In an initiative to uplift and empower orphans, Human Welfare Foundation (HWF) awarded scholarships to 85 orphan students – 25 of which were for undergraduate and postgraduate studies – along with the Siddique Hasan Award to one exceptional student. The event took place at The Scholar School here Wednesday.
Vice Chairman of HWF, T. Arif Ali, presided over the event, emphasising the foundation’s VISION 26 programme, which addresses 10 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. In his remarks, he urged students to give back to society once they achieve their dreams and praised the mothers in attendance for their role in nurturing and empowering their children in the absence of fathers.
Chief Guest Professor Sara Begum, Dean of Faculty of Education, Jamia Millia Islamia, encouraged students to pursue positive, innovative, and inquisitive learning. She highlighted the importance of service-mindedness and learning to live together in harmony and tolerance.
Dr. Nisha Nupur, Medical Officer at the Directorate of Health Services, Delhi, motivated students to engage in social service in addition to their career pursuits, encouraging them to become self-reliant and independent.
Charan Singh, Superintendent of the Social Welfare Department, GNCT Delhi, reminded the audience that true wealth lies in service, saying, “If a person or organisation is affluent but does not serve others, their wealth is meaningless.”
Zahoor Ahmed, Head of HWF’s Orphan Care and Community Development, outlined the Foundation’s initiatives to support orphaned students, including the establishment of nine hostels across various states to provide safe and nurturing environments.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News> Report / by Radiance News Bureau / October 30th, 2024
Two years after their viral cover of Ali Sethi’s Pasoori, Kerala’s beloved sibling quartet—Dana, Durra, Thooba, and Rafa Razik—have returned with an original album, Rooh-e-Mardem. This qawwali-inspired project is a deeply personal family affair, woven with love, spirituality, and the collaborative spirit that defines the Raziks’ musical journey.
The album opens with “Noor-e-Khuda,” a powerful track that gently pulls listeners into a realm of devotion and divine light. Dana’s partner, lyricist Ashfaque Ahamed, collaborated with the poet Khurram Murad to craft lyrics that honor God’s omnipresence and the search for spiritual connection. As Dana describes it, Rooh-e-Mardem “is a true musical family collaboration,” carrying forward the Razik family’s vision of uniting faith with melody.
Rooh-e-Mardem not only shines through its lyrics and vocals but also in its vibrant musical arrangements. Rafa Razik co-composed the music with Faheed Ali, a family friend, and musician who shares their deep appreciation for qawwali’s timeless beauty. Accompanying Dana’s soulful vocals are Roshan Haris on harmonium, tabla, and percussion, while Haris Veeroli’s guitar melodies lend an earthy charm to the compositions.
Directed by Haseeb Abdul Latheef, the music video features the entire Razik family, including their father, Abdul Razik, and beautifully captures the familial warmth that lies at the album’s core.
Dana, who is a rising playback singer with millions of views on YouTube and Instagram, has gained acclaim for her covers of Hindi and Malayalam songs.
Following her 2022 single, Veendum, with composer Afzal Yussuf, Dana has since ventured into film music with tracks in Once Upon A Time in Kochi and Kadakan. Her voice will soon grace the soundtrack of the upcoming film Turkish Tharkam.
With Rooh-e-Mardem now available across streaming platforms, Dana Razik’s family brings listeners a serene, introspective experience. As each song unfurls, it invites an awakening to the divine presence in everyday life, carrying forward their message of love, unity, and devotion.
Award winning film editor Nishadh Yusuf (43) was found dead at his residence in Pamapally Nagar in Kerala’s Ernakulam district on Wednesday.
The police officials are conducting the investigation. The cause of death is yet to be ascertained.
Nishadh was celebrated for his work on several popular Malayalam films, including Thallumaala, Unda, One, and Saudi Vellakka. He was also editing the upcoming project featuring Tharun Moorthy-Mohanlal, Mammootty’s Bazooka and Suriya’s Kanguva.
In 2022, Nishadh was honoured with the State Award for Best Editor for his work on Thallumaala.
“The unexpected demise of Nishadh Yusuf, film editor, who played a major role in determining the contemporary future of the changing Malayalam cinema is not something the film world will be able to quickly accept.
Condolences from FEFKA Directors’ Union,” read a post by The Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) Directors’ Union.
