Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Bababudangiri: Shah Khadri is administrator

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Karnataka (under research project), Leaders, Travel & Tourism, , , ,

Chikkamagaluru , KARNATAKA :

Rituals a mix of Hindu-Muslim traditions, says committee

The experts’ committee, constituted by the State government to look at the nature of rituals and worship at the controversial Bababudangiri shrine in Chikkamagaluru, has made it clear that Shah Khadri is the administrator of ‘Sree Dattatreya Bababudan Swamy Dargah’ and also the performer of the rituals.

The committee, headed by Justice Nagamohan Das, said the issue of management of the shrine was part of the “concluded findings” from the historical records.

Shah Khadri is Sajjada Nasheen (hereditary administrator) of the shrine. Syed Ghouse Mohiyuddin Shah Khadri holds the post at present.

The three-member committee submitted its report to the State government and the same has been accepted by the State Cabinet. The government has said that the report would be submitted to the Supreme Court, as the hearing of contempt petition against the government is coming up on April 6. Shah Khadri had moved the SC alleging that the government had been delaying to settle the issue, despite clear instructions from the court.

Ritual status

The committee, after verifying historical records and previous legal proceedings held since 1837, listed seven findings on the dispute. They include the name of the place (which is Sri Guru Dattatreya Bababudan Swamy Dargah) and location of the shrine on the hills. Both Hindus and Muslims are the devotees of the institution, it says. Regarding the rituals at the institute, the report states that the practice of reading Fateha, offering food items, placing flowers on the tomb and paduka, applying sandalwood paste, burning of incense, lighting of Nandadeepa, raising flags, beating of nagara (drums) and offering holy water to the devotees are performed by Shah Khadri. The institution is declared not a wakf property, but one under the jurisdiction of the Muzrai Department.

With regard to allegations against the administrator, the committee states that whenever Sajjada Nasheen committed acts of mismanagement, misappropriation etc., the Muzrai Department had taken action in accordance with the law.

Based on these findings, the committee rejected the Endowment Commissioner’s recommendations filed before the Supreme Court on March 10, 2010. The commissioner had recommended the appointment of a Hindu priest to offer prayers in accordance with Agama. Citing the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, the committee opined that the Endowment Commissioner’s report was liable to be rejected. The Act prohibits a change in the religious character of any such place after August 15, 1947.

The Endowment Commissioner’s report had cited historian Suryanath Kamath’s article titled ‘Karnataka Dattatreya Aradhane’ to recommend the appointment of a Hindu priest. The experts’ committee stated that Mr. Kamath’s article was “not based on any authentic evidence.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Sathish G.T. / Chikkamagaluru, March 15th, 2018

Find out what made Aamir Khan the World’s Biggest Superstar

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, World Opinion, , ,

UTTAR PRADESH / Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA :

AamirKhanMPOs14mar2018

Aamir Khan’s appeal in World’s 2 major countries not only makes him the World’s Biggest Superstar, but also the most recognized face globally. The recent past has been a testimony of the mass hysteria Aamir Khan and his work generates not just in India but the world over too.
The actor is not just a Superstar in India but also China. With the population of 1.4 billion and 1.35 billion in China and India respectively, Aamir Khan is undoubtedly the biggest Superstar in the world. The record-shattering earnings of his last 3 outings make for his films PK (2014), Dangal (2016) and Secret Superstar (2017), topping the list of Top 5 all-time worldwide grossing Indian Films.
While Dangal earned a whopping 1908 crores in China while Secret Superstar raked in 874 crores at the Chinese box office, his first release in the neighbouring country opened to a thunderous response of 831 cr.
Aamir Khan emerged as the most watched non-Chinese actor in China, hence proving his stardom in the neighbouring nation. Such is the unprecedented appeal of Aamir Khan that has his work garner a huge showcase across theatres of the World along with global audience base thronging to witness his magic on celluloid.
Speaking about the tremendous love he is garnered with from the adjacent nation, Aamir Khan said, “My popularity in China happened by accident. Not many people know that it all started with 3 Idiots (2009), which reached Chinese homes through piracy. I guess they really related with the subject of the education system. Then they followed my work, including PK, and even the TV show Satyamev Jayate. When Dangal released in China, they already knew me and my work. Also, the reason why the films did such business in China is the sheer number of screens. In India, we have around 5,000 theatres, while in China there are 45,000. Even though there isn’t as much difference in the population of the two countries (approx 1.35 billion in India and 1.4 billion in China). I play a cameo in Secret Superstar, even then the film was released by the exhibitors in 11,000 theatres in China. Just imagine the scale”. Through his work Aamir Khan has brought India and China together, binding them with a common thread formed by Entertainment.
Over the years, Aamir Khan has been the only actor to have received the tremendous love and appreciation for his films in China. The actor has made it possible to resonate the mindset of the two nations, which is a rare phenomenon. With the love, acclaim and adulation from two of the most populated countries of the world, Aamir Khan enjoys a massive fandom which accounts for nearly half of the World’s population, thus making him a Global favourite!
source: http://www.freepressjournal.in / The Free Press Journal / Home> Entertainment / by FPJ Bureau / March 13th, 2018

