Dr Hifzur R. Siddique, Department of Zoology, AMU, has been included as a part of the world expert consensus on the strategy to diagnose and treat NUT carcinoma
Aligarh:
Dr Hifzur R. Siddique, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, who has been doing research on cancer for the last several years, has been included as a part of the world expert consensus on the strategy to diagnose and treat NUT carcinoma.
Dr Siddique is the only Indian to become the part of 101 scientists from different countries, including USA, UK, China, Italy, Sweden, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Austria, Singapore, Egypt, and Russia to work on the NUT Carcinoma, which was first reported in 1991. It is a rare and highly aggressive malignancy with a dismal prognosis and a median survival of 6-9 months only.
Dr Siddique pointed out that ‘Nuclear protein of the testis’ (NUT) carcinoma is a rare and highly aggressive malignancy characterised by the rearrangement of the NUT midline carcinoma family member 1 (NUTM1) gene and less than 200 cases are diagnosed in the US each year.
He said standardised strategies for its diagnosis and treatment remained unavailable, underscoring the need for an expert consensus. To address this gap, the scientific team prepared this consensus for the diagnosis and treatment of NUT carcinoma. The team comprised medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgical oncologists, pathologists, nurses, molecular biologists, statisticians, and bioinformatics specialists.
The AMU researcher mentioned that the team developed the expert consensus on diagnosing and treating NUT carcinoma using a multidisciplinary approach and the guideline provides eight recommendations, addressing epidemiological characteristics, clinical and imaging manifestations, pathological findings, IHC features, molecular mechanisms and subtypes, prognosis, diagnosis, and treatment strategies for this cancer. Furthermore, an international platform has been established to disseminate NUT carcinoma knowledge and patient recruitment, providing patients and healthcare providers’ access to NUT carcinoma-related information and updates on clinical trial recruitment.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News / by Radiance News Bureau (headline edited) / December 26th, 2024
Dr Mohd Moonis, a sports coach from Jamia Millia Islamia, was elected as Senior Vice President of the Delhi Tennis Ball Cricket Association, according to information shared by Moonis.
The Delhi Tennis Ball Cricket Association (DTBCA) held its election for office bearers and Managing Committee members for the term 2024-2028 at Hotel Mukut in Vasundhara, Sector 13 and it was here that Moonis was selected, said a statement issued by Moonis team.
A Jamia alumnus, Moonis after completing his education started his job with his alma mater as a hockey coach.
source: http://www.okhlatimes.com / The Okhla Times / Home> JMI/EDU / by The Okhla Times (edited) / December 22nd, 2024
Jamia Millia Islamia Professor Dr Mohammad Mahfuzul Haque has made the university proud.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has granted Dr. Mohammad Mahfuzul Haque, a professor in the Department of Biotechnology, a prestigious research grant of approximately Rs 65 lakhs.
This highly competitive grant underscores Prof. Haque’s outstanding contributions to the field of molecular enzymology and will support groundbreaking research in the area of cardiovascular diseases and lung cancer.
The ICMR grant, recognised as one of the highest honours for medical research in India, will enable Prof. Haque and his team to gain more insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying iNOS involvement in lung cancer pathogenesis, potentially identifying therapeutic targets and developing novel treatment strategies for combating lung cancer. The project is intended to address significant challenges in lung cancer and aims to produce outcomes that may significantly influence healthcare practices in India and globally.
Prof. Mazhar Asif, the Vice Chancellor and Prof. Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi, the Registrar of JMI congratulated Dr. Haque and remarked: “This is a moment of pride for our institution. Prof. Mohammad Mahfuzul Haque’s recognition by ICMR reflects our commitment to fostering excellence in research and innovation. We look forward to the transformative impact of this work.”
Commenting on the achievement, Prof. Mohammad Mahfuzul Haque said: “I am deeply honored to receive this grant from ICMR. It represents a significant opportunity to advance our research and contribute to improving health outcomes for millions. I am grateful to my team, my institution JMI, and ICMR for their support and encouragement.”
The grant will provide funding for three years, facilitating advanced experimentation, collaboration with leading experts, and the development of innovative approaches. This initiative aligns with ICMR’s mission to promote cutting-edge research and address pressing healthcare challenges facing India.
