Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

DK District Rajyotsava Awards to NRI businessman Abdulla Madumule, Journalist Ibrahim Adkasthala

Dakshina Kannada District, KARNATAKA:

Abdulla Madumule (On the left), Ibrahim Adkasthala (On the right)

Mangaluru: 

In an announcement made on Tuesday evening, the prestigious DK District Rajyotsava Awards have been revealed, recognizing the outstanding contributions of 46 individuals and 17 organizations. Among the awardees are figures such as Prominent Non-Resident Indian (NRI) businessman Abdulla Madumule, journalist Ibrahim Adkasthala, and literary expert Dr. Prabhakar Neerumarga.

Ibrahim Adkasthala is a senior correspondent at Vartha Bharati.

Additionally, recognition has been bestowed upon organizations, including the Ullal Syed Madani Charitable Trust, for their noteworthy work in various fields.

A notable recipient of this honor is Badruddin Farid Nagar, the former president of Harekala Gram Panchayat, acknowledged for his significant contributions to rural development.

The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place at Nehru Maidan in the city on November 1, starting at 9 am. Dinesh Gundu Rao, the DK District In-charge Minister, will preside over the event, with Speaker UT Khader in attendance to present the awards to the deserving recipients.

source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karnataka / by Vartha Bharati / October 31st, 2023

68th Karnataka Rajyotsava Awards distributed on November 01st, 2023 : Check the complete list of awardees here

Karnataka government has awarded the Rajyotsava award to 68 people including ISRO Chairman S Somanath and golfer Aditi Ashok.

S Somanath, Chairman, ISRO
S Somanath, Chairman, ISRO

Here’s the complete list:

The Karnataka government’s Rajyotsava Award will be given to 68 people this year, including ISRO Chairman S Somanath and golfer Aditi Ashok, for their excellent service in their fields.

The Rajyotsava Award is the state’s second-highest civilian award given by the Karnataka government annually. The 68th Karnataka Rajyotsava Awards will be conferred on the occasion of the state’s formation day on November 1. This year is the golden jubilee of renaming Mysore state as Karnataka.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is the head of the Award committee, who has selected the winners.

The government also decided to give 10 awards to organisations along with 68 Rajyotsava awards on the occasion of ‘Karnataka Sambhrama’. 

Minister for Kannada and Culture Shivaraj Tangadagi said that it is ensured that every district has been given representation while selecting the awardees. The awardees also include 54 men, 13 women and one transgender. The list also has two centenarians.

The Rajyotsava Awardee will get cash rewards of Rs 5 lakh, a 25-gram gold medal and a plaque.

Here’s the complete list of Rajyotsava Awardees

Music/Dance

  • Nayana S. More (Bengaluru) 
  • Neela M. Kodli (Dharwad)
  • Shabbir Ahmed (Bengaluru) 
  • Balesh Bhajantri (Belagavi)

Sculptures/Art/Handicraft 

  • T. Shivashankar (Davangere)
  • Kalappa Vishwakarma (Raichur)
  • Martha Jakimovich (Bengaluru)
  • P. Gowraiah (Mysuru)

Yakshagana

  • Agrodu Mohandas Pai (Udupi)
  • K. Leelavathi Baipadithaya (Dakshina Kannada)
  • Keshappa Shillikyathara (Koppal)
  • Dalawai Siddappa (Vijayanagara)

Folk Art

  • Husenabi Buden Sab Siddi (Uttara Kannada)
  • Shivangi Shanmari (Davangere)
  • Mahadev (Mysuru)
  • Narasappa (Bidar)
  • Shankuntala Devala Naik (Kalaburagi)
  • H.K. Karamanchappa (Ballari)
  • Shambu Baligara (Gadag)
  • Vibhuti Gundappa (Koppal)
  • Chowdamma (Chikkamagaluru)

Social Service 

  • Huchchamma Chowdri (Koppal)
  • Charmadi Hasanabba (Dakshina Kannada)
  • Roopa Naik (Davangere)
  • Nijagunanda Mahaswami (Belagavi)
  • Nagaraju G. (Bengaluru)

Administration

  • G.V. Balaram (Tumakuru)

