TCN Special Series on Women of Inspiration
By Rehan Ansari, TwoCircles.net,
Mumbai: In this time of school and college results, admissions and ambitions, meet a commendable girl from Mumbai, Anam Munaf Vadgama. She has excelled not only on the academic front but also in co-curricular and extracurricular activities.
Anam, 16, ‘Head Girl’ of one of the best schools in Mumbai Villa Theresa High School scored a whopping 96.6% according to the new pattern i.e. Best of Five and her overall result is not far behind as it is 96.3%, consistent in all the subjects in the Class X exam.
“I scored 93 out of 100 in Mathematics, that is the lowest among all the subjects” said Anam. She realized her weakness in the Mathematics earlier, got extra tuition and put in the best she can to overcome the limitations. “I doubled the practice of solving maths problems and that improved the result.”
Advising the students Anam said, “They must study consistently throughout the year because it’s very difficult to understand the subjects and score a high percentage in three or six months.” She also suggested 2-3 hours of rigorous physical activity and relaxation during preparation for the exam to enhance the power of learning and all this requires planning in advance and discipline to follow.
Anam’s piece in DNA junior
Elder of the two kids of Munaf and Sajida Vadgama, Anam, is aiming to make a career in Commerce or law, she believes it to be perfect for her. Munaf, a builder by profession, said, “Since she is very principled, honest, disciplined and has an IQ of the subjects I think it would be good for her.”
While schooling, Anam got an assignment for six months as junior journo with DNA Junior, a newspaper for school kids from leading English daily in Mumbai.
Sharing her experience in the DNA she said, “While doing a story on slums in Mumbai, I really got impressed by the slum dwellers. I found them full of confidence and they can beat any students of any schools in Mumbai if provided extra facility.”
Another incident she can’t forget is an interaction with Vishwantahan Anand, world chess champion. She said, “Such an intelligent man was so simple and down to earth that I learnt a life time lesson from him. Greatness is personified with simplicity.” She added, “He and his wife are really affable.”
Anam is critical of attitude of Muslim community who according to her are just after material gain. She complained, “Parents must give priority to education of their children and should not start expecting them to earn at the early age.”
She feels that government intervention to uplift educational and economic standard among Muslims will not yield any results unless the community itself struggle for it. She said, “Lack of awareness is the major reason for the backwardness and it should be dealt with on urgent basis.”
Education is a passion in her family. Her mother Sajida Vadgama got married at the age of 17 just after passing Xth Standard but marriage did not deter her determination to get higher education. She completed her Bachelor degree from Mumbai University.
Sajida Vadgama, a homemaker, is very passionate about education. She helped her housemaid to get her kids educated who scored 84% in SSC. She said, “I completed my First Year of BA when Anam was born and completed graduation after my son Anas.” She was greatly supported by her husband and Mother in Law Zubaida.
Munaf, her husband said, “My wife is very intelligent. If she had got a chance she would have done wonders but no worry we will support our daughter and son to let them fulfill their own dreams and will not compel them for anything which they do not like.”
Kulsum Lakdawala, Maternal grandmother of Anam scored first class in SSC and was applauded highly in her days when hardly any Muslim girl would go to school.
Abdul Kadar Lakdawala, Maternal Grandfather of Anam who used to ferry Anam to school is very proud that his daughter and grand daughter are following Islam along with modern education. He said, “Both of them are great believer in Islam and always thinking for the upliftment of our community.”