Monthly Archives: April 2017

SAUDI ARABIA – Community bids farewell to Indian diplomat

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, NRI's / PIO's, , , , , ,

Jeddah , SAUDI ARABIA :

Dr.Irshad Ahmed (seated centre) with leading members of the Indian community in Jeddah at the farewell event
Dr.Irshad Ahmed (seated centre) with leading members of the Indian community in Jeddah at the farewell event
 JEDDAH:
An evening to bid farewell to Dr. Irshad Ahmed, consul for press, information and culture, on completing his four-year term at the Consulate General of India in Jeddah was held recently.
 It was organized by Jeddah-based community welfare organizations from Telangana, including Khak-e-Taiba Trust, Urdu Academy, Deccan NRIs, Noor Education Society, Pain & Palliative Care Trust and Telangana Welfare Foundation.
 Ahmed thanked the Telangana organizations for holding the event in his honor. He spoke about his memorable experiences in the Kingdom and applauded the hospitality of the Hyderabadi community residing in Jeddah.
 “People living in this holy land are very blessed and very proactive when it comes to community welfare,” he said, adding he will miss the Indian community.
Ahmed said he enjoyed his stay in Jeddah and felt very fortunate to be able to help the expats residing here.
The evening commenced with the recitation of the Holy Qur’an by Hafiz Noor, followed by a heart touching naat by Khalid Hussain.
Mirza Qudrath Nawaz Baig, along with senior community members, welcomed Chief Guest Ahmed and lauded the brotherly hand he had extended toward overseas Indians.
The presidents and vice presidents of the Telangana organizations praised Ahmed for his dedication to the Indian community and in organizing various events; specifically pointing out the large-scale mushaira held at the Consulate of India and promotion of the Urdu language in a foreign land.
Ahmed was presented with a plaque of appreciation. Members of the Telangana organizations said they would not say goodbye to Ahmed but would rather say “see you soon.” They said they are looking forward to seeing Ahmed soon in Jeddah on a new assignment.
One of the key hosts of the event, Imran Kausar, gave the audience an overview of the consul and his achievements.
He started his career as an Arabic lecturer in Jamia Millia Islamia in 1995; he later joined the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India in 2001. His first foreign posting was at the Embassy of Riyadh as third secretary (Information and Culture from 2003 to 2005; then he was transferred to Consulate General of India, Jeddah as consul (Education and Culture) from 2005 to 2008.
He then worked as undersecretary (Gulf) from 2008 to 2012 and was then posted to the Consulate General of India, Jeddah again where he continued his posting as consul (Press, Information & Culture) from 2012.
He will continue his new assignment at the Ministry of External Affairs (headquarters) in New Delhi, India.
Leading members of the community at the event included Shameem Kausar, Siadat Ali Khan, Hasan Bayazeed, Jamal Qadri, Abdul Razzak, Abdul Wahab, Asimuddin Ansari, Aslam Afghani, Asif Daudi, Tahir Ali, Noorul Amin, Majid Saleem, Munawar Khan, Mazharullah Jibran, Sheikh Ibrahim, Rashid Razzak, Saleem Farooqui, Mahmood Misri, Ghazanfar Zaki, Mir Arif Ali, Abdul Rafay and Liaqat Ali Khan.
source: http://www.arabnews.com / Arab News / Home> Saudi Arabia / Wednesday – April 26th, 2017

The story of an Indian hero who laid down his life for the country

Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, World Opinion, , , , , , , , ,

Mysuru, KARNATAKA :