Film/Cinema

  • ‘Dingri’ Nagaraj and B. Janardhana (both Bengaluru)

Theatre

  • A.G. Chidambara Rao Jambe (Shivamogga) 
  • P. Gangadhara Swami (Mysuru)
  • H.B. Sarojamma (Dharwad)
  • Thaiyabkhan M. Inamdar (Bagalkot)
  • Vishwanath Vamshakrutha Mata (Bagalkot),
  • P. Thippeswamy (Chitradurga)

Medical

  • C. Ramachandra (Bengaluru)
  • Prashanta Shetty (Dakshina Kannada)

Literature

  • C. Naganna (Chamarajanagar)
  • Subbu Holeyar (Hassan)
  • Satish Kulkarni (Haveri)
  • Lakshmipathi Kolara (Kolar)
  • Parappa Gurupadappa Siddapura (Vijayapura)
  • K. Sharifa (Bengaluru)

Education

  • Ramanna Havele (Raichur)
  • K. Chandrashekar (Kolar)
  • K.T. Chandru (Mandya)

Sports

  • Divya T.S. (Kolar)
  • Aditi Ashok (Bengaluru)
  • Ashok Gagigeppa Yenagi (Dharwad)

Judiciary

  • V. Gopala Gowda

Agriculture/Environment

  • Somanatha Reddy Poorva (Kalaburagi)
  • Dhyavanagouda T. Patil (Dharwad)
  • Shivareddy Hanuma Reddy Vasana (Bagalkot)

Miscellaneous

  • A.M. Madari (Vijayapura)
  • Haji Abdulla, Parkala (Udupi) 
  • ‘Mimikri’ Dayananda (Mysuru) 
  • Kabbinale Vasanth Bharadwaj (Mysuru)
  • Lieutenant General Codanda Poovaiah Cariappa (Kodagu)

Media

  • Dinesh Amin Mattu (Dakshina Kannada)
  • Javarappa (newspaper distributor from Mysuru)
  • Maya Sharma (Bengaluru), and Rafi Bhandari (Vijayapura)

Science/Technology

  • S. Somanath (Bengaluru)
  • Gopalan Jagadish (Chamarajangar)

NRI Kannadigas

  • Seetharam Iyengar
  • Deepak Shetty
  • Shashikiran Shetty

Freedom fighter

  • Puttaswamy Gowda (Ramangara)

Organisations receiving the Rajyotsav Award

Here’s the list of organisations which received the award. 

  • Karnataka Sangha (Shivamogga)
  • B.N. Shivarama Pustaka Prakashana (Mysuru)
  • Mythic Society (Bengaluru)
  • Karnataka Sahitya Sangha (Yadgiri)
  • Moulana Azad Shikshana and Samaja Kalyana Sanskrithika Sangha (Davangere)
  • Muslim Education Institutions Federation (Dakshina Kannada)
  • Sneharanga Havyasi Kala Samsthe (Bagalkot)
  • Chinnara Bimba (Mumbai)
  • Maruthi Janaseva Sangha (Dakshina Kannada)
  • Vidyadana Samithi (Gadag)

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> India> News / by Sudeep Singh Rawat, New Delhi / November 01st, 2023

An Indian restaurant in Tashkent celebrates Uzbekistan’s love for Bollywood

INDIA / Tashkent, UZBEKISTAN :

Housed in the Le Grande Hotel in Tashkent, the restaurant is a definite stopover for tourist groups from India and is popular for its Bollywood nights

Wall dedicated to Indian celebrities who visited Raaj Kapur restaurant in Tashkent. | Photo Credit: PTI

In the heart of Tashkent, a city known for its rich history, stands an Indian restaurant celebrating the legacy of legendary Bollywood actor Raj Kapoor and the love of the Uzbeks for him even 35 years after his death.

Styled on the Bollywood theme, the ‘Raaj Kapur’ restaurant which is one of the three major Indian restaurants in Tashkent, is not new but at least 16 years old and is a hit among not only Indian tourists but also locals for its lip-smacking dishes.

Three superstars from the Kapoor family — Randhir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor — have also dined at the restaurant on different occasions.

