayaan 1 in 2008. Hometown: Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. SANIA AKHTAR, Principal Director (Senior Principal Scientist), Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology (CIPET), Bengaluru. Home Town: Lucknow. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. SEEMA WAHAB, Biotechnologist, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. Delhi. Honored with species of nematode named after her. Home Town: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. MOHSINA MIRZA, Aviation Robotics Expert, Drone Pilot, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for full profile.
Mohsina Arif Mirza, is a pioneer in introducing the concept of aviation and flying technology and aerial imaging in schools across the country. She started her career as Head of Drone Department, La Martiniere College, Lucknow; Founder, Invero Techno Robotics & Flying Club, Lucknow; and Dromera Aerial Imaging. She is Group Creative Head of Chain of City International School, Nurture International School, Global Classroom Pvt Ltd. & Global Dreams.
Mohsina launched her venture “Antriksh Invero Techno Kids” in 2017. This is one-of-its-kind robotics and aviation flying club where children in the age group of 6 to 18 years get exposure to aviation and flying technology. Children are trained to pilot their own self-made flying robots and fixed wings, and become future ready. The objective is to give every child wings to fly high. After thorough research on the sensory and learning difficulties of autistic kids, Mohsina designed a unique sensory robotic kit and curriculum for children with special needs. Antriksh, stimulates the children’s brain function with easy to do developmental activities which help in improving the child’s memory, attention, reaction time, with an abundance of customizable gadgets based on a variety of learning methods, used for enhancing progress and mind development. Mohsina has organized Robotics and Drone Piloting Summer camps. Invero Techno Robotics & Summer Camp 2018 was India’s first Robotics and Drone Piloting Summer Crash Course for Autistic Children across the Nation. She has trained more than 1000 children till now. Mohsina’s passion for aerial photography has been showcased in a series of coffee table books – ‘Secret of Mart’, ‘Mausoleum of Boulone Lise’ and ‘The Lat’, ‘The Mutiny’ and ‘Sibtainabad: Through the Lens of Time.’ She has received several awards and recognitions including the Uttar Pradesh Young Women Leaders Conclave Award, i-inspire Award at P.H.D. Chambers, Lucknow (2017) and recently the Devi Award (2019). Mohsina has participated in ISSET NASA Mentor Championship in 2019, and her idea was sent to international Space Station.
Mohsina has done her Bachelors of Technology and P.G.D.B.M from Leeds University, United Kingdom. She has also completed her Professional Sky Dive Accelerated Free Fall Course (A.F.F.) from Skydive Dubai in 2017. She is passionate about women’s participation in Robotics and she regularly provides global standard training to women and girls about drone making and piloting.
References/Sources
http://radianceweekly.in/portal/issue/youth-power-hopes-and-challenges/article/start-up-for-a-cause/
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. IRAM MAJID. Lawyer, Arbitrator, Mediator. Director, India Institute of Arbitration and Mediation. New Delhi. Home Town: Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. NUZHAT HUSSAIN. Dean, Professor and Head of Pathology. Officer-in-Charge of State Referral Centre for Lab Investigations. ex-Director, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Insitute of Medical Sciences. Lucknow. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. SHEHLA JAMAL, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Founder, All India Society for Menstrual Disorders and Hygiene Management, Associate Professor at RMRI Bareilly, Greater Noida. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. TAMKIN KHAN. Professor & ex-Chairperson Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology. Founder Stillbirth Society of India and South-East Asia. Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College. AMU Aligarh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. LUBNA KAMAL, Associate Professor at Nano Homeopathy. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru State Homeopathic Medical College, Kanpur. Manages chain of homeopathic clinics across several cities. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. FARRUKH JAFAR, Actor, First Announcer of Akashwani Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. AISHA KHATOON, Short Film Maker. Co-Founder, Sanatkada Film Studio. Lucknow. