Hazrat Syeda Suraiya Begum (Dadijaan) was my paternal grandmother, my greatest inspiration and she left us forever on the 20th of Shawwal (today) a couple of years ago. I have never seen any woman as strong, kind, empathetic, benevolent and altruistic as her. Due to her philanthropic nature and charitable disposition she was popularly known as "Maji Qibla".

Being the granddaughter of Nawab Salimullah ( a great Muslim Revolutionary), she was a staunch feminist of her times and always worked for uplifting the underprivileged and oppressed women arround her. Although she hailed from a liberal background, she adjusted well in our extremely religious and conservative Muslim family on being married to my grandfather Pir e Tariqat Hazrat Syedana Rushaid Ali Al Qadri (r.a.) , who was a religious leader. She was proud of her ideology and broke the stereotype that married women of religious families, who stayed behind the veil can't be feminist.

She always told us to pursue our dreams and that being a woman should never be seen as a barrier in our path instead we should try and inspire other women and remove their hurdles. She was an all rounder and raised eleven children very well inspite of loosing her husband at a young age. Life had been bitter for her as time and again she was disappointed by her loved ones but she stayed strong, enduring all pain, fighting against all odds just for the sake of the promise she made to my grandfather, that of taking care of their eleven children.

She was our shield against all calamities/adversities, our strength and our guide. She used to enlighten us about religion, spirituality, societal norms, women's rights and above all about the importance of being empathetic towards anyone in need. She used to speak impeccable English and I tried to imitate her, although none of us are anywhere close to her.

And just like all stories have a happy ending, she too had one. Inspite of having a tough and painful life her one and only wish was fulfilled, that of being buried right beside her beloved husband. And they had a blissful reunion in the hereafter.

When ever I am in a fix and don't know how to proceed I try and imagine what she would have done in such a situation and I act accordingly.... Indeed a woman like her can inspire generations.

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