Subhas Chandra Bose, with Captain (Dr) Lakshmi Sahgal, inspecting the guard of honour presented by the Rani of Jhansi Regiment
If one has to point out one thing that hurt the British Empire most in India, it has to be the Hindu, Muslim and Sikh unity with women fighting against the imperial crown a close second. The fear was not unfounded. In 1857, this was a united effort of Hindus and Muslims, where women like Rani of Jhansi and Begum Hazrat Mahal played important roles, which shook up the foundation of the empire in India.
A Slice Of History
The Second World War came to a close in late 1945. The soldiers of the Indian National Army (INA), originally called Azad Hind Fauj, were captured and brought in front of military tribunals as the Prisoners of War (PoW). The media coverage of the trials gave Indians the real picture of Subhas Chandra Bose-led INA. The force was painted as agents of the Japanese and fascists who wanted to capture India.
Indians came to know that INA was an independent Indian armed force and it was funded by the Indian diaspora. While in India, Congress and the Muslim League could not settle upon the question of religious communalism, in the INA Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs dined together. It must be noted that in the Indian Army of the British Imperial Government, food for each religious group was cooked separately.
Moreover, the INA had an all-women combat force – Rani of Jhansi Regiment. It was led by Captain Laxmi Sahgal.
These narratives were a blow to the divisive politics of the Muslim League led by Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Though they could not argue that Muslims were not part of the INA as many of its top Generals were Muslims they tried to convince people that Muslim women were not a part of the INA.
Admission of women fighting the war along with Hindu women as well as men was a big blow for Muslim Pakistan. How could they admit that Muslim women could interact with Hindu men as equal soldiers on the battlefield?
On 22 December 1945, the Dawn, a Muslim League mouthpiece, carried a report that no Muslim woman ever joined the INA. The same day the INA Defence Committee countered this claim and news was carried in the National dailies, where it was reported, “Prominent among the Muslim women in the I.N.A. were Mrs. Saleem, wife of Capt. Saleem, now in the Red Fort, and two daughters of Major Wahab Khan who is still in Thailand working for the Indians there.”
Sultana Saleem whose husband Colonel Saleem was also serving the INA, was one of the prominent officers of Rani of the Jhansi Regiment. She had never been to India before the War broke out and was a resident of Burma. Like a majority of the soldiers of the regiment she responded to a call of Subhas Chandra Bose without any prior military training.
It was during the War that Sultana met another young INA officer Saleem, who crossed over to the Nationalist Army after serving in the Indian Army of the British Imperial Government. Both the INA officers got married with the blessings of Bose.
When the War was over, Saleem was imprisoned as a PoW. Sultana reached India as part of the first contingent of captured soldiers of Rani of Jhansi Regiment in February 1946. She interacted with the press and told people about the INA and the movement led by Bose.
Sultana Saleem advocated military training for the women of India and said that women must pay an equal part to men and have the same facilities for military training. Such training had helped them to be strong and had made them better able to face the difficulties of life. It inculcated a sense of discipline and fearlessness. If women came forward. It would instill courage in men to make greater sacrifices.
The Indian Express reported on 22 February 1946, “Mrs Sleem felt that there was only one country for her- Hindusthan – and only one nation – Hindustani. She did not believe in either communalism or provincialism. It was the oneness of India that appealed to her most. In East Asia, she said there was no consciousness at all of religious or provincial differences and no untouchability problem. She believed that if India had freedom her many problems could be solved without much difficulty.”
The INA had a good percentage of Muslim women soldiers as well who were fighting for the freedom of India along with their Hindu and Sikh sisters of Rani of the Jhansi Regiment.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Saquib Salim / August 18th, 2024
Shagufta Hanaphie’s story is incredible, starting from a child as a shy girl who could barely speak, chronically ill with many complications to the point she would fall unconscious. Yet, at one point in her life, a “magic wand” touched and transformed her. She rose to become an Event Curator, Storyteller, Digital Creator, Author, Womenprenuer, Award Curator, and Philantropist.
She is also the co-founder of Best Friendz Society along with her friend Rajiv, and founder of SHE – Shagufta Hanaphie Events – which is a PR and event boutique, and many other organizations.
A turnaround came during COVID 19 – pandemic when Shagufta along with a team provided food for a village of 400 people in Ernakulam, Kerala.
Post Cyclone Amphan that hit Bengal, she and her team also traveled to places in Sundarbans where they provided food, dry rations, and clothes to the needey persons.
Again, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Best Friendz Society reached Sundarbans.
She started a campaign with her team called Hunger Free Bengal. She coaches people who are emerging with startups and does personal counseling for the lonely, and divorcees, and on occasions, has even match-fixed singles. She works with suicidal people and conducts counseling sessions with young girls and boys.
