Monthly Archives: August 2024

Muslim heritage is not foreign, safeguard India’s plural past 

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110-year-old madrasa and library set ablaze by Hindutva mob during Ram Navami rally in Bihar. Photo: Meer Faisal/Maktoob

The 46th World Heritage Committee meeting is being held in India from July 21-31, 2024. The event’s webpage proudly displays the iconic Taj Mahal, a grand symbol of India’s resplendent past. However, using this monument to showcase India’s heritage is both ironic and deeply painful. The Taj Mahal, a symbol of India’s architectural grandeur and a testament to the rich cultural contributions of the Mughal era (1526-1857), is being showcased even as the country engages in a systematic erasure of its Muslim heritage. This stark juxtaposition highlights a troubling contradiction: while the Taj Mahal is celebrated globally as a symbol of India’s beauty, the political will of the government and segments of the public are actively undermining and erasing the broader historical and cultural presence of Muslims in India. The assault on the place of Muslims began many decades ago in 1992 with the destruction of the  Babri Mosque, built by the first Mughal ruler of India, Zahir-ud-din Babur, in 1527 A.D.

On December 6th, 1992, the  Babri Mosque was destroyed by Hindu Kar Sevaks affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This mob, led by L.K. Advani, a prominent BJP figure and future Deputy Prime Minister (2002-2004), dismantled the over 400-year-old mosque. The world largely overlooked this deliberate destruction, perhaps viewing it as another in a series of violent riots between Hindus and Muslims in India. However, this was not just another riot. The destruction of the Babri Mosque was a political as well as an ontological act against Muslims, bringing their identity as Indians into question. Muslim history and heritage, and Muslims—collectively and individually—continue to be violated, undoing the secular national body.

I experienced the aftermath of the destruction of the  Babri Mosque firsthand. Arriving in New Delhi from the US on the morning of December 8th, I encountered an eerily desolate airport, flights cancelled, and the skeleton staff at work refused to provide any assistance or guidance after checking my passport and recognizing that I am a Muslim. There was nowhere I could go; Delhi, the capital city of India, was under curfew. Sitting in the terminal, enveloped in a deadly silence and feeling a great sense of anxiety for my safety, I realized that the India I knew, my home, had undergone a seismic shift. The demolition signalled a significant turning point: Muslims and their history were now being cast as “outsiders,” foreigners who did not belong, and their legacy of nearly a millennium was under threat of erasure by charged religious-nationalist politics. Religion was no longer a private matter for personal practice and moral guidance; it had become a public discourse and weapon to use. Indian Muslims, the largest religious minority in India and globally, were under serious threat of survival. The  Babri Mosque’s demolition was the beginning of erasing Muslims from the landscape of India; the extensive campaign aimed at obliterating the Muslim historical presence is ongoing.

In the years following the demolition, numerous other Muslim heritage sites, including mosques, Sufi shrines,  libraries, community spaces, and private homes have faced similar fates. The deliberate and planned destruction of Muslim history has become a matter of celebration to claim Hindu pride. Every act of the physical destruction of a Muslim building is a public community event with men armed with different tools, supported by the tacit backing of the state, breaking and demolishing buildings. At the same time, thousands watch the violent spectacle of nationalism. Buildings are not just made of bricks and mortars, they are the storehouse of precious memories of a previous era and stand as silent reminders of people interconnected over generations—their sacrifices, dreams, everyday lives, emotions, and sentiments. For the destroyers of Muslim heritage, the sentiments of the past etched into the buildings do not matter; rather their concern is to disconnect Indian Muslims from India’s past, denying them a place in India’s future. The message is clear: Muslims are a minority, and as such, their life, death, memory, and future are controlled by the majority. Muslims’ claim of contributing to India’s rich heritage is no longer accepted in some political circles. This ontological destruction is the heart of the attack on Muslims in India—to cripple the community into the unknowability of its identity as Indian Muslims.

Would the 46th World Heritage Committee meeting in Delhi take account of the death of Muslim history in India? As a historian of India, I am deeply aware of the pain I felt when the  Babri Mosque was demolished. I ask the leaders of the Heritage Committee: do they feel the pain of Muslims in India who are denied their heritage because some people want to make them “foreign” and irrelevant to India’s history? Can history be obliterated because one ethnic community, although a majority, wants to deny it to another ethnic community, a minority? Can history be made to disappear simply by the will and violence of the majority community? These and many more questions should be discussed and deliberated in the 46th World Heritage Committee meeting.

Mourning the destroyed buildings

The list of destruction of Muslim sites is far too many to do a comprehensive study; it is ongoing. In this frightful and destructive scenario, nothing is spared in the rampant violence – historic as well as newly built and permitted mosques, tombs of Sufis who preached coexistence and pluralism, public  libraries, madrasas, cemeteries, public spaces, and so on are merrily destroyed or intentionally neglected. The destruction is justified as pay-back time for Muslims who supposedly destroyed 880 Hindu sites in the past, though historians’ rich empirical studies carefully document the falsity of such populist claims. By reclaiming these sites by force, the BJP leaders and followers advocate they will cleanse India culturally and spatially and make Hindus the rightful owners of India.

The mass carnival of destruction of Muslim sites commenced in 2002 in Gujarat during the Godhra genocide. In Khuldabad, Gujarat, 230 unique buildings were destroyed, including a  400-year-old mosque and the tomb of Sufi Vali Gujarati, and old Qurans were set on fire. The damage was so extensive that experts compare it with the much-publicized destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan or the wrecking of Tibet’s monasteries by the Maoist Red Guards. 

Since then, religious nationalists have destroyed numerous mosques and tombs in Delhi and across India. In Delhi alone, a millennium-old Sufi shrine of Baba Haji Rozbih was demolished, as well as the 700-year-old Akhondji Mosque, the landmark Jannatul Firdaus Mosque, and the Sarai Kala Khan Mosque and Madrasa were razed to the ground. During the 2020 riots in East Delhi, 16 mosques were destroyed. The Shahi Masjid in Prayagraj city and the 300-year-old historic mosque in Muzaffarnagar were recently demolished under the pretext of road-widening projects. Similar fates befell several mosques in Gujarat, Hyderabad, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka. Meanwhile, the fate of the historic Sunheri Mosque in Delhi, the 800-year-old national heritage Shamsi Jama Masjid in Badaun, the Gyanvapi Mosque Complex in Varanasi, the Shahi Idgah Mosque in Mathura, the Dargah of Mumin Chup in Hyderabad, the Shahi Masjid in Gaya, the Chhoti Sona Masjid in West Bengal, and the mosque in the Qutb Minar Complex in the outskirts of Delhi, to name just a few, hang in the balance. 

