About

The origins of Meer-e-Karwan can be traced back to a rainy evening in 2017, over a cup of chai, in a small tea house of Oxford. Disillusioned and saddened by the lack of adequate awareness, meaningful discussions and often, the dismissal of the voices of marginalised groups – a group of friends decided to create a social platform to combat this and provide a platform to teach, learn and engage with individuals and communities. And so…a pledge was made. No topic will remain taboo and no voice will remain unheard.

The phrase Meer-e-Karwan in Urdu describes the leader of a procession; a tribe of likeminded individuals, who set about a journey with a common goal. No matter where you are in your journey and what your goal is, we invite you to join the dialogue…to join the karwan.

Vision

At the heart of Meer e Karwan is a dream to learn, educate and create meaningful social dialogue, ultimately, bringing communities together. We hope to provide a platform, which engages the global community in discussions and healthy debate of social issues, which are pertinent in the contemporary society.

Mission

Meer e Karwan’s core activities include presenting series of podcasts under various topics, which define issues and educate the listener with regards to their relevance and importance and invite them to participate in productive and progressive discussions through our social media platform.

Subject areas of interest include, however, are not limited to equal rights, inequality, education, freedom of speech, mental health, violence and abuse, sexual health, sexuality and gender identity, climate change, human rights, food and water security. Our activities extend to appreciating and promoting the creative arts, through audience participation, which endorse and give voice to marginalised institutions, communities and social causes.

Meers

Fozia

Fozia is a final year DPhil in engineering sciences with a research focus on membrane technology for wastewater treatment, namely forward osmosis and membrane distillation. Prior to this, she did her BS and MS in Environmental Sciences from FJWU and NUST, Pakistan respectively. Before coming to Oxford, Fozia was actively involved in education board, a forum for the educational guidance of Ismaili students in the cities of Pakistan. She was also one of those outliers who aggressively advocate for the wellbeing of this planet. As a president in NUST Environmental Club, she was the founder of events like trash to model contest and plastic free campus campaigns. She has represented her former university in debating competitions all around Pakistan and believes in the power of raising voices for marginalised communities and women and children.
She is proud of her affiliation with Girls guide association since the age of five and has received a commendation certificate, which is the second highest award of Pakistan girl guide association after presidential gold medal. She loves walking, hiking and mountaineering and is upset with herself for not playing enough tennis in Oxford. However, she has learnt the art of baking and is proud to have acquired this British culture. In addition to this, she loves cross stitching and knitting in her spare time (Quiet 18th century). Currently, she is the worst ukulele player in the history of the planet but is adamant that she will get better at it. Like each year this year, she aims to read more books. To know more about how she thinks don’t forget to read the articles she has written for MEK.

Rabia

Rabia wrapped up her D.Phil in Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering from University of Oxford in February 2018 and returned to Pakistan soon afterwards. She is now working as Lecturer in an interdisciplinary research centre under the roof of Government sector University based in Lahore. Rabia earned Bachelor and Master degrees in Materials Engineering from University of the Punjab in Lahore and started working as junior researcher in tissue engineering straight after completing under-graduation which warmly inspired her to pursue it further. Coming to Oxford for D.Phil was a product of that process. At Oxford, she has also worked as an elected office bearer for Oxford University Pakistan Society (PakSoc) during 2013—2014.
Being a small-town girl originally from North Punjab of Pakistan, she has been exposed to stereotype mindsets towards women and tradition-rooted dynamics of the society. While she strongly believes in value-driven culture, yet she aspires to be vocal about the practices which are neither rooted in religion nor in values. Rabia has kick-started writing through MeK about women rights but she is flexible to scribble down about whatever appealing comes her away!
Leaving her MeK friends back in Oxford, she is in long distance relationship with us now. Rabia believes in keep dreaming and living while alive, she wants to grow herself with MeK into a motivational public speaker and book writer. Her future fantasies include riding a pink scooter to work, singing Punjabi folk songs in coke studio season. 1001, and riding an air-balloon over the lovely landscape of Oxford.

Niharika

Niharika is a final year DPhil student in Engineering Science. She completed her Bachelors degree in Aerospace Engineering from IIT Madras. Her research interests include Hypersonics, Space technology and Climate studies. When she is not trying to make aircrafts more efficient, she can be found sitting in the last row of a seminar or one of the many libraries in Oxford trying to learn about politics, international relations, gender studies and India.

Gustavo

Gustavo is currently a DPhil candidate at the University of Oxford, where he develops methodologies to design structures using advanced engineering materials. He got his Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering in his home country Peru, and his masters in Saudi Arabia. As student in Oxford, he was the founder President of the Oxford Peruvian Society, and is currently involved in developing the VR & AR Oxford Hub. During his free time he practices music, mainly with his Oxford based Latin band.

Huma

Huma is a medical doctor who concluded her basic training at Oxford University Hospitals. Her clinical and academic interests include psychiatry, haematology and global health. When not buried under the NHS red tape, she can be found buried under a pile of books, which focus mainly on the Indo-Pak partition, contemporary India and Pakistan, gender studies, Black history, human rights and literature.