Tag Archives: Muslim Scientists at ISRO

Mamatazul’s ISRO job symbolises big dreams of smalltown people

Salar, (Murshidabad), WEST BENGAL :

Mohammad Mamatazul Hasan

There is something special about success stories emerging from small towns of India. The achievement of one person can give many others the courage to dream.

The story of Mohammad Mamatazul Hasan of Salar, Murshidabad, is one such story. His story of being selected as a space engineer in the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is the story of an ordinary family aspiring to see the next generation achieve something extraordinary.

It is a story of his parents’ quiet sacrifices, Mamatazul Hasan’s determination and, above all, the courage to dream big while growing up in a small town.

Mohammad Mamatazul Hasan with his father speaking to the media

According to a report published by The Indian Express on May 27, 2025, Mamatazul Hasan secured a job as a space engineer at ISRO. The report stated that he received his appointment letter on May 5. As the news spread, his family and the people of Salar celebrated his achievement.

An appointment letter may be just a few sheets of paper. But within those pages lay years of hard work, waiting and dreams.

Mamatazul’s father, Mohammad Azgar Ali, works as a copyist at the registry office in Salar. His mother is a para-teacher at a school. They do not come from a family of industrialists or senior government officials. It is a household with an ordinary income. Yet, parents always encouraged their son to dream big.

When Mamatazul’s family learned about his success, his father could not hold back his tears. He said that he became emotional after hearing the news. The family had done whatever it could within its means to support their son.

Mohammad Mamatazul Hasan

Those tears may also have carried memories of his son’s childhood, the hours spent at the study table, anxiety before examinations, worries about the future and, finally, the moment when the long-awaited success arrived.

For a father, what could be a greater reward than seeing his son hold an appointment letter from ISRO?

Mamatazul’s success did not come overnight. He initially worked for a private company while continuing to prepare for government recruitment examinations. He wrote several examinations, made repeated attempts and waited for opportunities. Eventually, the opportunity at ISRO arrived.

Mamatazul’s journey, too, had its share of this unseen struggle.

Speaking about his achievement, Mamatazul has said he had never imagined that he would reach this point. He found it difficult to put into words what he felt after receiving the appointment letter.

But he firmly believes in one thing: there is no substitute for hard work. If one remains focused on a goal and works consistently, success will eventually follow.

Matatazual knows that dreaming alone is not enough. A dream must be transformed into daily effort. And when that effort finally produces the desired result, tears of emotion are only natural. Mamatazul, too, has said that he could not hold back his tears at that moment.

The people of Salar now see Mamatazul as one of their own.

Mohammad Mamatazul Hasan receiving an honour

This story has the potential to change many lives. A school student may now study science with greater interest. A father may decide to continue his child’s education despite financial limitations. A mother may tell her daughter, “You can do it too.” And a young person may quietly think, If Mamatazul can reach ISRO from Salar, I can try too.

Mamatazul showed that if someone from Salar in Murshidabad can dream about space, compete in difficult examinations, try again after setbacks and eventually hold an ISRO appointment letter.

Of course, the journey is not easy. Students from remote areas can face limitations in access to opportunities and infrastructure. Therefore, Mamatazul’s achievement cannot be viewed only as a story of individual merit. It is also a story of family support, education, perseverance and the ability to make the most of an opportunity.

As India’s space programme continues to expand, the country needs a new generation of scientists and engineers. Scientists and engineers working together across ISRO’s missions have helped India advance its capabilities in space technology.

Mamatazul Hasan from Salar in Murshidabad now has the opportunity to become part of that vast endeavour.

Mamatazul Hasan’s story is therefore more than the story of a young man’s professional success. It represents the dreams of countless young people from the remote corners of Bengal who continue to believe that the sky may be far away, but the journey towards it begins on the ground.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Mizaz / by Debkishore Chakraborty / October 12th, 2026

10 trailblazers of Uttar Pradesh reshaping India’s future

UTTAR PRADESH :

New Delhi :

While media spotlight often shines on celebrities and politicians, the real engine of India’s progress runs on the resolve of countless unsung heroes who, away from limelight, quietly transform society.

From national defense to grassroots education, sports, science, and civil service, these individuals from Uttar Pradesh show how courage, compassion, and conviction can drive extraordinary change. Here are 10 such trailblazers whose stories deserve to be heard:

Captain Sariya Abbasi: A Woman in Uniform on the Frontlines

Hailing from a small city of Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, Captain Sayria Abbasi broke every convention to join the Indian Army. A graduate in Genetic Engineering and with plenty of job offers and career opportunities from big companies was not enough for her to pursue in life. The call of service for the motherland was too strong to be sacrificed.

The world noticed her as a soldier deployed at the Line of Actual Control (LAC), India-China temporary border, manning an Air Gun. Today, Sariya leads drone-killer teams and operates L-70 anti-aircraft guns on the border. Her journey from an academic achiever to a defender of the nation’s borders is not just about military precision; it’s about shattering glass ceilings and reshaping how India imagines women in uniform.

Dr. Faiyaz Ahmad Fyzie: Voice for the Voiceless Pasmanda Community

Dr. Faiyaz Ahmad Fyzie, an AYUSH physician, is more than a healer—he is a public intellectual, columnist, translator, and relentless advocate for the Pasmanda (socially backward) Muslim community. Raised in modest conditions, his rise to national recognition is built on fearless writing and tireless grassroots work.