The destruction of the Muslim past is not limited to mosque destruction. More than 300 Muslim homes in Nuh, in Haryana, were destroyed in 2023, and only last week the Muslim village of Gajapur was laid waste by right-wing Hindu groups. The century-old Azizia Madrasa in Bihar was attacked and its 4500 rare books were burnt left smoldering in the graveyard nearby. Place names connected to the Islamic past are being renamed. For example, in 2018, Allahabad was renamed Prayagraj to distance itself from its Mughal origins. Similarly, the town of Faizabad was changed to Ayodhya (the demolished  Babri Masjid was located here). Even the name of the railway station Mughal Sarai was changed to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction, after a leader of the BJP’s precursor organization, Bharatiya Jana Sangh. Hindu nationalists are demanding the Qutb Minar was a Vishnu Pillar and even the iconic Mughal building, the Taj Mahal should be renamed Tejo Mahalaya and declared a Hindu Shiva temple. 

The government’s newest plan is to rename India to Bharat and connect the modern state to the religious knowledge of the Rigveda and the Mahabharata, where Bharatvarsha was used to describe the Indian subcontinent. Renaming India is the state’s effort to sever the knowledge of Muslims as Indians and their connections to the place, leading to a loss of historical continuity and identity. 

 “Nobody is crying about the loss of a building structure …It is the loss of our secular ethos,” Anand Patwardhan reminds us about the demolition of the  Babri Mosque and the Muslim heritage buildings. The destruction of the  Babri Mosque and various other mosques has not only eroded the secular ethos of India but has also diminished our capacity to appreciate the beauty, emotions, sentiments, sacrifices, skills, art, and painstaking work embodied in these structures. These buildings testify to the very project of humanity. Destroying them is tantamount to erasing our human capacity to value the people of the past as if they were less human. This is what we, as a collective of humans, should mourn, and this is what the 46th Heritage Meeting should take a moment to ponder. When the human element is destroyed, there will be no heritage left to preserve.

Why heritage matters

Cultural heritage is not simply a building nor just a resource to be protected: It is a central element in the stories that society tells about itself—its origins, the mixes and syntheses over time, future projects, values, and aspirations. David Lowenthal’s The Past is a Foreign Country (1985) explores the intricate relationships between the past and future by exploring the meaning of objects, calling for navigating the complexities of memory and politics that are imbued in them. The Muslim past of India is not of a foreign people who invaded, looted, and destroyed the country. Nor was India, for Muslims, a place for mere economic or geographic expansion where people came for personal gain, although this is how M.S. Golwalkar, a founding father of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), described the Muslim interest in India in We, or Our Nationhood Defined (1939) and Bunch of Thoughts (1966).

For Muslims, as the renowned historian Barbara Metcalf poignantly discussed in her 1995 Presidential Address to the Association for Asian Studies, India is their motherland and a “resting place of angels.” This deep attachment was evocatively inscribed on the  Babri Mosque entrance. The paradisiacal imagery of India was enunciated as early as the thirteenth century by the Muslim poet Hazrat Amir Khusrau and it was repeated in the seventeenth-century Diwan-e Khas (Hall of Private Audiences) in the Red Fort of the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan which is also showcased on the webpage of the 46th World Heritage Committee meeting. The couplet reads: “If there is heaven on earth, it is this, it is this, it is this!” Downplaying this deep attachment to India for Muslims and making the history they created into a battleground for strategic manipulation to construct a monolithic national Hindu identity resonates with Lowenthal’s arguments about the political uses of the past in the present.

The destruction of Muslim heritage sites severs the historical knowledge and continuity of Muslims as integral contributors to the nation’s history and India’s cultural and historical fabric. The deliberate destruction dislocates the Muslim community’s sense of place and belonging; a strategic act of ‘culturecide’. The Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (1954) requires states to ensure heritage is not damaged or misappropriated in war. But what about the destruction of heritage buildings during normal times? The 46th World Heritage Committee meeting should consider this question very seriously in their deliberations in India.

Preserving Muslim heritage in India is ultimately a human rights issue, connected to their freedom of expression, thought, conscience, and religion. Protecting the Muslim heritage of India cannot be overlooked any longer. The international group of leaders meeting in Delhi to discuss and deliberate on the importance of heritage can play an important role in stopping future violence not only to the buildings but to the people whose human security should be paramount. For Indian Muslims, India is their home; Muslims must feel safe and protected in India.

Yasmin Saikia is a professor of South Asian History and Peace Studies at Arizona State University. Her latest books are On Othering: The Processes and Politics of Unpeace (Athabasca University Press: 2024) and Cambridge Companion to Sayyid Ahmad Khan (Cambridge University Press: 2019)

source: http://www.maktoobmedia.com / Maktoob Media / Home> Features / by Yasmin Saikia / July 21st, 2024

Wg Cdr MA Afraz dug out 26,000 stories of martyrs to commemorate their valour

Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Karnataka (under research project), Leaders, Martyrs of the Nation, , , , , , , ,

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA :

National War Memorial, New Delhi

Wing Commander (retd) Mushtaq Ahmed Afraz lives up to the saying that a soldier is always on duty. Having served in the armed forces, Afraz has taken up the responsibility of documenting the stories of the martyrs and keeping their spirit of valour alive in the mind of public.

So far, he has collected 26,000 stories which are posted on his portal honourpoint.in. These are the soldiers and officers who laid down their lives in wars post-independence.

The Bengaluru-based Afraz says, “During my college days and job, I visited many memorials in the country. There are more than 200 memorials and almost half of them are inside the military cantonments. I would collect details of the martyrs from there.”

Afraz belongs to a Military family and he was brought up in Cantonments across the country. His father was in the Army; like him, his wife was in the Indian Air Force. His brother-in-law and many close relatives were in the Armed Forces.  

He narrated a few stories about the martyrs, who would be forgotten and he made their memories come alive. Wing Commander Afraz talks about Flying Officer Farokh Dara Bunsha.

A post on the Facebook page of honourpoint.in commemorarting martyrs

Bunsha was martyred in the 1965 war. Soon his name was relegated to the pages of military history. Not many knew the poignant story of a young woman to whom Farokh Bunsha was betrothed.

