Interview with Khadija Minhaj Umar, January 4, 2008

Partial Transcript: --(coughs)--This is Amber Abbas with Mrs. Khadija, Mrs. Khadija Umar.

Segment Synopsis: Umar discusses her childhood in Aligarh (India), including her schooling, which took place in a convent and later at Aligarh Girls College.

Keywords: Agra (India); Aligarh (India); Aligarh Girls College; British; Childhoods; Children; Civil engineers; Convents; Daughters; Degrees, masters; Dogs; Education; Fathers; Grandmothers; Great Britain; Hindus; Lucknow University; Mathematics; Partition of India; Punjab (India); Schools; Scripture; Sikhs; Sisters; Sons; Teaching; Tombs; Umar, Anna

Subjects: Agra (India); Aligarh (India); British; Childhood; Children; Civil engineers.; Convents; Daughters; Degrees, Academic.; Dogs; Education; Fathers; Grandmothers; Great Britain; Hindus; India--History--Partition, 1947; India--History.; Lucknow University; Mathematics; Pakistan--History; Punjab (India); Schools; Sikhs; Sisters; Sons; Teaching; Tombs

Partial Transcript: So, what year were you married?

Segment Synopsis: Umar talks about her marriage and later her migration from Aligarh (India) to Pakistan. She also talks about her daughter’s death from diphtheria shortly after the migration. Umar then discusses the refugee crisis created by the mass migrations after the establishment of Pakistan.

Keywords: Aligarh (India); Bulls; Children; Daughters; Death; Diphtheria; Families; India; Khan, Ayub; Lahore (Pakistan); Migration; Mussoorie (India); Pakistan; Partition of India; Punjab (India); Refugees; Sisters; Uttar Pradesh (India)

Subjects: Aligarh (India); Bulls; Children; Daughters; Death; Diphtheria; Families; India; India--History--Partition, 1947; India--History.; Khan, Ayub, 1969-; Lahore (Pakistan); Mussoorie (India); Pakistan; Pakistan--History; Punjab (India); Refugees; Sisters; Uttar Pradesh (India)

Partial Transcript: And, and when did you join the teaching at Kinnaird College?

Segment Synopsis: Umar talks about her teaching career in Pakistan, as well as her brief time in Dhaka (Bangladesh).

Keywords: Aligarh (India); Dhaka (Bangladesh); East Pakistan; Girls; Islamia College University; Kinnaird College for Women; Mathematics; Teaching; Urdu language; Women

Subjects: Aligarh (India); Dhaka (Bangladesh); Girls; India--History.; Kinnaird College for Women; Mathematics; Pakistan--History; Teaching; Urdu language; Women

Partial Transcript: Was Dhaka, say, as advanced as Lahore is?

Segment Synopsis: Umar talks about restrictions placed on her as a Muslim woman pursuing her education. She also talks about keeping in touch with family and friends in Aligarh (India).

Keywords: Aligarh (India); Burkas; Dhaka (Bangladesh); Education; Girls; Hijabs; Islamic clothing and dress; Islamic fundamentalism; Lahore (Pakistan); Lucknow (India); Partition of India; Saudi Arabia; Women

Subjects: Aligarh (India); Burkas; Dhaka (Bangladesh); Education; Girls; India--History--Partition, 1947; India--History.; Islamic clothing and dress; Islamic fundamentalism; Lahore (Pakistan); Lucknow (India); Muslim women.; Pakistan--History; Saudi Arabia; Women

Partial Transcript: Mostly now they are all fading away into the next world and I am still here to...

Segment Synopsis: Umar talks about Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, whose daughter attended the same school as her. Abbas and Umar also discuss her uncle, General Wajahat Husain.

Keywords: Abdullah, Omar; Abdullah, Sheikh Muhammad; Ali, Suraiya Abdullah; Daughters; Husain, Wajahat; University of Texas

Subjects: Abdullah, Mohammad S.; Abdullah, Mohammad, Sheikh, 1905-1982.; Abdullah, Omar, 1970-; Ali, Suraiya Abdullah; Daughters; Husain, Wajahat; India--History.; Pakistan--History; University of Texas

Partial Transcript: And I remember General Vijahas (??) had told me Colonel Hedev (??) was the head of recruiting--

Segment Synopsis: Umar discusses her reaction to the death of Mahomed Ali Jinnah, as well as Mohandas Gandhi and Liaquat Ali Khan.

Keywords: Death; Gandhi, Mohandas; Jinnah, Mahomed Ali; Khan, Liaquat Ali; Lahore (Pakistan); Leaders; Pakistan; Sisters-in-law

Subjects: Death; Gandhi, Mahatma, 1869-1948.; India--History.; Jinnah, Mahomed Ali, 1876-1948.; Khan, Liaquat Ali, 1895-1951.; Lahore (Pakistan); Leaders; Pakistan; Pakistan--History

Partial Transcript: We were talking a little bit about what the current politics are.

Segment Synopsis: Umar talks about her feelings about the current state of affairs in Pakistan. She also talks about where her children settled, as well as their education and current careers.

Keywords: Architecture; Chicago (Ill.); Children; Daughters; Engineering; Families; Pakistan; Politics; Science; Sons; United States; University of Karachi

Subjects: Architecture; Chicago (Ill.); Children; Daughters; Engineering; Families; Pakistan; Pakistan--History; Science; Sons; United States; University of Karachi