AN INTERVIEW WITH PROF. FARIDA KHANAM

enough money to afford a personal tutor. This was not an ideal way to study, but I had no other alternative. When the results came out, I had passed the exam while many other bright minds had failed. I have no other explanation for it except that it was a special succour from God. I completed M.A. in 1976. After completing my M.A. in English, I wanted to study Islam formally. I therefore took admission in M.A. in Islamic Studies in Jamia Millia Islamia University. I was very fortunate that the teachers in the department at the time were exceptional. I developed deep insight into the subject under their guidance. They helped me to understand Islam and its various academic aspects during my time there. This period further gave me tremendous exposure and opportunities for interaction when people came to the department and we attended seminars and conferences in the university. My understanding of the subject developed substantially and I was able to secure a first division as well as a first position in M.A. in Islamic Studies in 1982. This motivated me to study the subject further and I enrolled in the Ph.D. programme of Jamia under Prof. Mushirul Haq, a well-known scholar who went on to become the Vice Chancellor of Kashmir University. His guidance helped me to develop academically and I received my doctorate degree in 1990 in The Religio-Political Thoughts of Syed Abul Ala Maududi. Please describe your experience in Jamia Millia Islamia. How did you get to teach there? After obtaining my Ph.D., I did not know what to do further. I stayed at home. One day I chanced to meet a friend of mine. She told me that she had completed an elementary diploma course in Arabic and now she had enrolled in the diploma course in Arabic in Jamia Millia Islamia. I felt myself drawn to this course, and took admission. In Jamia, the Department of Arabic and the Department of Islamic Studies are adjacent to each other. Once I visited the Department of Islamic Studies. At that time Dr Majid Ali Khan was the head of the department. He informed me about a temporary vacancy for six months in the Department. He asked me to fill out a form if I was interested. I filled out the form and submitted it. Fortunately, I was selected and had my first stint as a lecturer for six months. It was in 1993. I was accorded an extension of one month. An interview was planned for the permanent post. Dr Majid Ali Khan knew my father quite well and had read many of my father’s books. He supported me to appear for the interview. Then the unthinkable