Monthly Archives: October 2019

Islamic college donates 20 acres of land for medical college in Mayiladuthurai

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, , , ,

Mayiladuthurai, TAMIL NADU :

A delegation of the college met Nagapattinam district collector Praveen P Nair and gave its consent to donate land for a medical college in Mayiladuthurai.

The eight-member delegation which included members from Jamia Misbahul Hudha Arabic College
The eight-member delegation which included members from Jamia Misbahul Hudha Arabic College

Nagapattinam :

An Islamic college from Mayiladuthurai has come forward to donate 20 acres of its land for the construction of the medical college in Mayiladuthurai.

An eight-member delegation which included members from Jamia Misbahul Hudha Arabic College in Nidur near Mayiladuthurai has met Nagapattinam district collector Praveen P Nair on Thursday and gave its consent to donate land for a medical college in Mayiladuthurai.

“We wholeheartedly wish to donate our land of 21 acres for the welfare of the public without any expectations for a return of a favour. We took this decision days ago after we realized Mayiladuthurai could get a medical college if it there is enough land available to the government. The government should now fulfil the wish of Mayiladuthurai residents to have a medical college here,” said SA Mohamed Sadeeq, the general secretary of Jamia Misbahul Hudha Trust in Needur.

Jamia Misbahul Hudha Arabic College in Needur and its trust has been functioning since 1912, and formally registered under the Indian government in 1947. The barren land they are donating is near a hamlet called Erumbukadu in Mayiladuthurai taluk. It is situated 6.5 kilometres north of Mayiladuthurai.

The delegation that met the collector also included Mayuram Bar Association’s president advocate R Seyon and former MLA of Kuthalam constituency ‘Kuthalam’ P Kalyanam. R Seyon said, “We do not wish that Nagapattinam should be deprived of a medical college. It should have one irrespective of formation of Mayiladuthurai district.”

It is to be noted that Nagapattinam district collector Praveen P Nair had already proposed Orathur in Nagapattinam taluk as the location for the establishment of the medical college in Nagapattinam district. But, it was met with sharp reactions from Mayiladuthurai.

TNIE had earlier reported that Needur near Mayiladuthurai still stands a chance as an alternative.

While speaking to TNIE, Kuthalam’s former MLA ‘Kuthalam’ P Kalayanam said, “The patients in the northern side cannot be left in the mercy of medical college in Nagapattinam, particularly after formation of the new district with Mayiladuthurai as its headquarters. It will duplicate the scenario of Karaikal being in the mercy of Puducherry as both the Union territory districts are geographically apart.”

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by Antony Fernando / Express News Service / October 24th, 2019

Hyderabad professor provides free education, food and shelter to under-privileged children

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, FREE : Accomodation, FREE : Food, Leaders, , ,

Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

Professor Dr Syed Jahangir of the English and Foreign Language University teaches languages, social and political science to the poor children.

Professor Dr Syed Jahangir, Head of the Department Arab Studies, EFL (English and Foreign Language) University (Photo| ANI)
Professor Dr Syed Jahangir, Head of the Department Arab Studies, EFL (English and Foreign Language) University (Photo| ANI)

Hyderabad :

To help less fortunate children, Professor Dr Syed Jahangir, Head of the Department Arab Studies, EFL (English and Foreign Language) University. provides them free education, three meals a day and accommodation at his small education institution.

Professor Jahangir teaches languages, social and political science to the poor children. “I believe that weaker sections have a greater need for quality education. If we want our children to get the best education possible then they should get the best teacher rather than a great school. Here, I have started an English Model Islamic University where children can learn multiple languages like English, Sanskrit, Arabic, Urdu, and Parsi. They are taught in modern style here.”

“I spend the morning teaching foreign students at EFL University and the rest of the day I spend with children belonging to the backward class. I provide them free food, free education and also free accommodation. Children from different parts of the country come to us to get a quality education. Several of our former students are currently working in multinational companies as language translators,” he added.

Some former and current students shared their experiences. “I am from Bihar. I have been studying here for the last three years. Whatever we need is provided by Sir. I am happy to be studying here,” said Mohammed Sadiq, a student.

Abdul Aleem said: “I studied here eight years ago and I am here now as a science teacher. Today the cost of education is so high that many young people give up their dream of being educated, while many others graduate with debts. But here, we provide quality education and create a passion for learning amongst the students.”

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by ANI / October 31st, 2019

Meet new heroes

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), ,

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA :

Though he has just released a new book, Mohsin is already working on his next graphic novel series, a science fiction set in ’90s, with the working title of E.T Club.