After his story was posted on honourpoint.in it came up that this young woman had decided to live with his memory and never married.

Today, Farokh Bunsha’s fiancée is about 75 years old. She had no connection with the family of her martyred fiancé. However, when Wing Commander MA Afraz wrote the story, their families met and befriended each other.

He says, “When the Kargil war broke out, I was in the Air Force. I closely monitored the media coverage of soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the nation.

“I noticed within two or three days, that the stories of martyrs would be shoved into inside pages and gradually people lost interest in them and even forgot their names. It made me realize there is a dire need to commemorate our martyrs.”

A poster announcement prize winners of the competition held by honourpoint.in

After he retired from the IAF in 2008, he decided to turn his dream of commemorating the martyrs’ memories into a reality.

He started working on his project in 2015 and launched his portal within two years.

“Collecting data was a major challenge for us. These forgotten soldiers had fought in the wars of 1947, 1962, 1965, 1971, and 1999. I focused on those who didn’t receive awards or commendations.

Back then there was no internet or a single source for us to collect information. Most of their families lived in far-flung villages.

Afraz says, “I realised that while the countrymen have expectations from our soldiers, nobody has any idea of the martyrs’ expectations from their countrymen.”

Kargil War memorial at Drass, Ladakh

Besides maintaining the portal, Afraz organises gatherings of the families of martyrs with civil society members. “It’s difficult to describe in words the feelings of martyrs’ families when people talk about their sons. Pride and honour are important for these families and no medal or financial help can match it,” he says.

Wing Commander Afraz says, “It is the moral responsibility of every citizen to contribute to the country; the contribution can be of any kind.”

The portal team posts the stories of martyrs on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram almost daily.

He says, “We are also spreading awareness offline. For example, we are continuously working on making people and students aware with the help of our association with the CSR partners from companies.

“We also organize marathons, radio, and print in memory of the martyrs.

Wg Cdr (Retd) M A Afraz

We are also connecting with people through print media and television.”

Afraz’s team has been organising ‘Rang De Veer‘ events all over India level for six years. These events held on Republic Day, Independence Day, and Kargil Divas (26 July), are attended by schools from India and abroad.

Afraz says, “Civil society should get in touch with these families. The government can only provide them with pensions and schemes. When the stories of the martyrs come to light, I have noticed that common people tend to stand up for their families who need help. For example, lawyers fight their cases for free; doctors provide free treatment.”

Another story that Afraz narrates is of Flight Lieutenant Akash Yadav of Kosli village in Rewari, Haryana. He was martyred in November 2010 at the age of 26 years.

Flight Lieutenant Akash Yadav and Flying Officer Farokh Dara Bunsha

Aakash was a helicopter pilot and his chopper crashed on the India-China border. He was the only child of his parents and they fell into mental depression after his death. Both parents felt there was nothing left for them to live for; they cut themselves off from everyone and lived like a recluse.

In 2017, M.A. Afraz’s portal invited the family of Flight Lieutenant Akash Yadav to a program where the families of martyrs and members of civil society interacted.

After the function, the Yadav’s father said he would now onwards live the his life positively.

He set up an organization named ‘Flight Lieutenant Akash Yadav Yuva Prerana Samiti’ in their village. Under its aegis, the founder moves to the villages around Kosli and motivates the youth to join the armed forces.

He adopted children from slums and is educating them. Today he is fully involved in social service.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story/ by Rajeev Kumar Singh, New Delhi / August 14th, 2024

Scholars, historians highlight the role of Muslims in India’s freedom movement and shaping of modern India

Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Freedom Fighters (under research project)

INDIA :

JIH vice-president Prof. Salim Engineer speaks at the history seminar organized by the Delhi unit of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind.

New Delhi : 

Various speakers at a seminar here on Sunday said that the Muslim role in India’s independence and making of modern India was being overlooked by most of the historians.

The seminar titled “Making of Modern India and Role of Muslims in Freedom Movement” was part of a year-long campaign of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), Delhi unit, to create awareness about the role Muslims played in India’s struggle for freedom from Britishers.

In his inaugural speech, JIH Delhi state president Salimullah Khan emphasizing the importance of compiling and presenting historical facts from various sources across the country.

He expressed concern over the current trend of rewriting history by omitting the Muslim contribution to serve vested interests, which he believes, is creating misunderstandings and communal hatred in the country.

“We are making efforts to collect historical facts, heritage, and monument information that exists in Delhi and will present it to the people,” Salimullah Khan stated.

He quoted Ayash Khan, former director of the renowned Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library in Patna, who highlighted the discrepancy between historical reality and its presentation by historians, often influenced by personal interests and inclinations.

The JIH state chief also cited renowned Islamic scholar Maulana Sadruddin Islahi, who emphasized the importance of genuine history writing and deplored the modification of historical narratives to suit personal agendas. He stressed that writing genuine history in the current climate is a significant service to humanity.

JIH Vice President Prof. Salim Engineer, in his presidential address, praised the seminar’s theme as timely and appropriate amid rising Islamophobia and propaganda against Muslims worldwide and rising hatred in the country. He urged scholars and academicians to counter these narratives by presenting the overlooked contributions of Muslims and Islam to the nation.

“This government is not just a government of a political party but an ideological one,” Prof. Salim stated.

“Their agenda includes creating hatred and division in society against Muslims and Islam.” Prof. Salim reiterated this point, highlighting the ongoing attempts by the ruling government to rewrite history in a biased manner.

He emphasized that history should serve as a lesson for the future, advocating for collective action across communities to promote unity, reminiscent of the collaborative spirit against British colonialism. He emphasized the need for more conferences and seminars throughout the country to counter rising propaganda and hatred against Muslims.

The JIH Vice President asserted that Muslim participation in the freedom struggle was inspired by Islamic teachings, which fundamentally oppose injustice and oppression. He criticized both the British colonial distortion of history and current efforts by the ruling dispensation to rewrite history with bias against Muslims and Islam. Calling for more such events throughout the country, he emphasized the need for rigorous research, documentation, and public education to ensure historical accuracy in shaping national discourse and identity.

Unsung Heroes of the Freedom Struggle

Syed Ubaidur Rahman, a prominent who has authored several books on the history of Muslims in India, provided a comprehensive account of Muslim contributions to the freedom struggle. He highlighted the Faraizi Movement of 1819 as the first freedom movement, predating the widely acknowledged 1857 uprising.

