Arfa Karim
| Arfa Karim Randhawa | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2 February 1995 Chak No. 4JB Ram Dewali, Faisalabad, Pakistan |
| Died | 14 January 2012 (aged 16) Lahore, Pakistan |
| Resting place | Chak No. 4JB Ram Dewali, Faisalabad |
| Residence | Lahore |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Education | A-level (first year) |
| Alma mater | Lahore Grammar School |
| Occupation | Student |
| Known for | World's youngest Microsoft Certified Professional, 2004–2008 |
| Awards | Fatimah Jinnah Gold Medal Salaam Pakistan Youth Award President's Pride of Performance |
Arfa Karim Randhawa (Urdu: ارفع کریم رندهاوا, 2 February 1995 – 14 January 2012) was a Pakistani student and computer prodigy, who in 2004 at the age of nine years became Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP),[1] the youngest in the world until 2008.[2][3][4] She was invited by Bill Gates to visit the Microsoft Headquarters in the USA.[5] A science park in Lahore was named after her, the Arfa Software Technology Park.[6]
Contents |
Early life
Arfa was born to a family from the village of Chak No. 4JB Ram Dewali in Faisalabad, Punjab. After returning to Pakistan from a visit to Microsoft headquarters, Arfa gave numerous television and newspaper interviews. S. Somasegar, the vice president of the Software Development Division, wrote about her in his blog.[3] On 2 August 2005, Arfa Karim was presented the Fatimah Jinnah Gold Medal in the field of Science and Technology by the then Prime Minister of Pakistan Shaukat Aziz on the occasion of 113th birth anniversary of Fatima Jinnah.[7] She also received the Salaam Pakistan Youth Award again in August 2005 from the President of Pakistan.[8] Arfa Karim is also the recipient of the President's Award for Pride of Performance,[9] a civil award usually granted to people who have shown excellence in their respective fields over a long period of time. She is the youngest recipient of this award. In recognition of her achievement Arfa was made brand ambassador for Pakistan Telecommunication Company's 3G Wireless Broadband service named EVO in January 2010.[10]
Representation at international forums
Arfa Karim has represented Pakistan on various international forums, and was invited by the Pakistan Information Technology Professionals Forum for a stay of two weeks in Dubai. A dinner reception was hosted for her there, which was attended by the dignitaries of Dubai including the Ambassador of Pakistan. During that trip, Arfa was presented with various awards and gifts including a laptop.[11] In November 2006, Arfa attended the Tech-Ed Developers conference themed Get ahead of the game held in Barcelona on an invitation from Microsoft.[9] She was the only Pakistani among over 5000 developers in that conference.[12]
Cardiac arrest
In 2011, at the age of 16, Arfa Karim was studying at the Lahore Grammar School Paragon Campus in her second year of A-levels. On 22 December 2011 she suffered a cardiac arrest after an epileptic seizure that damaged her brain, and was admitted to Lahore's Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in critical condition.[2][13][14][15]
On 9 January 2012, Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft, contacted Arfa's parents and directed his doctors to adopt "every kind of measure" for her treatment. Gates set up a special panel of international doctors who remained in contact with her local doctors through teleconference. The panel received details about her illness and provided assistance in diagnosis and treatment.[16][17] Local doctors dismissed the option of moving Arfa to another hospital owing to her being on a ventilator and in critical condition.[18] Members of Arfa's family have lauded Bill Gates for offering to bear her treatment expenses.[19]
On 13 January 2012, Arfa Karim started to improve and some parts of her brain showed signs of improvement. Her father, Amjad Karim Randhawa, said Microsoft had raised the possibility of flying Arfa to the US for care.[20]
Death
On 14 January 2012, 16-year-old Arfa Karim died[21] at 9:50 PM (Pakistan Standard Time) at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Lahore. Her Namaz-e-Janaza was offered in Cavalry Ground Lahore at 10 AM on 15 January 2012, and later at Faisalabad the same day. The funeral was attended by the Chief Minister of Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif. She was buried at her ancestral village Chak No. 4JB Ram Dewali, Faisalabad.[22][23]
Arfa Software Technology Park
On 15 January 2012, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced that the name of Lahore Technology Park would be changed to Arfa Software Technology Park.[6]
References
- ^ "9-year-old earns accolade as Microsoft pro". News.cnet.com. http://news.cnet.com/9-year-old-earns-accolade-as-Microsoft-pro/2100-1012_3-5793614.html?type=pt&part=inv&tag=feed&subj=news. Retrieved 2012-01-14.