“People in Uzbekistan are crazy about Bollywood and generations of people from Uzbekistan and Russia – even the young – are aware of Raj Kapoor and his cinema and regard him as Bollywood’s numero uno. The restaurant attracts more crowd for its name and less for Indian food, which most visitors discover after enjoying a meal,” Sameer Khan, Resident manager, Raaj Kapur restaurant told PTI.

‘A definite stopover’

Housed in the Le Grande Hotel in Tashkent, the restaurant is a definite stopover for tourist groups from India and is popular for its Bollywood nights where Uzbeks also groove on top chartbusters from the 90s.

While Khan, who is originally from Mumbai, manages the property, the idea of the restaurant was first conceptualised by Jay Al Atas, an Indonesian who fell in love with Indian food during a visit to the country and was also impressed with the craze for Raj Kapoor in Russia and Uzbekistan.

“A lot of Indian tourist groups come here on a regular basis while Uzbeks enjoy the food on occasions and also love clicking pictures here. Whenever a Bollywood celebrity from India comes here, there is a bustling crowd,” he added.

The restaurant is also the official caterer for the majority of Indian events — be it the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit or ones like a recent Bollywood night which saw performances by Daler Mehandi and Ravi Kishan.

Five chefs from different parts of India are behind the variety-loaded menu at the restaurant.

“We offer all kinds of cuisine that are available in India. Our bestselling dishes are butter chicken, biryani, cheese naan and dosa,” said chef Kalamuddin Sheikh who hails from Orissa.

Wall dedicated to Indian celebrities who visited Raaj Kapur restaurant in Tashkent. | Photo Credit: PTI

Celebrity guests

A wall in the restaurant boasts of the renowned people who have visited the restaurant be it politicians like Sushma Swaraj and Rajnath Singh or Bollywood celebrities like Mithun Chakraborty, Shibani Kashyap, Daler Mehandi, Gulshan Grover, among others.

“We have placed signed sketches of the celebrities from India who have visited us. The restaurant is a big hit here,” Sohail Khan, Quality Manager at the restaurant told PTI.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Life & Style> Food / by PTI / October 30th, 2023

Waheeda Rahman revived traditional Assamese jewellery and started a venture

ASSAM:

Jewellery designer and enterpreneur Waheeda Rahman

National award-winning Waheeda Rahman not only sells traditional Assamese jewellery she also extricated the traditional jewelry from the brink of extinction by designing the same. 

Today Waheeda is a brand of traditional jewellery and her creations glitter in national and international markets.     

Traditional jewellery is the pride of Assamese culture as it has its unique features and values. Unfortunately, many traditional pieces were about to be lost to posterity – some have already vanished – when Waheeda intervened.

awaz
One of the jewellery pieces designed by Waheeda Rahman

Made of gold and lac, many traditional jewellery items were somewhat heavier and lacked resale value, so people reduced their use. Instead, they resorted to imported jewellery. 

As a result, the popularity of Assamese jewellery gradually declined.

Nearly three decades ago Waheeda Rahman started her journey of looking for the lost and extinct ornament designs of Assam. 

She travelled across Assam and collected the designs from Satras, manuscripts/ Sanchipaat, and Tai-Phake museum. 

She was shocked to find that most of them had become extinct from the market. Only 12 designs were still prevalent which included Motalukaporia, Kornoxingho, and Nogortul.

Waheeda Rahman with eminent personalities of Assam

“Since my childhood, I had a fascination for designs. I used to draw patterns on my Mathematics copy and later got caught by my teacher. Even though Mathematics was never my favourite subject, the teacher was my favorite. I used to admire the designs that I saw on the saris that my teacher wore. Then, I wasn’t quite sure that I would step into designing. But I was confident of doing something big for my Assam. Such confidence and determination have made me what I am today,” Waheeda Rahman told Awaz-The Voice.

Waheeda did in-depth research on Assamese traditional ornaments, their preparative techniques, and the causes that led to their disappearance. 

She later brought all the traditional jewellery pieces to the market. Waheeda applied a new technique for quality and yet never compromised with the original design.

