Shehla Masood

A pioneering Indian educator who built schools for marginalized girls in conflict zones

Shehla Masood (b. 1975) is an Indian social activist and founder of Sahiyana Academy, an organization that operates 28 schools in disputed regions of India's Kashmir Valley. Growing up in Srinagar, she experienced the devastating impact of gender inequality and political unrest on girls' education. After completing her MBA in the US, she returned to her homeland in 2003 to establish schools using a unique "mobile school" model that operates in shifts to serve multiple villages with limited infrastructure.

Masood's approach combines education with community empowerment, training local women as teachers and involving families in curriculum design. Her schools now educate over 15,000 girls annually, with 98% graduation rates compared to the regional average of 32%. Notable alumni include Parveena Sultana, a human rights activist who credits her Sahiyana education for her leadership skills.

In 2018, Masood launched the Tech for Girls initiative, providing coding and robotics training to students. This program has produced 300+ female tech entrepreneurs, including winners of national innovation competitions. Her work was featured in the documentary "Light in the Valley" (2021), which highlights education efforts in conflict areas.

Despite facing threats from militant groups, Masood has expanded her mission to Pakistan-administered Kashmir through the Kashmir Bridge Initiative, fostering cross-border educational exchanges. Her TEDx talk "Education as a Weapon of Peace" has been viewed over 2 million times.