Vartha Bharati Kodagu District Special Correspondent K.M. Ismail Kandakare has been selected as the recipient of the prestigious PaGo award by the Dakshina Kannada District Working Journalists Association this year. The award-winning report, titled ‘Give way or give way to death,’ was published in the ‘Vartabharati’ newspaper on April 6, 2023.
The selection committee, comprising Senior Journalist Keshav Kunder and Journalism Lecturer Guruprasad T.N., chose Kandakare’s report for its quality and impact. The award includes a cash prize of Rs. 10,001 along with a souvenir.
Kandakare, who holds a certificate course in Diploma in Journalism from Karnataka Open University, has previously been recognized for his journalistic contributions. He has received the Best Sports Reporting Award from both the Kodagu District Working Journalist Association and the Kushalanagar Taluk Working Journalist Association. Additionally, Kandakare’s debut work, ‘Mariam,’ was published in 2021.
Apart from his journalistic endeavors, Kandakare is also involved in football, serving as both a player and coach. He currently works as a referee for the Karnataka State Football Association.
The award ceremony is scheduled to take place on May 9 at 11 AM at the Mangalore Press Club. Mangalore University Vice-Chancellor Prof. P L Dharma will present the award, while senior journalist Chidambara Baikampadi will deliver a speech as the guest speaker. The event will be presided over by Srinivas Naik Indaje, the president of DK District Working Journalists’ Association, with Jitendra Kundeshwar, the general secretary of the association, coordinating the proceedings.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavali / by Vartha Bharati / May 04th, 2024
The 2023-24 ESL results have been unveiled, showcasing Fatima Samiha’s remarkable achievement. Hailing from Chikkamagalur district, Fatima, a student of Sri Sadguru Vidyamandir in Basarikatte, chose Sanskrit as her primary language and achieved a perfect score of 125 out of 125 marks in the subject.
Her exceptional performance extends across other subjects as well, with scores of 99 in Kannada, 94 in English, 83 in Mathematics, 69 in Science, and 100 in Social Science, resulting in an impressive overall score of 590 out of 625 marks, equivalent to 94.4%.
Fatima is the daughter of Muhammad Rafiq from Chikkamagaluru and Selikhat Begum from Panemangalore.
source: http://www.thehindustangazette.com / The Hindustan Gazette / Home> News> Latest News / by The Hindustan Gazette / May 12th, 2024
Like it or not, modern Indian culture is still heavily indebted to the legacy of the Mughals and the nawabs.
Stamps of both tangible and intangible heritage of India’s prosperous Muslim reign are still vivid, despite more than two centuries of indifference, ingratitude and insolence that followed.
From language and art to cuisine and architecture, every aspect of Indian cultural landscape has strong traces of Muslim sounds, flavours and colours that continue to trickle down from an era that drew the world to India.
Like it or not, modern Indian culture is still heavily indebted to the legacy of the Mughals and the nawabs. The Persianate culture that was dominant well into the decline of the Muslim dynasties, continues to influence our customs and traditions.
Intangible heritage Whether we call it Hindi or Hindustani, the language that is spoken by most Indians, especially in North India, took shape in the hallowed halls of the Mughal Delhi and Nawabi Lucknow.
Though, it’s been nearly two centuries since the sun set upon the fortunes of the Mughals, their cuisine is still in the ascendancy and gaining in popularity everyday. Can a party be complete without the biryani and kebabs?
Urdu may not be a particularly favoured language of our times, but no Urdu basher could be averse from the influence of its sweet melody. Despite some serious attempts at its erasure from the public consciousness, Bollywood or Hindi Cinema still has some strong strands of Urdu in its rapidly morphing personality.
The indelible Urdu legacy lies at the very heart of ‘Hindi’ cinema’s golden era, with some of the best dialogues and songs that most of us swoon over being still its biggest treasure trove.
As much as its intangible legacy, the tangible legacy of the Muslim architects still remains the biggest tourist attractions in India. Not just the Taj Mahal and the Jama Masjid of Delhi, Muslim architects have left towering symbols of aesthetic excellence in architectural marvels such as the Qutub Minar and the Charminar.