Former RS member Begum Hamida dies at 101

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UTTAR  PRADESH :

Begum Hamida Habibullah | Photo Credit: Omar Rashid
Begum Hamida Habibullah | Photo Credit: Omar Rashid

She was the founder of SEWA (Self Employed Women’s Association), which promoted self employment for women and the art of Lucknow’s famous chikankari.

Begum Hamida Habibullah, a former Rajya Sabha member and a pioneer in women empowerment, died here on Tuesday.

She was the daughter of Nawab Nazir Yar Jung Bahadur, Chief Justice Of Hyderabad High Court and wife of Major General Enaith Habibullah, who went on to become the first Commandant of the National Defence Academy.

Her grandson Saif Habibullah announced the news of her demise through his Facebook account.

Born on November 20, 1916, Hamida was 30 when India achieved independence and was a witness to modern India’s political history, stretching from the British rule to the bloody partition. She witnessed the building of new nation, glory days of the Congress Party and its subsequent decline to the present domination by the BJP.

Her son, Wajahat Habibullah, was India’s first Chief Information Commissioner of India and former Chairman, National Minority Commission.

Ms. Habibullah was known for working on women issues. She was the founder of SEWA (Self Employed Women’s Association), which promoted self employment for women and the art of Lucknow’s famous chikankari ( thread embroidery).

She joined politics with the Congress after her husband returned from the army in 1965 and went on to become an MLA from UP’s Haidergarh seat in Barabanki from 1969 to 1974. From 1971 to 1973, she was a Minister of State in the U.P. government and a Rajya Sabha member from 1976 to 1982.

She held the Social and Harijan Welfare, National Integration & Civil Defence, and Tourism ministries.

Hamida passed senior Cambridge with Distinction in 5-Subjects before going on to get a gold medal in B.A. from Osmania University.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Other States / by Omar Rashid / Lucknow – March 13th, 2018

Bhatkal boy secures top position at All India Qirat and Hifz Competition

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Karnataka (under research project), , , , , , ,

Bhatkal (Uttara Kannada District) , KARNATAKA :

JaferMPOs13mar2018

Mumbai :

With his mesmerizing voice a little boy from Bhatkal has emerged the overall winner of at ‘All India Qirat and Hifz Competition’ organized by Idara-e-Dawatul Sunnah held in Mumbai on Sunday, March 11.

Jafer s/o Moulana Abdul Azeem Kazia(Vice Qazi, Jamatul Muslimeen Bhatkal) and a student of Maktab Jamia Islamia(Kargedde) has bagged first position in ‘All India Qirat and Hifz Competition’ while competing against 41 participants from across the country including 7 from his own hometown Bhatkal.

Jafer is also awarded an Umrah package for him and his parents by the organizers as a part of the winning prize.

The competition commenced on the morning of Sunday and continued till evening.

As soon as the news reached Bhatkal, social media platforms were full of congratulatory messages for the kid, as he turned a local social media sensation in no time.

Moulana Maqbool kobatte, President Jamia Islamia Bhatkal and other local institutions and their management congratulated the boy on his success.

