Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

She is daughter of a Pathan, says father of girl who confronted mob in Karnataka

Mandya, KARNATAKA :

Muskan khan was facilitated by members of Maharashtra-based NGOs [Special arrangement]

The family of Muskan Khan, a Muslim student who became a symbol of pro-hijab resistance after confronting an unruly mob and chanting the ‘Allah-u-akbar’ slogan in Karnataka, have expressed happiness over the widespread support they have received from across the world.

Muskan’s father Husain Khan said that after the college incident, they were a bite worried but Muskan calmed them down and told them that they are on the right path and they have nothing to worry about.

Karnataka’s Muskan Khan has become the poster girl of pro-Hijab protests. Muskan hogged headlines after her video of shouting “Allah Hu Akbar” went viral. The video showed Muskan being heckled by saffron-clad students in Karnataka. Muskan opened up about her viral video in an exclusive interview with ZEE News. / www.youtube.com / DNA India News
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“She is a daughter of a Pathan,” Khan proudly said.

“Muskan is a very religious girl who believes in the importance of connection with their creator and  performs tahajjud on daily basis (midnight prayers.)” he said while speaking to this correspondent over a call.

He further said that he wanted Muskan to become an advocate but many well wishers are now suggesting her to start preparations for civil services exams.

“Insha Allah, we will do our best for her better education to become good a human being and serve her nation,” he said.

Hussain Khan raised his concerns over rumour and fake news about his family. “When our opponents spread rumours and fake news like receiption of crores of rupees ,gifts and rewards etc.,it can be ignored easily but when our own people do it and try to let us down by doing so  then it hurts” he added.

He added that Muskan has received overwhelming media attention and activists from all over India keep coming to appreciate Muskan’s brave act.

Members of Maharashtra-based NGOS – Maharashtra active Forum, Gaziuddin Research Centre, Tahzeeb Foundation and Sada Foundation – visited Muskan to felicitate her. One of the visiting member Sarfaraz Ahmad said that motive behind the visit was protection of Muskan’s constitutional rights. All the present members including Muskan and family  read “preamble to the constitution of India”  there, he added.

source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Indian Muslim / by Imran Inamdar / edited and video of DNA Indian News inserted / February 27th, 2022

The First Prime Minister of Bihar. His grave lies at Brookwood Cemetery in Woking, England.

Patna, BIHAR / London, U.K :

I have been visiting Shah Jahan Mosque and the Brookwood cemetery in Woking for a few years now.

Woking, is a small town almost 30 miles from London. The town is famous for it’s first purpose build mosque in the UK .

 During, the two great wars this mosque served a purpose of spiritual centre for Muslim soldiers in Britain.

A few miles from the mosque lies a burial ground which was a designated ground for Muslim soldiers of WWI. Later, it has been transformed into a memorial park.

Shahjahan Mosque, Woking

Brookwood Cemetery is situated almost five miles from the Shah Jahan Mosque. The Cemetery is one of the largest in Europe. There are a number of famous Victorian Muslims resting here. Today, Woking has large Muslim population, mostly from Pakistan and they are very active in the community and maintaining the mosque very well.

My, very first trip was unplanned and somewhat impulsive. Though it was incredibly enlightening as well as moving. In 2016 after Eid prayer, on a spur I decided to drive my family to Woking. At the time I had only two boys; My eldest was 3 and his brother a year old. I had no idea how to reach to the mosque and locate graves of the early ‘Victorian Muslims.’ However I was committed to do both on the same day. On my SatNav I entered the postcode of Shah Jahan Mosque.

After two hours of drive we reached the Shah Jehan Mosque. There, we saw young and old, boys and girls in Asian Eid costumes. Contrary to the typical British cloudy weather it was a sunny day. Green dome of the mosque and good size open space with another impressive brick building gave an impression as if we are in a small but an affluent village of India.

The festive mood and the perfect sunny day was inviting us to explore and finish the target. After spending an hour there, we decided to drive to Brookwood cemetery.

The most challenging part was to locate the old Muslim section of the cemetery, where I wanted to the visit graves of Abdullah Yusuf Ali, Marmaduke Pickthall and Lord Headley.

To solve the problem, after reaching the cemetery gate; my intuition suggested me to drive only on the road which took us to the right side of the cemetery. First right, second right and then the third right. After a very short drive it was evident that the direction of graves has started changing, Muslim names with some Islamic symbols – crescent and stars on grave stones reassured me that we have entered into the Muslim section of the cemetery. In the end I reached to the place I wished. It was not easy to recognise Mr. Pickthall’s grave, three rows further, very close to the road is buried my favourite Abdullah Yusuf Ali the well known translator of the Holy Qur’an in today’s contemporary world who passed away in 1953. I was in search of another unmarked grave of Mr. Abdullah Quilliam, when my wife called me to show something. She excitedly pointed to a marked grave of the first Prime Minister of Bihar.