“The processing makes a lot of difference. Diverting from the conventional technique of using gold or silver over lac, I make ornaments of pure gold or silver because lac degrades the quality of the minerals. My jewellery with innovative designs might be a little expensive, but it is an investment for a lifetime,” Waheeda said.

Waheeda not only revived traditional Assamese jewelry but also created more than 500 new designs. Some of her original designs include the Nangol, Jakoi, and Khaloi, designs made out of motifs of different tribes, buds of tea leaves, the mist in Sohra (Cherapunjee), and the Kopou Ful among many others.

Waheeda now runs a boutique “Waheeda Lifestyle Studio” where she not only sells traditional Assamese jewellery but also traditional dresses. 

She exports her jewellery to all major cities in India as well as New York, London, Australia, Germany, and several other European and Southeast Asian countries. She has created employment for many young boys and girls in the field of jewellery business.

Jewellery crafted by Waheeda Rahman

Waheeda’s journey from being a rescuer of Assamese jewellery, designer, and entrepreneur was not easy but full of challenges. 

“Initially the people did not accept my jewellery saying that it are not traditional. For the initial years, I had no buyers and faced severe financial difficulties to pay my craftsmen. Moreover, many people have a prejudiced mindset that girls cannot be in the jewellery business. It is a male bastion,” the President’s medal winner Waheeda said. 

But Waheeda’s work was appreciated and she was able to bring a revolution in the market of traditional Assamese jewellery.

“Jewellery designing is like miniature sculpture. It is not only about making one look good. It should bring forth the personality of a particular individual,” Waheeda said. “And for doing that, a lot of creativity goes into the metals.”

Waheeda is now planning to set up a school to train the younger generation to design and preserve traditional Assamese jewellery for the future.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Daulat Rahman & Munni Begum, Guwahati / October 28th, 2023

WORLD RECORD: This 1932 Hindi Bollywood Film ‘Indrasabha’ holds World Record for most Songs, had 72 of them, it’s not Hum Aapke Hain Koun, DDLJ, Taal, Devdas

BRITISH INDIA :

This Bollywood film from before Independence, holds the world record for most songs with 72 musical numbers.

article-main

Song and dance is an integral part of Indian cinema. While the West has a separate genre called musicals, most Indian films are by default musicals. Whether it’s a thriller, murder mystery, romantic comedy, or family drama, songs find a place in most Indian films. Yet, some films go the extra mile when it comes to including songs with the sheer number setting records. In fact, it is an Indian film that holds the world record for including most songs with a jaw-dropping 72 musical numbers in its run. And its not one of the usual suspects.

Bollywood film with 72 songs

While Hum Aapke Hain Koun created a flutter with 14 songs back in 1994, there have been a few before it as well that included over a dozen songs. Even Hollywood musicals like Chicago and Moulin Rouge had as many songs. Yet, none of them compare with the 1932 Hindi film Indrasabha, based on the play Inder Sabha. The 3 and a half-hour film was conceptualised and shot almost entirely in verse, comprising of 72 songs in total with most characters, big or small, receiving their own entry song. The mythological drama was one of the first Indian talkies, released just a year after Alam Ara.

Indrasabha’s 72 songs

Indrasabha was an adaptation of a 19th century Urdu play called Inder Sabha, written by Agha Hasan Amanat. The play was first brought to screen in 1925 but as a silent film. When Alam Ara brought the talkie revolution in India, Madan Theatre decided to bring back the film but with sound. The 1932 release utilised almost all of the plays 31 ghazals, 9 thumris, 4 holis, 15 songs, and seven other musical numbers. The film added a few of its own as well, giving it 72 songs in total. The feat earned Indrasabha a place in several record books.

source: http://www.dnaindia.com / DNA / Home> Bollywood / by DNA Web Team (headline edited) / October 26th, 2023

From history to books: Indulge in these unique experiences this week (edited)

Hyderabad, TELANGANA / NEW DELHI:

If you’re a history buff, World History Encyclopedia has all the lore from the past—conquests, stories, and maps that take you back to the battleground

From history to books: Indulge in these unique experiences this week
Syeda Bilgrami Imam

Don’t we all enjoy a good love story? Award-winning writer and editor Syeda Bilgrami Imam’s new book Like Fine Wine: Nine Real Love Stories (Roli Books; R695) is that rare keepsake for those who truly believe in matters of the heart, serving as a gentle reminder that love truly wins.

pix: amazon.in

The book, Iman writes in her introduction, was born out of a request from a publisher friend for a monograph on her relatives ,“Sir Syed Ali Imam [former Prime Minister of the state of Hyderabad] and Lady Imam [Anise Karim] and their fateful discovery of each other in the year 1918”.

