Monthly Archives: June 2019

The Muslim Dewans Of Banares: Stories From My Family

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, Travel & Tourism, World Opinion, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Benares, UTTAR PRADESH :

Stories of kings and queens fascinate all children and we were no different.

We never grew tired of hearing Amma tell us stories about the Kashi Naresh (king of Banares) and her life in Ramnagar, in present-day Varanasi. Stories of how my seven-year-old aunt was on the lead elephant in the Ramlila celebrations, because the Kashi Naresh was studying in Mayo College; stories of her roza kushai (celebrations when a child fasts for the first time) which had a 16-year-old Bismillah Khan playing the shehnai; stories of my Nani, Begum Hameeda Khatoon attending state dinners in chiffon saris and brocade blouses with matching brocade shoes and a dash of Tangee, her favourite lipstick. We heard of Khan Bahadur Syed Ali Zamin, MBE, our teetotaller Nana raising the toast to the very senior British dignitaries who came with a glass of water! We heard of Nana ensuring that there was a constant supply of Ganga Jal for the young Kashi Naresh studying in Mayo College, since he could only use that pure water. We often heard stories from my grandmother of the jewels in the state treasury; Nana must have described the jewels to her—the keys to the treasury were kept with him and he discharged his duties with utmost integrity and honesty. Another story, and my favourite, was that Nana personally chose the piece of brocade and silk, which went from Benares as Queen Elizabeth’s wedding present.

The rulers of Benares appointed many of their dewans and other officers from the Syed family of Kajgaon, near Jaunpur… Benares State was the biggest employer of our family!

Our childhood was shaped by these stories of a land where the Ganges flowed and the Ganga Jamuni Tehzeeb, as our syncretic culture is referred to, flourished.

A land where there was a Brahmin king and a Muslim dewan!

The rulers of Benares appointed many of their dewans and other officers from the Syed family of Kajgaon, near Jaunpur. In fact, as my aunt says, back then Benares State was the biggest employer of our family!

A VIEW OF THE GHATS OF BANARAS FROM RAMNAGAR, IN A PHOTO BY RUST, C.1880'S
A VIEW OF THE GHATS OF BANARAS FROM RAMNAGAR, IN A PHOTO BY RUST, C.1880’S

Ramnagar, which is 18km from Varanasi, was the capital of the erstwhile princely state under the British Raj. Its history dates back to the ancient Kingdom of Kashi and its Brahmin rulers are said to be the incarnation of Shiva.

Mansa Ram Singh founded the Benares estate and in 1740 his son Balwant Singh became its first Raja. It became a princely state in 1911 under the British government.

Maharaja Ishwari Prasad Narayan Singh succeeded his uncle and ruled till his death in 1889.

WWW.COLUMBIA.EDU "The Maharajah of Benares," from the Illustrated London News, 1876
WWW.COLUMBIA.EDU
“The Maharajah of Benares,” from the Illustrated London News, 1876

A family tradition begins

The first dewan from our family was my mother’s great-great-grandfather, Maulana Syed Gulshan Ali, a qualified mujtahid from Najaf in Iraq came in Maharaja Ishwari Prasad Narayan Singh’s reign.

AHMED ZAMIN / Maulana Syed Gulshan Ali
AHMED ZAMIN /
Maulana Syed Gulshan Ali

He advised and supported the king’s decision to not get involved in the 1857 Uprising and as chief minister and dewan he was instrumental in getting the estate, which had been confiscated by the British, restored to the Maharaja. According to the family lore, he had the idea of going to England to appeal to the Privy Council for the return of the confiscated land. He took three lakh rupees from the Maharaja and proceeded to the head office of the East India Company in Calcutta (now Kolkata). On the way, he met a British officer associated with Fort William in Calcutta where the head office of the East India Company was located. When the officer discovered that Maulana was a scholar he offered to help him in return for Urdu and Persian lessons. Upon finding out Maulana’s concern, he advised him that there was no need to go to England because the case could be pleaded from India. Maulana stayed in Calcutta for about a year teaching Urdu and Persian to the British officer

His detractors who had spread the rumours that Maulana sahib had decamped with the money were proved wrong when he returned and after deducting his nominal expenses handed over the remaining amount to the Maharaja.

Vignettes to cherish

My cousin Syed Naqi Hasan’s yet-to-be-published memoirs, My Nostalgic Journey, is a storehouse of information and family stories.

His uncle Khan Bahadur Syed Ahmed Hasan CIE was dewan and his grandfather, Syed Ali Sagheer (My Nana’s brother) was a collector in Gyanpur, one of the districts of Benares state. He heard these anecdotes from both our grandfathers and his uncle. Those were the days when elders sat in the courtyard surrounded by the youngsters and told them stories and anecdotes to ensure that family legacies, cultural traditions were carried on. Today’s TV, computers and smart phone have taken this away from us. Oral history will soon die a natural death.

Maharaja Ishwari Parasad Narayan Singh valued Maulana Gulshan Ali’s advice and loyalty so much that when Maulana died, he “wept bitterly and said, ‘Today my father has died.'”

He writes that Maharaja Ishwari Parasad Narayan Singh valued Maulana Gulshan Ali’s advice and loyalty so much that when Maulana died, “Maharaja Ishwari Parsad wept bitterly and said, ‘Today my father has died.'”

Later Maulana Gulshan Ali’s son Syed Ali Mohammad served as Naib Dewan.

AHMED ZAMIN / My grandparents, mother and aunts in their Ramnagar house
AHMED ZAMIN /
My grandparents, mother and aunts in their Ramnagar house

My aunt reminisces that amongst the many privileges granted to Maulana and his family by the Maharaja, the most important one was that until the merger of Benares state with India, two white horses were kept in the royal capital of Ramnagar at the State’s expense, and were sent to Kajgaon to be used as Zuljanah (representation of Imam Hussain’s horse) in the Muharram processions.

My elders kept our family’s oral history intact and I share some here.

HTTP://WWW.COLUMBIA.EDU/ "Benares, Maharaja's Palace," a professional photo, 1930's.
HTTP://WWW.COLUMBIA.EDU/
“Benares, Maharaja’s Palace,” a professional photo, 1930’s.

Maulana Syed Gulshan Ali’s extraordinary presence of mind and good judgment during the annexation of Awadh by the East India Company in 1856 is still talked about in our family. When the last Nawab of Awadh, Wajid Ali Shah, was deposed and exiled to Calcutta he halted on his way at Benares. It was customary to offer a nazrana usually in the form of gold coins to a visiting king, which the king sometimes doubled and returned to the giver. The dilemma was that not offering a nazrana meant ignoring the king. Offering gold coins was inappropriate because the king was in no position to double it. Maulana thought of presenting the king with tasbih and sajdigah made of khaak e pak or the dust of Karbala where Imam Hussain was martyred, which the Shias revere. It is priceless in terms of its symbolic value and yet not much in monetary terms, which would make giving something in return unnecessary. What could be a better nazrana for a Shia nawab!