Bhatkallys.com also takes this as an opportunity and congratulate Jafer, his family and his mentors and management of Jamia Islamia, and also prays to Almighty Allah to protect the kid from all the evil eyes and grant him more success in years to come so as to turn him into an asset for the community and to Islam.

source: http://www.bhatkallys.com / Bhatkallys.com / Home> Latest News / by Bhatkallys News Bureau / Mumbai – March 12th, 2018

On Women’s Day, a lesson on courage and defiance

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, , , , , , ,

Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA :

WomensDay01MPOs13mar2018

Urdu medium Bombay Girls High School on Mohammed Ali Road celebrated womanhood with inspiring stories of women who succeeded against all odds.

They come to their school on Mohammed Ali Road early in the morning from the slums of Wadala and Sewri, and when they return home, some of them must help in household chores like washing the clothes and cooking, before they can finally sit down to study. Sometimes, they have to skip school in order to look after their younger siblings. Playtime is an unknown concept.

Some of them even admitted to not opening their books at all at home. We don’t feel like it, they said. And nobody at home cares enough to try and persuade them. On the contrary, there are some who will have to persuade their parents to allow them to continue studying till Class XII.

WomensDay02MPOs13mar2018

Yet, their aspirations know no bounds. From teaching to fashion designing to becoming a doctor – these are their dreams.

On this International Women’s Day, their hopes got a huge boost when they got to hear the success story of someone just like them at a program at their 50-year-old Urdu medium Bombay Girls High School. They learnt that giving up was not an option from one of their own.

Dr Roshan Jahan, daughter of a vegetable vendor, lost both her legs in a train accident when she was in Std XI. Debarred from getting into a medical college because she was 86 per cent disabled, she approached the Bombay High Court, fought a long-winded legal battle and won the right to study medicine in 2011. Last year, she completed her MBBS with a first class from the renowned GS Medical College attached to KEM hospital.

The young doctor was the special guest at the function.

“Never give up on education,” she told the wide-eyed students, recounting her struggle. “Education alone will make you self-sufficient and take the community forward. Instead of wallowing in selfpity about discrimination, resolve to reach a position in society where no one can discriminate against you.”

The Women’s Day program was organised by Reshma Momin, a former journalist, who now runs the Quresh Nagar Women’s Welfare Society. She too had been a shy, self-effacing teenager, she told the students, but her father had taught her to aim high.

“Never feel you are any less than others just because you are poor and study in an Urdumedium school.”

Earlier, special invitee Dr Indrani Salunkhe gave a talk on menstruation and overcoming the problems that accompanied it. She also spoke to the Class VII- IX girls about the adverse link between menstruation and junk food.

source: http://www.mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com / Mumbai Mirror / Home> Mumbai> Others / by Jyoti Punwani, Mumbai Mirror / March 09th, 2018

Sufi legend Begum Yaman passes away at 52

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, , , , , , , , , , , ,

NEW DELHI :

New Delhi :

Famous sufi singer and daughter of legendary Sitar Maestro (late) Ustad Vilayat Ali Khan, Begum Yaman K. Khan has passed away after multiple organ failure.

Khan was admitted to the Christian Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana for the treatment of liver failure and breathed her last at 3 a.m.

Her mother Begum Mohnisha Khan has confirmed her sad demise.

The singer’s body will be brought to Delhi and the last rituals will be performed.

Begum Yaman was the granddaughter of Ustad Inayat Khan and daughter of Ustad Vilayat Khan of the Imdadkhani (named after her great-grandfather Imdad Khan) or Etawah Gharana.

Born in Mumbai, Begum Yaman K. Khan had a musical pedigree that goes back seven generations: her grandfather, Ustad Enayat Khan; her great-grandfather, Ustad Imdad Khan; and her great-great-grandfather, Ustad Sahebdad Khan – all leading artists and torchbearers of the Imdadkhani gharana with its roots in Mymensingh (present day Bangladesh).

She has one brother, sitarist Hidayat Khan and one sister, Zila Khan who is a sufi singer.