Grave of Mohammed Yunus

My wife is born and brought up in the UK. However she is fluent in Urdu and has enormous interest in her Indian roots. She located the grave of the ‘First Prime Minister of Bihar’ – Haji Mohammad Yunus. It was a huge surprise for me.

Barrister Mohammed Yunus (Sitting)

I don’t have any direct relationship with Late Haji Mohammad Yunus Saheb. However one of his nephews was my grandfather’s junior in the court and was a very close friend of his. My paternal grandfather was a successful and famous criminal lawyer who practiced in a small town in Bihar. Both of them worked in the same Court. In the 1940s my grandfather’s friend (Haji Yunus’s nephew) was the only Muslim in the town who had a Radio.

Barrister Mohammed Yunus

In fact in our ancestral town it was his radio that broke the bad news of Mahatma Gandhi’s cold blooded murder. Broadcasts from his Radio clarified that the murderer of Gandhi was ‘not a Muslim but a right wing Hindu’ .  Which was a momentous relief for the frightened local Muslim population during the violent and uncertain communal climate of the partition of India.

So, finding his grave reminded me of the old story of partition. When I was in school, our eldest uncle shared his experience as a child and narrated us with many stories of the partition; further, how they were taken to a safe place in Bengal for a short period of time by train.

Barrister Mohammed Yunus as Prime Minister of Bihar

Below are photographs of Haji Mohammad Yunus grave stone and other famous British Muslims residents of the Brookwood Cemetery. May they all rest in peace; may Almighty Allah accepts their deeds and grant them highest place in Paradise. Ameen.

source: http://www.heritagetimes.in / Heritage Times / Home> Bihar> Heritage / by M S Siddiqui / July 29th, 2020

The Art Of ‘Chaapa’, The Unique Wedding Couture Of Bihari Muslims

BIHAR :

Chaapa continues to remain popular among the Bihari Muslim families both nationally and internationally and even today, Bihari Muslims around the world opt for chaapa clothes for their children’s weddings.

Models Nandini (left) and Kajal (right) sport traditional Chaapa sarees with a modern twist. Outlook Photos/Tribhuvan Tiwari

India, with its diverse cultures and traditions, has a rich heritage of indigenous fashion. With global trends taking over markets, many of these traditional and unique styles of couture and dressing are fading out of fashion. Tucked in the heart of Bihar’s Patna, however,  are the ‘Chaapa’ dresses of Bihari Muslims, a style of clothing that have withstood the test of time and the onslaught of mass production.

Chaapa is a traditional Bihari bridal dress made with silver block print. This dress was specially designed to be worn by the bride on the day of Nikah (wedding). No Bihari Muslim nikah ceremony is complete without the chaapa.

The word chaapa came from chaap (which means print in English) and the history of this traditional dress can be traced back to the nineteenth century where Francis Buchanan in a journal mentioned the chaapa clothes and their significant demand among the Muslim Bihari families in 1811 – 1812.

Earlier chaapa was fabricated in the entire Bihar but today due to the cultural influence, the chaapa style has become confined to Patna, Bihar Sharif and Gaya.

Initially, chaapa was available only in two colours, red and green. But currently, they are available in other colours such as yellow, blue, violet, pink etc.

Chaapa continues to remain popular among the Bihari Muslim families both nationally and internationally and even today, Bihari Muslims around the world opt for chaapa clothes for their children’s weddings.

(Md Umar Ashraf, a civil engineer by education who later pursued a masters in journalism, is the founder of www.heritagetimes.in, a website dedicated to bringing out the lesser-known facts of Indian history. He has served in the capacity of historian for several museums undertaken by the Ministry of Culture as well as projects under NBT. Several newspapers and portals have covered his impact on popular history.)

source: http://www.outlookindia.com / Outlook / Home> National / by Md. Umar Ashraf / November 11th, 2022

Preserving Persian Epigraphic Heritage

JAMMU & KASHMIR :

The earliest Persian and Arabic inscriptions are seen on the tombstones and walls in the olden graveyards of Kashmir

The historic tombs of the most famous Shahmiri period sultans and nobles, which included Sultan Sikander and Sultan Zain ul Abideen are also in this historic cemetery. [Tomb of Zain ul Abideen in Srinagar’s old city–Representational Image]File/ GK

With the establishment of Muslim sultanate in Kashmir, in late fourteenth century, the Sanskrit language and Sharda alphabet were also taken over by Persian and Arabic alphabet. The tradition of Sharda epigraphic culture also declined considerably and it gave way to Persian and Arabic inscriptions.