Dr. Haque is a renowned molecular enzymologist and his research focuses on the biochemistry, structure and function of Nitric Oxide synthase and other flavoproteins, which play a significant role in cardiovascular diseases, pulmonary hypertension and cancer.
Dr. Haque joined the Department of Biotechnology, JMI in 2017 and from 2017 to 2020, he served as Head of the Department of Biotechnology.
Prior to his appointment at JMI, Prof. Haque served as a faculty member in Molecular Medicine at the esteemed Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
He has won accolades and awards in the United States and got many funds from various funding agencies of the Government of India.
source: http://www.okhlatimes.com / The Okhla Times / Home> JMI/EDU / by The Okhla Times (edited) / November 21st, 2024
Work in AI breast cancer treatment is going on and Dr Khalid Raza has bagged Rs 94 lakh ICMR grant for AI breast cancer treatment..
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has selected Dr Raza and his team for a research grant of nearly ₹94 lakh for breast cancer treatment.
The funding is given to him for his earlier contributions to using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in drug design.
Dr Raza is Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science, Jamia Millia Islamia.
AI breast cancer treatment: Dr Raza achievement This grant is expected to play an important role in advancing innovative research aimed at using AI to develop precise and effective treatments for breast cancer.
Now, Dr Raza and his team will focus on developing advanced tools for AI-driven drug design. Their work will center on optimising drug compounds, pinpointing therapeutic targets, and creating innovative treatment strategies for breast cancer.
One such promising drug compound, DdpMPyPEPhU, already patented by Dr. Raza will be further explored under this initiative.
This research tackles key challenges in breast cancer treatment and is poised to deliver transformative results that could have a global impact on healthcare practices.
Both Professor Mazhar Asif, Vice-Chancellor of Jamia, and Professor Md Mahtab Alam Rizvi, Registrar, congratulated Dr Raza on his outstanding achievement.
“This is a moment of great pride for Jamia. Dr. Raza’s recognition by ICMR highlights the university’s dedication to promoting research excellence and innovation,” said the VC.
Groundbreaking work in AI breast cancer treatment His groundbreaking work showcases Jamia’s vital contributions to integrating AI in healthcare research, said VC Asif.
Dr Raza said: “I am honoured to be selected for this ICMR grant. This is an opportunity to further our research in AI-driven drug design and make a meaningful contribution to improving health outcomes for millions. I am deeply grateful to my research team, collaborators, and ICMR for their continuous support.”
The three-year funding will facilitate advanced experimentation, foster collaboration with leading experts, and accelerate the development of innovative solutions for breast cancer treatment. This initiative aligns closely with ICMR’s mission to support cutting-edge research addressing India’s critical healthcare challenges.
AI breast cancer treatment: Dr Raza a distinguished researcher Dr Raza is a distinguished researcher in the application of AI in healthcare, focusing on designing and optimising drug compounds through AI-based multitarget docking, molecular simulations, and genomics-driven personalised medicine. Award and grants are not something new for Dr Raza. Stanford University recognised him among the world’s top 2 per cent scientists from 2021-2023.
Dr Raza has served in various academic and administrative roles at Jamia.
He has published over 140 research articles in prestigious journals, conference proceedings, 14 authored/edited books, and held notable positions, including ICCR Chair Visiting Professor of Computer and Information Sciences at Ain Shams University, Egypt, and is an honorary research fellow at INTI International University, Malaysia.
Dr Raza also serves as Associate Editor for PeerJ Computer Science and Guest Editor for esteemed journals like npj Precision Oncology, Natural Product Communications, and Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry. His remarkable contributions to the scientific community and Jamia are truly remarkable!
This grant represents a convergence of excellence, with the potential to revolutionise breast cancer treatment and affirm Jamia’s status as a hub for transformative research.
source: http://www.okhlatimes.com / The Okhla Times / Home> JMI/EDU / by The Okhla Times (edited) / November 30th, 2024
Adila Khanam, currently a second-year M.Sc. Virology student at the Multidisciplinary Centre for Advanced Research and Studies (MCARS) at Jamia Millia Islamia, has been awarded the prestigious Princeton Foundation for Peace & Learning National Scholarship (USA) 2024-25.