Begum Yaman used to sing all forms of Indian semi-classical music and was probably the only female singer in India of Sufi style of music in its purest form. She was the recipient of ‘Hasrat Amir Khusrao Award’ by Urdu Press Club International and an award for her excellence and contribution to semi-classical and Sufiana kalam by Balkan-Ji-Bari International.

She had devoted her life to practice, teach music and perform all over India as well as internationally.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Nation / b y ANI / April 21st, 2017

Keeping alive a shining legacy

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, NRI's / PIO's,

Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

Some of the silver items collected by Riaz Ziaee
Some of the silver items collected by Riaz Ziaee

Meet the Hyderabadi  ‘heritage buff’ trying to preserve precious silverware that belonged to the city’s royalty.

Hyderabad:

Riaz Ziaee, a blue-blooded Hyderabadi, has provided a worthy home to silver antiques that were made around the world for the city’s former royalty and nobles.

The techie-turned-real estate developer has two homes, one in Hyderabad and the other in Toronto, Canada, where he keeps dozens of pieces of original silver artefacts that salute the culture of a bygone era, the “time when people had time”, as he puts it.

A regular visitor to his ancestral home in Hussaini Alam, Riaz (47) spoke to Telangana Today from Toronto about the heritage he is trying to preserve.

Riaz Ziaee
Riaz Ziaee

For Riaz, the collection is a reminder of his roots. “I preserve these pieces, most of which are more than 100 years old, so that I can show my children, relatives and friends how we used to have the luxury of time when we were growing up in Hyderabad,” he said.

According to Riaz, a lot is being missed out due to life in the fast lane these days. “These collections, along with other heritage symbols, were our prized possessions. My ancestors collected antique silver artefacts, especially those pertinent to Hyderabadi culture,” he said.

Some of the items were inherited and many other pieces were collected later by Riaz. “Though several homes in Hyderabad still have such antiques, most are unable to use them due to the sheer lack of time. The importance of such precious aspects of our culture is losing ground with the new generation of Hyderabadis,” he pointed out.

In his exquisite and finely maintained collection are rare items such as kaandaan, which is different from paandaan in that it was used to keep fresh paan in its original heart-like shape.

“I also have an atardaani with pure silver filigree and a tray made in Italy for the Nizams. I collected these items from Hyderabad and from flea markets around the world. We also have silver scrolls, which were used to hold rolls of important documents,” Riaz revealed.

There is a bidri tray which was used for serving nuts and dry fruits to guests, and which has lovely calligraphy on it. There is a gulab pash, which was used to sprinkle rosewater on guests during Eid and other functions. “I still use these items on special occasions and maintain them regularly so that they stay on in our home as a reminder of where we come from and what we have lost,” said Riaz.

source: http://www.telanganatoday.com / Telangana Today / Home> Hyderabad / by  Sharjeel / March 05th, 2018

Ghazal maestra fighting ill-health, penury

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, , , , , , ,

Lucknow, UTTAR PRADESH :

Zarina Begum undergoing treatment at a private hospital
Zarina Begum undergoing treatment at a private hospital

Lucknow :

As her handicapped middle-aged son, limps on his crutches up the staircase to the third floor of a private hospital in Lucknow’s River Bank Colony  area, Zarina Begum,  the last living court singer of Awadh, is being administered injections at the intensive care unit (ICU) where she is fighting both penury and ill-health.
Disciple of legendary Ghazal singer Begum Akhtar, 88-year-old Zarina Begum, who was the first recipient of the ‘Begum Akhtar Ghazal Award’ started by UP government in 2015, has been paralytic for the past nine years. It was on the day of Holi, on March 1, that she got extremely unwell, when her family took her first to Civil hospital and later shifted her to the private facility on March 5.

As a case of right side hemiparesis (pertaining to paralysis) she was diagnosed with urinary tract infection, altered sensorium, anaemia, fever, vomiting and weakness, to be looked after in the ICU under conservative treatment. The expenses estimate given by the hospital for her five-day treatment till now is around Rs 1 lakh. And this is not the final bill.