- ^ a b "Remembering a remarkable girl who made a mark on Microsoft". GeekWire. 30 December 2011. http://www.geekwire.com/2011/arfa. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- ^ a b "Arfa Karim Randhawa young IT child prodigy | Pakistan's youngest MCP". Pakblog.net. 2012-01-02. http://www.pakblog.net/2011/12/arfa-karim-randhawa-young-it-child.html. Retrieved 2012-01-14.
- ^ Nine-year old girl is youngest person to become Microsoft Certified Professional (about M. Lavinashree)
- ^ In smarts, she's a perfect 10 – Seattle Pi.
- ^ a b "Software Technology Park name changed to Arfa Software Technology Park". The News (newspaper). January 16, 2012. http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=87791&Cat=2. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
- ^ "Fatima Jinnah Award given to 59 personalities". DAWN. 3 August 2005. http://archives.dawn.com/2005/08/03/nat4.htm. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- ^ Technology: 'Shining Pakistan' – DAWN Science; 10 September 2005.[dead link]
- ^ a b "Arfa Karim passes away". DAWN. 14 January 2012. http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/14/arfa-karim-passes-away-in-lahore.html. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- ^ "PTCL striving hard to provide best services". Daily Times. 24 January 2010. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010%5C01%5C24%5Cstory_24-1-2010_pg5_15. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- ^ "Child prodigy honoured". DAWN. 27 August 2005. http://archives.dawn.com/weekly/science/archive/050827/science11.htm. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- ^ "Arfa Karim’s funeral prayer offered in Lahore". Samaa News. 15 January 2012. http://www.samaa.tv/newsdetail.aspx?ID=41610&CID=1. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- ^ "World’s Youngest MCSE Professional Arfa Karim from Pakistan Hospitalized". Events-pakistan.blogspot.com. 2011-12-29. http://www.events-pakistan.blogspot.com/2011/12/worlds-youngest-mcse-professional-arfa.html. Retrieved 2012-01-14.
- ^ "World’s Youngest MCP Arfa Karim Randhawa Shows Signs Of Life". Columnpk.com. http://www.columnpk.com/worlds-youngest-mcp-arfa-karim-randhawa-shows-signs-of-life/. Retrieved 2012-01-14.
- ^ "Doctors now hopeful about Microsoft programming prodigy". GeekWire. 4 January 2012. http://www.geekwire.com/2012/update-arfa-karim-reports-pakistan-turn-hopeful-microsoft-programming-prodigys-condition. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- ^ "Arfa Karim Randhawa, a genius no longer with us". The Express Tribune. 15 January 2012. http://tribune.com.pk/story/321920/arfa-karim-randhawa-a-genius-no-longer-with-us/. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- ^ "Funeral prayers for Arfa Karim offered in Lahore". DAWN. 15 January 2012. http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/15/funeral-prayers-for-arfa-karim-offered-in-lahore.html. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- ^ "Fiza Gilani inquires after Arfa Kareem". Thenews.com.pk. 2012-01-07. http://www.thenews.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=29850. Retrieved 2012-01-14.
- ^ "Bill Gates contacts Arfa's father for treatment". Geo.tv. 2012-01-07. http://www.geo.tv/GeoDetail.aspx?ID=30273. Retrieved 2012-01-14.
- ^ "Arfa Karim is improving and some parts of her brain have shown signs of improvement". Nation.com.pk. http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/lahore/13-Jan-2012/arfa-karim-s-condition-improving. Retrieved 2012-01-14.
- ^ Kiran Qureshi (2011-12-22). "Arfa Karim Died In Lahore". Awamiweb.com. http://www.awamiweb.com/arfa-karim-passes-away-33718.html. Retrieved 2012-01-14.
- ^ "Last farewell for child prodigy Arfa Karim". The Express Tribune. 15 January 2012. http://tribune.com.pk/story/321836/last-farewell-for-child-prodigy-arfa-karim/. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- ^ "Funeral prayer of Arfa Karim offered". The News. 15 January 2012. http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-30971-Funeral-prayer-of-Arfa-Karim-offered. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
External links
- Video Arfa Karim Randhawa Death News and Video
- (Urdu) Video: Arfa Karim Randhawa Died in Lahore Hospital
- Special Report: Honor to Arfa Karim Randhawa Interviews & Pictures of Arifa Karim
- (Urdu) Video: Arfa Karim passed away Exclusive Interview and Photos
