Mother pushes vegetable cart on Lucknow street, daughter Mumtaz stars in Junior hockey World Cup

Inspite of how the Indian state functions, the remaking of India lives on due to the aspirations of ordinary people and their desire to make a mark in the world. This extraordinary story in the Indian Express put a spring in our step: “ALONG A narrow, bustling street at Topkhana Bazar in Lucknow, Qaiser Jahan stood under the summer sun with her vegetable cart, tending to a rush of customers before Friday prayers. Around the same time, at a university ground in Potchefstroom in South Africa, her daughter Mumtaz slid in from the right of the goalpost on one knee, flung her hockey stick forward and deflected the ball past South Korea’s goalkeeper.
The courageous goal set the tone for India’s 3-0 win over South Korea in the quarterfinals of the Junior World Cup, making sure the team reached the last-four stage of the competition for only the second time in history.
Qaiser Jahan, however, could not watch her 19-year-old daughter’s heroics, which earned the Player of the Match award. “That was a busy hour for me,” she said, speaking to The Indian Express over phone. “I would have loved to watch her score the goal, but I’ve got to earn a living as well. I am sure there will be more chances to see her in the future.”
The mother’s confidence isn’t misplaced. It’s always tricky to read too much into junior-level performances but Mumtaz, with her speed and poaching ability, has stood out in a team brimming with talent. She has made a massive contribution in every match of India’s triumphant campaign so far, recording four wins in four matches.”