Exhibition on PATHBREAKERS: Contributions of 21 Muslim Women to Freedom Movement and Nation Building- A Report- Booklet on PATHBREAKERS Attached
COVA Network
Greetings for the Independence Day!
It is with the strife, toil, blood and the ultimate sacrifice of countless people for a century that we gained our independence. We remember and pay homage to many of our freedom fighters. But there are many more that have become invisible and remain unsung. Among these are many Muslim women who have contributed immensely to the freedom struggle and nation building thereafter.
Today we bring to you a Report of The PATHBREAKERS Exhibition based on 21 Muslim Women who had made significant contributions to the Freedom Movement and nation building thereafter but are unfortunately in oblivion now. This Exhibition was organized in Hyderabad from 3-7 August 2019 by Muslim Women’s Forum and COVA supported by TMREIS. About 2500 people visited this Five Day Exhibition.
We are attaching a Booklet on the 21 PATNBREAKERS and Program Schedule. Solicit your feedback and partnership to take this Exhibition to other places.
With Regards
Mazher Hussain
Executive Director
COVA,
Report of Exhibition on Pathbreakers: The Twentieth Century Muslim Women of India 3-7 August 2019- Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad, India | ||
An Exhibition titled Pathbreakers: The Twentieth Century Muslim Women of India was organized from 3-7 August 2019 from 10 am to 4.30 pm at Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad. This Exhibition was organized by Muslim Women’s Forum, New Delhi, COVA and TMREIS (Telangana Minorities Residential Educational Institutions Society).
The Exhibition was inaugurated on Saturday, 3rd August 2019 at Salar Jung Museum by Mr. A.K. Khan, Advisor to the Government of Telangana while Dr. Syeda Hameed, former Member, Planning Commission, Government of India and President of Muslim Women’s Forum explained the concept, objectives and the efforts that went into the creation of this unique Exhibition that are detailed below. Prof. Shanta Sinha released a special Booklet on The Pathbreakers. Dr. Mazher Hussain, Executive Director of COVA welcomed the gathering, Prof. Ismath Mehdi Presided and Dr. Anand Raj Varma Moderated the Inaugural Session. Mr. Riyaz Ahmed of Muslim Women’s’ Forum proposed the Vote of Thanks. Please CLICK HERE for the Booklet on The Pathbreakers | ||
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Mr.A.K. Khan and Dr.Syeda Hameed inaugurating the PATHBREAKERS Exhibition. | Prof. Shanta Sinha Releasing the Special Booklet on the PATHBREAKERS | |
The Exhibition shows 21 Muslim Women who gave up purdah on the eve of Independence and became partners in building a new India. The main body of their work spanned from 1947 until the end of the century and has remained largely invisible, unrecognized and unsung.
During and after independence many Muslim women joined the project of rebuilding India. They became writers, teachers, artists, scientists, lawyers, educators, political workers, trade unionists. A few became MP’s, MLA’s and some represented India internationally. The Pathbreakers Exhibition presents some of these women who were at the forefront of nationalist and feminist struggles through their work and their social engagements. They worked along with men during the most challenging times; inspired by the work of Gandhi, Nehru, and Azad. There were and are hundreds of such Muslim women across the country. Hence the idea of the Exhibition is also to break the stereotype of Muslim Women as victims of triple talaq, polygamy, burqa, halala. 2135 students from 27 schools and colleges visited the Pathbreakers Exhibition. 215 members of the public and many visitors to the Salar Jung Museum also saw the Exhibition.
Two Panel Discussions were organized each afternoon- from 11.30 am to 12.30 pm and 1.30 pm to 2.30 pm dealing with the themes of the contribution of the Muslim Women around and after Independence to the spheres of politics, education, social transformation, culture and literature and also about aspects of governance, harmony, culture, literature etc. in the history of Hyderabad. Two Present Muslim Woman Pathbreakers from Hyderabad viz. Syeda Falak (Karate Champion) and Syeda Salva Fatima (Pilot) interacted with and inspired the students. | ||
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Mr.A.K.Khan & Dr. Syeda Hameed and other dignitaries at the PATHBREAKERS Exhibition. | Students engrossed in viewing the PATHBREAKERS Exhibition | |
Eminent experts from different fields who addressed at the Inaugural Session and Panel Discussions included Dr. Safia Mehdi from Delhi (Challenges for the Path Breakers in Setting Trends), Dr. Avdesh Rani (Defying Tradition with Focus on the Life of JamalunnissaBaji), Dr. Ameena Tahseen from MANUU (Forgotten Architects ofIndia-The Role of Muslim Women in Nation Building), Prof. Salma Faruqui from MANUU (Inclusion of Diverse Social Groups under the Asaf Jahis), Dr. Anand Raj Varma (Landmarks of Secularism in Hyderabad), Ms. K. Vimala (Muslim Women Warriors: The Forgotten Reformers of Hyderabad in Pre- Independent India- 1900-1940), Mr.Veda Kumar of Forum for a Better Hyderabad (Governing for People: The Asaf Jahi Model), Prof. Ismath Mehdi (Political Contributions by Muslim Women through the lives of Fakrul Hajiya, Masooma Begum and others) Ms. Dilnaz Baig (Landmark Contributions by Some Contemporary Muslim Women of Hyderabad: Sania Mirza-Tennis; Begum Anees Khan-Education;SyedaFalak- Karate; Salva Fatima- Pilot; Nikhat Zareen –Boxer); Nishat Arif Husain- on Begum Anees Khan-Education) and Dr. Mazher Hussain of COVA (Lakes, Water Bodies and Gardens of Hyderabad).