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Bengaluru :

Rahil Mohsin is sure living his dream as a comic book creator. After having spent his childhood watching and drawing cartoons, nothing much has changed for him since he continues his hobby and even publishes it for others. The journey began with him being an avid comic book reader as a child, which led to a BA Honours in Animation later. Today, he has been a comic book creator for eight years and is all set to launch his fourth book, a comic series called Catdad & Supermom. The first issue of the same will be launched at Bengaluru Comic Con this year.

Looking back at the initial years, Mohsin recalls how in 2011 he was approached by Sufi Studios, a city-based Indian comic book publisher, with whom he went on to illustrate three graphic novels. Later, he moved to self publishing to create his own content and was successful in publishing his three one shots, called The Big Sheep, Kiss Kiss Blam Blam and Blame it on Rahil, respectively. “I realised that being an artist for hire wasn’t that difficult. But once you start publishing by yourself, there’s business along with promoting, printing and marketing at different conventions,” he told CE at Champaca Bookstore, Library, Café, where he conducted a creativity and imagination workshop for children.

His latest work, Catdad & Supermom, is a creation of Mohsin’s friend, a Florida-based independent comic book publisher named Robert Gregory. Ask Mohsin to describe the work and he says, “A group of silly superheroes with wholesome family entertainment where we teach kids about serious topics.” Entertaining and educative, the first issue of the series deals with the concept of bullying and how a kid imagines superheroes who teach them how to stand for himself and help people who are in need. “The characters were created by Robert Gregory and I have designed the characters artistically, and I also wrote the story and drew it in a comic format,” he added.

Comics are generally assumed to be targeted at teenagers and young adults. And as someone who ‘grew up on comics’, Mohsin knew he too wanted to work on comics for the same age group. “Since I am Bengaluru-based, I used to frequent the many second-hand bookstores of the city to buy my comics. Once I grew up, I realised most of the content was not kid-friendly. This is close to my heart as I used to work with kids as a schoolteacher before I started making comics. I wanted kids to have entertaining stories with superheroes and a lot of comedy in it; they also need to take something home it shouldn’t be just about entertainment. They need to have a message to carry along with them,” he explained.

Though he has just released a new book, Mohsin is already working on his next graphic novel series, a science fiction set in ’90s, with the working title of E.T Club.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Priyansha / Express News Service / October 30th, 2019

From the Nawab’s Kitchen

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Travel & Tourism, , , ,

Murshidabad, WEST BENGAL :

Murshidabad, the seat of Mughal power in Bengal, serves up an impressive cuisine

A vegetarian thali; dal bada; bhapa maach; gosht biryani;
A vegetarian thali; dal bada; bhapa maach; gosht biryani;

Mention Murshidabadi cuisine, and many foodies would look at you wonderingly. A well-kept secret, this district, which in the 18th century was a Mughal seat of power and ruled over undivided Bengal, Bihar and Odisha, can surprise you with its subtle flavours. Executive Chef Syed Mustaque Murshid, a descendant of one of the earliest settlers in the region, introduced some signature dishes from the Murshidabadi platter to the Delhi palate at Zambar, Ambience Mall, Gurugram, during a weeklong Murshidabadi Utsab this month. Tracing his roots to 23 generations, Murshid learnt cooking from his mother.

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He says, “Murshidabadi cuisine is one of the oldest cuisines of India. Being a chef from Murshidabad, I want the masses to know more about this and reassert that West Bengal is more than just Bengali cuisine. Food has always been known to break barriers between communities and Murshidabadi cuisine is the best example of how we slowly imbibed the Persian culture and married it with our local flavours to come up with something delectable.”

Murshidabadi cuisine is often known as a lighter version of the rich Mughal food and like any Mughal dish, it involves the trademark slow preparation, grounding of the masalas on a sil-batta, etc. It emerged at a time when ‘Mughaliya’ cuisine—or the food that the Mughals brought with them to India—was merging with different Indian tastes and giving birth to newer cuisines. The popular Awadhi and Hyderabadi cuisine were born during this period, as were the cuisines of Rampur, old Delhi, and of course, Murshidabad.

The influence is quite apparent in dishes such as the dalchini gosht (mutton flavoured only with cinnamon), boti seekh kebab, and of course, the trademark biryani—which is actually a poorer version of its richer Mughal cousin. The biryani comes with equal portions of mutton and potatoes and is more rustic in its use of masalas, unlike the subtle aroma of the Mughal version. The tikiyas that come in a variety of kinds—from prawns, to mutton to beetroot—are a firmer version of the typical succulent Mughal kebabs. Unlike its Mughal counterpart, the most sought-after qormas in Murshidabad are vegetarian—the aloo qorma and yam qorma.

