The Pulitzer Center is pleased to announce freelance multimedia journalist Sidrah Fatma Ahmed has been selected as the 2023 winner of the Pulitzer Center’s annual Breakthrough Journalism Award . The runner-up award goes to freelance journalist Emily Fishbein.
The $12,000 Breakthrough Award, inaugurated in 2020, is made possible through the generous support of Eva Lohrer. The award seeks to recognize and celebrate the achievements of Pulitzer Center-affiliated freelance journalists who report on the underreported issues. The runner-up is awarded $5,000.
Ahmed, a Delhi-based freelancer, is recognized not only for her dedication to producing and directing high-caliber video projects on underreported topics, but also for enriching projects with nuanced and layered storytelling.
Ahmed’s reaction to winning the award was a nod to all those she has reported on.
“It’s a moment to celebrate the people represented in my stories. There are so many stories to be told in India. I hope to use this support to do more in-depth video reporting in the areas of climate justice, gender, and health,” Ahmed said in a recent interview with Pulitzer Center Editorial Intern Alexandra Byrne.
Ahmed, who began her career in India with a legacy news outlet, felt increasingly drawn to underreported topics and people, so she struck out on her own. Ahmed told Byrne she was “a bit restless because I was spending a lot of time in the office. The whole reason I got into journalism was so that I could be in the field and I could talk to different kinds of people, and I could really explore and engage and dig and be curious.”
Her dynamic video production and in-depth reporting skills have captured the attention of numerous international news outlets, including the Financial Times, for which she directed the Pulitzer Center-supported film Can India Adapt to Extreme Heat? alongside grantee Juliet Riddell. For this project, Ahmed and Riddell succeeded in blending macroeconomic insights with personal stories from a diverse range of Indians, including farmers, scientists, vendors, and children.
Ahmed says she wants to continue to tackle relevant topics that are in the news, but she also hopes one day to produce and direct longer-format documentaries.
The 2023 Breakthrough Award runner-up is freelance journalist Emily Fishbein for her relentless focus on exposing wrongs in Myanmar over the past few years, as well as for her collaborative approach to working with local reporting partners.
Fishbein said she was “honored to receive this award. It really validates everything I have been working for as a journalist and gives me so much motivation.”
With regard to her collaborative approach, she says she seeks “to pay forward the opportunities afforded to me as an international journalist and to encourage and support rising local talent who have a passion for the issues they cover.”
Past recipients of the annual Breakthrough Award include former grantees Neha Wadekar, Mariana Palau, and Victoria McKenzie. Read more about the Breakthrough Journalism Award here.
We celebrate freelancers’ adaptability and their dogged pursuit of the truth, work that is essential in today’s news environment. These journalists provide diverse perspectives and in-depth coverage of issues often overlooked by traditional media outlets. They often work alone, with little or no safety net, and with thin profit margins. We’re proud to amplify their work and contribute to their development.
source: http://www.pulitzercenter.org / Pulitzer Center / Home> Updates / by Steve Sapeinza, Pulitzer Center Staff / August 17th, 2023
Geelani goes on to become one of the best human rights defenders of his time. He campaigned for prisoners, vulnerable communities, and individuals. Photo: Shaheen Abdulla/Maktoob
Syed Abdul Rahman Geelani was a professor at Zakir Hussain College, Delhi University. He was convicted for his alleged role in the 2001 Indian Parliament attack and sentenced to death by the trial court. Later, Delhi High Court acquitted him of all draconian charges in 2003, after 18 months of imprisonment.
Geelani goes on to become one of the best human rights defenders of his time. He campaigned for prisoners, vulnerable communities, and individuals.
Geelani died on 24 October 2019 at the age of 50, leaving behind a legacy of resistance against wrongful incarceration.
A documentary by Shaheen Abdulla, Madhuraj Kumar, Farkhanda Ashfaq, and Babrah Tabassum Naikoo.
Footage courtesy: AP News, Dalit Camera
Watch on YouTube:
source: http://www.maktoobmedia.com / Maktoob / Home> Features> India> Video / by Shaheen Abdulla / October 24th, 2021
With only 23 candidates qualifying, results for Muslims worst in 12 years.
