Alumna Maliha Mariyam – The Steadfast Rock Who Witnessed the Changing Faces of IIIT Hyderabad

IIITH alumna Maliha Mariyam was honored with the Alumni Outstanding Service Award in 2023 for her wide-ranging contributions to the Institute. A 2001 batch alumna, she has represented the alumni community on official committees, at talks, interactive sessions, alumni meets, workshops, and showcases.

“On my first visit to IIITH, what excited me the most were the girls’ hostel and the labs, while my parents loved the vision and the campus—even though it wasn’t a deemed university back then,” confesses Maliha.

Living on campus, away from home, in a batch of 100 students—with only 10 girls—we quickly realized that the issues we faced were new and different. So, we rolled up our sleeves and started working on creating solutions ourselves.

“I learned how to view the world as a young woman from Prof. Jayanthi Sivaswamy. I remember how she emphasized that women’s safety should come from empowerment and support—not restrictions on the girls’ hostel.”

Those were the early days when everything was still being set up. We volunteered to be on every committee, taking turns on the lab committee, girls’ hostel mess committee, library committee, Felicity committee, placement committee, and serving as class representatives. It was the first time a girls’ representative had ever been requested for every committee—because our challenges were unique, and we worked on addressing them.

“By not going to a very established university, I got to see how things are set up. Being in a research-oriented institute helped me develop problem-solving skills and shaped the way I approach challenges.”

“IIITH gave me a lot,” she shares candidly. “My first crush, a lifelong caffeine addiction, and insomnia. I found my love for walking in the rain, my first lab, my room, and that unforgettable cafeteria Maggi.”

She fondly remembers her friends who became family, and how the Institute helped her find her voice and broaden her perspective.

“This is where I learned to stand up for myself and others. It’s where I first grasped what being part of something bigger than you truly means.”

Maliha worked on the first draft of the PG admissions portal as part of her RA-ship, under the guidance of Professor Ramancharla Pradeep Kumar. She always earned a bit of pocket money each semester through TA-ships and RA-ships.

“As an organizer for Felicity, I did the groundwork for securing funding worth Rs. 35,000, which was a big deal in 2004,” says Maliha, who has very fond memories of the founding faculty like Prof. Govindarajulu, Prof. Kaul, Prof. Kamal Karlapalem, Prof. C.V. Jawahar, Prof. P.K. Reddy, Prof. and Mrs. Marathe, and Padmaja, their placement coordinator.

“Attending Govindarajulu Sir’s funeral was one of the toughest losses of my life. He wasn’t just a professor to our batch—he was a mentor, a guide, and in many ways, a grounding presence during our most formative years. His classes were filled with laughter and joy; amidst all the fun, he quietly encouraged and guided us.”

“With his kindness, wit, and gentle wisdom, he helped shape not just my academic path, but also the kind of person I grew up to be.”

One of the nicest things an alum can experience is seeing a familiar face on campus. Over the years, Maliha has often accompanied friends on visits to the Institute.

“I attend events and meet-ups as often as I can,” says Maliha, who is currently the class representative for her batch and a member of the Byelaws Committee for the IIITH Alumni Association registration in Hyderabad.

Over the years, she has helped with orientation programs for freshers and participated in Women of IIITH and other alumni discussions. The alumna would love to get involved in inducting more girl students into the Institute.

“I want to see financial literacy and taxation added to the curriculum as electives,” observes Maliha, who was invited as an alumni speaker at the 20th Convocation in 2021.

She was also part of the Alumni Awards Selection Committee for 2024, participated in the Alumni Feedback Meet for the IIITH Silver Jubilee celebrations, and contributed to the alumni interactive session for NAAC accreditation.

It is in our fabric to come together and help when it’s needed. During the peak of the 2020–2021 COVID crisis in India, and motivated by the overwhelming number of distress calls during the second wave, Sriharsha Karamchati, another alumnus, established the COVID War Room initiative to provide timely assistance to those in need.

Maliha, along with other IIIT-H alumni and students, volunteered with the initiative to handle specific needs such as oxygen cylinders, hospital beds, blood plasma, and tele-consultations.

After graduation, Maliha worked with both start-ups and large companies. “I fell in love with mobile applications because they’re tangible products. I primarily work with Android and web apps. Since 2016, I’ve been running my own software firm, APPSY (Applications Simplified), as Managing Partner, and I’m currently consulting with an Australian firm—Quadnet—mainly focusing on asset management software for mid-tier businesses.

 I’m also working on an application that allows users to manage their own medical history, and I plan to apply to incubators to take it forward.”

 “What I love most about IIIT Hyderabad is that it took me from being an uncomfortable and awkward teenager and helped shape me into who I am today. Those four years were critical in shaping how I view the world. I go back often to draw inspiration and understanding from the Institute. I grew up with the Institute—and it grew with me.”