The cuisine also boasts a fair amount of Bengali influence. There is the very traditional shukto (a milky mix of vegetables tempered with paanch phoron), albeit with fried nuts and sans the bitters. There is also the bhapa maach (a steamed fish with curd, mustard and coconut). A very subtle dish, Murshid’s version was truly magnificent.

Vineet Manocha, Senior Vice President, Culinary, Lite Bite Foods Pvt Ltd, shares, “At Zambar, we strive to offer local flavours from different regions of India. Murshidabadi Utsab was in line with our philosophy to promote regional cuisines and we received encouraging response from food enthusiasts in the city.” This amazing cuisine also includes tok murgi (a sour chicken curry), savoury rice pancakes, and of course, a host of posto or poppy dishes in keeping with its similarities with the Bengali cuisine.

In fact, they also boast a posto halwa, which is often a crowd-pleaser. Unfortunately, it was not something our palate took to positively when we tasted it. Too sweet, it still retained its distinct ground flavour which goes well with savoury items. But the zarda pulao (sweet pulao) more than made up for the halwa.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Lifestyle> Food / by Medha Dutta Yadav / Express News Service / October 24th, 2019

“Was A Freedom Fighter…”: Tipu Sultan’s Descendant Counters BJP MLA

Uncategorized, , ,

KARNATAKA, Kolkata/ WEST BENGAL  :

Karnataka BJP chief Appachu Ranjan mentioned Tipu Sultan looted temples and compelled conversions.

Kolkata: 

After a BJP MLA in Karnataka mentioned classes on the 18th century ruler of the erstwhile Mysore kingdom Tipu Sultan have to be faraway from textbooks, a descendant of the king mentioned that it’s shameful that he being focused for vote financial institution politics.

Chatting with information company ANI, Md Shahid Alam mentioned, “History can never be deleted. Tipu Sultan was a freedom fighter. I will write a letter to the Prime Minister regarding this.”

“Some people are playing vote bank politics which is quite shameful. People cannot deny that he was a freedom fighter. History is like this and will remain so in future,” he added.

On Wednesday, Karnataka BJP chief Appachu Ranjan wrote to Training Minister S Suresh Kumar asking for Tipu Sultan’s reference to be struck off historical past textbooks.

In a letter, Mr Ranjan wrote that Tipu Sultan has been portrayed as a freedom fighter and historical past shouldn’t be written with false details.

“Tipu came to Kodagu, Mangaluru and other parts of the state to expand his territory. He came here just to convert people to his religion and to expand his kingdom,” he mentioned.

He added that king had no respect for Kannada as his administrative language was Persian. “He changed names of places. He looted many temples and Christian churches as well. In Kodagu, he converted 30 thousand Kodavas,” Mr Ranjan wrote in his letter.

source: http://www.heraldpublicist. om / Herald Publicist / Home> News / by Pete / October 24th, 2019

In Conversation With Aaliya Sultana Babi: The Royal Paleontologist

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Green Products, Leaders, Travel & Tourism, World Opinion, , , , ,

Balasinor (Mahisagar District), GUJARAT :

AaliyaMPOs28oct2019

Aaliya Sultana Babi is a princess who, along with her figurative crown, also wears—quite literally—the broad-brimmed hat of a paleontologist! She is the daughter of the Nawab of Balasinor, and traces her ancestry to Sher Khan Babi, the founder of the state of Junagadh, who was bestowed the nawabship by the Mughal emperor Humayun. Tens of millions of years ago, during the Mesozoic era, the lands of Aaliya Babi’s forefathers teemed with ancient reptiles and dinosaurs, and the rocks of Rahioli village (which has earned the moniker of India’s Cretaceous Park) near Balasinor are now etched with the remains of bones, eggs, teeth, and skulls, approximately 67 million years old.

These prehistoric giants include long-necked titanosaurs, an enormous snake, and a crested abelisaur often referred to as “the T-rex of India”—the deadly Rajasaurus narmadensis. Aaliya Babi is an ardent advocate for the protection and preservation of this rare and precious fossil site in Gujarat, which is one of the largest dinosaur fossil sites in the world, and she champions the cause of dinosaur education and conservation in India.  As a dinosaur enthusiast who admires and has closely followed her work, including the Dinosaur Fossil Park and Museum that she has set up in partnership with Gujarat Tourism, I am honored to have been able to interview this Dinosaur Princess!

AALIYA BABI IS AN ARDENT ADVOCATE FOR THE PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION OF THIS RARE AND PRECIOUS FOSSIL SITE IN GUJARAT, WHICH IS ONE OF THE LARGEST DINOSAUR FOSSIL SITES IN THE WORLD, AND SHE CHAMPIONS THE CAUSE OF DINOSAUR EDUCATION AND CONSERVATION IN INDIA.