Titled with many monikers such as Event Organizer, Author, founder and Director, CEO at Teacher’s Excellence Award, Founder Director, Owner of SHE Founder, Director, CEO at Inspiring Women Achievers Awards – IWAA, she tells Awaz-the Voice, “I am not a brand but I want to honour, felicitate people for their outstanding work. While I may not be able to give a formal award, I want to prize people for the recognition for their incredible work and dedication which otherwise gets overshadowed by other giants.”
Shagufta Hanaphie
Shagufta lived with her parents and three sisters in a joint family of 17 members in the 100-year-old bungalow-style British-styled house in Kidderpore, South Kolkata.
Her uncle and aunt adopted her. As a little girl, Shagufta was emotional and shy, she hid behind her mother; and never spoke to people outside the family circle. She struggled with illnesses, and due to this could not study well.
“We say bhagwan ka ishara alag hota hain, maybe if a person does not do well in early life, perhaps later in life he will do something different or great.I was a very sick child right from the beginning making me heavily pampered and if I didn’t want to study, they would say don’t put pressure on her. My mom was very strict but others were soft on me. We lived in an extended family, Baarey Papa, Baari Ma used to lavish love on me, to the point that I became lethargic. I had a ligament injury in class 6 which affected the left side of my body. I sometimes even became unconscious.
“When I was 9, I underwent surgical removal of gall bladder; it had 72 stones.This story was reported by newspapers. When I was in class 8, I did not take my exams so I lagged one year. At that time, an angel in the form of my Dad’s friend, Uncle Junaid took the imitative to help me to study saying, “Let us bring back her motivation to study and let me teach her.
“Bedridden, with traction around my neck, my body aching, lying down, he taught me Maths and I started to like the subject. After being bedridden for three months, I returned to school in a robotic dress. My principal called my father and asked him to take me home saying, “You don’t understand, she is going through a mental trauma right now.
Glimpses of events organised by Shagufta’s NGOs
“I repeated classes, and with mocking classmates around, I changed the school and got an A. I could not believe it and thought the mark sheet got mixed with someone else!
“The talk of marriage exasperated me and decided to go to Ranchi and stay at my Aunt’s home to do college.
“After Baari Ma had a fall, I returned in 2002 and refused to go back to Ranchi. Dropping out of college, one day I attended a workshop where Ruby Bhatia and Michele Pinto came to Kolkata. That was a defining moment in my life because I never knew what the other world was.
“This workshop was a beautiful learning experience where I met these amazing people who told me, “Since you don’t want to study higher, help us, since your English is good.” With them, I learned oratory skills. Earlier, I never spoke to anyone outside, but presently, not only am I doing public speaking but now everyone meets me and I am well known.
“My first salary was Rs. 3200 and I spent more money going by taxi to reach my workplace. My Baari Papa used to say, “Let her travel so at least she will learn to talk and mix with people.” All these were life-learning lessons. It falls into place later on in life.
“After this, Rajiv, a good friend and I launched a new brand called Launchers. I have worked with Rajiv for 17 years as a PR Director in a partnership firm.
“My parents got hold of a very handsome boy, who is my husband now. My husband works the whole day; he is very supportive, most of my photographs are clicked by him, travels with me to all the places, and my parents stand right behind me.
“My life changed in October 2018 when my Baarey Papa was diagnosed with cancer. We spent long hours talking till he passed away in 2019. I was shattered.I felt uprooted and disconnected and took a break from work. It was a break tha my Baari Papa used to encourage me to take.
“In 2020 I did my first event and soon went on to do 5 events. On March 22, 2020, lockdown closed everything. People say lockdown was bad, for me lockdown was a boon. Our NGO called Best Friendz Society was helping people.
A wall celebrating women from dfference backgrounds in Shagufta’s office
“One day, one of my friends Nisha, a fashion designer, asked me to help people in an area in Kerala during the COVID 19 Pandemic. I was into PR and media. First I wondered how could I reach out to people in Kerala. I told myself: Okay, we will find a way to them even though we are not into this.
“At first, we heard there were four people, turned out to be 40, and finally they turned out to be 400 people stuck in Bengali Para in Ernakulam. While the BSF was providing food in the general area they were not reaching out to the red done. We had to locate the exact place and then Nisha and I arranged for food for 400 people for a month. I felt new energy and joy rising in me. I started gathering people, and communicating with them.
“While people speak up for daily wagers, I started to have a burden for a class of people that are largely ignored such as models who barely get Rs. 2,000 for an assignment which may be all they have for that month, photographers, and even school teachers. I started to post about and for them and personally WhatsApp them telling them if they need help, let me know. I assured them help will reach theirplace, they don’t have to let anyone know about it.
