Storming into a male bastion with a flying career Tabassum Wani is the first woman law student from Kashmir to have bagged one of the topmost honours in the field. Shazia Khan profiles a new entrant in the legal circles.
Receiving Nani A Palkiwala Memorial Gold Medal for securing top position in Comparative Constitutional Law at National Academy of Legal Studies and Research in Hyderabad, infused a new wave of zeal in Tabassum Wani, the first Kashmiri woman to have bagged such an honour.
Tabassum, who is from Ushkara, Baramulla says, “there is nothing impossible in life. Success needs only hard work and the correct approach to reach the goal of your life. The path of success is full of difficulties but it doesn’t mean we would give up what we desire. ”
Born in a middle class family Tabssum, received her early education from Hanfia School, Ushkara and later joined St. Joseph’s School at Baramulla. Being the youngest of five siblings Tabassum was brought-up with great care and love.
She says, “I remember as a child I used to say to my mother that I want to become a Judge but she wanted me to become a Doctor. For her sake I tried my best to qualify M.B.B.S. Entrance Exams (CET) but couldn’t go through it.”
She continued her education in life science and completed her graduation from Government Degree College Barhamullah. After graduation, Tabbasum joined the Law Department, at University of Kashmir.
“It was an opportunity to live my childhood dream. Though Science as a demanding subject has great future but Law with an endless scope of research fascinated me more,” she says.
“Many thought that Science and Law are two different fields, but they are closely interlinked. Patent Drafting, one of the most essential and well-paid components of law, requires degrees in either Science or Engineering”, added Tabbasum
Ask her does she face any criticism while shifting her interest from Science to Law. She says, “My parents are very supportive. They have helped in everything I do in my life. I dedicate all my success to them whatever I achieve is all because of their endless support.”
During her stint at the KU, she said that the interaction with her friends from the Law Department inspired her to continue further education in law. After LLB from university of Kashmir she decided to appear for All-India entrance test for Maters in Law and specialized in Intellectual Property Rights, which deals with Patents, Copyright, Trademark, Geographical Indication, Trade Secrets, Industrial Design and Layout Circuits, Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights as well as Traditional knowledge.
“It was a bit difficult to qualify all India entrance examination for LLM . With a limited intake capacity at prestigious law institutes of country, every year thousands of aspirants from all over India appeared in the examination.”
After qualifying the entrance test in 2007, Tabassum joined NALSAR. She worked very hard to secure the top position in Comparative Constitutional law and bagged the honour of Nani A Palikiwala Memorial Gold Medal.
For her “The honour is the labour of her hard work” she says “I am feeling like I am at the top of the world. I am thankful to Almighty for achieving something that has brought honour to me and my state.”
After winning the medal, she now wants to focus on the civil administrative exams. “I have cleared the preliminaries and would be appearing for the main KAS examination in future.” In addition to that Tabassum is planning to excel in teaching.
For young aspirants Tabbasum says, “It is always important to believe yourself and work hard whatever you wished to do.”
