TomOcampo9313 at 18:18, 7 May 2026

2026-05-07T18:18:18Z

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{{Short description|Indian educationist in Libya}}
{{Undisclosed paid|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Tabassum Mansoor
| image = Tabassum.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| other_names =
| birth_name =
| birth_date =
| birth_place = [[Gorakhpur]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]
| occupation = Educator
| known_for = Indian Entrepreneur
| notable_works =
}}

'''Tabassum Mansoor''' was born in [[Gorakhpur]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]<ref name="web.archive.org">{{Cite web |date=2022-11-22 |title=Tabassum Mansoor, the Gorakhpur-born school principal who negotiated with militants to free Indians in Libya - The Hindu |website=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tabassum-mansoor-gorakhpur-born-school-principal-who-negotiated-with-militants-to-free-indians-in-libya/article61718672.ece |access-date=2022-12-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122185628/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tabassum-mansoor-gorakhpur-born-school-principal-who-negotiated-with-militants-to-free-indians-in-libya/article61718672.ece |archive-date=2022-11-22 }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2022-11-23 |title=How Gorakhpur's Tabassum helped free 7 Indians in Libya {{!}} Lucknow News - Times of India |website=[[The Times of India]] |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/how-gorakhpurs-tabassum-helped-free-7-indians-in-libya/articleshow/78670799.cms |access-date=2022-12-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221123212426/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/how-gorakhpurs-tabassum-helped-free-7-indians-in-libya/articleshow/78670799.cms |archive-date=2022-11-23 }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=2021-07-23 |title=tabassum mansoor: How Gorakhpur's Tabassum Mansoor helped free 7 Indians in Libya - The Economic Times |newspaper=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/how-gorakhpurs-tabassum-mansoor-helped-free-7-indians-in-libya/articleshow/78675549.cms |access-date=2022-12-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723193318/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/how-gorakhpurs-tabassum-mansoor-helped-free-7-indians-in-libya/articleshow/78675549.cms |archive-date=2021-07-23 |last1=Bano |first1=Arjumand }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2022-11-22 |title=How Gorakhpur-born school principal helped in securing release of 7 Indians abducted in Libya {{!}} India News |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/how-gorakhpur-born-school-principal-helped-in-securing-release-of-7-indians-abducted-in-libya/666947 |access-date=2022-12-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122185630/https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/how-gorakhpur-born-school-principal-helped-in-securing-release-of-7-indians-abducted-in-libya/666947 |archive-date=2022-11-22 }}</ref> and obtained a Bachelors of Education (B. Ed) from [[Aligarh Muslim University]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=गोरखपुर की बेटी ने लीबिया में 7 भारतीयों को कराया अपहरणकर्ताओं से मुक्त |url=https://www.etvbharat.com/hindi/uttar-pradesh/state/gorakhpur/gorakhpur-daughter-frees-7-indians-in-libya-from-kidnappers/up20201016175336395 |access-date=2022-12-08 |website=ETV Bharat News |date=16 October 2020 |language=hi}}</ref> Tabassum has been working for over 30 years in the field of primary education <ref>{{Cite web |title=गोरखपुर में जन्मीं ये स्कूल प्रिंसिपल कौन हैं, जिनकी मदद से लीबिया में रिहा हुए 7 अगवा भारतीय |url=https://hindi.oneindia.com/news/india/gorakhpur-born-school-principal-with-the-help-of-which-7-abducted-indians-released-in-libya-584283.html |access-date=December 8, 2022 |website=oneindia.com}}</ref> and social welfare in [[Benghazi]], [[Libya]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-22 |title=The principal who won freedom for Indian hostages {{!}} Mpositive.in |url=https://www.mpositive.in/2020/10/15/the-principal-who-won-freedom-for-indian-hostages/ |access-date=2022-12-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122185629/https://www.mpositive.in/2020/10/15/the-principal-who-won-freedom-for-indian-hostages/ |archive-date=2022-11-22 }}</ref> She is the Managing Director and Principal of Indian International School, Benghazi.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-18 |title=मिलिए उस भारतीय महिला से, जिसने लीबिया युद्ध में किडनैप हुए 7 भारतीयों को रिहा करवाया |url=https://www.indiatimes.com/hindi/india-news/meet-tabassum-who-helped-realising-7-kidnaped-indians-in-libya-525495.html |access-date=2022-12-08 |website=IndiaTimes |language=hi-IN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-02-03 |title=نائب رئيس مجلس الوزراء الدكتور عبد السلام البدري يُشارك في احتفالية المدرسة الهندية العالمية (llS) بذكرى الـ 71 لتأسيس الجمهورية الهندية |url=http://www.lananews.com/ar/?p=204079 |access-date=2022-12-08 |website=وكالة الانباء الليبية ( وال ) LANA NEWS |language=ar}}</ref>