The Foundation is dedicated to empowering young women by providing holistic education and mentorship. As part of the Princeton Foundation’s flagship initiative, GOAL, Adila will benefit from the financial assistance as well as extensive mentorship and internship opportunities, which include eligibility for both corporate and research internships.
Adila Khanam reacts Adila expressed her joy regarding the accomplishment and said: “I am excited about the USA-based internship and the opportunity to learn from different mentors who will shape both my personal and professional development. I am deeply grateful to my mentors, especially Dr. Jawed Iqbal, whose unwavering guidance and mentorship have been invaluable throughout my academic journey”
She conveyed her sincere gratitude to Dr Mohan Joshi, Assistant Professor, for introducing her to this remarkable scholarship opportunity, as well as to Prof. Mohammad Husain, Director of MCARS, and the other faculty members of the centre for their encouragement and invaluable mentorship.
In another development on the campus a few days ago, the Faculty of Dentistry organised a workshop on ‘Soft Skills in Dental Practice’ on 5th December 2024, for its fifty BDS Interns of the Batch 2020.
The workshop was conducted by Prof. Poonam Sood Loomba, Professor and Head, Microbiology Department, G. B Pant Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, New Delhi. She is a FAIMER Fellow from CMC Ludhiana and is actively involved in medical education. She is also the National Medical Commission Convenor for the Regional Centre, Medical Education Department, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi.
In the inaugural session, Prof. Keya Sircar, Dean, Faculty of Dentistry welcomed the gathering and emphasised on the need of soft skills in dental practice.
The organising chairperson, Prof. Ashu Bhardwaj, highlighted the origin of the term “soft skills” in the U.S Army in late 1960s, when apart from technical know-how, leadership values and emotional intelligence were considered to be important adjuncts to motivate soldiers. She made the interns aware that over the next few months, they would be stepping into the real world where adhering to soft skills would be a feather in their professional cap.
In her lecture, Prof. Loomba drew the attention of the participants to various aspects of soft skills, such as attitude, ethics and communication. Speaking on the significance of verbal and non-verbal communication, she emphasized on active listening at length, taking informed consent, breaking communication barriers and maintaining ethical standards.
The workshop was conducted through role plays of clinical case scenarios on convincing a patient about the importance of sterilisation, counselling a HIV reactive patient, taking informed consent regarding placement of implants, explaining treatment, and counselling a patient for compliance to dentures, obtaining cooperation of the mother of an anxious child, breaking bad news, communicating the importance of written records and dealing with an agitated patient.
The interns actively participated in the role plays with dynamic inputs from the resource person and the organising team. The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks by the Organising Secretary, Prof. Zeba Jafri.The event was organized by faculty members – Prof. Ashu Bhardwaj, Prof. Anuradha Sharma, Prof. Zeba Jafri, Prof. Nishat Sultan, Prof. Anupriya Wadhwa, Prof. Kirti Chawla and Dr. Nupur Gupta under the patronship of the Dean, Faculty of Dentistry, JMI, Prof. Keya Sircar.
source: http://www.okhlatimes.com / The Okhla Times / Home> JMI/EDU / by The Okhla Times (edited) / December 10th, 2024
A new biography looks into Akbar’s life to draw some inspiration on how to manage the boardroom. The third Mughal emperor was always thinking on his feet, one step ahead of friend and foe; but he also knew that force had to be tempered with tolerance, and confidence with caution.
Akbar’s Tomb in Sikandra, Agra | Photo Credit: cinoby
Even as elements in the right-wing have made attempts to nibble at the great Jalaluddin Akbar, historians and authors have taken it upon themselves to project the third Mughal emperor clothed in nothing but facts of history.
Around the time of COVID-19, Ira Mukhoty came out with her exhaustive biography, Akbar The Great Mughal: The Definitive Biography (Aleph). It came on the heels of Manimugdha S. Sharma’s Allahu Akbar: Understanding the Great Mughal in Today’s India (Bloomsbury) where the author, as the title suggests, made an attempt to see the Mughal monarch in the light of modern-day developments.
