Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

‘Nizam of Hyderabad Necklace’ is worn by Queen Elizabeth II and also by Kate Middleton

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Hyderabad, TELANGANA (formerly) HYDERABAD STATE :

Imaginative cuisine, stylish wardrobes, magnificent palaces, and an opulent lifestyle. These are just a few things that the Nizams of Hyderabad are known for. Well, there’s one more thing: spectacular jewelry.

Most people already know that the last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan was one of the wealthiest men in the history of the world. So, it comes as no surprise that he owned a fabulous collection of jewelry – diamonds, gold ornaments, and precious stones.

Almost all this collection was purchased by the Government of India, which arranges its exhibition from time to time. 

However, the most fitting exhibition of the Nizam’s jewelry occurs, albeit unwittingly, when Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen of the United Kingdom, wears the spectacular Cartier diamond necklace. It was gifted to her by the 7th Nizam on the occasion of her wedding to Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark on 20th November 1947. He had also gifted her the “Hyderabad Tiara” which had a design based on English roses with 3 detachable floral brooches, all made of diamonds and set in platinum.

The aptly named Nizam of Hyderabad Necklace is also a floral piece made of diamonds that are set in platinum.

The British art historian, Hugh Roberts who authored the best-selling book “The Queen’s Diamonds”, describes it in his book as: “The pavé-set centre with detachable double-drop pendant incorporating 13 emerald-cut diamonds and a pear-shaped drop; the chain of 38 brilliant-cut open-back collets with an elongated oval brilliant-set snap”. 

The Nizam, in his generosity, reportedly instructed Cartier to let the bride (then Princess Elizabeth) choose whatever she desired from their collection. The princess then chose the necklace and the matching floral tiara. She is not its first owner, however. Cartier made the necklace in 1935, sold it and then reacquired it from the first buyer in 1936. One of its earliest pictures is of Elfrida Greville, the Countess of Warwick who wore it for a portrait in the 1930s.

But the piece has remained a mainstay in the Queen’s jewelry collection. It appears to be one of her favorites as she has worn it on many official engagements, for instance on her first ever trip to Washington in October 1951 where she met President Harry Truman. She can also be seen posing in it for official portraits that would be used on currency bills like the Bahamas Dollar. She still wears it on important occasions.

Of late there has been a renewed interest in the necklace among jewelry enthusiasts when the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton was photographed wearing it on at least two occasions. It was lent to her by the Queen as the duchess is her grand daughter-in-law due to her husband Prince William. It may now be safely assumed that the necklace has passed on from being a personal wedding present to a family heirloom and will adorn the subsequent generations of British royalty.

Dr Mohammed Najeeb Shahzore

Dr Mohammed Najeeb Shahzore is a specialist physician based in Kuwait with an interest in Hyderabad’s history & culture.

source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> News> Hyderabad / by Dr. Mohammed Najeeb Shahzore / September 26th, 2021

This unassuming public library stands testimony to the power of the page

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NEW DELHI :

The Delhi Youth Welfare Association works for the upliftment of underprivileged children in Old Delhi through many initiatives, including its Hazrat Shah Walliulah Public Library.

DYWA team with Capt Zoya and Heena Sodhi
DYWA team with Capt Zoya and Heena Sodhi

On a hot Wednesday afternoon in June, Laxmi (14)  and Ritika (11), residents of the walled city, braved the heat as they made their way through the crowded lanes of Old Delhi to arrive at a cramped quarter in Churiwalan, Jama Masjid. The dated signage and dilapidated environs may have served to put them off their mission, but they persevered. After all, they had it on the best possible authority––of their own older sister––that this was where they would receive school textbooks for the upcoming academic year.

These hardworking sisters are a few of the many girls and boys lining up outside the doors of the unassuming Hazrat Shah Waliullah Public Library, which distributes course books for children once a year, free of cost, to support them in their pursuit of education despite financial and other constraints.

In 1987, in the wake of curfew following religious tensions in Old Delhi, a group of young friends turned their energies towards the upliftment of destitute locals. 

