Monthly Archives: January 2017

Gold medal winners show heart of gold that beats for poor

January 31, 2017Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Science & TechnologyDr.Imran Rizvi, Dr.Mohammad Tabish, Imran Rizvi, Imran Rizvi recipient Dr A M Kar Centenary Gold Medal, Mohammed Tabishmpositiveone@gmail.com

Lucknow, UTTAR PRADESH :

Lucknow :

A number of graduates who received gold medal at the 12th convocation of King George’s Medical University on Sunday would prefer to work in government sector-academics or practice to help the under privileged.

“Millions die every year for lack of proper treatment of neurological disorders, so I look forward to help those in need,” said Imran Rizvi, who bagged the Dr A M Kar centenary Gold Medal for best performance in DM (Neurology).

Recipient of the highest honour, Mohammad Tabish too wants to work in his home district comprising villages of Muzaffarnagar. Resident of Basti, BDS topper Abhishek Kumar Gupta said he ultimately wanted to open a clinic in Basti and serve in his home town. Similarly, Chancellor’s gold and university honours medal winner Avinash D Gautam too wants to serve the poor.

Sharing the dream of going abroad, Harsha A H and Shiva Rajan wish to work for the welfare of the society. “I wish to make discoveries and invent technologies that would help treat patients,” said Harsha, who received the ‘Sursari Dayal Memorial Gold Medal’.

The gold medal in the name of Vice Chancellor Prof Ravi Kant was conferred on Himanshu Yadav who believes in healing patients, rather than treating them. “I want to put in whatever I have learnt till date in serving impecunious,” added Yadav.

One of the gold medallists said she took up medical studies only to relieve the poverty-stricken. Vikram Holla, who will soon be joining as an assistant professor in a government medical college, said, “I am ready to work with any organisation that works ethically, and prioritises needs of the under- privileged.”

There was a good number of passouts who wanted to work in the government sector but Madhusudan Patodia, recipient of Prof T C Goel Gold medal said he would like to work in a private hospital since they are technologically more advanced. Patodia’s field of specialisation is kidney transplant.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Lucknow News / TNN / January 30th, 2017

Mobile museum of rocks, minerals

January 30, 2017Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Travel & Tourism, World OpinionMatrix India, Muhammad Fasihuddin Makki, Sami Makkimpositiveone@gmail.com

Pune, MAHARASHTRA :

Makki has rare collection of stones: Makki owns over 1,000 exhibits worth several crores

Huge claws of a T-Rex dinosaur that would take you to the world of Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park, massive amethyst crystals and a meteorite that fell in Siberia in Russia that remind of Carl Sagan’s Cosmos are part of his collection. Besides them, he owns hundreds of small precious stones, which would hold visitors in awe and expose them to a new world of stones.

Interestingly, all these are held by one man and he answers to the name of Makki. He is virtually a mobile museum. Whether it is something extra-terrestrial or buried in mounds or deep inside the earth, he has almost everything. He has ruby, agate, amethyst and many more.

“You need to touch them, feel them and experience them,” says 68-year-old Muhammad Fasihuddin Makki about his exhibits. He is not touchy about anyone touching specimens and insists that students need to be brought closer to them to change their perspective about stones.

Collecting and selling stones are his hobby as well as profession. “It’s my passion and I love it… my bread and butter are minerals,” he said. “I am taking stones to the doorstep of people for them to develop love for them,” said Makki, who has no formal training in geology. In fact, Makki is a Master’s in English and calls himself a “pujari of Laxmi and Saraswati”.

The Pune-based Makki is the founder of Matrix India and also runs a touring museum. His personal collection is displayed in exhibitions across India. He has participated in several exhibitions, conferences and auctions abroad. He has been supplying rocks and minerals to schools and colleges. He also runs one of the biggest agencies in the world involved in exporting and importing rocks and minerals.

“We offer a variety of minerals from spectacular specimens for collectors to large stock of supplies to wholesale buyers. We have a ready stock of different rough materials from India and we regularly add to our inventory freshly mined new specimens from the Deccan Traps,” said Makki. They also supply boulders and large colourful rocks for landscaping and interior decoration.

Makki is a member of various associations, including Minerological Society of India, Minerological Society of America, Collectors Society of India, Volcanological Society of India, Euromineral France and Mineralientage Germany.

The family of Makki hails from Karnataka and his father was into collecting minerals. “I picked it up from him,” he said. It has been close to five decades into this profession and hobby. “I love this and it keeps me going,” he said. He takes over 1,000 specimens for exhibitions and their value will be several crores.