The books show why Akbar is considered an Indian icon and a king with compassion and empathy. Instead of spending his childhood as a royal prince, practising calligraphy and honing his skills with the sword, Akbar lived those years, as Mukhoty writes, “in the company of his beloved animals and their keepers…He raced pigeons, ran alongside camels and dogs, and hunted cheetahs, lions, tiger, and deer. And Akbar tested his physical strength and courage against wild elephants, learning to ride and to tame them.”
Akbar had grown up practically illiterate but would eventually be “known for his reverence for learning, penmanship, books…and would patronise some of the most extraordinary works of writing, translation and illustration ever undertaken in the country,” Mukhoty points out.
This quest for knowing the unknown led Akbar to build Ibadat Khana, an assembly of scholars of different religions. Akbar’s congregation of men of spiritual accomplishment was the work of a truly liberal mind. At a time when the Safavids were persecuting non-Shias in Iran and Europe had no space for non-Christians, Akbar invited them all. He abolished the religious tax, jiziya, for non-Muslims and did away with the pilgrimage tax on Hindus and was known to prevent Sati. As Sharma quotes Abul Fazl in Allahu Akbar, “The Shahenshah in his wisdom and tolerance remitted all these taxes, which amounted to crores. He looked upon such grasping of property as blameable and issued orders forbidding the levy thereof.”
In simpler words, it meant, as Sharma writes, “The state wouldn’t come in between an individual and his faith.”
Beyond religion
Yet Akbar’s relevance goes beyond the sphere of religion as noted journalist and author Shazi Zaman discusses in his latest, Akbar The Great CEO: The Emperor’s 30 Rules of Leadership. Published by Speaking Tiger, the book has a contemporary, and non-historic feel to it. In its innovative approach lies its appeal. Zaman presents Akbar as a practitioner of some dictates which would do a management guru proud. Interestingly, the book opens with the words of a Jesuit priest stationed at Akbar’s court. The priest wrote in awe, “He was a prince beloved of all, firm with the great, kind to those of low estate, and just to all men, high or low, neighbour or stranger, Christian, Saracen or Gentile; so that every man believed that the King was on his side.” The priest’s words were borne by the fact that Akbar, as Zaman writes, “perfected the art of ruling with a light touch even though he had the means to be brutal.”
The surprise factor
So what were the 30 rules of Akbar? Though he ruled in an age when the Emperor was often larger than life, Akbar believed in subtlety. Importantly, as his experience with the Afghan king Daud Khan Karrani proved, Akbar was not just fast in his thinking, he was unpredictable too. When he would be least expected to show up in a battle, he would take the enemy by surprise, vanquish his forces, and bring him to his knees. “When the Rubicon was to be crossed was a call that he [Akbar] took in a manner so unpredictable that his opponents could never gain an advantage by guessing it,” writes Zaman. “The Emperor’s audacity was well documented visually as well… In one painting, he is seen holding a cheetah by its ear, and in another painting, he is seen mounted on a mast elephant and chasing another across a shaky bridge built on boats.”
Zaman mentions another incident which underscores Akbar’s acuity. When a slave attacked him, Akbar knew who was behind it but chose to remain quiet.
As Zaman writes, “Even the truth has to await its moment.” Does it remind you of office boardroom meetings? Maybe. But remember this was the strategy of the Mughal emperor who was merely 21 at the time of the attack. He knew the truth, but also knew how to use it to his advantage later in life.
Little wonder then that one of Akbar’s favourite books which he also recommended to his officers was Akhlaq-i-Nasiri, a 13th century text on etiquette and way of life, which said, “The king should keep his secrets concealed, so that he can change his mind without sounding contradictory…The need to keep secrets has to be combined with the need to consult intelligent people.” Akbar did it all.
Be it his relationship with Maham Angaand Bairam Khan, or later the Rajputs, Akbar was always smart and wise.
Zaman’s book progresses like an equation in a science book as he goes on to reveal many facets of Akbar’s personality.
Cultivated image
One such aspect was the way he looked, and the way he presented himself. “Akbar’s image was cultivated, recorded and disseminated with a lot of thought. There was a message in how he dressed and looked and what he chose to be doing in the picture. Each portrait portrays a facet of his personality. It never was a picture for the sake of a picture,” writes Zaman.