“I got a huge response from many photographers and models.I learned that many people were on the verge of suicide, and sitting at home. I started helping them and listening to their woes. Under the umbrella of Best Friendz Society, we started a campaign called Phone a Friend.
“I am blessed to have amazing clients. I would message PR clients who were on Facebook and tell them, “Sir, I am going to this area to help so-and-so, if you can help me out, it will be a big support to this person. They were responsive and kind, some sent sacs of rice, dal, and many other goods. They told me that they wanted to help but had no idea what to do. Here, many NGOs are misusing funds and are running corruption rings. They told me that they knew could trust me and that I would use their money honestly. They stood behind me while I ran around with their help. This is how our connection happened.
“I organize a philanthropic club, which is a virtual club and I tell our helpers that they don’t have to go around; just help us with money or goods. Those days, I used to get out of the house at 4 a.m. and visit Sundarbans, and other areas during COVID-19 almost 18 times in 2020, and attend to everyone. Sanjay Mondal, a photographer and boat owner told me point blank that he doesn’t want money, only cash for the diesel tu run his boat. He travelled with us. He had three boats. We went to the village where we found their homes submerged under water. We helped the boat owner families.
“We returned from Sundarbans at 11:30 night, reached home by 12:30 night and my mother woke me up at 3:30 a.m. to tell me to catch the vehicle going for another trip for the COVID team. She said, “They are waiting for you. Since you promised, you have to go, whether it is raining or whatever it is, even if you are sick, you have to go.”
“You need parents like that. While we went out so much during COVID, by the blessings of Allah we never got COVID, but people in 5-Star Hotels got COVID. Believe in yourself, believe in your God who has that specific blessing on you, keep doing good to others, and good will return to you and you don’t have to look back, all blessings are there, and people’s prayers are on your life. Just keep doing your work. When the government is doing 98 percent, I am doing my 2 percent.”
On the difficulties they face, she said, “Bengal is a politically disturbed area so to meet the right person is very difficult. In the last five years since 2020, I have opened small centers in every place I have worked with around 20 people or more in each center. We have adopted 23 orphans, senior citizens, teachers, and daily wagers who sum up to over 70 people and every month we send them food and other goods to help them run their daily lives. Nothing is fixed on what we send, but it is enough to ensure them good nourishing food and other commodities so that they can sleep peacefully without going to bed hungry.
A Poster of the event of Shagufta’s NGO
“In October 2020, the Phone a Friend campaign opened our lives to many people. Each night, we got calls from senior citizens- 65 or 70 years old – or young girls or men, and I listened to and counselled them over the phone. One woman did not even have time to have a cup of coffee and was always serving others suffering mental and physical abuse. Due to this, I launched my new campaign called Abuse Durga, which became Amar Durga, Amar O Durga, with a question mark. I asked the public a lot of questions, such as, “If this is my Durga, who are you to ask me a question whether I should celebrate or not?” Being a Muslim, people found it unusual.
“I felicitated people who had running cases against them for 15-20 years who were not guilty and celebrated 11 people. Last year, we held an exhibition to give table space to NGOs which cannot invest; awarded the LGBT community and single mothers. We will be holding another event for the LGBT community soon.
“My NGO is my charity partner. I did this because I was feeling bad to keep asking people to fund my NGO, so I decided to promote my events, and whatever money I got would go to my NGO so I could help the maximum people with the blessings of the Almighty. I do not want to work to mint money, want to work to make my stand.
“My breakthrough came when an old client called and invited me to his office. He is Rajendra Khandelwal, MD, Dhanwantary. During my meeting, he kept saying, “Very nice, very nice,” I asked him, “Who are you speaking about and he answered, “The event you held, the Teachers Excellence Award, I am going to support you,” and to my amazement, he handed over a cheque. At that moment, I knew I was doing the right thing. He asked me, “Why did you choose this topic, I replied, I am alive because of my teachers. Uncle Junaid who taught me how to hold a pencil and I want to do something in his memory. Without teachers’ investment, I would not be where I am today.”
“I do not work with an experienced group of people because there are a lot of young people looking for work, always take new people and give them scope, If they say, we cannot speak, I tell them you will learn to speak, If they are graphic designers, content writers, etc, I take them on board.
‘While we are a modern family, where I used to wear sleeveless and backless clothes, and my father even took us to Trincas to get us on the dance floor, I got to wearing hijab permanently unexpectedly. On my birthday in 2013 or 2014, my Baari Maa gifted me a hijab. I wore it to my office that day and since then, I have been wearing it. I changed as a person totally after that. While earlier, I was highly strung and emotional, I started to calm down after wearing the hijab believing it was my symbol of strength. My family was cool about my hijab.