From one story, it turned into a collection, where she makes sensitive forays into the real love stories of nine unusual couples. From cricketing legend Tiger Pataudi and superstar Sharmila Tagore, to director David Lean and Leila Matkar, chess grandmaster Viswanathan Anand and Aruna, the book takes us through stories that are replete with serendipitous beginnings, chance encounters and love-at-first-sight tropes.

The one story that will remain a personal favourite is that of Sir Ali, a 48-year-old widower, who falls instantly in love with Anise, an 18-year-old high school graduate whose “willowy, erect, curiously collected presence” made him say “without fuss or plea or preamble” if she would marry him.


Available at all leading bookstores

source: http://www.mid-day.com / Mid-Day / Home> Sunday Mid-Day News / by Team SMD (Edited) / Mumbai, May 14th, 2023

Author Of The Madinah Arabic Book, Shaikh Dr. V Abdur Rahim Passes Away At 90

Vaniyambadi, TAMIL NADU / Madinah, SAUDI ARABIA:

On Friday morning, author of the famous and most resourceful Madinah Arabic Book, Shaikh Dr. V Abdur Raheem, passed away in Madinah, Saudi Arabia at the age of 90. 

A master of the Arabic language, a world renowned Islamic Scholar, multi-linguist, author, teacher and translator he dedicated his life to extraordinary contributions to Arabic literature by helping millions learn the Arabic language in his over 50 years of experience. 

Born in 1933 in Vaniyambadi, Tamil Nadu, he obtained his B.A in English from the University of Madras and M.A in Arabic from the Aligarh Muslim University, India in 1962. He also held a M.Phil. and a Ph.D. in Arabic Philology from Al-Azhar University, Egypt.

A recipient of the National Award from the President of India in 1997 for his services in teaching, he was a self made man who learnt Arabic from the scarcest resources available to him in his little town. His three-volume series, Madinah Arabic Book, a one of a kind in its field, is the official curriculum of the Madinah University, Saudi Arabia, and is also used widely in schools and universities across the world to teach students the Arabic language.

Former Professor of Arabic Language for 30 years at the International Islamic University of Madinah, he has taught Arabic Language at Islamic Universities around the world including at Omdurman in Sudan, Germany, Washington D.C and British Guyana. An expert on European Languages and their etymology, phonetic change and semantic development he was a former Director of the ‘Institute of Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language’, at the Islamic University of Madinah.

A close associate of the Islamic Foundation Trust (IFT), Chennai, majority of his books have been published by IFT. 

Along with the Madinah Arabic Book series he has to his credit a host of other books too including ‘Let’s Begin to Read Arabic: A Beginners Guide to Learning the Arabic Language and the Qur’aan’‘AL-TIBYAAN – Easy way to Qur’aanic Reading’‘Arabic Course for Non-Native Speakers of Arabic: Originally Devised and Taught at Islaamic University, Madinah’‘From Esfahan To Madinah In Search of Truth: Salmaan al-Faarisi’s Hadiith’, ‘Both These Lights Emanate from the Same Niche’ – Hadiith of Umm Salamah (raDiyAllaahu “anhaa).’ ‘Suurah al-Hujuraat – With Lexical and Grammatical Notes and DVDs’

His passing is indeed a great loss to both the Muslim world and to Islamic literature. 

source: http://www.thecognate.com / The Cognate / Home> News / by The Cognate News Desk / October 21st, 2023

Significant initiative of Arma Saher a final year data science student of Hyderabad to make self-reliant alongside liberating women to drive

Hyderabad, TELANGANA:

Traveling is a major part of human life and it creates a major impact on the working class of society, especially working women’s face so many difficulties in travelling. Being independent is a point of pride for most people. The freedom to travel anywhere we want, regardless of access to public transit or close friends and family, is something that many of us take for granted. However, for those who are unable to drive, this independence can be limited, especially for women. 

