Tabassum Mansoor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tabassum Mansoor | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | |
| Occupation | Educator |
| Known for | Indian Entrepreneur |
Tabassum Mansoor is born in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh[1][2][3][4] and she obtained a Bachelors of Education (B. Ed) from Aligarh Muslim University.[5] Tabassum has been working for over 30 years in the field of primary education [6] and social welfare in Benghazi, Libya.[7] She is the Managing Director and Principal of Indian International School, Benghazi.[3][8][9]
In 2011, amid the civil war against Colonel Gaddafi, Tabassum Mansoor was given a critical responsibility by the Indian Embassy in Tripoli of evacuating 3,000 Indians stranded in Benghazi and other parts of eastern Libya.[10] The mission was called Operation Safe HomecominThis operation was challenging because the situation in Libya was volatile and in many regions communication services were disrupted.[11] The communication infrastructure especially in the rebel-controlled areas had collapsed, rendering phone and internet services unavailable [12][13] Despite all challenges, Tabassum mobilized her school buses all across the city and successfully managed to assemble Indians from different parts of Libya in her school and she coordinated their safe transfer from Benghazi, Libya to Alexandria, Egypt via MV Scotia Prince Ship.[14] They were then flown home by a special Air India flight from Alexandria [15]
In 2020,[16] she played an instrumental role in saving lives of seven Indian nationals[4][17][18] who were abducted by Libyan Militants and managed their release through back channel diplomacy. Despite the ongoing crisis in Libya and closed borders all seven Indians were sent back on a special UN flight. Tabassum is a true daughter and flag bearer for India in spirit and service.[4][17][18]
Tabassum completed her education in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh and then graduated from Aligarh Muslim University with a Bachelor of Education [16] She moved to Benghazi, Libya in 1980 and then set up the first Indian International School (IIS) there.