Thought of writing an interesting story after seeing “Moxie” as the prompt word. But then flashed this news – Maryam Mirzakhani, the first woman to receive the prestigious Fields Medal (Nobel Prize of Mathematics) for mathematics, has died in the US. She was just 40, survived by her husband and a very young daughter. She could not fight anymore. Lost the battle. Breast cancer spread through her bones and attacked her bone marrow. A bright star fell off so soon!! When cruelty hits out, we become numb, lose our nerves, wait quietly for Almighty’s decision.
Maryam Mirzakhani wanted to become a writer in her childhood but took up Mathematics when her elder brother encouraged her. She was the winner of gold medals in International Mathematics Olympiad twice, in 1994 and 1995. Currently, she was teaching Mathematics at Stanford University, USA.
She was born in Tehran, Iran’s capital, in 1977 and went on to complete a bachelor of science in mathematics from the city’s Sharif University of Technology in 1999. Then she moved to the USA to pursue higher studies. Apart from the Fields Medal, Mirzakahani has also been awarded the Blumenthal Award (2009) and the Clay Research Award (2014). She also became the first Iranian woman to have been elected to the US National Academy of Sciences, in 2016.
The only recognised woman Mathematician, that too from a country like Iran. Lots of courage needed to fight against society’s rituals, go to a school and then move to the most progressive country in the world, the USA. She was a student of Harvard University and obtained her Ph. D From the same University. Raised the point of lack of women Mathematicians worldwide. She married a man from other religion. A progressive mind from Iran teaches us about what is the meaning of moxie!! Hats off to her!! The bravest woman, the most intelligent woman on the Earth is no more. My heart filled with grief, why she died so young? A woman’s role model, she could have guided many more women to come up and contribute for the mankind. It’s true that women, in many countries won’t get the same opportunities as men. They struggle, fight against the odds. Maryam is the guiding light for them. She may not be alive, but her story will encourage women folk especially and the human kind in general.
May her soul rest in peace.
Revolving Around Life 
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