Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

From Designing Clothes To Designing Cakes: The Journey of a Hijabi Cake Artist From Panjim

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , , , , , , , ,

Panjim, GOA:

Nadia with the GoWomania Award 2023

Nadia Aslam, a resident of Panjim, Goa has always had a love for baking cakes. She used to bake delicious cakes for get-togethers and her close friends, but that changed when she went to college to study textile designing. She started a boutique business for a few years after college before having her first child. Nadia returned to making cakes as a career in 2016 after a gap of two years to devote more time to caring for her newborn.

“I shifted from designing clothes to designing cakes,” the 40-year-old cake artist explained to Two Circles.

Nadia has baked over 2000 cakes and pastry products, including cupcakes, for weddings, birthdays, and corporate events in the last seven years.

Nadia’s designer cakes

Challenges Faced in the Baking Business

Nadia faced several hurdles at the start of her professional career as a pastry artist. “I began very small. Because I used to earn little money, I would reinvest it in buying more stuff to meet the requirements,” she explained. 

Nadia and her family used to live in a modest residential society that didn’t have a lift or enough space in the flat where she could set up her baking business in the early years. “For the business and classes, I needed space and a lift for efficient transportation because the bakery products are very fragile,” she explained.

Nadia moved to a larger flat for the sake of her business endeavour. Then after four years of baking at home, she rented a small property solely for cake production and hired an employee. 

One of the major issues Nadia still encounters is a power outage while baking cakes, as well as bad roads, which leads to the fraying of the cake.

According to Nadia, it takes 17 hours to prepare, make, bake, and decorate a single cake. It became difficult when she began receiving orders for great corporate events and large parties. She said her customers want her to focus more on the decoration and general presentation of the sweet delicacies, which takes a lot of time and work.

Nadia’s creations

Earlier Nadia was preoccupied with household chores, raising children, and running the cake shop. “It messed up my sleep schedule, and I was frequently sleep-deprived,” she explained.

‘Men Should Encourage Their Wives’: Nadia Receives Support From Her Family

Nadia faced challenges, but she also received tremendous emotional support for her business from her family. Her husband, Rehan Shaikh, was always encouraging and helpful, from getting baking supplies to delivering cake orders. 

“Men should encourage their wives,” said Rehan, beaming with pride at her success. Shaikh is in charge of handling the accounting of the cake business.

Nadia is assisted by her three children, aged 17, 14, and 12, in addition to her husband and two employees. “My kids help me after school and during the holidays,” she explained.

Nadia with her family

Teaching Women How to Bake

Nadia shared her experiences as a Muslim Hijabi pastry artist. “We Muslim women can financially support our families while practicing Islam and following its guidelines,” she said.

Nadia stated that her mother, a former beautician, is her greatest inspiration. 

Aside from baking cakes, Nadia offers paid baking workshops that last two to three months and has taught hundreds of women how to bake and decorate cakes. Nadia hopes to build an academy where women bakers learn from chefs from all over the world.

The ‘Moist choco truffle’ is the most popular item in her diverse menu of cakes. “It’s my customers’ all-time favourite item, and they often come back to request more,” she explained.

Nadia teaching her students to bake

Receives Order From Across India

Nadia does not currently own a shop, but she receives a large number of orders through her Instagram and Facebook pages.

“We not only get orders from Goa, but also from Mumbai, Maharashtra, Belgaum, Bangalore, Tamil Nadu, and other places,” she explained. Nadia uses roadways to  deliver cakes within 100 kilometers of Goa, and railways to deliver cakes to Mumbai, Belgaum, and other distant locations.

Nadia received multiple awards for her cake-making abilities, including the “Star of the Month” award from Gowomania Goa, an organisation of Gaon women, in 2017. 

Sobiya Inamdar is an independent reporter based in India

source: http://www.twocircles.net / TwoCircles.net / Home> Indian Muslim> Lead Story> TCN Positive> Women / by Sobiya Inamdar, TwoCirlces.net / August 29th, 2023

A 1857 martyr’s skull taken as a ‘war trophy’ to Ireland waits to be buried in India

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), First War of Independence 1857 / Naval Mutiny 1946 / Others PreIndependece (wef. July 27th, 2022), Freedom Fighters (under research project), Martyrs of the Nation, World Opinion, , , , , , ,

Kanpur, UTTAR PRADESH / BRITISH INDIA:

Prof Kim A Wagner and his book
Prof Kim A Wagner and his book

The skull of a martyr Sepoy Alam Baig of the first war of Indian independence in 1985 must be brought to India for burial at the site where he was blown into pieces with a cannon for rebelling against the British Army in 1857.

This campaign is being run by British Professor Kim A. Wagner, who teaches Global and Imperial History at Queen Mary University of London and is also the author of the book The Skull of Alum Bheg: The Life and Death of a Rebel of 1857.

Prof Kin Wagner is an authority on the subject as he has published several books like ‘Thuggee: Banditry and the British in Early Nineteenth-Century India’, ‘The Great Fear of 1957: Rumours, Conspiracies and the Making of the Indian Uprising’, and ‘Amritsar 1919: An Empire of Fear and the Making of a Massacre’.