“I do not charge any money or take remuneration.The institutions where I arrange these mineral and fossil exhibitions arrange for my accommodation and for my two or three assistants. The organisers bear the cost of transporting exhibits like stones from Pune. Some of the exhibits are quite heavy and many of them weigh more than 100 kg,” he said.

His son Sami has started helping him in the business and in arranging these educational earth science exhibitions.

The most precious among the specimens in his collection is a meteorite. It looks small but it is over 8 kg, he smiles. “It fell in 1947 in Sikhote-Alin in Siberia. In 1994, I visited an exhibition in the United States, where this was auctioned…. I did not hesitate, bid for it and bought it… it was quite a sum, but it is a rare collection,” he says.

He recently held “Exhibition of Rocks, Minerals & Archaeological Antiques” and it was hosted by the Centre for Extra-Mural Studies (CEMS) of the University of Mumbai in collaboration with the INSTUCEN (India Study Centre) Trust, and the Deccan College of Pune. “I want people to touch them, photograph them… it is a kind of a bond…it is a rock. Minerals do not have life, but once you touch and feel it, you are in a totally different world,” he says passionately.

He said, “The trilobites are over 400 million years old. These are the oldest fossils with me. Dinosaurs became extinct 60 million years ago. I have dinosaur fossils with me and in fact children love to see them. They often want to touch and see and I do not object. Today one can see dinosaurs in films or on television. When children see a live claw or egg or remains they get excited,” points out Makki.

Explaining how he goes about his collection, he said: “I do mining and collection from all parts of India. I have set aside a lot of large exotic colourful mineral specimens as my personal collection and in addition to that I also acquire many different kinds of colourful and interesting mineral specimens found in other countries. I buy from other dealers or exchange with my specimens and in this way over the years I have accumulated a huge collection of colourful crystalline mineral specimens from all over the world.”

India, he says, is a treasure house of minerals and the Geological Society of India and Geological Survey of India have been doing a great job. “Collection and exhibition of rocks and minerals offer good careers,” he claims.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Special Features / by Mrityunjay Bose in Mumbai / DHNS – January 29th, 2017

Abdul Hossain wins Kolkata Marathon

January 30, 2017SportsAbdul Hossain, Abdul Hossain-Siliguri-West Bengal, IDBI Federal Life Insurance Kolkata Marathon, Kolkata Marathon, Kolkata Marathon 2017mpositiveone@gmail.com

Siliguri, WEST BENGAL :

Kolkata :

Abdul Hossain of Siliguri crossed the finish line in two hours, 34 minutes and two seconds to win the inaugural IDBI Federal Life Insurance Kolkata Marathon here on Sunday.

Biswnath Pal, who was five minutes slower than Hossain, took the second place, while Paritosh Roy (2:52:48) ended up third in the race which began at 5 a.m.

In half-marathon, Subhankar Ghosh (1:09:07) and Mangali Tamang (1:31:13) emerged the winners among men and women respectively.

In a close finish, Pramod Kumar (32.38) beat Shynsharlang Wahlang by 0.01 second to claim the 10,000m men’s crown. Puja Mandal (38:59) recorded a comfortable victory for the women’s title.

Sachin Tendulkar, who was the face of the event, was a major attraction at the marathon in which more than 8,000 runners took part in different races.

The results:

Marathon, men: 1. Abul Hossain 2:34:02s; 2. Biswanath Pal 2:39:16; 3. Paritosh Roy 2:52:48.

Half-Marathon, men: 1. Subhankar Ghosh 1:09:07; 2. Jomsing Star Ramsiej 1:11:03; 3. Uttam Bhujel 1:13:23; Women: 1. Mangali Tamang 1:31:13; 2. Kyntimon Marwein 1:33:04; 3. Dateibankynman Marwein 1:35:48.

10,000m, men: 1. Pramod Kumar 32.38; 2. Shynsharlang Wahlang 32:39; 3. Manas Das 34:23; Women: 1. Puja Mandal 38:59; 2. Phyrnai Kyndait 44:42; 3. Dakahi Kyndait 44:44.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sport> Other Sports / by Special Correspondent / January 29th, 2017

Meet Sabbah Haji: The woman who is setting new education standards in Chenab valley

January 29, 2017Community Involvement / Social Issues, EducationHaji Public School, Nasir Haji, Sabbah Haji, Saleem Haji, Tasneem Hajimpositiveone@gmail.com

JAMMU & KASHMIR :

The winds of change started blowing when Sabbah Haji decided to do something for her homeland and subsequently opened the family-run Haji Public School.