“The Faraizi Movement, launched by Haji Shariatullah in 1819, was not just a religious reform movement but a revolt against oppressive landlords patronized by British colonizers,” Syed Ubaid explained. He emphasized that this movement, which lasted for 50 to 60 years, offered significant sacrifices and impact.

Syed Ubaid also shed light on the role of the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, in the 1857 revolt. “Zafar had nothing to lose, as Mughal rule had already deteriorated to the lowest level before he took charge,” he clarified. “But for the sake of freedom, he revolted against the British Raj, leaving his luxurious life and power behind,” he pointed out.

The writer listed numerous prominent freedom fighters who made great sacrifices, including Imam Bakhsh Sahbai, Mufti Sadroddin Azoorda, Maulana Azad Subhani, and Maulvi Abdullah Shah.

Syed Ubaidur Rahman drew attention to many unsung heroes, including Maulvi Abdullah Shah and Azeemullah Khan, who played pivotal roles in the freedom movement. He enumerated the sacrifices of various freedom fighters, such as Imam Bakhsh Sahbai, Maulana Jafar Thaneswi, and Maulvi Liaquat Ali, all of whom displayed unwavering commitment to India’s independence, often at the cost of their lives and liberty.

Syed Ubaid also highlighted the pivotal role of the Reshmi Rumal Movement, led by the esteemed Deobandi scholar Shaikhul Hind Maulana Mahmoodul Hasan. This revolutionary movement, noted by the British Rowlatt Committee as a significant threat to British rule, garnered substantial support from the Ottoman Empire, Germany, Russia, and Afghanistan in its quest to destabilize British India. Maulana Hasan even travelled to Mecca seeking military assistance against the British government. However, the outbreak of World War I led to the unravelling of their plans, resulting in the imprisonment of many Indian revolutionaries, including Maulana Hasan, who was later released from Malta jail due to ill health.

Ubaid also remembered key figures like Haji Sahib of Turangzai, who bravely fought against British forces during the 1897 Frontier Revolt, and Maulana Barkatullah Bhopali, who served as the Prime Minister of India’s first Provisional Government in Afghanistan in 1915. He further shed light on Mohammad Iqbal Shedai, who established the Azad Hind Government in exile in Rome in 1941, and the tragic fate of Imam Bakhsh Sehbai, a scholar and poet executed by the British after the 1857 uprising, alongside his family members.

Syed Ubaid stressed the need to document and raise awareness about these unsung heroes of the freedom struggle, many of whom remain unknown to the general public.

Highlighting Women’s Contributions

Mrs. Syedah Swaleha Jabeen, a freelance journalist, focused on the contributions of Muslim women to India’s freedom struggle. She asserted that while their role was strong and leading, it has not been adequately documented. “Thousands of Indian Muslim women joined the freedom war, sacrificing their lives or facing acute suffering,”Swaleha Jabeen stated. She mentioned prominent figures such as Begum Hazrat Mahal, Abidi Bano Begum, and Aruna Asif Ali, among others.  Jabeen recounted how Begum Hazrat Mahal, dressed as a soldier, led a group of fighters during the 1857 uprising, demonstrating the active involvement of women in the struggle for independence.

Swaleha Jabeen highlighted the significant contributions of Abadi Bano Begum, affectionately known as Bi Amma, during the Indian freedom struggle. As the mother of prominent freedom fighters Maulana Mohammad Ali Johar and Maulana Shaukat Ali, Bi Amma played an active role in the movement for independence. Her sons became key figures in both the Khilafat Movement and the broader Indian independence movement, significantly impacting the non-cooperation movement against British rule. Notably, they were also founders of the esteemed Jamia Millia Islamia, furthering their commitment to education and social reform.

She quoted Mahatma Gandhi, who wrote in Young India newspaper that “without mentioning the contributions of Muslim women, the history of the Indian freedom movement is absolutely incomplete.”

Political Leadership and Community Contributions

Dr. Abdullah Chishti, Assistant Professor at Jamia Millia Islamia, discussed Muslim political leadership in shaping the discourse of India’s freedom movement. He emphasized the need to focus on the role of the masses across all communities, rather than just leaders or religious groups.

“We talk much about the leaders and religious groups but less discuss the role of masses cutting across casts, sects, race, and religious divides,” Chishti noted. He pointed out that figures like Bhagat Singh and Subhash Chandra Bose had a significant following among Muslim masses.

Chishti also addressed the issue of communal periodization of Indian history, tracing it back to British scholar James Mill’s division of Indian history into Hindu and Muslim periods in 1817. He argued that this division paved the way for the two-nation theory during the British colonial period.

However, Chishti emphasized that not all Muslims favoured a separate homeland. He cited examples of prominent figures like Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, and Allama Mashriqi, who were strong opponents of partition.

Dr. Abhay Kumar, a former History Scholar from JNU, spoke about the enduring impact of Muslim heritage on modern India’s cultural fabric. He stressed the importance of understanding and communicating history to counter ongoing efforts to distort it.

Prof. Salim Engineer presenting a memento to former JNU scholar Dr. Abhay Kumar.

“If you want to save India, you have to first understand the history of the country and then tell it to the common people in popular language,” Kumar asserted. He criticized the common approach of memorizing history in chronological order without understanding the ‘why’ and ‘how’ behind historical events. He emphasized the importance of understanding the ‘why’ and ‘how’ behind historical events, rather than merely memorizing dates and facts.

Kumar traced the roots of historical distortion back to the colonial period, criticizing early European writers for their biased portrayals of Indian history. He pointed out that many colonial historians, such as James Mill, wrote about India without ever visiting the country.

“To understand the distortion of history, we have to trace it back to the colonial period,” Kumar explained. “When the British came to India, they started writing history as a systematic institution, even colonial historians who wrote Indian history often never visited India.”

Kumar also addressed the visible bias and prejudice against Muslims in the writings of European scholars like Max Muller. He argued that these prejudices were partly because Muslim rulers were in power when the British arrived in India, and Muslims were among the first to resist foreign rule.

He also addressed the need for genuine history writing, urging efforts to preserve public-level history rather than relying solely on government or agency accounts.

JIH Delhi state secretary and organizer of the seminar Asif Iqbal provided an overview of the event’s objectives. He explained that the seminar aimed to highlight the contributions of Muslims in the freedom struggle and the reconstruction of the country, facts that a vast majority of the country is not well aware of or has overlooked.