Wagner says this grisly war trophy was found in a  pub in south-east England in 1963. The owner handed it over to him in 2014 and he published this book on Alum Bheg in 2017.

Wagner says the skull was brought to Ireland by someone from the British authorities and later changed hands.

“The handwritten note found with it revealed the skull to be that of Alum Bheg, an Indian soldier in British service who had been blown from a cannon for his role in the 1857 Uprising. His head had been brought back as a grisly war trophy by an Irish officer present at his execution,” writes Kim Wagner.

Prof. S. Sehrwat of the Department of Anthropology, Punjab University had said in a statement that during the revolution of 1857, Havaldar Alam Baig (the way it is spelled in India) was captured and blown up with cannon. His skull was found in England.

He said Wenger had told him about this.

The note found with Alam Baig’s skull

A complete search record of the skull has been found. The scientists are now keen to do a DNA test to ensure the identity of the skull. It is known that Alam Baig was from the Kanpur area of Uttar Pradesh and even a family has claimed him to be their ancestor.

According to Prof Dineshwar Chaubey, who teaches genetics at BHU, Varanasi, two types of tests can be done on Alam Baig’s skull. A Kanpur family living in Delhi has claimed to be related to Alam Baig. Their genes can be matched with it.

Kim Wagner and other historians are campaigning for givinh a due burial to at some place along the India-Pakistan border, where he was done to death.

Wagner says the British had accused Baig of killing a Christian priest family and it was a fabricated charge. The record says that he was a sepoy of the 46th regiment of the Bengal Native Infantry.

Kim Wagner believes that it is the right time to bury Havaldar Alam Baig in his country, at the same spot where he fought in the Battle of Trimu Ghat on the banks of the Ravi River in the border region between India and Pakistan.

He said, “I do not consider the return of Alam Baig’s skull as political. My aim is only to bring the mortal remains of Alam Baig to his homeland so that he may rest in peace long after his death.

Although the historian’s statement has also passed a long time, there is no progress in this matter to date. It is also waiting for the time when the skull of one of the great sons of India will be brought to India and buried in the soil here.”

The Natural History Museum confirmed its likely authenticity and Wagner, with little evidence to go on, traced Bheg’s history using various sources.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home > Story by ATV / by Ghaus Siwani, New Delhi / posted by Aasha Khosa / September 02nd, 2023

From the womb of necessity, delectable inventions

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy

Sitapur, UTTAR PRADESH / Kolkata, WEST BENGAL:

The Telegraph goes to a Calcutta anachronism — a sweetshop that has very little Bengali about it.

Candy crush: Haji Nizamuddin (in white kurta) believes their sweets are turning out better than the Arabian originals. / Moumita Chaudhuri

Haji Allauddin, the sweet shop on Phears Lane in central Calcutta, is more than a hundred years old. Haji Nizamuddin, who is the owner now, is Allauddin’s great-grandson. He says, “My grandfather had started this shop and it is named after him. We have heard that in the early days there was no shop, just some wares on a bench in north Calcutta’s Colootola .”



Haji Allauddin had come from Uttar Pradesh’s Sitapur with his family.

Nizamuddin does not know what drove them all the way. “Maybe our
ancestors were farmers, maybe my ancestor was of rebellious nature and left Sitapur in search of better opportunities,” says Hamd Sultan, who is Nizamuddin’s son.


“The earliest registration papers in our possession go back to 1904 but I have heard from my elders that the shop was operational even a decade before that,” adds Sultan, who is now getting involved in the affairs of his ancestral business.Sultan and his cousins are planning to expand.

Haji Allauddin, a sweet shop on Phears Lane, north Calcutta./ Moumita Chaudhuri

There are three branches of the shop already, one on Beck Bagan Row, another on Ripon Street and the other on Dent Mission Road in Kidderpore. The shop owners want to open branches in the Middle East next.


Allauddin had started his sweet journey by making batashas. He would go door to door and sell them. Batashas were not only used in every religious ritual in Bengal, but was also part of the daily diet of certain sections.


Some years later, he opened the shop in Colootola.

In the initial days, Allauddin would stock gond ka halwa, a kind of mashed sweet dish made from the extracts of the babul tree with a sprinkling of dry fruits. It is also called battisa after the 32 ingredients in it and is considered good for pregnant women as well as the infirm. He also sold mawa laddu and gulab jamun fried in desi ghee.


From whom or where Allauddin learnt to make these sweets remains a mystery. Says Sultan, “He chose to use ghee made in Samastipur in Bihar only as its flavour and texture were best suited to our kind of sweets.” In deference to his wisdom, his progeny continues to source all the ghee they need from Samastipur. “It has now become our USP,” adds Sultan.

After Allauddin, his son Nasiruddin and, thereafter, his son Nizamuddin introduced many more sweets — Bournvita sweets, patisa, milky soft bar, coconut-based products, milk halwa, walnut halwa.
Nizamuddin also introduced gajar ka halwa, dudhiya halwa and halwa sohan. The shop sells Kanpuriya laddu, mansuri and Karachi halwa too.




Claims Sultan, “These sweets are not found in any sweet shop in Bengal. Even the kalakand in our shop is flavoured.” Their outlets sell carrot and mango-flavoured kalakand. 