Bhavika: I really admire your contributions to the field of dinosaur conservation. What sparked your interest in dinosaurs?

Aaliya: As a young girl of about four or five, I was fascinated with dinosaurs, despite the lack of exposure to dinosaurs that we grew up amidst. While learning the English alphabet, I would say “A for Apple” and “D for Dinosaur” instead of for “Dog”! I also knew the spellings of “brontosaurus” and “diplodocus,” which were both my favourite dinosaurs! All this was forgotten when I was shipped off to a boarding school, but when I came back after completing my schooling, the interest was rekindled.

Bhavika: I wish more children in India shared your enthusiasm and fondness! Do you believe it’s important for children to be familiar with dinosaurs? What would be your advice to a child who dreams of becoming a paleontologist? 

Aaliya: Not just children, but, according to me, everyone should know about our prehistoric earth, and the fascinating creatures that inhabited it. Through our museum and fossil park, we are trying our level best to educate the people. I, in my own way, am trying to create awareness through lectures, presentations, and exhibits held across schools, colleges, universities, and museums, both in Gujarat and abroad, and have received favourable responses. If children want to take up palaeontology as a career, it is unfortunate that in India, we currently don’t have much scope in the discipline, as only limited educational institutes offer subjects related to paleontology. But we need to rectify that. There are some talks going on to include geology into school curricula in the future.

Bhavika: That’s lamentable. India has a wealth of fossils, but these are unexplored and undervalued. Why is this so? What are the current challenges? 

Aaliya: There are a lot of challenges which I have faced over the years in trying to get the fossil site protected. First and foremost, we, in India, don’t have any legislations pertaining to fossil protection, and we don’t care for our heritage. It has taken me more than twenty-two years to get the site duly recognized and protected, but still it’s open and vulnerable to vandalism, as we have limited well-trained guards. Secondly, we don’t possess the required funds for excavations and the subsequent studying of fossils, and hardly any good-quality museums exist to exhibit them. We are also lacking in trained professionals.

THERE ARE A LOT OF CHALLENGES WHICH I HAVE FACED OVER THE YEARS IN TRYING TO GET THE FOSSIL SITE PROTECTED. FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE, IN INDIA, DON’T HAVE ANY LEGISLATIONS PERTAINING TO FOSSIL PROTECTION, AND WE DON’T CARE FOR OUR HERITAGE.

Bhavika: Do you believe that there’s potential for dinosaur tourism in India?

Aaliya: There is a huge, huge, HUGE potential for dinosaur tourism in India. You see, in the earlier days, people were not very aware about dinosaurs. The Jurassic Park movie series, based on Michael Crichton’s books, has sparked interest in dinosaurs, and now we also have access to so much information and literature on them. I’ve come across both three-year-olds and eighty-year-olds who want to know about these fascinating creatures that ruled our earth for millions of years! I get children who are so deeply interested in dinosaurs that they want to become paleontologists, and so times are changing!

Bhavika: How does the Garden Palace Heritage Hotel that you run from your royal palace go toward this mission?

Aaliya: The Garden Palace was built in 1883, and we began offering the palace as a homestay around 1997. From having only 1 renovated room, to now 13 rooms, we have come a long way! When we get visitors for the fossil park, we often have them stay at our property or take their meals here, as this is the only place in the area for a comfortable accommodation and a decent meal. We are famous for our cuisine, as my mother, Begum Saheba Farhat Sultana Babi of Balasinor, is a true connoisseur of food, and has carried forward the legacy of the signature Balasinori cuisine.

Bhavika: Can you tell us about the Rajasaurus? Do you believe it should feature in one of the next films from the Jurassic World franchise?

Aaliya: Yes, definitely, the Rajasaurus should feature in the coming Jurassic World movies! The fossilized remains of the Rajasaurus narmadensis were excavated by Dr. Suresh Shrivastav and team in 1983. The dinosaur was approximately 9 meters in length and 2.4 meters in height and weighed approximately 4000 kgs. It is a genus of abelisaurid theropod carnivores from the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) of India, and is represented by one species, Rajasaurus narmadensis. It was formally described in 2003 based on a partial braincase, spine, hip bone, a leg and tail—a first for an Indian theropod dinosaur. The dinosaur had a single horn-like structure on the forehead, which was probably used for display and head-butting. Like other abelisaurids, Rajasaurus was probably an ambush predator and hunted in packs. Numerous theropod eggs and nests have also been found from the Rahioli Balasinor region.

