When SSC topper presented her prize money to another student

Monday, July 20, 2009 09:53:00 AM, ummid.com Staff Reporter

Mumbai: The venue was Anjuman Islam, a south Mumbai prominent educational institute thronged by the students who had cleared their SSC exams a month before. The whole atmosphere wore a pleasant and elated look. Cheerful students were applauding their friends as the organizers distributed the prize money to them one by one. Aaliya Iqbal Chunawala who had topped the Urdu schools in Maharashtra and stood third in the Mumbai division had just been felicitated amid the unending rounds of clapping. Though she was the focus of attraction on the wonderful evening, she did not seem to be in her usual self and was visibly restless. Suddenly she whispered something to her grandfather, set towards the podium, grabbed the microphone and declared.

“I have decided to present my prize money to Nasreen Ghulam Yahya”, she said into the microphone.

Nasreen Ghulam Yahya? Who is this girl and why Aaliya is doing this to her? The murmur began taking the rounds. And when the identity of Nasreen Ghulam Yahya was disclosed everything came to a halt. The atmosphere that a moment before was abuzz with hectic activities turned gloomy. The organisers were stunned. And too was the everyone present at the venue. In total contrast, Aaliya Iqbal who a little before was restless now looked completely composed and relaxed. And why not. She had done what others failed in doing despite their duty to do so.

Maulana Ghulam Yahya is the man who was working as the Imam at the Hajj House Mosque in Mumbai but is lingering in jail since 2006. He has been accused of helping and associating with the terrorists, the charges that are yet to be proved in court. Time and again the newspapers had carried the reports highlighting the trauma his family was undergoing through. The stories surfaced once again when the SSC results were declared in June this year and Nasreen, Maulana Ghulam Yahaya’s eldest daughter was in the list of the successful students. Though she had scored reasonably well, owing to the poor economic conditions she almost decided to discontinue her education.

The newspaper reports might have failed in moving the NGOs which are working for the Muslims accused of being involved in terrorist and other anti-national activities. However these stories kept Aaliya Iqbal on edge and when she received the cheque of five thousand rupees as prize money and found Nasreen among the gathering, she decided to hand it over to her.

“Though five thousand rupees is not a big amount, I wanted to set a precedent for the others”, Aaliya says while exclusively speaking to ummid.com.

Aaliya’s endeavor to set an example does not end here. Having scored an impressive 95.53% in SSC exams, and topping the Urdu schools in Maharashtra and ranking third in the Mumbai division, Aaliya Iqbal the only daughter of Iqbal Chunawala - a businessman and Sufiyah Batatawala - a lab assistant in a local school is all set to give UPSC exams a try.

“Once I graduate from Patkar College, Goregaon in Mumbai I am determined to appear for UPSC exams”, she says in a resolute tone before adding, “By joining the Indian Civil Services, I intend to work not only for my community but also for the entire humanity.”

Meanwhile, by giving her prize money to Nasreen, Aaliya Iqbal succeeded in doing what so many newspapers failed in when the organizers immediately sprang into action and announced that poor economic condition would not be a barrier for Nasreen’s education.

“Nasreen has already taken admission in Maharashtra College. Henceforth whatever money is needed for her education would be borne by Qaumi Majlis-e-Shura”, Fareed Khan, the president of the Shura announced during the function. He also declared that they were immediately paying the cheque to a local coaching class that would prepare her for Common Entrance Test (CET) besides coaching important subjects in junior college.

Inspired by these development, Muhammad Munaf Iqbal Ahmad of St Mary High School Majgaon who topped the Muslim students in convent English schools also handed over his prize money to Nasreen.

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