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. SABIHA HASAN SUMBUL Visual Artist and Painter. Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. ANAMTA KHAN Singer, Song Writer and Music Composer. Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. FARHANA FATEMA, Classical Kathak Dancer & Actor, Lucknow Gharana. Home Town: Lucknow/Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. FARZANA SHAHAB, Artist. Recipient of Veerangana Samman from Governor of Uttar Pradesh (2016). Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. MAHEJABEEN ALAM, Classical vocal singer and musical therapist, ex-Urdu News Anchor with Doordarshan. Superintendent at Northern Railways, Lucknow. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. SABIKA ABBAS NAQVI, Performative Poet, Founder: Sar-e-Rahguzar: Poetry on the streets. Hometown: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. SHAMSHIDA BEGUM, Crafts Professional, State Awardee by Government of UP for signature carpet weaving techniques. Jalaun, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. TAAB SIDDIQUI, Owner, Harvest Gold Industries. Home Town: Aligarh Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. ASMA HUSAIN, Designer & Founder AIFT, Asma Husain Institute of Fashion Technology, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. ARJUMAN ZAIDI, Educationist, Founding Director St. Xavier's Convent School. Lucknow. National President of Youth For Human Rights India. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. HINA ZAIDI, Founder & Director Sheeraz Tours Private Limited, a leading travel company. Kanpur. Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. NIGHAT AHMED, CEO & Creative Head of The Hijab Lee fashion label. Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. RUMMANA AMAAN, Entrepreneur, Founder "Rummi's" Phool Patti Applique Brand. Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. SANA REHMAN, Founder of SOLBEES, Company for Manufacture for range of women's apparels, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. SHAHWAR SHORAT, CEO and co-Founder The Luxe Story; President of the the Handicrafts Council of WICCI for Uttar Pradesh. Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. SANA KHAN, Founder SJ Organics Vermicomposting Company. Brand Ambassador for Swacch Bharat Abhiyan. Meerut Uttar Pradesh.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. SHERIN SHERVANI, Founder & Director, Angel Global School and Academy for Teachers Training, Aligarh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. SHAZIA KHAN, Founder & Managing Director, SANDP Private Ltd. Delhi. Hometown: Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. GHAZALA WAHAB, Journalist, Executive Editor of FORCE, News Magazine on National Security, Noida. Hometown: Agra, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. IRENA AKBAR, Entrepreneur, former full-time Journalist with The Indian Express. Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. MEHRU JAFFAR, Author and Journalist, Lucknow Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. KULSUM MUSTAFA TALHA , Journalist & Founder Kishwari Konnect. Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Women Achievers Award from Government of Uttar Pradesh (2005). National Ladli Media Award for Gender Sensitive Content. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. SAHAR ZAMAN, Independent Political Newscaster, Journalist, Founder of web channel, Hunar TV on Arts, Food and Travel, NOIDA, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. YUSRA HUSAIN, Senior Correspondent, Times of India, Lucknow. Leadership Fellowship at Swedish Institute, Stockhom (2015). Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. ZEHRA NAQVI. Freelance Journalist & Author. Hometown: Allahabad, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. I.N.S.P.I.R.E. Writer of the Year Award (2020). Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. SHIRIN ABBAS, Media, Women & Gender Studies Expert. First British Chevening Scholarship Woman Fellow from Uttar Pradesh, CEO Mediacom Consultancy, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. SHAISTA AMBER, Founder and President of All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board ( AIMWPLB), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Advocate for a model Nikah-nama. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. SEHBA HUSSAIN, Founder Beti Foundation, Co-Founder SEWA Lucknow, ex-UNICEF Representative. Lucknow. Click side arrow for profile details.