The library

They began by distributing rations, medicines, and scholarships to deserving widows and others in need, under the banner of the Delhi Youth Welfare Association (DYWA); but felt this action, though noble, did not make the desired difference to ground realities. Illiteracy due to poor financial conditions and the resultant lack of resources was a chronic problem that needed their immediate attention. Hence, they started sponsoring the education of deserving children, and opened the Hazrat Shah Waliullah Public Library, sometime in the 90s.

Muhammad Naeem, the President of the DYWA, has been associated with the organisation from the beginning. Narrating an incident that summarises the need for their organisation, he says, “Financial conditions are bad for the locals here. As soon as they clear their ninth standard exams, they want to move to Open University instead of going to school, so they can work and earn money. This is true for both boys and girls.”

Amidst this, the Hazrat Shah Waliullah Library strives to encourage a love of reading and learning–– an art that is swiftly being sidelined.  SM Changezi, the General Secretary of DYWA and custodian of the library, wears his royal ascendancy from Chengez Khan with pride. However, he only displays it to the world through his passion for beautiful and rare old books. 

The library’s vast collection includes a 100-year-old Quran with every page written in a different style, a copy of an illustrated Ramayana in Persian, and even one of the last copies of Bahadur Shah Zafar’s poetry, printed and sealed in the royal press while he was still in power.

About 50 percent of the books in the library are donated by locals who support the organisation, and the remaining are bought from the organisation’s funds. 

With the increasing number of books, the association is now planning to open a second library in Haryana’s Nuh to cater to the local slums in the area. Apart from free course books, the DYWA sponsors the education of around 30 girls. To this effect, the DYWA collects and pays Rs 2.5-3 lakh per annum towards children’s fees, all from donations made by people who believe in the cause.

Other initiatives include inviting celebrated personalities originally from this area to speak to the children about making a success of their life. This happened recently when Air India pilot and social activist Captain Zoya Agarwal and Heena Sodhi Khera of women’s networking platform Queen’s Brigade, met the children for their course distribution ceremony.

Khera explains, “Capt Zoya shared her own experiences of being judged for her big ambitions. Yet, she achieved what she wanted and encouraged the kids to do so as well. The children were ecstatic and listened to her with rapt attention.” 

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by Noor Anand Chawla / June 24th, 2022

Meet the college dropout who runs a news portal in J&K

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JAMMU & KASHMIR :

Anzer Ayoob (22) is a college drop out from Doda who started a news portal in 2017. | Photo by arrangement

The portal is getting recognised for reporting on issues in Chenab valley which are overlooked by the mainstream media.

Jammu :

When 22-year-old Anzer Ayoob, a journalist based in Doda district in Jammu and Kashmir’s Chenab valley heard that a literary group had announced an award for his news portal, he was editing a story on frequent power outages–a recurring issue in the region. 

Ayoob is the founding editor of Chenab Times , a local multimedia news web portal that covers social, cultural, political, and current events primarily in the Chenab region. 

“Apart from highlighting the lack of electricity in the region, the other objective was to bring Chenab Valley on the tourist map of Jammu and Kashmir,” Ayoob told TwoCircles.net. 

Founded in 2017, the news portal has gained decent viewership in the region and has been appreciated by locals. 

Inspired by the positive response, the portal launched its daily news bulletin in Urdu, Sarazi and Bhaderwahi languages (spoken by the region’s population) in January 2021. 

A year on, the programmes in local languages have earned the portal a distinct fame. 

On January 23, the Pahari Core Committee, which is a representative organisation of fifteen literary groups from Doda, praised The Chenab Times for the promotion of local languages, and culture and decided to confer it with this year’s ‘Best News Portal’ award.

“Chenab Times is the sole channel that has always touched the hearts of thousands of Pahari speakers who speak Sarazi, Bhaderwahi, and Kashmiri,” said Sadaket Malik, president of the Pahari Core Committee, in a statement. 