Asif Iqbal announced that this seminar is a precursor to an upcoming grand history conference to be held in February next year in Delhi. He also revealed plans for about 10 similar history conferences to be held across different major cities in India, covering various themes including architecture, art and culture, spirituality, social reforms, textiles and craftsmanship, environmental contributions, cultural syncretic festivals, struggle heritage, mass movements, and Muslim personalities and their contributions.

source: http://www.indiatomorrow.net / India Tomorrow/ Home> National Interest / by Anwarulhaq Baig / August 14th, 2024

‘Bharat Ke Anmol Ratan’ awardee bodybuilder Mohtesham Ali felicitated

Amazing Feats, Sports, World Opinion, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

Khan is a professional bodybuilder from Hyderabad and has earned many national and international titles including a silver medal in Mr World Body Building Championship, in the heavyweight category.

 Internationally acclaimed Bodybuilder Mir Mohtesham

Hyderabad:

A celebration was held in Hyderabad’s Media Plus Auditorium to celebrate Mohtesham Ali Khan, who received the prestigious national award ‘Bharat Ke Anmol’ for his journey of determination, perseverance, and excellence in the realm of bodybuilding and fitness.

Khan is a professional bodybuilder from Hyderabad and has earned many national and international titles including a silver medal in Mr World Body Building Championship, in the heavyweight category.

The event which was held on Sunday, August 14, witnessed the presence of dignitaries and supporters who gathered to honour Khan’s accomplishments.

The chief guest Abdul Khayyum Khan, minority affairs advisor for the government lauded Khan’s unwavering commitment to his craft.

Other prominent figures including AIMIM leader Ather Farooqui, BRS leader Khaleequr Rahman, Pathergatti Corporator, Syed Sohail Quadri and chairman of Vandhe Bharat, Ramesh Eppalapalli were also present at the event.

The felicitation ceremony was organised by the founder and CEO of Ethos Imagination, Varaprasad who emphasised that the evening was not merely a tribute to Mir Mohtesham Ali Khan’s individual accomplishments but also a testament to the power of dedication and hard work.

At the event, Khan expressed his heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to his journey and stood by him both during challenges and triumphs.

source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> News> Hyderabad / by Sayma Ahmed / August 13th, 2023

Urdu Academy Jeddah Hosts Gold Medal and Merit Certificate Distribution Ceremony in Hyderabad

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education - Gold Medallists, Toppers, Merits, Achievers (wef. June 12th, 2023), NRI's / PIO's, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hyderabad, TELANGANA / Jeddah, SAUDI ARABIA :

Screengrab from a video of the event

Hyderabad :

The Urdu Academy Jeddah, in collaboration with the Hyderabad Education Center, organized a gold medal and merit certificate distribution ceremony for SSC top-performing students and best teachers from Telangana government Urdu medium schools. The event was held at the Education Center in Nezampet, Bownampally on Saturday.

The ceremony was presided over by Mr. Saleem Farooqui, Founder and Patron of the Urdu Academy Jeddah, and Mr. Sheikh Ibrahim, President of the Urdu Academy Jeddah.

The guests included General Secretary Syed Naeemuddin Bari, Manwar Khan, Qudrat Nawaz Baig, Vice President of Hyderabad, Ahmeduddin, Rifat Siddiqui, and Mohammad Bashir Ali.

The event began with a recitation from the Quran by Hafiz and Qari Syed Naeemuddin, followed by a Hamd (praise of God) and Naat (praise of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ) by Hafiz Ameenuddin Ansari.

Special tributes were paid to the late Mr. Syed Jamalullah Qadri, former President, and Mr. Asif Samadani, former Patron-in-Chief, for their invaluable contributions to Urdu language and literature.

The event continued with the distribution of gold medals to top-performing SSC students and certificates of appreciation to outstanding teachers.

The distinguished guests included Mr. Obaidullah Kotwal, Chairman of Telangana Minorities Finance Corporation, Mr. S.A. Ashkour, Director of Ma’arif University Osmania, Mr. Haqayuqur Rahman Baig, Coordinator of All India Congress Committee, and Mr. Imtiaz Ishaq, former Chairman of the Minority Financial Commission.

Ms. Saadia Fatima Khan from Maharashtra, representing the Urdu Academy Jeddah, conducted the ceremony with great skill. She extended a warm welcome to the guests of honor, patrons, and attendees, expressing gratitude for their continuous support.

The Urdu Academy Jeddah has always strived to support Urdu medium students, teachers, and schools. Their efforts aim to promote and preserve the Urdu language. The academy’s dedication has illuminated the path of knowledge not only in Hyderabad and Telangana but also in other cities, spreading the light of education.

The ceremony concluded with the announcement of awards for 25 students who achieved top grades in the SSC exams, including gold medals and cash prizes. Twelve outstanding teachers and two exemplary schools also received honors, including shawls and mementos.

Prominent figures at the event emphasized the importance of creating a supportive home environment for learning, encouraging families to maintain a library at home. The ceremony was a celebration of academic excellence and a tribute to the ongoing efforts to promote Urdu language and education.

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Pride of the Nation / by Radiance News Bureau / July 03rd, 2024

Foreign ministry official meets Indian consul general Mohammed Shahid Alam in Jeddah

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

Dhanbad, JHARKHAND / Jeddah, SAUDI ARABIA :

Mazin Hammad Al-Himali receives Mohammed Shahid Alam in Jeddah. (Supplied)

Director of Foreign Ministry Branch in Makkah Region Receives Indian Consul General in Jeddah

Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ branch in Makkah Mazin Hammad Al-Himali met with Indian Consul General Mohammed Shahid Alam in Jeddah on Monday.

The meeting was held on the occasion of the end of Alam’s tenure, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Alam took over as India’s consul general in Jeddah in February 2021. He previously served in Jeddah as the Hajj consul from 2015 to 2018.

An upright officer of the Indian Foreign Service, he has now been posted to the Indian High Commission in London.

source: http://www.arabnews.com /Arab News / Home> News> Middle East / August 06th, 2024

From Tragedy to Triumph: How a Delhi-based IITian Empowering Survivors of Violence Through Education and Entrepreneurship

Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues

NEW DELHI :

Aasif Mujataba with Violence Affected kids

On February 16, 2024, 36-year-old Sajida, a mother of six, received the most
devastating news of her life. Her husband, Mohammad Junaid, the sole breadwinner
of the family, along with his cousin, Nasir, had tragically passed away. They were
brutally killed in a premeditated attack by cow vigilante goons. She was horrified to
learn that her husband had been taken from them in such a cruel manner. She
struggled with disbelief and fury, trying to grasp that the father of her children was
gone.

