‘My answer to Taliban’: Afghan woman wins MA gold at Gujarat university

SURAT: "I represent the women from Afghanistan who are deprived of education. I want to convey to the Taliban that women can also excel in any field if given the opportunity," says Razia Muradi.
Muradi, an Afghan national, won the gold medal in MA (public administration) at Veer Narmad South Gujarat University (VNSGU) convocation on Monday.

Muradi, who has not been able to meet her family in Afghanistan for the past three years, got 8.60 cumulative grade point average (CGPA), the highest score in the subject.
She completed her MA in April 2022 and is now pursuing PhD in public administration. After arriving in India, she took up her studies on online mode due to the Covid lockdown. Most of her classes and exams were held online in the first two semesters.

Razia hopes to help students in education
I attended the lectures regularly and focused on my studies. I revised a few days before the exams," says Razia Muradi, who stayed undisturbed not only by the Taliban but also by the global pandemic. Besides the gold medal, she also won the Sharda Ambelal Desai Prize at the convocation.
Hitting out at the Taliban, she says it is shameful that they have banned girls and women from receiving formal education. "I am thankful to the Indian government, ICCR, VNSGU, and people of India for providing me with this opportunity," said Muradi who is hoping to return the favour to VNSGU someday and help students reach their educational goals.

She says the occasion gives her a mixed feeling. "I feel happy for the medal but I am sad for not being able to meet my family for three years. I will inform them over phone, and they will be happy," Muradi told TOI.
Around 14,000 students from Afghanistan are now studying in India with scholarship support from Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and other institutions.

They came to India for higher studies after clearing the qualifying exams. The majority of them, including men, have extended their stay in India because of the current situation in their country.
Muradi came to India for the two-year MA programme but could not return as the Taliban took over her country.
"Through my success, I want to create awareness among people in Afghanistan. I also wish that the international community would intervene and see that people in Afghanistan live their life the way people in other countries live," she said."I wish to go back to Afghanistan if the situation becomes normal and work for my motherland," she added.