This July, Salma Shafeeq Ghori completes 15 years without her husband Major Shafeeq Khan Ghori. It was her son’s first day at school. She had been visiting family and they had just come back home when a group of Army men knocked on the door. They had been trying to reach her the whole day with the news.
The first two days, they said his condition was critical. “It was a shock for my father-in-law and my little one who did not understand what was happening around him. Nobody wanted to believe it was him and finally after two days of wait and agony, he was brought home for a final farewell with due military honours,” Salma recollects.
MajGhori01MPOs28apr2017
The story of a brave heart
It took their son three years to understand what happened on his first day at school. His questions about his father’s return finally stopped and he accepted that he was truly gone. He stopped asking his mother – why don’t we visit him and why can’t we call him? Tell him to visit me in my dreams, I want to see him.
Relatives had often told Major Shafeeq – what you have done is enough. It is time to leave the fighting and stay with your family. He would respond with twinkling eyes, that he could die walking on the road too. At least working at the Army would give him a death he could be proud of. He hadn’t joined so he could leave.
MajGhori02MPOs28apr2017
On a more serious note, he would prepare his family members. “Live life always as though I am with you and the kids. Never deprive them of anything just because I am not there. I’ll be back soon,” That’s how life continues now, as though he is still a part of us,” Salma reminisces.
Major Shafeeq, 40, was killed in action in Operation Rakshak. He succumbed to a bullet fighting militants. His last act was saving a fellow-soldier’s life from the bullets. His field tenure was to end in another two years and he was to spend the next few years with his family in a peaceful location. He was a keen sportsperson, good at football and cricket, but his favourite pastime was singing.
“I miss daily life with him, our conversations, our travels together, the ferocious way he defended what he believed in, his love, and bringing up our children. He was a hero with a mighty heart,” Salma relates.
MajGhori03MPOs28apr2017
Putting together the pieces
Salma and Shafeeq had a happy life together for 10 years, till 2001. With two beautiful children, Salma says that she didn’t know what sorrow was. The children grew up and got busy with school, but she felt a void that nothing could fill. This changed when she made friends with Subhashini Vasanth, who ran the Vasanthratna Foundation for Arts.
Vasanthratna Foundation helps the families of Army martyrs heal through arts and vocational activities. “While looking after the families of martyrs, understanding their sorrow and pain, I realised that I was not the only one who was suffering. So many of them had it much worse than me. Spending time with these women and empathising with them has helped me overcome my own pain,” says Salma.
Many more families need peace and healing
Hundreds of soldiers in the Army die every year, leaving behind their families. Many families lose their only support and need help carrying on. Vasanthratna Foundation helps such families, giving them vocational training, counselling and support to carry on and be brave.
Donate to help the foundation support vocational training for 30 Army widows here.
source: http://www.milaap.org / Milaap / Home / August 2016

Karkala girl’s artwork gets international recognition

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, NRI's / PIO's, , , ,

Karkala (Udupi District), KARNATAKA / Doha , QATAR  :

Proud Moment : Wafa Sultana with her painting on Palestinian culture and heritage that won her global recognition
Proud Moment : Wafa Sultana with her painting on Palestinian culture and heritage that won her global recognition

Udupi:

A Non-Resident Indian student, Wafa Sultana 23 from Karkala and currently staying in Doha to pursue her Master’s in Gulf Studies at Qatar University, got international recognition for her artwork on Palestine.

She won because her work best represented Palestinian culture and heritage. Every detail represents something about its people and culture.

Wafa told STOI: “The Palestine American Cultural Centre (PAAC) promotes cultural and humanitarian programmes which highlight the rich heritage of Palestine. They organised a poster-making competition, inviting people to create art that promotes Palestinian people and culture. During my trip to Texas, I met a few Palestinian students who studied in universities there and they told me about the competition. I consider myself a global citizen and this inspired me to do this artwork. I believe in learning more about people and cultures across the world. The more you learn about another’s culture , the more you learn to respect them.”

“I only knew Palestine as a state going through a tough phase. But this competition led me to look beyond the politics. To do artwork reflecting their culture, I had to know more about their food, language, religion, literature, music, clothing, etc. Fellaheen or a village woman wearing the traditional Palestinian dress with unique embroidery work with a white, flowing veil is exquisite,” she said.