New Delhi:
Shruti Sharma, Ankita Agarwal, and Gamini Singla have secured the first, second, and third rank respectively in the civil services examination 2021, results of which were announced by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Monday.
Among the 685 candidates, 23 Muslim candidates managed to crack the exam and have been qualified for the Public Service.
pix: @suhailakbar
The most significant rank among the 23 Muslim candidates was Areeba Nomaan who secured the All India Rank of 109 followed by Mohd Suboor Khan who secured 125th rank and Syed Mustafa Hashmi with an All India Rank of 162.
Afnan Abdu Samed (274), Arshad Muhammed (276), Mohd Saquib Alam (279), Asrar Ahmad Kichloo (287), Ashik Ali (304), Mohammed Abdul Rawoof Shaik (309), Nazish Umar Ansari (344), Faisal Khan (364), Shumaila Choudhary (368), Mavis Tak (386), MD Qamaruddin Khan (414), Mohd Shabir (419), Faisal Raza (441), Masoom Raja Khan (457), Ashif A (464), Muskan Dagar (474), Tahseenbanu Dawadi (482), Shaikh Mohd Zaib Zakir (496), Mohammed Siddiq Shariff (516), Mohammed Shaukath Azeem (545), Makakmayum Hosni Mubarak (575), and Anwar Hussain (600) are the other Muslim candidates who cleared the exams and stand qualified for the services.
The performance of Muslim candidates in the Civil Services 2021 exams is worst if compared with their results in the last 12 years. The last time Muslims had performed poorly was in 2010 when 21 Muslims out of the total 875 had cracked the Civil Services Exam. Dr. Shah Faesal, a Muslim candidate had however bagged the All India Rank 1 in that year.
In 2020, a total of 31 Muslim candidates cracked the Civil Services exam from the total of 761 candidates that were selected for the services. In 2019, the bar was even higher with 42 Muslim candidates qualifying for services.
The years 2016 and 2017 were the brightest period for Muslim candidates. In 2016, 52 Muslims figured in the list of successful candidates whereas in 2017 their tally was 50.
The years 2016 and 2017 were the brightest period for Muslim candidates. In 2016, 52 Muslims figured in the list of successful candidates whereas in 2017 their tally was 50.
In 2015, 34 Muslims were among the 1,078 candidates recommended by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) whereas 38 Muslims were on the list of a total of 1,236 candidates in 2014.
In 2013, a total of 34 Muslims had cleared the exam, whereas, in 2012, 30 Muslims were among the successful candidates, and four of them were among the top 100.
Similarly in 2012, 30 Muslims were among the successful candidates, and in 2011, 31 Muslims were among the 920 selected for the civil services.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> India / by Vartha Bharati / May 30th, 2022
After SSC, HSC and UPSC exams, the girl students extended their winning streak yet again by securing the top two slots in the list of the successful students in M. Sc. exams when Pune University announced the results last week.
Saima firdaus who topped MSC Maths
Saima Firdaus Mohd. Yaseen,a Muslim girl student from Malegaon, the textile town in North Maharashtra top ranked the Pune University in M. Sc. (Mathematics) scoring a thumping 88.35% in M.Sc. final year, a result normally not achieved by the students in Mathematics. She is followed by another girl student Deepali of neighboring Ahmadnagar.
Pune University has a criterion wherein it has different syllabus, examination pattern and question papers in the exams for the University campus and rest of Maharashtra. The syllabus and exam pattern for the University campus are relatively difficult and a student has to be compulsorily in the campus during the entire course.
Saima secured the first position in M.Sc. Mathematics after completing the course from the University campus, ahead of 70 other students, half of them being boys including foreigners from countries like Iran and Africa.
Acknowledging her achievement Omar Farooque of Malegaon who had secured the top rank in 2004 scoring 79% and right now working as a Mathematics lecturer at Saboo Siddique Engineering College Mumbai said, “Very few students normally opt for the tough Mathematics subject. A girl choosing the subject in itself is something different. By scoring 89% percent, Saima deserves all praise from everyone.”