The Chenab Times staff in Doda. | Photo by arrangement

From college dropout to editor
Ayoob is a college dropout. He was pursuing B.Sc. from Govt. Degree College Bhaderwah. “I discontinued my education in 2019 when my mother’s health deteriorated. My father passed away in 2015 and being the only male member of the family, I had to earn a livelihood,” he said. 

Ayoob believes that practicing journalism does not require a degree. “Starting a news portal began with a single idea and journalism is all about ideas,” he said.

Promoting Chenab valley as tourist destination
The Chenab Times started with a Facebook page of the same name promoting Chenab valley as a tourist destination on social media. “After 4-5 months, when our Facebook page gained 16K followers, we launched the website,” Ayoob said. 

The portal has regularly covered stories of the downtrodden. 

Slowly, the news portal began to carry news from the outside world. At present, the portal provides current news from around the world, with a special focus on video stories from Jammu & Kashmir.

The Chenab Times has around 140K followers on Facebook, 1K on Twitter, 8K on Instagram and 45K on YouTube.

Some of the stories published by The Chenab Times have been impactful. 

“There are various far-flung villages in Doda district that weren’t receiving adequate water supply and it was a crisis for the villagers. When we highlighted the issues on our portal, the villages got water supply,” Ayoob said. 

Farasat Rasool is a graduate in arts and a regular reader of the website. “Chenab Times is doing a good job by providing local news and civic concerns. The portal has given voice to the voiceless,” he said. 

Power outages deter journalism
What bothers Ayoob are the frequent power outages and blackouts in the region. The outages, he said, are impacting the portal’s multilingual programme, for which it has been recognised. 

Ironically, the Chenab valley is known as the hub of hydroelectric power projects in the region.

Due to a massive power outage in the Halla village of Doda district in late January, one of Chenab Times correspondent Fareed Ahmad Naik was unable to deliver the Sarazi language news programme. The village was without electricity for 12 days. 

“In winters, the first importance is not the story but to charge our cell phones,” Ayoob said.

Involving youth in community journalism
Ayoob believes in involving more youth from his region in doing community journalism. 

The portal has a staff of eight reporters, six of whom are from the Doda district, one each from Kishtwar and Ramban districts and a six-person editorial board, and three legal consultants. 

While press freedom in Jammu and Kashmir has been severely restricted in the last few years, Ayoob said, “poor media environment won’t deter us from doing our job.” 

Ayoob is of the view that journalism is the kind of profession “where the government frequently becomes an adversary.”

Besides power outages, another challenge faced by his portal is political targeting. “We have done stories after which we faced pressure from certain political quarters. We were summoned by police on a sarpanch’s complaint and received legal notices after we reported on the absence of doctors,” he said. 

Ayoob, however, added that he has received support from Doda police after his portal did a story on illicit liquor and drugs. “They cooperated with us,” he said.  

His goal is to recruit female reporters at his portal. “We want to give a platform to emerging women reporters in the region,” he said. 

Naseer Khora, a senior journalist and commentator from Doda, believes that “local civic concerns of the people haven’t been highlighted much in the media as politics dominates the coverage in Jammu and Kashmir.”

“Chenab Times, in particular, is making a difference by encouraging new people to enter the sector while also restoring rural journalism and reviving endangered languages,” he said. 

Shadab Farooq is TCN SEED-Fellow. He tweets at @shadabfarooq_ 

source: http://www.twocircles.net / TwoCircles.net / Home> Lead Story / by Shadab Faarooq, TwoCircles.net / February 04th, 2022

Qatar Indian Social Forum celebrates Eid-ul-Fitr

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Madikeri (Kodagu) / General INDIA / Doha, QATAR :

Doha :

Qatar Indian Social Forum, prominent Indian expatriate community celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr with array of Cultural Programmes representing Rich cultural Heritage of Indian Subcontinent with Skits, Folk songs, Martial arts, traditional Cultural events from different Indian states in different Languages under theme ‘Celebrating Unity in Diversity’.