A year-and-a-half ago, Nizamuddin had made a trip to Dubai. He says, “I went to several shops to taste the sweets they sell. The Middle East does not have a good source of milk. Camel milk is available but is not abundant, cow or buffalo milk is hard to find. So the sweets have very little or at times no milk in them. For example, we make patisa from pure milk, they make it with besan and just a dash of milk.”




Since his return, Nizamuddin has introduced in his shops what has since been branded Arabian Sweets. In the kitchen of Haji Allauddin in south Calcutta’s Picnic Garden, cooks are busy making Arabian sweets.

“It is made of six types of dried fruits and honey. No sugar is added to it,” he says. There are five other sweets that have been influenced by the sweets of Dubai — khajur dry fruit barfi, anjeer roll with poppy seeds sprinkled all over, kaju diamond, dry fruit crunch and chocolate dry fruit ball.

“In making these sweets we have moved away from our legacy — there is no ghee or mawa in them,” says Sultan. The owners are now trying their hands at two more Middle-Eastern sweets — baklava and kunafa.

Nizamuddin says, “Nobody has shared any recipes with us. We are learning to make them by trial and error and I believe our sweets are turning out better than the originals.”

The proof of their pudding will, of course, be in the eating. Go, find out.

source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph Online / Home> Culture> Food / by Moumita Chaudhuri / August 27th, 2023

Wajid Ali Wah!

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Inventions, Innovations (wef. Nov 30th, 2021), Leaders, Royal Families, PreIndependence -Descendants (wef. Jan 02nd,2022),

Awadh, U.P. / WEST BENGAL:

Calcutta may not have a birthday, but there can be no disagreement that the city is an alchemy of multiple events and influences. One such is the arrival of the ruler of Awadh. Wajid Ali Shah arrived in Calcutta in 1856, remained here till his death in 1887 and continues to tick on in the city’s DNA.

Illustration: Visual artist Soumyadeep Roy’s portrait of Wajid Ali Shah, a detail from his exhibition Dastaan e Akhtar celebrating the King’s bicentenary year at his resting place, the first ever exhibition held at the 159-year-old Sibtainabad Imambada in Metiabruz / Sourced by the Telegraph

Metiabruz

Before 1856, Metiabruz was a nondescript place on the outskirts of Calcutta taking its name from a matiya burz or earthen tower. The shipbuilding yard of Garden Reach had just started developing. It was the advent of Wajid Ali that transformed the very nature of the place. He purchased land from the King of Burdwan and built around 22 palatial
residences in Metiabruz. With these at the core, an entire mini-Lucknow came up. “He made this city his home and left a legacy, some tangible and mostly intangible,” says Talat Fatima, one of the king’s progeny and currently working on the English translation of the book Wajid Ali Shah Ki Adabi Aur Saqafati Khidmat by Kaukab Quder Meerza. Meerza Sr’s son, Kamran, points to the remnants of the king’s mimic kingdom — Sibtainabad Imambara, Begum Masjid, Shahi Masjid, Baitun Nijat and Quasrul Buka.

Thumri

Until the early 19th century, Calcutta’s aristocracy had some exposure to Nidhu Babu or Ramnidhi Gupta’s semi-classical tappa. As for dance, there was the form practised by the khemtawalis of the red-light areas of Chitpore and Bowbazar in central Calcutta. Enter Wajid Ali Shah. He was, historians note, an “enthusiastic” patron of the arts. The “light classical” vocal form of thumri flourished in his court. He himself composed thumris under the pen name of Akhtar or Akhtar Piya. The thumri was traditionally performed by tawaifs or courtesans. And though there are arguments to the contrary, their dance style had “undeniable links” with Kathak. To make a long story very short, the king arrived in Calcutta with his musical entourage, thus stirring into its environs and culture a new rhythm. Courtesans like Malka Jaan were appointed by his court. Other ustads and musicians arrived too and many Bengali-speaking singers such as Bamacharan Bandyopadhyay were also groomed. A new style of thumri evolved with folk influences and it came to be known as the bol banao thumri. The babus of Calcutta loved it. Many of the musicians and courtesans settled down in the Chitpore area of north Calcutta, turning it into a production hub of musical instruments. This legacy, somewhat contagious, influenced commercial theatres and produced musical exponents such as Gauhar Jaan, Angoorbala and Indubala who went on to cut gramophone records and became the first artistes to do so. If Wajid Ali had not left Lucknow nagari, Ray’s Jalsaghar would be missing the jalsa; the sound of Begum Akhtar singing, “Bhar bhar aayi mori akhiyan piya bin…”

Haute Couture

It was not just Wajid Ali who arrived in Metiabruz; he was accompanied by his family, his many wives, dancers, a retinue of specialised servants and tailors. By some estimates, within a decade of his arrival, the palace had 2,000-plus employees and 1,000 soldiers. All of these people needed clothes, as did the king, who loved to dress. In his early 20th century work Lucknow: The Last Phase of an Oriental Culture, Abdul Halim Sharar suggests that the achkan was Wajid Ali’s gift to Indian haute couture. And so the fitted tunic with its stylish necks debuted in Bengal, as did the angrakhas. The king also wore an elaborate cap called the alam pasand. The royal tailors, their pupils and their descendants popularised Awadhi fashion — the chapkan, the churidar, the shararas, the ghararas… Their progeny has now turned Metiabruz into one of the largest tailoring hubs of unbranded garments. None of this would exist if it had not been for the good old trendy king. But for him, homegrown celebrity designers who are synonymous with wedding wear, sherwanis and fancy achkans would have been making patterns on their bottom line today.