“For me, this was not only an informative experience but also shattered many faulty generalizations and stereotypes. I learned the more you travel or read, the more you begin to celebrate diversity and realize you’re part of a big, world family. My artwork comprises a Palestinian man doing a ‘dabke’ move with a tambourine. There are musical instruments like the Kamanjah, Oud and Derbekkeh on my painting. I also drew a ‘Dallah’, a traditional Arab coffee pot and there’s the Palestinian flag in the background,” she added.

She wants to work towards peace and communal harmony by spreading the message of secularism, pluralism and beauty of diversity through her artwork. “I want the Indian civil society to rise above divisive politics of hate and religion and work towards national progress, fighting against our common enemies of poverty and corruption,” she said.

Wafa is the second daughter of Mohiddin and Humara of Karkala taluk. She did her PU at St Aloysius College and LLB at SDM, Mangaluru. She stopped her studies during fourth year of the law course as she was married to Shaik Afzal, a chemical engineer. After marriage, he went to the US for his doctoral studies. Wafa finished her LLB at Al Ameen College, Bangaluru and then moved to Qatar for the Master’s course.

Hamaira said, “I have four children. The eldest girl is a doctor and lives in the US. The son is doing journalism and the youngest daughter is doing dental undergraduate course. I’m very happy my daughter has got international recognition for her artwork.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Mangalore News / TNN / November 20th, 2016

India’s rabab maestro strikes a chord in Afghanistan

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, , ,

Bugrasi (Bulandshahr), UTTAR PRADESH :

In Afghanistan, he teaches locals the rudiments of playing the lute-shaped musical instrument which is quite akin to the sarod.

Ustad Gulfam Ahmad Khan with Afghan Rabab. (Rajesh Kumar/ HT Photo)
Ustad Gulfam Ahmad Khan with Afghan Rabab. (Rajesh Kumar/ HT Photo)

Music transcends borders and captivates hearts. Going by this maxim, India’s noted rabab exponent Gulfam Ahmad Khan, 61, is a winner all the way, from India to Afghanistan.

Khan, who played the Afghan rabab at Sankatmochan Sangeet Samaroh here late Saturday night and left the audience spellbound, has become India’s ambassador of goodwill of sorts in Afghanistan.

In Afghanistan, he teaches locals the rudiments of playing the lute-shaped musical instrument which is quite akin to the sarod.

Khan, who divides his time between New Delhi and Kabul, has taught 250 Afghan nationals and 50 more are under his tutelage. His skill has earned him enormous respect in Afghanistan where people call him Ustad.

In particular, he wants to popularise the Dhrupadi rabab (Narad veena), an Indian variety of the instrument, across Afghanistan and in other parts of the world.

Khan wishes for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take the initiative to popularise the Indian rabab.

“Dhrupadi rabab is a completely classical instrument. It produces spiritual tunes. The Afghan rabab is for fast tunes. The Indian rabab needs promotion and preservation. If the centre makes a little effort, it may become a highly popular instrument in Afghanistan,” Khan told HT.

Khan , who is in Varanasi on a four-day tour, will leave for New Delhi on Monday.

Born in Bugrasi, a town in Bulandshahar, he started playing the rabab with his father Ishtiyaque Khan who had mastery over both rabab and sarod. He gave his first performance at the age of nine in Gurudaspur.

After putting in hours of riyaaz (practice), he honed his skills.

A few years later, he performed in Ahmedabad and did not have to look back thereafter.

He took a break for a few years in the late 198os when there were no connoisseurs of the great art. During this period, he played the sarod, only to return to the rabab in the 1990s.

Starting a fresh innings, he gave a few public performances and wrote the popular number ‘Gata jaaye mast kalandar, Allah teri shan, Maula teri shan’, composing the music on the rabab.

The song made him popular across Punjab.

When he visited his daughter and son-in-law in Afghanistan, he played the rabab and impressed the locals there. Many of them insisted on learning to play the rabab from him. He did not refuse.

As his renown reached the Indian embassy in Afghanistan, senior officials invited him to hold classes on the rabab to the Afghan people. Shedding his initial reluctance, he eventually accepted the offer.

