Born in a lower middle class family in the rural setup of Maruthamunai in the region of Kalmunai, Eastern Province – RUBIYA, was the 6^th in the family. She studied up to her advanced level and got involved in the community service as a school leaver. At the age of 18, in 1990, she witnessed the devastation and destruction caused by the ethnic conflict which affected all the communities in her village with immeasurable lost of lives and property. She was involved in the reconciliation activities among the people, at the community level. These operations got her involved with Muslim Women’s Research and Action Forum – an organization that was actively engaged with the people of the Eastern region. She worked with the organization for more than five years and was appointed as one of the three centre managers.

She was committed to the task of addressing gender based violence against women and issues related to under-priviledged women and children in the area. During her occupation with MWRAF, Rubiya under-went many training programs specifically vocational skills training, training on marketing, and women’s empowerment that was organized by MWRAF. In the meantime, she got married and her husband too was very supportive of the work she was involved in. Somehow after the birth of her first child, she found it difficult to continue with the women centre day-to-day activities. Yet, she needed an income, so she thought of a way to work from home and that led to her, purchasing just one hand loom and started working on it. She was able to generate some income, with the training that was provided by MWRAF. As her income increased, she wanted to invest and expand her home-based industry into a cottage industry with ten looms. She was able to employ up to twenty-five women, who were also trained by MWRAF.

Under her efficient management and leadership, the industry flourished but her spouse who was supportive at the beginning with her marketing activities, gradually drifted away from her and the marriage ended up in separation. Rubi says that she thought, that there is a women behind every man’s success, she assumed that her husband would be backing her in her success. Since the story turned the opposite way, she was disappointed. But her willpower kept her going, she became stronger than before and was able to counter the challenges. Now she is a successful businesswoman, owning fifteen handlooms, and over 25 people working with her. She emphasized that all this success and her well being is due to the training and encouragement provided by Muslim Women’s Research and Action Forum.