Kabutarbazi

The king was famous for his menagerie and also for the thousands of kabutars or pigeons he reared and kept. He employed hundreds of people to look after the birds. Among the varieties were peshawari, gulvey, choya, chandan, shirazi — many fetched from Lucknow. Some of them were trained to perform manoeuvres during flight. “You’ll still find breeders invoking the royal pigeons while making a sell in the bird market,” says Kamran Meerza, the great-great-grandson of Wajed Ali Shah. Many babus of north Calcutta eventually embraced the hobby and pigeon roosts were a common architectural feature in old mansions of the city. The king also brought one of the best kite fliers of Lucknow, Ilahi Baksh Vilayat Ali, with him. He himself could design kites and encouraged others to compete with his team of kite fliers. The tradition of flying kites from those days still survives in Calcutta. Beginning August 15, right through to winter, the city skies are dotted with kites, most of them made in Metiabruz. Kabutarbazi and kite flying are not just random sports, they are synecdoches of a culture of great panache even in great leisure.

The Calcutta Biryani

The king’s khansamas gave Calcutta a taste of the Awadhi style of dum pukht or slow oven-cooking. Their descendants spread across the city and continued to popularise and adapt this style of cooking to fit the plebian kitchen. The Calcutta Biryani would be nowhere on the culinary map had it not been for the banished king. Manzilat Fatima, who is Wajid Ali’s great-great-granddaughter, wields her secret family recipes to create the Calcutta Shahi Biryani and Awadhi Galauti Kebab among other Lucknavi delicacies in her boutique restaurant in south Calcutta. Manzilat clarifies that the potato, an exotic tuber in the 19th century, was used as an experiment by the king to enhance the taste of the biryani and not to incorporate a cheaper substitute as has been suggested. Jab tak rahega biryani mein alu…

source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph Online / Home> Culture / by Prasun Chaudhuri / August 27th, 2023

‘History’s Angel’: Past and present collide to tell uncomfortable truths about Muslim lives in India

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Women/Girls(since May26-2021),

New Delhi / Shillong, MEGHALAYA / Bengaluru, KARNATAKA:

Anjum Hasan’s novel considers what it is like to live in troubling times.

History’s Angel, Anjum Hasan, Bloomsbury India.

Living in an ancient city is like living in two time periods – the present (when you are alive) and the past (when the city was alive and you were not). It’s a strange conundrum. In a city like Delhi, where Alif from History’s Angel lives, the past creeps into the present in ordinary, mundane ways. There’s Humayun Tomb to visit, the Red Fort that you see on your way to work, the ruins of Tughlakabad where people reside…the city of Delhi is effortlessly ancient and ever-expanding. And what about the intangible past – the memories of what Delhi used to be, the violence that ravaged it and the unexpected friendships that were born in dire times, the natural seat of power that stood strong even as the city exchanged hands between emperors and regimes? History is a double-edged sword – there’s pride in continuing the legacy and there’s a burden of living with its failures.

Author Anjum Hasan. | Lekha Naidu

Anjum Hasan’s latest offering, History’s Angel considers what it is like living in Delhi in troubling times (something the city always seems to be in). Alif teaches history to students aged between nine and 14 at a private school. He believes in history – its nuances, nonlinear existence, and its ability to make its students upright, empathetic people. But Indian school education system does not care for holistic scholarship. As long as the students successfully mug up facts and figures and hurl them onto the answer sheets, the teacher’s job is done. But Alif has bigger aspirations – he wants the children to understand and appreciate history in all its complexity. And in striving for this noble goal is where the trouble begins.

Humayun, Hanuman, Hindustan

Hell breaks loose when nine-year-old (upper caste Hindu student) Ankit Kumar disappears from his sight on an excursion to Humayun’s Tomb. Alif imagines the worst, but after a brief period of great anxiety, Ankit is finally found. Overcome with relief, Alif is only too happy to indulge the child when he seeks permission to ask a question. Only it is not what Alif was expecting.

Ankit asks his teacher, “Are you a dirty Mulla?” Perhaps before Alif could even make sense of the child’s question, he reaches for the boy’s ear and twists it. Corporal punishment is a punishable offence – as it should be – but in this case, it is something of a reflex action. Alif is stunned and he feels helpless.

Always keeping himself out of the way of trouble, and with his faith dialled down to the minimum, Alif does everything he can to be a “good Muslim”. However, the India he lives in is not so kind. The story, as it moves from one tongue to another and one imagination to another, takes a grotesque form. The final version is this: Ankit disappeared after Alif insulted his god Hanuman and threatened to throw him out of the rickshaw. In the absence of any reliable eyewitnesses, it is Alif’s words versus the majority’s hostility which is ever ready to exaggerate the failings of Muslim citizens.