In 2011, amid the civil war against [[Colonel Gaddafi]], Tabassum Mansoor was given a critical responsibility by the Indian Embassy in [[Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli]] of evacuating 3,000 Indians stranded in Benghazi and other parts of eastern Libya.<ref>{{cite news |date=March 6, 2011|title=3,000 Indians who escaped Libya have one woman to thank |url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/news/world/3000-indians-who-escaped-libya-have-one-woman-to-thank/articleshow/16107484.cms |work=Mumbai Mirror |access-date=September 2, 2023 |language=en}}</ref> The mission was called ''[[Operation Safe Homecoming]]''. This operation was challenging because the situation in Libya was volatile, and in many regions communication services were disrupted.<ref>{{cite news |date=March 7, 2011 |title=India intensifies rescue operation, 3000 evacuated from Libya in a day |url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/news/world/india-intensifies-rescue-operation-3000-evacuated-from-libya-in-a-day/articleshow/16107733.cms |work=Mumbai Mirror |access-date=September 2, 2023 |language=en}}</ref> The communication infrastructure, especially in the rebel-controlled areas had collapsed, rendering phone and internet services unavailable.<ref>{{Cite web |date=Mar 6, 2011 |title=3,000 Indians who escaped Libya have one woman to thank |url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/news/world/3000-indians-who-escaped-libya-have-one-woman-to-thank/articleshow/16107484.cms |access-date=2022-12-08 |website=Mumbai Mirror |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=यूपी के गोरखपुर में जन्मीं वो स्कूल प्रिंसिपल, जिन्होंने लीबिया में अगवा हुए 7 भारतीयों की कराई सुरक्षित रिहाई |url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/state/uttar-pradesh/gorakhpur/up-news-gorakhpur-born-teacher-who-helped-benghazi-evacuation-now-gets-7-hostages-freed/articleshow/78672505.cms |access-date=2022-12-08 |website=Navbharat Times |language=hi}}</ref> Tabassum mobilized her school buses all across the city and successfully managed to assemble Indians from different parts of Libya in her school and coordinated their safe transfer from [[Benghazi]], [[Libya]] to [[Alexandria]], [[Egypt]] via MV Scotia Prince Ship.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Writer |first1=John RichardsonStaff |title=Scotia Prince ferry heading to Libya |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2011/02/25/scotia-prince-heading-to-libya/ |work=Press Herald |date=25 February 2011}}</ref> They were then flown home by a special [[Air India]] flight from [[Alexandria|Alexandria.]]<ref>{{cite news |title=3 Navy ships to set sail for Libya to evacuate Indians |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/3-navy-ships-to-set-sail-for-libya-to-evacuate-indians/articleshow/7566655.cms |work=The Times of India |date=25 February 2011}}</ref>