The accused had meticulously planned the murders, discussing Junaid and Nasir
extensively in the weeks leading up to the incident, ultimately agreeing on their
killings.

“It was devastating news for all of us. I can never forget that day. At first, I could not
believe it. Junaid was the most humble person in our locality. He always helped
everyone and was so full of life. Everyone liked him, and I was so proud of him. He
never fought with anyone. How could someone take his life? How can their
conscience allow it? Don’t they fear the wrath of God?” she asked in disbelief,
surrounded by her small children.

Over the past decade, incidents of lynchings targeting Muslims in India have seen a
significant increase, accompanied by a normalization of hate speeches. In 2023, the
country witnessed 668 hate speeches directed at Muslims, according to the India
Hate Lab, a Washington DC-based group. Their report titled ‘Hate Speech Events in
India’ revealed a rise from 255 events in the first half of the year to 413 in the latter
half, marking a 62% increase.

Approximately 75% of these incidents occurred in states and Union Territories
governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including Delhi. Among them, 36%
involved direct calls for violence against Muslims, 63% referenced conspiracy
theories like love jihad and population jihad, and 25% called for targeting Muslim
places of worship.

Amnesty International’s report titled ‘Bulldozer Injustice in India and JCB’s Role and
Responsibility in Bulldozer Injustice in India’ documented the demolition of at least
128 properties between April and June 2022. These demolitions have left at least
617 people homeless or deprived of their livelihoods.

The report underscores that, authorities in Assam, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar
Pradesh and Delhi utilized demolitions as a form of punitive action following
instances of religious violence or Muslim protests against discriminatory government
policies. The BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accused of anti-Muslim
rhetoric, governs four of these states.

Amidst the demolitions and suppressions, most of the NGOs working for public
welfare are hesitant to assist Muslims due to fear of repercussions and opposition
from the government.

Junaid’s wife Sajida (in blue). Photo: The Quint

Recognizing the disparities in NGO assistance towards Muslims and their hesitance
to aid those oppressed by the state, Aasif Mujtaba, a 35-year-old IIT alumnus,
took initiative and established his own organization, Miles2Smile. His goal is to
rehabilitate and support Muslims affected by violence.

“Following the communal in northeast Delhi in 2020, my colleagues and I felt
compelled to aid the survivors. Initially, our focus was on providing essentials like
clothing, medical care and food. In Babu Nagar, we established our first command
centre, which evolved into a relief hub. It was our first experience supporting
victimized survivors, and despite lacking a formal name initially, our determination to
assist remained unwavering,” Aasif told TwoCircles.net.

On February 23, 2020, violence erupted in Delhi’s trans-Yamuna region, spanning
several days and resulting in the deaths of 53 people, predominantly Muslims, with
250 others injured. Despite government and media characterizations of the incident
as a “riot”, a fact-finding committee from the Delhi Minorities Commission concluded
it was a “pogrom”. This independent body, dedicated to safeguarding minority rights,
based its assessment on victim testimonies and legal sources, affirming that the
events of February 2020 constituted a pogrom.

Aasif recalled that while Miles2Smile was officially established in June 2020, its
origins can be traced back to providing relief to survivors of the violence in northeast
Delhi earlier that year. Since then, the organization has remained steadfast in its
mission.

During the COVID lockdown, Aasif and his team began compiling a list of students
affected by the violence, many of whom had dropped out of school due to lost
income or the absence of a breadwinner. This list grew to include over 200 students.
His organisation took on the task of reintegrating these children into schools and
subsequently, in September 2020, launched its sister organization, Shaagird, which
means “student”.

However, admitting the students was relatively straightforward compared to the
challenge of keeping them enrolled and motivated. Many had witnessed the violence
firsthand, and some had tragically lost family members in front of them at a young
age. Therefore, the approach to enrolling and sustaining their engagement in formal
education had to be tailored and sensitive to their unique circumstances.

Haris with violence affected kids is below

Mohammad Haris, chief operations officer at Shaagird, who works closely with
students affected by violence, expressed, “These children are deeply traumatized.
Many have lost their enthusiasm for education, especially those approaching
adolescence who feel compelled to contribute to their families financially. Keeping
them engaged in formal education is an immense challenge.”

A study published in the journal Review of Behavioral Economics titled ‘Child Abuse,
Sexual Assault, Community Violence and High School Graduation’ found that girls
who had experienced childhood violence were 24% more likely to drop out, while
boys who had experienced violence were 26% more likely to drop out compared to
their peers.

Recognizing the impact of trauma on students’ educational motivation, Shaagird
developed a curriculum specifically designed to provide emotional support and
solace. Initially, students focus on co-curricular activities such as sports and painting
rather than academic subjects. As they gradually become more engaged with the
school environment, core subjects are reintroduced, all while closely monitoring their
mental health needs.

“It’s incredibly challenging to keep children affected by violence in school. Due to
their trauma, we don’t initially focus on academic subjects like math, science, or
English, which can overwhelm them. Instead, we have developed a specialized
curriculum that identifies each student’s unique talents and keeps them engaged
through these interests. This approach helps them form a stronger connection to the
school. Only once they are fully engaged and comfortable do we gradually introduce
academic subjects,” explained Haris.

An illustrative case at Shaagird is Anas (name changed), who tragically lost his
father in the pogrom and has a deep passion for drawing and art. The Shaagird team
actively encourages Anas to explore and express his creativity through drawing, with
Haris expressing confidence in Anas’s promising future in painting.

According to Aasif, beyond immediate rehabilitation efforts for families affected by
communal violence, ensuring their long-term welfare is crucial. Families endure
immense suffering after such violence, losing sources of income, breadwinners and
leaving children traumatized. Therefore, empowering them to become self-reliant is
essential, as they are often overlooked by relief organizations or volunteers over time.
This goal is achieved through educating the children of affected families and
involving them in small businesses that provide sustainable livelihoods.

“What families endure during the pogrom is only a fraction of their challenges
afterward. It’s imperative to support these families in becoming self-reliant. At
Miles2Smile, we consistently engage families affected by pogroms and other forms of
state oppression in small businesses, such as setting up kirana shops, to help them
earn a livelihood,” explained Aasif.