At some 8000 feet above sea level, this school on picturesque hills in Chenab valley is setting new standards of education in Jammu and Kashmir. Apart from securing excellent grades in academics, the students here enjoy watching movies, learn activities like rock-climbing, and speak fluent English from kindergarten, something otherwise unusual for this “traditionally-conservative” Doda district.

The winds of change started blowing a decade ago, when Sabbah Haji a young woman, born and brought up in Dubai, decided to do something for her homeland and subsequently opened the family-run Haji Public School in Breswana village, some seven hours drive from the winter capital of Jammu.

After spending her childhood in UAE where her parents worked back then, Sabbah had shifted to Bengaluru for further studies. While her parents returned to Doda in 2000, Sabbah, after completing her studies, stayed back in the metropolitan, working with the multi-national companies.

But it in 2008 when Sabbah went visited Doda to meet her parents that things changed. Incidentally Sabah’s Singapore-based uncle, Nasir Haji was also in the town then. During a get-together, the family discussed their charity trust providing assistance to the needy. This was when Nasir bounced off the idea to do something big for the homeland by opening a school and proposed that he would also fund the project.

The idea was well taken. Sabbah’s mother Tasneem, who worked as a teacher in the Middle-East, was already an experienced hand. Her father Saleem Haji was equally willing. But “aged minds” needed “support of young energetic hands.”

And this was where Sabbah’s need was felt. A post graduate in English, she willingly agreed. Giving up her lucrative career in the MNCs, she started working on the new dream in this remote hamlet.

As the school started, Sabbah was appointed as its Director and her mother its principal. But irrespective of designations, both mother-daughter duo work as teachers as well. Saleem Haji, a former manager in a shipment company abroad, is the now the village Sarpanch and ensures inspecting the school officially.

The Haji Public School had started with just one student in the kindergarten, who qualified her class 8th board exams last year with over 90% marks. Over the years the school has over 350 students and counting. “We didn’t start all the classes at one time as we wanted to groom our kids from the very beginning,” Sabbah told InUth.

Interestingly, while the co-educational institution bears a Muslim name, it has a big number of students from other communities as well. Sabbah takes classes on religious and moral teachings too.

The school has a variety of specialised facilities including a movie projector where kids love watching movies in the company of their favourite “Sabbah Mam”. Blockbuster Dangal is scheduled to be screened when the school reopens in spring after ongoing winter vacations.

But then is this 34-year-old woman, who gave up her promising career abroad happy to work in the remote Valley? “Yes of course. It’s our home,” she says adding that internet keeps her connected to the entire world.

Having been recently awarded by the state government for her contribution in “Social reforms and empowerment”, Sabah gives credit to her family. “We are in love with this place because even when we were abroad, my father always kept us connected to our roots. He is a very grounded person for that matter.”

She says the Haji family is happy and satisfied to see the kids improve. But then Sabbah takes a deep breath: “A lot more needs to be done!”

source: http://www.inuth.com / InUth.com / Home> India / by Majid Hyderi / January 27th, 2017

This is how Salman’s stardom overshadowed Resident Evil’s Milla Jovovich in Berlin

January 28, 2017Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, World OpinionBollywood Actor Salman Khan, Salman Khan, Salman Khan Bollywood Actor, Salman Khan-Actormpositiveone@gmail.com

GERMANY / Mumbai, INDIA :

Actor Milla Jovovich and her husband, filmmaker Paul W.S Anderson say Salman Khan has more fans in Germany than them.(Rich Fury/Invision/AP)

A Bollywood A-lister’s stardom can leave even Hollywood celebrities behind. That’s exactly what filmmaker Paul WS Anderson and his wife, actor Milla Jovovich witnessed when they ran into Salman Khan in Germany in 2011.

“We were staying at the same hotel and I was shocked because there was this huge crowd of fans inside the hotel. First immediately I thought they were my fans and I walked out all ah… No one is paying attention to me at all and what’s going on,” says Milla who will soon be seen in the sixth instalment of the Resident Evil film franchise.

She adds, “Suddenly this guy (Salman Khan) walks by and everyone is like Oh My God!! I see all of this happen and ask myself ‘Jesus Christ who is this guy?’ And then we get to know he’s the biggest Indian Bollywood star and he’s a huge deal.”

The 41-year-old actor says she was quite embarrassed with the incident. “That incident was quite interesting yet humiliating. We were all prepared to sign autographs and no one was interested and it was funny. We would turn up, pull-up at the hotel and literally more than 100 fans gathered outside the hotel. When we pulled up and got out of the car, no one was interested in us and it was so funny,” she adds.

Her husband, Paul Anderson feels Indian films are big in other countries. “Bollywood movies aren’t considered harmful in anyway. They are not pushing any western values. So Indian stars are huge in Germany,” says Anderson.