Besides Delhi, Agra and Lucknow, cities such as Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Aurangabad and Bijapur wouldn’t have existed without their Muslim patrons. Their Muslim character is hard to miss despite consistent attempts at altering their nature.
The magnificent monuments, among the greatest landmarks of the tangible human heritage, are so deeply etched on the landscape and the psyche of India, that they have become synonymous to the grandeur of the Muslim ascendancy in India.
Artisanal legacy But, more than the glowing architecture, it is the enterprising artisanal traditions that continue to have the greatest traces of Muslim influence. Importantly, Muslims continue to preserve this legacy against all odds.
From the Pashmina Shawls and Banarasi Sarees to the Rogan Art and Bidriware, some of India’s best known handmade traditions are painstakingly preserved by Muslim artisans, maintaining a living heritage that can be traced to the patronage of the Great Mughals, the Bahamanis, the Adil Shahis, the Nizams and others.
It is no secret that the Mughals were the great patrons of art, craft and industry, with creativity, innovation and industry flourishing during their rule, making India the most prosperous country in the world.
Their generous patronage and facilitation meant artisans from different parts of the world made a beeline to India, adding new forms of craft to a landscape that was already full of life.
From muslin and brocade to diamonds and jewellery, the artisans of India produced some exquisite handmade goods that drew traders from all over the world to India.
Mughal India – World’s biggest economy
During the peak of the Mughal rule in India, when Aurangzeb Alamgir was at the helm, India accounted for 27 per cent of the world’s economy, greater than the GDP of the entire Europe combined.
Until the mid-18th century, when British started gaining greater control over some parts of the country, India was the biggest exporter of manufactured goods across the world.
Despite the unparalleled rapacity and depravity of the colonial administration that had led to the near extinction of the Indian craft traditions a century ago, Indian handicrafts survived largely through the resilience and industry of the artisans.
Though, the policy of erasure continued even after the British left India and continues till this day, Indian artisanal communities have shown remarkable resilience against the onslaught of monopoly, ruthlessly cruel economic policies and unfavourable terms and conditions.
Many craft clusters have also faced communal apathy, discrimination and prejudice.
Under such extreme conditions, it is nothing short of a miracle that ancient handmade craft traditions survive in India.
Story of Bidriware The tale of the Bidriware, primarily practised by Muslims, is one such story of skill, struggle and survival.
Bidriware is poetry crafted in metal
Cast in an alloy of copper and zinc, with silver and gold wires or sheets inlaid or overlaid, a Bidriware artefact is so graceful in its appearance that an indulgent heart longs to feel and touch it, if not wear it!
For more than five centuries, Bidriware objects have been must have pieces of adornment among the royalties and nobilities such as Mughal emperors, Rajput kings and Nawabs of Bengal to Bahmani, Adil Shahi and Vijayanagara Sultans (yes, the Vijayanagara kings loved to call themselves sultans!).
In the pre-modern era, the Nizams of Hyderabad have been the biggest patrons of this magical craft, not only collecting the artefacts such as hookahs (sheesha), vases, vanity boxes, ewers and pitchers, but also relocating several artisans to Hyderabad.
However, despite the early 20th century migration of artisans and losing patronage, Karnataka’s northern town of Bidar continues to remain a hub of Bidriware.
With all of the kingdoms and fiefdoms gone, ancient Bidriware items along with other surviving royal antique pieces are a collector’s treasure now, gracing the leading museums across the world.
The Origin Though, the Bidri metal craft has its origins in medieval Persia, Bidriware in its distinct Indian form blossomed in the capital of the early 15th century Bahmani Empire.
The tale of Bidriware, primarily practised by Muslims, is a story of skill, struggle and survival
The Bahmanis were renowned for their exquisite sensibilities for art and architecture, hence it is no surprise that a complex and intricate enterprise such as the Bidri metal craft originated in their royal atelier.
This, perhaps, is among the last few influences that the medieval Bahamanis continue to have on modern India.
Reinvention Despite the spell Bidriware has on art aficionados and connoisseurs of craft, the enterprise has seen a steady decline over the last few decades, with only a few masters working their magic.
Currently, the city of Bidar has around 150 registered artisans, but only a handful of artisans in the town have the depth of knowledge and the deftness of skills required to be called a master.