The last living singer of the ‘Baithak’ style of musical rendition, Zarina Begum has no income, a rented home in Aminabad’s Hata Khuda Baksh area and a deluge of medical bills.

“We are extremely worried about the money. How will the expenses be borne? I don’t even have Rs 400 in my pocket,” said her daughter, Rubina.  “My brother Ayub does not have his leg down the knee ever since he lost it to an accident almost 20 years ago. Ammi has been on the bed for the last many years, and can still recall ghazals and couplets,” she added. But it is not just the medical bills that the family is worried about.

Kin seek pension for Zarina Begum
The last government after many perusals had taken up her treatment expenses immediately. But what we also seek is pension for Zarina Begum, a job for Rubina and a battery driven rickshaw that Ayub can drive so that even after hospital treatment, there is some money to feed the mouth and bear regular medical bills,” said Zarina’s son-inlaw Naved.

There is almost a monthly Rs 10,000 expense that the family manages somehow for procuring medicines. “The home, a tin-roofed rented place might soon be sold by the tenant, which could leave us on the roads,” said Naved.

“My own health, as also Rubina’s, has gone down with the continued strain we bear in keeping up with the treatments. I have sent several letters of requests to the state government, but there has been no response on the pension or the battery rickshaw or anything to do with employment,” he said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Lucknow News / by Yusra Hussain / TNN / March 08th, 2018

Fully-clad hijabwearing contestant wins body building competition

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Sports, , , ,

Orkkatteri, Kozhikode , KERALA :

MajiziyaBanuMPOs03mar2018

Kochi :
It is rare that a fully-clad hijabwearing contestant wins a body building competition, that too when the fellow contestants could show their fully toned bodies. Majiziya Bhanu, who hails from Orkkatteri in Kozhikode, could do just that as she was able to wow the judges by her fitness despite wearing a body-hugging sportswear and won the gold at a body building event held in Kochi on Sunday evening.

Majiziya Bhanu, a professional weightlifter, was on her way to Kozhikode after attending the contest in Alappuzha, when she heard about the contest in Kochi.“My fiancée encouraged me to attend the event. I had never before taken part in a bodybuilding competition.

So, I sought the help of my weightlifting coach, who sent photos of poses to be displayed on WhatsApp,” said Majizia, a final-year BDS student.“I was quite confident of winning the championship as I found the other women contestants to be chubby,” she added.

Wearing black body-hugging sports pants, full sleeve tight top and a headscarf, Majiziya displayed her physique through the mandatory four postures. Within hours after winning the powerlifting championship in Alappuzha, Majiziya achieved success once again in the bodybuilding championship in Kochi.

“I don’t defy my religion as I cover my body. I am quite confident about attending more powerlifting championships in future. I want to start an academy for powerlifting to facilitate children in my native village to get training in powerlifting,” she said.

Majiziya follows a strict diet and does not eat rice so that she can maintain her weight. Her daily diet includes vegetables, goat milk, dry fruits, chicken and oats.

While girls in her age walk extra miles to make their bodies flimsy, Majiziya prefers to focus on fitness.

She says that she is grateful to her parents for their unequivocal support in allowing her to participate in the weightlifting championship. Her father Abdul Majeed is a businessman in the Middle East while her mother Razia is a homemaker.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Kochi News / by T C Sreemol / TNN / February 27th, 2018

RAAG TAAL GHARANA – The legend of Mian Tansen

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, Travel & Tourism, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Gwalior, MADHYA PRADESH : 

Tansen's tomb in Gwalior | Photo Credit: HINDU PHOTO ARCHIVES
Tansen’s tomb in Gwalior | Photo Credit: HINDU PHOTO ARCHIVES

He created many ragas, could produce any sound and lent a distinct style to Senia gharana

This gharana is made up of the legend of Tansen, the father of Indian classical music. Though Tansen was a vocalist, the gharana also produced sitar maestros. The Senia style of sitar playing started with the legendary Ustad Maseet Sen, who belonged to the sixth generation in the Tansen lineage. ( The pioneer of Maseetkhani style, even today, 100 years later, the Maseetkhan Baj is played by the sitarists of this gharana. These musicians came to be known as the sitarists of Jaipur Senia Gharana. They lay emphasis on the purity of raga and technique. Their style of playing was that of the bin or veena. Ustad Mushtaq Ali Khan, son of Ashiq Ali Khan of Varanasi had the privilege of learning from Ustad Barkhat Ali khan of Jaipur, who went by the title ‘Aftab-e-Sitar’. Pt. Debu Choudhuri was fortunate to learn from ‘Dada Guru’ (Ustad Mushtaq Ali Khan).