A beaming Saima on the other hand is cool. “Mathematics has always been a child’s play for me”, she said to ummid.com. “Since childhood I had scored excellently well in every exam with maximum marks in Mathematics.”
Saima cleared all her earlier exams with distinction and in B. Sc. Mathematics too she scored an impressive 88.75% marks. After clearing NET/SET – a compulsory test for a college post, she is now eying for the post of lecturership at any reputed college.
source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home / by ummid.com staff reporter / August 10th, 2009
The free coaching centre on Mohammed Ali Road boasts residential facilities for out-of-town girls
Muslim girl aspirants of civil services have just got a reason to rejoice. The Fatimabai Musa Patel Competitive Examination Training Centre for Women (residential and non-residential) at Mohammed Ali Road, opening this week, fulfils an old need of the community.
Initially accommodating 20 residential and around 30 non-residential candidates, the Centre helps give wings to many girls who aspire to become civil servants and want to give the tough IAS and provincial services exams a shot.
“The need for a proper place exclusive for the girls who want to prepare for UPSC and MPSC exams has been felt for a long. Some like-minded people have joined hands to prepare this facility,” said former MLA Bashir Musa Patel who owns this place and has dedicated it to the memory of his mother Fatimabai.
Though Patel and a few other good Samaritans came forward to create this Centre, the motivating force is former CEO of Haj Committee of India and ex-registrar, Mumbai University, Dr Maqsood Ahmed Khan. With experience of mentoring civil services aspirants at the Haj House’s coaching centre, Khan was suited to show the path here too. “They roped me in to do honourary mentorship here. We have already selected candidates. Initially most of the candidates are those who previously appeared for the UPSC entrance examinations but didn’t succeed and wanted to prepare again,” said Khan.
On Friday, the Centre’s director Zubia Shaikh, through a power-point presentation, explained the abysmal low representation of Muslims in the civil services. According to the Sachar Commission Report, the representation of Muslims in the civil services is only 3%.
“This Centre will propel girls to reach their goals. Even if some don’t succeed in these tough examinations, the very dream and preparations will equip them to face challenges in life,” said Shaikh.
Two candidates who cracked UPSC exams last year and were allotted IPS cadre-Mavis Tak and Tahseen Banu Dawadi-too addressed the small gathering virtually. Both are preparing again to upgrade their UPSC ranks.
“The facility created here for the girls is very important. It is not possible to prepare for this examination at home as you need the right environment, guidance, mentorship and company of fellow aspirants,” said Tak who graduated from Mira Road-based Royal College.
Soon after Tak, daughter of a freelance translator cracked the UPSC exams, several organisations and individuals, including Mira Road based ex-MLC Muzaffar Hussain and Royal College, felicitated her and her parents. In her interview to TOI, she had said that her father was the main motivating force as he had dreams of becoming an IAS. “He wanted me to achieve what he could not,” Tak had told TOI.
Hijab-wearing Dawadi comes from Karnataka and said that hijab was no hindrance to education and qualifying for the UPSC. Ayesha Kazi who is awaiting her UPSC final results this year said a centre like this where girls felt secured, confident and comfortable was needed to encourage others to aim for a career in civil services.
The Centre is getting community’s applause. Philanthropist Kaderbhai Fazlani lauded the amenities.
“The densely populated Muslim pockets in the city do not have enough facilities for students, especially girls, to concentrate and study for UPSC exams. More such centres are needed at different pockets in the city,” said businessman Sabir Nirban.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Mumbai News / by Mohammed Wajihuddin, TNN / February 26th, 2023
For decades, the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) has been one of the most coveted careers for young graduates in India. However, the IAS exams are considered one of the country’s toughest competitive exams, requiring extensive preparation and guidance. This is where Khan Study Group (KSG), one of India’s best IAS coaching institutes, comes in.
Established in 2008 by Dr. A.R. Khan, popularly known amongst Civil Services aspirants as Dr. Khan, KSG India has quickly risen to become a leading institution in the field of IAS coaching. Its unique teaching methodologies, experienced faculty, and comprehensive curriculum have helped thousands of students achieve their dream of becoming civil servants.