(Anas name changed)

In addition to assisting over 10,000 individuals affected by violence last year through
rehabilitation and relief efforts, and enrolling hundreds of violence-affected students
for free education, Miles2Smile also responded to the 2023 Turkey earthquake by
sending 2,365 metric tonnes of emergency relief. This included tents, thermal
mattresses, blankets, clothing, sanitary napkins, baby diapers, baby food, overcoats,
snow boots, chairs, sleeping bags, towels, and inflatable pillows.

Inspiring Rehabilitation Stories

Among the many rehabilitations, some stories stand out where families affected by
lynchings or pogroms displayed exceptional courage and began new lives with
determination. One such story is that of Sajida, the wife of Junaid. Despite being
illiterate and a young mother of six, she showed remarkable bravery by starting a
small cosmetics shop set up by Miles2Smile in one of the rooms of her home.
Although initially in disbelief over Junaid’s death, she quickly accepted her fate and
forged ahead courageously.

“Sajida is one of the bravest women I’ve encountered in this journey. Young widows
often struggle to accept their circumstances, but Sajida embraced hers and began
anew with courage. We often wondered how a young woman with six children would
manage, but her resilience is beyond words. Women like Sajida continue to inspire and motivate us,” remarked Aasif.

Sajida, along with her brother and son, at Sadar Bazar, Delhi shopping cosmetics and other women’s
items for her shop. Photo: Miles2Smile

“I faced two choices: either break down or muster the courage to start anew for my
children, and I chose the latter. I knew that if I lost hope, my children would suffer
greatly. I had to do it for them. Aasif Bhai provided me with immense emotional and
financial support. His team set up the entire shop and supplied the items. Now, the
shop is running well, thanks to Allah first and then Aasif Bhai, who did so much for
me,” shared Sajida.

Another poignant and inspiring story is that of Rukhsana, the wife of Feroz Ahmed,
who owned a dupatta house and tragically lost his life during the Northeast Delhi
pogrom. His body was later discovered in a nearby drain. Rukhsana was two months
pregnant at the time of Feroz’s death.

Throughout her pregnancy, Miles2Smile covered all her medical expenses and
provided support by accompanying her to regular checkups. Meanwhile, the
organization enrolled her children in school at no cost, taking care of their
educational expenses. After giving birth to a baby girl, whom she named Feroza after
her father, Rukhsana successfully revived and managed the shop. Within a year or
two, she began employing more young women, and now nearly ten girls work under
her at her dupatta house.

Rukhsana’s daughter at Miles2Smiles owned Sunrise Public school. Photo: Miles2smile

“I was moved to tears when Rukhsana brought me small polythene bags filled with
cash. She explained that since Miles2Smile had supported her children for years by
covering their school fees, this was her way of expressing gratitude. It brought me
immense joy. These are the stories that inspire and drive us to persist in our
mission,” said Aasif.

source: http://www.twocircles.net / Two Circles.net / Home> India News> Lead Story / by Mohammad Aatif Ammad Kanth, TwoCircles.net / July 14th, 2024

AMU Faculty Bags Nishan-e-Urdu Award

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Education - Gold Medallists, Toppers, Merits, Achievers (wef. June 12th, 2023)

Aligarh, UTTAR PRADESH :

Dr. Faiza Abbasi receiving the Nishan-e-Urdu Award from Mr Abbas Ali Mehndi at Lucknow

Aligarh :

Dr. Faiza Abbasi, Director, UGC Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme (MMTTP), Aligarh Muslim University, has been honored with the prestigious Nishan-e-Urdu Award by the Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Memorial Committee, Uttar Pradesh Government. The award ceremony took place at the Premchand Sabhagar of the Rajarshi Purushottam Das Tandon Hindi Sanstha, Lucknow on June 22.

The Nishan-e-Urdu Award is conferred upon individuals who have significantly contributed to the promotion of the Urdu language in India but neither got their employment from Urdu nor studied through the Urdu medium. Dr. Faiza Abbasi was selected for her contributions to the Urdu language, despite the fact that she holds a PhD degree in Wildlife Sciences and has been teaching Environmental Studies to undergraduate students in the departments of Shia and Sunni Theology and Quranic Environmental Ethics at the Khaleeq Ahmad Nizami Centre for Quranic Studies, AMU, which primarily imparts higher education to the students from Madrasas.

Dr. Abbasi has authored, edited, and translated five books in Urdu on educational, scientific and literary topics and regularly writes for Urdu journals and magazines, including the Tehzib ul Akhlaq and Fikr-o-Nazar. She also emceed at Jashn-e-Rekhta and organized Urdu literary evenings, voluntary Urdu language classes, and delivered lectures on the contributions of non-Muslim Urdu poets.

She was felicitated by Mr Abbas Ali Mehndi, Vice Chancellor, Era University, Lucknow, at a programme convened by Shri SN Lal, Convener, and Jitendra Kumar, Additional Secretary of Languages, Government of Uttar Pradesh.

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Pride of the Nation> Awards> Focus / by Radiance News Bureau / July 01st, 2024

Jamia Millia Islamia’s Professor Naved Iqbal Awarded Prestigious Fellowship in Japan

Education - Gold Medallists, Toppers, Merits, Achievers (wef. June 12th, 2023)

NEW DELHI :

New Delhi :

Professor Naved Iqbal from Jamia Millia Islamia has been awarded the prestigious Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) fellowship, reported the Indian Express. This honor will allow him to conduct significant research on well-being and religion in collaboration with Professor Hiroshi Yama from Osaka Metropolitan University. Additionally, he has been offered the position of visiting professor as part of this fellowship.

Professor Iqbal, who is from the Department of Psychology at Jamia Millia Islamia, has an impressive academic portfolio. He has contributed to three books and authored over 90 research papers. He has also penned chapters in 10 other books, showcasing his extensive contributions to the field.

In the summer semester of 2023, Professor Iqbal served as a visiting professor at the Institute of Psychology, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw, Poland. He is also a member of an international professional group that established a chair in UNESCO on child maltreatment in 2022 and has been an Honorary Principal Fellow at the Center of Wellbeing Science at the University of Melbourne since April 2022.

Professor Iqbal’s achievements extend to securing various international research grants and fellowships. These include the Indo-Canadian Shastri Research Grant (SRG 2017-18), the Indo-German UGC-DAAD PPP (2018-19) research project, and the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) visiting fellowship in 2019 at the University of Leicester, UK. Additionally, he has participated in the “Directors of Associated Studies” (DEA) program in 2021 by the International Foundation of the House of Human Sciences, France, and served as a visiting fellow in 2024 at Airlangga University, Indonesia.

