Firdous Khan/Nuh

Once upon a time, girls attending school in Haryana’s Mewat faced criticism and disapproval from society. Yet, during that period, Mumtaz Khan not only completed her post-graduation in English but also pursued a Master’s degree in Mass Communication.

Today, Mumtaz Khan of Chandeni village in Nuh district has emerged as a shining star of Mewat.

She says, “My career was a big challenge, because at that time, education for girls was not common, and choosing a career in electronic media — the world of television — was even more difficult.”

Her parents, Akhtar Hussain and Shahnaz Hussain, had dreamt of a career in journalism for her. Later, her husband, Sarfaraz Khan, gave wings to her aspirations.

Mumtaz Khan anchoring a show

She not only made a name for herself in journalism but has also actively participated in several public movements for social service.

She adds, “Being a daughter has always earned me respect in my community. It was not a challenge but a matter of pride. Of course, I faced many hurdles in my career. Outsiders often considered Mewat as extremely backward, and assumed that all its people were uneducated and incapable.”

Among the villages of Mewat, Chandeni is considered a leading example in education and women’s empowerment. It is well-known for its positive initiatives — a credit that goes to individuals like Mumtaz.

Mumtaz Khan at her office

Before this, she worked for nearly five years with Zee Media’s Urdu news channel Zee Salam, where she was one of the leading anchors. She has hosted major shows, debates, and interviews.

She explains, “From a very young age, I started raising the voice of the people of Mewat on various platforms. People blessed me for this. I was interested in social services since childhood. I participated in movements like the one to upgrade Mewat into a district, to secure fair compensation for farmers whose lands were acquired for national projects, for education, health, and employment. I participated in these wholeheartedly.”

It is worth mentioning that the struggle to make Mewat a district was a long one. On 2nd October 2004, then Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala announced the creation of the Mewat district, naming it Satyamevpuram.

The people of Mewat found the name unusual, but their happiness lay in the recognition of their region as a district. Later, under the Congress government, it was renamed as Nuh.

“Entering electronic media and making a name for myself was no easy task,” she says.

Today, the people of Mewat are proud of her and shower her with affection and respect. Their blessings and support of her family are her strength and courage. Her family remains her big support.

 remarkable contributions and social service.

These include the Mewat Ratna Award, Mewat Gaurav Award, Women Empowerment Award, an award for her key role in the campaign to make Mewat a district, the Kalki Gaurav Award, Face Time’s Best Journalist Award, and the Role Model for Girls Award, among others.

She advises, “Girls can progress while staying within their limits. The first step is to gain education and then build a career. They must become self-reliant and pursue their dreams. Patience and hard work are important for this journey.”

“I draw power to face challenges from my family — my father, my late mother, my husband, and my son Adeel Khan are my pillars of strength,” she told Awaz-The Voice.

Mumtaz Khan has been honoured with several awards for herThe world outside the home is full of challenges, but with courage, nothing is impossible. By maintaining dignity and self-respect, one can establish an identity in any field, she believes.

Family support is also vital — any work done with the consent and blessings of family always reaches its destination. Girls’ education is important because an educated girl educates two families. “A mother’s lap is the first school for her children. An educated mother raises her children in a much better way.”

Speaking about her inspiration for social service, she says, “I drew inspiration from my family. My maternal grandfather and parents always helped others; they felt the pain of those in distress.

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"In the field of media, I have drawn inspiration from Oprah Winfrey, the American presenter. She faced tough times in her life and struggled hard to make her mark across the world. Today, she is an inspiration for people everywhere.”