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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.

‘The world is embracing Indian perfumery’

Updated: Mar 10


Indian perfumery
Swapnil Pathak Sharma

Swapnil Pathak Sharma is the fourth generation entrepreneur who aims to take her family’s traditional business of Indian essence and wellness products to the global stage. She launched an essence brand ‘Zighrana’ two years ago. Today, she is ready to take a giant leap in the global fragrance industry which is estimated to be over $24 billion. In a conversation with ‘The Perfect Voice’, Pathak Sharma talks about her ideas and goals. Excerpts…


Can you tell us about your journey in reviving India's rich perfumery heritage and the inspiration behind launching Zighrana?

Zighrana represents the perfect blend of tradition and luxury, rooted in a legacy that dates back to 1911. As a fourth-generation perfumer, I never initially planned to follow in my forefathers’ footsteps. However, when I realized that my family was creating some of the finest quality fragrances, I knew they deserved a global audience. That’s when I decided to step in..not just to continue the legacy, but to take it to the world through branding.

After completing my graduation in Pune, I started assisting my father in the family business, learning the intricacies of essential oil and attar manufacturing. To further deepen my understanding, I later pursued an advanced perfumery course at the prestigious Pratt Institute in New York City.

While my family had always focused on manufacturing, we had never ventured into branding. My vision was to transform our heritage into a brand that could showcase the artistry of Indian perfumery on a global scale.

We launched Zighrana in New York, a city that brings together cultures from around the world, making it the perfect platform to introduce Indian perfumery to an international audience. It was our way of declaring that India, with its rich and time-honored fragrance traditions, is ready to stand alongside the world’s most renowned perfume houses.


Kannauj is known as the perfume capital of India. How has this unique cultural and historical influence shaped the identity and offerings of Zighrana?

Since Kannauj is my hometown, it is more than just a place to me..it is my identity, my heritage, and an emotion deeply embedded in who I am. The centuries-old perfumery traditions of this city run in my blood, shaping my understanding of fragrances from an early age.

This deep-rooted cultural and historical influence is at the very core of Zighrana. The deg-bhapka method of distillation, a time-honored technique perfected over generations, remains central to our process. Known for capturing the purest essence of natural ingredients, this traditional craft gives our fragrances their authenticity and depth. At Zighrana, we honor these heritage techniques while infusing them with modern perfumery to create scents that resonate with today’s audience.


How do you feel about the growing international recognition of Indian attars?

Having Zighrana’s perfumes presented at the G20 summit was a proud moment, as it showcased India’s perfumery legacy at a prestigious global platform. Similarly, launching  ‘Vikas Khanna by Zighrana’ was a significant step for us as we were getting into the world of Eau de parfums with it.

This recognition fuels my passion to continue reviving and reintroducing India’s natural fragrances to the world. It’s not just about selling perfumes, it’s about telling the story of Indian perfumery heritage, preserving an ancient craft, and ensuring that Indian attars take their rightful place among the world’s finest fragrances.


The 'Ayodhya Ittar' is a beautiful tribute to Lord Shri Ram. Can you share the significance of this perfume and its cultural and spiritual importance for both India and the world?

Ayodhya attar is a spiritual tribute to Lord Shri Ram, symbolizing his purity, devotion, and righteousness. Crafted from natural ingredients known for their calming qualities, it captures the essence of Lord Shri Ram’s legacy. For India, it celebrates the nation’s rich spiritual heritage, while for the world, it offers a fragrance that embodies universal values of peace, love, and justice. It is more than a perfume, it’s a sacred experience connecting the soul to divinity.


How do you see the future of attars and natural perfumes in the global luxury market?

With growing consumer awareness about sustainability, the demand for natural perfumes and attars is steadily rising in the global luxury market. More people are looking for fragrances that are not only luxurious but also ethically sourced, free from synthetic chemicals, and rooted in authenticity. This shift aligns perfectly with what Zighrana stands for..pure, handcrafted attars made using time-honored distillation techniques and natural ingredients.

I believe the future of attars is incredibly promising. As consumers move away from mass-produced synthetic perfumes, they are rediscovering the artistry and depth of natural fragrances. Indian attars, with their rich heritage and sustainable production methods, have a unique opportunity to redefine luxury in perfumery.

The future belongs to fragrances that tell a story—of nature, craftsmanship, and sustainability—and attars perfectly embody that vision.


As a woman entrepreneur leading Zighrana, what challenges and opportunities have you faced in establishing your brand in the competitive luxury fragrance industry?

I was raised to believe there’s nothing I can’t do as a woman, and this mindset has shaped my journey..whether in business, motherhood, or creativity. Balancing multiple roles comes with challenges, but it also teaches patience and fuels my desire to build a legacy for my children. No matter how busy life gets, making time for what you love brings balance and fulfillment.

Building Zighrana in the luxury fragrance industry has been both challenging and rewarding. Establishing a niche for Indian attars in a market dominated by Western perfumes, balancing heritage with innovation, and educating consumers about natural, artisanal fragrances were key hurdles. Yet, the opportunities are immense..the world is embracing Indian perfumery, seeking sustainable, authentic scents.

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