“My dream is to meet 10,000 people with their inspiring stories and lift them on all my platforms. I highlight lives through events or writing about them. During the lockdown, I started to write in 2020. While my target is global, I also want to cover the map of West Bengal. I believe everyone can do anything but they just need a spark inside with a belief they can conquer the world, and they end up doing great things. Sometimes, to create that spark, that road is blocked so I just need to push these people and bring that change within them.”
Rita Farhat Mukand is an independent writer and author
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Rita Farhat Mukund / August 24th, 2024
The group is looking to tap the fast-expanding air traffic between India and the Gulf.
Kerala-based travel service operator Alhind Group with a strong presence in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to launch its airline, aiming to provide economical air travel options for residents.
The group, which has been a significant player in the travel industry for over three decades, has received the Civil Aviation Ministry’s initial nod to start an airline — Alhind Air.
The chairman, Mohammad Haris announced that the Group is in the final stages of obtaining the required approvals.
“Last week, we had a meeting with officials at the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL); we submitted all documents required for landing permission at the airport,” he said. “We had earlier received the no objection certificate (NOC) to start the airline. We are hoping to begin operations by January 2025, if not earlier,” said Haris as quoted by Khaleej Times.
Initial operations and fleet
According to the reports, Alhind Air will start its initial operations with three Atr-72 turboprop aircraft, focusing on regional routes in southern India, including connections between Cochin, Bengaluru, Thiruvananthapuram and Chennai with an initial investment of ₹200 crores to ₹500 crores as it adds more planes into the fleet.
“We will have five ATR planes in total to fly on regional routes. We have secured all support from Cochin International Airport for our operations. Once this process is completed, the exercise for hiring pilots, cabin crew, engineers and other ground staff will start, a top official of the group told CNBC-TV18.
The group’s promoter revealed that the Alhind Group offers services including air ticketing, holiday packages, Haj-Umrah services, visas, and money exchange. The group already boasts a turnover of ₹20,000 crore and has a robust sales network that could facilitate the successful launch of the airline.
Pertinently, Alhind Group is one of the leading players in the travel and tourism industry in India and abroad.
The strategic launch into the aviation sector is anticipated to enhance completion, potentially lowering airfares and improving service quality for travellers.
Mohammad Haris stated that the group which is also the General Sales Agent (GSA) for many airlines is looking to tap the fast-expanding air traffic between India and the Gulf.
source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> News> India / by Sayima Ahmad , (Headline edited) / August 22nd, 2024
Students of the colleges run under Anjuman Hamai Muslim Bhatkal continue to get ranks at the university level and this time Najda Ekiri, a student of Anjuman Institute of Management and Computer Applications (AIMCA). Anjuman College has made the name of Anjuman College bright in the entire state by securing first rank in Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) at Karnataka University, Dharwad.
AIMCA Principal Muhammad Mohsin has said in a press release that Najda Ekiri, of Mubeen Ahmed Ekiri and Nusrat Jahan, has also achieved a remarkable feat by memorizing the Holy Quran during her three-year BCA course. According to the press release, Najda secured 3421 marks out of 3700 marks, resulting in a pass rate of 92.46%. The BCA exams were held in August-September 2023.
It has been found that while Najda, a student of Bhatkal Anjuman, secured the first rank in Dharwad University, Dekshanagappa Kharvi, a student of Bhatkal Sri Gurusdhiendra BCA College, secured the third rank at the university level, with an average success rate of 91.73%. has been done.
The university’s second rank went to Shantala Raibagh, a student of Global College of Computer Applications, Hubli, who registered a pass rate of 92.27 percent.
It should be noted that more than fifty BCA colleges are affiliated to Karnataka University, Dharwad, and among the students of all these colleges, a student of Bhatkal Anjuman getting the first rank is a great achievement. In such a situation, memorizing the Holy Quran with modern education is also a big challenge.
The management of Anjuman Hamai Muslimin, the principal and other staff of the college have congratulated Najda for this wonderful achievement and wished her all the best for her future.
source: http://www.sahilonline.net / Sahil Online / Home> Coastal News / by IG Bhatkali, SO News Agency / August 23rd, 2024
Wahdina Village / Sringar, KASHMIR / JAMMU & KASHMIR :
Muzaffar Hussain Baig at his home
Muzaffar Hussain Baig is among nine top Indian legal luminaries who also took to politics. He figures in the book Courting Politics by Shweta Bansal, along with other well-known legal bigwigs like Ram Jethmalani, Shanti Bhushan, P Chidambaram, Kapil Sibal, Arun Jaitley, Salman Khurshid, Ravi Shankar Prasad, and Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
Baig, a recipient of Padma Bhushan (2020), who held several top positions in the government – Advocate General of J&K, Deputy Chief Minister, Law Minister, a member of Lok sabha – has risen in life wading through extremely difficult circumstances and yet never allowed anything do diminish his thirst for knowledge and limit his genius.
