NEW DELHI – A driver’s daughter, Sana Ali, has now become a scientist at the prestigious Indian Space Research Organisations (ISRO), the national space agency. Sana, who hails from Madhya Pradesh’s Vidisha district, has been assigned to work as a technical assistant at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC). It is a rocket launch centre operated by ISRO and is located in Sriharikota, Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh.
Sana achieved this distinction through sheer hard work, the courage of conviction and sincerity of purpose. Meager resources at her command due to the limited financial opportunities of her father did not deter Sana from carrying on with her education as she completed her B.Tech and M.Tech from Vidisha’s Samrat Ashok Technical Institute (SATI). Her father, Sayed Sajid Ali, works as a driver at the same institute.
Sajid Ali had to take loans and Sana’s mother mortgaged her jewellery to help her continue her studies.
“I belong to a middle-class family. I want to give a message to all women; get an education at any cost. Make all efforts to achieve the goal which you have set in your life. You need to work hard keeping aside all the failures coming your way,” Sana was quoted by media reports as saying.
Her parents also ignored suggestions from their relatives and several others not to give so much education to Sana. They urged them to get her married at an early age.
“I worked hard to get my daughter educated. We continued her education despite all economical constraints. I told my daughter that she had to study at all costs and achieve her goals. My daughter also gave her all efforts in her studies and reached this stage. We are very happy. I make supplications that my daughter may progress more and more,” said Sajid, Sana’s proud father.
Sana has won accolades from state Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia. The Chief Minister congratulated Sana and called her “Vidisha ki Beti” (Daughter of her district Vidisha).
“Girls like you are making Madhya Pradesh proud and showing the strength of daughters. I wish you a pleasant, successful and bright future,” said Chouhan.
Congratulating Sana and wishing her a bright future, Scindia said: “Under difficult situations, you have achieved your goal. This makes the entire Madhya Pradesh proud.”