On the vocal front, the gharana is referred to as Qawwal Bachcha. Its most well-known exponent of our time is the Lucknow-based Ustad Shamshudeen Khan, popularly called Ustad Gulshan Bharathi (recepient of ‘Yash Bharathi’ award). This style is known as bol bant ki gayaki and bol banav ki gayaki. Short and crisp bol taans are significant features, while the aakar is sparingly used. Many of his disciples have made a mark in films, notable among them being Shashi Suman, music composer of Bajirao Mastani and Harjeet Saxena.

Coming back to Mian Tansen. He was born as Ramatanu and later came to be known as Tanna. There are many legends woven around his life. It is said that he could produce any sound. The story goes that once when the sadhus were crossing a field they heard a lion’s roar and located it to a young boy sitting on a tree. They advised his father to send him to Swami Haridas for training.

However, it is believed that Tansen was born dumb and was taken to the Sufi saint Murshid Mohammed Ghouse Gwaliari. On reaching Gwalior, he visited the Sufi saint and found him in the company of Swami Haridas. The saint blew air into the mouth of the child and Tanna began to speak. When the saint came to know the child was also deaf, he blew air into his ears and he was cured. The Sufi saint then asked Swami Haridas to take him into his fold. Thus began his musical journey (M.A Bakhy).

Titles to Tansen

Tansen was the title given to him by Raja Vikramjit of Gwalior. Tansen was a court musician in the darbar of Raja Ramachandra of Bandavagarh (Rewa).

When Akbar heard of his prodigious talent, he sent a ‘firman’ to the king asking for Tansen and made him one of the Navaratnas in his court. He gave him the title of ‘Mian’. Tansen is also known as the ‘Sangit Samrat’, according to Musical Heritage of India by Lalita Ramakrishna.

Abul Fazl records in his Ain-i-Akbari that Akbar gave Rs 2 lakhs to Tansen for his first performance in the court. He composed many dhrupads on Ganesha, Shiva, Parvati and Rama. He also composed songs on his patrons.

Kalpadruma is a compliation of 300 of his dhrupads that were in Gauhar Bani. Tansen composed in his favourite ragas — Multani, Bhairavi and Todi .

He invented the night raga Darbari Kanhra, morning raga Mian Ki Todi, mid-day raga, Mian ki Sarang, seasonal raga Mian ki Malhar. His descendants and disciples are called Seniyas.

While Tansen graced the court of Akbar, many aspiring singers would practice round the clock and caused a lot of disturbance to him. This came to the notice of Emperor Akbar and he banned one and all from pursuing music. The story goes that a competition was organised between Baiju Bawra, also a disciple of Swami Haridas, and Tansen. The loser was to be executed. The two sang under the magic spell of love and reverence to their Guru. Tansen’s tanpura string broke. Baiju asked Akbar to grant him three wishes — not to execute Tansen, to lift the ban on singers and to set free the people who were innocent.

Another famous story is about theintrigue to bring about Tansen’s end by making him sing Raga Deepak. Tansen, who was known for the purity of his renditions, foresaw his fate, but could not say ‘no’ to the emperor. He had asked all the lamps in the court to be extinguished. As he sang, the lamps lit and the flames engulfed him.

On hearing this, his wife Husseini broke into raga Megh Malhar, beckoned rains and saved Tansen. This was a turning point in the legendary singer’s life and he went back to Sufi saint Hazrat Ghouse Gwaliari. While the Tansen samorah in Gwalior commemorates him as a singer, the yearly Urs has canonised him as a saint.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Entertainment> Music / by Jyoti Nair / March 01st, 2018