The school where Alif teaches is a mini India. There are people of all faiths and cultures but one seems to be quickly taking precedence over the others. Alif wonders why the children stopped singing Muhammad Iqbal’s Saare Jahan Se Achcha in the assembly, why the principal was conducting a havan on the school premises, or why history lessons on Muslim emperors were no longer essential. The principal clearly instructed him to not bring religion into the school – visits to Humayun’s Tomb etcetera – while Hindu traditions were proudly being paraded as the culture of the country. Alif can see the gradual shift from Iqbal’s Hindustan to the narrow-minded, saffron-tinted Bharat. And so can we.

The state of any minority in our country has never been worth much and now, even more so. The hostility and open call for violence is not just encouraged but rewarded. The news cycle works on repeat – lynchings of Muslims, the murder of an untouchable, a Kashmiri’s freedoms curbed, a journalist attacked or jailed, a farmer dead from suicide. And screaming news reporters who are oblivious to it all. An endless, vicious cycle that sucks the common man dry. And it is in this soul-sucking, gut-wrenching India that people like Alif and his wife Tahira strive to be perfect (Muslim) citizens.

Horrors, hounding, humiliation

Simple things like renting a house become an impossible dream as brokers ask the couple if they slaughter goats at home and tell them – feigning kindness – that there are no mosques or madrasas nearby. Tahira and Alif are made to participate in humiliating interrogation – they are not only questioned about their faith and eating habits but made to answer for Muslim invaders and also those who stayed back. The fact that these events happened many centuries ago and the “invaders” had long since integrated with the Indian peoples is immaterial.

The indignity that Muslims are subjected to in India is one-of-its-kind. Disparaging remarks are always at hand and fingers are quick to point to Muslims when something goes wrong in the nation-state. Alif’s mother says stoically, “Things are bad…but if that is what’s bothering you then forget it. Because it is not new.” It is not new. Through the elderly lady’s voice, Anjum Hasan tells us that this has always been the reality of being a Muslim in India. It always has been humiliating. Of course, things have become alarmingly bad in the last decade, but none of us should think even for a moment that India was a secular haven before.

Alif’s is an interesting characterisation – his history teacher persona makes him acceptable as an upright citizen. In India, a teacher exists beyond the classroom – they are considered quite literally a “guru”. In the same way, Alif exists beyond the textbook. He contemplates the Sufi way of life, sorrowfully remembers the demolition of the Babri Masjid and the violence that followed, and imagines the horrors of the Partition.

Not just the past, Alif must also answer for the loud azaan and “land jihaad” of the present. It’s a life of questions and interrogations and like most of us – any of us – Alif does not always have an answer. He is no more responsible for the actions of Muhammad Ghori than Hindus are for the pillaging and killing that many kings of their religion were known for. But only one of them is allowed to cut the cord from the notorious past.

While Hasan easily incorporates the past in her portrayal of the contemporary Indian Muslim, the figures and events of this past can sometimes be distracting. The nine-year-old child who gets the wheel turning on Alif’s ruination fades into the shadows – how did the child become so hateful, what made him falsely accuse his teacher, and why did he not fear being punished? I wanted to know more.

Ahmad, a minor character in the novel, is a devout Muslim. And being devout often means enforcing one’s personal beliefs on others. He complains that Alif’s family “shirks shirks shirks” their faith –photos of human faces adorn the walls at home, Alif’s mother does not cover her head, the men do not always attend prayers at the mosque, the women go out to work, and the children are not being educated in madrasas. Hindus have alienated and hounded Muslims, and so have Muslim fanatics. The common Muslim who just wants to go about their day without getting into trouble is on the losing side of a lost war. Hasan’s attack on Muslim orthodoxy is subtle yet impressive.

History’s Angel ends on a predictive note. You can see it coming however it does not dampen the reading experience – surely you were not expecting justice to be delivered to a wronged Muslim history teacher?

pix02

source: http://www.scroll.in / Scroll.in / Home> Book Review / by Sayari Debnath / July 30th, 2023

18 year old Syed Amjad keen on presenting prominent Urdu writer Akhtar Orenvi to the youth

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Shaikhpura, BIHAR:

Syed Amjad Husain

Syed Akthar Ahmad, also known as Akthar Orenvi, was a Bihar-born Urdu writer who produced exceptional literary works, devoted his life to Urdu, and died in 1977 after suffering from a severe illness.

Now, almost 35 years after Orenvi’s death, Syed Amjad Hussain, an 18-year-old aspiring writer, is writing a book about him in Hindi, an extraordinary task for a student in his first year of college.

“Bihar has been home to many Urdu writers and poets, some of whom are still remembered, while others have been relegated to obscurity in an era when the language itself is on the verge of extinction,” said Hussain, who is currently pursuing BBA at the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology in West Bengal, adding that he has chosen to write a book about Orenvi and “re-introduce him to the youth of today.” 

Why Akthar Orenvi?

Hussain was introduced to Urdu writers in his house, where education has always been a priority, through the elders who spoke about prominent Urdu writers of Bihar and also narrated the stories written by them. 

“ My great grandfather had married a girl from Oren. She was the daughter of Magistrate Syed Irshad Hussain.  And my father, his cousins all spent their childhood in Oren. And whenever they visited our house there used to be a lot of discussions about the village and the prominent people of the village, one of whom was the poet Akthar Orenvi” said Hussain to Two circles.  