Having studied Law at the Harvard in the USA after graduating from the Delhi University’s School of Law, he also practiced in the US and Supreme Court of India before shifting to Kashmir. He was keen to make a difference to society and contested Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate. However, with the onset of the Pakistan-backed insurgency in Kashmir in the summer of 1989, Baig jettisoned his dream of pursuing a political career.
Muzaffar Hussain Baig
Baig is credited with drafting the anti-defection law of the J&K and his legal genius is reflected through the important cases he won in the Supreme Court of India and the J&K High Court.
Baig, 78, was born as the second of eight siblings in Wahdina village near Baramulla in North Kashmir. Though the family had a rich and royal legacy, he lived a life of penury. Baig speaks of he footing two km distance to school barefoot.
At the school, he was seen as a determined and hard-working student. One of his teachers Mohammad Maqbool Shah encouraged him to participate in activities like drama and speech making. Baig also taught to younger students in the school.
He learned the English alphabet in his 6th standard as was the norm those days. Soon, he started speaking in the English language with a “thick Kashmiri accent”. He topped the Board examination of the State in the 8th standard (Middle).
He shifted to Baramulla town,15 km away from home, to study further.
There was no stopping for this genius from then onwards till he joined Delhi University for his LLB and topped the examination. He then joined Harvard, USA, for higher studies and again topped the examination.
“You will find all over the world that there is an inbuilt desire in the minds of people to join politics, not to become Government functionaries but to secure some change for the society”, Muzaffar Hussain Baig told Awaz-The Voice at his residence, overlooking Dal Lake in Srinagar.
The Cover of the Book Courting Politics
He said, “I wanted to see the welfare of people…. had this desire to represent society. I did not even charge anything from my clients for whom it was unaffordable”, he said. “Politics, for me, was not just a profession but a mission to represent my society”.
Baig’s maiden attempt in politics, and as a distinguished lawyer having practiced in the US and Supreme Court of India, brought him to the notice of several political leaders including the then Congress leader and a former Minister, Abdul Ghani Lone, and the National Conference leader and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and also former union Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
Lone had later constituted the Peoples Conference in the 1970’s, after quitting Congress. “Abdul Ghani Lone, with the idea of some change in Jammu and Kashmir, had become important as a political leader”, with mass support in Kupwara. North Kashmir. Lone extended his support to Baig in a couple of subsequent Lok Sabha elections. Baramulla constituency, then comprising Baramulla district of the entire North Kashmir, now comprises three districts, Kupwara carved out in 1979 and Bandipore carved out in 2007.
Describing Abdul Ghani Lone a rebel, who was among several others after having been educated at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Baig said that he (Lone) enquired “about my interest in politics. I was already contesting as an independent candidate, he assured me of his support in Kupwara”, he said.
Muzaffar Hussain Baig as a student in Harvard
Baig added that both of them almost belonged to a similar “deprived background”, and had to suffer together for many years. Abdul Ghani Lone represented his home constituency of Handwara in 1967, 1971 (Cong), 1977 (JP), and Karnah, 1983 (Peoples Conference) both constituencies in the Kupwara district. Things changed with the eruption of militancy late in 1989, leading to a political vacuum.
Having been at the forefront of political activities in Jammu and Kashmir since the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was launched by the former Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in 1999, Baig had “good relations” with top political figures including former PMs, Atal Behari Vajpayee and Dr Manmohan Singh. He opines that Vajpayee was “extraordinarily intelligent” and Dr. Manmohan Singh was the most “humble and efficient person”.
Baig equally holds the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in high esteem for his sincerity and clarity of approach. “A Statesman thinks about the next generation and a politician thinks for next elections.’ he said.
On his experiences in the Lok Sabha as a PDP MP from Baramulla between 2014 and 2019, Baig lays importance on the “substance and sincerity in speech” adding that one has to say “things openly for the (welfare of) people”. He hailed the high political qualities of former union Ministers, Ms Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley.
Muzaffar Hussain Baig in his younger days
Given his distinguished legal background, Baig’s association was sought by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to frame the Constitution of a new political party, which later took the shape of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 1999. There was a need to float a new party while the Congress and National Conference were the only two national and regional level active political parties in the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir. Mehbooba Mufti, elected from the home constituency of Beijbehara in Anantnag district in 1996, was the CLP leader in the State Assembly.
Apart from practicing in the US after his post-graduation in the Law, Baig, being a senior counsel practiced extensively in J&K High Court, Delhi High Court, and Supreme Court of India Some of the important cases he had dealt with include the case of Reliance Petrochemicals in the SC, while he was associated with Shardul and Pallavi Shroff & Co in Bombay.