Nishadh Yusuf was a native of Harippad. He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.
source: http://www.maktoobmedia.com / Maktoobmedia.com / Home> Film & TV / by Maktoob Staff / October 30th, 2024
The Karnataka Government has announced Irfan Razack, Chairman and Managing Director of Prestige Group, as one of the recipients of this year’s prestigious Karnataka Rajyotsava Award.
Razack, a prominent figure in the real estate and retail industry, has been recognized for his significant contributions to Karnataka’s growth and development through his work in the real estate sector.
With over 48 years of experience, Razack has led Prestige Group with a strong commitment to ethical business practices and a visionary approach to development. Under his guidance, Prestige Group has grown into a major player in the industry, with a reputation for excellence in real estate across India. Razack has received numerous awards and recognitions throughout his career, including the Fellowship of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (FRICS), the ‘Real Estate Professional of the Year’ award at the Real Estate Excellence Awards in 2008, and the prestigious Sir M. Visvesvaraya Memorial Award in 2015 for his contributions to Karnataka’s growth.
He has also been recognized for his exceptional leadership, being voted one of Asia’s Best CEOs in 2014 by Institutional Investor magazine and receiving ‘The World’s Greatest Leaders’ award by Asia One in 2015-16. His achievements have placed him among India’s top builders and leaders. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Razack is actively involved in numerous philanthropic and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, supporting causes that benefit society at large.
The Karnataka Rajyotsava Award, the state’s second-highest civilian honor, celebrates individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Karnataka in fields such as arts, education, industry, literature, science, social service, sports, and public affairs. The award will be formally presented on November 1, Kannada Rajyotsava Day, which marks Karnataka’s formation as a state.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karnataka / by Vartha Bharati / October 30th, 2024
The sixth talent award ceremony of the Muslim Welfare Society took place at the Town Hall here Monday, celebrating academic excellence and achievements across various fields. The event opened with Quran recitation by Hafiz Suhail. Society patrons, including Mohammad Anwar Qureshi, President Abdul Sattar Tanwar, Secretary Mirajuddin Pathan, and Treasurer Qasim Nirman, welcomed the guests with shawls, garlands, and mementos.
Rehana Riyaz Chishti, Chairperson of Rajasthan State Women’s Commission, presided over the event, emphasising that recognition cultivates talent, which, in turn, contributes to national and societal advancement. “Education is a vital tool to change the destiny of nations,” she remarked.
Assistant Professor Dr. Shamshad Ali highlighted that honouring talent is an inspiring way to encourage achievement, stressing the importance of such events. Other esteemed guests, including Dr. Ehsaan Gori, Naseem Riyazat Khan, and Farzana Mansuri, spoke on the transformative power of education.
Top students, Alvira Chauhan, who scored 96.50% in Class 10, and Aksa Parihar, with 94.50% in Class 12, were awarded the Fatima Sheikh Award along with a cash prize of Rs.1100. In total, 74 students from Class 10 and 76 from Class 12 were recognised, along with 16 individuals who made notable contributions in various fields. Local journalists were also honoured.
Retired CBEO Mohammad Anwar Qureshi lauded the committee’s work, while the programme was co-hosted by Anwar Qureshi, Dr. Syed Mohammad Aslam, and Lal Mohammad. Committee members Abdul Jabbar Khokar, Nawab Ali, Ashfaq Ali, Hanif Khatri, Salim Kalal, Ramzan Neelgar, Usman, Hakim, Farooq, Ishaq Bagad, Liaqat Ali Khan, Imran, Sabir Nirvan, Haroon Nirvan, Zulfen Kanwari, and Advocate Raza Murad Alvi, Chief City Qazi of Ratangarh, were in attendance. Contributions included gifts by Yakub Gouri of Gouri Construction Company, mementos from Hakim Ali Maniyar Loha, certificates by Farooq Maniyar Loha, and religious books by Mohammad Ramzan Neelgar.
At the programme’s close, President Abdul Sattar Tanwar expressed gratitude to all guests. The ceremony underscored the role of education and talent recognition in shaping a better future.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Pride of the Nation / by Radiance News Bureau / October 29th, 2024
Abir Asad in front of the UPSC Office in New Delhi
New Delhi :
This is the success story of a Muslim cleric’s daughter who cleared the coveted the Indian Civil Services examinations held by the UPSC in her first attempt and without coaching. Her achievement is remarkable given the limited resources available to a Maulana.