MA Rauf Siddiqui is a national-award winning master craftsman who is reinventing Bidriware, catering to the modern aesthetic sensibilities
Among the few masters is the national award-winning artisan MA Rauf Siddiqui.
Even as the overall scene of the Bidriware tradition is not particularly encouraging, the Shilpi Guru-winner is quietly reinventing the traditions, ably-assisted by his young and enterprising children.
Modernising the techniques, motifs and methods, the family has several generations involved in the craft, adopting latest softwares to come up with new patterns and using social media to reach new frontiers.
However, the traditional expression of the art-form continues to find patrons, even as the newer expressions in wearable forms give the craft a new lease of life.
Empowering the community Many Muslim communities in India sit on a huge treasure trove of craft traditions that have been part of the country’s cultural, economic and political legacy for centuries.
Many of these traditions are withering away due to multiple factors, including lack of upgrade or inability to adapt to the changing landscape, little government support and poor marketing.
With necessary attention and support we can not just preserve this precious legacy of India and Indian Muslims, but can also make hundreds of these craft clusters economically independent and sustainable.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Arts & Culture> Forces / by Shafaat Shahbadari / Radiance News Bureau / September 26th, 2023
Dr. Shahzad Ibrahimi’s Maamu Dhaba has captivated patrons with tea and Urdu poetry for about two decades.
New Delhi:
In the bustling corridors of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi, a distinctive aroma of tea mingles with the resonant verses of Urdu poetry. This unique sensory experience is courtesy of Maamu Dhaba, a cherished and venerated institution on the campus, nurtured by the academic prowess and entrepreneurial spirit of its owner, Dr. Shahzad Ibrahimi.
Hailing from Bihar and armed with a PhD in Urdu language, Dr. Shahzad’s journey from academia to entrepreneurship is as fascinating as it is inspiring. Twenty years ago, fresh after completing his doctoral thesis, Dr. Shahzad made a pivotal decision to establish Maamu Dhaba within the precincts of his alma mater. Adjacent to the university library, the dhaba swiftly became a sanctuary for students and professors alike, offering not just tea but also a refuge for scholarly discussions and intellectual pursuits late into the night.
Dr. Shahzad reflected on his unconventional career trajectory: “After obtaining my PhD, I briefly explored opportunities outside academia, including a stint at a TV station. However, I soon realised that my true calling lay elsewhere.” With the unwavering support of his wife, Dr. Shahzad embarked on the journey of dhaba ownership, a decision that would shape the cultural landscape of JNU for years to come.
Maamu Dhaba, christened after their shared vision and dedication, stands out amidst the plethora of dhabas in JNU not only for its aromatic tea but also for its unique blend of academia and culture. Dr. Shahzad’s commitment to his craft surpasses even his dedication to his doctoral thesis, as he divulges, “Running this dhaba demands more time and effort than my PhD ever did.”
Beyond serving tea, Maamu Dhaba serves as a platform for fostering a love for the Urdu language and poetry. Dr. Shahzad, with his profound affection for Urdu literature, regales patrons with verses from renowned poets such as Ghalib, Mir, and Momin. “I consider it my duty to share the beauty of Urdu poetry with all who visit, regardless of their familiarity with the language,” he asserts, underscoring his dedication to preserving and promoting Urdu culture.
source: http://www.clarionindia.net / Clarion India / Home> Clarion Special> Editor’s Pick> India / by Mohammad Alamullah, Clarion India / May 07th, 2024
Ashraf Adam Mulla, the founder of the Muslim Samaj Parbodhan Sanstha which runs an orphanage and several schools for poor children in and around Pune, Maharashtra, is finalizing the building plan for a charitable hospital. The 77-year-old social worker had felt the need for a hospital where the poor could be treated free of cost during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Feisty Mulla Madam, as she is called, said her plans for starting the construction of the hospital got delayed because of an accident in which she was injured. Due to this, she had to stay home for six days and could no longer move freely on her two-wheeler.
“Although I have returned to work, I can no longer drive a two-wheeler,” she says. The two-wheeler-borne Mulla Madam was famous for running around and never missing an appointment or her scheduled work. “Never mind, I will continue to work tirelessly for the hospital”’ she says with a smile.