The earliest Persian and Arabic inscription are seen on the tomb stones and walls, in the olden graveyards, Khanqahs and mosques of Kashmir. Number of such inscriptions are documented in my book titled, Kashmir inscriptions of Kashmir, which was published in the year 2013 by Gulshan Books, Srinagar.

Persian inscription on a stone slab at the historic graveyard of Khanqah-e-mu’llah old Srinagar.

Epigraphs of royal graveyard at Mazari Kalan

Mazari Kalan popularly known to public as “Mazari Shiekh Bahau-ud-Din Ganj Baksh (RA)” lies in the foot of Kohi Maran to the west of Malkah. The history of the Mazar reveals that the site originally was proposed by Zain-ul-Abideen Badshah in 1421 AD for housing the only burial of her beloved wife called Ashama Bibi who belonged to a noble family of Bahaqi lineage. But when Sheikh Baha-ud-Din (RA), the reputed saint and Murshid of the Sultan left for heavenly abode in December 11, 1439 AD, he was laid to rest in this proposed site. Over the resting-place a shrine was also then erected.

Stone inscription in a dilapidated condition

The shrine looks to have been renovated, but it has lost most of its interesting architectural features. Adjacent to the shrine is seen the grave of a poet, Mir Illahi, who is saidto be the court poet of the Budshah. A beautiful inscription bearing few lines of his lyric is erected over the grave.

The grave of Asaha Bibi lies near the gate of the Mazar. The other burials it houses of the reputed saints and nobles of their times include; the grave of Solman, Sayyied Habib Shah Kashani, Moullana Mohammed Anie, Baba Qayim, Khwaja Mohammed Kakroo, Moullana Mohammed Balkhji, Sheikh Mohammed Trabali, Mulla Sarf-ud-Din Farhat, Mulla Nurullah Kath, Molvi Amir-ud-Din, Molvi Qulam-ud-Din Jami, Sayyied Mohammed Kermaniand others.

These all graves are very old and are crowned with gravestones, which are brilliantly carved in beautiful Arabic and Persian inscriptions.

Epigraphs of royal graveyard at Zain kadal

The royal graveyard of Zainkadal, locally called Mazari Salateen, enshrines the final resting places of Shahmeri Sultans. The historic tombs of the most famous Shahmiri period sultans and nobles, which included Sultan Sikander and Sultan Zain ul Abideen are also in this historic cemetery.

The tomb of Mirza Haider Dauglat, who administrated Kashmir as a Mughal governor for about 11 years during 1540-1552 AD, is also found in this historic graveyard.

There is a brilliant epigraph in Persian characters laid over his grave which is believed to have been installed by Moorcraft a British traveler during his vest of Kashmir in 19th century.

Persians inscription stone slab on the tomb of Mirza Haider Daughlat, Zainakadal Srinagar.

Zaindeep Epigraph

Persian stone inscription of Zain ul Abideen, SPS Museum Srinagar

Although there is no evidence of any standing Budshah’s Palace found anywhere in Kashmir valley but there is a magnificent stones slab inscription housed in the SPS museum at Lalmandi Srinagar which the experts claim provides vital information about Zaindeep, one of the famous Palaces of the Budshah’s period. Experts claim that this stone slab inscription, besides other details, has also provided the date of construction of this highest palace.

This inscription is Persian Nashk style. It is learnt that the inscription way back has been recovered from the Zianlank island of world famous Wullar lake in Bandipura district and later was shifted to this museum for its proper preservation. The inscription gives AH 841 as the date of construction of this world famous Zaindeep.

While providing description of this stone slab inscription experts say that this inscription is in Persian characters and is divided in four panels. The first two lines mentions the majesty, strength and the name of the Palace as Zaindeep and also describes it as the world famous, while as the date of foundation in Muslim calendar is mentioned in the last two lines in Persian words, which is calculated as 841.

Inscription of the palace

Ene bakha chun faluk muhakum bad

Mashoor ba zain deep dar alam bad

Shah Zain ibad ke daru jashin kunand

Pai vasta Chun tareekh khurdesh kahrum bad.

84l the inscription dates to 841 AH.