Abir Asad’s name figured at the supplementary list of candidates who appeared in the Civil services examinations held in 2023, released by the UPSC recently. She has cleared it through self study and thus become an example of hard work, dedication, passion, and a visionary for the Indian youth.
From schooling to graduation, Abir passed all her examinations with high grades and distinction. She scored 92.8 percent marks in 10th, 97.5 in 12th, and graduated in Economics from Delhi University’s Hansraj College with distinction.
Abir’s name figures at position 35 in the list of remaining 120 candidates in the reserved category which was released by the UPSC recently. A release of the UPSC said, that 1016 candidates were declared successful in the Civil Services Examination, 2023 on April 16, 2024, in order of merit against 1143 vacancies.
Two days ago, the UPSC released a Consolidated Reserve List in order of merit which will be below the earlier list in respective categories.
The UPSC List with Abir Asad’s name
“As sought by the Department of Personnel & Training, the Commission has now recommended 120 candidates which include 88 General, 05 EWS, 23 OBC, 03 SC, and 01 ST, to fill up the remaining posts based on the Civil Services Examination, 2023. The candidates, so recommended, will be intimated directly by the DOP&T.”
Abir Asad would soon head to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, for training.
Abir has given the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) as her first choice, the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) as second and the Indian Railway Management Service as the third one. The allocation is done somewhere during the training and is also based on the vacancies available in the government departments.
Recently, the final list of 120 candidates was released by the UPSC, in which Abir Asad is ranked 35th.
Abir Asad’s brother Muhammad Basil is a software engineer, and mother is a homemaker. Her ancestry is from the well-known Kirthi Jafar of the Mayo district.
Abir Asad worked hard for one year. She studied eight to nine hours on normal days and added more hours close to the examination.
Abir credits her parents for teaching her the wages of hard work, explaining the importance of studies, and encouraging her at every step of her life.
“This formula that never lets children lose their spirit,” she said.
Abir said that if girls are given the freedom to read and write, encouraged, and provided equal opportunities there is no reason why Muslim girls should not do well in life.
She told the Muslim youth that instead of wandering around the neighborhood and wasting their time, they must focus on studying and writing.
Abir Asad’s father Maulana Muhammad Asad Al-Qasimi Al-Azmi said that he gave Abir the freedom to read and write and pursue her dreams.
He appealed to the Muslims to give their children the freedom to read and write and take care of their choice in which field they want to study further. He said that only education can change the fate of a Quom (Muslims).
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by ATV / October 30th, 2024
The All India Muslim Business Startup Network (AIMBSN) hosted its first annual conference on November 26th, 2017 in Pune.
AIMBSN is an initiative aimed at driving Muslim involvement in India’s startup and technology economy. Dr Tausif Malik organized the AIMBSN and the first annual conference; Dr Malik has a long history of involvement in business, technology, and community organizing.
The event’s theme and vision was “connect, support, inspire and grow” and to involve the Muslim community in stimulating the business sector and developing opportunities for the next generation.
Dr. Tausif Malik said, “AIMBSN is India’s only ecosystem to connect Indian Muslim entrepreneurs, businesses, investors and startups.”
AIMBSN ecosystem hopes to plan for its members business conferences, networking and startup events across India; a social network, AIMBSN.com, where individuals and businesses can discuss businesses, requirements, and investment opportunities; incubators and accelerators – to be set up in the future in tandem with minority institutions, and a AIMBSN venture capital fund in 2018 with investments from NRI Indian Muslims who want to invest in their original homeland.
Chicago based Dr Tausif Malik founder of the AIMBSN highlighted that Islam promotes entrepreneurship and contribution to one’s motherland. He also said that the event is to align with the policies of Indian government such as Startup India, Digital India, Skill India and Make in India.
Cryptocurrency entrepreneurs based in the US, Sameer Gitay and Quayaum Quamar, introduced blockchain technology. The event saw the launch of SocketsplugnPlay.com to cater to the growing demand for blockchain, fintech, ICO and cryptocurreny services.