An award distribution function at one of Ashraf Adam Mulla’s schools
Mulla has been running Muslim Samaj Prabodhan Sanstha for 39 years. Besides setting up schools where children of poor from all religions can study, she runs Samina Iqbal Ashiyana, an orphanage for Muslim girls which has 32 inmates presently as against its capacity for 65.
She says her Sanstha has been trying to equip the backward and extremely poor people with modern and quality education.
However, for three years, she has been focused on building a charitable hospital. “I am about to turn 78. I have no time to waste. There is still a lot of work to be done. For younger people, it can be said that their enthusiasm is still fresh but I have no time to waste,” she says while showing me around the place – a vast ground – where the hospital’s foundation stone will be laid this month.
Mulla Madam is all praise for her late husband Adam Mulla who worked as a chemical engineer and passed away in 2015. “He did his responsibility and work. Due to his nature, he could not support me in social work, but he always supported me financially,” he said.
“I started my work with my husband’s money.”
Morning Assembly in one of the schools run by Ashraf Adam Mulla’s trust
Ashraf Adam Mulla Madam retired as a teacher from Chanta Mani Vidya Mandir, Thevar, a Marathi medium school. With her three sons married and settled with their families, Ashraf Mulla is full-time into her projects that have the potential to change lives.
When she was working as a teacher, she recalls that about 1200 children were studying in her school but there were just two or three Muslim children. Although there was a Muslim settlement near the school, the enrolment of Muslims was poor.
When she started her primary school under a tin shed at Tan Patre in Syed Nagar, she also introduced a sewing class to get Muslims interested in coming to it. At Rahmani, her organization runs Urdu Balwadi which has 66 children. Shamsuddin Inamdar is an Urdu Primary School where 597 children are studying and Rahmani Urdu High School has 235 students.
Likewise, Rahmani Junior College has 191 students. Her organisation also runs Industrial Training Institute where 23 students are enrolled. Besides, special computer learning classes are conducted for students from 5th to eighth where 345 students including girls are learning.
Students in playing in one of Ashraf Mulla’s schools
Mullah Ma’am told Awaz-The Voice that the girls living in Ashyiana are attending school, skills and Islamic education. The Sanstha also takes the responsibility of finding partners for the inmates and arranging their weddings.
The girls who want to pursue higher education get support till they are 18 years old. Among the skills taught at the Ashiyana are artificial jewelry, sewing, embroidery, and ceramic paintings.
Ashraf Mulla is disappointed that a senior college she tried to establish did not have enough students and she had to close it down while Rahmani Junior College, established in 2006, which offers arts, science, and commerce is doing well.
She says the idea of setting up the Sanstha came to her while she was trying to deal with the grief of losing her parents. “when my mother died, I was very sad. My father passed away in 1979 and my mother also left this world in 1984. I wanted to do something in memory of my mother. To ease my grief, I founded the Muslim Samaj Parbodhan Sanstha in January 1985.”
She remembers while she was studying in class 9, Pune saw a massive flood. “I was living in Andapur then. The children of our school collected money for the flood victims and it gave us a feeling of peace and security while doing that.” She says it’s that empathy with the suffering and sense of peace to being able to help the needy that stayed with her to set up the NGO.
Girls eating dinner at Ashiyana
Speaking of her failures, Mulla Ma’am says, “I wanted to work for widows, but widows were not ready to come out of the house and work.” She says, “At that time widows liked to be a burden on their families and all our efforts to convince them failed.”
However, after some years her efforts paid off. When she set up Ashiyana (orphanage), many widows and divorced women came to stay with us. I realized times have changed.”
I visited Ashiyana and realized it’s a cozy home for girls and women. The home space is sparkling clean. The Auntie running the kitchen announced that food was ready and everyone must perform prayers. The girls went to the prayer room for Zuhr Namaz.
The food was simple Dalcha-chawal, a Maharashtrian delicacy, followed by a delicious Sher Khurma desert. The girls sat on the mats and everyone had a small table in front to put their plate on it.
Mulla Madam however says she prays that no child should feel the need to come to a shelter/orphanage. “We can do everything for children but not be their parents.”
