Zidni Ilma Trust – 3,000 Students Helped in 11 Years

A former Physics professor, Mr. Juzar Bandukwala set up the Zidni Ilm Charitable Trust in Vadodara in order to identify talents and handhold such students till they come up in life and become useful citizens of the country.

Vadodara: Anti-Muslim violence in Gujarat following a train coach burning in Godhra on February 27, 2002 saw hundreds dead and many more hundreds maimed for life. But it triggered introspection among Muslims and set them thinking as to what could change their destiny. Wise men among them advised the youth not to look for revenge and take up education, partnership in the nation’s development together with promotion of harmonious relationship with non-Muslim brethren. A former Physics professor, Mr. Juzar Bandukwala set up the Zidni Ilm Charitable Trust in Vadodara in order to identify talents and handhold such students till they come up in life and become useful citizens of the country.
Results are before us. The help by the Trust has enabled hundreds of Muslim children to realize the dreams of their life and join the mainstream as doctors, engineers, teachers, lawyers, technicians and skilled workers. It is to be noted that the BJP Government continues its anti-Muslim policies and has refused to give scholarships to students from the minority communities even though several state governments have set up Minorities Development Commissions.
Among them were three orphaned girls from Godhra, Raheema, Nafeesa and Rizwana (names changed) who were then six years old. They were adopted by the Trust. They were lodged in a relief camp in Kalol. First they were helped to study till their 10th std SSLC exam. Later they were helped to obtain their degrees. By Allah’s grace, all three secured degrees in Chemistry and Microbiology. Today they are employed in a pharmaceutical company in Halol town in Panchmahal district.
Between 2007 and 2018, 2,923 students were provided with scholarships to enroll in professional courses like MBBS, BE, BDS, etc with a total amount of Rs. 321 lakh. In the first year, the Trust disbursed Rs. 4.30 lakh towards scholarships. The amount kept on growing. Last year i.e., 2017, the Trust disbursed Rs. 55 lakh among 437 students, of which 294 were girls and 143 boys.

Zaid Hakim
Zaid Hakim is doing his B.Tech in Petroleum Engineering from the Pt. Deendayal Petroleum University, Gandhinagar. He says he belonged to a lower middle income family, but had scored high grades i.e., 98% in 12th std. and JEE rank 158. He was selected for the B.Tech course. The fee demanded was Rs. 2.5 lakh annually. ZICT came to his rescue. He says there are only two Muslim students in his batch.

Anjum Narmawala
Anjum Narmawala is into her third year MBBS at the GMERS Medical College in Himmatnagar. Though her father Nazim Narmawala was a businessman, he was into debts and could not have mustered up courage to fund Anjum’s studies. ZICT took up funding for her studies. A resident of Sodagar Pol in Ahmedabad’s Kalupur area, Anjum aspires to pursue her PG and contribute to the society back.
Arif Dela, son of a daily wager is today working as a Drug Safety Physician in Apcer Life Sciences, Ahmedabad and draws a salary of Rs. 75,000 a month. He could arrive at this stage only after obtaining an MD degree in Pharmacology which he was enabled to attain with the help of ZICT.
This year (2018), the number of applicants is likely to be around 500 and the Trust plans to collect donations to the tune of Rs. 65 lakh for disbursement. The disbursement ceremony has been scheduled for November 12. The venue will be Jehangirpura Masjid Plot, Mufti Siddiqmiya Chowk, Wadi-Chokhandi, Vadodara. The students in Gujarat can write to Zidna Ilma Charitable Trust, c/o- Dudhwala Traders, Opp. MES High School, Nagarwada Char Rasta, Vadodara-01, Gujarat.