The founder and CEO of “Unicorn for women by women” Arma Sahar, who is a final year data science student, informed us about the story of the establishment and achievements of his startup.

the challenges that women can face when it comes to transportation. When she moved from Adilabad to Hyderabad, Arma found herself reliant on her brothers for rides, which could be frustrating for both her and them due to their busy schedules. She also didn’t feel comfortable traveling alone, especially in autos which can be expensive. To address these issues, Arma founded Unicorn, a bike ride service run entirely by women. The service allows women to feel safe and comfortable while traveling and also gives them the independence and confidence to get around on their own. But after validating in the market Arma realised that more than 80% of the Women population didn’t know how to ride so they picked up the job opportunities offered by Unicorn and later they asked the girls if you are okay to learn and then drive later at Unicorn. 

That’s when they thought to start and focus on training and many other girls started showing interest in the training program as it was offered by women instructors and that’s when we realised that this is the need of the hour. But Arma’s vision for Unicorn goes beyond just providing a transportation service. She also wants to empower women by teaching them how to ride two-wheelers. To this end, Unicorn offers training programs to teach women how to ride, with the goal of giving them more freedom and mobility. “After completing our first batch, we discovered that women are very eager to learn how to ride a vehicle, and as a result of this eagerness, they were able to pick it up within a few days,” Arma said. “This made us the fastest training option in India, where we started teaching women only in 5 Days, without any prerequisites.”

Unicorn has already conducted several training batches in Mehdipatnam, Santosh Nagar, and Yakutpura and is now expanding to the Old City to reach more women in need of safe transportation. The company’s innovative solution is filling a crucial gap in the market and helping to make travel safer and more accessible for women in Hyderabad. But what sets Unicorn apart from other driving schools? Arma explains that the company is focused on empowering women, not just training them for their own benefit. This unique approach has already gained praise from many women in the city, and the company plans to continue growing and helping more women gain independence and confidence through transportation. “We strive to empower women, not just train them for their own benefit,” Arma said. To participate in the Unicorn training program, interested individuals must first register on the company’s website (www.myunicorn.in) and await confirmation. 
The company currently operates through its website and WhatsApp and assigns each participant to a cohort with a confirmation letter. With its innovative transportation solution and commitment to empowering women, Unicorn is changing the way women in Hyderabad travel and helping them achieve greater independence. But Unicorn’s support for women doesn’t stop there. 

Arma explained that the company’s website also creates connections between women who are capable drivers and those who are seeking transportation services. This allows women to make money while driving, Unicorn offers them the opportunity to find work and earn more than 25,000 per month. “We offer total support to women at every stage of their lives, from learning to drive to becoming a lady partner at our firm and partners,” Arma said. “We provide them with the choice of flexible driving hours so they can combine this career with their daily activities. Simply put, we act as their pillars of support.” Unicorn’s commitment to supporting women at every stage of their lives sets it apart from other driving schools and transportation services. By providing training, work opportunities, and flexible schedules, the company is helping women to achieve independence and empowering them to take control of their own lives.

Arma’s initiative is really appreciable for making women self-reliable in driving that creates a major impact on women’s independence over driving bikes. Moreover it also makes them financially strengthened, The advantages of having women as a part of the workforce are manifold. On a micro level, working women become financially independent and will have greater control over their own lives. This encourages women to stand against physical and emotional abuse, enabling them to handle social issues and pressures on their own. The families of working women are also able to enjoy a higher quality of living due to additional income. At the macro level, greater participation of women in the workforce is good for the overall economy. 

source: http://www.thehindustangazette.com / The Hindustan Gazette / Home> News> Education / by Abdul Sami / October 14th, 2023

Maktoob wins best media organization award for covering human rights and religious freedom at HRRF awards 2023

NEW DELHI:

Maktoob Media has won the 2023 Human Rights Religious Freedom Journalism Award in the category of Best Media Organization for covering human rights and religious freedom.