Welcoming the gathering, Usman general secretary of Social forum, said that the forum would like to uphold a sense of unity among Indians despite the difference in their caste, creed, and religion, and cherish different cultural backgrounds, a land that shows unity in diversity truly reflecting the theme of the evening.


Social forum president Ayyub Ullal launched ‘IndianSocialForum.com’ website, and delivered EID message, hosting these types of gatherings will promote respect for each other’s Cultural Heritage and improve collective commitment towards society at large.

‘Abdul Latheef Madikkeri Memorial Humanitarian Activist Award’ of the year

Chief guest of the Evening Subramanya Hebbagelu, vice president Indian Cultural Center, handed over the ‘Abdul Latheef Madikkeri Memorial Humanitarian Activist Award’ of the year to Basheer Ahamed, leader from Social Forum Tamilnadu, and paid tribute the veteran leader Abdul Latheef Madikeri, who passed away in April last year, in his speech stressed the importance of Serving Humanity.

Vinod Nair, president, Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF) congratulated the gathering and handed over medal to Cultural teams including ‘Thullal-Parai’ and ‘Nagam-16’ from Tamilnadu, Kolkali and ‘Daughters of Kerala’ from Kerala, Tippu Sultan Drama from Karnataka, Nasheed from Northern States for their spectacular display.

Fastest Kid

Ayyub Ullal, handed over the ‘Award of Appreciation’ to Muhammed Ameen Bin Thaisser, honoring his achievement to become ‘Fastest Kid to recite’ all Elements of Periodic table.

The meet brought together more than 20 Community Leaders representing various Indian states Organization, attracting more than 500 community members. The programme ended up with a feast for all participants.

Saeed Kommachi, general secretary, proposed the vote of thanks.

www.indiasocialforum.com

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / DaijiWorld.com / Home>Middle East / by Daijiworld Media Network – Doha (EP) / May 06th, 2022

Doha: Well-known social worker Abdul Latif Madikeri passes away

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Madikeri (Kodagu) / Doha, QATAR :

Doha : 

Well-known social worker Abdul Lathif Madikeri, secretary of Qatar Indian Social Forum (QISF), an association for NRIs, passed away on Sunday April 11.

Abdul Latif was an active social worker who used to respond to all issues faced by non-resident Indians and help to find solutions for them. He always led from the front when it came to social and humanitarian works and was well-known to all NRIs in Qatar.

He was employed in Qatar Police Force for the past thirty years and has left behind his wife, three sons, a daughter, a large number of friends and relatives.

Qatar Indian Social Forum has condoled his demise, describing that his departure has left a void that cannot be filled. QISF also prayed that the almighty bestows strength to his family to bear the loss.     

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / DaijiWorld.com / Home /by Daijiworld Media Network – Doha (EP) / April 11th, 2021

Review of Parthiban’s Dream & Meeran’s Stories: The prince and the paupers

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TAMIL NADU :

These superb translations make two Tamil classics accessible to a wider readership

Kalki’s  Parthiban Kanavu, published in the 1940s and considered to be one of the earliest historical novels in Tamil, is an acknowledged classic.

Thoppil Mohamed Meeran’s short stories are contemporary classics.

The translation of these works from Tamil into English by two experienced writers, Nandini Vijayaraghavan and Prabha Sridevan respectively, achieves a major aim: to make cultures and histories of India accessible to a wider readership.

They are also of interest to prospective translators as a study in contrast, indicating the wide range of skills and knowledge that make translation a creative art.

Impeccable choice

Parthiban Kanavu is a swashbuckling story of a young prince keeping alive his father’s dream of establishing a glorious kingdom. The storyline is marked by palace intrigues, betrayals, and love at first sight. Vijayaraghavan faithfully follows the plot, omitting no digressions or descriptions. Nor does she editorialise to explain plot complications. Her choice of words is impeccable, the polysyllabic and slightly archaic language reflecting Kalki’s Sanskritised Tamil, which is not easily accessible to contemporary readers.

Kalki at work | Photo Credit: The Hindu

Parthiban’s Dream features exquisite artwork by Gopulu which was part of the Tamil original when it was serialised. The volume will be a treasured addition to any bookshelf.

