‘It’s an immense honour to have been handed this opportunity by the Excellency Mr Dharambeer Gokhool himself,’ says Apeejay alumnus

An alumna of Apeejay’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Razeenah Kurreeman, hails from the East African island of Mauritius and her roots trace back to India. After earning a BA (Hons) in Journalism and Mass Communication from Apeejay Stya University in 2018, she interned and worked at the Centre for Equity Studies in New Delhi with social activist Harsh Mander for two years, during which she was actively involved in advocacy journalism and research for key campaigns like Parwaaz and Karwan e Mohabbat, which tackle hate crimes, minority rights, restorative justice, juvenile delinquency and psychosocial rehabilitation.

Having a Master of Science degree in Applied Psychology from Middlesex University, London, UK, her research area focused on assessing adversity and resilience among young survivors of trauma. Post the covid-19 pandemic, Razeenah has been based in her home country as a journalist, covering politics and human rights issues such as police brutality and abuses in prisons, gender based violence, drug abuse and human trafficking.

At age 29, she has been roped in as Attachée to the President of the Republic of Mauritius, His Excellency Mr Dharambeer Gokhool, and her work entails strategic media relations, content creation and advocacy for equity, inclusion, regional and international cooperation and sustainable development, in line with the mission of the Office of the President of Mauritius. Read edited excerpts from the interview:

How do you feel about achieving this milestone?

At age 29, this new milestone sends me on an emotional roller-coaster as I dangle amid gratitude, humility, confidence, optimism yet nervousness and stress. It is an immense honour and privilege to have been handed this opportunity by His Excellency Mr Dharambeer Gokhool, President of the Republic of Mauritius, himself. Taking on this new role implies putting my acquired skillset, perspectives and learning to optimal use, with self-confidence wrapped in humility on one hand that my competence provides a solid foundation on which I can rely to deliver quality work. It also encourages me to know that my work and skills are noticed and valued.

On the other hand, I have also consciously embarked on a journey that necessitates simultaneous unlearning in order to adapt to a new stage in my professional life– new work etiquettes, colleagues, protocols, ethical standards, expectations and goals. Having worked for almost three years in the Mauritian press with a desire to make meaningful changes from outside the system, I now find myself on the opposite side willing to make a greater impact at national and international levels.

Former colleagues in the media industry are now strategic partners, institutions such as ministries, embassies and the police are now major stakeholders and collaborators that play a pivotal role within my work sphere. Collaborating with members of the Diplomatic Corp to safeguard national interests and fostering regional and international cooperation is allowing me to view and understand things from a broader, global perspective rather than a limited, local one.

The last few weeks have hence required me to indulge in a lot of reflection and self-work at mental and emotional levels to redefine my circle, idea of normalcy and reset my focus based on new dreams and aspirations.

This is usually a messy process that can give anyone anxiety. While I’m at it, President Gokhool thankfully remains an instrumental pillar of support. Being a seasoned academic who has previously served as an Associate Professor and Dean of Faculty at the University of Mauritius, he has a sense of humility and a mentorship quality that make this transition period less difficult. Back in 2008, he was the minister of Education when I was in high school, and getting to work and learn under his aegis as a young professional now is a dream-come-true.

I have to confess that there have been times when I have made unintentional mistakes during this period as I continue to learn, and instead of scolding or belittling me, President Gokhool has allowed me to make mistakes and learn from them. To my pleasant surprise, a lot of our conversations after finishing major work are extremely constructive, in a space that fosters equality and safety. We discuss what we did well, what lies ahead and how our team can do better and learn from one another.  

What are your main goals and visions as Attachée to the President, and how do you plan to make an impact in this position?

In his first statement to the press, the President had affirmed that the media remains a cornerstone of our democracy; the freedom of which he will uphold, and that he will collaborate with the media in good faith to reach out to the people.

My scope of work is thus primarily centred on strategic media relations, content creation for various platforms and ensuring proximity of the Presidency with the people of Mauritius and around the world. I envision turning the ideals enshrined in the Mauritian Constitution – “As one people, as one nation, in peace, justice and liberty” into a reality for myself and those around me. This is also a statement that the President abides by and we work in a collaborative spirit. We also work constantly to deepen ties with other countries based on shared values, mutual respect, and to better position Mauritius on the global scale, in line with the Presidency’s mission.