His son Maharaja Prabhu Narayan Singh succeeded Maharaja Ishwari Prasad Narayan Singh in 1889 and was the first maharaja of the newly created princely state of Benares in 1911. He died in 1931, and was succeeded by his only son, Aditya Narayan Singh.

Maharaja Aditya Narayan Singh reigned for a very short time.

AHMED ZAMIN / My grandfather Khan Bahadur Syed Ali Zamin
AHMED ZAMIN /
My grandfather Khan Bahadur Syed Ali Zamin

My grandfather, Khan Bahadur Syed Ali Zamin, MBE joined as Chief Secretary of the State in 1939 and the Maharaja died shortly after that.

As the Maharaja was childless he adopted a distant cousin to succeed him. Vibhuti Narayan Singh, the last Maharaja of Benares, was a minor when Maharaja Aditya Narayan Singh died.

Nana [ensured] that there was a constant supply of Ganga Jal for the young Kashi Naresh studying in Mayo College, since he could only use that pure water.

In My Nostalgic Journey, my cousin Syed Naqi Hasan writes that on his deathbed Maharaja Aditya Narayan Singh summoned my grandfather and his adopted son and placed the hand of his son in Nana’s hand and said, “Syed Sahib, I am placing my son under your protection. Please protect him as well as the throne for him.” There were many claimants to the throne. Against all odds, Nana had Vibhuti Narayan Singh perform the funeral rites as required by the Hindu religion to establish his claim to the throne.

As Maharaj Kumar Vibhuti Narayan Singh, a minor, became the maharaja under regency Council of Administration was formed and C.R. Peters Esq was appointed its President and Nana as the Chief Minister was next in line of authority. Peters had to return to England in 1944 after a sudden illness, and Nana was named to act as President of the Council of Administration.

As the President of the Benares State, Nana was responsible not only for the well being of the state but also of his young charge.

Such was the level of comfort of the Maharaja Vibhuti Narayan Singh with our families that he maintained a friendship with the younger generation and decades later in1979, he stayed in the house of my cousin whose husband S.K.R. Zaidi who was the Chief Officer of Reserve Bank of India in Kanpur, rather than a hotel where he wasn’t sure of the purity of the environment. His young son was very keen on cricket and there was a test match between India and Australia in Green Park, Kanpur.

Their children Atiya and Abid Zaidi have fond memories of his charming manners and how the Maharaja floored the servants with his courtesies.

The Maharaja came with his full entourage and was given the lower floor of their huge house, with a kitchen where he could be comfortable.

Maharaja Vibhuti Narayan Singh ascended the throne, before reaching the full legal age on 11 July, 1947, approximately four months short of his 20th birthday. His ascension was speeded up in view of India’s imminent Independence. Charles Allen and Sharada Dwivedi in their book, Lives of the Indian Princes , quote the young Maharaja Vibhuti Narayan Singh as saying that he wanted to finish his education but was told by the political advisor to the Viceroy, Conrad Corfield, “If you waste a day you may not become a Maharaja.” He goes on to add that that the people of Benares were kind to him and how my grandfather, Syed Ali Zamin, who was presiding over the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers stepped aside and asked him to preside over the meeting so that he “could play a leading part.”

He succeeded to the throne in July 1947 after becoming an adult, a month before India’s independence. The Council of Administration was dissolved after his ascension and the position of President was abolished. Nana became the Dewan.

End of an era

Maharaja Vibuti Narayan Singh signed the Instrument of Accession to India in Oct 1947, and Benares State was merged with the United Provinces now the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

In 1948 my grandfather suffered a heart attack while addressing a meeting in Ramnagar, the capital of Benares State, and had to be carried home on a stretcher. He took voluntary retirement from his position as Dewan because of ill health but after helping the young Maharaja to ensure a smooth merger of the state with India.

The last Muslim Dewan of Benares state passed away on 1 November, 1955 a few days before his birthday on the 5th of November.

The Muslim Dewans of Banares

source: http://www.huffingtonpost.in / HuffPost / Home> The Blog / by Rana Safvi / October 27th, 2016

North Carolina’s Youngest State Senator Wants Asian Americans ‘To Write Our Own Narrative’

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, NRI's / PIO's, World Opinion, , , , , ,

Hyderabad, TELANGANA / North Carolina, U.S.A :

State Sen. Mujtaba Mohammed (D) says Asian Americans should look to the example of African Americans and the civil rights movement.

ILLUSTRATION: DAMON DAHLEN/HUFFPOST; PHOTOS: MUJTABA MOHAMMED / “The African American community is a huge example of inspiration for people of color, for immigrants, to stake your claim for this country, that your voice matters,” says North Carolina state Sen. Mujtaba Mohammed (D).
ILLUSTRATION: DAMON DAHLEN/HUFFPOST; PHOTOS: MUJTABA MOHAMMED /
“The African American community is a huge example of inspiration for people of color, for immigrants, to stake your claim for this country, that your voice matters,” says North Carolina state Sen. Mujtaba Mohammed (D).

Every week during May’s Asian Pacific American Heritage Month , HuffPost’s #UpNext Series will highlight Asian Americans who are on the rise in public service. This is part one.

Not every elected official jokes about disappointing their parents “because I ended up becoming a lawyer” or shares what they’ve learned from “Asian uncles,” but North Carolina state Sen. Mujtaba Mohammed does.

“Every Asian uncle talks about how they came with, like, $20 in their wallet,” the Democratic lawmaker told HuffPost, referring to how children of immigrants often grow up hearing their parents and family friends recount the hardships of adapting to the U.S. “My dad has that same stereotypical story that most Asian parents always tell their kids.”

At 33, Mohammed is North Carolina’s youngest state senator, representing parts of Charlotte in a region often seen as a monolith, yet home to the fastest growing Asian-American population in the U.S.

Elected last year after ousting an incumbent in the Democratic primary, Mohammed — like many of the record number of people of color who ran for office in 2018 —  saw the election of President Donald Trump as “a huge motivating factor,” he said.

“Donald Trump came along in 2016, and I felt like I needed to step up and do more for our community. A lot of folks, at least in my age group and other kids I grew up around, they ended up becoming doctors and engineers. Political activism is something that’s not very important, unfortunately, sometimes in our community,” he said.