The case about Compulsory Convertible Debentures was being opposed by the senior Advocate, Ram Jethmalani. Quoting a ruling from the House of Lords, London, Baig, appearing for Ambanis asserted on the plea that no person should appear in public in any case while it is sub-juidice. The verdict was in favor of his plea, while the senior lawyer, Ram Jethmalani withdrew from the case. The legal luminaries present included N A Palkivala, Fali S Nariman, and Soli Sorabji.
He soon returned to Kashmir and decided to contest the elections as an independent to “work for the welfare” of the people. In J&K he is known for the Anti-Defection Law, following the new government formation by G M Shah in July 1984. A close associate of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and his son-in-law, G M Shah formed the Government after some of the NC MLAs defected to him from the Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah. Shah was the J&K Chief Minister from 1984 to November 1986, before Farooq Abdullah again took over after the Rajiv-Farooq Accord.
On the personal front, Baig got married to Safina in 2007, who is the first elected woman Chairperson of the J&K Haj Committee and also the DDC Chairperson of Baramulla.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Ehsan Fazili, Srinagar / August 23rd, 2024
Creates world record of doing Indian Bridal makeup in less than 9 minutes’*
Budgam :
A youth from Budgam district of Kashmir has made it to the International Book of records for doing the fastest Indian bridal makeup.
Younis Ahmad Sheikh (22) known by the name Afnan, a resident of Bugam district area in Chadoora hamlet of Budgam district has created a record for making Indian bridal makeup in less than 9 minutes.
Younis said that he was interested in calligraphy since childhood which later turned to designing and make up art as well.
“Despite facing taunts from the society as makeup artists being a female dominant area during the initial stage as there was no make up artist in Kashmir, I continued my passion and joined training programmes online,” he said.
Younis first used to do make-up of his customers at his residence as he wasn’t in a position to start his saloon due to financial issues.
“As my mother left this world in my childhood and father was old and not in a position to earn anything. After struggling hard, somehow I managed to start a saloon at my own village and slowly society has started becoming supportive as well,” he said.
After starting a salon titled YAS professional beauty salon, the number of customers started increasing and currently three girls are working as helpers at his salon.
“Three girls have got a job at my salon as currently makeup is available for ladies only and I am planning to start making up for male folk as well,” Younis said.
He said that earning livelihood for himself and providing jobs to others is a big achievement at a time when youth are getting involved in anti-social activities.
Younis claims that he had first made it to the Indian book of records followed by the Asia book of records and now the International book of records. He made to international book of records by breaking the previous record of Indian bridal make up of Assam girl in 13 minutes 46 seconds to just 8 minutes and 58 seconds
“I made it to the International book of records for making the fastest Indian bridal makeup and creating a world record,” he said. He said that people shouldn’t be judgemental as every art is a gift of Allah and everyone must respect it.
“Many people don’t show their arts just out of the fear that how society will react to it and if there are equal rights, then men can go in the field of women and vice versa,” he said—(KNO)
source: http://www.thedispatch.in / The Dispatch / Home> The Lead> The News Feed / by The Dispatch Staff / May 08th, 2023
Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA / Chennai, TAMIL NADU / INDIA :
Syed Zubair Ahmad, the founding editor of Muslim Mirror, has added another feather to his cap by being declared one of the prominent Changemakers of 2024 by the Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP). The prestigious recognition was announced during a grand event held at the B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science & Technology, a deemed university in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The event was graced by honorable guests and attended by a large gathering of participants from across India.
Ahmad, a distinguished journalist, is known for his powerful advocacy for the rights and representation of marginalized communities, particularly Muslims, in India. Over the course of his career, spanning more than two decades, he has built a reputation for his unwavering commitment to truth, justice, and journalistic integrity.
The Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP) is Mumbai based pan India non-profit organization dedicated to the socio-economic empowerment of the Muslim community in India. Through initiatives in education, employment, and community development, AMP works to foster leadership, skill-building, and social welfare, connecting professionals and organizations nationwide for collective progress.
“In a memorable ceremony, 100 inspiring individuals were honored with Changemaker Awards, and 100 state-level NGOs were recognized in the Best and Jury categories. Additionally, 10 organizations were celebrated in prestigious national categories,” said a press statement issued by AMP.
Notable national NGO awardees include;
ALTNEWS
APCR (Association for Protection of Civil Rights)
IMRC (Indian Muslim Relief & Charities??)
Institute of Objective Studies (IOS),
Allana CSR
Pataka CSR and
Seethakathi Trust
Some of the prominent Changemaker awardees included;
Syed Zubair Ahmad (Muslim Mirror)
Mohammed Wajihuddin (Times of India)
Aslayah Kallakath (Maktoob Media)
Abdur Rahman IPS (Retd.)
