Dr. Mehrunnisa – An example of her own message “Read and Lead”

TCN Special Series on Women of Inspiration

By Ilyas Khan Pathan and Rehan Ansari, TCN

Mother of one MBBS and one Engineer sons, Dr. Mehrunnisa Mohammed Sharif Desai is a lecturer in L J Commerce College, Vasturapura, Ahmedabad and the founder President of Association of Muslim Women Associations (AMWA), Juhapura, Ahmadabad.

Born to a caring mother and always roaming government servant father, Dr. Mehrunnisa has seen many faces of life. She remembers her childhood days when they could not have sufficient food to eat but due to her passion of reading and father’s support she overcame all hurdles and could become a lecturer.

Dr. Mehrunnisa

Dr. Mehrunnisa said, “Despite my father was an employee in Gramsewa his salary was not enough for the family of 8 people. My mother used to stitch readymade cloths for sale and also had chickens to sell their eggs for some additional income.”

Since his father had to roam around in Gujarat because of transfers, they had to find another business every time at some new place. Once, Dr. Mehrunnisa remembers, her father sent a letter to her mother requesting her not to save much and spend some money on Sabzi ka Saag, vegetables gravy for the kids.

In that scenario it was difficult for her to study but the support of her father pushed her ahead. She did graduation and masters and then Ph.D. and became a college teacher. She said, “My father used to keep many books in the house therefore I got habitual of reading books.” She had two brothers -- one elder and one younger to her -- and everyone was studying in school. She said, “Me and my younger brother had to get the books bought for my elder brother and thus we used one book for three years.”

Dr. Mehrunnisa is being facilitated by M.D. of Dena Bank Mukesh Jain

She said, “When I reached the high school most of my friends started getting married one by one and my father also was pressurized.” That time was very crucial for her but her father overcame the pressure and allowed her to study further.

After getting married to Mohammed Sharif Desai, now a Deputy Manager in the State Bank of India, she had a peaceful life but was always thinking to work for Muslim women. She said, “We live in Juhapura, where 90% of the population are Muslims and used to see their plight but due to my busy schedule and responsibilities at home I could not do much.”

However, one day she was moved and went out to do social service and formed AMWA in 1989 when Kokilaben Vyas, former Health Minister visited her college and during discussion Kokilaben told her, “Muslim women do have many problems but no one from your community comes up to help them.”

Dr. Mehrunnisa then discussed it with her colleagues in the college to form AMWA and since she was the youngest among them so everybody elected her as the President. She said, “We decided not to ask for funds from others because it has many strings attached to it and the donors like to dictate the terms.”
They used spare sewing machines in their home and started teaching sewing to other women so that they can earn their livelihood.

Dr. Mehrunnisa speaking at a program of Association of Muslim Women Associations

Just after Dr. Mehrunnisa and her husband came back from Hajj in 2002 they faced Gujarat carnage and her organizations AMWA immediately started relief camps in Juhapura, Shahpur, and Sonal. She said, “Besides providing them shelters we trained them for small business and provided them financial help to start their own business.” She added, “We are proud that we could bring happiness back to nearly 400 families in Gujarat.”

Dr. Mehrunnisa, who did Ph.D. on Rights of Women in Islam, said, “the world is changing and people are trying to understand women’s role in Islam now.’ She added that now she herself sits with Ulema on dais and even delivers speeches with them.”

She believes that Islam has provided women the right of education, right of employment and other social rights equal to their male counterpart; it’s the Muslims who now have to follow it.

She is writing a column on women’s issue for Gujarat Today daily since 1991 and occasionally writes for Gujarat Samachar, Bhakar, Sandesh, Shahin and Memon Welfare periodicals also.

Dr. Mehrunnisa’s message for the society is “Read and Lead”. She said, “Educating a girl is the best gift for the whole family of the future.”