Written with the brush of an artist, the book is a must-read for anyone looking for life lessons and critical values, particularly in the boardroom. The ‘illiterate’ emperor was indeed a wise man, who never “went to extremes” in any direction.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Books / by Zia Us Salam / December 25th, 2025
TNIE catches up with Shaikh Hassan Khan, the first Malayali to conquer the highest peaks on all seven continents.
Shaikh atop Mt Kosciuszko, the highest peak in Australia
Kochi :
Climbing peaks is akin to a marathon up a rock wall with a bag of bricks on your back, battling freezing winds, dizzying heights, and pushing one’s limits. Shaikh Hassan Khan, a state secretariat employee with a passion for adventure, loves doing that.
His dream was to conquer the highest peaks on all seven continents. And, a few days ago, he became the first person from Kerala to achieve this feat.
“My love for the mountains began in 2015 when I was posted in Delhi for work. That’s when I started sneaking off for trips to the hills whenever I could,” says Shaikh.
“On one such journey, I ended up at the Himalayan Institute of Mountaineering in Darjeeling. I felt a spark, and alongside my civil service training, I took a 28-day basic mountaineering course at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering. By the end of the course, I was completely hooked. Not long after, I climbed Mount Satopanth, a 7,000-metre peak, and that was just the beginning of my journey.”
The Thiruvananthapuram native scaled his first summit, Mount Kilimanjaro (19,341ft) in Tanzania, in February 2021. At 3pm on November 10 this year, by waving the Tricolour atop Mt Kosciuszko, the highest peak in Australia, Shaikh completed the ‘Seven Summits’ challenge.
“I can’t put into words how jubilant I felt as I stood atop Mt Kosciuszko with the Indian flag, wearing the mundu in the cold just to add a bit of Kerala vibe,” Shaikh smiles.
His earlier conquests include Mt Vinson in Antarctica, Mt Everest in Asia, Mt Denali in North America, Mt Elbrus in Europe, and Mt Aconcagua in South America.
Shaikh also holds a world record for unfolding the largest Tricolour atop Mt Everest, a feat that he achieved on the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence. “I carried a 30x20ft flag. It was heavy, but its symbolism outweighed its physical weight,” he says.
On his return from the ‘Everest Eco Expedition’, Shaikh carried back more than just memories; he lugged down over 100kg of junk.
About challenges of mountaineering, Shaikh concedes that there have been “moments of doubt when giving up seemed tempting”, but his passion pummelled through those blocks.
“Solitude can be daunting, but it’s also a space for self-reflection,” he adds. “I use solitude to connect with my inner self. During expeditions, I also rely on mindfulness techniques, journaling, and reminding myself of the people who believe in me.”
What about physical fuel? “I take calorie-dense foods like nuts, energy bars, and dried fruits for quick energy boosts,” he says.
“I consume complex carbohydrates like oats and rice for sustained energy, and ensure adequate protein intake through dehydrated meal packs. I also carry electrolyte tablets to replenish myself. Most importantly, we need to listen to our bodies and eat regularly, even when our appetite is low.”
Reflecting on his three-year ‘Seven Summit’ journey, Shaikh recalls the most memorable moments that deepened his appreciation for nature and reaffirmed his commitment to environmental conservation.
“Climbing Mt Vinson in Antarctica, the sheer purity of the place humbled m making me realise how small we are compared with nature,” he says.
“And when I stood on the rim of Mt Kilimanjaro at sunrise, watching the golden light spread across the savannah, I felt like the world had paused. It was a powerful reminder of why I climb — to experience nature’s raw beauty.”
For Shaikh, conquering the Seven Summits is just the beginning. At 37, he now aims to become the first person in the world to scale the highest peak in every country over the next five years. However, securing sponsorships for a “less popular sport like mountaineering” remains a challenge.
“I often find myself knocking on 100 doors to get one to open,” he says. For my Everest expedition, I had to take loans and faced a lot of struggles. But for my trips to Antarctica, Russia, and Kangchenjunga, Al Muqtadir jewellery stepped in as sponsor. My alma mater, Musaliar College of Engineering, supported my American expedition. I didn’t have any sponsor for the Australian one, but my friends raised the funds to make it happen.”
