India: Muslims' poverty - Phd student set herself on fire

islamirama

www.netmuslims.com
Asalam Alieu Kum Friends

At Aaghaz Foundation, we routinely handle cases of students who are in desperate situations, but we've rarely come across anything so heart-breaking and gut-wrenching as this story of a young Muslim Phd student Tabassum, who set herself on fire in March this year because of crippling financial conditions. She suffered serious burn injuries but was fortunately saved from dying.

The 25-year-old took this drastic step because her family was debt-ridden and there was no money in the house to fund the treatment of her ailing father. Tabassum was the only earning member in the family, employed at Lucknow's Integral University as an assistant in the IT department.

After her case was referred to us by one of our members, Aaghaz volunteers Masood and Tariq visited Tabassum several times and also interacted with her family members and neighbours. Considering the sensitivities, it took us several weeks before we could find a common link who could approach the family without hurting their sentiments or making them feel uncomfortable.

According to our findings, Tabassum is deeply repentant of her action, which she describes as a step taken in a moment of mindless rage and frustration. She is trying to piece together her life and wants to make a fresh start. But this is easier said than done. She needs money for her own treatment. Her father, Mohd Usman is completely bed-ridden. He used to run a small pharmacy shop, but it is shut down. Tabassum is the sole-bread earner and besides her ailing father, has to also look after two younger brother who have dropped out of school -- but her main priority, according to the assesment of our members, is Rs 15,000/- which she urgently needs for treatment for another three months

As a rule, Aaghaz Foundation doesn't give money for anything other than education. But this time we are making an exception. We have decided to employ Tabassum part time at a monthly salary of Rs 5,000/- for three months. She will work from home. Her job will be to compute the records of students benefitting from Aaghaz. This will help her in her most immediate requirement -- Rs 150,00/- money for her treatment

Your pity, in this case is not enough. Tabassum is an exceptionally bright girl -- it is a marvel that despite such insurmountable odds, she is doing a Phd. How many girls do you know like her? Please give your suggestions on how we can help her in the long term.


Mazhar Farooqui
for aaghaz foundation: Established 2004
Literacy initiative for Indian Muslims: Padhao, Aagey Badhao
www.aaghazfoundation.com


(See clipping from Dainik Jagran newspaper below or at
http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/epaper/a...ion=37&category=&articleid=111706164472421176 ).



छात्रानेखुदकोलगालीआग

लखनऊ, 17 मार्च (जासं) : इंटीग्रल विवि में पीएचडी की छात्रा तबस्सुम (25) को उसके घर के हालातों ने तोड़ दिया। पिता का बेहतर इलाज व बैंक का कर्ज चुकाने की जिद्दोजहद में वह अवसाद का शिकार हो गई। आर्थिक तंगी के जंजाल ने उसे इस कदर हताश कर दिया कि गुरुवार शाम उसने अलीगंज सेक्टर क्यू चौराहे के पास खुद को आग लगाकर जान देने का प्रयास किया। आसपास मौजूद कुछ लोगों ने किसी तरह युवती की जान बचाई और उसे सिविल अस्पताल ले जाया गया। पुलिस के मुताबिक युवती का 25 प्रतिशत शरीर झुलस गया है। उसकी हालत खतरे से बाहर बताई जा रही है। कच्चा हाता, अमीनाबाद निवासी नसीर उस्मानी की बेटी तबस्सुम गुरुवार सुबह घर से गुडम्बा स्थित इंटीग्रल विवि गई थीं। पुलिस के अनुसार तबस्सुम इसी विवि में कम्प्यूटर लैब में सहायक की नौकरी भी करती थी। जहां से वापस आने के दौरान शाम करीब 5:45 बजे तबस्सुम ने अलीगंज में सेक्टर क्यू स्थित कामायनी पार्क के पास खुद पर कोई ज्वलनशील पदार्थ छिड़ककर आग लगा ली। पुरनिया चौकी प्रभारी राम प्रसाद यादव ने बताया कि वह एक प्लास्टिक की बोतल में ज्वलनशील पदार्थ साथ लेकर आई थी। युवती को जलता देख आसपास मौजूद लोगों ने सड़क किनारे पड़ी बालू डालकर किसी तरह उसकी जान बचाई। तभी घटना की सूचना पाकर टीजी मोबाइल पर तैनात सिपाही प्रकाश यादव व अन्य पुलिसकर्मी वहां पहुंच गए और उसे सिविल अस्पताल ले गए। इसी बीच छात्रा के मोबाइल फोन की मदद से पुलिस ने घटना की सूचना उसके घर वालों को दी। कुछ देर में ही तबस्सुम के भाई व अन्य रिश्तेदार भी अस्पताल पहुंच गए। डेढ़ साल से बिस्तर पर पड़े हैं पिता पुरिनया चौकी प्रभारी के मुताबिक तबस्सुम ने बताया कि उसके पिता को करीब डेढ़ पूर्व लकवा मार गया था। तब से वह बिस्तर पर हैं। पिता के इलाज के लिए बैंक से काफी कर्ज लिया गया था, जिसे अदा करने में काफी दिक्कतें आ रही थीं। पुलिस के मुताबिक कर्ज वसूली के लिए दो दिन पूर्व बैंककर्मी तबस्सुम के घर भी गए थे। तब से वह ज्यादा परेशान थी। इस परिवार को मकान खाली कराने की चेतावनी भी दी गई थी। वहीं एक रिश्तेदार के मुताबिक तबस्सुम के पिता का हुसैनाबाद में मेडिकल स्टोर था लेकिन बीमारी व कर्ज की वजह से व्यवसाय भी पूरी तरह से चौपट हो गया। उसके तीन भाई नदीम, अजीम व मोंटू हैं पर वे कोई रोजगार नहीं करते। सीओ अलीगंज आनंद कुलकर्णी का कहना है कि आर्थिक तंगी व पिता का बेहतर इलाज न होने से छात्रा कई दिनों से अवसाद में थी।
 

queenislam

★★★I LOVE ALLAH★★★
Keep learning!