Another similar dinosaur which has been named after the village of Rahioli is the Rahiolisaurus gujaratensis. Rahiolisaurus is another genus of abelisaurid theropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) of India. It fossils were excavated by teams from the GSI (Geological Survey of India), Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, and Texas Tech University in the USA, between 1995-1997, from the Lameta formation of Rahioli, and it was formally described as Rahiolisaurus gujaratensis in 2010. It can be distinguished from the Rajasaurus by its more slender and gracile build. It is known from a pebbly sandstone containing seven different individuals—from a juvenile to a fully-grown adult. It was 8 meters in length, 3 meters in height, and weighed approximately 2 tons.

Bhavika: Do you believe dinosaurs are linked, in anyway, to the myths and folklore of India?

Aaliya: Yes. We have heard tales of dinosaur eggs being worshipped by villagers, as they resemble shivlings. We hear that ammonite fossils (salagramas) are also worshiped, as they are believed by many to be natural manifestations and divine symbols of Lord Vishnu. The shell’s circular form, with its radial markings, resembles the discus (chakra) of the deity.

Bhavika: Is it especially challenging to be a woman in the field of science and conservation?

Aaliya: I think I am the only woman, as of now, from an aristocratic family in India, who is involved with fossil preservation and conservation. It definitely had its ups and downs, but I think I have used my family name and connection for the protection of the fossils and the betterment of the villagers.

This definitely was a roller coaster ride, but it has been a wonderful ride, nonetheless. Times are changing now, and women, today, are in all fields. I have had the support and blessings of eminent paleontologists like Dr. Ashok Sahni and Dr. Suresh Shrivastava, among others, who have helped and guided me throughout this phase, and have imparted so much of their knowledge to me. And I have a simple motto: that nothing is impossible in life; if we set our hearts and minds to it, we can achieve anything and everything! The word “IMPOSSIBLE” shouldn’t exist in our dictionary!

Featured Image Source: Indian Women Blog

source: http://www.feminisminindia.com / Feminism In India / Home> Society> Environment / by Guest Writer / posted by Bhavika Sicka / October 28th, 2019

Breaking bread between neighbours helps bring down barriers

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, NRI's / PIO's, Travel & Tourism, World Opinion, , ,

Kolkata, WEST BENGAL / London , UNITED KINGDOM:

AsmaKhanMPOs27oct2019

Interview

Drawing from her vast knowledge of  Indian cuisine, celebrated British chef Asma Khan dives into how a shared love for food can blur the boundaries of race and gender.

How would you define the soft power of Indian cuisine in the world?

The beauty of food is that you can enjoy and appreciate it without having to understand the language or the intricacies of a culture. It is the first contact many non-Indians have with Indian heritage. Indian food is a doorway to Indian culture and its people. It sparks conversations between people of different ethnicities.

The prevalence of Indian restaurants and food in supermarkets in countries like the UK means that almost every person has a chance to try and taste the country’s food.

What are some transformative business models (and hiring practices) that you feel could harness the potential of Indian food globally

AsmaKhan02MPOs27oct2019

It is important that food from a culture reflects the roots, flavours, and aromas of that cuisine. Given the popularity of street food in big cities around the world, it is one way in which Indian street food can be presented. Street food is complex, but people of all nationalities can be trained to assemble and serve these dishes.

As far as restaurants are concerned, the traditional model of family-owned businesses is deeply under threat as the next generation seldom wants to go into this business. In the UK, this has resulted in the closing down of many restaurants. A radical rethink is required in the way staff are recruited and trained. The first change should be an attempt to increase the number of women working.

Are the nuances of Indian food filtering through alongside its general popularity?

The generic Indian food, which was popular a decade ago, is still favoured by many. There is a greater awareness of regionality of Indian cuisine because of cheap travel to India, and information available on both the internet and television.

Does cuisine have a role to play in wider political debates, such as Brexit?

There isn’t a united cuisine of Europe. The European Union’s biggest role when it came to food was establishing vigorous health and safety regulations for the food industry and for the way we farmed and fished.

In Europe, there is a very strong regional tradition when it comes to food, which was not impacted by the birth and extension of the European Union. There is no doubt that breaking bread between neighbours is helpful, and sharing a meal helps bring down barriers between people.

How would you categorise your vision for gender balance in the workplace?

My vision is one of equality, equality for opportunity and progression in kitchens for men and women. There is an urgent need to establish codes of conduct, which protect the dignity and honour of everyone working in the kitchen. For too long, the dominant position of the head chef, invariably a man, has meant that the culture of a kitchen is very masculine and sometimes toxic and aggressive. This can intimidate and exclude some women working alongside these men. There has to be respect for women in all kitchens.