In 2020,<ref name="jagran.com">{{Cite web |title=भारत की तबस्सुम का लीबिया हुआ कायल, गोरखपुर गदगद |url=https://www.jagran.com/uttar-pradesh/gorakhpur-city-indias-tabassum-appreciated-in-libya-20887077.html |access-date=2022-12-08 |website=Dainik Jagran |language=hi}}</ref> she played an instrumental role in saving seven Indian nationals<ref name=":2" /><ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web |date=2022-12-05 |title=Kidnapped in September, 7 Indian hostages in Libya freed - India News News |url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kidnapped-in-september-7-indian-hostages-in-libya-freed-334580 |access-date=2022-12-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205124419/https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kidnapped-in-september-7-indian-hostages-in-libya-freed-334580 |archive-date=2022-12-05 }}</ref><ref name="amarujala.com">{{Cite web |title=लीबिया में फंसे दस के आने का रास्ता साफ |url=https://www.amarujala.com/uttar-pradesh/kushinagar/leebiya-mein-phanse-das-ke-aane-ka-raasta-saaph-kushinagar-news-gkp419187448 |access-date=2022-12-08 |website=Amar Ujala |language=hi}}</ref> who were abducted by Libyan militants, and managed their release through back-channel diplomacy. Despite closed borders amid the ongoing crisis in Libya, all seven Indians were sent back on a special [[United Nations|UN]] flight.<ref name=":2" /><ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="amarujala.com"/>

== Early life ==

Tabassum completed her education in [[Gorakhpur]], [[Uttar Pradesh]] and then graduated from [[Aligarh Muslim University]] with a Bachelor of Education <ref name="jagran.com"/> She moved to [[Benghazi]], [[Libya]] in 1980 and set up the first Indian International School (IIS) there.

== Career ==

Tabassum has lived in [[Benghazi]] for over 30 years and has been actively promoting Indian culture and education in Libya.<ref name="jagran.com"/> She is known for promoting better understanding of Indian culture and education in Libya.<ref name=":2" /><ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="amarujala.com"/> She introduced the CBSE curriculum in Libya in 2002, and since then she has been the managing director and principal of the Indian International School, Benghazi. Tabassum was appointed as an honorary member of the Advisory Committee to restructure Primary Education and improve Teacher Training in Libya.

Tabassum also serves as the Representative of the Embassy of India, Tripoli and Tunis for the Eastern Region of Libya. Since the Libyan turmoil, she managed the welfare, evacuation and repatriation of over 3,000 Indians in 2011, 289 in 2014 and taking care of over 2,000 Indians during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="jagran.com"/><ref name=":2" /><ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="amarujala.com"/>

In 2020, she successfully negotiated the high-profile kidnapping case of 7 Indians in Libya, and facilitated the provision of food, medicines, and shelter. In 2021, she was instrumental in the repatriation of 27 Indian workers through local and international resources via IOM (UN). <ref name=":0"/><ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="amarujala.com"/>

== Awards ==

In 2017, Tabassum was awarded the Uttar Pradesh Apravasi Bharatiya Ratan Puruskar for her efforts in primary education and social work in Libya.<ref name="jagran.com"/><ref name=":2" /><ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="amarujala.com"/> This is an accolade given to honour an ‘exceptional and meritorious contribution’ by a non-resident Indian of Uttar Pradesh origin.

* Apravasi Bhartiya Ratna Samman by Govt. of U.P.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-03 |title=Uttar Pradesh Pravasi Bhartiya Ratna Puraskar {{!}} Official Website of NRI Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh, India {{!}} UPNRI |url=https://nri.up.gov.in/article/en/up-pravasi-bhartiya-ratna-puraskar-2020 |access-date=2022-12-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221003201550/https://nri.up.gov.in/article/en/up-pravasi-bhartiya-ratna-puraskar-2020 |archive-date=2022-10-03 }}</ref><ref name=":0" />
* Outstanding Women in Social Work by Ficci-Flo.
* Principal of the Year Award by Ministry of Education (Recognition for her long-standing commitment to education amid difficult circumstances came from the Libyan authorities when she was inducted as a member of the National Education Council of Libya).<ref name="web.archive.org"/>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mansoor, Tabassum}}
[[Category:Indian women academics]]
[[Category:Indian Muslims]]
[[Category:Indian educators]]
[[Category:People from Gorakhpur district]]
[[Category:Educators from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

Tabassum Mansoor - Revision history

TomOcampo9313 at 18:18, 7 May 2026