Jaipur: In 2018, Shahnaaz Khan made history by becoming the youngest female Sarpanch (Head of the village) at the young age of 24. She was pursuing her MBBS studies during the election campaigns. Despite the tiresome schedule, she fearlessly contested in the elections and registered her name in history. She accomplished this feat on the same day as her practical exam of her fourth year at Tirthankar Mahavir Medical College and Research Centre in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. 

Making history

Shahnaaz Khan achieved the feat of becoming the youngest Sarpanch through her victorious election campaign. Her achievement also marked her as the most educated woman in the Mewat region, in Rajasthan and Haryana.

She attended Shri Ram School, Gurugram, for her primary year studies. She completed her schooling from Maruti Kunj. After this, she pursued her MBBS degree in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, and completed her internship at the Civil Hospital in Gurugram. Interestingly, Shahnaz's maternal grandfather was a cabinet minister and Member of Parliament.

Who is Shahnaaz Khan?

Shahnaaz is a resident of Garhajan village in Bharatpur. Shanaaz’s grandfather was also a head of the village. He faced allegations of providing false educational qualification certificates, leading to the cancellation of his candidature in the elections. This event led to Shanaaz’s decision to become a Sarpanch herself to refute the allegations against her grandfather. 

Shahnaaz was also influenced by changes in the electoral rules implemented by the Rajasthan government. These rules mandated that candidates must have passed grade 10 to contest in the Sarpanch election. After her victory in the elections, Shahnaaz showed her commitment to promoting girls' education as a vital aspect of her agenda.

Shahnaaz’s family background

Politics runs deep in Shahnaaz's family. Her grandfather had a remarkable 55-year tenure as the Sarpanch of their village. Shanaaz’s father has also been a Sarpanch of the village, and her mother is also actively involved in politics. Following the cancellation of her grandfather's candidature in the election, the family held a significant discussion regarding who would step forward to contest in the elections. After much consideration, the family chose to nominate Shahnaaz as their candidate for the Sarpanch position.