He remained in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2014, training many locals. He also learned some local songs.

“Over 250 Afghans learned to play the rabab in my classes. Some of them are professional rabab players. Around 50 Afghans still take tips from me,” he said.

“Performing at the Sankatmochan Hanuman Temple is a spiritual experience. The audience enjoyed my performance. I will keep coming here. Banaras is a great city and its culture is really fabulous,” he told HT.

After putting in hours of riyaaz (practice), he honed his skills.

A few years later, he performed in Ahmedabad and did not have to look back thereafter.

He took a break for a few years in the late 198os when there were no connoisseurs of the great art. During this period, he played the sarod, only to return to the rabab in the 1990s.

Starting a fresh innings, he gave a few public performances and wrote the popular number ‘Gata jaaye mast kalandar, Allah teri shan, Maula teri shan’, composing the music on the rabab.

The song made him popular across Punjab.

When he visited his daughter and son-in-law in Afghanistan, he played the rabab and impressed the locals there. Many of them insisted on learning to play the rabab from him. He did not refuse.

As his renown reached the Indian embassy in Afghanistan, senior officials invited him to hold classes on the rabab to the Afghan people. Shedding his initial reluctance, he eventually accepted the offer.

He remained in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2014, training many locals. He also learned some local songs.

“Over 250 Afghans learned to play the rabab in my classes. Some of them are professional rabab players. Around 50 Afghans still take tips from me,” he said.

“Performing at the Sankatmochan Hanuman Temple is a spiritual experience. The audience enjoyed my performance. I will keep coming here. Banaras is a great city and its culture is really fabulous,” he told HT.

source:  http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> Cities> Lucknow / by Sudhir Kumar, Varanasi, Hindustan Times / April 17th, 2017

Srinagar woman runs the only bat unit in city

Business & Economy, Sports, , , , ,

Srinagar, JAMMU & KASHMIR :