The highlight of the Exhibition was the Presentations made by the volunteers about the Pathbreakers to the visitors that brought the legendary contributors to life again. Link to the Video Presentations by Volunteers can be shared on request.
The Volunteers included Ms Zainab Tasbassum, and Ms Meher Unnisa of COVA; Ms Salva Naaz, Priyanka Junior College; Ms,Sana Kasha, MS Degree College; Ms Umme Hani, Ms Nahdiyah Zainab, Ms Devika Dileep and K.Priyanka from Sarojini Naidu Vanitha Maha Vidhyalaya; Asna Begum, Meridian Junior College; Mariyam Haniya, Anwar ul uloom Degree College; Mr Mohd Shoieb Khan Osmania University; Vanarasa Sooraj, Dharavath Indu and Mangali Sandeep Kumar from Roda Mistry College of Social Work and Research Center. Ms Shilpa Jain of COVA supervised the volunteers.
Invaluable encouragement and support by all members of the Management, teachers and staff of TMREIS made the program possible and was critical for its success.
Outstanding contribution was made for the successful organization of the Exhibition, Panel Discussions and Drawing / Painting Events by the staff of COVA that included Mr. Naseer Siddiqui, Mr.Shaker Ali, Mr. M. Ajay, Mr.Kaleem, Mr.Habeeb, Mr.Naushad, Mr.Mustafa, Ms Fatima Begum and Ms Naseem Begum.
The objective of organizing the Exhibition and the Panel Discussions was to inspire youth- especially girls and women to emulate the Pathbreakers who made significant contributions for social transformations despite facing herculean odds and obstacles.
After viewing the Exhibition and participating in the Panel Discussions, the students drew and painted about their overall experience. 50 of the outstanding drawings and paintings were selected by Mr. Ignatius Xavier, Ahimsa Artist for awarding the first, second, third and consolation prizes. The Valedictory Program was organized in the evening of 7th August 2019. Mr. Shafiullah, Secretary, TMREIS was the Chief Guest and Delivered the Valedictory Address. Guests of Honors Prof. Rama Melkote, and Mr.Omin Debara, President of COVA distributed certificates to the winners of the drawing / painting events, volunteers and staff of COVA and addressed the gathering. Dr. Mazher Hussain, Executive Director of COVA presented the Report of the Pathbreakers Exhibition and Ms. Shilpa Jain proposed the Vote of Thanks. | ||
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A Girl Child is a Blessing and not a Burden- Drawing and Slogans by a Boy! Md. Amair Khan of Class 9th B, TMREIS Yakutpura Boys School- 2 at The Pathbreakers | A Prize Winning Sketch by D. Anil Kumar of TMREIS Junior College Barkas at The PATHBREAKERS Exhibition 3-7 August 2019, Hyderabad | |
Detailed Program of the Panel Discussions from 3rd to 7th August 2019, photos, TV coverage, and select videos of the presentations are attached.
Mazher Hussain Executive Director COVA | ||
Expo on Muslim women achievers at SJM
HYDERABAD , AUGUST 04, 2019 01:26 IST SHARE ARTICLE Booklet with profiles of the women also launched on the occasion The travelling exhibition of path-breaking Muslim women achievers of the 20th Century rolled into the city on Saturday. Called ‘Pathbreakers’, the invitation for the event had the enigmatic photograph of Tyeba Khedive Jung who was born in 1873 in Hyderabad. Moving away from Hyderabad, she became the first woman from the city who received university education graduating from University of Madras in 1894. Tyeba Khedive Jung wrote Anwari Begum in 1905 and she even presided over the annual conference of Brahmo Samaj. “I stumbled upon the book Anwari Begum in my mother’s library. Then I realised I have to do something to tell the story about Muslim women who came onto their own at a time when the stereotype was that of a conservative society with many problems,” said Syeda Hameed of Muslim Women’s Forum, the brain behind the exhibition. A small booklet with the profiles of the women was also launched on the occasion. Defying stereotypes The exhibition had a captive audience as students from the Telangana Minority Residential School students as well as students from other government schools trooped in to listen to the stories of women who defied stereotypes. “We want the children to be inspired by these women. It will give them confidence that even they can achieve anything they want. We are giving them books with stories of these women to inspire them,” said A.K. Khan advisor on Minorities Welfare, Telangana Government. One of the inspiring stories is that of Zehra Ali Yavar Jung who studied at Mahbubia Girls School and later started the Society for Clean Cities much before Swacch Bharat Abhiyaan. “Hyderabad is a city of Hayat Bakshi Begum. It is a city of Mah Laqa Bai Chanda who donated Rs. 1 crore to the Nizam Sikander Jah for educating women. It is great to have this exhibition of these inspiring women in the city,” said Oudesh Rani Bawa, who spoke about other women from the city who worked for women’s emancipation.