Akramul Jabbar IRS (Retd.)
Hammad Rahman
Adil Meraj and
Syeda Ruksheda.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was posthumously bestowed upon the Late Moosa Raza, IAS (Retd.), which was received by his family.
The Omar Khatani Memorial Award was presented to the Tarraqi I Foundation, while BSA Crescent Institute of Science & Technology received the Partner of the Year Award.
Mrs. Mariam Habib, Trustee of B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science & Technology, served as the Chief Guest and commended AMP’s efforts in education, employment, and empowerment. She emphasized the role of NGOs in bringing about significant societal change in collaboration with policymakers, and she noted that the legacy of the late B.S. Abdur Rahman is being continued with great dedication by the current leadership.
Dr. N. Raja Hussain, Registrar of B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science & Technology and Guest of Honour, praised AMP’s work in recognizing and motivating various organizations and individuals. He highlighted the ongoing collaboration between the university and AMP in developing students and faculty through guest programs. The event was presided over by University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. T. Murugesan.
Motahar Hosain, Chief Executive and Guest of Honour, congratulated AMP for instituting these much-needed awards to acknowledge the contributions of individuals in the development sector. He remarked that despite the sacrifices made by these individuals in service to others, they seldom receive the appreciation they deserve, making these awards a significant recognition of their efforts.
Mr. Farooq Siddiqui, Head of the AMP National Coordination Team and the driving force behind these awards, stated, “AMP believes in collaboration and has been working alongside multiple organizations since its inception. Through the AMP NGO Connect project, we are connected with over 7,000 social organizations across nearly all districts of India, helping them with capacity building and implementing AMP’s social welfare projects in their regions. These awards are our way of appreciating their efforts and motivating them to continue their impactful work.” He also thanked the AMP Chapter and state teams for mobilizing massive nominations and captivated the audience at the packed Crescent Convention Center Hall with his superb and engaging awards announcement.
Ms. Shereen Sultana, State Head – AMP Tamil Nadu, in her address, shared details about AMP’s initiatives and invited everyone to join hands for the betterment of society and nation-building. She expressed her gratitude to the management and staff of B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science & Technology for their cooperation in hosting the event and mentioned how she took up the challenge of organizing the awards ceremony in Chennai.
AMP Tamil Nadu State Executive Team member Mr. Yahya Rasheed welcomed the guests and successfully hosted the event with the support of Prof. Ansar.
The awards process for the NASE was multi-layered, with state, central, and a 9-member distinguished jury led by A.R. Khan, IAS (Retd.), President of A.R. Welfare Foundation, Dr. Syed Zafar Mahmood, Founder & President of Zakat Foundation of India, Dr. Farah Usmani, Founder & Chairperson of Rising Beyond The Ceiling, Prof. Zubair Meenai, Professor & Former Head of the Dept. of Social Work, JMI, Prof. Naseem Ahmed Khan, Chairman of the Dept. of Social Work, AMU, Dr. Shazia Manzoor, Head of DSW, University of Kashmir, Sherin Ali, Global Lead – Corporate Social Responsibility, WNS, Sajid Ali, COO of Tech Mahindra Foundation, and Gulzar Hussain, Head of Government Partnerships, UN World Food Program (India).
The success of the 4th edition of the awards was attributed to the collaborative efforts of key AMP team members, including Sajjad Parvez, AMP Zonal Head – South India; Dr. B. Raja Hussain, State Secretary; Syed Faheem, Chennai Chapter Head; and Syed Deen, Chennai Chapter Secretary. Their contributions, along with the support from the back-office teams at the Central Offices in Mumbai and Vaniyambadi, were instrumental in making the event a success.
source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Indian Muslim> Media> Positive Story / by Muslim Mirror Desk / August 22nd, 2024
A diorama of Mahatma Gandhi leading satyagrahis in burning British clothes at Gandhi Smriti, New Delhi
Shaikh Mohammed Elias, son of Shaikh Mohammed Younus Fakhre Quaum often heard the story of his great-grandfather’s sacrifice for freedom.
Fazal e Elahi Gorey Fakhre Quaum was a wealthy dealer of foreign goods in the 1940s when the British Empire had reached its zenith in glory and power.
In that pre-Independence era, all rich Indian merchants did well by shipping exorbitant British products from Britain and selling them in India. Because of his buoyant import-export business, Fazal e Elahi and his family lived in the lap of luxury. In those days, when no one had big branded cars, he was driving his grand Impala car around!
He and his family lived in Delhi. However, due to the exponential trade with Kolkata as the British capital, he moved there for business prospects. Since he was dealing with the British, he was given the moniker of Gorey Wale by the local people for a person who traded with the ‘whites’.