How can food technology be harnessed to tackle health-related issues such as diabetes?

There is a growth in food items that are low in fat, low in cholesterol, that are targeted to people trying to practice a healthier diet. Additional information in the labelling for diabetics is the way forward as healthy eating is the standard advice given to them. Diabetics do not necessarily need food produced specifically for them as there is already a growth of low sugar, low starch options.

How does being a Global Indian impact your wider worldview?

I have the advantage of being from the east and the west. I feel rooted in two nations. My cultural and culinary heritage is Indian. This is a great advantage in the work I do as I can present the cuisine of my country of origin with a depth and understanding that comes from having lived there for the first 22 years of my life.

Even though I have now lived longer in the UK than in India, I still feel a deep-rooted connection to my motherland. I can, therefore, explain to someone from another heritage who I am, where I come from, and what my country stands for.

source: http://www.indiaincgroup.com / Home> Interviews / October 24 & October 25th, 2019

Asaduddin Owaisi’s dream is coming true

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, ,

Hyderabad, TELANGANA / MAHARASHTRA / BIHAR :

AIMIM is now more than a symbol, challenging the Muslim blackmail of secular parties in polling booths, from west to east.

AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi at a party outreach programme in Aurangabad | Photo: Twitter | @aimim_national
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi at a party outreach programme in Aurangabad | Photo: Twitter | @aimim_national

I met Asaduddin Owaisi for the first time in Kishanganj, in Bihar’s north-eastern Seemanchal region. I asked him point-blank the question everyone wants to ask him: Are you a BJP agent? He had a logical reply: “Why would I be contesting only a few seats if I was a BJP agent? Wouldn’t the BJP like to cut Muslim votes everywhere?”

Since then, I have paid closer attention to the pattern of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen’s (AIMIM) electoral attempts. They take a handful of seats, where Muslim voters are in large enough numbers to play a decisive role. They fight these elections to win, and not to help the BJP win. For instance, the AIMIM did not put up a single candidate in Uttar Pradesh in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections since the SP and the BSP were putting up a joint fight and the AIMIM candidates would only have helped the BJP.

The idea that the AIMIM is a BJP agent, I was convinced, is a Congress conspiracy theory. For the Congress party and its sycophants, anyone who’s not with them is communal.

But this still didn’t tell me what Owaisi wanted. What was his goal? What was he trying to achieve? If he wasn’t even contesting elections on each seat, or joining any big coalitions, what could he achieve through electoral politics anyway? Muslims in his home state, Telangana, don’t care for the AIMIM outside Hyderabad .  Even in his home state, Owaisi can never dream of becoming the chief minister. The AIMIM won’t be a party of governance any time soon. I wanted the answer to the big question: What does Asaduddin Owaisi want?

What does Owaisi want?

“What I want,” he replied, “is an MLA in every state assembly. Just one is enough. And I want him to stand up in the assembly and ask the secular parties, you took Muslim votes using the BJP to blackmail them. Now how about building roads and schools in Muslim-dominated areas?”

That, I thought, was a laudable goal. Muslim voters often feel they have no choice in elections. They have to vote for a crook from a secular party because the BJP doesn’t even want their votes. The BJP-RSS worker takes a 180-degree turn when s/he reaches a Muslim neighbourhood. In such a scenario, the presence of a Muslim party that threatens the idea of Muslims as a fixed vote-bank of secular parties is a noble one.

This also means Owaisi is not trying to be the “sole spokesperson” for the Indian Muslims, a mischievous term used to describe Mohammed Ali Jinnah. Owaisi is, before anything else, a constitutionalist. Islam is his faith, the Constitution is his ideology. The point he wants to drive home is that the two can go together.

Youth icon

In Kishanganj in 2015, I saw young voters go crazy over Owaisi, like people are about their heroes. It was akin to how great sportspersons inspire hero worship. The phenomenon was explained to me by a Muslim journalist in Aligarh, who said that Owaisi was a product of post-Babri Muslim politics. The fall of the Babri Masjid in 1992 silenced vocal Muslim politicians who used to speak at mainstream public debates as Muslims. It also deepened the idea, almost to finality, that Partition had left no space for a “Muslim party” in Indian politics.

Owaisi challenges all these notions, and finds willing supporters in Muslim youth who were born after 1992. There is thus a generation divide among Muslims in Owaisi’s popularity: the pre-92 generation thinks he’s a bad idea, and the millennials think he’s just what they need. The young feel they don’t have to be apologetic about being Muslims and don’t need to accept second-class status. They think they must assert their rights as equal citizens as per the Indian Constitution, just like any other Indian, and that’s what Owaisi does on their behalf.