Born in Ohio to parents from Hyderabad, India, Mohammed grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and Charlotte. His dad worked in retail while his mom raised him and his siblings.

Though his parents pushed him toward medicine and engineering, seeing those fields as markers of success, Mohammed credits their focus on family and community as inspiration for his career in public service.

He noted that in many Asian cultures, “it’s never about you, as opposed to the American individualism that we have,” he said. “It’s always about a team, it’s always about your family. You oftentimes have to make your own personal sacrifices for the good of the family. And that’s kind of how I’ve always, at least as an adult, tried to live my life. It’s part of the reason why I decided to run for office.”

Initially a biology major at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Mohammed switched to history and political science before going on to law school.

In diverging from the career paths of many of his doctor/engineer peers, he also saw similarities, envisioning “lawyers as social engineers,” he said. “You get to use the Constitution to protect some of the most vulnerable communities.”

Get involved, because nobody else is going to do it, because there’s not that many of us.”State Sen. Mujtaba Mohammed (D-N.C.)

Mohammed became an attorney at the Council for Children’s Rights in Charlotte, which provides legal services and representation for children, before working as an assistant public defender in Mecklenburg County’s Public Defender’s Office.

He served on the boards of some community nonprofits and as the vice chair of the Mecklenburg County Democratic Party, but he never really thought about running for public office until Trump’s election, when it all “ended up happening really fast.”

Reflecting on Trump’s presidency, he said it has been encouraging to see “so many people stepping up to run for office that look a lot like the people they represent, which is huge.”

Mohammed believes Asian Americans wanting to become more engaged in public service and activism should look to the example that African Americans set during the civil rights movement.

“They never immigrated here. They were forcefully brought to this country, and they had to fight for themselves,” he said. “The African American community is a huge example of inspiration for people of color, for immigrants, to stake your claim for this country, that your voice matters.”

In all fields where Asian Americans are underrepresented, it’s crucial for them “to be at the table” and “begin to write our own narrative,” Mohammed said, advising Asians “to get involved, because nobody else is going to do it, because there’s not that many of us.”

“It’s so important for our young people and our children to think outside of the box and, you know, practice law, go into journalism, get into acting or comedy, because we still don’t have people on television that look like us,” he said. “Don’t expect somebody else to come write your story for you.”

source: http://www.huffingtonpost.in / HuffPost / Home> Edition IN> News> Asian Voices / by Marina Fang, HuffPost / May 08th, 2019

A Konkani Muslim food pop up in Mumbai is putting a relatively unexplored cuisine under the spotlight

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, , , , ,

Andheri, Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA :

On the special menu are dishes such as Kelyachya Paanat (marinated bangda fish wrapped in banana leaves and cooked in an earthen pot), Akhni Gosht (sukha mutton in whole spices masala), Dum cha Mhaura (fish cooked on ‘dum’), Kombdi cha Salna (chicken gravy) and Chawrachi Roti (rice bhakris/rotis made of rice flour), among several others.

Kavtacho Bojar

One of the earliest memories from Mumtaz Kazi and Sameera Gawandi’s childhood involves an annual trip to Harnai every summer. Today a popular tourist spot along the Konkan Coast in Ratnagiri district, it is the native village of the two cousins. They would join their grandmother at the grinding stone to prepare spices for the entire year, before the monsoons set in. What started out as a fun summer activity with cousins is today one of their biggest strengths. Associated with Authenticook, which organises pop-ups of regional cuisines at homes of locals-turned-chefs, Kazi and Gawandi are known in Mumbai for their Konkani Muslim food.

“The simple activity taught me how to grind in order to get the right consistency for masalas and gravies. As a result, I took to cooking at a very young age and it’s the one thing I do with all my passion,” admits Kazi. Along with Gawandi and in collaboration with Authenticook, she is currently hosting a Ramzan special pop-up of Konkani Muslim cuisine at the restaurant Neel – Tote of the Turf in Mahalaxmi. On till June 9, it will move to the restaurant’s property in Powai.

Kombdi cha Salna

On the special menu are dishes such as Kelyachya Paanat (marinated bangda fish wrapped in banana leaves and cooked in an earthen pot), Akhni Gosht (sukha mutton in whole spices masala), Dum cha Mhaura (fish cooked on ‘dum’), Kombdi cha Salna (chicken gravy) and Chawrachi Roti (rice bhakris/rotis made of rice flour), among several others. There is also a special vegetarian menu, which comprises dishes made using a variety of pulses — a common ingredient in the vegetarian Konkani Muslim fare.

Mumtaz Kazi (right) and Sameera Gawandi

Relatively unknown and mostly absent in Mumbai’s dining scene, the Konkani Muslim cuisine, say the two Andheri-based sisters, has certain Arab influences. “The use of kokum in curries, especially the fish preparations, is Konkani, whereas fennel in our food is something we take from the Arabic cuisine,” they say, adding that the Konkan coast was a popular halt for Arab traders back in the day. “The tradition of purchasing our spices from the Gulf was then continued by male members of our community as many of them took up jobs in that region. My father worked for many years in Kuwait. He would bring back spices for the entire family on every visit,” says Gawandi.

Dum cha Mhaura

Fennel, however, is a crucial element in the cuisine, and used in almost every dish. “We even grind the haldi powder along with roasted saunf; the mixture is called bada saunf and added even to simple dishes like daal. It lends a mild aroma and flavour to the otherwise-simple daal,” Kazi explains.

Apart from bada saunf, the community heavily relies on two other masalas — fish masala and mutton masala. They are both made using dried red chilli powder and dhaniya seeds but while the former, says Kazi, does not have haldi, the latter includes ground whole spices. “Then we have a cashew gravy too but that is for special occasions. Mostly, we use these two masalas, even to prepare our vegetarian dishes,” Kazi explains.

Since all coastal cuisines use rice as a staple, Konkani Muslims are no different. But apart from steamed rice and rice bhakris, they also abundantly consume khichdi, which is served along with sol kadi, which they call Soloni. Kazi says, “But sea food is a must. If not every then every other meal has some component of fish, including breakfast, where we serve roasted dry fish among other items. And during monsoons, when the fishing boats can no more tread into the sea, we have the small dried fish, fried with onions and chillies and served like a pickle or snack on the side.”

source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Lifestyle / by Dipti Nagpaul / June 06th, 2019

Dr Tausif Malik: Entrepreneur, maverick, evangelist and artist

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, NRI's / PIO's, Videos, World Opinion, , , , , , , , ,

Pune, MAHARASHTRA / Chicago,  U.S.A :

The new treasurer for Democrats Abroad India, Dr Tausif Malik is the founder of America’s largest community-based Spelling Bee competition (muslimspellingbee.com). The Indian-American social entrepreneur brings a tremendous amount of experience and knowledge to the job; he is the pioneer in creating branding through recruitment advertisement of IT clients in the mid-90s. Connected to India engaged with him to know about his journey from Pune to Chicago and back to Pune again. Here are the excerpts:

Dr Tausif Malik - treasurer for Democrats Abroad India.
Dr Tausif Malik – treasurer for Democrats Abroad India.