She says the women from Ashiyana who are married continue to be in touch with them.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Shah Taj Khan, Pune / May 02nd, 2024
In the midst of electioneering cacophony, I received an invitation from the moving spirit and ever agile Founder-Chairperson of Mysuru Book Clubs-2015 Shubha Sanjay Urs for an evening of conversation and informal interaction with Saeed Akhtar Mirza yesterday morning. I did not know who this celebrity worthy of Shubha’s attention was but Shubha was quick to throw in a ‘guarantee’ at me of a dinner that would follow the event. The invite was like welcome summer’s rain for me to give a second thought before accepting. I said yes. It was at the Club House of Mysore Race Course.
Out of curiosity, I asked Shubha about the person whose ‘darshan’ I was going to have and also hear the oracle. She simply said, “Uncle, you remember the popular television serial Nukkad? He is the Director of that TV serial.”
Yes indeed, I could instantly connect to this very interesting filmwallah from Mumbai and his achievements with a National Film Award under his belt. What I did not know, however, was that he is also an author of books, rather queer ones — as I heard of the synopsis of them from his talk. He is branded (and touted) as a pioneer of the ‘New Wave’ progressive cinema in India. (One may conclude ‘left liberal of the Lutyen’s Club kind). Other appendices found in his genius are as a writer, traveller and a teacher.
Traveller indeed he is one. After all, the nature of his work would require him to travel. But what left me wondering was that at past 80 years of age he chose to travel by an SUV from Mumbai to Mysuru with one overnight halt at Belagavi. He broke his journey in our city for an overnight stay and the flycatcher of our Mysuru Book Clubs-2015 Shubha succeeded in catching him while on his way to Wayanad in Kerala. I asked him, “Are you on an election survey mission to Rahul Gandhi’s Constituency?” “No” was his response and mumbled about attending a meeting connected with films etc.
One of Mirza’s well remembered film was ‘Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hai’? of 1980. I felt nostalgic to learn that he was a student of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, where I used to frequent while in Pune to see the future stars and, of course, the art films by foreign directors like Ingmar Bergman of Sweden who directed ‘Seventh Seal’ or Vittorio De Sica of Italy who produced the all-time classic ‘The Bicycle Thief’.
Be that as it may, Mirza Saab ensconced himself on a chair, walking stick by his side and mike in hand. Introduction, mercifully brief and platitudes over, Saeed (I guess he is always addressed as Saeed) began his monologue that revealed succinctly his films and books across the gamut. He is a soft spoken person. He may be an intellectual and a creative person but he indeed has the demeanour with a persona of a philosopher-poet (see picture).
He mourned the 1984 massacre following Indira Gandhi’s assassination. Simultaneously, he alluded to Babri Masjid and its aftermath. The past is the grandfather, the future the grandchild and we witness the passing of an era, he mused kissing into the table-tennis ball of the hand-held microphone. The films are produced like a family tale where facts and fictions are mixed while his books, three of them, are revivalist, he revealed. Then, after a pause, he averred that in the world every civilisation has contributed to the growth of mankind. No one civilisation can claim to be the sole contributor and gave the example of Abbasid civilisation (considered Islamic golden age).
Saeed droned about al-Biruni who wrote and spoke of medieval mathematics, astronomy and astrology of India mentioning the names of Brahmagupta and Aryabhatta of 11th century while reflecting on the past civilisation of mankind. He opined there was much myth-making and also study of science during those bygone days. He said he did not write books as literature, but rather as ideas — whatever it means! Dilating on the theme, he took a jibe at the often heard lament by religious fanatics that their religion is in danger, ‘khatre me hai’ and said it is not true.
At the close of his talk he spoke movingly of his intimate, genius of a friend Kundan Shah who is no more. They were together one evening talking about this mundane world and Saeed mentioned of the peace that prevailed around them. Kundan Shah suddenly got up and urged Saeed to move out with him to the balcony. ‘Dear Saeed, look at the sky. What do you see? A star-studded beautiful, peaceful sky. Right?’
Saeed said, ‘Yes. Indeed.’
‘No, my dear friend. It may be beautiful to look at from here and even appear peaceful. But in reality no. There is turbulence, there is motion and there is no peace.’
Well, I could not fathom what Kundan Shah meant when he said that. But I presume that it was about the inner turmoil of an individual that robs him of peace. Apparently the peace Saeed mentioned to Kundan Shah was unreal, Maya. Let it be.