RifatJanMPOs25apr2017

Srinagar

Close to the Alam Sahib’s shrine in Narwara, Rifat Jan lives like any other Kashmiri woman. However there is one aspect which makes her special. Rifat runs the only bat manufacturing unit in the city by the name of Masoodi Arts and Sports.
 “I couldn’t have done this without my husband. He gave me all the support I needed,’’ said a beaming  Rifat. “ At first I was reluctant to start the unit as my husband cannot run it for being a government employee,  but I made up my mind and decided to give it a shot. Since then we have come a long way.”
Rifat’s husband, Showkat Masoodi, who is the coach of the Forest Department’s football team and also runs a football academy ,says that at first she needed a lot of help but now he just fixes minor glitches. “I cannot do a business as I am a government employee. More than that, I am a coach and I have to give time to the academy also. All my time goes with my official and coaching assignments,’’ said Masoodi.
The unit also boasts to sell bats under its own brand name MAS, which is unusual in the valley. However, almost all the 10,000 pieces, mostly tennis ball bats, which they produce per-year are sent to other states of the India. The reason for that, as the couple says is lack of sports infrastructure and sporting culture at the grass root level.
Rifat informs that when the unit started in 1996, things were slow. The only way to increase the sales was to uphold quality. “At that time we used to send bats to Chennai (then Madras). We knew that if we want to make a mark, quality has to be exceptional. And we did that. Now by the grace of Allah, our product is being used in Mumbai, Delhi and many other places.”
She also pointed out that they are the only ones who sell by their own name. “In Kashmir by and large, semi finish bats are produced. That means the producers send the product to companies without stickers and then they sell them under their own name. But we have our own brand, our own identity, “she said adding that the response has been above expectations.
“When people see our bats outside, they do ask the dealer where it was manufactured. When they hear Kashmir, they are a little bit surprised as almost every unit here sells semi-finish bats not an own brand like us.”
Rifat also feels that her unit has almost no competition in the valley. “Competition is there but outside, not here. Our product has competition from big companies like DCS, who manufacture good tennis bats,’’she says.
They even got a call from a dealer in Meerut who was ready to pay more than the market rate for a semi finished product. “We said no. We cannot sell our product under any other name. It has to be MAS, “ said Rifat.
Rifat also mentioned that Kashmir not being the market is not as kids don’t play but the state of infrastructure and lack of sports at school level. “In Kashmir, we don’t have a big market. And the reason is not that kids don’t play cricket. It’s the environment which matters. Look at the grounds here. How many do we have.  In Mumbai, a coach is compulsory, which makes sports compulsory. There are school tournaments held on regular intervals. We don’t see such environment here.  Sometimes I wonder people  who are solely dependent on sports how do they meet ends.”
She added that because of such level of gaming at the school level Mumbai is her biggest market. “Our biggest market is off course in Mumbai. It’s the hub of cricket. And they have this grass root culture. Kids start playing at a young age and then that talent gets honed in schools which provide them with that environment. There are so many academies there who need bats. What do we have here? Amar Singh club and I don’t see anything else on a big scale. Forget academies, point out a school where after regular classes a coach comes a teaches a bunch of 50 kids.”
Job motivation for sportsmen
Masoodi, her husband voices her concern and says that football in the valley faces similar problems.
 “Earlier there was a team of almost every government department here. So it was very good for everyone. Now talented players are jobless. If a department has no team then what would he do? Now tell me how many can JK Bank and Forest accommodate?, “ asks Masoodi, who also runs Iddgah Fooball Academy.
He added, “ If a player is good and he wants to make a career how can he do it without a job. Government should look into it. Even if they accommodate four boys in every department in a year and keep a sports quota, like it is everywhere then it can be a huge motivator.”
Masoodi, who took over as the coach of Forest XI in 2012, says that there is abundant talent in the valley however, they lack incentives and motivation due to a bleak future. “ After I took over as coach Forests’ team has won every tournament. They even defeated the powerful JK Bank team recently. But the players are still contractual employees. They wonder why this happens to them. This dents their morale. Our players have played Santosh Trophy many times, which is the biggest tournament in the country, still they don’t get what they deserve, “ rues Masoodi.
He says that government wants youth look at the brighter side when they don’t help them out. “It is simple. If you want to keep the youth happy and engaged, you have to give them jobs by which they can pursue their dreams.”
source: http://www.risingkashmir.com / Rising Kashmir / Home / by Mir Basit Hussain / Srinagar / November 02nd, 2015

Sania Mirza to shape up tennis kids

Sports, , , ,

Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

Starts academy for players between ages three and eight.

Sania Mirza poses with kids at the newly-opened Grassroot Level wing of the Sania Mirza Tennis Academy next to her house in Jubilee Hills on Monday (Photo: R. Pavan)
Sania Mirza poses with kids at the newly-opened Grassroot Level wing of the Sania Mirza Tennis Academy next to her house in Jubilee Hills on Monday (Photo: R. Pavan)

Hyderabad:

Tennis ace Sania Mirza on Monday launched the Sania Mirza Tennis Academy’s Grassroot Level wing for players between the ages of three and eight, next to her home in Jubilee Hills here.

The idea was to introduce budding players to tennis, she said. “As a tennis player I’ve had lot of difficulties coming to know what to do and where to go as a child and knowing how much to practise,” Sania said.

“It is actually my mother and her friend’s idea and obviously the Mirza family supports it. Tennis today is too competitive and you have to start when you are three or four years old,” Sania explained. “The professionals, the biggest of champions, have always started at the ages of 4, 5 and 6,” she added.

“We are still waiting for the next Sania, the next Mahesh (Bhupathi) and Leanders (Paes) to come and this is just a small way of contributing to it,” she said adding “It is right next to my house and I will obviously give some time as well.

“The concept is to get as many kids as possible to the academy where we are going to play with soft, colourful balls to make it attractive and easier for them,” Sania said, adding, “At that age, I don’t think they’d understand the concept of forehand or backhand. It is more about fun, enjoyment. You have to get them to try and love the game first before they want to actually make it their profession.”

