By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,
Kolkata/Baharampur: A girl from a Middle class Muslim family of Murshidabad district Aslema Khatun has topped the post-graduation examination of Library and Information Science of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).
On April 16, in an award ceremony function at Rabindra Bhawan in Jangipur, Murshidabad Vice Chancellor of Kazi Nazul Islam University Anuradha Mukherjee handed over to Aslema Khatun the Gold Medal and Certificate of Masters of Library and Information Science degree of IGNOU in presence of regional Director of IGNOU Dr Somasi Srinivas.
Aslema Khatun
The IGNOU certificate says, Aslema Khatun has been awarded the University Gold Medal for securing first position in order of merit in Masters of Library and Information Science.
Aslema is the youngest daughter of Farakka NTPC workers Sirajul Islam and resides in village Chaltia, close to Baharampur town of Murshidabad. Her mother Anwara Begum is a house wife and elder sister Nasima Banu is High School Teacher.
Earlier Aslema passed out in BA in Library and Information Science from Netaji Open University of Kolkata. The final examinations of masters was held in June 2013 and result declared in December 2013.
Aslema Khatun told TCN over phone that when she first came to know of the result, she could not believe her ears and thought maybe she has topped in the state. It was only later that she realized that she topped in the country. She is also the first Muslim girl to top this examination.
Asked why she chose this subject Aslema said that the poor Muslim dominated areas hardly have any good library. It is her dream, she says, to start a good library in the area.
Aslema, who is now preparing for the National Eligibility Test (NET) required to become lecturer in colleges and universities, is thankful to her families who have always been very supportive of her. She says that Muslims girls should particular work hard to study and spread knowledge and skill.