Obviously, Muslim votes alone are not going to help the AIMIM win seats. And why would Hindu voters want to vote for a Muslim party?

That’s why this constitutionalism is also part of the AIMIM’s appeal to Ambedkarite Dalits. The AIMIM has thus been trying, with some success, to build a coalition of the marginalised along with Dalits. A Muslim vote-bank gives the AIMIM the ability to transfer votes to a Dalit candidate, for instance. It was such an idea that led to the AIMIM’s alliance  with Prakash Ambedkar in Maharashtra.

And yet, the AIMIM lost the 2015 election in Kishanganj. I saw young voters go up to Owaisi and say – they loved him but they’ll vote for him next time. After all, the Nitish-Lalu-Congress alliance had to be supported to defeat the BJP.

Account opened

The AIMIM had stood a strong third in the Kishanganj Lok Sabha election in 2019. The Congress won the seat  and the JD(U) stood second. Had it not been for the AIMIM, the JD(U), the BJP’s ally, would have won this seat. The only seat that the UPA won and the NDA lost in Bihar was Kishanganj, thanks to the votes cut by the AIMIM.

The Congress candidate was also the sitting MLA, therefore necessitating a bypoll for the Vidhan Sabha seat. Thursday, the AIMIM won that seat . The party has opened its account in Bihar. What’s even better  is that the BJP stood second and the Congress stood third. In the Bihar assembly election in November 2020, Owaisi will be able to say that in Kishanganj it’s AIMIM versus BJP. The impact will be felt in the entire Seemanchal region.

New frontiers

The AIMIM had won two seats in the Maharashtra assembly in 2014, but lost them this time. But it picked up two new seats : Malegaon Central and Dhule City. In other words, the AIMIM has become a regular electoral party, and people are getting used to pressing the AIMIM’s kite symbol on the EVMs. The AIMIM used to be called a one-MP party, but now it has two MPs in the Lok Sabha: Imtiyaz Jaleel won the Aurangabad seat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

In Uttar Pradesh, AIMIM has 30 seats in various municipal corporations – its party member was elected chairperson of the Dasna municipal council in Ghaziabad. Thursday, the AIMIM candidate in the Pratapgarh assembly bypoll stood third . Owaisi’s dream is coming true: he now has an MLA in Bihar and Maharashtra assemblies and the most important state in Indian politics, Uttar Pradesh, is within striking distance too.

The growing electoral success of the AIMIM is a reminder to secular parties that they cannot take Muslim voters for granted. If apathy or the fear of losing Hindu votes is going to make “secular” parties look away from Muslims, why blame Owaisi?

source: http://www.theprint.in / The Print / Home> Opinion / by Shivam Vij / October 25th, 2019

Owaisi’s AIMIM Wins 2 in Maharashtra, Announces Arrival in Bihar

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, , , , , , , , , ,

TELANGANA / MAHARASHTRA / BIHAR  :

Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM won 2 seats in Maharashtra and the Kishanganj seat in Bihar

Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM won 2 seats in Maharashtra the Kishanganj seat in Bihar(Photo: Aroop Mishra/The Quint)

The elections were a mixed bag for Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen. The party won two seats in Maharashtra, the same tally as 2014, and proved that its performance last time wasn’t a fluke. However, it couldn’t improve its tally even though its vote share increased from 0.9 percent in 2014 to 1.4 percent.

The more significant achievement for the party is its victory in the Kishanganj Assembly seat in Bihar, which is its first victory in the Hindi heartland.

But first the Maharashtra results.

AIMIM in Maharashtra

There is a clear pattern to the AIMIM’s performance in Maharashtra. It seems to have lost ground in Mumbai but gained aground in rest of the state.

In Malegaon Central, AIMIM’s Mohammad Ismail Abdul Khalique defeat Congress’ Aasif Sheikh by over 38,000 votes.

In Dhule City, AIMIM’s Shah Faruk Anwar defeated independent candidate Rajvardhan Kadambande by a little over 3000 votes.

The AIMIM gave a tough fight in several other seats but couldn’t manage to win. It got 41 percent votes in Aurangabad East, 35 percent in Aurangabad Central and over 20 percent in Nanded South, Nanded North, Byculla and Solapur Central.

AIMIM’s Hindu candidates made their presence felt in seats like Dharavi and Kurla getting 10-15 percent votes. However most of the other candidates fell below 10 percent.

Entry in Bihar

However, the party’s performance in Maharashtra was overshadowed by its victory in the bypoll to the Kishanganj Assembly seat in Bihar. Its candidate Qamrul Hoda defeated BJP’s Sweety Singh by over 10,000 votes.

