Rosheen Khan, also known as ‘Mermaid of Churna Island’, has become the first and the only female scuba-diving instructor in Pakistan.
She is Pakistan’s first female master scuba diver and the only Nitrox diving instructor in Pakistan. Hailing from a poor farming background, Khan had to go through a great deal of struggle to acquire an education and a job.
She tackled our society’s shark phobia, the perception we have here that sea is dangerous and that people do not return once embraced by its depth, gender bias, societal definitions of job of women and the idea of becoming a misfit; all and much more because she had mentally prepared herself for these odds.
On receiving her first Open Water Diver certification she cried, struggling to come to terms with the idea that she did manage to make her dreams a reality. She knew the change she was bringing in the society was initially only visible to her but she understood all of it was very new for our society then.
She was happy to cite how much the times have changed. We have thousands today indulging in water based sports at Charna Island and a society aware, if still not very accepting, that these sports are even played by women.
A much-needed change in society comes only when someone takes the first step.