Sehba Hussain is an Indian social activist. She is the co-founder and honorary treasurer of Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA) in Lucknow. And founding board member and executive director of Lucknow-based, BETI (Better Education Through Innovation) Foundation, established in 2000. Sehba Hussain has worked with UNICEF for nearly 17 years, both as an international and national professional, notable among which were her responsibilities as Country Representative Bhutan, chief of Health Section, UNICEF India, and Chief Upper India Office responsible for Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and state representative, U.P. She co-founded SEWA, Lucknow, along with Runa Banerjee in 1984, which has been involved in organising women engaged in the chikankari industry. It was given the 2006 Best Practices Award by UN-HABITAT. In 2000, she became a founding member of BETI Foundation, established in Lucknow and working in the areas of Bahraich, Balrampur, Barabanki, Gonda, Kheri, Lalitpur, Lucknow, Shravasti, Sitapur.
Headed the UNICEF office in Bhutan and participated as a Core Committee Member in the planning & implementation of the Basic Education Programme of the country being jointly supported by the World Bank, UNICEF and the Royal Government of Bhutan. During posting in the UNICEF Country Office, Delhi and subsequently the UNICEF Upper India Office (responsible for Uttar Pradesh & Bihar 1991-98) conceptualized, strategically planned & grounded the Bihar Education Project the global flagship Education Project of UNICEF-India.
Coordinated the implementation of a large Project awarded to the BETI Foundation under the Joint GOI/UNSEP Programme – Janshala. This was implemented in two Educational Wards of Lucknow and targeted 7800 marginalised out of school children of deprived urban localities. The Project was very successful with approximately 89% children being mainstreamed into Government and Private formal schools.
She has been a member of various committees like, National Advisory Council (NAC), Government of India (Dissolve on 31st March, 08). State Supervisory Board, on PPNDT Act, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh. Executive Committee of National Mission for Sarva Siksha Abhiyaan, Government of India. Executive Committee, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan, Government of Uttar Pradesh5. Executive Committee, Uttaranchal Education for All- Education Council, Government of Uttaranchal. Member – State Level High Power Committee, Mahila Kalyan Nideshalaya, U.P. Government. Member- Executive Committee, Mahila Samakhya, U.P. Member- State Core Committee, SCERT, Lucknow Member- State Resource Group, Vaikalpik Shiksha, Lucknow
Sehba Hussain did her post graduate studies as a Fullbright Scholar, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia USA. She also has a Masters in Medical & Psychiatric Social Work from University of Delhi, India.
References/Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sehba_Hussain
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. SAMINA BANO, Founder & CEO, RightWalk Foundation, Ashoka Fellow, Acumen Fellow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. FAREEDA JALEES, Social Activist, Founder Director of Lucknow Mahila Sewa Trust (LMST). Outstanding Woman in Social Work Award (2020). Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
Fareeda Jalees, is a Social Activist and Founder Director of Lucknow Mahila Sewa Trust, popularly known as LMST, a voluntary development organization working with women in unorganized sector in several districts of Uttar Pradesh. Fareeda founded Lucknow Mahila Sewa Trust in the year 1992 and currently she is the Founder Director of Lucknow Mahila Sewa Trust which is affiliated to SEWA Gujarat.
For last 28 years, Farida Jalees is associated with SEWA Ahmedabad as a national as well as international professional. She is currently the Vice Chairperson of the National Council of SEWA. Some of her noted works includes her as representation in different government and non-government organizations in Uttar Pradesh. Along with her team she has driven LMST as an organization that is actively involved in organizing women from unorganized sector that are involved in ‘Chikankari, Zardozi, Farming, Mukaish and other form of domestic work' in Uttar Pradesh.
Fareeda has held positions in several government committees including Member of State Minimum Wages Advisory Board, U.P, Member of Sexual Harassment complaints Committee (SHCC), U.P, Member of Department of Craft and Handicraft, U.P, Member of SHCC at Survey of India, U.P, Member of SHCC at Kendriya Bhandaran Nigam, U.P
Farida's work in the field has brought her several awards including the Citi Foundation Micro entrenureship award, Skotch Order of MERIT Award in 2017 UP, Best NGO leadership award 2018, Sanskar News Award, Best NGO Inspire award 2019 and the Outstanding Woman in Social Work by FICCI FLO Lucknow-Kanpur; Outstanding Contribution in Social Service in World Leadership Conclave 2021 by Global Triumph Foundation; E-NGO challenge award for special mention in the category of Women empowerment; ICICI bank award in best micro finance organization in 2016 among others.