Shaikh rues that the government’s efforts to promote sports in Kerala are minimal. “I don’t expect much,” he says. “My goal is to inspire others through my Seven Summits journey and attract sponsors for my next challenge — covering 195 countries. I remain hopeful that someone will see the value in my effort and offer support.”
Going beyond the thrill factor, Shaikh says he has been raising awareness about climate change and world peace. “I have seen the effects of climate change up close,” he says, suddenly turning grim.
“The ice on the peaks is melting, and there’s more rainfall in North America than ever. Everywhere I go, I try to spread the message about what’s happening to our planet and share it through my social media.”
Shaikh is also planning a project focused on cleaning the beaches in Kerala, believing that “to inspire others to take action, one must lead by example”. He asserts that every human has infinite potential within.
“Standing atop the peaks, I realised that the summit is not just a physical goal but a metaphor for life itself. The unexpected revelation was the power of resilience within me — an ability to push beyond limits,” he says.
“The journey taught me that every small step matters, and that great achievements often require one to go through solitude, discomfort, and uncertainty.”
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Kochi / by Parvana K B (headline edited) / November 20th, 2024
Mujibur Rehman overlooks pivotal reasons jeopardising the political future of Muslims
At a protest against mob lynching, in New Delhi. | Photo Credit: Sandeep Saxena
Mujibur Rehman’s Shikwa-e-Hind: The Political Future of Indian Muslims takes its title from the poem Shikwa (The Complaint) composed in 1909 by the great philosopher-poet Muhammad Iqbal (1877-1938).
If Shikwa was an aggrieved remonstrance by faithful Muslims (shikwa-e-arbaab-e-wafa) against god for having forsaken them despite their fervent loyalty, Shikwa-e-Hind is a complaint against majoritarian India for plotting “to de-Islamise” the country through its “multipronged attack on everything associated with Muslims.”
But the book is marred by the huge amassment of superfluous information on the historical “why and how” of Muslim political exclusion. Had the author realised that the Muslim past — especially what they went through before, during, and immediately after Partition — is a fait accompli, his book would not have suffered from a lack of focus on what Muslims must do to ameliorate their present situation.
Simplistic approach
Members of Muslim organisations in Bengaluru call for government action against attack on Muslims in BJP-ruled States across India. | Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar
Muslims have been demonised, abused, suspected of various kinds of jihad, and even lynched in some parts of north India prompting the Supreme Court, in 2018, to suggest that Parliament must enact an anti-lynching law against cow vigilantism and lynch mobs.
The Hindu Right has hinted that it doesn’t want the political empowerment of Muslims as it would lead to the establishment of the shariah. In April 2022, priest Yati Narsinghanand reportedly asked Hindus to have more children to prevent India from becoming an Islamic country. He warned that in 20 years 50% of Hindus “will convert” if a Muslim became India’s prime minister.
A gathering of Muslims at Thennur, Tiruchi district, wear masks of Gandhi, Ambedkar, Periyar and other freedom fighters, to oppose the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. | Photo Credit: M. Moorthy
Shikwa-e-Hind says very little about how Muslims must respond to such unfounded accusations. The few remedies it prescribes are simplistic, platitudinous, and one-sided.
If, for instance, the future of South Indian Muslims “hinges on the ability of a new political class to preserve the rich legacy of Periyar”, for all other Muslims it depends on their ability to “explore a possibility with fellow secular citizens of other faiths” to establish “a secular polity with rights for minorities.”
The book ends with the banal peroration that India must restore its democratic habits because the political future of Muslims “directly depends on the future of Indian democracy.”
Besides, Shikwa-e-Hind contains this astonishing statement in the concluding chapter:
“For Indian Muslims, the options are very limited. As a religious minority, it no longer has a choice to ask for a separate nation — an option it has exhausted with catastrophic consequences with the creation of Pakistan and later Bangladesh.” (p.348)
Is the author suggesting that if the option had not been exhausted, Muslims would have had the choice to demand a separate nation?