Cover of ‘Meeran’s Stories’

Deceptively easy

The 18 short stories in  Meeran’s Stories have been selected from across three anthologies. Taken together, they showcase the Sahitya Akademi award winner’s range and sensitivity. Belonging to a Muslim community in Kerala, Meeran’s characters lead insecure lives where violence is both tacit and direct.

Noorunisa waits in vain for the Arab trader who will sweep her off her feet and cover her with gold. A tsunami changes the entire landscape, bringing about a sea change in the lives of the fishing community. A poor man thrown out by his son goes on a  safar to holy Muslim sites, only to be treated as a terrorist by the authorities.

The young boy who bullies and finally strangles his mother, learns that the woman who petted, cosseted and indulged him owed him nothing, not even his birth. An unsympathetic official refuses to grant a girl’s simple request to thank the bus conductor who rescued her till it is too late. The economic and environmental disaster created by Coca-Cola at its Plachimada plant is recorded with clinical precision through descriptions of dry wells, poisonous fertilisers and a devious investor.

Meeran’s stories make for deceptively easy reading, mirroring the apparently uneventful lives of his characters. The narrative style, without editorial comments, is powerful in its starkness. Through what he leaves unsaid, Meeran allows readers to reconstruct the cultural context.

The twist in the tale, the hallmark of a good short story, is sharp and blink-and-you-miss-it short.

The closed Coca-Cola company at Plachimada in Palakkad. | Photo Credit: Mustafah K.K.

Like idioms, Meeran’s syntax and structures do not cross languages easily.

Translating Meeran’s work is thus a delicate undertaking, balancing the said and the unsaid, needing simplistic, not simple, English to create a feeling of rarity.

Sridevan pays attention to both word and spirit. But her work goes a step further: it spurs the reader on to go back to the original, looking for hidden depths. This is a singular accomplishment for a translation.

These two books are must-reads for the Tamil diaspora, in India and abroad.

Parthiban’s Dream; Kalki Krishnamurthy, translated by Nandini Vijayaraghavan; Ratna Books; ₹599

Meeran’s Stories; Thoppil Mohamed Meeran, translated by Prabha Sridevan; Ratna Books; ₹499

The reviewer is an educator, author and avid reader.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Translation – Society / by Hema Ramanathan / June 17th, 2022

Senior Beary Writer U.A. Khasim Ullal passes away at 74

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Mangaluru , KARNATAKA:

Mangaluru:

Senior writer U.A. Khasim (74), who was one of the architects of the Beary Andolan passed away at his residence in the city during the early hours of Monday. 

The deceased is survived by his wife, four sons, three daughters, and a legion of relatives and friends. 

Writer Khasim has written stories, novels, poems, and various literary pieces in both the Beary and Kannada languages. 

Apart from being at the forefront of the Beary Andolan, Khasim Ullal has also been a member of the Beary Sahitya Academy, he has also served as the office bearer of Kendra Beary Parishad and Beary Literary & Cultural Association for several years. 

The sources close to the family of the deceased have informed that his funeral rites will be conducted at Kallapu Patla near Thokottu. 

Many prominent personalities expressed their condolences and remembered Khasim Ullal’s rich contribution to the Beary movement and literature. 

With his passing away, one more pillar of the Beary literary movement has crumbled. With his pioneering works in Beary literature by way of novels, poems, short stories, plays etc. he had given a big boost to the movement in its early years, said Umar Teekay, Chairman of Teekays Group in his condolence message.

source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavali / by Vartha Bharati / June 20th, 2022

Entrepreneur Mohammad Mansoor honoured for contribution to sports & international relations

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BAHRAIN :

Leading Bahrain-based Indian entrepreneur, Founder and Chairman of the Saara Group, Mohammad Mansoor was honoured for his enormous contribution to sports and international relations by the one of the oldest cultural organisations in Bahrain, the – Kerala Catholics Association. 