This connection with the Oren village and all that he heard about Akthar sahab gave young Amjad Hussain the idea to write about him.

Hussain was also moved by the fact that Orenvi suffered from severe illnesses but kept on writing till his last breath. 

“In the current era of reel, people have been cut off from real life. And in the process, they have forgotten the rich Indian culture of reading. Earlier there were book clubs despite the fact that not all people had access to them. Today when people have such easy access to books, they are no longer interested in reading,” Amjad said. 

“Akthar Sahab suffered from typhoid thrice. And in those days medical treatment was not advanced, and we can imagine how much he suffered then. Even while sick he never stopped writing; such was his devotion to writing. And I felt such commitment and dedication needs recognition. But sadly, non-Urdu readers don’t know much about him. So, I decided to write his biography.”

Cover page of the Hindi book authored by Syed Amjad Hussain

Amjad said his fascination about History and his own love for the Urdu language were also reasons why he chose to write the biography of Orenvi. 

Amjad shared that there is one very popular book by Orenvi titled ‘Bihar mein Urdu Zaban -O-Adab ka Irtaqa’ which also played a role in prompting him to write about him. 

And surprisingly his parents agreed to his project with no questions asked!

What the book contains

Syed Akthar Ahmed hailed from Urain or Oren, a village in Munger division of Bihar State. The book Amjad is writing is titled ‘ Akthar Orenvi: Bihar mein Urdu Sahitya ke Nirmata’ and has roughly around 70-80 pages containing a brief history about Orenvi – birth, education, marriage, achievements, his meeting with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, his sickness, his works and his death. 

“Unfortunately, not much material is available about Akthar Orenvi”, said Amjad to Two circles, “I did extensive research, even visited Oren the place where Akthar sahab belonged to. His house in the village is intact. And I found some pictures which I shall include in my book,” he added. 

Amjad spoke to the people of the village, especially the elders who had more to tell. He started his research in October 2022 and began writing the book in January 2023. 

The people in the village told him that Akthar sahab shifted to Patna after his marriage so they did not hear much about him later. “His house in the village is intact and so are his memories in our hearts”, said one of them. 

Akthar Orenvi’s brother Syed Fazal Ahmed retired as Inspector General.  Akthar Orenvi did not have any children but has some popular descendants (nephews) who are well known TV and theatre personalities like Roshan Seth who played the role of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in the epic movie ‘Gandhi’ and Aftab Seth, retired Indian diplomat.

Akthar Orenvi’s works are included in the syllabus of many a Urdu University all across India. And his short stories are included in SSC Board exams. And Amjad’s favourite story by Orenvi is ‘Ek Darakht ka Qatal’. 

Akthar Orenvi’s house in his village Oren

Future plans 

Amjad feels this book, slated to release on the 14th of July will not only introduce the poet, writer AKthar Orenvi to the youth but also make them want to learn Urdu so they can read the original works of the author. 

The first edition will have 300 copies only which will be sold online through Notion Press, Chennai.

Interestingly Amjad has worked on the book alone, reading, re-reading, spell check, proofreading etc. 

Amjad, originally from Shaikhpura, Bihar now lives in Kolkata pursuing his studies while his parents and siblings continue to live in Bihar. 

His father, Syed Ahmad Hussain founded ‘Madrasatul Banat Azizul Uloom’ in the 90s which is exclusively for girls.  Syed also looks after their business along with his eldest son while his younger siblings are studying. 

Amjad plans to write another book about Sufism in Bihar. He likes reading Urdu Shayari, especially the works of Juan Elia Sahab and Imam Ahmed Raza Khan. 

He wants to work towards preserving the Urdu language because he feels that it is foolish to associate any language with one particular community and discriminate against it. 

But overall, he is just like any other teenager, fun loving and hangs out with his friends. 

source: http://www.twocircles.net / TwoCircles.net / Home> Indian Muslim> Lead Story> TCN Positive> Youth / by Nikhat Fatima, TwoCircles.net / July 05th, 2023

Calicut: Students from 24 states celebrate the Independence Day at Markaz Karanthur

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Kozhikode, KERALA:

Students from 24 states celebrate the Independence Day at Markaze

Calicut:

Students from 24 states and six union territories came together in a grand ceremony at Markaz Karanthur to commemorate a significant event.

Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad, the founder Chancellor of Markaz and Grand Mufti of India, proudly raised the flag and delivered an inspiring address. He emphasized that every Indian deserves to relish the hard-earned freedom that has been secured through the united efforts of people from all walks of life, transcending barriers of caste, religion, and class.

Furthermore, Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad urged the nation to reflect upon the civil liberties and fundamental rights envisioned by the architects of our nation and enshrined in the constitution. After 76 years of independence, it is crucial for both citizens and leaders to assess the extent to which these principles are being upheld in the present day. He encouraged the students to pursue continuous learning and training, with the aim of elevating India’s reputation on the global stage.

Addressing the gathering, Markaz Director General C Muhammad Faizi conveyed an important message.

The students, under the guidance of Jamia Markaz Pro-Chancellor Dr Hussain Saquafi Chullikode, made a collective pledge to uphold these values.

