Nazira ‘Naz’ Tareen brushes aside praise with modest humility and a gentle smile. Her eyes brighten up as she says, “My children and grandchildren keep teasing me all the time that even after all these years in Canada, traces of my Indianness unconsciously show through in a variety of ways. I tell them that no matter how hard I try, it’s not easy to completely erase the past; those happy memories of childhood and youth I spent in Bangalore (now Bengaluru)”.
Nostalgia sweeps over her as she shares that her mother, Amanna Bashirunisa Begum, and her father, Abdul Rahman Khaleel, called her War Baby – for she was born on 1 September 1939, the day World War II started. Later on, she was affectionately called Nazzu.
One of seven siblings – five sisters and two brothers – Naz grew up amid the carefree, hustle-and-bustle environment of her home in Basavangudi in the Muslim block, also called Islamabad of Bengaluru.
Home: A mini-India
“My father was not too keen about higher studies, so he went into the watch-making business. A four-sided tower clock built by him stands in working condition to this day in the city.”
Except for her parents, many of her family members from both sides were highly educated, occupying high posts of responsibility and eminence. Nazira’s paternal grandfather, Mohamed Ali Khalil, graduated from the Madras Medical College in 1893, was a medical doctor. Her father’s elder brother, Abdul Sami Khaleel, was the Secretary of State in Bangalore during the British rule and after. Her father’s younger brother, Habibur Rahman Khaleel, served in the British Army and was posted in Java during World War II. On her mother’s side, Nazira’s great uncle, Abdul Jabbar Khaleel was the Mayor of Bengaluru, a well-known respected lawyer.
“My mother was married at the age of 13. She was educated in an Urdu school. Although her parents weren’t highly educated, they ensured that all their children had the best of education. But both my parents were keen to see us all acquire a good education.” Recalling her school days, Nazira says, “Upto grade 7, I studied in a private school. Then my parents sent me to Bishop Cotton Girls’ High School, Bangalore, still one of the best schools in India.” She attended Mount Carmel College for a year before she got married.
Nazira admits that she wasn’t a very brilliant student, but she always managed to top in English, Mathematics, History and Geography, but never in Science. She always participated in debates, sports and athletics, like long-jump, etc., and represented her school in inter-school matches in basketball, volleyball and field hockey.
She was brought up in an open-minded and secular environment. Her family members were devout Muslims. “My best friends were mostly Hindus,” recalls Nazira, “my parents were religious and also liberal people. We celebrated Diwali with my friends, participating in the rituals, ceremonies and festivities at their homes. I remember, my father would take all of us as kids to see the Dussehra procession and celebrations by the Maharaja of Mysore. My friends were always invited to Eid festivities at our home. I stayed at my best friend, Nalini Sodhi’s home in New Delhi for a month for her wedding and later while I was waiting for my immigration visa after my marriage.”
Nazira got married to Farook Tareen on 31 December 1967, a medical doctor, who was in the USA since 1963 for post-graduate studies in Internal Medicine. He moved to Kingston, Ontario, in August 1967 to get a degree in FRCP. In January 1968, she moved to Canada and together they started a new life.
Nazira wanted to study further and Farook encouraged her. Her mother, who received home-education along with her kids, inspired her. Mr. Srinivasan, a private tutor, visited their home daily to teach them all. What’s more! Nazira’s mother-in-law, Beena Amtul Latif Mecci, was the first Muslim woman graduate of Maharani’s College, Mysore, in 1933.
Nazira loved children and wanted to become a teacher. She enrolled in Algonquin College in the Early Childhood Education Program in September 1969 for two years. She met many young Canadian women and learned a lot more about her adopted country from her classmates. She got pregnant during her second year of college and her education was interrupted briefly and could finally graduate in 1973 after the birth of both her children by taking evening classes.
Their first child, Shireen, was born in June. They were both educated in the prestigious Ashbury College, Ottawa. Shireen joined Concurrent Education Program and graduated as a teacher from Trent and Queens Universities and later pursued MBA while working as a Financial Analyst in the Royal Bank of Canada. She is married to Robert Donald Durfy, a qualified engineer and a financial analyst. They have a 12-year-old son, Matthew Jacob Durfy. Omar, a Business Administration graduate from Bishop’s University, Quebec, and a trained IT consultant, is working for the Government of Canada. He has a 16-year-old son, Sam, and a 14-year-old daughter India.
Dr. Farook Tareen passed away on 20 December 2012 leaving a big void in her life. Her greatest consolations are her three grandchildren whom she adores and her charitable work keeps her occupied.
Spreading peace and humanity
Nazira joined the Ottawa Muslim Women’s Auxiliary in 1973, later went on to serve on the Board to be elected as the president in 1977. Then under the auspices of the Ottawa Muslim Association (OMA), they raised money to build the first mosque in Ottawa which was completed in 1977. From 1977 to 1992, she also volunteered as the Sunday school teacher in the Ottawa Mosque. She is now a life member of OMA. Nazira along with others participated in Charity Bazaars to sell ethnic food. The food was much loved – the recipes from all over the world were put together in a book, Muslim Cookery. There were no copies of the Quran in all the courthouse for the swearing-in ceremonies. Nazira delivered free copies to every federal, provincial and municipal courthouse in Ottawa. After she was invited in 1975 by Notre Dame High School to address world religion class in grade 11, all the other Roman Catholic Schools started inviting her to address their students which led to TV, clubs and organisations. Later, she compiled all her lectures and speeches in a small book, Perceptions & Realities of Islam, for free distribution among students.
Nazira has studied other religions, like Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christanity, Jainism, etc., and found that all of them have similar principles and fundamentals and common beliefs of praying, helping the needy, etc.
When 9/11 happened, Nazira organised a prayer for peace in the City Hall of Ottawa with the blessing of Bob Chiarelli, then Mayor of Ottawa, the Imam of the Ottawa Mosque, two Jewish Rabbis and a Christian Minister. The interfaith prayers have become a regular tradition ever since. She had been planning to start an independent Muslim women’s organisation for sometime. After the attack, Muslims, especially women, were terrified and reeling with shock. Nazira along with 50 other ladies established the Ottawa Muslim Women’s Organisation (OMWO) on 30 September 2001. Under her leadership as the founder and first president, the OMWO creates awareness about Islam and peace. She also promotes education among women as a primary necessity. She encourages Muslim women to participate in the Canadian society as volunteers to help others.
Naz has received many awards for her efforts. To name a few are the YM-YWCA Women of Distinction (2000), Civic Appreciation Award City of Ottawa (2007), Women Who Inspire by Canadian Council of Women (2009), Recognition Award by Human Concern International (2010), Tejaswini Indo-Canadian Women Organisation (2011), Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award (2012) and Order of Ottawa (2012).
She credits all that she is doing for the society to both her parents, especially her mother. “She just had to know someone needed something—guidance, support in school/college admissions, financial support, etc., and she would help.”