AN ACHIEVER : DR SHARMEEN MUSHTAQ NIZAMI
After Valley witnessed a heavy snowfall in 2019, most of the people remained homebound and preferred their cozy living rooms. But Dr. Sharmeen Mushtaq Nizami, chose otherwise. She took out her four-wheel drive and rode off to Zabarwan hills of Srinagar. Doctor by profession, Dr Sharmeen (43) became the first woman off-road driver of Kashmir when she participated in a race-on-snow event titled ‘Big Frozen Rush 2’ in 2019. Raised in a sports loving family, Dr. Sharmeen was inclined towards sports from an early age. Dr. Sharmeen discovered her love for motor-cars during her rides with her father in his 4X4 vehicle. “My father owned a jeep, so I’ve spent most of my childhood traveling with him in his jeep. I was fascinated with the sense of freedom I felt even while sitting on a pillion seat. I grew up with the dream of riding my own jeep,” Dr. Sharmeen said. Growing old, Dr Sharmeen’s dream came true when she owned her own four-wheel-drive in 2018. In 2019, Dr Sharmeen participated in ‘frozen Rush 2’ snow autocross and took her passion for driving to another level where she pushed her limits by racing on snow.
“Seeing her passion for driving, her cousin introduced her to ‘Kashmir off- road’, a motorsport club in Srinagar. She immediately realized this was the opportunity to be grabbed as it provided her a platform to showcase her skills. She registered for one of the snow race events and became the first woman in the state to participate in such kind of event. In spite of all the obstacles she faced, Dr Sharmeen rose like a star. Since then, Dr. Sharmeen has been following motor sporting activities of the group and participating in most of the motorsport events in the valley. In addition to being an adventure lover, Dr. Sharmeen also has been silently helping the people in need by providing financial assistance to critical care patients.
“I experienced pain closely when my husband died of pancreatic cancer a few years back. Even though I belong to a well-off family, yet the disease drained us financially. Taking a lesson from my experience, I along with my colleagues started an initiative to help patients suffering from critical ailments,” Dr. Sharmeen said. She along with her friends helps critical care patients by buying medicines and other treatments for them. They provide financial assistance and arrange medicines for patients suffering from life-consuming diseases like cancer, and those needing dialysis and post-transplant patients.As Covid-19 pandemic hit the world and impacted people financially, Dr. Sharmeen along with her friends tried to reach out to the needy and assist them whichever way it was possible.