:salam2:

Phd student set herself on fire???
Educated but not educated enough!!!

Presently she only has a problem now she doubling it
needs money for her burn treatment.
:astag:
Poor girl!

what important is taken care of the good health that Allah swt has reward you
and make no problem to your loved ones!

~May Allah swt help speedy recovery on her and guide her~Amin!

Thank you
for sharing this News
brother.
:jazaak:

:bismillah:
Is one who is devoutly obedient during periods of the night, prostrating and standing [in prayer], fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, [like one who does not]?
Say, "Are those who know equal to those who do not know?" Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding.
Holy qur'an Surat Az-Zumar 39:9

:bismillah:

Allah swt will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees and Allah swt is acquianted with what you do.

Holy qur'an Surah Al-Mujadalah 58:11

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“Whoever takes a path seeking therein knowledge,
Allah swt will make easy for him a path to Paradise. And Verily the Angels lower their wings to the student of knowledge due to their being pleased to what they do. Verily everything in the heavens and earth even the fish in the water ask that the scholar be forgiven (for their sins). The superiority of the scholar over the worshiper is like that of the moon over the rest of the stars. Verily the scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets. Surely the Prophets do not leave behind to be inherited dinaar nor dirham (money).
Verily they only leave behind knowledge to be inherited, so whoever takes it has taken hold of a great prosperity.”

[Abu Dawud and At Tirmidhee.]

Masha'allah!

~May Allah swt help,protect and guide all muslim~Amin!

Take care,
~Wassalam.
 

Just a Guy

Reinventing Myself
:salam2:

I know of Muhammad Bouazizi, and I have seen videos of Buddhist monks doing this in Vietnam during the 1960's in protest of Diem's government. I guess maybe it's an Eastern thing and I don't understand because of my Western-ness. At least I haven't heard of any Westerners setting themselves on fire.

I have been depressed at times and have thought of suicide, but I never actually attempted it because I was too scared.

If I was to pick a method of suicide, it wouldn't be burning myself.
 

strive-may-i

Junior Member
:salam2:

I know of Muhammad Bouazizi, and I have seen videos of Buddhist monks doing this in Vietnam during the 1960's in protest of Diem's government. I guess maybe it's an Eastern thing and I don't understand because of my Western-ness. At least I haven't heard of any Westerners setting themselves on fire.

I have been depressed at times and have thought of suicide, but I never actually attempted it because I was too scared.

If I was to pick a method of suicide, it wouldn't be burning myself.
:wasalam:
Recently a Greek protestor set himself on fire. Now am not sure, if he imported that idea from east. Are you making this observation, because its an eastern practise to burn the dead , rather than cremate??
 

al-fajr

...ism..schism
Staff member
:salam2:

I know of Muhammad Bouazizi, and I have seen videos of Buddhist monks doing this in Vietnam during the 1960's in protest of Diem's government. I guess maybe it's an Eastern thing and I don't understand because of my Western-ness. At least I haven't heard of any Westerners setting themselves on fire.

I have been depressed at times and have thought of suicide, but I never actually attempted it because I was too scared.

If I was to pick a method of suicide, it wouldn't be burning myself.
Wa-alaikum assalam,

Good thing that you were too scared. Depression can be fought in a number of ways and I think there its quite a taboo topic within Muslim communities which makes the problem even worse.

Fear of the punishment should be ample deterrent for any depressed Muslim out there. May Allaah protect us.

:wasalam:
Recently a Greek protestor set himself on fire. Now am not sure, if he imported that idea from east. Are you making this observation, because its an eastern practise to burn the dead , rather than cremate??
Cremation is when they burn the dead body to ashes as opposed to burying the body as it is. 'Audhbillaah.
 

strive-may-i

Junior Member
Wa-alaikum assalam,
...
Cremation is when they burn the dead body to ashes as opposed to burying the body as it is. 'Audhbillaah.
:salam2:
Correct :). Thats cremation.

Let me rephrase what i asked to Just a Guy.

Its an eastern(fire worshippers) practice to burn the dead body. Islamic and hence Abrahamic practice to cremate. my question to Just a Guy, goes a bit more deeper. Does he think europeans dont employ burning as a suicide technique, only because the concept of burning a body is alien to european religion?

Even is Eastern countries, not everyone burns one's body in an attempt to suicide.Few of those who chose burning oneself, do it because of the belief fire worshippers have, 'fire is the most purifying'!!. Their reasoning being after its burnt, only the elements are left back . There are other reasons too one can think of, but thats not the focus of my question, nor are those reasons worthy of discussing in public forum
 
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