This said, Saeed was ready to field questions from the audience that comprised charming, though not so young, ladies. I counted just four men that included yours truly, Saeed of course, Ravi Joshi and Ashvini Ranjan (see picture).
As for Shubha Sanjay Urs, she kept her words. There was indeed a sumptuous dinner washed down with spirit that elevated our mood.
e-mail : voice@starofmysore.com
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Columns> Abracadabra / by K B Ganapathy / April 22nd, 2024
The actor-turned-director will also play the lead role, alongside Brahma.
Afzal
Afzal, known for his journey from journalism to acting and his recent venture into film production with VIP, is now stepping into the director’s role with his upcoming project, Hosathara.
Not limiting himself to direction, Afzal has also penned the story and screenplay for the film. Additionally, he will play the lead role alongside Brahma, who is also part of the principal cast.
Produced under the banner of Jai Vijay Productions, Hosathara marked their first production venture. The film promises to offer a fresh narrative infused with elements of love, suspense, thriller, and a sprinkle of comedy.
The pre-production phase has just commenced, with plans to feature three melodious songs, with music composed by Raju Emmiganuru and background score by Anthony Poyanoo. Action stunts will be composed by Ultimate Shivu. The makers have roped in Rajeev Ganeshan as the cinematographer, with Sukkku choreographing the dance sequences.
Incorporating cutting-edge technology, the makers have collaborated with JHJ Studios in America for VFX. Afzal, who has brought in a set of skilled technicians for the project, plans to reveal the rest of the cast and crew in the upcoming days.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express/ Home> Kannada / Express News Service / April 22nd, 2024
In a district-level speech competition organized by the Umeed Foundation, Malkapur’s Al-Huda Urdu Girls School and Junior College student, Nazifa Namus, emerged victorious, securing the first position.
Daughter of Tariqullah Khan, Namus impressed judges and spectators alike with her eloquence.
She was awarded an honorary certificate and a cash prize of eleven thousand rupees.
The event, held on Sunday, garnered attention from dignitaries such as Abdul Karim Salar, President of the Education Society, and Rajesh Akde, a prominent member of the Provincial Assembly.
Also present were Maulana Ashfaq Qasmi, Haji Rasheed Khan and senior police officials from the city.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Education / by Zaina Aman (headline edited) / Radiance News Bureau / March 06th, 2024
Makhdoom Awards have been designated for a period of five years
Hyderabad:
The Telangana Urdu Academy has revealed the recipients of the prestigious Makhdoom Awards and Karnama-e-Hayat (Lifetime Achievement) Awards in various categories honoring Urdu writers, scholars, poets, and journalists.
As part of the Telangana Foundation Day celebrations, an award ceremony and mushaira will be held at Ravindra Bharati on June 11.
President of the Urdu Academy, Mohammad Khwaja Mujeebuddin, made the announcement, expressing his enthusiasm for recognizing and celebrating the accomplishments of Urdu language and literature.
The Makhdoom Awards have been designated for a period of five years, from 2019 to 2023, while the Lifetime Achievement Awards will be presented for three years, covering the period from 2018 to 2020.
President Mujeebuddin mentioned that the awardees were chosen by separate committees comprising Urdu language and literature experts who meticulously evaluated the contributions of the nominees.
Under the Karnama-e-Hayat category, the Urdu Academy presents seven awards annually, including the Amjad Hyderabadi and Saeed Shaheedi Awards for Poetry, the Dr. Mohiuddin Quadri Award for Criticism and Research, the Dr. Agha Hyder Hassan Award for Prose, the Prof. Habeeb-ur-Rehman Award for Education and Teaching, the Mahboob Hussain Jigar Award for Journalism, and the Srinivas Lahoti Award for the Promotion of Urdu.
The Makhdoom Award, on the other hand, acknowledges exceptional achievements in the fields of research and criticism, poetry, fiction, journalism, and humour.
For the years 2019 to 2023, the recipients of the Makhdoom Awards are as follows: Dr. Aqeel Hashmi for Research & Criticism (2019), Mr. Jalal Arif for Poetry (2020), Mr. Mazharuzzaman Khan for Fiction (2021), Mr. Aziz Ahmed for Journalism (2022), and Prof. Habeeb Zia for Satire and humour (2023).
