Role model: Alifiya Khan

A journalist working for Hindustan Times, Alifiya Khan won Anupama Jayaraman Memorial journalism award for her series of investigative news stories on health care system. She is 24 years old and a good start for new TwoCircles.net series on Role Models.

Me: I was born and brought up in Mumbai. Except for short visits to various places for vacations and stories, I have never stayed in another place except this city for a long period of time.

Family: My father - Abdul Alim Khan - was a politician for 17 years and expired in 1993 when I was eight years old. He had contested elections once and was the general secretary of the BJP, Maharashtra unit. My mother -Fatima Khan - is a petrol dealer and a hard working career woman. I have two elder sisters- one is a banker and the other an engineer. My sisters have won several awards in their respective fields.

Education: I attended a convent school - Mary Immaculate Girls High School - and then completed my under-graduate years in Jaihind College as a science student; I then did a Bachelor of Mass Media course at Bhavans College in Andheri and am currently in my second year of MA in political science. I would also like to do course in International Relations and am researching for the same.

Profession: I had started working as a journalist at a very early age. I think my initiation started when I became the editor of my school magazine for 2 years and then served as a member of my college editorial board. Professionally, my first job was at the age of 18, as an intern at a local news channel Sahara Samay, Mumbai. I then freelanced with Times of India with Westside Plus supplement. Later I worked with Free Press Journal for over a year and currently I am working as a Senior Correspondent with Hindustan Times.

Extra curricular: I have been involved with Rotaract Clubs and was their community services director. I have represented my school and college in debates, plays, talent contests and have won Best Actress, Best Rotaractor Awards etc. My hobbies are reading and travelling. I travel a lot and read even more.

Young Muslims: My only advice to young Muslims is to stop complaining. Reservations and special privileges are only for the weak. Be courageous and make your own path. Be responsible for your own failures and success.

Indian Muslims: I think the biggest problem we have is our own caste system. We classify people as Hindu, Muslim, Christian so on and so forth. I know that each one has a religion, a legacy to carry on - which we must cherish. But people should know where to draw the line and how to be tolerant and respect other people's feelings too. I think a major problem that not just our community but others also face is intolerance. The only way I think we can solve it is to stop classifying people as Hindu or Muslim but recognise them for their merits and demerits instead.

Series home: http://www.twocircles.net/special_reports/role_models.html