Religion over politics
Although Shikwa-e-Hind blames Muslims’ excessive interest in religion (deen) on “Maulanas and various Jammats” it has no shikwa against clerics or religious bodies whose consuming passion for sectarian legalism unwittingly justifies the fears of the Hindu Right and thus, jeopardises the political future of Muslims.
Thousands of Muslim women on the premises of Lucknow’s Teele Wali Masjid to protest against the triple talaq bill, in 2018. | Photo Credit: Rajeev Bhatt
For instance, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) declared that the recent Supreme Court ruling on the maintenance of divorced Muslim women (under Section 125 of the CrPC) was “against the Islamic law (Shariah)”, and vowed to overturn it legally.
Yet, Shikwa-e-Hind would have us believe that “the Board has been committed to the role and rights of women.” The book laments that despite the AIMPLB “becoming more and more sensitive towards the role of women”, it is “still seen as a patriarchal body.”
In a video that negates this assessment, AIMPLB member Maulana Sajjad Nomani told the new Bangladeshi regime that Afghanistan (ruled by the anti-women Taliban) is “the latest example” of a “successful welfare state”, therefore, “please don’t hesitate to take the benefit of the experience of Afghanistan.”
In July this year, West Bengal Minister and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim said that those not born in Islam were “unfortunate”, and therefore, “we have to bring them under the fold of Islam. Allah will be happy if we do so.”
In Muttahida Qawmiyyat aur Islam (1938), Hussain Ahmad Madani, who promoted “composite nationalism” against Jinnah’s two-nation theory, had already expressed the hope that the need for liberation from the miseries of the British would no longer remain if all Indians (tamaam baashindagaan-e-mulk) entered the sphere of Islam (halqa-e-Islam mein daakhil hojaayen).
Amid all this, several Muslim schools in India (mostly run by the financial elite) have been indirectly keeping out non-Muslims by making skullcaps and hijab a mandatory part of the uniform. Even Muslim students who come without wearing these identity markers are not allowed to enter their classrooms.
In the context of the hijab controversy, Shikwa-e-Hind cites several experts to rightly argue that if the choice for Muslim girls to wear hijab was curtailed then it would stand in the way of their education. However, the book does not hurl this argument against Muslim schools that deny students the choice to discard the hijab or skullcaps. It would appear that Muslims go to court only when hijab bans affect their education, not when the imposition of hijab affects it.
Children at a Muslim school. | Photo Credit: Getty Images/istock
Maulana Azad’s advice
Some of the foregoing events may have happened after the publication of Shikwa-e-Hind. But the religious supremacism that defines them is not new. Yet it merits no discussion in the book which, however, complains about Muslims’ lack of interest in politics without pointing out that most Muslim leaders including Maulana Azad advised the community against having its own political identity.
Maulana Azad (right) with Mahatma Gandhi | Photo Credit: The Hindu archives
In 1948 Azad said: “If in the Indian Union there is a single Muslim or group of Muslims who think that Muslims should have a separate political organisation it would be better for them to go to Pakistan.” Azad had earlier warned that after Partition Indian Muslims “will be left to the mercies to what would become an unadulterated Hindu raj.”
This shows that the political isolation of Indian Muslims is to a large extent self-imposed, and a result of their inability to challenge their politico-religious leadership. They appear to be more interested in their religious rights than secular politics.
Their future, therefore, depends not only on the democratic defeat of Islamophobic forces, but also on the intellectual vanquishment of Muslim religious leaders who play politics, and Muslim politicians who dabble in religion, to maintain control over the community.
Shikwa-e-Hind blissfully disregards this simple truth as if to justify Iqbal’s response to his own Shikwa: “Even an unjust complainant must be conscious of his argumentative shortcomings (Shikwa bejaa bhi kare koi toh laazim hai shu’oor).”
Shikwa-e-Hind: The Political Future of Indian Muslims; Mujibur Rehman, Simon & Schuster, ₹999.
The reviewer is the Secretary General of the Islamic Forum for the Promotion of Moderate Thought.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Books> Review / by A Faizur Rahman / September 20th, 2024
Muna Shamsuddin, originally from Kasargod, has been appointed as the assistant personal secretary to King Charles in London.
Muna is the daughter of the late Shamsuddin and Saidunnisa, a couple from Talangere Teruvat Hasheem Street, Pudiyapurayil.