Tales of pathbreaking Muslim womenThe five-day event will give people an insight into the contributions personalities in varied fieldsBy AuthorAgencies | Published: 1st Aug 2019 10:18 pm
Pathbreakers’, an initiative of Muslim women is taking the responsibility to tell the narratives of twentieth-century Muslim women who broke barriers and contributed to the project of building a new India. A five-day event featuring these women and more is set to open at the Salarjung Museum on August 3.
There will be many panel discussions featuring well-known female personalities from the city, who have made a name for themselves in their respective disciplines. The first panel will highlight the contribution of Muslim women such as Tennis player Sania Mirza, educationist Anees Khan, Karate champion Syeda Falak, pilot Saira Fatima, and boxer Nikhat Zareen. Dr Anand Raj Varma will throw some light on the landmarks of secularism which will be followed by an interaction with Syeda Falak.
History will also get a feature on the Day 2 of the event where a discussion will take place about the forgotten female reformers in pre-independence era. Women such as Fakrul Hajiya, Masooma Begum, and others who made political contributions will also be discussed at the session on day three. Educational reforms done by Tayyaba Begum and Sogra Humayun Mirza are also going to be one of the highlights in the following days. | ||
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Women have played key roles in all walks of life in India’Five-day conference on PathBreakers endsPosted by Sameer Published: August 07, 2019, 10:19 pm IST Read Time: 2 min | ||
| By Nihad Amani
Hyderabad: The five-day long exhibition, PathBreakers, aimed at youngsters to get connected with the women of substance from the past ended on Wednesday.
The programme that included daily panel discussion on various aspects of women empowerment was organized by Muslim Women’s Forum, New Delhi, Confederation of Voluntary Associations (COVA) and TMREIS (Telangana Minorities Residential Educational Institutions Society). | |
The event was inaugurated on August 3 by A.K. Khan, Advisor to the Government of Telangana, while Dr. Syeda Hameed, former Member, Planning Commission and President of Muslim Women’s Forum explained the concept, objectives and the efforts that went into the creation of this unique exhibition. Mr. Jayesh Ranjan, Secretary, IT, Government of Telangana released a special Booklet on The PathBreakers.
The exhibition displayed the sketches depicting the history of 21 women across the country. These women had not only broken the stereotypes but became an inspiration for the country. These women came out of their traditional life styles and took active part in the struggle for independence of the country. After the independence they became writers, teachers, artists, scientists, lawyers, educators, political workers and trade unionists. A few of them also became members of parliament and legislatures while other represented India in international forum, the conference was told.“It’s high time to break the stereotype of Muslim Women as victims of triple talaq, polygamy, burqa, halala,” Mazher Hussain, Executive Director of COVA, said.
The exhibition had attracted more than 2000 students, 300 visitors and students from 25 schools. Two panel discussions were organized–one each in the forenoon and afternoon. Syeda Falak (Karate Champion), Syeda Salva Fatima (Pilot) and Nikhat Zareen (boxing sensation) spoke about their hardships they faced in becoming achievers. Dr. Safia Mehdi from Delhi, Prof. Ismath Mehdi, Dr. Avdesh Rani, Dr. Ameena Tahseen, Prof. Salma Faruqui, Dr. Anand Raj Varma, Ms. K. Vimala, Mr. Veda Kumar, Dr. B.V Subba Rao and Ms. Dilnaz Baig spoke during the sessions.
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TV Coverage
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COVA (Confederation of Voluntary Associations), is a national network of voluntary organisations working for social harmony and community empowerment in India and peace in South Asia. Established in 1995 in Hyderabad, India, the members and partners of COVA comprise of community groups working at grassroots to national and international organisations and networks undertaking advocacy and policy interventions. COVA is also engaged with multilateral bodies like the United Nations Organisation, G20, BRICS, SAARC and others for structural transformations of the world order to make society more equitable, sustainable, just and peaceful.