CtoI: Your LinkedIn profile says you are an entrepreneur, maverick, evangelist and an artist. How do you manage to be good at so many things?

Tausif Malik: According to me, all my personality attributes are interrelated; for example, one has to be a maverick to take the risk to be an entrepreneur, you need to be an artist to create an image about your work and evangelist to promote your work and business.

CtoI: What is your vision as the new Treasurer for Democrats Abroad India?

Tausif Malik: My vision as an elected board member for Democrats Abroad India (Democratic Party USA’s International chapter) is to create awareness amongst Americans living abroad that they can register and vote for city, state and federal elections through a vote by mail option. America is one of the few countries which offers this option to its citizens, so Americans living in any part of the world can participate in elections. Many Americans living abroad are not aware of these rights.

Currently, America is getting affected on a daily basis due to incompetent leadership. My hope is more Americans living abroad get registered and vote by mail and elect competent candidates.

CtoI: Please tell us in detail about your recent ventures; Muslim Spelling Bee, Muslim Science Bee, Muslim Math Bee, Muslim Geography Bee and Muslim History Bee.

Tausif Malik: The Muslim Spelling Bee was started in 2012 with the intention of being the first-ever spelling competition specifically meant for Muslim students. The competition is open to students of all ethnicities and religious denominations. The main impetus for creating the bee was to provide an opportunity for Muslim students between the ages of 8 and 14 to have such a contest.

All other major minority groups in the US have their own spelling bees, but Muslims did not, hence, I decided to go ahead and start one. It was during the month of Ramadan in 2011 that the idea for the spelling bee occurred to me. I started getting the word out with local friends and community leaders in the Chicago area, but soon found that I was being inundated with requests for more information from organisers around the country. This was surprising as I had only sent the information out to a few people in the local area. I really did not anticipate the kind of level and support this idea got from all over the US.

In 2012, the first iteration of the Muslim Spelling Bee was held, with 460 students participating from cities all over the nation. The bee currently takes place in 11 different cities, with some 55 community organisations coordinating their own regional competitions. These competitions are divided into four different groups, labelled A through D, and each one has several winners who rank from 1-3. Each of the groups is of a different age level: 0-7, 8-9, 10-11, and 12-14 years of age. The winners then advance to the championship round in Chicago.

Two contestants in 2013 were even Hindu students from India, a great sign of how widespread the reach and power of the spelling bee really is.

Dr Tausif Malik: Entrepreneur, maverick, evangelist and artist
Photo courtesy: Dr Tausif Malik

CtoI: You had your initial education from Pune, India and then you moved to Chicago, US, and now you are back to Pune. What brought you back to your roots? Please tell us about your journey and experiences.

Tausif Malik: I was born and raised in Pune (Maharashtra) and now I’m based out of Chicago. I did my schooling from Bishop’s School Pune, studied at Poona College (11th to M.Com) and Institute of Management Education, Pune (PGDBA). I did my Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) from Argosy University, Chicago.

I emigrated to Chicago in 2007 to fulfil the dream of my late father Ata-ur-Rehman Malik, who believed that I can have a great future in the US. I returned to India in 2015 to take care of my ailing mother, during that time I launched various startup festivals, including the All India Muslim Business Startup Network (AIMBSN.com), GCC Startup Fest (GCCStartupFest.com), India Startup Fest (IndiaStartupFest.com), GCCStartup.News (GCCStartup.News) and Schoolpreneur.biz, in an effort to empower individuals to achieve economic liberation and benefit from India’s government initiatives Make in India, Digital India, Skill India, Standup India and Startup India.

CtoI: In a sentence describe your life as an Indian-American.

Tausif Malik: It’s actually a great combo, being part of India, the largest democracy, and America, the oldest democracy. I love both countries because they gave me a great platform to excel personally and professionally. Life is exciting as I am living as an American expat in India and in US, I was living as an Indian expat.

CtoI: Do you think that the xenophobia which has engulfed America, which started during the elections and continues post the election of President Trump, will settle down? Or is this the new America?

Tausif Malik: I don’t know how far this will go and how it will impact in the long term. But it has truly rallied Americans under one banner, and everyone is standing shoulder to shoulder with their fellow Americans. After the Muslim ban, Americans stood with their fellow American-Muslims across US. I have never seen this happening anywhere in the world. This xenophobia, in fact, has pushed many American-Muslims to contest city, state and federal elections and they have got a lot of support from fellow Americans. I also contested for the same reason.

CtoI: You did your doctorate in Chicago. Please share your achievements and experience as an Indian-American.

Tausif Malik: I was the pioneer in creating branding through recruitment advertisement of IT clients in mid-90s. I had developed and executed branded recruitment advertisement campaigns for Infosys, Geometric Software Services, Scala Mindworks, ITB India, Veritas Software India and others. I had co-founded Crossover Software with India’s no #1 pop star Lucky Ali and later moved to Sultanate of Oman and established Oman’s first PR agency SIMPA PR and Press Club of Oman. I was invited to co-author a book Doing Business with Oman, which has been selling since 2002. I headed major advertising agency networks in the Middle East and India. I teach at major MBA and MassComm Institutes, and a speaker at major startup events and mentors startups.

My Achievements:
1.Nominated and shortlisted for prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor, USA 2016.
2. Past Nominated for Sheikh Muhammad Al Makhtoum ruler of Dubai, UAE promoted Prestigious Global Islamic Economy Award – Dubai Government in association with Thompson Reuters.
3. Panellist with The Guardian Newspaper UK.
4. Community Member on Illinois Muslim Council by Governor Pat Quinn.
5. External Review committee member University of Wisconsin School of Architecture.

CtoI: You are inclined towards start-ups. Can you share your ideas on marginal groups (Dalits and Muslims) still lagging behind?

Tausif Malik: Yes, startups help the youth and individuals through empowerment, as it provides employment and a source of income. But nowadays, the way they are established and operated is highIy unprofessional as many are there for the quick money. But consolidation will happen before long and they will change from boys to men.

As per the Indian census, Muslims constitute 13-15 % of the population and they best way to connect them to the mainstream is through the Prime Minister Narendra Modiji’s policies such as Make in India, Digital India, Skill India, Standup India and Startup India.

