From Nida's desk

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...

Becoming was a pretty mundane verb until Michelle Obama elevated it to stardom. In case the literary grapevine has not reached you, the autobiography penned by the former first lady, the 2018 bestseller is titled BECOMING. History tells us, it has been the legacy of former First Ladies of the Unites States to share their experiences in the form of memoirs. From Eleanor Roosevelt to Hillary  Clinton, this tradition has sparked public interest but Michelle’s memoir has garnered the most attention worldwide. And it is something evident in the title of her book -  becoming . Since her appointment as the first lady of the United States, she became various things to various audiences. As the first African American woman in the White House built at the cost of black slaves' sweat, she became the realization of Martin Luther King Jr's " I have a dream ". For striving working class families living in rural neighborhoods in America, she became the representation of the girl f...

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...

India has become a nation where the mind of its denizens is in fear and the head is not held high. Sexual assaults, rape of minors, murders in the name of holy cows : is just the tip of the iceberg of oppression and tyranny against muslims under the present rule of BJP in the secular and democratic India. As if these heinous crimes were not enough to ignite communal tensions amongst Hindus and Muslims, the right wing RSS hindutva extremists had a Eureka moment when they eyed upon a lifeless potrait of Mohd. Ali Jinnah hanging in the Student Union building of Aligarh Muslim University-a national varsity which gave president and vice president to India in the past. One BJP MP's tweet (Who will teach AMU a lesson?) served as a propellant for RSS goons who barraged AMU campus protesting violently, demanding the removal of the potrait deemed as a threat to their nationalism and patriotism. The students sustained injuries from teargas and lathicharge by police as they tried to lodge com...

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...

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