The jury selected Maktoob from a competitive shortlist of media organizations. Among the contenders were The Wire, The Newslaundry, and Khabar Lahariya.

The award was announced at the IAMC National Convention 2023 in Dallas, Texas, by the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group dedicated to safeguarding India’s pluralist and tolerant ethos.

Extraordinary and in-depth reporting covering the systematic targeting of religious minorities, the Hijab ban, and the weaponization of technology against Muslim women were among the stories that earned top honors at the award ceremony on Saturday, October 14.

“We believe this recognition is a testament to our work and commitment to tell stories that matter. We share the credit of this award with our staff, contributors and all the well-wishers. We dedicate this award to all journalists who speak truth to power no matter the consequences,” Maktoob said in a statement.

Maktoob’s regular contributor Meer Faisal won the title of Best Photo Story on Human Rights and Religious Freedom for his contributions featured in Maktoob and Al Jazeera English. The award committee recognized three photo stories published on Maktoob: “110-year-old madrasa and library set ablaze by Hindutva mob during Ram Navami rally in Bihar,” “Photos: Burnt by Hindutva mob and bulldozed by BJP govt; Muslim lives in Khargone,” and “Photos: Thousands of Muslim women pray during protests against eviction in Uttarakhand.”

Maktoob’s deputy editor, Shaheen Abdulla, jointly received the Best Text Reporting on Human Rights & Religious Freedom award for his report titled “No Country for Religious Converts,” which was published in The Wire.

Sneha Richhariya from IndiaSpend was also honored with the Best Text Reporting on Human Rights & Religious Freedom award.

The Best Video Story on Human Rights and Religious Freedom award was jointly awarded to Fatima Khan from The Quint and Naman Govil from Vice News.

The HRRF Young Journalist of the Year Award for 2023 was presented to Kashmiri journalist Aakash Hassan.

“We established these awards to shine a blazing spotlight on stories that often go unreported or underreported. In a year marked by relentless challenges, where media in India grapples with unprecedented pressures, HRRF’s 14-member international jury has selected winners who dare to speak truth to power. The resilience of these journalists and their unwavering dedication to the values of truth and justice resonate even louder in these turbulent times,” said RasheedAhmed, Executive Director of IAMC.

“Today, we celebrate the unwavering commitment of these exceptional journalists. Through their extraordinary dedication, they have illuminated the path to a more inclusive and harmonious world. These stories have not only won awards but have also won hearts, for they shed light on the issues that matter most to our shared humanity,” Ahmed added.

source: http://www.maktoobmedia.com / Maktoob Media / Home> India / by Maktoob Staff / October 20th,2023

Alt News’ Mohammad Zubair wins 2023 Freedom of Expression Awards – Journalism by Index on Censorship

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA / INDIA:

Mohammad Zubair, one of the founding members of fact-checking and news website AltNews, won the 2023 Freedom of Expression Awards – Journalism by Index on Censorship.

“His fight against fake news and disinformation in #India has led to him facing attacks, slander and even jail,” The group said while announcing the award on social media.

Index on Censorship is a nonprofit that campaigns for and defends free expression worldwide. The other nominees for the award were Bilan Media — Somalia’s first women-only media organisation and newsroom— and Afghan journalist Mortaza Behboudi.

Jailed educationalist Matiullah Wesa from Afghanistan won the 2023 Freedom of Expression Awards – Campaigning. Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi won the award in the art category.

Alt News’ approach focuses on political fact-checking to scrutinise claims made by political parties, leaders and other persons in positions of authority; debunking social media rumours; and examining media misinformation and bias.

In June 2022, following a tweet exposing a national spokesperson of the BJP making hateful and Islamophobic utterances on national TV, Mohammed Zubair was arrested by the Delhi and Uttar Pradesh state police.

It has been reported that whenever Zubair was granted bail on one case another FIR would be lodged against him. This led to six FIRs being lodged against Zubair, resulting in him being caught in a 24-day cycle of arrest, bail and re-arrest.

The following month, the Indian Supreme Court granted Zubair bail and ordered his release, as there was no justification for keeping him in custody.

source: http://www.maktoobmedia.com / Maktoob Media / Home> India / by Maktoob Staff / October 20th,2023