Actor Salman Khan’s stardom in Germany floored actor Milla Jovovich and her husband, filmmaker Paul W.S Anderson. (PTI)

Following the incident, Milla now wants to work with Salman and says, “I would love that. I don’t know about the singing and the dancing bit. Though I’d have to …it will be my next training.”

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> Bollywood / by Samarth Goyal, HT / January 26th, 2017

She vrooms past traditions to make a point

January 28, 2017Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, EducationFareed Farooqui, Jawed Khan-Director-Centre for West Asian Studies, Roshni Misbahmpositiveone@gmail.com

Ghaziabad, UTTAR PRADESH / NEW DELHI :

Roshni Misbah is pursuing an MA in Arabic & Culture Studies at Jamia. Photo Piyal Bhattacharjee

New Delhi :

She oozes attitude in her black leather jacket, jeans and high-heeled boots, her head covered in a hijab. But that is not why Roshni Misbah makes heads turn in Jamia Millia Islamia. What does is the way she moves — on a mean orange-red-and-black motorbike that leaves behind a trail of throaty retorts when she zooms by.
People unaccustomed to such derring-do on a tradition-bound campus are slowly coming to terms with the phenomenon of Misbah, a 22-year-old who is pursuing an MA degree in Arabic and Culture Studies at the university. She is also an online sensation. For those who think a woman should, at most, aspire to a scooter, she is a slap in the face.

“I am a member of groups like the Windchasers and Delhi Royal Enfield Riders, and was part of the Bajaj Avengers Club at the time I owned an Avenger bike,” said the girl from Ghaziabad. She also believes that she is one of the youngest members of Bikerni, an all-woman biker group in Delhi that aims at gender empowerment through female motorcyclists.

These days, she flashes by on a Rs 2-lakh, 250 cc Honda CBR Repsol. It has been a longish journey since the time her father, himself a lover of motorcycles and owner of, among others, a monstrous Suzuki Intruder 1800, said he would get her a Vespa when she declared pillion rides with him had whetted her keenness to become a biker.

She was in Class IX at Cambridge School when her wish was fulfilled. She learnt to ride a bike by herself and later managed to buy the Avenger, on which she perfected her skills. Her embracing of an unusual pursuit made her an immediate heroine for her two younger siblings and their friends.

Misbah knew she was doing something different, especially for a girl from a conservative community. But everyone around her — from family to friends and teachers — rallied around her. “My teachers even gave me a special parking slot near the Indo-Arab Centre on the campus,” she said. Her teacher, Jawed Khan, director, Centre for West Asian Studies, described her as a sincere student who remained attached to her culture despite being passionate about bikes. A friend, Fareed Farooqui, who too is a superbike rider, felt that “other girls should do whatever they wish to, like Roshni”.

Thankful to the vast majority who have endorsed her passion, Misbah also recalled that there were a few who criticised her for not conforming to the accepted image of a woman. The confident super biker believes that she is doing her bit to break down such stereotypes and hopes instead “to inspire more and more girls to follow their desires”.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Delhi News / by Mohammad Ibrar, TNN / January 28th, 2017

Entrepreneur’s income turns incoming happiness for kids

January 26, 2017Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social IssuesAl-Maysin Trust, Ameena Shaikh, Ameena Shaikh-Bengaluru, NGO Al-Maysin Trustmpositiveone@gmail.com

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA :

Cakes, chips and fruit juice… 25-yr-old entrepreneur distributes snack boxes in Fraser Town school to spread smiles among underprivileged kids; next, she plans
to start an NGO to teach English to students of Urdu- & Kannada-medium schools

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Students at this govt school in Fraser Town can barely conceal their excitement as Ameena hands out snack boxes

In this greed-filled world, a 25-year-old entrepreneur has set a shining example of how sharing can spread joy; and her efforts are already spreading smiles among children of a local government school in Fraser Town.

This young entrepreneur, Ameena Shaikh, running an event management company, keeps aside a part of her income every month, which goes into buying snack boxes filled with goodies for 210 schoolchildren studying in class 1-5. The boxes contain a piece of cake, potato chips, and a fruit juice.

Last week, when she distributed the boxes, the twinkle in the eyes of the children — all from underprivileged background — said it all. Inspired by her grandfather, Ameena has ensured that not a single month has gone without her separating a part of her income for charity.

“My grandfather is my inspiration. He gave away two acres of land in our native place (Tiptur) so that the poor could build their homes there. As for me, I began my event management company when I was in the second year of my degree. Right from my first income, I have always given a part of it for charity,” she says.