(The fort built by Shah Zain ul Abieein is so high and strong as the sky; and it is famous by the name of Zain deep. The king was very happy and celebrated the event when this palace was built)

Broken Stone inscription at Mazare Salateen old Srinagar

Besides these royal graveyards, the other historic and royal graveyards also carried brilliant epigraphs either engraved on tomb stones or on stone walls, these included Mazari Kalan, Mazari Salateen, Mazari Khanqah Mu’llah, Mazari Madine Sahib, Mazari Malik Sahib, Mazari Safakadal, Mazari Malkah and Mazari Bijbehra,.

But these human records are not preserved anywhere in these historic cementers. These inscribed records have fallen prey to the unchecked weathering and human vandalism.

Most of their inscriptions have defaced and it is very difficult to identify and decipher their epigraphs; steps are required to be taken to conserve this unprotected and unconcerned epigraphic heritage.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author.

The facts, analysis, assumptions and perspective appearing in the article do not reflect the views of GK

source: http://www.greaterkashmir.com / Greater Kashmir / Home> Op-Ed / by Iqbal Ahmad / February 20th, 2022

Indian ambassador to Saudi Arabia promoted as secretary of overseas Indian affairs

Hyderabad, INDIA / Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA :

Dr. Ausaf Sayeed expected to accept his new assignment in New Delhi next month.

Indian ambassador to Saudi Arabia promoted as secretary of overseas Indian affairs
Dr. Ausaf Sayeed

New Delhi: 

India’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Dr Ausaf Sayeed, has been appointed to a new position as secretary, overseas Indian affairs in the country’s Ministry of External Affairs.

He has been appointed as the Secretary, (consular, passport, visa and Overseas Indian affairs). He is expected to accept his new assignment in New Delhi next month. The name of his successor in Riyadh is yet to be announced, but as per reports, the selection process has begun.

In terms of the bureaucratic arrangement, the new post is a promotion because the post is several degrees higher than that of an ambassador. The appointment was approved by the Indian cabinet on Tuesday.

About Dr Ausaf Sayeed

Dr Ausaf Sayeed completed his three-year term in Saudi Arabia after being appointed ambassador to Saudi Arabia in March 2019.

Dr Ausaf Sayeed’s tenure in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia first as a Consul General and as Ambassador has been exemplary in strengthening Indo-Saudi bilateral relations.

He belongs to a well-known educated family of Hyderabad. His father, Awaz Sayeed, was a well-known modern Urdu essayist and short-story writer. He has performed diplomatic services in Egypt, Qatar, Denmark, Yemen, Chicago and Shashail.

Dr Ausaf Sayeed is known for his love for the Urdu language and its propagation. Wherever he was posted, he always convened Urdu Mushairas and brought Indian diaspora on a single platform.

source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> News> India / by News Desk / February 16th, 2022

Hijab row: Mumbai MLA meets Mandya girl, gifts iPhone

Mandya, KARNATAKA :

Bengaluru : 

Karnataka college girl Muskaan Khan who confronted a crowd by raising slogans of “Allah hu Akbar” during protests that broke out on hijab row, continues to be in news.

Congress MLA from Mumbai’s Bandra Zeeshan Siddique came all the way from Maharashtra on Friday and paid visit to Muskan’s residence in Mandya city. The MLA appreciated her “courage”, assured support and gifted her an iPhone and smart watch.

“I came from so far to meet the girl from our community who showed exemplary courage. I am happy for her courageous act,” he stated.

“Today whole of Karnataka, entire country is taking pride of her act. She has shown what is the real power of woman. After seeing her brave act, other women who are being pressurised, subjected to harassment and whoever is meted with injustice, they can also confront such acts,” he asserted.

Her act against those zaalims (cruel people) is commendable, he added.

“Wearing hijab is a constitutional right. One can wear clothes of her choice. You have problem with her hijab or with the fact that she is getting educated,” the Congress MLA said.

“There are crores of brothers behind Muskaan to protect her right of wearing hijab. I felt happy after meeting her family,” he added.

Muskaan Khan, the student of PES College of Arts, Science and Commerce in Mandya district was allegedly heckled by a group of students in the college premises for wearing ‘burka’. The group raised slogan of ‘Jai Sriram’ while surrounding and following her. Muskan confronted the crowd with slogan of ‘Allah hu Akbar’. The video is now viral on social media.

Later, she was safely escorted inside the classroom by authorities. Muskaan has later stated that she will abide by the court order and thanked college authorities.

Meanwhile, various Muslim organisations have announced cash reward for her act. Complaint has also been lodged in connection with announcing cash prize to Muskaan.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / DaijiWorld / Home> Top Stories / by IANS /Bengaluru, February 11th, 2022

Award sought for Ibrahim

KARNATAKA :

As 2022 marks the silver jubilee of the peaceful settlement of the Idgah Maidan row, the former Mayor and Congressman Deepak Chinchore has sought peace award for the former Union Minister C.M. Ibrahim for helping settle the issue.