Mansoor was presented the award as presented the award by Minister of Labor and Social Development H E Jameel Bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan at a glittering gala ceremony at the Crowne Plaza hotel, in the presence of Ministers, Ambassadors, VIPs, distinguished guests and community leaders including India’s Ambassador to Bahrain, HE Piyush Srivastava, Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Mar Julios, Peravur MLA Adv. Sunny Joseph.

Mr Mansoor, a serial entrepreneur and venture capitalist, is the Founder & CEO of Saara Group, which has a portfolio of operations across the domains of Information Technology, Energy, Oil & Gas, Digital Media, Sports Infrastructure, Seed Capital Investments, and Social Initiatives.

The operations of the group span across the Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC), United Kingdom, United States of America, ASEAN countries and India.

As an active supporter of an array of social and cultural initiatives to empower community relations and strengthen the social fabric, he has played and played a crucial role in supporting the sports initiatives in the Kingdom of Bahrain under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad AI Khalifa. 

As a cricket enthusiast, he was the brains behind launching the first-ever franchise-based T20 Cricket Premier League which was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad AI Khalifa in 2018. In 2021, he was appointed as the advisor to the newly revamped Bahrain Cricket Federation and was instrumental behind giving the sport a much-needed boost in Bahrain. So much so, that the women’s team has already inked its name in the record books by scoring the highest score in an T20 International. 

An active supporter of Bahrain’s flagship sports media property, BRAVE Combat Federation across multiple venues around the world. He spearheaded the KHK Heroes Foundation initiative assisting the economically vulnerable communities and expatriates throughout the Kingdom of Bahrain during the Coronavirus pandemic part from being a director of KHK Venture Holding. 

In 2021, he was appointed to the prestigious World Youth Group as director of the Council. The WYG has been designed by Collegiate Congress, in association with United Nations Member States, United Nations Agencies, youth and student groups; All-African Students Union (AASU), European Students Union (ESU), Young Republicans National Federation (YRNF), Young Democrats of America (YDA), higher education institutions, the private sector, and individuals from around the world.

Of the most notable among the awards that he has been conferred with is the Hind Ratan Award.

source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Gulf / by Vartha Bharati / June 14th, 2022

Basheer Fest to be held from July 2 at Beypore

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Beypore (Kozhikode), KERALA :

Nammal Beypore will organise a Basheer Fest, a range of programmes in connection with the 28th death anniversary of writer Vaikom Muhammed Basheer, at the author’s residence at Beypore from July 2 to 5.

Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas, who is the patron of the fest, told reporters here on Sunday that there would be district-level and State-level programmes as part of the fest, with the help of the Chalachitra Academy, Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, Kerala Lalithakala Akademi, Folklore Academy and Sahitya Akademi.

A Basheer feature and documentary show in association with Chalachitra Academy, a literature camp for budding writers led by writer Subhash Chandran under the aegis of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi, a Basheer painting contest, photo exhibition, traditional food fest, plays and ghazal concerts are being held as part of the festival.

Besides, there will be seminars and cultural meetings in which noted writers are expected to take part.

School children can visit the Basheer residence at Beypore.

Mayor Beena Philip is the chairperson of the organising committee.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kozhikode / by Staff Reporter / Kozhikode – June 20th, 2022

Manzoor Nomani was ‘intrinsically Indian’ in the first place

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Lucknow, UTTAR PRADESH :

Maulana Manzoor Nomani. Courtesy: Quranwahadith.

Maulana Muhammed Manzoor Nomani (1905-1997), most arguably was one of the five prime most Muslims of the Indian sub-continent in the last century. He was the founding member of Jamaat-e-Islami and later got associated with Tablighi Jamaat and was also the member of founding committee of Muslim World League.

Maulana Khalil-ur-Rehman Sajjad Nomani is his son who gives every credence to his father, as that is what has made him, potentially what he is today; the most potent Muslim voice in the nation.