The bypoll was necessitated after Congress MLA Mohammad Jawed vacated the seat as he was elected to the Lok Sabha earlier this year. But the Congress candidate failed to even cross 15 percent and ended up forfeiting her deposit.

The victory is a significant one as it marks the AIMIM’s entry in the Hindi Heartland. Till now the party has only won seats in Telangana and Maharashtra.

This would also boost the AIMIM’s prospects in the Muslim dominated Seemanchal region in North-Eastern Bihar.

The AIMIM also made its presence felt in the Pratapgarh Assembly bypoll in Uttar Pradesh with its candidate Mohammad Irshad securing close to 14 percent votes, ahead of the BSP and Congress and just behind the SP at 15.6 percent. The seat was won by BJP’s ally Apna Dal.

source: http://www.thequint.com / The Quint / Home> Politics / by Aditya Menon / October 26th, 2019

Abu Asim Azmi wins in Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar assembly seat of Maharashtra

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, , ,

Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA :

Abu Asim Azmi had won from the Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar seat in 2009 and 2014 assembly elections

AbuAsmiMPOs24oct2019

Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar Assembly Election Result 2019: Abu Asim Azmi, sitting MLA and Maharashtra Samajwadi Party (SP) President, has won in the Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar Assembly seat.

Abu Asim Azmi has got 63,697 votes and defeated his nearest rival of Shiv Sena in the seat he held since 2009.

Abu Asim Azmi had won from the Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar seat in 2009 and 2014 assembly elections.

Rais Shaikh, sitting Samajwadi Party (SP) corporator in Mumbai, has also won the 2019 election in Bhiwandi East.

In Bhiwandi West however, Shoeb Khan of Congress and Khalid Shaikh of AIMIM are trailing behind Mahesh Chougale of BJP.

Elsewhere in Mumbai, Waris Pathan of AIMIM is trailing in Byculla. But, Mufti Ismail of AIMIM is leading in Malegaon Center seat with more than 10,000 votes.

Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar Assembly Election Result 2019 Live Update

11:45 am Abu Asim Azmi, sitting MLA and Maharashtra Samajwadi Party (SP) President, is leading in Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar Assembly seat, trends available at 11:45 am said.

According to the latest trends, Abu Asim Azmi has got 53,773 votes after 4th round of votes. His nearest rival of Shiv Sena is struggling with 14,772 votes.

08:00 am The Election Commission of India has started the counting of votes in all 54 assembly constituencies, also known as Vidhan Sabha seats, of Mumbai and Thane districts polling for which was held Monday, October 21, 2019.

The porcess started at 08:00 am with counting of Postal Ballots. Postal Ballots contain the votes of government servants who are posted in different areas of the state on the polling day. Postal ballots also contain votes of army men and natives of Haryana on government duty at any other place on the polling day.

After counting of postal ballots, counting of votes stored in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) has started. Special arrangements have been made for the purpose by the state election department in all 90 Vidhan Sabha seats of Haryana.

Counting of votes stored in EVMs is taking place round-wise on multiple tables one at a time. While trends and lead position is expected to trickle in by 08:30 am, the final results are expected by today afternoon.

Mumbai had registered around 50.67 per cent in by and large peaceful polling on Monday.

Mumbai and Mumbai Suburbs together have a total of 36 seats. Mumbai city, which has 10 seats, recorded 48.63% voter turnout whereas the Mumbai suburban district, which has 26 seats recorded 51.17%.

Assembly seats results of which will be announced today are Byculla, Colaba, Dharavi, Mahim, Malabar Hill, Mumbadevi, Shivadi, Sion Koliwada, Wadala and Worli in Mumbai city.

Assembly seats in Mumbai Surbs results of which will be announced today are Andheri East, Andheri West, Anushakti Nagar, Bhandup West, Borivali, Chandivali, Charkop, Chembur, Dahisar, Dindoshi, Ghatkopar East, Ghatkopar West, Goregaon, Jogeshwari East, Kalina, Kandivali East, Kurla, Magathane, Malad West, Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar, Mulund, Vandre East, Vandre West, Versova, Vikhroli and Vile Parle.

Counting of votes has also started in 18 Vidhan Sabha seats of Thane district in Maharashtra. Prominent among them are Bhiwandi East, Bhiwandi West, Thane, Ulhasnagarm Mira Bhayanadar, Mumbra Kalwa, Kalyan East, Kalyan West, Kalyan Rural and Belapur.

Election resultsof Panvel, Alibag, Shrivardhan, Chiplun, Ratnagiri and other seats in Raigad district will also be announced today.

source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / by Ummid News Network / October 24th, 2019