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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Maulana’s 'gullak' initiative touches 60K students

Read & Lead Foundation President Maulana Abdul Qayyum Mirza with daughter Mariyam Mirza. Mumbai/Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: In the new age controlled by smart-gadgets and social media, an academic from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has sparked a small, head-turning and successful - ‘savings and reading’ revolution among middle-school children. Launched in 2006, by Maulana Abdul Qayyum Mirza, the humble initiative turns 20 this year and witnessed over 60,000 free savings boxes (gullaks)...

Maulana’s 'gullak' initiative touches 60K students

Read & Lead Foundation President Maulana Abdul Qayyum Mirza with daughter Mariyam Mirza. Mumbai/Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: In the new age controlled by smart-gadgets and social media, an academic from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has sparked a small, head-turning and successful - ‘savings and reading’ revolution among middle-school children. Launched in 2006, by Maulana Abdul Qayyum Mirza, the humble initiative turns 20 this year and witnessed over 60,000 free savings boxes (gullaks) distributed to Class V-VIII students in 52 government and private schools. “The aim was to inculcate a love for ‘saving and reading’ among young children. We started by presenting small plastic ‘gullaks’ (savings boxes) at the Iqra Boys & Girls High School, and later to many other schools,” Mirza said with a tinge of satisfaction. Scoffed by sceptics, it soon caught the eyes of the schools and parents who loved the idea that kept the kids off mischief, but gave them the joy of quietly slipping Re. 1 or even Rs. 5 save from their daily pocket money into the ‘gullak’. “That tiny ‘gullak’ costing barely Rs 3-Rs 5, becomes almost like their personal tiny bank which they guard fiercely and nobody dares touch it. At the right time they spend the accumulated savings to buy books of their choice – with no questions asked. Isn’t it better than wasting it on toys or sweets or amusement,” chuckled Mirza. A childhood bookworm himself, Mirza, now 50, remembers how he dipped into his school’s ‘Book Box’ to avail books of his choice and read them along with the regular syllabus. “Reading became my passion, not shared by many then or even now… Sadly, in the current era, reading and saving are dying habits. I am trying to revive them for the good of the people and country,” Maulana Mirza told The Perfect Voice. After graduation, Mirza was jobless for sometime, and decided to make his passion as a profession – he took books in a barter deal from the renowned Nagpur philanthropist, Padma Bhushan Maulana Abdul Karim Parekh, lugged them on a bicycle to hawk outside mosques and dargahs. He not only sold the entire stock worth Rs 3000 quickly, but asked astonished Parekh for more – and that set the ball rolling in a big way, ultimately emboldening him to launch the NGO, ‘Read & Lead Foundation’ (2018). “However, despite severe resources and manpower crunch, we try to cater to the maximum number of students, even outside the district,” smiled Mirza. The RLF is also supported by his daughter Mariyam Mirza’s Covid-19 pandemic scheme, ‘Mohalla Library Movement’ that catapulted to global fame, and yesterday (Oct. 20), the BBC telecast a program featuring her. The father-daughter duo urged children to shun mobiles, video-games, television or social media and make ‘books as their best friends’, which would always help in life, as they aim to gift 1-lakh students with ‘gullaks’ in the next couple of years. At varied intervals Mirza organizes small school book fairs where the excited kids troop in, their pockets bulging with their own savings, and they proudly purchase books of their choice in Marathi, English, Hindi or Urdu to satiate their intellectual hunger. Fortunately, the teachers and parents support the kids’ ‘responsible spending’, for they no longer waste hours before screens but attentively flip pages of their favourite books, as Mirza and others solicit support for the cause from UNICEF, UNESCO, and global NGOs/Foundations. RLF’s real-life savers: Readers UNICEF’s Jharkhand District Coordinator and ex-TISS alumnus Abul Hasan Ali is full of gratitude for the ‘gullak’ habit he inculcated years ago, while Naregaon Municipal High School students Lakhan Devdas (Class 6) and Sania Youssef (Class 8) say they happily saved most of their pocket or festival money to splurge on their favourite books...! Zilla Parishad Girls Primary School (Aurangpura) teacher Jyoti Pawar said the RLF has proved to be a “simple, heartwarming yet effective way” to habituate kids to both reading and savings at a tender age, while a parent Krishna Shinde said it has “changed the whole attitude of children”. “We encourage books of general interest only, including inspiring stories of youth icons like Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai (28) and environmentalist Greta Thunberg (23) which fascinates our students, and other popular children’s literature,” smiled Mirza. The Maulana’s RLF, which has opened three dozen libraries in 7 years, acknowledges that every coin dropped into the small savings boxes begins a new chapter – and turns into an investment in knowledge that keeps growing.