Dr. A.R. Khan, the founder of KSG, is a well-known personality in the field of civil services coaching. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, he has trained and mentored thousands of aspirants. His expertise in the field of IAS coaching is unparalleled, and he is widely recognized as one of the best faculty members in the country.
KSG’s success is primarily attributed to its holistic approach toward IAS coaching. The institute not only focuses on the academic aspect of IAS preparation but also the overall personality development of its students. The curriculum is designed to cover all aspects of the IAS exam, including the preliminary, mains, and interview stages.
The institute’s faculty members are experts in their respective fields, with years of experience in civil services coaching. They are dedicated to helping students achieve their goals and provide personalized attention to each student. Their faculty members believe in imparting knowledge and the skills and strategies required to crack the IAS exam.
KSG’s curriculum is comprehensive and covers all the subjects that are a part of the IAS exam. The institute provides study material that is specifically designed to meet the requirements of the exam. The material is regularly updated to ensure that it remains relevant and up-to-date. KSG also conducts regular mock tests, which help students understand the exam pattern and evaluate their progress.
The institute also offers a range of specialized courses that cater to the specific needs of students. These courses include crash courses, weekend courses, and online courses. Online courses are top-rated among students who cannot attend regular classes due to time constraints or geographical barriers. The online courses are designed to provide the same quality of coaching as the regular classes, and students can interact with the faculty members through online platforms or speak to them over the phone.
The institute has a strong focus on personality development and communication skills. The institute provides soft skills, public speaking, and interview skills training. This training is designed to help students overcome their fear of public speaking and improve their communication skills, which is an essential part of the IAS exam.
It also has a dedicated team of mentors who guide and support students. The mentors help students identify their strengths and weaknesses and provide personalized advice on improvement. The institute also has a library that is well-stocked with books and study material related to the IAS exam.
In conclusion, Khan Study Group (https://www.ksgindia.com/) is undoubtedly one of India’s best IAS coaching institutes. Its unique teaching methodologies, experienced faculty, comprehensive curriculum, and focus on personality development and communication skills have helped thousands of students achieve their dream of becoming civil servants. If you are an aspirant looking for quality civil services exam coaching, KSG is worth considering.
source: http://www.mid-day.com / mid-day / Home> Brand Media News / by brandmedia@mid-day.com mumbai / April 12th, 2023
Mother and Child Health and Nutrition Program in Nandurbar
Nandurbar:
Project Rise, the Dawoodi Bohra community’s global philanthropic arm, announced the launch of ‘Mother and Child Health and Nutrition Program’ in the Nandurbar district of Maharashtra to support over 600 beneficiaries for the next 3 years.
This program is undertaken in partnership with the Association for Nutrition and Development Action (ANNADA), Nandurbar District Authorities and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) under the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The comprehensive program will provide micronutrient-, fortified energy-dense food to malnourished children below six years and pregnant and lactating mothers across 10 Anganwadi centres. It will also educate pregnant and lactating mothers on breastfeeding and monitoring their health to mitigate physical and cognitive growth in children.
Thanking the Dawoodi Bohra community & ANNADA for initiating the program, Mr. Krishna Rathod, the Deputy CEO (Women and Child Development), Nandurbar Zilla Parishad said, “A health and nutrition initiative like this will go a long way in making a difference in the lives of undernourished children and achieving a hunger-free and healthy nation.
Alvin D’souza, Program Head at ANNADA, said, “Child undernutrition can lead to severe developmental issues, diseases, infections and even death. It is at the root of all the social problems and severely impacts national socio-economic development. Our program will use simple, community-relevant, ready-to-eat meals that provide almost 1/3rd of a child’s recommended dietary requirement of micronutrients. Most of these meals are millet-based and rich in protein. We are glad to have partnered with the Dawoodi Bohra community to be able to impact the lives of children in Nandurbar.”
In his address at the launch event, Kutubkhan Badri, representative of His Holiness in the nearby town of Shahada said, ” Our community leader His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin guides us to show empathy and compassion, and look after the well-being of people, particularly those in need.”
“Our community collaborated with ANNADA around five years ago to fight against malnutrition in Govandi near Mumbai and Roha near Raigad District of Maharashtra, where we saw significant change in the health of our beneficiaries. This project in Nandurbar is an extension of our nutrition and zero-hunger objective of Project Rise.”
