Isra Habeeb: The 10-year-old human encyclopaedia

Dubai: We know the name of the current president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). If we were asked the names of rulers of each emirate, we might answer that too. But the names of rulers before UAE was formed? Even the natives of the union will have to think a bit. Even those well-versed with history would confuse if asked about those rulers, the period of their reigns and respective dates.

But 10-year-old Isra Habeeb, from Kozhikode, has instant answers for these in-depth questions. The 5th-grade student will recite the answers in order. People who met Isra, who came to visit UAE with her father, were in awe.

She knows the names of all the martyrs of the Arab world, names of 68 scientists who worked under the 'Hope' space mission and the recipients of Order of Zayed, UAE's highest civilian award, with their respective countries.

She has excellent memory powers like a photo film, so she only needs to hear something once. She had exhibited her powers before various audiences, and during her UAE visit, she attended many programmes in Dubai, Abu Dhabi etc.

Isra is ready to recite FIFA World Cup winners' in order with years, their captains, and best players.

She knows the names of those who stepped on the Moon so far, UNESCO's heritage sites in India, soldiers who received The Param Vir Chakra, Pulitzer-Booker-Nobel laureates, captains who won the cricket world cups, wildlife sanctuaries in India, National Film Award laureates etc.

Also, she knows the inventors of the steam engine, printing press and atom bomb. She would answer if you ask her to name the languages recognised as official in India and the names of missiles the country has in its arsenal. She won't think twice before reciting the names of UN secretary generals in their order.

Isra, who had attended many TV shows and left the audience astounded, learned 110 nations and their capitals, presidents of India, prime ministers etc. when she was three. Also, she was aware of all the Indian states, districts in Kerala, chief ministers of Kerala, etc.

"She never forgets something she heard once, and we were also amazed about her abilities at first," Habeeb, Isra's father, said. He added that he and his wife Praseena started teaching Isra new things after they realised her abilities.

Isra received acclamations from Child Rights Commission while the state education minister and director of General Education of the state met her in person and praised her.

One of Isra's major dreams is to meet the rulers of the seven emirates of the UAE. Also, she prays daily for her father to get a better job in UAE so that she and her mother could live in Dubai with him.

She loves UAE a lot, and she thinks her prayers will be heard in this holy month of Ramadan.