She pursued her education in London and began her career with the British legal advisory office. Her exceptional work led to her appointment as chief assistant secretary to the King while working in the London foreign Commonwealth development section.
Muna holds a degree in mathematical engineering from the University of Nottingham, Britain.
She has also served in the external affairs ministry of Britain, working as Britain’s consul general in Jerusalem and heading the external affairs department in Karachi, Pakistan.
Her husband, David, is employed with UNESCO. Muna had visited Kasargod 10 years ago.
source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Daiji World.com / Home> Top Stories / by Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (MS) / December 01st, 2024
Portrait of Malik ‘Ambar(detail), early 17th century. India, Ahmadnagar. Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Arthur Mason Knapp Fund
«Among the many surprises in the Deccan area of south-central India is its complex, multicultural society. Persian, Dutch, French, British, Danish, Portuguese, Central Asian, and African peoples all made their way through the region seeking trade and conquest, with some ultimately settling and leaving generations of descendants. Unlike the African movement to other places during this period (the Americas, for example), in the socially mobile culture of the Deccan, Africans migrants were able to rise to the rank of nobility.»
Habshi is the Arabic term for Abyssian, a nationality known today as Ethiopian. This term is used to describe the Africans who came to live in India, arriving as merchants and fishermen as well as slaves. Sidi (“my lord”) is another Arabic term to identify the same group, but connotes an elevated status. The integration of Africans into the subcontinent took place as early as the seventh century, and such immigration continues to sustain diasporas throughout Gujarat, Karnataka, Bombay, Goa, and Hyderabad. Today there are about sixty-five thousand Africans living in Sidi communities in these regions of India.
A few portraits of notable African Indians are currently on display in the exhibition Sultans of Deccan India, 1500–1700: Opulence and Fantasy, on view through July 26. One of the most well-known is the historical figure known as Malik ‘Ambar (1548–1626), who was born Chapu, in Ethiopia. He later came to be sold as a slave in Baghdad, where he converted to Islam and was given the name Ambar, from the Arabic term for “ambergris.” Noted for his outstanding intelligence and wit, he was purchased by the chief minister of Ahmadabad, who was himself a former slave. Upon the death of his master, ‘Ambar was freed and rose to the rank of nobility, whereupon he was imbued with the title Malik (“king”).
With his new-found freedom, Malik ‘Ambar built an army of African ex-slave soldiers and became the de-facto king in Ahmadnagar—a position that became even more influential when his daughter married Sultan Murtaza Nizam Shah II (r. 1600–1610). ‘Ambar was also a strong patron of the arts, and many portraits of him are held in museum collections worldwide.
Like ‘Ambar, the freed slave who came to be called Ikhlas Khan (d. 1656) of Bijapur also held great influence at court. Given the name Malik Raihan ‘Adil Shah, he grew up serving Sultan Ibrahim Adil Shah II (r. 1580–1627) and came of age alongside the sultan’s son, Prince Muhammad ‘Adil Shah (r. 1627–1656). When Muhammad assumed the throne, Malik Raihan was promoted alongside him.
Freed from his slave status, Raihan became a commander of troops and an important advisor to the sultan. Eventually he was named governor of a province on the border with Golconda, and, in 1635, he received the title Ikhlas Khan, by which he is known to history. His presence as the strength behind the king is evident in contemporary biographies as well as portraiture.
” Left: Ikhlas Khan with a Petition, ca. 1650. India, Bijapur. Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper. The San Diego Museum of Art, Edwin Binney 3rd Collection, 1990.442
Much of this interest is perhaps thanks to the research of the groundbreaking study African Elites in India: Habshi Amarat, edited by Kenneth X Robbins and John McLeod. In addition, public exhibitions such as The African Diaspora in the Indian Ocean World at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture at the New York Public Library also have promoted this subject, and this awareness, in turn, has directly inspired contemporary artist and designers such as Grace Wales Bonner. The continued interest in this community is a testament to its unique and longstanding cultural assimilation.
A group of Indian school children walk past a Sidi dance performer having her makeup applied. Uttara Kanada, Karnataka State, India, January 2015. Photo courtesy of Luke Duggleby