The program in Nandurbar was launched in September to support the Government of India’s “Rashtriya Poshan Maah”, or National Nutrition Month, which promotes nationwide awareness of nutrition and hunger, especially for mothers and children.
India is home to the largest population of hungry people and almost 1/3rd of the world’s malnourished children. Almost every third child under 5 years suffers from stunting and about 20% suffer from wasting as per the National Family Health Survey 2019-21.
Maharashtra has a significant burden of child malnutrition, with less than 10% of children under 2 having access to an adequate diet. The situation is incredibly complex in rural and tribal areas. Working hand in hand with local communities, partners and Anganwadi centres can yield positive outcomes and raise the level of nutrition, health, and overall well-being of families.
About Project Rise
Established in 2018, Project Rise is the Dawoodi Bohra community’s social welfare endeavour working in partnership with local community volunteers and government bodies to alleviate hunger and malnutrition, provide access to education, address water insecurity issues, raise health and hygiene levels among children & families, and preserve and protect the environment.
About ANNADA
ANNADA is a seven-year-old not-for-profit organisation with a vision to realise a Hunger-free and nourished India. ANNADA has provided over 16 million safe, hygienic, micronutrient-fortified meals while supporting more than 1.6 lakh beneficiaries, reducing malnutrition cases by 50-60% across various interventions implemented in rural tribal areas.
source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Indian Muslim> Positive Story / by Muslim Mirror Network / September 12th, 2023
One surely feels happy that the statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose is being installed near the India Gate in New Delhi. Every Indian and even Netaji’s 79-year-old daughter Prof Anita Bose Pfaff feels happy about the statue at the most important area of the capital.
In an interview with an Indian TV, Anita, who is a German citizen, mentions that she thinks if not Netaji’s only Mahatma Gandhi’s statue should have been there. She may be aware that there existed a plan to install life-sized statue of the Father of the Nation at that place.
Even after differences with Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel which led Netaji to leave the Indian National Congress, Bose was the first person to call Mahtma Gandhi Father of the Nation on July 6,1944 in his Ragoon Radio broadcast, and sought Bapu’s blessings as the Supreme Commander of the Indian National Army (INA).
Till 1968 there was statue of King George V at India Gate. It was removed and placed in the Coronation Park, New Delhi. Until the installation of the actual statue of Netaji is completed, a hologram of Bose will be projected at the site of the statue.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced: “At a time when the entire nation is marking the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, I am glad to share that his grand statue, made of granite, will be installed at India Gate. This would be a symbol of India’s indebtedness to him.”The canopy at the India Gate, which has been lying vacant since 1968, will now house a granite statue of Netaji, with official sources saying its installation will be a case of India “reclaiming” its history.
When the entire nation is celebrating the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Gujarat, which is the home state of not only the Prime Minister but also of Amit Shah, Home Minister of India, is not only ignoring and insulting a small request on November 24, 2020 from Haji Afrojbhai Lakkadkutta, President of the Anjuman-e-Islam Memon Moti Jamat, Dhoraji , along with Nayan Kuhadiya, a local journalist, to at least name a road in the name of Memon Abdul Habib Yusuf Marfani, a Dhoraji-born donor, who gave away his entire fortune for Netaji’s Indian National Army (INA) in Burma (now Myanmar).
In fact, Marfani, known as Habib Sheth among those who knew him, was so close to Netaji that he donated Rs 1 crore in cash and jewellery worth Rs 3 lakh in 1944, all of which values around Rs 500 crore today. He also made other Gujaratis in Burma donate to INA. The Azad Hind Bank was established with his initial donation.
A Dhoraji-based historian and a relative of the Marfani family, Yusuf Chitalwala, says Marfani was among the first donors, and Netaji expressed his gratitude by awarding him a Sevak-e-Hind medal.
