Nazia Erum runs a fashion start-up, and is the mother of an adorable little girl. But from the day Myra was born, she found herself asking questions she didn't have answers for. It began with her daughter's name – should Nazia choose a traditional Islamic name or a more non-religious sounding one so that her daughter couldn't be identified as a Muslim? Nazia was not the only modern middleclass Muslim asking this question. Soon she discovered that finding the right name for Myra was the least of her worries. Talking to over 100 children and their parents across 12 cities, what Nazia uncovers is deeply troubling. She heard stories of rampant bullying of Muslim children in many of the country's top schools, of six-year-olds being hit by their classmates because of their faith, of religious segregation in classrooms and of anxious Muslim parents across the country who monitor their children's dress, speech and actions to protect them. In Mothering a Muslim, she finally lifts the veil on this taboo subject, one that is spoken of only in whispers. Urgent, gripping and heartbreaking, this is essential reading for every Indian


Review
Meticulously researched and sobering. This is essential reading for all parents and all schools – and for anyone thinking about the India which we want our children to grow up in.’ – Shalini Advani, Director, Pathways School Noida

Mothers of the others – this is a must-read. A sensitive, eye-opening narrative which every parent and those who work with children must read.’ – Arun Kapur, Director, Vasant Valley School

An author, communications consultant, columnist, TEDx Speaker and startup enthusiast. Her core expertise being creative story-driven content and multimedia - digital communication strategy.

From being trained as a journalist to being the youngest Indian to represent south-east Asia at the Global Fund Board, Nazia Erum believes in serially reinventing herself. She has researched and authored many publications for lead development organisations, documenting their work processes and growth story. Some of these are 'Closer to ground' for UNDP, 'Art of Resilience' for Francois-Xavier Bagnound India and the 140 yrs commemoration book of extensively researched stories for TLMTI's Princess Diana Center for Media. She has worked at startups, development sector, multilateral organizations and at MoHFW.

She also writes at CNN News18, Daily O (India Today group)and HuffingtonPost and is a panelist at various gender summits and television news debates. Next up is a book on Mothering a Muslim (JuggernautBooks) and a compilation of her experiences while working at the United Nations. She is also a winner of the Orange Flower Awards and runs TheLuxuryLabel.in, an Indian workwear brand for women.