Farida was born in the city of Lucknow. She had pursued Master of Arts in Psychology with specialization in Clinical Psychology, from Lucknow University.
References/Sources
http://www.lmstindia.org/chief-functionary-say
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. NAHEED AQUEEL, Founder Akel Mahila Manch, Social Activist for Rights of Single Women. CEO Prayatna Foundation. Top 12 Change Makers Women Transforming India Award (2016). Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. REHANA ADEEB, Founder Astitiva, Activist, Preventing gender-based violence. Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. REEMA AHMED, Social Activist and Educator for Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention, Co-Founder Candidly. Agra, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. SHEHNAZ SIDRAT, Social Activist, President of Bazm-e-Khawateen, Lucknow Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. REHANA REHMAN, Director and General Secretary, Navbharat Samaj Kalyan Samiti (NBSKS). Girls Education. Village Vahapur, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. ZEENAT ARA, Disability Awareness, Author, Goodwill Ambassador Bravehearts Martyrs Foundation. NOIDA, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. SABIHA AHMAD. Social Activist, Member Uttar Pradesh Sunni Waqf Board, Director Lucknow Institute of Technology, Lucknow. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. FARAH SAROSH, Founder Nurture Life, a Non Profit Organization working on Mental Health Awareness. Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Awarded "Swasth Mitra" By Government of Uttar Pradesh (2019). Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. ASIFA ZAMANI, Poet, Writer, Scholar of Persian. Padmashri Awardee (2004). ex-Chairperson Urdu Academy, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
Asifa Zamani, born 1945, is an Indian scholar of Persian literature and Poet. Asifa Zamani has written several books of her Urdu poems. These include from Aabgeena in 2014, to Jadeed adabi jaize hissa nazm in 1975. Ms. Zamani was awarded Padma Shri in 2004, a national award by Government of India for her outstanding work. In 1999 she received 'President of India Certificate of Honor' in Persian. Ms. Zamani also served as the chair of Persian department in Lucknow University.
References/Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asifa_Zamani
https://www.rekhta.org/ebook-detail/aabgeena-asifa-zamani-ebooks/
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. SABIHA ANWAR, Author, Educationist and short story writer, ex-Principal, Karamat Husain PG College, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. SALMA HUSAIN. Food Historian. Author of Flavours of Avadh; The Emperor's Table and others. Home Town: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
Salma Yusuf Husain is a veteran food expert, food historian. She is the author of several books on various types of cuisine. These include : The Emperors Table: The Art of Mughal Cuisine; Islamic Food With Healing Touch; Pure & simple, homemade Indian vegetarian cuisine; Nuskha-E-Shahjahan: Pulaos from the Royal Kitchen of Shah Jahan; Flavors of Avadh: Journey from the Royal Banquet to the Corner Kitchen, Pull of Pulses: Full to Beans.
Her book 'Flavors of Avadh' charts out a unique socio-cultural route down the decades, sketching out the exclusive regional food history of Lucknow and its neighborhood, richly colored with family anecdotes, local festivities, regional culture and dining traditions.
In "The Emperor’s Table" Husain spoke of how the Mughlai khana of today is far removed from Mughlai food of the past. She believes that what we eat today is masala and oil, while the old Mughal manuscripts only refer to five spices being used-cumin, onion, garam masala, saffron and coriander. It isn’t spices that make the food, but how they are balanced. The five spices were
The Mughal Feast: Recipes from the Kitchen of Emperor Shah Jahan by Salma Yusuf Husain delves into some royal kitchen secrets. A translation of the original book Nuskha-e-Shahjahani, the book is a step towards understanding the food preferences and the art of cooking in the Mughal era. Salma, a Persian scholar and food historian, explores the intermingling of traditions in the imperial kitchens. This book is a translation of Nuskha-e-Shahjahani written in Persian. It is a transcreation because apart from translating, some of the recipes were recreated. The book contains over 200 recipes spanning naans, do-piyaza, kebabs, pulaos and sweets. It is a labour of three years.
