This excellently illustrated book is dedicated to Shaikh Mohamed Abdullah and his legacy of selfless commitment to the education of Muslim women in India. Generations of women experience a profound sense of gratitude for Shaikh M. Abdullah - affectionately known and remembered as Papa Mian (1874 - 1965) - and his wife Waheed Jahan Begum. The couple started a small madrasa in 1906, in a small house in Aligarh,U.P. which is now called Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) Women's College and is considered one of the best residential women's college in India. So popular and well-established is the institution that monthly dormitory fees come up to little more than two hundred rupees - a paltry sum these days. Shaikh M. Abdullah received a prestigious award ‘Padama Bhushan' by the Indian government in 1964. “Dreams and Destination” gives a detailed history of Shaikh M. Abdullah's life and his endeavors. He was born in June 1874, in a small village in the Poonch district of Kashmir, in a Hindu family and was named Thakur Das. His grandfather Mast Ram, popularly known as ‘ Mehta' was a prominent landlord. As was the custom in those days, Shaikh Abdullah started his education by learning Persian and was then admitted to the Maktab of Nizamuddin. Mian Nizamuddin was very much impressed with him and sent him to school in Jammu, where he learned English. He then joined Government High School in Lahore. Due to the influence of his teachers and associates at Lahore, Thakur Das embraced Islam and became Shaikh Mohammed Abdullah. At Lahore he attended a meeting of the Mohammeden Educational Conference and got his first glimpse of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, the pioneer of the most important movement for the education of Muslims in the Indian subcontinent, to date. Abdullah was so impressed by Sir Syed's lecture that he proceeded to Aligarh for further studies at the Muhammedan Anglo-Oriental college (later known as Aligarh Muslim University) where he received an LLB degree. He started his Law practice in Aligarh and became an ardent follower and supporter of Sir Syed. One challenge that Sir Syed was not able to directly address was the promotion of modern education for Muslim women. Shaikh M. Abdullah took up this cause and devoted his life to it. He started a monthly magazine “Khatoon (Ladies)” to create awareness for the promotion of female education. Though the magazine provoked a lot of opposition, it also rallied support for the cause. Abdullah also established the Female Education Association and organized meetings in different parts of the country to discuss issues related to education. Her Highness Sultan Jahna Begum of Bhopal - a dedicated patron of education for Indian Muslims - who later became chancellor of AMU was the first one to financially support the cause and agreed to give an initial grant of 100 rupees per month for the madrasa. Boarding facilities were established in 1906 in small a rented house, and initially, 17 girls enrolled in the institute. The madrasa slowly grew and in 1909, it boasted of 100 girls. Abdullah's wife and her sisters were charged with the running of the madrasa. The unprecedented and irrefutable success of the madrasa brought recognition and funding from government grants too. Abdullah duly bought an old orchard for the new building of the school where this grand institution now stands. The foundation of the school building was laid in 1911 by Lady Porter, wife of the acting Lieutenant Governor of U.P. The editors have gathered precious old photographs, personal and official documents and the available remaining literature for the book. It has several pictures of Shaikh M. Abdullah's family, his supporters and friends. His children - a son and five daughters - went on to receive distinguished educations and brought laurels to the family and institution alike. Personal details and pictures of the distinguished visitors and dignitaries to the college, events, meritorious students and prominent alumni makes this both an excellent and inspirational read. - SG “An Illustrated History of 100 years of women's education (1906 to 2006)”. Editor-in-chief : Azra Alvi, Associate Editor: Roomana .N. Siddiqui at Century publication, Women's College, Aligarh Muslim University, India __