Professor Iqbal’s latest fellowship from the JSPS is a testament to his dedication and ongoing contributions to psychological research and international collaboration.

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Pride of the Nation> Awards / by Radiance News Bureau / August 07th, 2024

Heritage walks uncover new angles of Indian history

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Royal Families, PreIndependence -Descendants (wef. Jan 02nd,2022), Travel & Tourism, World Opinion

DELHI :

Historians and enthusiasts are taking public education into their own hands to tell the story of the country’s Muslim communities.

Chaotic narrow lanes lined with opulent old mansions, shops selling spices, dried fruits and kebabs, all overhung by dangling power cables – any trip to Old Delhi, a bustling Muslim hub built by Mughal ruler Shah Jahan, is a full sensory experience.

Abu Sufyan weaves through the crowd with about 20 people in tow, making his way through streets smelling of flatbread soaked in ghee, the call to prayer at a nearby mosque mingling with the bells of a Hindu temple.

He is on a mission to change negative perceptions of Muslims by showing visitors more of their history in the capital.

“People in old Delhi were labelled as ‘terrorists’ and ‘pickpockets’ because they were predominantly Muslims from the lower economic background, and Mughal rulers were vilified as cruel invaders, as they were considered the ancestors to Indian Muslims,” Abu Sufyan, 29, says.

“My walks involve the local community members including calligraphers, pigeon racers, cooks and weavers with ancestral links in the Mughal era to showcase old Delhi’s heritage beyond these stereotypes.”

Abu Sufyan is one of a growing crop of enterprising men and women using the medium of heritage walks to educate the Indian public and tourists on the nation’s lesser-known history.

He started his walks in 2016, when hatred against Muslim communities was on the rise after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party introduced several anti-Muslim policies.

In 2015, a BJP politician urged the local civic body in Delhi to change the name of Aurangzeb Road to APJ Abdul Kalam Road. The civic body immediately obliged, removing the reference to the Mughal ruler from the road by naming it after the former president of India, who was always considered a “patriotic” Muslim.

Later, the 2019 Citizenship (Amendment) Act caused further division, as critics said it could be weaponised against Muslims, who are designated as “foreigners” under the National Register of Citizens.

Occasionally, divisions lead to violence: Thirty-six Muslims were killed in Hindu mob attacks for allegedly trading cattle or consuming beef between May 2015 and December 2018, according to Human Rights Watch.

‘A sense of belonging and togetherness’

Over 2,000 kilometres away in Chennai, documentary filmmaker Kombai S Anwar hosts walks in Triplicane to tell stories of Tamil Muslim history, Tamil Nadu’s pre-Islamic maritime trade links with West Asia, the arrival of Arab traders, Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s rule, the appointment of a Mughal minister’s son Zulfikhar Ali Khan as the first Nawab of Arcot, and the lives of the subsequent nawab’s descendants.

“Predominantly, non-Muslims participate in these walks because they are ‘curious’ about local Muslims and their heritage. During [Ramadan], they are invited to the historic Nawab Walaja mosque, where they experience the breaking of fast and partake in the iftar meal,” Mr Anwar says.

Tickets for heritage walks across India range between 200 and 5,000 Indian rupees ($2-60).

Historian Narayani Gupta, who conducted heritage walks in Delhi between 1984-1997, said any controversy related to history generates more interest.

“Whether history is right or wrong or good or bad, it has to be backed by research findings,” she said

Saima Jafari, 28, a project manager at an IT firm, who has attended more than 30 heritage walks in the past five years, says it is hard to ignore the historical monuments in the city since they are almost everywhere.

Delhi-based Ms Jafari recalled one of her best experiences was a walk, in 2021, trailing the path of “Phool Waalon Ki Sair”, an annual procession of Delhi florists, who provide sheets of flowers and floral fans at the shrine of Sufi saint Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki and floral fans and a canopy at the ancient Hindu temple of Devi Yogmaya in Mehrauli.

“When I walked along with others in that heritage walk, I realised that heritage enthusiasts across religion walk together in harmony,” Ms Jafari says.

“One of the best parts of heritage walks is the storytelling that connects places with lives of people of a certain period. Plus, it always gives a sense of belonging and togetherness.”

Anoushka Jain, 28, a postgraduate in history and founder of heritage and research organisation Enroute Indian History, which holds walks to explore the erstwhile “kothas (brothels),” and “attariyas (terraces)” of old Delhi, said during pandemic lockdowns, posts on Instagram helped sparked interest.

“Before the pandemic, barely 40 people participated in two weekly walks as opposed to 50 in each of the four weekly walks which we conduct now,” she says.

But it is not all smooth sailing.

Ms Jain says some people feel uncomfortable when they are given historical facts and research that show Hindu and Jain temples constructed by Rajput rulers were repurposed during the rule of Delhi Sultanate, Qutb ud-Din Aibak.

Iftekhar Ahsan, 41, chief executive of Calcutta Walks and Calcutta Bungalow, adds that sometimes, participants come with preconceived notions that Muslims “destroyed” India for more 1,000 years – but walk leaders hold open conversations to “cut through the clutter” with authentic information.

For some, heritage walks often change perceptions.

“Until I visited mosques in old Delhi during a walk, I didn’t know that women were allowed inside mosques,” law student Sandhya Jain told The National.

But history enthusiast Sohail Hashmi, who started leading heritage walks in Delhi 16 years ago, cautions that some walk leaders present popular tales as historical fact.

A mansion called Khazanchi ki Haveli in old Delhi’s Dariba Kalan is presented as the Palace of the Treasurer of the Mughals by some walk leaders, Mr Hashmi says. The Mughals, however, were virtual pensioners of the Marathas – Marathi-speaking warrior group mostly from what is now the western state of Maharashtra – and later the British and had no treasures left by the time the mansion was built in the late 18th or early 19th century.

Another walk leader had photo-copied an 1850 map of Shahjahanabad, now old Delhi, passing it off as his own research, he adds.

“The walk leaders must be well-read and responsible enough to ensure that the myths are debunked,” Mr Hashmi says.

source: http://www.thenationalnews.com / The National / Home> International Edition> World> Asia / by Sonia Sarkar / June 01st, 2023