The book on Shah Jahan has quite a few vegetarian recipes — kebabs and bharta. We’ve actually adopted many of their techniques, such as dum pukht, smoking of a dish, making raitas and kebabs. Salma has also written on the pull of pulses, the humble "dal" and would love to have a lentil festival and build it up over the years — similar to what is done in the US. It will showcase recipes, contests on lentils; there can be farmer groups selling lentils. Have contests, food festivals, even a children’s corner.
Sources/References
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24857701-flavours-of-avadh
https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/food/dive-deep-into-some-dal/article24580878.ece
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. TARAN N. KHAN, Journalist & Non-fiction writer. Author Shadow City: A woman walks Kabul. Stanford Dolman Travel Book of the Year Award 2021. Tata literature award 2020. Home Town: Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. SARA KHAN, Author and Book Coach, Founder Jot Down Ventures. Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. NUZHAT ANJUM, Poetess/Shayara. Sanskrit Scholar, Principal. Home Town: Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details/links
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. SHABEENA ADEEB, Shayara, Poet. Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Nari Shakti Samman, Begum Akhtar Award, Mallika-E-Ghazal Awardee. Author of Tum Mere Paas Raho and Kasak. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. ANAM HASHIM, Professional street bike freestyle athlete. Limca Book of Records. Only women rider in India to take up the sport of Stunt Riding. Hometown: Lucknow Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. SANIYA SHAIKH-KHAN. International Skeet Shooter. National Women's Skeet Shooting Champion. Home Town: Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. MANZILAT FATIMA, First Indian female to participate in National Snooker Championship in 1980 and represent Uttar Pradesh in the Junior category. Food Entrepreneur. Kolkata. Hometown: Lucknow Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. MARIYAM KHAN. Soft Tennis Player, Rani Laxmi Bai Award from Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh (2018), Represented India in the Asian Soft Tennis Championship. Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. KHAIR-ULL-NISSA, Executive Director at the World Trade Center India Services, NOIDA, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. FATIMA NAQVI, Chartered Accountant, Partner at Kohli Chitkara and Co. Gurgaon. Founder "AamrohaSay". Hometown: Amroha, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
CA Fatima Saba Naqvi is a finance and tax professional based out of Gurgaon. After qualifying her chartered accountancy Finals in May 2002, she has worked in private and public sector banks and corporates for almost two decades. Currently Ms. Naqvi is a partner at Kohli Chitkara and Co. Earlier she worked as Relationship Manager with the State Bank of India managing asset and relationships of medium-sized corporates. She also worked at ICCI Bank serving as regional Credit Manager-Cards and Regional Quality Manager.
Fatima is the recipient of the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Award in 2018 and figured in 1000 Women Faces of Asia through Womennovator.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. RANA USMAN. Senior Vice President National Stock Exchange Clearing Ltd (NCL). Mumbai. Home Town: Allahabad Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
RBTC 100 Uttar Pradesh Honoree. ZAINAB P. JABRI, Head, Offshore Forensic Services, Deloitte Global Financial Advisory India Private Limited, Mumbai. Home Town: Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Click side arrow for profile details.
The RBTC Global nominations compendium shares stories of professional Indian Muslim women who studied and lived in various cities and states in India and later moved to live and work in countries across the world (and who would have other nationalities now). The inspirational RBTC global nominees have affiliations with academic institutions, schools and universities across Uttar Pradesh, in particular from Aligarh Muslim University. These proud alumni from UP institutions are now working as scientists, doctors, entrepreneurs, business women, professors and many other professions across the world. For more information and profiles visit our webpage at RBTC Global Inspiring Muslim Women Nominees.
Rising Beyond The Ceiling
TEAM UTTAR PRADESH