When even the Prime Minister refers to Pasmanda voices, Fyzie’s years of advocacy resonate. His pen continues to empower those whose struggles were long silenced. His work is a call to conscience—and a roadmap for inclusive discourse.

Mohammad Luqman Ali: Wrestling His Way to Glory and Degree

Wrestler Mohammad Luqman Ali, a student of Social Work at Jamia Millia Islamia, is balancing body and brain. Born in Amroha’s tiny village of Mohraka Patti, his father worked on the railways, and his mother gave him religious grounding. Despite limited resources, Luqman’s grit has earned him recognition in India’s wrestling circles.

From the mat to the classroom, his dual commitment shows that excellence doesn’t require compromise. It requires discipline, heart—and a family’s belief in you.

Rubina Rashid Ali: Reviving Mughal-Era Art with a Modern Mission

In a sun-drenched corner of Aligarh, Rubina Rashid Ali has quietly built a movement. Her work in floral appliqué embroidery, a legacy of Mughal art, now supports dozens of women in Aligarh and Rampur. What was once an undervalued craft monopolized by middlemen has been transformed by Rubina into a vehicle for women’s economic empowerment.

Her home resonates not only with the sound of needles and threads but also with the hum of independence. “Real artists were reduced to laborers,” she says. Today, she ensures their hands are not just working — but also earning.

Babban Mian: A Gaushala Keeper Inspired by His Mother’s Love

At Madhu Sudan Gaushalla in Bulandshahr, Babban Mian tends to cows not out of ritual, but reverence — inspired by his late mother Hamidunnisa Begum. “She loved cows like her own children,” he recalls. After she passed away in 2015, Babban vowed to preserve her legacy.

Despite being a Muslim in a Hindu-dominated tradition, he runs a government-recognized shelter rooted in compassion, not controversy. For him, animal welfare is a universal value — not a communal issue. His work quietly redefines what shared culture and interfaith harmony look like.

Khushboo Mirza: From Amroha to the Moon with ISRO

 Khushboo Mirza, scientist at ISRO and part of the Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2 missions, is a stellar example of perseverance. After her father’s death when she was just seven, her mother raised three children alone, running a petrol pump and defying social norms.

Khushboo earned a Gold Medal in Electronics Engineering from AMU and was the youngest member of the Chandrayaan-1 checkout team. A practicing Muslim and a symbol of India’s scientific aspirations, she turned down corporate offers to reach for the stars—and took a whole generation of girls with her.

Zaheer Farooqui: A People’s Leader with a Vision for Purkazi

In western UP’s Purkazi, Zaheer Farooqui is rewriting what local leadership means. As Nagar Panchayat Chairperson, he donated land worth ₹1.5 crore for the area’s first Intermediate College and modernized local schools into PM Shri-certified institutions.

His initiatives go beyond classrooms. From India’s first double-storey government-run cow shelter to a gym for Muslim women, and one of the most sophisticated rural CCTV networks in the region — Farooqui’s governance is a blend of tradition and tech, equity and empowerment. His Tiranga Yatra revives local history, reminding citizens that patriotism is inclusive and action-oriented.

Dr. Farah Usmani: From AMU to Global Health Leadership

On a cold morning in New York, Dr. Farah Usmani stood outside an apartment, a folder in hand, her eyes bright with resolve. The daughter of Uttar Pradesh, she is today a formidable presence in global health policy.

n M.D. in Obstetrics & Gynecology from AMU, Farah sought impact beyond hospital walls. Armed with a Master’s in Health Policy from LSE and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, she’s led transformative health initiatives around the world. Her journey is one of intellect guided by idealism — a doctor who chose not just to heal individuals but to reform systems.

Anjum Ara: Bridging Communities Through Compassionate Policing

Hailing from Azamgarh’s Kamharia village, Anjum Ara, a 2012-batch IPS officer, has redefined the image of policing with a human touch. A computer engineer by training, her journey from Integral University to Senior Superintendent of Police in Shimla has been marked by integrity and reform. Known for her work in cybercrime and her community-focused policing model, Anjum is also a fierce advocate for girls’ education.

Together with her husband, IAS officer Yunus Khan, Anjum adopted the cause of Khushdeep, the daughter of a martyred soldier, pledging to support her upbringing. This act of empathy mirrors her professional ethos, proactive, principled, and deeply people-centered.

Mumtaz Khan: From Vegetable Stall to World Hockey Stage

From the bustling alleys of Lucknow’s Cantt area to the turf fields of South Africa, Mumtaz Khan’s journey is pure grit. Once helping her father at a vegetable stall, a single race at school changed her life when Coach Neelam Siddiqui noticed her speed. That moment set her on a course to become a leading forward in India’s Junior Women’s Hockey Team.

Her standout performance at the 2018 Youth Olympics, where she scored 10 goals, earned her national acclaim. Yet, Mumtaz remains rooted, balancing hope and humility as she eyes the Olympics. She is proof that dreams born in dusty streets can blaze across international arenas.

These ten changemakers hail from Uttar Pradesh, from narrow village lanes to bustling metros, from battlefields to laboratories. But they are united by one thing:  quiet, relentless courage. In their lives, we find the India that persists, uplifts, and transforms—not with headlines, but with hard work.

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source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> The Changemakers / by Vidushi Gaur / May 24th, 2025