These programmes can help Muslims in India to earn income, create income and create economic growth. I have hosted two different events in 2016 and we have generated a large business amongst the attendees. Our next event, All India Muslim Business Startup Network (AIMBSN.com), will be hosted in July 2017 in Jaipur. We are also setting up incubators and innovation at minority institutions, so we can inform people about the startup ecosystem, Make in India, Digital India, Skill India, Standup India and Startup India and enrol more Muslim entrepreneurs.

Also, we will be hosting All India Muslim Business Startup Network (AIMBSN.com) at global locations where are sizeable Indian Muslims, such as London, Dubai, New York, Chicago, Singapore and Australia. As many Non-resident Indians (NRIs) Muslims want to establish businesses in India, invest in India and support Indian Startup Ecosystem. Hence, our All India Muslim Business Startup Network (AIMBSN.com) connects the Indian Muslims diaspora with entrepreneurship & Indian Startup Ecosystem.

source: http://www.connectedtoindia.com / Connected To India / Home> News> USA / by Garjma Kapil / April 20th, 2017

Hyderabad cricketer, Chicago pitch!

NRI's / PIO's, Sports, World Opinion, , , , , , , , , , ,

Hyderabad, TELANGANA  / Chicago, U.S.A :

A couple of days back, the ICC Americas has named an 18-member squad for the ICC World Cricket League Division Three, and, quite surprisingly, the list features the wicketkeeper-batsman from Hyderabad — Ibrahim Khaleel !

“It is just the first step. I am not absolutely sure whether I will make it to the final 14. It would be cleared once the ICC Americas approves my citizenship process,” says Ibrahim Khaleel. - SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
“It is just the first step. I am not absolutely sure whether I will make it to the final 14. It would be cleared once the ICC Americas approves my citizenship process,” says Ibrahim Khaleel. – SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

For the last four years, neither his friends in Hyderabad nor his team-mates, who played with him in the Ranji Trophy, knew anything about Ibrahim Khaleel’s whereabouts. All they knew was, he had shifted base to the U.S., to try something new.

But now, his friends and colleagues would be in for a surprise.

A couple of days back, the ICC Americas has named an 18-member squad for the ICC World Cricket League Division Three, and, quite surprisingly, the list features the wicketkeeper-batsman from Hyderabad — Ibrahim Khaleel!

On Monday evening as Khaleel spoke to Sportstar from Chicago, he sounded emotional. “It is just the first step. I am not absolutely sure whether I will make it to the final 14. It would be cleared once the ICC approves my citizenship process,” he said.

Khaleel sounded happy to be back in the groove. A couple of weeks ago, he was called for a trial in Houston. The selectors and the team’s chief coach Pubudu Dassanayake, took trials of all the players and shortlisted 18. “It was a rigorous training programme. It went on well, and I was quite confident of making the cut,” he said.

But then, Khaleel, who has played 57 first-class matches for Hyderabad, was a bit cautious. And that’s because of his citizenship.

Even though he shifted base to Chicago four years ago, he is yet to acquire a full-term U.S. citizenship. “My papers have been processed, and I am waiting for a final clearance. It should not be a problem, but then…” the 34-year-old paused.

It was only last month that the U.S. President, Donald Trump, had revised the policies, blocking immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries. But that isn’t bothering Khaleel, who moved to Chicago to be with his wife — a doctor by profession and a U.S. citizen. “I don’t have much idea about the recent immigration order. I had applied a long time back. Hopefully, things will go my way,” he said.

After moving to the U.S., Khaleel initially played for a local club in Chicago. “There was a friend from Hyderabad, who would play for the club. He only asked me to play there.”

That’s how, Khaleel started making his mark in the U.S. Last year, there was a Regional combined camp organised by the ICC Americas, where eight overseas players were asked to be present. And, from the group, Khaleel was chosen for the final trials. “When they called me, I was not too sure about the prospect. But I just wanted to be associated with cricket,” he said.

____________________________

‘I can only keep my fingers crossed. My cricketing days in India have taught me not to 

expect too much’

_____________________________

Coming from a family of cricketers (his father, M. A. Khaleel, played for Railways in the Ranji Trophy in the early 1980s), Khaleel started his career under the watchful eyes of Arshad Ayub. “It all started in Hyderabad. Slowly, I made it to the State team and left my mark in the domestic tournaments. But then, I had to take the tough call of leaving the country. The scopes were less there,” a rather dejected Khaleel said.

Even after moving to the U.S. in 2013, Khaleel continued playing for Hyderabad in the 2014-15 season. “But after that, it was not possible to hop between India and the U.S… I had to set my priorities right,” he said.

Was it just the priorities that made him move to the U.S., or was it something else?

Khaleel smiled and politely answered: “I have no regrets. I have thoroughly enjoyed my game.”

Not the best of choices

While Khaleel said he had no regrets in life, some of his former team-mates in Hyderabad indicated that the stumper had taken a couple of wrong decisions, which affected his career. In 2007, he left the Hyderabad Ranji Trophy side and joined the Hyderabad Heroes side in the Indian Cricket League (ICL). That affected his career.

Later, when the BCCI brought back the ICL players in the mainstream, Khaleel was bought by the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, he had to warm the benches. “I was looking for an opportunity, but that never came my way,” he said.

In 2011, Khaleel created a world record in wicket-keeping for any first-class game with a tally of 14 victims in a Ranji Trophy Plate Group B match against Assam.

But even after that his career never really took off, and that prompted him to move overseas. “I was not too happy with a few things in Hyderabad cricket. And then I decided to move out,” he said, adding: “I have lost touch with most of my team-mates.”

Reserved person

Ever since leaving Hyderabad, Khaleel seems to have gone incommunicado. While he doesn’t have a social media account, the cricketer did not even use WhatsApp till a year ago. “I am a reserved person, and don’t enjoy talking to too many people. I had to install WhatsApp only after my parents and my sister persuaded,” he said with a smile.

Perhaps, that’s why most of his old friends and team-mates can’t even reach him despite repeated attempts. “That’s how I am,” he laughed.

With the USA side set to begin its campaign at the World Cricket League on May 23, Khaleel hopes to be in the final team. “I can only keep my fingers crossed. My cricketing days in India have taught me not to expect too much,” a rather cautious Khaleel said.