Not only Netaji’s lieutenant in INA Lt Col AC Chatterji but celebrated historians Raj Mal Kasliwal and Sugata Bose have praised the contribution of Marfani. Great grand nephew of Netaji and Harvard professor of history Sugata Bose records: “One such millionaire-turned-fakir was Abdul Habeeb Saheb who gave away his entire fortune amounting to one crore and three lakhs of rupees to the Azad Hind movement. At a public meeting in Rangoon in 1944 Habib Saheb walked up to the platform and emptied a basketful of diamonds and jewellery into a silver tray, placed a bundle of title deeds in one corner, and then lifted the tray and handed it over to Netaji with a smile. When His Excellency Netaji pinned the medal, Sewak-e-Hind, he said, ‘I feet so proud and happy’.”She told me: “Abdul Habib Saheb should be honoured properly in Gujarat for his magnanimity. We remembered him at Netaji Research Bureau (Kolkata) in the presence of one of his descendants a few years ago.”
Saeed Khan wrote the following in the Times of India on July 14, 2012:
“Marfani is not the only Gujarati Muslim to have contributed to INA. Surat’s Ghulam Husein Mushtaq Randeri was the recruiting officer for the army. During the recent celebration of Bose’s birth centenary, Marfani’s grandson Yacoob Habeeb was felicitated in New Delhi for his ancestor’s action. However, these references were missing from Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s speech on the occasion last week, when he donned the INA cap and tried hard to establish the Gujarat connection with Bose.”
Today not only Gujarat but Dhoraji Municipality is being ruled by Modi’s party i.e. Bharatiya Janata Party. None from the ruling party has bothered to attend to the simple request to name a road after Habib Sheth’s name in Dhoraji.
In fact, the view is stong, Memon Abdul Habib Yusuf Marfani should have been awarded posthumous Bharat Ratna by the Government of India for his yeoman service.
Donning INA cap and trying hard to establish Netaji’s Gujarat connection, Modi’s speech in 2012 ignored Habib Sheth, felicitated by CentreIt is worth recalling how Marfani’s his father gave away everything of his to INA. Hailing from Dhoraji, Marfani migrated to Rangoon, the capital of Burma (now Myanmar), and became one of the rich business magnates of Rangoon.
In 1943, Netaji formed Azad Hind government and Azad Hind Bank. Later, at in a huge meeting on July 9, 1944, Netaji made an appeal to the public for ‘total mobilisation’. Marfani responded to the call of Netaji in full measure by sacrificing all that he had, and thus acquiring for himself a prominent place in the chapter of ‘total mobilisation’ in the history of INA.
Marfani magnanimously handed over a plateful of gold jewellery and cash along with a bundle of title deeds of his total property, all about the worth Rs 1 crore and 3 lakh (estimated to be worth Rs 500 crore at the present value) to Netaji. He requested Netaji to provide him with two pairs of INA uniform and allow him to serve as its full-time volunteer.
Marfani’s son Noor Mohmmad Habib has described how, delighted with the ‘total sacrifice’ of Marfani, Netaji said, “Brother, I am very happy today that people have started realising their duties… People are ready to sacrifice everything. What Habib Sheth has done is commendable, and those who emulate him to serve the motherland are praiseworthy”. Netaji asked Marfani to be the Director General of the Azad Hind Bank. He became his devotee in the struggle for the freedom of the motherland.
In his article, published in the “Memon Welfare Magazine” (November 2006) Noor Mohammad, giving the background of the Marfani family said, Habib Seh and his wife Hajarabai Ali Mohmmad had one son and three daughters. He never returned to Dhoraji after he left his native before the first world war.
His son once visited Dhoraji in 1960s. One of the three daughters of Marfani, Fatimabai, shifted to New York with her husband. Other two daughters, Ayesha and Mariam, died earlier. Younus Chitalwala says, “We have almost lost track with the Myanmar-based family of Habib Saheb. When I was in Kolkata, the family members used to visit us there. Some eight years back, his grandson had come to Delhi for Netaji’s birth anniversary celebration.”
Even as losing track of the Marfani family, the people of Dhoraji feel proud of his contribution and the role he played in the freedom movement. The least they demand is the road in Dhoraji be named after the great man.—
*Former editor of Gujarati daily of the Indian Express Group in Mumbai, currently based in Ahmedabad
source: http://www.counterview.net / Counterview / Home/ by Dr Hari Desai / January 22nd, 2022
Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs feature on Royal Mail stamp marking King’s coronation
A stamp depicting Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims and their places of worship feature on one of the four stamps issued by the Royal Mail to mark the coronation of King Charles III on May 6.