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Sports> Tennis / February 07th, 2017

Hina Khan seeks blessings at Ajmer Sharif Dargah

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, , , , ,

Srinagar, JAMMU & KASHMIR / Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA :

HinaKhanMPOs25apr2017

Actress Hina Khan, who is known for her iconic performance of Akshara on the show Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, recently visited the Ajmer Sharif Dargah.

She played the character of Akshara, a lady who was very homely and sanskari. Hina was praised for her performance multiple times. She had become the face of Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai and made the show popular. For more that 8 years, the actress entertained the audience and got immense love in return.

She recently quit the show and is currently on a break. The actress is spending her time with her close friends and is visiting a number of places. She offered prayers at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah and shared the following post on her social media handle.

Hina has also been in the news as there are rumors about her taking up Nach Baliye with rumored beau Rocky Jaiswal.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> TV> News> Hindi / TNN / February 20th, 2017

Aslam Parvez brings to life the time and poetry of Bahadur Shah Zafar in new book

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, World Opinion

NEW DELHI :

First published in Urdu in 1986, the book highlights the life and poetry of Zafar (1775 to 1862), whose reign marked a crucial period in the Indian history.

Bahadur Shah Zafar’s oil portrait, painted in 1854 by Austrian artist August Schoefft, now in the fort of Lahore.(photo_kraft/Instagram)
Bahadur Shah Zafar’s oil portrait, painted in 1854 by Austrian artist August Schoefft, now in the fort of Lahore.(photo_kraft/Instagram)

A new book brings alive the life and poetry of the last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar as author Aslam Parvez weaves together the strands of the political, the personal, the cultural and the literary aspects of a bygone era.

Publisher Hay House describes The Life and Poetry of Bahadur Shah Zafar as an absorbing, authentic and exemplary chronicle — studded with rare nuggets of information and enthralling anecdotes — of one of the most tragic figures of history who was witness to the end of a glorious dynasty.

First published in Urdu in 1986, this book brings alive the life and poetry of Zafar (1775 to 1862), who presided over a crucial period in Indian history when the country was subjugated and became a colony of the fast-expanding British Empire.

This work is as much about the 1857 Rebellion as it is about Zafar, the reluctant leader of the rebels. The pages also evoke the captivating ambience of a period when formidable poets such as Mirza Ghalib, Sheikh Muhammad Ibrahim Zauq and Momin Khan Momin, apart from Zafar himself, came up with one creative gem after another.

The author also provides a vivid picture of Delhi during the last days of its cultural and literary splendour as the Mughal capital and as a custodian of Urdu literature and poetry.

Finally, he recounts, in a touching manner, how Zafar spent his last days in Rangoon (where he had been exiled by the British) — a lonely and forgotten individual — far away from his beloved Delhi and from the trappings of empire.

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> Books / PTI, New Delhi / April 25th, 2017

Only Hebrew teacher in Indian university is a Muslim

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Leaders, , , , ,

Gopalganj, BIHAR / NEW DELHI :

JNU professor Khurshid Imam.
JNU professor Khurshid Imam.

New Delhi :

He has prayed in synagogues and observed the Sabbath, Judaism’s day of rest, and enjoyed crispy falafel on the streets of Jerusalem. A map of Israel hangs in his study where Yasser Arafat shares space with David Ben-Gurion. And he doesn’t mind if his 10-year-old daughter greets him with ‘Shalom’ instead of ‘Assalam Alaikum’. Meet Dr Khurshid Imam, a devout Muslim and the only teacher of Hebrew at a university in India, Jawaharlal Nehru University.

The bearded, skull cap-donning Imam hopes for a new dawn in India-Israel ties, which received a boost with foreign minister Sushma Swaraj’s West Asia visit last week. Unlike most Muslims who look upon Jews with suspicion – just as most Jews don’t trust Muslims – this assistant professor of Hebrew at the Centre of Arabic and African Studies doesn’t harbour any animosity. And he wants to use Hebrew, the ancient language in which the sacred Torah was revealed, to bring Jews and Muslims closer.