Additionally, 21 awards have been announced, with seven awards being presented each year over a three-year period.
The list of recipients for the Makhdoom Awards includes distinguished individuals such as Qazi Farooq Arifi for the Amjad Hyderabadi Award for Poetry, Dr. Raheem Ramesh for the Saeed Shaheedi Award for Poetry, Ms. Khairunnisa Aleem for the Agha Hyder Hasan Award for Fiction, Dr. Fazlullah Mukarram for the Dr. Mohiuddin QuadriZor Award for Research and Criticism, Mohammad Mastan Ali for the Prof. Habeeb-ur-Rehman Award for Education and Teaching, Dr. Fazil Hussain Pervaiz for the Mahboob Hussain Jigar Award for Journalism, and Mr. Baquar Mirza for the Srinivas Lahoti Award.
Each Makhdoom Award consists of a cash prize of Rs 2,00,000, a memento, and a certificate of appreciation, while the Lifetime Achievement Award carries a cash prize of Rs 50,000.
The grand award ceremony is scheduled to take place on June 11 at 10 PM at Ravindra Bharati, and it will be graced by the presence of state ministers K Ishwar, Mohammad Mahmood Ali, Srinivas Yadav, and other dignitaries.
source: http://siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> News> Hyderabad / by Zahed Farooqui / June 10th, 2023
It was December 2001. I was at Dr Rafiq Zakaria’s beautiful, book-lined study at Cuffe Parade house in South Mumbai. In that spacious room Allama Iqbal vied for space with William Wordsworth and Mirza Ghalib sat alongside Shakespeare. World religions and their prophets and pundits were there in plenty. So were heroes and heroines of India’s freedom struggle. Present also were a few villains amidst a pantheon of popular leaders. Muhammad Ali Jinnah could not have been absent. He was there too.
In fact, Jinnah those days was in the intellectual air on both sides of the Indo-Pak border. The Outlook magazine had sent Dr Rafiq Zakaria’s book on Jinnah ‘The Man Who Divided India’ to noted Pakistani journalist Najam Sethi for review and he had panned the book. In the review Sethi had also suggested that Dr Zakaria should have heeded advice of his wife Fatma Zakaria who had tried to stop him from wiring the book, suggesting, “I think you should leave Jinnah alone for a while.” Dr Zakaria had written a rejoinder to Sethi’s piece and explained that he could not help but write about a man responsible for not just dividing India but breaking the social cohesion of the subcontinent Muslims. First, Muslims were divided between two countries–India and Pakistan. Subsequently, a part of Pakistan broke away, leaving Muslims divided in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The blood-curdling riots that accompanied these divisions had left Dr Zakaria deeply disturbed and could not rest till he took the grief off his chest.
While he gave an interview to me for the ‘Indian Express” on why he wrote this book and the debate it had generated, he told his office staff that he would not entertain any telephone calls or visitors for the next one hour. Dr Zakaria was holding forth forcefully in the closed room when unexpectedly and suddenly the door opened and Fatma Zakaria, in yellow salwar-kameez clutching a page, breezed in. “The secretary is so terrified after you asked her not to disturb you that she pleaded with me to come. This needs your signature and has to be faxed urgently,” Fatma said, got the paper signed and left quickly.
The Zakarias, husband and wife, complimented each other. One half left in 2005. The better half departed yesterday. She was 85. Her famous son, US-based author and Television anchor Fareed Zakaria couldn’t have encapsulated his feelings in a tweet better than this: “My mother, Fatma Zakaria, passed away last night at 85. She lived a long, rich, eventful life, with children and grandchildren whom she adored. She loved this photograph.” The photograph that I use with this essay is the one Fareed Zakaria tweeted. She is survived by, apart from Fareed, her son Arshad Zakaria and step son Mansoor Zakaria and step daughter Tasneem Mehta Zakaria.
Life was never the same again in Mumbai after Dr Rafiq Zakaria had exited. Life at the beautiful educational campus Dr Rafiq Zakaria built in Aurangabad will never be the same again after Fatma Zakaria’s departure. After Dr Zakaria’s death in 2005, Fatma had stepped in to carry on the educational legacy her famous educationist, politician and Islamic scholar husband had left behind.