In the beginning, it was small things like packets of biscuits for kids, and even books and uniforms. “However, these are little kids, they find happiness in such goodies and cakes and all I wanted is to spread smiles. For these kids, a cake is a big thing, and I plan to bring all these pieces of happiness for them. As my income grew, my charity has also expanded,” she says.

Although the beginnings have been humble and Ameena works single-handed with no outside donations or help, she has bigger plans.

With her soon-to-begin NGO, Al-Maysan Trust (which means ‘the shining star’), she plans to bring volunteers on board and also accept donations.

In the coming months, Ameena and her NGO plan to take charity to the next level by educating the underprivileged.

“This NGO will begin working by next month. For now, I have 2-3 volunteers who only assist me in the distributions, but in future I do not want to constrict to distributing but will start English classes across Bengaluru for both Urdu and Kannada medium schools. I plan to go to city colleges to gather volunteers. I am sure there will be students who want to do some good work for the society. Also, with the NGO in place, we can take the charity work to a bigger level by donations as well,” she says of her plans.

Although she doesn’t believe in publicity,Ameena feels this would inspire people to do more and also join her as in her efforts. For her, helping people in need is more of a soul-purifying exercise and spreading smiles is what she calls ‘her calling’: “My trust is open for any number of volunteers who want to make a positive change. For me, charity means happiness. I cannot simply put it in words, but the moment I see smiles on these cute faces of children, or when I see someone is doing much better and is happier, I feel a whole lot of peace/calmness.”

source: http://www.bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com / Bangalore Mirror / Home> Bangalore> Cover Story / by Farheen Hussain, Bangalore Mirror Bureau / January 26th, 2017

From Purdah To Parliament: Begum Aizaz Rasul

January 26, 2017UncategorizedBegum Aizaz Rasul, Begum Aizaz Rasul-President-Asian Women's Hockey Federation, Begum Aizaz Rasul-President-Indian Women's Hockey Federation, Begum Qudsia Aizaz Rasul, First and Only Muslim Woman to be a Member of Constituent Assembly of India, Indian Women's Hockey Federation, President, President-Asian Women's Hockey Federationmpositiveone@gmail.com

UTTAR PRADESH :

http://www.ndtv.com/people/from-purdah-to-parliament-begum-aizaz-rasul-1652956?site=full

Begum Aizaz Rasul was the only Muslim woman in the Constituent Assembly that drafted the Constitution.

source: http://www.ndtv.com / NDTV / Home> People / written by Radhika Bordia / January 26th, 2017

This footballer has a special place in Bidar’s history

January 26, 2017SportsLiaqat Ali Khan, Liaqat Ali Khan-Bidar, Liaqat Ali Khan-Chronicler of Bidar, Liaqat Ali Khan-Historian of Bidar, Nazeer Ahmed Khan, Nazeer Ahmed Khan-Bidar, Nazeer Ahmed Khan-Bidar Footballermpositiveone@gmail.com

Bidar, KARNATAKA :

Soccer became popular in Bidar after the memorable tournament in Hyderabad 65 years ago

People of Bidar have special love for the game of football.

This sport became popular in the region after the memorable tournament organised 65 years ago in Hyderabad.

A team of local lads defeated the British officers serving in the Hyderabad Nizam’s army in that hard-fought match.

The player who scored the match winning goal was a 17-year-old lad from Bidar.

Nazeer Ahmed Khan of Siddi Taleem in Bidar was a self-taught footballer. He used to watch soldiers play football and serve as their assistant during the game.

He soon developed a passion for the game and joined Bidar Sporting Club.

His club used to participate in the matches across the Nizam’s Kingdom and organise tournaments in Bidar.

The erstwhile Nizam’s State spread across parts of today’s Hyderabad-Karnataka, Marathwada and Telangana.

British officers in the Nizam’s infantry used to play football with teams of youths from across the Nizam’s State.

Khan became a hero in one such tournament. The all-important tournament in Hyderabad was held in 1946 in which a team of British officers played the local lads who had grouped themselves under City Club.

“The Diwan, who was watching the match, came down the pavilion and hugged Khan, who instantly developed a fan following in Hyderabad. When Khan returned to Bidar, the District Collector gave a rousing welcome and organised a civic reception in his honour near the old mosque,” says Liaqat Ali Khan, chronicler of Bidar’s history.

“Khan continued to play for Bidri Sporting Club. He also played some matches for Mohammaden Sporting Club of Kolkata.

“He died in 2007. As long as he lived, he inspired footballers in Bidar and Hyderabad,” he said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / by Rishikesh Bahadur Desai / Bidar – August 04th, 2010