After all, there is many a slip, between the cup and the lip!

source: http://www.sportstar.thehindu.com / Sportstar / Home> International / by Sharan Acharya / March 27th, 2017

NRIF felicitates Mrs. Zeenat Jafri, Abdulrahman Saleem for awards

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Leaders, NRI's / PIO's, World Opinion, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA :

NRIF felicitates (Left) Mrs. Zeenat Jafri, (Right) Abdulrahman Saleem for awards
NRIF felicitates (Left)
Mrs. Zeenat Jafri, (Right) Abdulrahman Saleem for awards

Riyadh :

The NRI Forum (NRIF) Riyadh celebrated the 68th Republic Day of India with fanfare here. Patriotic songs and popular Bollywood numbers by eminent singers and the felicitation of Pravasi Bharatiya Sammam and Pravasi Excellence Award winners marked the celebration.

Mrs. Zeenat Jafri was felicitated by NRIF for her latest accomplishment of receiving the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award by Indian President Pranab Mukharjee in India. Terming her as the torch-bearer of knowledge and education in the Kingdom, Vice President NRI Forum Dr. Sayeed Mohiuddin said, “Selfless service and utmost dedication are the words that truly describe her.”

“At the time when expatriate community in the capital did not have any educational facility for children of Indian expatriates, Mrs. Jafri ventured into this field by making a small beginning. An educationist herself, she started a school for Indian children at her home. The school, which was established with the blessings and permission of Mrs. Indira Gandhi, groomed by Mrs. Jafri is now known as International Indian School Riyadh (IISR) and is one of the prominent Indian community schools in Saudi Arabia. She was the principal of the girls section of IISR from Aug 1982 to May 2014,” Mohiuddin said.

After receiving the memento of appreciation from eminent community leaders Mohammed Abdulrahman Saleem, Mohammed Quaiser and Syed Akram Mohiuddin, Mrs. Jafri thanked NRIF for the honor and Indian Embassy officials for recommending her name to the Indian government for the prestigious award. She highlighted the importance of education and stressed on the necessity for all to gain knowledge and education. She appreciated the activities of NRIF and assured her support in all possible ways.

Chief Guest Mohammed Abdulrahman Saleem, president Hindustani Bazm-e-Urdu Riyadh, was felicitated by NRIF for receiving the Pravasi Excellence Award by the Confederation of Telangana Associations (COTA) in Hyderabad. A memento of appreciation and floral garland was presented to him. COTA conferred on him this award in recognition of his continuous services spread over four decades.

He founded different professional and cultural organizations and worked for the promotion of Urdu language and literature. An ardent lover of Urdu language and literature, his passion is to keep Deccani Tahzeeb alive and see it flourish.

Saleem thanked the NRIF and highlighted his activities and accomplishments during his long stay in the Kingdom.

Guest of Honor, President Tanzeem Hum Hindustani Mohammed Quaiser congratulated Mrs. Zeenat Jafri and Abdulrahman Saleem for achieving eminent awards.

President NRIF Syed Akram Mohiuddin highlighted the activities of NRIF and said the forum is involved in various activities since its inception, including educational, sports, cultural, religious and other social activities. The memorable ghazal nite by Zulfiqar Ali Khan was a grand success and was very much applauded by the expatriates in the Kingdom.

Eminent Singers of “NRI Melody Makers” — Rahmat Ali Khan, Abdul Qadeer Ali Alvi, Syed Riyaz, Muneer Ahmed and Miss Shreeja Janardhan presented melodious songs to make the evening memorable.

A young student of Al Yara International School Aswin Siva Prasad addressed the gathering on the Republic Day of India and its importance.

General Secretary Nooruddin Jahangeer and Vice President Cultural Affairs Shakeel Mah handled the overall arrangements.

source:  http://www.saudigazette.com.sa / Saudi Gazette / Home / February 14th, 2017

Fazi and Friends: Muslim Woman biker from Kerala lives her Raid dream with help from pals

Sports, , , , ,

KERALA :

Fazeela Uppilathodi from Kerala is accompanied by Jose Sebastian and Vishnu in realizing her racing dream to take part in the Raid de Himalaya.

Fazeela (centre) had to sell her Tempo Traveller in order to arrange flight tickets for the Raid de Himalaya. - SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Fazeela (centre) had to sell her Tempo Traveller in order to arrange flight tickets for the Raid de Himalaya. – SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

A Muslim woman biker from Kerala, Fazeela Uppilathodi ,  passionate about competing at the Raid de Himalaya  – the highest motorsport event in the world. A Christian workshop owner at Cochin, Jose Sebastian. His Hindu mechanic-cum-partner, Vishnu V Vinyan. And a Tempo Traveller used extensively in the devastating Kerala flood in August for rescue, transportation and food distribution.

These four came together to make possible Fazeela’s Raid adventure this year. The Tempo Traveller was purchased by Fazeela, Jose and Vishnu in May 2018. The transport vehicle is part of the story because in a distress sale in September end, Fazeela and her pals sold it. They needed the money to finance her flight tickets, entry fee and other expenses at the Raid de Himalaya.

Raid de Himalaya will be organized from October 8 to October 14. It will begin from Leh. Fazeela, called Fazi by friends, is currently in Leh. The 28-year-old is training for competing at the Raid by riding long distance in high altitudes.

Fazeela has been in competitive motorsport racing for close to two years now. In this short period, she was second among women bikers at the Indian National Rally Championship (INRC), 2017.

This year, Fazeela has participated in five rounds of INRC. She is eagerly waiting for the last round of the championship, to be held in October end.

Fazeela’s Raid dream has been made possible by her friends Jose Sebastian and Vishnu. Sebastian is owner of Cog Racing, a workshop in Cochin. He recalls that in November 2016, Fazeela came to his workshop to get some work done on her motorbike.

“She was practicing stunts on her bike. She asked us how she could do good stunts. I told her I didn’t know stunts, but could train her for racing,” says Sebastian. His workshop prepares bikes for motorsport racing events.

With just four days of practice, Fazeela stood first in women’s category at a bike race held in Cochin in November 2016. Jose says Fazeela is not a biker with loads of practice in how to ride. “She has natural talent. She can focus completely on the track, and knows how to take risks. When she is at a race, she gives it her best,” says Jose.

Fazeela, Jose and Vishnu managed to go for all INRC rounds last year in trains and buses. This year, the trio purchased the Tempo Traveller so that going for motorsport races would be convenient.

During an INRC round last year, Fazeela had met Sarah Kashyap, the biker from Chandigarh. Kashyap has carved a niche for herself in the largely exclusive male world of competitive motorsport racing on bikes.

“Sarah urged me to come for Raid de Himalaya, and consistently gave me courage. But arranging money to come for the Raid was a huge problem,” she says.

In a stroke of good luck, TVS Racing offered Fazeela the use of their bike, TVS Apache RTR 200 for competing at Raid de Himalaya. For her travel and other expenses, Fazeela and her friends sold the Tempo Traveller.