London:
A stamp depicting Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims and their places of worship feature on one of the four stamps issued by the Royal Mail to mark the coronation of King Charles III on May 6.
Captioned “Diversity and Community”, the stamp reflects a multi-faith community and the cultural diversity of contemporary British society, a news release stated.
The stamp features figures representing the Jewish, Islamic, Christian, Sikh, Hindu and Buddhist religions and is representative of all faiths and none.
“The background shows aspects of both rural and urban Britain and includes some of the many different places of worship that are found around the United Kingdom,” the release noted.
Presented in a miniature sheet, the stamps illustrate the Coronation ceremony and the traditional street party, as well as some of the causes His Majesty has dedicated his years of public service to.
This includes cultural diversity and community, the global ties of the Commonwealth, which he now leads, and sustainability and biodiversity.
This is only the third time in history that Royal Mail has issued stamps to mark a Coronation. The previous two occasions were for King George VI in 1937 and Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
“Royal Mail is proud to issue this set of commemorative stamps which celebrate the Coronation, and some of the causes which His Majesty has championed throughout his many years of public service,” Simon Thompson, Chief Executive of Royal Mail, said. “This is only the third time we have issued Coronation stamps and I am delighted that they mark the start of a new reign and a new chapter in our history,” Thompson added.
The stamps were designed by Atelier Works and feature newly commissioned wood engravings by British artist Andrew Davidson.
Royal Mail will also be applying a special postmark to stamped mail to mark the event. The postmark will run from April 28 until May 10.
source: http://www.mangalorean.com / Mangalorean / Home> Agency News / by IANS / May 01st, 2023
Martyr Police Officer Moinul Haque and the martyr’s altar erected in Barpeta (from left)
Three decades after Police officer Moinul Haque made supreme sacrifice while fighting insurgents in Barpeta city of Assam, the government has declared him a martyr.
The move has sent a wave of joy and pride in his native village of of Garemari in the Barpeta district and the local panchayat has installed a memorial in his honour in the local school.
Sub-Inspector Moinul Haque of the Assam Police was shot dead on January 21, 1991 while he was on duty at the District Special Branch of the Police in Barpeta.
The 102nd Kumalliapara Gaon Panchayat recently erected a plaque in Moinul Haque’s memory at the local college in his native village on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the country’s independence.
The scene at the inauguration of the martyr’s altar in memory of Moinul Haque
Born in 1948 in Garemari village, Moinul Haque was a skilled and brave police officer and a socially conscious person. He was the founder of the Garemari Primary Health Centre, Babur Ali Molla ME Madrassa and other institutions in the Garemari area.
Soon after his schooling he was appointed in the Assam Police.
The local people, various organizations and his family members have expressed their gratitude to the government for honouring him after 32 years.
“We are pleased that the government has declared Moinul Haque, who sacrificed his life for the sake of the motherland, as a martyr,” said Bulbul Hussain, the government village chief of Garemari village.
He said the supreme sacrifice of the police officer to protect the dignity of Mother Assam will remain an example for the younger generation of Garemari area.
The 102nd Kumullipara Gaon Panchayat President Ruma Parbin Sultana Khanam said she was happy and proud to erect a martyr’s altar in the name of heroic martyr Moinul Haque during the Amrit mahotsav, the celebration of 75 years of India’s freedom
“My father, Shaheed Moinul Haque, was shot dead by militants on January 21, 1991 while on duty in the Assam Police. After 32 years, albeit late,” said Ismail Hussain, son of martyred police officer said.
“The government has declared him a martyr. I would like to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to the Government of Assam and the Government of India for that. I also wish the souls of all the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the sake of the motherland.”
The event was attended by the Acting Principal of the college Sirajul Haque, Assistant Inspector of Silk Department Hurmuz Ali, family members of martyred police officer Moinul Haque, officials of various local institutions and local people.
source: http://www.awaazthevoice.in / Awaaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Saiju Rahman, Bapeta / September 11th, 2023