I aspire to bridge the gap between our local, regional and international media partners, civil society, institutions, embassies, organisations and our people through the dissemination of meaningful content that is geared towards action for a more equitable and just society. The President is pioneering many activities in this sense, such as visits to Special Education Needs schools and consultative assessments, environmental projects, national essay competitions, inclusion of the elderly, awareness projects about Constitutional rights and a Presidential forum that will allow citizens and civil society to engage in constructive dialogue and suggest ideas that the Office may then implement. We are also adopting a broader approach to support the work of stakeholders and see how we can add a value of our own to it.

As a multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi-ethnic country, the unity in diversity and harmony of Mauritius remain its key strengths and driving forces. As a young Muslim woman who wears the Hijab out of choice and having the freedom to practise my faith being guaranteed by my Constitution, being valued for my professional competence and ethics in an inclusive and equal space that respects diversity, is also a matter of great pride. This enhances the beauty of Mauritius and makes me proud to be Mauritian. I would like to work to enhance this beauty of my country, showcase it to the world, and be an encouragement to other women who may be inclined towards pursuing careers in similar fields.

What key skills and experiences from your background do you feel contributed to your selection for this prestigious role?

Having worked in advocacy journalism with Indian activist Dr Harsh Mander, I have been able to, at age 22, witness the power of adopting comprehensive, human approaches towards resolving complexities. Working with children in shelters, children in conflict with law, minorities such as the LGBT+ community, and families affected by hate crime, has certainly opened my eyes to harsh realities of society. At the same time, it has enabled me to realise the importance of working with empathy, compassion and adopting policies that result in meaningful, positive action in favour of social justice. This has allowed me to redefine the meaning of education as one that encompasses moral, human, social and ethical values and not just academic skills and knowledge. Being able to look beyond my own nationality, race, religion, gender and keep an open mind to listen and understand the challenges of others, and then work towards resolving these for collective welfare, has allowed me to be a global citizen in the real sense.

Having then worked on these issues as a journalist in my own country has allowed me to situate challenges and opportunities for change within the right context to avail an informed perspective. I have been able to build resilience and adaptability skills, and learn about different cultures while travelling to different counties in previous years. Overcoming covid-19 induced challenges related to mental health and work changes have also enhanced these skills.

What inspired you to pursue a career in journalism and advocacy, and how did your experiences at Apeejay Stya University shape your journey?

I hail from a family where most relatives, including my sister and father, are healthcare professionals – pharmacists, doctors, nursing officers. I draw a great deal of inspiration from my family, who has always taught me that real success goes beyond financial stability and academic knowledge to entail giving back to society. I have also from an early age been fascinated by languages and the Arts. My love for journalism has been shaped by the two. I believe in the power of the media to fight the wrong and promote collective good for a better society because every word we speak or write has the power to influence millions of people around the world.

Having Indian roots, I am an avid lover of Urdu literature and poetry, hence my choice to study in India – the land of my ancestors; rich in history, culture, Arts, resilience, values but also one of the global superpowers making a huge impact on the educational, social and political fronts. Apeejay Stya University’s interdisciplinary and liberal approach has been instrumental in shaping my ideologies and experiences, and fulfilled my quest for learning. I could not only study my Major subjects but was also required to enrol for modules in different fields of my choice as Minor subjects. Hence, for example, aside from studying Human Rights reporting, Development Communication and Print Media, I also studied Gender Studies, Political Science, Life Skills, Psychology and did community service under the National Service Scheme. A lot of the learning was also practical, real time workshops and discussions being held with industry professionals.

Studying at Apeejay Stya University has also allowed me to shape my identity and ethical ideals. Being of Indian origin but Mauritian and having studied as part of a big crowd of students from the Asian and African continents, a major part of my journey was focused on understanding similarities, differences and complexities associated with identity, culture, religion, and how different social and political practices in different countries shape our mindset. This has allowed me to understand the importance of understanding the strengths and challenges of different communities, and how to find common grounds to work and live together by respecting differences.

The things that unite us are greater and stronger than what divides us. There is a pressing need to ensure that policies and initiatives at various levels are done via a bottom-up approach instead of a top-down one. This can only be achieved if we listen to people, understand their real-time perspectives and challenges from their points of reference, and then work together to ensure the formulation and implementation of such initiatives that will help them in the real sense.