The videos of the flood rescue work, taken by Jose’s friends in August, show the group going around in about two feet of water in a shiny white Tempo Traveller, with posters on its windows. ‘Kerala Flood Rescue Mission’.

Fazeela has been competing in the INRC rounds in a Hero Impulse given to her by Vishnu. “If TVS Racing had not offered Fazi the bike, we would have arranged a racing bike for her somehow,” says Jose.

Fazeela works as a fitness trainer, and is also skilled in yoga and meditation techniques. She has a five-year-old daughter, Isha Finha, who has staying with Fazeela’s foster parents at Calicut while Fazeela is at the Raid.

Raid de Himalaya is the flagship rally of the country’s premier motorsport club, Shimla-based Himalayan Motorsport. The Raid began in 1999, and will witness its 20th edition this year.

President Himalayan Motorsport Vijay Parmar said that over the last two decades, he has witnessed how competing at the Raid is a dream for motorsport enthusiasts.

“It torments their sleep for six months of the year. They go the last mile to try and put everything together. Some of these competitors have been out on the first day. It is amazing to see that whoever fails at the Raid is among the first batch of competitors to mark their entry the next year,” said Parmar.

The Raid will run from October 8 to October 14, on some of the highest roads of Ladakh, Kargil and Zanskar sectors.

source: http://www.sportstar.thehindu.com / Sportstar / Home> Motorsport / by Vijay Lokpally / Shimla – October 05th, 2018

‘Diversity in Portrait’ a delight for art connoisseurs

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

Kurnool, ANDHRA PRADESH  / Sharjah, U.A.E :

Artwork by Indian artist Afshan Quraishi displayed in Dubai. Photographer: Kamal Kassim/ Gulf Today
Artwork by Indian artist Afshan Quraishi displayed in Dubai. Photographer: Kamal Kassim/ Gulf Today

Dubai :

While walking at the Z Lounge of Four Points by Sheraton, Dubai, visitors gravitate towards the art works gracing the walls of the lounge. Each and every artwork mesmerises you and makes your stay pleasant. As you watch, adore, and pass by these paintings and artworks, curiosity to know more about the artist grows very strong and you get a desire to meet the mind behind these wonderful works to appreciate the artist and her artworks.

But you will be really surprised and amazed to know that these artworks are created by an Indian artist, Afshan Quraishi, whose journey is also very appealing and inspiring. She started her professional journey only after her kids grew up and settled in their lives.

Afshan can be considered a born artist. Without having any formal education in the subject, she does magic with her hands. When did she realise that she has an art in her?

She said, “It was my dad who noticed that I was a good artist. I was doing one of my science projects during my college days and he looked at my finished work and appreciated that. That time only my dad decided to get a coach for the art.

“My father, who himself comes from a royal family of Kurnool, Hyderabad, India, was very much into the art himself.”

Afshan Quraishi with one of her artworks
Afshan Quraishi with one of her artworks

My father introduced me to a very famous artist, Azeez Azmi Saheb, who was my mentor for fine arts. Azeez Azmi was the founder of The Fine Arts Society in Kurnool, my hometown, she added.

Afshan feels privileged to be mentored by him. She said, “He was a harsh critic and encouraged us to be self-critical of our work. He was a master in portraits in oil.”

Recalling her master’s words, she said, “He would always tell, ‘Everyone can paint but you need a lot of patience and don’t expect instant gratification. Be your own judge and critic’.”

He would come every day to her house to coach her sister and her until she graduated and married.

A postgraduate in science, Afshan’s training under the able master ended soon after her marriage.

Soon after her marriage she landed in the UAE leaving her passion for the arts behind to begin a new journey of life.

Sharing her experience of arriving in the UAE in the early 80s, she said, “I have been here for four decades and kept on travelling back and forth to India.”

Meanwhile, Afshan dedicated herself completely to her family. She got busy into making her house a beautiful place. She considered her house a canvas where she wanted to see her son and daughter’s dream painted and fulfilled. And she succeeded in doing so.

Afshan can be considered a born artist
Afshan can be considered a born artist

She was so occupied with her two kids that she did not even look back at the brush and paints which she had left long ago.

When did she embrace the canvas and brush to paint a beautiful journey of an artist which was unattended in pursuit of looking after her family?

She said, “My kids went abroad to study leaving me alone. So it was a very lonely time for me. It looked like my children grew up very fast. So I started sketching my children in order to get connected with them. Then I started oil portraits and acrylic and that was the beginning of my new innings.”

Sharing her experience of starting her journey of rediscovering she said. “I met a beautiful lady in Dubai who was organising group shows at an Italian café. She saw my artworks and encouraged me take part in a group show. Though I was not confident but to my surprise two of my paintings got sold the same evening and that was a big inspiration for me.”

I participated in World Art Dubai with the same group three years ago and I moved ahead, she said.

Talking about her solo show “Diversity in Portraits by Afshan Quraishi,” at Z Lounge at Four Points by Sheraton, Dubai, she said, “This is my second solo exhibition which started on March 17 and will continue till May 31. I want to thank Anu Van Der Sande and Nakul Ankolikar for their wonderful opportunity they have provided me.”

Frida Kahlo and Rembrandt are her all-time favourite artists. “I copied a lot of Rembrandt’s work while I was learning the ropes of art.”

When asked to look at her journey, she said, “People around me love my work. They always say you have talents, so keep doing the work and never give up.”

A resident of Sharjah herself, while praising the art scene in Sharjah, she said, “Sharjah has lots of beautiful places, like Sharjah Art Foundation and Maraya Art Centre. Both the destinations are fantastic for artists. It is a great place for emerging artists like me.”

Sharing her daily routine, she said, “I have a discipline. I spend 2-3 hours every day in my studio. I do something every day. I make sure I dedicate some time for art.”

Calling herself a passionate traveller, she said, “I have travelled all over the world. Travelling is something like an art which gives your mind an opportunity to think more.”

Praising the artworks, Anu Van Der Sande, Public Relations and Marketing Manager of the hotel said, “These are great pieces of work. People who come here always appreciate these paintings. Lots of people ask about these artworks.”

source: http://www.gulftoday.ae / Gulf Today / Home> Culture / by Raghib Hassan, Staff Reporter / April 03rd, 2019

Tenpin Bowling: Akaash and Sabeena crowned national champions in Bengaluru

Sports, , ,

TAMIL NADU :

SabeenaMPOs30jun2019

HIGHLIGHTS

Akaash Ashok Kumar finished at the top position after 32 games, followed by Dhruv Sarda, Prathyek Satya and Kishan in second, third and fourth positions respectively and qualified for the stepladder round at the National Tenpin Bowling Championships in Bengaluru..

