By Mahtab Alam for TwoCircles.net,
Noida: Razia Shaikh is one of the 30 students studying multimedia journalism at International Media Institute of India (IMII), Noida, on the outskirts of Delhi. She is doing an 11-month post-graduate diploma in multimedia journalism. So what? What’s big deal in it, one can ask. There are thousands of boys and girls studying journalism around the country. What is so special about Razia? There is. And that’s something needs to be told, retold and cherished.
Unlike thousands of budding journalists, Razia comes from a very economically backward family of Ferozabad, a city of western Utter Pradesh, famous for bangle industry and notorious for child labour. She is the eldest child of their unlettered parents. Her father works in a bangle factory and gets only 500 rupees per week. He is the sole bread earner for a 7-member-family. “If I ever dreamt of something, that was the dream of becoming a journalist”, says enthusiastic Razia. However, she is quick to add, “But I was not sure whether my dream would come true, given my family’s financial condition”. Hence, she feels obligatory to mention, “It is still unbelievable for me, studying in a city far away from my hometown and that too a subject of not only my choice but dream—Journalism”. She relentlessly thanks Dr. Najma Sultana for providing scholarships for students like her.
Razia Shaikh at IMII
Dr. Najma Sultana, who was born near Hyderabad and practices medicine in the United States, has instituted a limited numbers of scholarships at IMII. She also thanks her parents for being a constant support and allowing her to pursue her dream profession despite all odds. “I know how important money is for education; I too had been a recipient of Government grants and private scholarships,” says Dr. Sultana in an email interview to TCN from the city of New York. “I am happy that I am able to give back in a small measure what my countries, both U.S. and India, gave me. I am a supporter of U.S. causes too. In my humble ways”, she adds. Razia is not alone. Among the others who are benefiting this particular initiative are Nuqra Naqvi and Subuhi Parvez.
According to Dave Bloss, academic consultant at the institute, who served for 25 years as an editor, mostly at The Providence Journal Newspaper in the US state of Rhode Island, “At IMII, we equip our students with the skills instead of just proving certificates and diplomas.” The institute is partners of The City University of New York’s Graduate School of Journalism and The International Centre for Journalists, a non-profit organization, which promotes quality journalism worldwide in the belief that independent, vigorous media are crucial in improving the human condition. The institute is headed by Sunil Saxena, who has experience of three decades in Print, News Media, Research and Journalism Education. He is the founding dean of the India’s prestigious school of journalism, Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai.
Abdul Majid at IMII
But wait, boys need not to be disheartened as they are not discriminated here. There are four boys who are getting such scholarship. And these scholarships are funded by the Institute itself. Meet Abdul Majid, essentially a Madarsa graduate from Kerala. He always wanted to be a journalist of global repute. “When I was of 13 years, I decided to be a journalist”, recalls Majid. But like Razia, it was also not easy for him though in a different manner. As his parents were not in agreement and wanted him to be a Scholar of Arabic literature and Islamic Studies. So after completion of his course at Islamic Seminary, Al Jamia Islamia, Shanthapuram, he went to Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Aligarh and earned a graduate degree in Arabic literature and Islamic Studies. But it was not his destination. After his return from AMU, to transform his dream in to reality, he started working with AsiaNet Media Group of Kerala. “I worked there at different levels, first at desk, and then in field as reporter and just before joining this course as assistant producer”, he told this reporter with a sense of respect. Since his formal education was one which is generally perceived not fit for joining a journalism course or this profession, he completed senior secondary school examination through National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) and Bachelor degree in Political Science from Kerala University through distance learning system.
When asked by this reporter, given the competition, don’t you think it is going to be a difficult life ahead? Both Razia and Majid replied in very confident tone, “Yes, it is going be a difficult one but haven’t we travelled much difficult path in the past”? And “we have a strong will for what we have decided and hope we will achieve it,” they add. There are other boys and girls at the institution, whose journey is as motivating as of these two students. Old saying goes like this— where there is a will, there is a way. It might not be more than a saying for many of us but the fact is that it is guiding principle for Razias and Majids. We can only and should wish them, All the Best!