April 2025

Alumna Maliha Mariyam – The Steadfast Rock Who Witnessed the Changing Faces of IIIT Hyderabad

IIITH alumna Maliha Mariyam was honored with the Alumni Outstanding Service Award in 2023 for her wide-ranging contributions to the Institute. A 2001 batch alumna, she has represented the alumni community on official committees, at talks, interactive sessions, alumni meets, workshops, and showcases.

“On my first visit to IIITH, what excited me the most were the girls’ hostel and the labs, while my parents loved the vision and the campus—even though it wasn’t a deemed university back then,” confesses Maliha.

Living on campus, away from home, in a batch of 100 students—with only 10 girls—we quickly realized that the issues we faced were new and different. So, we rolled up our sleeves and started working on creating solutions ourselves.

“I learned how to view the world as a young woman from Prof. Jayanthi Sivaswamy. I remember how she emphasized that women’s safety should come from empowerment and support—not restrictions on the girls’ hostel.”

Those were the early days when everything was still being set up. We volunteered to be on every committee, taking turns on the lab committee, girls’ hostel mess committee, library committee, Felicity committee, placement committee, and serving as class representatives. It was the first time a girls’ representative had ever been requested for every committee—because our challenges were unique, and we worked on addressing them.

“By not going to a very established university, I got to see how things are set up. Being in a research-oriented institute helped me develop problem-solving skills and shaped the way I approach challenges.”

“IIITH gave me a lot,” she shares candidly. “My first crush, a lifelong caffeine addiction, and insomnia. I found my love for walking in the rain, my first lab, my room, and that unforgettable cafeteria Maggi.”

She fondly remembers her friends who became family, and how the Institute helped her find her voice and broaden her perspective.

“This is where I learned to stand up for myself and others. It’s where I first grasped what being part of something bigger than you truly means.”

Maliha worked on the first draft of the PG admissions portal as part of her RA-ship, under the guidance of Professor Ramancharla Pradeep Kumar. She always earned a bit of pocket money each semester through TA-ships and RA-ships.

“As an organizer for Felicity, I did the groundwork for securing funding worth Rs. 35,000, which was a big deal in 2004,” says Maliha, who has very fond memories of the founding faculty like Prof. Govindarajulu, Prof. Kaul, Prof. Kamal Karlapalem, Prof. C.V. Jawahar, Prof. P.K. Reddy, Prof. and Mrs. Marathe, and Padmaja, their placement coordinator.

“Attending Govindarajulu Sir’s funeral was one of the toughest losses of my life. He wasn’t just a professor to our batch—he was a mentor, a guide, and in many ways, a grounding presence during our most formative years. His classes were filled with laughter and joy; amidst all the fun, he quietly encouraged and guided us.”

“With his kindness, wit, and gentle wisdom, he helped shape not just my academic path, but also the kind of person I grew up to be.”

One of the nicest things an alum can experience is seeing a familiar face on campus. Over the years, Maliha has often accompanied friends on visits to the Institute.

“I attend events and meet-ups as often as I can,” says Maliha, who is currently the class representative for her batch and a member of the Byelaws Committee for the IIITH Alumni Association registration in Hyderabad.

Over the years, she has helped with orientation programs for freshers and participated in Women of IIITH and other alumni discussions. The alumna would love to get involved in inducting more girl students into the Institute.

“I want to see financial literacy and taxation added to the curriculum as electives,” observes Maliha, who was invited as an alumni speaker at the 20th Convocation in 2021.

She was also part of the Alumni Awards Selection Committee for 2024, participated in the Alumni Feedback Meet for the IIITH Silver Jubilee celebrations, and contributed to the alumni interactive session for NAAC accreditation.

It is in our fabric to come together and help when it’s needed. During the peak of the 2020–2021 COVID crisis in India, and motivated by the overwhelming number of distress calls during the second wave, Sriharsha Karamchati, another alumnus, established the COVID War Room initiative to provide timely assistance to those in need.

Maliha, along with other IIIT-H alumni and students, volunteered with the initiative to handle specific needs such as oxygen cylinders, hospital beds, blood plasma, and tele-consultations.

After graduation, Maliha worked with both start-ups and large companies. “I fell in love with mobile applications because they’re tangible products. I primarily work with Android and web apps. Since 2016, I’ve been running my own software firm, APPSY (Applications Simplified), as Managing Partner, and I’m currently consulting with an Australian firm—Quadnet—mainly focusing on asset management software for mid-tier businesses.

 I’m also working on an application that allows users to manage their own medical history, and I plan to apply to incubators to take it forward.”

 “What I love most about IIIT Hyderabad is that it took me from being an uncomfortable and awkward teenager and helped shape me into who I am today. Those four years were critical in shaping how I view the world. I go back often to draw inspiration and understanding from the Institute. I grew up with the Institute—and it grew with me.”

April 2025