Bengaluru:

Akaash Ashok Kumar of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu’s Sabeena Athica won the titles at the Uniply 29th National Tenpin Bowling Championships, which concluded at Amoeba, Church Street, in Bengaluru on Saturday evening (February 9).

In the men’s category, Akaash won his maiden national title defeating the second seed Dhruv Sarda of Delhi (413 – 372) by 41 pins. In the women’s section, the top seed Sabeena won her 10th national title defeating Sumathi Nallabantu of Telangana (378 –266) by 112 pins.

Earlier in the day, in the stepladder round, played based on cumulative pinfall of two games, in Match 1 of the men’s category, third placed Prathyek Satya (Karnataka) lost to the fourth placed Kishan R (Karnataka) (426 – 377) by 49 pins.

In Match 2, Dhurv Sarda (Delhi) beat Kishan (438 – 406) by 32 pins. Dhruv was leading by a narrow margin of six pins (210 – 204) at the end of Game 1 and he scored to 228 in game 2 as against 202 of Kishan to gain a lead of 36 pins and moved into the final.

In Match 1 of the stepladder round of the women’s category, the second placed Sumathi comfortably beat defending champion Anukriti Bishnoi of Haryana (355 – 317) by 38 pins to enter the title round against Sabeena.

Akaash (6608 pinfall and 206.50 average) finished at the top position after 32 games, followed by Dhruv (6554 pinfall and 204.81 average), Prathyek Satya of Karnataka (6547 pinfall and 204.59 average) and Kishan (6479 pinfall and 202.47 average) in second, third and fourth positions respectively and qualified for the stepladder round.

Defending champion Shabbir Dhankot (Tamil Nadu) missed the cut by four pins and finished in fifth position.

Sabeena finished at the top spot (3842 pins at 192.10 average) after 20 games after Round 2, followed by Sumathi (3503 pinfall and 175.15 average) and Anukriti (3442 pinfall and 172.10 average) at second and third spots respectively.

The highlight of the day was two perfect games (300) on the same day by Kishan and Dhruv. Kishan is the first bowler to score perfect game in the history of this Championships and he was then followed by Dhruv.

source: http://www.newsable.asianet.com / AsiaNet Newsable / Home> English News> Sports / by Team Newsable / February 10th, 2019

Indian artist Haafiza Sayed’s ‘Towards Abstraction’ is a visual treat for art lovers

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

Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA / Dubai, U.A.E.  :

Haafiza Sayed poses next to her artwork in Dubai. Photographer: Kamal Kassim/ Gulf Today
Haafiza Sayed poses next to her artwork in Dubai. Photographer: Kamal Kassim/ Gulf Today

While walking through the Studio Seven Art Gallery, you are forced to pause, click, and appreciate the artworks, which explains a glorious journey of an Indian artist, Haafiza Sayed, who has the distinction of having studied at the JJ School of Art, Mumbai, India. The JJ School of Art, Mumbai, India is one of the finest institutions in the country and is widely respected for its illustrious alumni. World-renowned painters like M F Husain and Jatin Das, Bollywood actors Amol Palekar, Nana Patekar and many more luminaries have been associated with it. If you look at the works of Haafiza, you will instantly understand that she too carries the signature of that institution.

Born and raised in Mumbai, India, she belongs to an illustrious family of writers and artists. She is also a trained interior designer and has worked extensively in this field in the early days of her career. Having a passion for art since childhood, she started painting professionally only a decade ago, after arriving in Dubai. Talking about that she said, “Had I not come to Dubai, I would not have taken up my painting. I got into serious painting only after coming to Dubai. Earlier I only had one exhibition, while I was in another country. This exhibition is the my journey in Dubai and of my art.”

_______________________________

“Dubai has opportunities for all levels of artists. You get to participate in group shows and exhibitions. You also get lots of encouragement.     Haafiza Sayed

______________________________

Dubai is considered a paradise for artists and art lovers. Praising the Dubai art scene, she said, “Dubai gave me opportunities. I participated in lots of group works and exhibitions. Once I also worked with the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation and that was a very long exhibition. It was a year-long exhibition and was well received by the people here.”

She added, “Dubai has opportunities for all levels of artists. You get to participate in group shows and exhibitions. You also get lots of encouragement.”

So armed with full-on encouragement, she decided to go ahead with her childhood passion.

Haafiza’s solo art exhibition, “Towards Abstraction,” at Studio Seven, Business Bay, Dubai, opened on April 10 and will continue till April 24. The exhibition reveals close to 30 paintings that represent the journey of an artist in different phases. She received lots of appreciation on the very first day of the exhibition.

While sharing her journey, she said, “I took up art very late in my life. I was pursuing an interior designing job because that was my family business. My father was also an artist but he had stopped painting and started the business of interior designing. So I did the same for a very long time until I landed in Dubai.

“Despite being away from serious painting for a very long period of time, the art in me and training which I had from JJ School of Art stayed with me like a shadow and never went away from me, though I would paint and sketch at home in my free time.”

Haafiza Sayed's artwork is on display at a gallery in Dubai
Haafiza Sayed’s artwork is on display at a gallery in Dubai

A well respected artist, she is a very familiar face in the UAE art circuit. Recalling her childhood, she said, “As a child, I was born into the family of an artist. I picked up the brush at the age of 3 or 4. My dad was there to guide me. I received education at home as well as in the university.”

Haafiza comes from a family of artists and laureates. Talking about that, she said, “My father was a writer himself. All my aunts from my father’s side were writers. So, art and culture, literature, were in the family.”

When asked how she sees herself as an artist, she said, “I was actually a surrealist, that was my style from the beginning. JJ School of Art teaches you to follow realism. You get realistic elements inculcated during your stay at the college. But gradually along the way I moved away from realism to landscape art. Though you can still find reality in my works, I am also enjoying landscape art.

“I travel a lot. I love to travel. I love capturing the landscape. I can sit at a place and observe for hours and hours and this helps me in drawing landscape art,” she added.

Praising her learning at the JJ School of Art, she said, “I am fortunate enough to be there. I am quite proud of it. What I have learnt over there remained with me, and that was the trademark of teaching.”

A humble Haafiza is enjoying her journey and success in Dubai. And she also believes that being a mother and a wife can’t be a hindrance if you wish to pursue your passion. A great artist, Haafiza loves poetry as well, if you go through her artwork, you will also find lovely couplets gracing the painting.

source: http://www.gulftoday.ae / Gulf Today / Home> Culture / by Raghib Hassan, Staff Reporter / April 12th, 2019