Sajjad Nomani’s command on Arabic, Quran, Hadith, Urdu, Hindi and English, in the same verve, depth and gravitas, apart from being an eloquent speaker, an indefatigable champion of Muslim cause, a voracious reader and a writer with an unquestionable command on the intricacies of linguistic theory and cultural praxis, are all the qualities he has embodied and imbibed from his late father.

Yours truly also did once saw Manzoor Nomani Sahab, at his Nazeerabad residence, Lucknow, as he sat on his wheel chair engrossed in an Urdu newspaper and also attended to his funeral at Aishbagh, Lucknow in 1997.

It would be worthy to recollect some of the anecdotes Sajjad Sahab shared about his late father, which all are a treasure trove to understand the ‘times’ about seventy-five years back.

He reminisced that Pakistan first Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan was very insistent that Manzoor Sahab visit Pakistan and become a part of Pakistan Constituent Assembly to ‘pave for the ingredients’ for Islamic Jurisprudence for the state of Pakistan, and ultimately even officially sought for it, as Manzoor Sahab was one of the most outstanding figures of Islamic Law and Jurisprudence at those times.

When India’s PM Jawahar Lal Nehru came to know of it, he communicated that though he does not want Maulana to volunteer it, yet if Maulana wanted then government of India was to facilitate it. But, there was no question of Manzoor Sahab even entertaining the idea as he was an unwavering Indian by his heart, not out of any chance but primarily for his choice, as Muslims after 1947 were to choose between India or Pakistan and Manzoor Sahab stood for India.

Maulana Khalilur Rahman Sajjad Nomani

Sajjad Sahab would also reflect that it was in 1976, when he was studying in Medina University, and had come to India on his vacations, that Manzoor Sahab kidneys collapsed all of a sudden and he went into coma. That was the time when emergency was in place. He informed that ‘intelligence inputs’ were given to PM Indira Gandhi that unless Maulana Ali Mian Nadwi, Maulana Manzoor Nomani and Qari Siddeeq Baandvi were to be arrested, Muslims were not relent to ‘vasectomy-sterilization’ and Indira Gandhi went to India’s President Fakhrudin Ali Ahmed, for his counsel on it, to which she was answered that all hell will break loose in the country in case of such an eventuality.

In the meantime, Indira Gandhi was also informed about the medical situation of Manzoor Sahab, and a chartered place to carry Maulana to Delhi was sent to Lucknow. The family members could not fathom for it, for they knew, that Maulana was be very angry once after the coma was to subside, the gesture of Indira Gandhi was hence refused, and fortunately by the midnight Maulana regained his senses, but then the next morning Indira Gandhi herself came down to Maulana’s residence. She would insist that Maulana may be flown to Delhi for his medical treatment, but all what Maulana sought from her was that she should implement justice as there was ‘tyranny’ all across the nation. He would address Indira Gandhi as his daughter and that when she played in her father’s courtyard, Maulana was to advice her father JL Nehru on critical issues.

Such has been the sense of belonging of Muslims for Manzoor Sahab , inherited too well by his son, is that while Jamshedpur raged under riots of 1979, Maulana went on to sit in a mosque for 21 days, draw into people and disbursed charity amongst the hapless Muslims, which continued for months. Maulana had an impeccable memory as Sajjad Sahab, relates, that shortly before his death, while he was searching for a Hadith, his ailing father, who was almost comatose, made him look for it on the exact page of Tirmezi- a great compendium of Hadith. Maulana Manzoor Sahab was a living authority and a luminary of Hadith-the sayings of Prophet of Islam.

Manzoor Nomani Sahab surely has left an indelible mark on Muslim civilization not across only in India but throughout the whole Muslim world. The best part however is that, it has all been very well innately translated into a relentless campaign for Muslim rights in India, by his son Sajjad Nomani, an activist always on his heels and one of the most credible voice of Muslims in the nation today. He is right now articulating the cause of Peace and Justice, a desperate call of the nation today. Sajjad Sahab is also the spokesperson of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, the Apex of Muslims in the country.

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The writer is a former UP State Information Commissioner and writes on political issues.

source: http://www.mulimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Muslim Scholars / by Haider Abbas / June 20th, 2022