By Syed Ali Mujtaba, special to TwoCircles.net
Chennai: Social worker and woman leader S. Fathima Muzaffer was conferred Rajiv Gandhi Award along with nine others for eminent social service in Chennai on August 23 2007.
Union Minister of state for statistics G.K.Vasan conferred the award to distinguished social workers belonging to various fields.
Cardiologists, Dr.Cherian, Actress, Manorma, Poet, P.A.Vijay, Educationnist, Madras Christian College Principal, Philips. Carnatic singer, Sudha Rangunathan, Miridanga Maestro, Kollapudi Sivaraman, Orator, Barathi Baskar, Director, Rajkiran, Educationist, Hindustan Aeronotical College Principal Vargese were other reciepient of the award.
Daughter of late Abdul Samad, President of the Indian Union Muslim League (I.U.M.L.), Ms Fatima, the 36 year old social worker dedicated her award to the poor and downtrodden people of Tamil Nadu.
Ms Fatima is grand daughter of Late. Allama Abdul Hameed Baqavi the first person to translate the Holy Quran in Tamil called ‘Tarjmatul Quran.’
In the recently concluded All India Executive meeting of the IUML, Ms Fatima was made executive member of this political party. This is for the first time IUML has chosen a woman to its executive board.
In August 2004, Ms Muzaffer represented India for a conference “Terrorism and Security” at the East West Center Hawai. She was amongst 14 other participants from various countries and was adjudged “Star of the Group”.
Ms Fatima is the Vice President, Millath Education and Charitable Trust, Member, Muslim Women’s Association (MWA), Executive Member of P.T.A of M.W.A. Mat. H.Sec. School, Executive Committee Member, Milli Council, Tamilnadu, Vice President, Islamic Information Centre. Religious Committee Executive Member, Anjuman-e-Hamayath-e-Islam. Co-Director, Al-Hikmah Weekend Islamic School.
She has Co-Authored Text Book named “Living in Harmony” for class I to class VIII published by Oxford University Press (OUP). A first of its kind, this book is published by Oxford University representing good values of all religion. From 2004 more than 4 crores copies of these text book have been sold and has been judged best text book promoting value education among students.
Ms Fatima conducted a mega “Comunal Harmony Meet” in Chennai on October, 4-5 2002 in which more than 10,000 people of different religion participated. She regularly participates in various inter-faith programmes held at YWCA and Theosothical Society in Chennai. She regularly conducts seminars and meetings to bring together people of all faith to promote communal harmony.
She hosted the Tamil programe “Pengal Pervai” on Win TV and also at DD Podigai, for the last 3 years. In this programme she show-cased woman leaders from various fields in Tamil Nadu. She is currently hosting morning programe in DD Podigai named “Kalai Thendral – Valviyal Sindanaigal”.
Every year in the month of Ramadan she hosts Iftar exclusively for ladies and distributes charity during this holy month. She works for the upliftment of poor, widow, destitute women and orphan children. She is also helping needy students with scholarship and fees assistance.
Ms Fatima was Students Union leader at S.I.E.T. College Chennai in 1991. She is now wife of Muzaffer Ahmed, Managing Director, M/s. Ahmed World Travels Tours & Cargo (P) Ltd and has three children. She can be contacted at E-Mail: [email protected]. Her website is: www.fathimamuzaffer.com