Aaya | 30+ Years at Salma
"Even now, at seventy, Asgari Aapa arrives every day - taking attendance, carrying water to teachers, passing messages between classrooms."
Asgari Begum was born on 1 January 1956 in Shahdara. Her father worked as a TT in Indian Railways. She was married at just nine years old - a tragically common fate for girls of her time and community - and her rukhsati (moving to her husband's home) happened at seventeen.
Asgari raised eleven children through difficult circumstances. When her husband passed away at the age of 48, she was left without means of support. To survive, she carried bundles of goods between neighbouring villages. Her children had studied at Salma, and Nishat Ma'am - aware of her situation - called her one day and offered her a role as the school's Aaya. It was, as the saying goes, a lifeline.
At Salma, Asgari Aapa became indispensable. She could calm the most distressed, crying child in moments - a skill that remains priceless in the early school years. She also trained as an ASHA worker and, with the support of A.N.M. Santosh, served her community in that role too. Nishat Ma'am and Principal Sheeba Ma'am have always supported her in this dual role.
Today, at seventy years old, Asgari Aapa still reports every day - carrying water for teachers, taking attendance rounds in classrooms, and delivering messages. Her health is not always cooperative, but her spirit is unbreakable. Salma calls her one of its strongest pillars.