Home Articles Burqa-clad Sumaiya makes history by securing 12 MBBS medals at AMU

Burqa-clad Sumaiya makes history by securing 12 MBBS medals at AMU

By Rahat Abrar,

Two sparking eyes popping out of traditional Muslim attire burqa (veil) got the attention of the former first citizen of India, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Wipro Chief Azim Premji and the audience as Sumaiya, a girl student with hijab, got as many as 12 medals in the prestigious MBBS course at the 58th annual convocation at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). Her magnificent feat indicates that Muslim girls are also advancing in the field of education. A female can pursue the studies of MBBS by wearing traditional Hijab (Burqa).

Dr. Sumaiya says that hijab has never come on her way. Her homely atmosphere is religious, hence she adopted that. She had taken admission in class VIth in the AMU Girls High School. She was married to a doctor when she was doing MBBS and when she was preparing for final year examination, she gave birth to a child. Despite her responsibilities in the family, she remained busy with her studies and the end result is that she got the highest number of medals.

She got the medals in the convocation in which former President of India Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam delivered the convocation address. The Aligarh Muslim University honored Dr Kalam and Wipro Chairman Azim Premji with D.Sc. (honoris causa).

This year 192 students were decorated with gold and silver medals for their academic performance. Female students performed much better as compared to their fellow male students. This convocation also signifies that education of girls is an important element within Muslim community and daughters of Muslims are craving for acquiring their status in the society with full energies and confidence.

Eleven medals were awarded in the faculty of Science and all were bagged by girls.
In the Life Sciences faculty, no boys could register his name for medal. At the M.Sc and P.G. courses in the Life Science faculty, Kavita Parihar secured highest marks and got medal. At the graduate level, Atiyatul Qadeer, another girl from the same faculty topped the merit in all the courses.

In the Medicine faculty, girls bagged 22 out of total 24 medals. Dr Sumaiya received 12 medals, the highest number of medals by an individual and beat all university records.

In the Commerce faculty, girls secured four out of five medals. In this faculty, a girl student Mariyam Mahtab got maximum marks in PG courses. In the faculty of Engineering & Technology also Priya Agrawal received highest marks in all the branches and thus received university medal.

In the faculty of Law also Astha Singh bagged single medal by securing maximum marks in BA LLB examination. These medals signify the secular character of the Aligarh Muslim University. This year 51 non-Muslims received medals out of total 192 medals.
In the faculty of Science, Nida Khan received maximum marks while eleven medals out of eighteen were bagged by girls.

In the social Science faculty, 21 medals were bagged by girls out of 28 medals. At the same time Syeda Naghba Tarannum in the Master and PG courses and Sadia Fatima in graduation received maximum marks. Two medals of theology faculty also went to girls. A single medal of the Unani Medicine faculty also went to Bushra Shahid.

The first Annual Convocation of AMU was held on 28th December 1922 when degrees were conferred upon 75 graduates who had passed their examinations. The first Convocation address was delivered by Sultan Jahan Begum, ruler of Bhopal. She was elected the first Chancellor of the University in 1920, after receiving its charter as a University.

A total of 5482 degrees were awarded this year, out of which 2926 were under graduate, 1417 post graduates and 239 Ph.D. holders. Fifty five gold and one hundred forty two silver medals were given away at the Annual Convocation.

While presenting the annual report, AMU Vice Chancellor, Professor P.K. Abdul Azis said, “I have declared 2008 as a year for academic rejuvenation of the University. The goals set are clear.” He further said some inspiring words, “I am dreaming the dawn of a new era for the AMU.”

(The author is PRO of AMU, Aligarh)