The cause of animosities between Muslims and Jews is political. Religion is a pawn in the hands of politicians who don’t want adherents of the two Abrahamic religions cementing ties,” said Khurshid Imam, 46, whose unique distinction “baffles” many of his co-religionists brought up on a heavy dose of hatred for Jews.

“Many call me ‘Mossad agent’ among Indian Muslims, a Zionist promoter and some even jokingly call me ‘nek Yahudi’ (benevolent Jew) because of my passion for Hebrew,” laughs Imam, third among six siblings who grew up in Gopalganj, Bihar, and went to Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1998. He stayed there till 2000 post-M Phil at JNU.

“Government of Israel scholarship and Golda Meir scholarship funded my courses in Hebrew and study of the Modern Middle East,” he said. “I wanted to learn Hebrew to understand Judaism and find commonalities between Islam and Judaism.”

He also wanted to conform to a hadith (tradition) of Prophet Muhammad, who is believed to have asked some of his companions to learn Hebrew. “If the Prophet encouraged Muslims to learn Hebrew, who are clerics and community leaders to issue fatwa against those who visit Israel?” he asked.

Despite apprehensions of friends and family, Imam chose to stay amid Jewish students who he discovered were not as “rabidly anti-Muslim” as many paint them to be.

“Many Jews first thought I was a non-Arab Muslim jihadist plotting to bomb their establishments. Similarly, Arab Muslims in Israel and Palestine mistook me for a Zionist disguised as a practising Muslim. Once, some kids even threw stones at me, shouting, “Yahud, Yahud” (Jew, Jew). I was moved when several Jewish friends wept when I left Jerusalem,” recalled Imam.

He is, however, disappointed by the “cold” response from several Indian universities to his proposal for teaching Hebrew. “Khurshid’s efforts are laudable and I believe Indian universities should open their doors to Hebrew because languages help build bridges between people,” said S A Rahman, retired professor of Arabic who mentored Imam at JNU.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> India / by Mohammed Wajihuddin / TNN / January 24th, 2016

Aamir Khan gifted Maulana Azad’s speech to sister

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, World Opinion

Pune, MAHARASHTRA :

Aamir Khan's family
Aamir Khan’s family

For her elder sister Nikhat’s 50th birthday, Aamir Khan gifted her five speeches of  Moulana Abul Kalam Azad.

Aamir Khan’s sister, Nikhat celebrated her 50th birthday on Saturday and the entire Khan-daan was in Pune celebrating her birthday with lot of fanfare.

Aamir Khan had been thinking since a really long time of a special birthday gift for his sister. The entire family had been pitching in ideas for gifts to give to Nikhat. Everyone in the family had given him several options.

However, our perfectionist Khan wanted to look for the most perfect birthday gift for his sister. He especially wanted the gift to be extremely special, as it was Nikhat’s 50th birthday.

After a long brainstorming session Aamir Khan did the unbelievable. “He sourced and got the copy of five speeches of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the great Indian freedom fighter and Aamir Khan’s great grand uncle”, says a source. “At the get-together in Pune, everyone in the family heard all the speeches together and was teary eyed at the end of the session”.

“As it was much before their time and way back in history, no one from the family had ever heard Maulana Abul Kalam Azad’s voice ever before including Aamir, his sisters, bothers and cousins”, adds the source.

Aamir Khan and Kiran’s son Azad Rao Khan has been named after Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

2012 has been Aamir Khan’s busiest year ever. Aamir is known for doing one project at a time. This is the first time in his career that he has been juggling between his magnanimous TV show Satyamev Jayate, Talaash and Dhoom 3 all in the same breath. Hence Aamir Khan hasn’t been able to spend quality time with his family.

source: http://www.http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> Entertainment> Hindi> Bollywood> News / TNN / August 07th, 2012