Aligarh: A research paper presented in an international conference by Mohammad Arafat Hasan Rizvi, a research scholar at the Advanced Centre for Women's studies, Aligarh Muslim University on the raging COVID-19 pandemic has been adjudged best for its quality academic contribution to the understanding of Post-Partum Depression, Marital Adjustment and Social Support among working women confined to the precincts of their homes during the lockdowns.

Arafat Hasan Rizvi was conferred with the Best Research Paper Award for his paper titled 'Maternity and Mental Health during COVID 19 Pandemic: Empirical Reflections from North India'. The paper was virtually presented in the International Conference on "Looking at the Pandemic through Gender Lens", organized by KES Shroff College, Mumbai on  May 24 2021. The conference saw participation from over 20 countries and more than 100 research papers were presented therein.

Prominent Clinical Sociologist and Feminist thinker, Prof Mariam Seedat Khan from the School of Social Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa appreciated the paper and suggested more such empirical enquiries must be conducted so that we come up with a better understanding of unforeseen challenges posed before us.

With a background in Mass Communication and Psychology, Arafat Hasan Rizvi has been actively conducting research on communities, ethnic groups and societies. His published works include studies of endangered Tharu Tribe of Himalayan foothills; Nepalese migrants in India; and Sweden’s incorporation of GNH philosophy of Bhutan. Arafat's PhD research work is about the 'Women related Issues in Print Media of Uttar Pradesh'.

The Advanced Centre for Women's Studies headed by Professor Azra Musavi offers a unique interdisciplinary research facility that allows students from diverse backgrounds to conduct research that goes beyond the boundaries of subjects and specialisations. The centre encourages students to conduct multidisciplinary research studies in order to reflect better on the issues and challenges concerning women.