Navadurga: Nine Forms, One Divine Feminine in Every Woman

Each of Maa Durga’s nine forms reflects traits we see in women today—from warriors to nurturers, seekers to creators.

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As the quiet reverence of Pitru Paksha fades—a fortnight dedicated to honouring ancestors and remembering departed souls—the air turns vibrant with the arrival of Maa Durga in her nine radiant forms—each a living symbol of strength, compassion, and renewal. Navratri, celebrated across India and among the diaspora worldwide, is not just a festival of lights and colours; it is a celebration of feminine energy, courage, and spiritual awakening.


Maa Durga-- whose nine avatars mirror the many roles and powers of today's modern women. Her nine manifestations offer timeless lessons for contemporary women striving to balance grace and grit.


The divine journey

According to the Puranas, Maa Durga descends from the Himalayas to her maternal home on Earth for nine sacred days, accompanied by celestial beings and blessings. Each day honours one of her nine forms, from the gentle Shailaputri to the fierce Kaalratri, culminating in Vijaya Dashami, when the Goddess returns to the heavens after vanquishing Mahi Asura, a demon symbolising the triumph of righteousness over evil.


Across India, the festival takes on regional colours: homes are decorated with flowers, devotees perform Garba and Dandiya dances, and traditional sweets are offered to the Goddess. Maa Durga’s sacred presence reminds us that her nine forms are reflected in today's modern women—each representing traits that are as relevant now as they were millennia ago.


1. Shailaputri (Daughter of the Mountain): Symbolises strength, grounding, and purity.

Today’s women: Just like Shailaputri stands firm, women today balance family, career, and responsibilities with unshakeable strength, often being the “mountain” for their loved ones.


2. Brahmacharini (The Seeker of Knowledge): Embodies penance, devotion, and wisdom.

Today’s women: They reflect their dedication to education, personal growth, and the discipline they put into building their careers, dreams, and values.


3. Chandraghanta (Warrior Goddess): Represents courage and fearlessness, always ready to fight injustice.

Today’s women: LikeChandraghanta, women take bold stands—be it against workplace inequality, social injustice, or protecting their families.


4. Kushmanda (The Cosmic Creator): Known as the creator of energy and vitality.

Today’s women: She signifies the life-giving force—women nurture families, shape societies, and bring positivity and creativity wherever they go.


5. Skandamata (Mother of Kartikeya): Symbolises motherhood, compassion, and selfless love.

Today’s women: As mothers, mentors, and carers, they balance nurturing with empowering, raising children and guiding others with strength and kindness.


6. Katyayani (The Warrior Form): Known as the slayer of evil and symbol of righteous anger.

Today’s women: They embody this when they say “enough”—fighting against harassment, corruption, or any form of exploitation, and standing up for themselves and others.


7. Kalaratri (The Fierce Protector): Represents destruction of darkness, fearlessness, and inner power.

Today’s women: The modern woman faces struggles head-on—be it illness, financial crisis, or personal battles—and emerges stronger, protecting their families and values.


8. Mahagauri (The Symbol of Peace & Purity): Stands for forgiveness, calmness, and clarity.

Today’s women: In their gentleness and patience, they bring harmony—balancing chaos at home or in the workplace, radiating peace and healing.


9. Siddhidatri (Bestower of Knowledge and Powers): Represents wisdom, spiritual fulfilment, and guiding energy.

Today’s women: As teachers, leaders, and guides, they share knowledge, mentor others, and empower society to grow with their wisdom.


In essence, Navadurga is not just about the Goddess—it is about the divine feminine that every woman carries within her. Each woman today embodies all nine forms—sometimes a warrior, sometimes a nurturer, sometimes a creator, sometimes a seeker of peace.


Let us all bow down to Shakti and invoke Shakti within.


Happy Navratri to all of you. May Goddess Durga shower her blessings on all of us.


Jai Mata Di


(The writer is a tutor based in Thane.)

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