Among the startups showcasing at the conference were Berry IT, a startup dealing with robotics and e-learning; Miswak Toothbrush, the world’s first miswak toothbrush); two startups called, SQr Infotech and Viands – dealing in blockchain and crytocurrency, and TravelonEmi.com, a travel company offering interest free EMI.
source: http:www.bwdisrupt.com / BW Disrupt / Home> Entrepreneur / by BW Online Bureau / November 29th, 2017
Begum Gulbadan’s Humayun-nama, a remarkable chronicle of early Mughal life in India is the only work written by a woman in Muslim courts of Ottoman, Turkey, Iran and India.
An early Mughal princess
The Vagabond Princess by Professor Ruby Lal is a captivating historical biography of an early Mughal princess. Even though this is a work of meticulous historical research, it is an adventure tale and a travel narrative with a female protagonist which provides as much entertainment as any work of fiction. The real wonder of this book is that it’s a true account of a real woman, Gulbadan Begum, who lived from 1523 to 1603.
The author Dr. Ruby Lal is a Professor of South Asian history at Emory University in Atlanta who wrote The Astonishing Reign of Nur Jahan (2018)which was a Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist.
While her previous book concentrated on a later Mughal queen who was as powerful as her husband the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, this work focuses on an early Mughal princess whose contribution is not so much to statecraft but to memorializing through her writing the formative years of the Mughal Empire in India.
The life of Gulbadan
As the title suggests, Gulbadan’s life was one of astonishing journeys that very few others had undertaken in the sixteenth century. She was a beloved daughter of Emperor Babar, the founder of the Mughal dynasty in India. At the age of six, she undertook an arduous journey with her Mughal relatives from Kabul in Afghanistan to Agra, where her father had established his new capital. This journey took her across the Khyber Pass, a treacherous mountainous gap that allowed an entry point into India.
Once in Agra, she reunites with her beloved father and grows up in the new country of Hindustan, amid a plethora of languages, her native Turkish, Persian, and the emerging mixed tongue of Hindavi in India. Even when it seems there is a modicum of stability, her father Babar’s life is suddenly cut short when he prays for the survival of his son and heir Humayun and participates in a ritual where he barters a part of his own life to save his son.
The untimely death of Babar is a shock for Gulbadan, but even more disconcerting are the rebellions by various half-brothers who periodically betray their allegiance to Humayun, her half-brother who ascends the throne.
A Mughal dynasty
Humayun’s reign becomes even more tenuous when he faces military challenges led by the Afghan ruler of Bihar, Sher Shah Suri, who defeats Humayun in Chausa in 1539 and Kanauj in 1540, forcing him into exile in Afghanistan. These changing vicissitudes of the Mughal dynasty force Gulbadan into a peripatetic existence moving back to Kabul and then returning again to Hindustan after Humayun recaptures Agra. During the years of his exile from India, Gulbadan witnesses Humayun’s marriage to his favorite wife Hamida who gives birth to their future heir Akbar, and who also becomes a close friend of Gulbadan.
Akbar’s ascension to the throne marks a shift in Gulbadan’s personal life. In her early life, she had lived in gardens and tents and had traveled freely. With the growth in Akbar’s stature, Mughal women were consigned to the enclosed quarters of the harem in Fatehpur Sikri. While this was a mark of the rising prestige of Akbar, the Emperor, it was not a particularly pleasing option for his aunt, Gulbadan. Even though she is a mother and a senior advisory figure in the harem and also highly regarded by Emperor Akbar as a writer and memory keeper of her clan, she is increasingly restless by her confinement in middle age.
A pilgrimage to Mecca
Gulbadan successfully petitions Akbar to allow her to embark on a holy pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina with the women of the harem. This is a formidable journey, even with Akbar’s support. First, the Mughal contingent arrive in the port city of Surat where they wait for the Portuguese to approve their passage as they have a monopoly over shipping routes. After much negotiation, and payment of requisite fees, two Mughal ships set sail for the haj pilgrimage. Lal provides a detailed account of the journey across the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, and the Red Sea to arrive at the port of Jeddah, from where the party travels to Mecca. At Mecca, they are able to complete all the rituals associated with the Haj including the lavish giving of alms to the poor. The party then proceeds to Medina and completes the rituals of worship particular to that city as well.
Gulbadan and her associates do not return to Hindustan after completing the Haj but stay on in one of the elite neighborhoods of Medina. After some time, they attract the criticism of the Ottoman Sultan Murad III, who issues orders of expulsion for Gulbadan and her group. Lal suggests that the lavish giving of alms, made possible by the immense wealth of Akbar and the Mughal Empire in a way threatened the sovereignty of the Ottoman Sultan.
