Yunus Alvi / Nuh (Haryana)

Syeda Zainab Hussain and her aunt, Syeda Sadiya, of Nuh district in Haryana, have cleared the medical college entrance examination, the NEET 2025, and brought joy and pride to their families and the region, which is among the most backward areas of the country, as declared by NITI Aayog.

These young women’s achievements are all the more historic since they come from the Alvi community – a marginalized group of Muslims. From a lack of land ownership, education, and women’s empowerment, the Alvi community is among the most marginalized communities in Mewat.

Syeda Zainab Hussain has set a record by scoring 551 marks in NEET 2025. She has become the first woman from the Alvi community to clear this coveted examination.

It is often observed that girls in this community are not permitted to pursue education beyond primary level, but Zainab broke this notion, proving all naysayers wrong and becoming a change-maker.

Interestingly, Zainab cracked the exams in the third attempt.

Zainab's aunt (mother’s sister), Syeda Sadia, scored 536 marks in NEET 2025, proving that this achievement is not just a coincidence, but the beginning of a social change.

Zainab's father Zakir Hussain is an Assistant Sub-Inspector in Haryana Police and posted in the Security Branch of SP Office Nuh.

The family hails from Kamenda village (Ferozepur Jhirka).

Zainab's grandfather, the late Jameel Ahmed, was a head guard in the State Bank of India. Raised in such a middle-class family, Zainab's success in a competitive field like medical examination has become not just a personal victory, but a source of inspiration for girls of her community.

Zakir Hussain says "Zainab has been brilliant in studies from the beginning. Despite failing twice, she did not give up. She learned from every failure and moved forward and this time she passed NEET with good marks and proved that if you have passion, you will get success."

Similarly, Syeda Sadia also comes from a family of modest means. Her father Haji Israel, who retired in 2016 from the post of driver in Mewat Civil Surgeon Office, left no stone unturned in providing good education to all his daughters.

According to Zakir Hussain, even though his wife is only a matriculation pass, all his sisters are doing MA, double MA and one of his brothers is doing MBBS.

Prominent members of the Alvi community such as District Councilor Sabir Hussain, Jakam Alvi, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Syed Zakir Hussain, and Master Nazim Hussain visited the house of Zainab and Sadia and congratulated them and their families.

Former President of Nuh Bar Association Tahir Hussain Rupdia told media persons after visiting the homes of the two women, "By clearing the NEET examination, they have opened a new path for other girls of the society. This will become an example which will work like a mission in the times to come."

He also said "In an area like Mewat, where there is a huge shortage of female doctors, when our own daughters become doctors, they will not only treat the women here better, but will also change the thinking of the society. "

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Social scientists say Zainab and Sadia’s achievement will boost the education of women in the entire Mewat region, a Muslim-dominated area in Rajasthan.