Rukhshi Kadiri Elias, entrepreneur and founder of Taajira-The Businesswoman, is the great grand-daughter-in-law of Fazal e Elahi. She told Awaz-The Voice that her great grand-father-in-law’s nickname Gorey Wale stuck on with him until an incident happened that elevated his name to a title awarded to him by the community, “Fakhre Quaum (Pride of the community).
Her father-in-law Shaikh Mohammed Younus Fakhre Quaum told her that even Mahatma Gandhi who fought vigilantly for the freedom of India would visit Kolkata and stay with him in his home during his visits. The family shares that Fazal e Elahi was a grand, gracious, and dignified man who lived by ethics.
Fazal e Elahi Gorey Fakhre Quaum
The Swadeshi movement was gaining momentum with passions running high, and at this time, the boycott of British goods started to take on a fresh vigour. Ruskshi’s husband, Elias Mohammad Shaikh shares with the family how his great-grandfather, Fazal-e-Elahi in a defining moment took a bold step to join the Swadeshi movement.
Not thinking about himself, his family, or his future, he gathered the massive pile of British products from his warehouse, transported them to the Kolutolla crossing near the Mohammed Ali Library, and stacked them into a mountainous heap before the gaping crowds, he set the entire lot of goods ablaze in a roaring fire. His business days with the British were over and the Gorey Wale sealed all doors shut for any future trade with the British. Impressed, the crowds gave him the grand title of Fakhre Quaum, meaning “pride of the community.”
It only takes a spark to set a fire blazing. The locals watching him inspired by his sacrifice rushed back to their homes and gathered all the British products they were using, started to make little piles on that road and burn them up and soon the road was aflame with British merchandise. This was the start of the boycott movement in the Muslim community as well as all over Kolkata
Fazal-e-Elahi as a freedom fighter turned all his words into actions by bringing his entire warehouse of goods onto the streets to burn them. Setting an example to the others who never expected him to take this step, losing most of his business overnight, they perceived this act as going beyond mere words or loud speeches. It was a big turning point for himself as well as his family which would negatively impact his children bringing them financially down from this point forward.
He also used the remaining parts of his wealth to give make monetary contributions to the freedom struggle. To survive, he diversified into different Indian products and started making handmade candles, ink and other products and trading in the same. His son, Mohammad Younis also started on a small scale at a time when Bangladesh and West Bengal were one big state. During the Partition, while they had to shift from Bangladesh to Kolkata, they went through pain and struggle. Properties were confiscated and there was a great loss all around.
During the partition, many families of the freedom fighters split. Shaikh Mohammed Younus FakhreQuaum had nine brothers and two sisters with most of the family living in Pakistan, while four remained in India.
Gandhi addressing Satyagrahis
Fazal-e-Elahi’s family was from Sargodha located in Punjab province of Pakistan. In the 1900s, looking for better prospects in trade, they traveled by caravan to the courts of the Mughal emperor of Delhi. The emperor encouraged people to come and settle down in the new city of Delhi. Learning about this, the family embarked on a journey to Delhi. During their travels on the way, the Hindu Punjabi traders met a seer by the name of Hazrat Shams Tabrez.
Highly influenced by his inspiring speeches and extraordinary demeanor, the entire party in the caravan converted to Islam. When they came and settled in Delhi, they became Delhi wallas known as Delhiwal meaning they were Punjabis settled in Delhi. They adopted Urdu, the court language of Delhi. Even today, while settled all over the world, they are known as Delhiwal and these groups of people are mostly concentrated in Kolkata and Delhi and all called Delhiwal.
While propagating the Quit India Movement, Fazal-e-Elahi rose quickly to become the president of the Baradari (brotherhood) of the Delhiwal community in Kolkata. When travelling down narrow lanes to build up the movement of Quit India, he abandoned driving his Impala car and started to use a horse.
Quoting her father-in-law, Rukshi says that India saw amazing unity during the Freedom Movement. Those days, one could make friends so easily, and it was the most normal thing to build bonding friendships with anyone across different communities. The freedom movement drew Indians into close ties where Indians forgot all their differences and only had the motive to defeat the Enemy.
Fazal-e-Elahi Gorey Fakhre Quaum sacrificed his flourishing business without thinking twice about it towards establishing the freedom of India setting patriotism waves over the community. Rukhshi says, “How many people will do that today is the question in this materialistically attached generation that we live in today. It was pure selflessness because Fazal-e-Elahi Gorey Fakhre Quaum considered India his own country. Such people will revive the spirit of India, sacrifice, and unity.” With a laugh she adds, “I could never think of throwing away my lovely tea set I bought in Britain, but he did it so easily.”
Rita Farhat Mukand is an independent writer and author
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Rita Farhat Mukand / August 12th, 2024
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
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