The Humayun-nama
On her return journey by sea, Gulbadan faces being shipwrecked but escapes with her life and seeks refuge in Aden. Unlike Mecca, the authorities in Aden are not hospitable or courteous. She is relieved to return home where she commands the respect of men and women as someone who is a haji or who has accomplished one of the pillars of the Islamic faith: pilgrimage to the Prophet’s birthplace. Once settled in Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar commissions her to write a biographical sketch of Humayun. Gulbadan accomplishes this task with great finesse. Her book is an outstanding primary source document about the condition of life during the Mughal era in India.
The narrative begins with Lal’s examination of Gulbadan’s book Ahval- i- Humaun Badshah (Conditions in the Age of Humayun Badshah), at the British Museum in 1997. This is the only extant copy of this commissioned work that Gulbadan authored, but Lal soon realizes that the manuscript is incomplete, and it does not touch on her pilgrimage to Mecca or her life after the return. It is this gap that Lal seeks to fulfill in her research, trying to reconstruct events that happened during the pilgrimage including her group’s expulsion.
First female chronicler of Mughal life
As she recreates the life of Gulbadan, Lal reminds us that her work, popularly called Humayun-nama, is the only prose work written by a woman in Muslim courts including Ottoman, Turkey, Iran, and India. Gulbadan is a remarkable witness and chronicler of early Mughal life in India. Moreover, her life defies notions about women being constrained by Islamic institutions of purdah. Gulbadan did not accept the confinement of the harem and sought out travel to the holy cities of Arabia, appearing publicly to give alms to the poor.
Even upon her return she adopted the role of official historian and was not limited to traditional roles of wife and mother in the harem. At a time when the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is reducing Mughal history content in school history textbooks in India, it is all the more important to continue bringing the lives of Mughal women to the attention of the world. Ruby Lal has succeeded in giving us a biography of an extraordinary life that women in the twenty-first century in India and the world can draw inspiration from.
The Vagabond Princess: The Great Adventures of Gulbadan by Ruby Lal Yale University Press, February 2024.
source: http://www.indiacurrents.com / India Currents / Home> Books> Culture / by Lopamudra Basu / April 10th, 2024
A solemn farewell ceremony was held at Banhgarh Model Primary School, located 12 kilometres from Sivasagar town, to honour 17 teachers from the Chengelibari Cluster who are retiring from service
Sivasagar :
A solemn farewell ceremony was held at Banhgarh Model Primary School, located 12 kilometres from Sivasagar town, to honour 17 teachers from the Chengelibari Cluster who are retiring from service on Sunday. The event was presided over by headmaster Rohini Arandhara, with Bipin Chandra Maut, a teacher at Moupiya Primary School, leading the proceedings.
The retiring teachers including Rohini Arandhara, Satyen Borgohain, Chandraprabha Changmai, Rajat Dutta, Abdul Jabbar, Basanta Chutia, Bina Saikia, Rupa Hazarika, Dadhi Konwar, Kanak Changmai, Muhibur Rahman, Bharat Borpatra Gohain, Rupali Bokotial, Shobhan Borgohain, Bogadhar Duwori, Khiroda Konwar, and Toseswar Dulakakhoria, were honoured with traditional Assamese attire, seleng chador, gamosa, and a certificate of appreciation by the officials of the Chengelibari Cluster.
During the ceremony, the retiring teachers reflected on their past experiences and became emotional while accepting the honour. The event was attended by many students, guardians, and notable community members.
source: http://www.sentinelassam.com / The Sentinel / Home> Assam News / by Sentinel Digital Desk / October 07th, 2024
Eid Meelad-un-Nabi Cricket Tournament – 2024, organised by Mysore Meelad Cricket Association as part of Eid Meelad festival was held at Maharaja’s College Cricket Grounds in city recently.
A total of 24 teams participated in the tournament in which Titan Cricket team won the tournament while Moonstar Cricket team secured the runners up place.
Batting first, Titan Cricket team scored 198 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 20 overs. Chasing the target, Moonstar team could score 183 runs and lost all their wickets.
Rohan Naveen, who scored 115 runs and bagged three wickets, was declared ‘Man of the Match’ while ‘Best Batsman and Man of the Series’ was awarded to Imran and ‘Best Bowler’ was awarded to Kifayat.
