Nusrat Jahan, Headmistress of Jamia Middle School (JMS), Jamia Millia Islamia, received the prestigious “Best Principal Award” from Indian Talent Olympiad for the year 2024-25 by the Indian Talent Olympiad Committee.
The Award ceremony was held in Mumbai on 18th march, 2025 in a gathering of awardee Principals across the country. The award is given in the field of education for leadership Qualities, Academic Excellence of the students, Innovative and visionary initiatives for the cause of education. Principal of the top-performing school gets the Best Principal award.
Dr. Kiran Bedi, former Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, along with Saina Nehwal, a Padma Bhushan recipient and world champion in badminton, presented the award to Nusrat Jahan. In their inspiring addresses, they extended their congratulations to the award-winning principals and emphasised the significant impact teachers have on individuals’ lives.
Nusrat Jahan excelled in the criteria necessary for award selection. Nusrat Jahan has significantly enhanced the school’s performance and has been instrumental in nurturing students’ scientific and mathematical skills, igniting their curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, said the university in a statement. Upon receiving this esteemed award, Nusrat Jahan expressed her gratitude to the Indian Talent Olympiad committee and acknowledged the dedicated teaching staff and enthusiastic students of JMS for their contributions.
Over 42,175 schools throughout India participate in the Olympiad examinations organised by the Indian Talent Olympiad, with millions of students taking part in these assessments.
Prof. Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi, Registrar of JMI, extended his congratulations and commended the efforts of the Headmistress. Last year, Mrs. Jahan was honored with the District Best Principal Award from the Science Olympiad Foundation Academic Council.
In another development on the campus, the Department of Persian, Jamia Millia Islamia celebrated Nauroz festival on March 24, 2025 in the Iranology Hall of the Department. The program was attended by dignitaries from Iran & Tajikistan embassies and visiting faculty of Afghanistan in India. Professor Mazhar Asif, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, JMI, graced the occasion with his auspicious presence.
The programme began with recitation of the Quran by PG student Sohail Ahmad. Prof. Kaleem Asghar, Head, Dept. Of Persian, delivered a welcome address where he highlighted the significance of the Nauroz festival from time immemorial saying that even the Mughal kings celebrated the festival with much fanfare.
Dr. Anwar Khairee, an Afghan national and visiting faculty at JNU, threw light on the significance of Nauroz festival in Afghanistan. He said that the people of Afghanistan construe Nauroz as the beginning of a new chapter of life with renewed vigour.
Prof. Iqtedar Mohd. Khan, Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Languages, in his address congratulated the Department of Persian, JMI, for organizing such an important program. He said that such programs have deep cultural significance and should be celebrated each year to make our future generations aware of our cultural heritage.
Dr. Farid Uddin Farid Asr, Cultural Counsellor of the Culture House of the Islamic Republic of Iran, New Delhi, talked at length about the antiquity of Nauroz Festival and referred to its traces in ancient Iranian literature. He said that Nauroz provides for the unity of people across the globe.
Qahrman Suleimani, Director, Persian Research Institute, Culture House of the Islamic Republic of Iran, New Delhi, said that the Nauroz festival has its roots in ancient Iranian literature and culture. He discussed the cultural aspect of Nauroz celebration and termed it as the festival of togetherness.
Lukmon Bobokalonzada, the Tajik Ambassador to India, declared Nauroz festival as the festival of peace and prosperity. He said India and Central Asia share a lot in common and festivals like Nauroz bring the two nations closer.
Prof. Mazhar Asif, Vice Chancellor, JMI, presided over the programme. In his presidential remark he urged that Nauroz gives an opportunity to us to shed all our negative thoughts and start life afresh each year. Drawing parallel with Holika Dahan and Jashne Chahar Shanba e Suri he said like all the evil spirits get burned in Holika Dahan similarly Nauroz festival provides us to throw away all our isms into fire. He congratulated the Dept. of Persian for celebrating Nauroz in its true sense.
The programmw concluded with the inauguration of Sufra-e Haft Seen by the dignitaries of Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan. The Sufra-e Haft Seen was arranged by the PhD students of the Department. Ms. Fatima Syed Madni, PhD scholar of the Dept. of Persian, JMI who compered the function also described the importance of each item put on display on Sufra-e Haft Seen and threw light on their symbolic meaning.
The programme ended with a vote of thanks proposed by Mr. Afzal Zaidi, a PhD scholar of the Department of Persian, JMI.
