Tag Archives: Muslim Women Teachers of Mumbai

AP introduces lesson in schools on Fatima Sheikh, India’s first woman Muslim teacher

ANDHRA PRADESH :

 Fatima Sheikh

Visakhapatnam:

At a time when little is known about one of India’s greatest social reformers and educators, widely believed to be India’s first woman Muslim teacher, the Andhra Pradesh Government introduced a lesson on the contribution of Fatima Sheikh in the text-books of eighth class.

The reformer is known to have given shelter to Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule, the well-known social reformer couple, when they were shunted out from their families.

It was in 1848 that Phule couple had taken initiative against caste system and male chauvinism. Fatima Sheikh is credited with allowing the Phule couple to start the first all-girls school at the former’s house in erstwhile Poona in Bombay Presidency.

Fatima Sheikh taught at all the five schools which were run by Phules.

At the same time she founded two schools on her own in 1851 in Mumbai.

Fatima Sheikh underwent teacher’s training along with Savitribai Phule at an institute run by Cynthia Farrar, an American missionary.

Born on January 9, 1831, she has not received the recognition she deserved. She remains a little known activist in various parts of the country. Prior to Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra had introduced a brief lesson on her in school curriculum.

On the other hand, Google had honoured her with a Doodle on its homepage in connection with her 191st birth anniversary.

“We believe the children, who are the future of the country, should know about the reformers, freedom fighters and others who contributed significantly for building the nation. We are very happy that a lesson has been introduced in eighth class book. More awareness is required on the contribution of Fatima Sheikh,” Kaki Prakash Rao, State general secretary of AP Primary Teachers’ Association, told Siasat.com on Monday.

AP United Teachers’ Federation leader D. Ramu hailed the initiative of the AP Government and said that time, moving out of home by women was considered a big sin. Still, Fatima Sheikh along with Phules was instrumental in teaching Dalit and Muslim girls ignoring threats by many conservative, casteist and fanatic outfits and individuals.

source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> News> Andhra Pradesh / by Santosh Patnaik / November 04th, 2022

Yasmeen Khan teaches children on roadside in Mumbai

Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA :

Yasmeen with her students
Yasmeen with her students

A few mats and a blackboard make a school on a city lane for 50 kids. This footpath of V Power Gym Street in the Kanakia area of Mira Road in Mumbai attracts the attention of the passers-by but the children remain engrossed in studying and oblivious of the world passing by.

The noise of passing traffic and pedestrians does not affect the privacy of students – mostly children of construction labourers and other daily wage earners – for their minds are focused on what their Yasmeen Madam says.

Yasmin Parvez Khan, a homemaker whose husband is a manager in a  global software company, has been trying to provide basic education to children in this makeshift roadside school. She has been setting it up from 3 to 5 pm every day for the past ten years. 

She is a volunteer who wants to change the lives of children who can’t afford a regular school for various reasons; she neither runs an NGO nor is affiliated with any government agency.

awaz
Gallery of images from Yasmeem’s school

Yasmeen says: “One day I thought of doing something for these poor children. After much deliberation, I realized that no amount of monetary or material help will be of much use to them while education has the potential to change their lives and also impact the future of their families. With this idea, I started teaching two kids and today I have 50 of them.”

Yasmeen’s school is for slum children where they receive basic education and then for formal education, Yasmin Madam takes the children for admission to regular schools. This way Yasmeen plays an important role in initiating these underprivileged children into regular education by invoking their interests in studies and knowledge. “It takes time to get children from very poor families interested in education and getting their parents to understand the importance of education is no less than a harder task.”

Yasmeen says she doesn’t charge a fee but children need many things like notebooks, pencils, books, colours, bags, etc. She has an innovative idea for getting these needs of children fulfilled. Pointing to her blackboard, she says, “Whenever I need something for children, write it on the board and you will be surprised that within a short time, someone delivers it.”

To date, children have never had to wait more than half an hour to get their basic things for studies. She smiles and says that she feels happy to cook for children each Thursday and feed them. After seeing this, many passersby and neighbours have started bringing food and gifts for the children. This makes children very happy and adds to their enthusiasm.

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Children enjoying meals cooked by Yasmeen Khan on a Thursday

Yasmeen Madam’s teaching sidewalk has neither walls nor roof, but education is complete. The first child who got his primary education from this footpath and reached school today has reached the 11th standard.

People are often inquisitive about Yasmin Parvez Khan, who wears a Burqa. People stop for a moment when they see a veiled woman teaching children on the sidewalk.

Yasmeen says that initially, even her family was not happy with her decision. “When I explained my point that she has to go to them and teach, they understood.”

She says: “Today, my family including my mother-in-law, father-in-law, husband, and my children support me.” Yasmeen Parvez Khan’s husband is a project manager at Wipro Company.

These days Yasmeen’s school is on Monsoon break. She is looking forward to the end of the monsoon and the resumption of her school.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> India / by Shantaj Khan, Pune / July 26th, 2022