The event featured a parade and captivating performances by various groups including the Markaz School Student Police Cadet, Scout, Junior Red Cross Society, NCC, and the Markaz School brigade team, adding to the festivities.

source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Indian Muslims / by Muslim Mirror Desk / August 15th, 2023

Zaheeruddin Ali Khan: A journalist and philanthropist in boundless relationship

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Leaders,

Hyderabad, TELANGANA:

 Zaheeruddin Ali Khan

Hyderabad: 

A journalist. A Telangana protagonist. A regular figure at protest meetings. A pensive figure at conferences. A concerned citizen whose heart beats for the poor. A secularist to the core. A force to reckon with. Sure.

That gives a word picture of Zaheeruddin Ali Khan, former Managing Editor, The Siasat. In his 62 years, he was more than just a friendly, smiling face. He epitomised the essence of selflessness and compassion. He touched many lives, particularly of Muslim boys and girls, struggling for quality education. In his later years he took on the mighty Wakf mafia and showed by example what protection and conservation really means. Quiet, firm, and unrelenting. His passing away has brought the curtains down on a multifaceted career.

As I sit down to pen a few words about my friend of 30 years, I am at a loss for words. Zaheer Bhai, as he was affectionately called, was so talented and versatile that it is impossible to describe all his traits. But suffice it is to concentrate on just one aspect: his love and care for the well-being of the community. More than a journalist he was a social worker – a true humanitarian. He espoused causes that are not essentially part of a newspaper job. He went the extra mile to help people, especially during times of strife. Zaheer sab was there to lend a hand, be it the Gujarat massacre, the Mumbai riots, or the Bihar floods. He raised money through the Siasat Millat Fund and mobilised resources to help the affected. He was always at the forefront, ready to ease pain and suffering. This compassionate trait earned him a special place in the hearts of people. His innate sense of empathy touched countless lives and brought a ray of hope to despairing souls.

Zaheer Sab’s philanthropy was not limited to just emergency situations. He was always ready to support the needy and destitute. People made a beeline to his office for all sorts of things. Some would come to him seeking a job, some for educational support, and few others for help in corrections to Aadhaar cards and things like that. He lent an ear to everyone patiently and did the best he could.

For him, education was the master key to success. He believed it to be the best investment one could make. And all through his life, he tried to open the doors of opportunities through education to the poor and underprivileged. Women empowerment was a cause dear to his heart. Realising the difficulty the community faced in marrying girls in view of rising dowry demand, Zaheer bhai came up with the idea of ‘Do-ba-do’ (face-to-face) programme. This unique programme helped many families find a suitable match for their daughters without having to run around.

Though I knew Zaheer bhai for a long time, I drew close to him after my retirement from The Hindu newspaper. He wanted me to write for Siasat.com, a news portal set up by him. After initial hesitation, I agreed. He interacted with me on a day-to-day basis discussing story ideas. Like many others, I was touched by his boundless energy and infectious smile. I met him at a book release programme at the P.S. Telugu University on Saturday evening. We chatted together. But I never knew that it would be our last meeting.

The love and respect commanded by Zaheer bhai was evident from the huge turnout of people at his funeral prayers at the Shahi Masjid on Tuesday morning. Rest in peace Zaheer bhai. Your efforts to transform lives will continue to have a ripple effect.

source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> Featured News / by JS Ifthekhar / August 08th, 2023

Patturumal completes 100 episodes

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KERALA:

Patturumal completes 100 episodes - Times of India

Popular reality show ‘Patturumal’ completes 100 episodes.

The Mappilappattu reality show is gaining attention with the exceptional performances of its 15 contestants.

Judged by popular singers Anwar Sadath, Shabnam Riyas, and Sajala Salim, the show is hosted by Rameeja Mansoor.

Kickstarted by Kerala Minister Muhammed Riyas, the show has managed to keep up the spirit without any elimination to date.

Popular Mappilappattu reality show, ”Patturumal’ has successfully completed the 100 episodes milestone. Hosted by Rameeja Mansoor, the twelfth season of the reality show features 15 singers from different walks of life.

Celebrating the 100 episodes victory, the team had a cake cutting on the floor. In the special episode, the team was seen having a blast too.

Patturumal completes 100 episodes - Times of India

‘Patturumal’ is one of the much-loved shows on Malayalam TV. ..

After the successful 11 seasons, the show premiered its 12th season in March. Despite being a reality show, ‘Patturumal’ is widely accepted for being a platform for Mappilappattu talents. For the unversed, Mappilappattu is a genre of Muslim folklore music which is predominant in the Malabar region of Kerala.

Over the years, ‘Patturumal’ has contributed many talents to the music industry. Singers Rehna, Sajila Salim, Kannur Shafi, and others gained popularity with this reality show. Interestingly, the show also marked the TV debut of Star Magic host Lakshmi Nakshathra.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> TV> Malayalam / by etimes.in / July 25th, 2023

Haemolymph: Movie portrays Muslim teacher crushed by Indian state

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Community Involvement / Social Issues, , , , , , , , ,

Mundra, MAHARASHTRA:

Bollywood industry have been criticised by viewers for its Islamophobic portrayal. Be it woke series like Family Man or commercial flicks Batla House and Sooryavanshi, Muslims are always portrayed as sleeper cells, terrorists or smugglers. Films always acted as an integral compound for the Hindutva nationalist project. Only a few films stood as exception. This year, May 27 witnessed a unique release.