As you enter the green campus, a sense of gratitude for the Zakarias grips you. For years, Dr Zakaria and then his wife Fatma nursed this seat of learning, endowing it with institutions of repute. Most politicians use their constituencies to scale heights and abandon them once they leave politics and walk into sunset. Few remain clung to their constituencies till they die. Dr Rafiq Zakaria belonged to the second category. “He is the architect of modern Aurangabad and Mrs. Fatma Zakaria was a big pillar of support to him. I don’t think Dr Zakaria could have done so much in the fields of politics, education and scholarship without her,” says eminent Urdu scholar and linguist Prof Abdus Sattar Dalvi who have known the Zakarias for the last five decades. Prof Dalvi had also translated Dr Zakaria’s seminal work Iqbal: Poet and Politician in Urdu.
Fatma was Dr Zakaria’s first reader and critic too. With their children flown out of the nest and into the wider world where they planted victory flags on as varied fields as Investment Banking and Journalism, it was Fatma who provided the much-needed inputs as well as emotional support to Zakaria who heads so many institutions and i wrote so prolifically till his end.
Fatma had worked under legendary editor and ‘dream boss’ of every fledgling journalist, Khushwant Singh, and knew how to curb verbosity in a sentence and straighten a complex paragraph. In book after book that Dr Zakaria churned out, he acknowledged the unpaid services of this able, inhouse editor. She knew Urdu too and could write on arts and literature with as much felicity as she could do political pieces. The biggies she had interviewed included Indira Gandhi, Margaret Thatcher and Jaya Prakash Narayan.
Bachi Karkaria, M J Akbar, Bikram Vora, Jiggs Kalra, Badshah Sen and Ramesh Chandran were her contemporaries when they worked with “The Illustrated Weekly of India” under the stewardship of Khushwant Singh. When I informed Akbar about Fatma’s death yesterday, he reacted with a few words: “What a tragedy. I am saddened.” Akbar was so close to the Zakarias that once I heard him saying, “I feel adopted by the Zakarias.” Perhaps no book launch of Dr Zakaria–and he had at least one or two every year—was held without Akbar as one of the speakers. The speed with which Dr Zakria wrote books, published and launched them left us youngsters amazed. I once joked when he informed me about the launch of yet another book: “Dr Sahab, now I have left count of the number of your book launches and book readings I have attended.” This couldn’t have been possible without the meticulous planning Fatma Zakaria did and tireless support she provided.
It was the launch of Zakaria’s book ” Indian Muslims: Where Have they Gone Wrong?” at the Nehru Centre in Mumbai. The 900-odd capacity auditorium was houseful with young college students (Dr Zakaria and, Fatma after him, was chairperson of the Maharashtra College in Mumbai) occupying a substantial number of seats. As always, Fatma Zakaria didn’t figure among those who graced the stage. When Akbar rose to speak, he inquired about Fatma Zakaria who was seated among the audience. Akbar requested her to come on stage. She refused and was seemingly embarrassed for being invited to the stage. Leaving her to where she felt comfortable, Akbar went on to say: “It is only Dr Rafiq Zakaria who can turn a book launch into a public meeting.”
A couple of years after Dr Zakaria’s death, Islamic scholar and secretary general of the Wisdom Foundation, Dr Zeenat Shaukat Ali, and I were in Aurangabad to participate in a seminar political scientist Dr Zaheer Ali had organized. Historian and ex-VC of Jamia Millia Islamia Prof Mushirul Hasan too had flown in from Delhi. After the seminar, Zeenat Shaukat Ali and I went to see Fatma Zakaria in her office. She was in fine fettle, command of things and ran the show meticulously. We chatted for a while and then she told us not to leave without visiting Dr Sahab’s grave on the same campus.
Zeenat Shaukat Ali and I walked down the paved pathway and reached a small patch of land where Dr Zakaria’s open-to-sky grave squats. With several couplets of Allama Iqbal adorning the place, it resembles a Sufi saint’s last resting place. After a long, eventful life, Fatma Zakaria joined her husband. They will be there till the creator calls them up, along with all of us, on the Judgement Day.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> India / by Mohammed Wajihuddin in Beyond the Burqa, India, TOI / April 07th, 2021
