I came I saw I wrote

It is a great pleasure to finally take the first step into the world of blogging which is not mind boggling by the way! I deem myself capable of expressing vividly through the power of pen. I hope that I am able to nurture my writing capability as well as let you peek into my life which is quite unique and interesting!

Nida Ahmad

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The flight which gave me wings!

It was the first international journey of my life as I checked into the Indira Gandhi International Airport, India in the fall of 2014. As the plane took off, I bid adieu to my motherland, rising not just above ground, but also beyond expectations, stereotypes and notions. A young married Muslim woman in hijab, traveling overseas alone in the pursuit of higher education: beats all odds at a time. After boarding the plane, I was fondly gazing at my henna tattooed hands when the events leading to this journey came flashing across my eyes. The flyer for the 21st Century Obama Singh Knowledge Initiative STEM-ER Program had caught my attention while walking past the notice board in the university’s corridor. Although appealing at first, I brushed this idea under the rug, shaking my head at the sheer possibility of traveling abroad all by myself. I hail from the third world nation, India, where Muslim women pursuing higher education comprises a minority and married women in the boat app...

To work or not to work : that is the question!

To be or not to be : I read in English literature as a high schooler. Until I became a mother, albeit with an educational baggage, so to say. Since then my mind has been grappling with a new dogma of millennial feminist generation: to work or not to work . I am an Indian Muslim woman living presently in America with my husband and baby daughter. People in this part of the free world value education and those in pursuit of education. Therefore, I am often at the receiving end of admiration when people enquire about my educational background. "Oh, that is great! A PhD in Biochemistry and MEd in STEM. So, are you working?" Just as I am about to feel happy, my jaw drops and I shake my head. "That is an honest question though, but not right now!" I end the conversation on a humorous note by pointing towards my 11 months old daughter. But as I come home and put my daughter to bed, I can't help but wonder if people really understood why some mothers can't or do...

Revisiting Sir Syed's dream!

It is that time of the year when people exclaim "Winter is coming" while Aligarians proclaim "S.S. Day is coming"! With the season of festivity in India, arrives Sir Syed's Day - October 17. Every year, the birthday of this great reformist, philosopher and educator is celebrated with rejuvenated spirit at my alma mater, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). The advent of this week is marked by decorating the university 'like a bride', literally. In this digital era, Aligarians round the globe express their love for Sir Syed by changing their profile pictures, sharing his excerpts/speech/quotes on social media. All this serves to rekindle the nostalgic memories and love for one's alma mater. Having spent nearly a decade at AMU, S.S. Day celebrations are etched in my long term memory! The much anticipated day commences with literary/cultural events glorifying AMU and its founder. As the night befalls, the melodious University Tarana echoes in the air cul...

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