An industry, which parroted the state narrative of Muslim being the terrorists dared to tell the story of an innocent Muslim teacher Wahid Shaikh who was falsely implicated in 7/11 Mumbai train blast and spent almost nine years in jail to satisfy the ‘collective conscience’ of the state. Haemolymph movie, directed by Sudarshan Gamare, got released in more than 120 theatres across India in its initial phase. 

“The title Haemolymph, loosely translated as the ‘blood of the ant’ symbolises how the life of a common can be easily crushed by the authorities similar to how an ant can be easily crushed,” the director Sudarshan Ghamare said to Maktoob.

Wahid Shaikh, a primary school teacher respected in the neighbourhood, got picked from Mundra as an accused in the 7/11 Mumbai train blasts of 2006. Shaikh had to spend almost nine years in jail to prove his innocence. Of the 13 accused charge sheeted by the Mumbai Anti-Terrorism Squad, Wahid was the only one to be acquitted of all charges. 

Wahid Shaikh was not excited when he got a call from Sudarshan Gamare asking permission to make a biopic on him. ”Many people had contacted me telling their interest to make movie on my life. But all of them got dropped in the midway. I guess nobody had the courage to tell my story,” said Wahid Shaikh. 

Sudarshan Gamare got hooked to Wahid’s story after reading NDTV journalist Sunetra Choudhury’s book “Behind Bars” which featured a chapter on Wahid Sheikh . After completing the book, Gamara read Beguna Qaidi( Innocent prisoner), a book wrote by Wahid Shaikh on his experience inside the jail. The book was a documentation of the torture, fabricated charges, forced confessions, prejudice from the investigative agencies and jail authorities and the deep rooted Islamophobia.

“His life story was very horrifying. I can empathise with his pain and I felt so guilty after reading his story. I realised that this is an important story and it need to be shared with the public,” Sudarshan Gamare said.

Gamare discussed the story with his friend Riyaz Anvar, who later played the lead role of the film, and decided to meet Wahid. 

The filmmakers met Wahid at a hotel in Mumbai and had a long chat with him. Later, they travelled to Wahid’s home in Mumbra, talked to his friends and family. The team went through the chargesheet of 20,000 pages and the copy of the judgement. They referred all the case-related documents available in public domain and the articles written on the case. The crew even contacted Mumbai Police and the family of victims of the bomb blast to extract their version on the incident.

”It took us almost 15 months to finalise the script; 11 months for research and 4 months to write the screen play. Wahid gave suggestions through out the process,” the director and the screenwriter Sudarshan Gamare said. 

“It was really a difficult task to show nine year’s story in two hours.  I had to recollect many important incidents happened in those nine year period for the movie. Many unpleasant memories flashed through my mind. It reminded me of the grave injustice done to me. It was not an easy task to revisit those traumatic experience. But I want people to understand what happens to innocent people like me in Indian prisons,” said Shaikh.

The lead actor Riyas Anwar, who was with the crew since the research stage, described the process as an emotional journey.

Riyas talked with Wahid for hours and prepared notes on Wahid’s life, interests, habits etc. “The character preparation started from the very soul of Abdul Wahid Sheikh.  I started interacting with the people he was close to. Practised writing with the  left hand. I wore the type of clothes Wahid loves to wear and travelled in crowded local trains. We sat for hours outside the Arthur road jail to get an idea on what Wahid might have gone through,” said Riyas. 

“The film is a labour of love by my friends. It’s the debut project of cinematographer Rohan Mapuskar and editor Hemant Mahajan. I and three other friends started the production house, Ticketbari. Later, Adiman studio and AB Films Entertainment joined the production,” the director said.

Wahid Shaikh said that there are hundreds of similar stories to be told. “A state sponsored terrorism exists in this country. Most of the victims are Muslims. Be it a blast in a temple or Masjids, Muslim youth were picked as suspects. SIMI, ISIS, Al Qaeda are used as excuses to vilify Muslims,” Shaikh said to Maktoob.

Following his acquittal, Wahid Shaikh, with the help of rights activists, retired judges and lawyers, started an organisation – The Innocence Network. 

The organisation mainly works on prisoner rights and exonerates prisoners wrongfully accused by providing pro bono legal services.

“We organised a tribunal in Delhi in 2017 which demanded compensation for the acquitted prisoners. The network organises lectures on Mumbai bomb blast anniversaries and advocates for prison reliefs,” Shaikh said. 

Wahid Shaikh, the teacher who wrote major chunk of his book Begunah Qaidi inside the Arthur Road prison, pointed the deep rooted Islamophobia in the state institutions and the  effects of the war on terror following the 9/11 attack as the reason behind the wrongful incarceration of Muslim youths.

“The Home ministry of the Union government maintains a war book. It contains name and other details of all Muslims arrested or charged in terrorism related cases in India. My name is still in the book. I got to during a hearing with the National Human Rights Commission,” Shaikh said. 

source: http://www.maktoobmedia.com / Maktoob / Home> Features> Film & TV India /by Ashfaque EJ