Addressing presspersons in Dharwad on Monday, Mr. Chinchore said that when Hubballi was caught in the clutches of communal violence following the Idgah Maidan row over flag hoisting, it was Mr. Ibrahim who played a pivotal role in working out a truce.

He said that when Hubballi was burning in the aftermath of the Idgah Madian row, the city witnessed a series of violent incidents and protests. The violent protests had even led to police firing, resulting in the death of four youths. In fact, for close to six months, the residents spent their days in fear amid curfew and prohibitory orders, he recalled.

Mr. Chinchore said that Mr. Ibrahim, who was the Union Minister then, took the lead and held a series of meetings with members of Anjuman-e-Islam and others and finally resolved the issue amicably.

Subsequently, the members of Anjuman-e-Islam themselves started hoisting the tricolour on Independence and Republic Days, till the Supreme Court issued an order directing the Municipal Commissioner to hoist the national flag at the maidan.

Mr. Chinchore said that because of the efforts of Mr. Ibrahim, Hubballi returned to normality subsequently. Considering his role in the establishment of peace in the region in general and Hubballi in particular, the State Government should honour him with peace award, he added.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Hubballi, February 07th, 2022

Eight Muslims Among 119 Honoured with Padma Awards

INDIA :

Winners at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.

Winners receive awards from President Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan

New Delhi :

President Ramnath Kovind on Monday presented civilian awards or Padma awards to 119 personalities at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan New Delhi. The list includes foreigners, artists, sportspersons, people from film industry, public servants, activists. The awardees also include eight Muslims from different walks of life.

Eminent Islamic scholar Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, who passed away in April 2021 of Covid-19 complications, was awarded Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award after Bharat Ratna. Prominent Shia leader and scholar Maulana Kalbe Sadiq, who passed away last year, got Padhma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award.

The Padma Shri list of 102 includes six Muslims. These are Ali Manikfan, Gulfam Ahmed, Lakha Khan and Ghulam Rasool Khan and two from Bangladesh Sanjida Khatun and Col Quazi Sajjad Ali Zahir.

Ali Manikfan has been awarded for hiscontribution at grassroots level innovations in Lakshadweep. He was born in 1938 into an aristocratic family on Minicoy Island of Lakshadweep. Manikfan is multi-talented — marine researcher, ecologist, shipbuilder, agriculturist, and a polyglot.

Gulfam Ahmed hails from Uttar Pradesh and has made contributions in the field of Art. He is a Sarod and Afghani Rabab player and is known for promoting Indo-Afghan cultural relations.

Lakha Khan, 80, who has been conferred with Padma Shri for his contribution in art is a Rajasthan-based musician who plays Sindhi sarangi and sings folk songs. He comes from the Manganiar community among Muslims that is traditionally associated with begging. He was born into the family of musicians and was trained from childhood.

Ghulam Rasool Khan is a handicraft artist from Srinagar, Kashmir. He is working to conserving Jamawar Patchwork, the oldest form of Kashmiri shawl technique. Before getting Padma Shri Khan won the National Award for Textile. Khan has a reputation of creating masterpieces and rare artefacts in the Jamawar craft.

Sanjida Khatun, Col Quazi Sajjad Ali Zahir from Bangladesh have been awarded for their contribution in art and public service respectively.

Snajida Khatun, born in 1933, is musicologist and teaches Bengali literature at the University of Dhaka. She was also one of the founders of Mukti Sangrami Shilpi Sangstha that fought Pakistani forces in 1971 Bangladesh war.

Col. Zahir who was a soldier in the Pakistani army rebelled and joined the forces fighting for Bangladesh’s liberation. He defected from the army and moved to India where he became a key person in the rebellion.

source: http://www.clarionindia.net / Clarion / Home> Big Story> India / by Team Clarion / November 08th, 2021

What it means to travel the world as a Muslim woman

INDIA / SOUTH AFRICA :

Indian-born South African writer Shubnum Khan’s new book is about the hope and magic we can find in life if we are brave enough to push for it.

Apart from ideas of hope and courage, Shubnum Khan explores the theme of walking in her book.
Apart from ideas of hope and courage, Shubnum Khan explores the theme of walking in her book. (iStockphoto)

What does it mean to be a young, Muslim, desi woman walking the streets of Shanghai alone, sometimes in a hijab? What’s it like going off on your own to the mountains to teach children in a remote village in Kashmir when you have never travelled alone? And most importantly, what happens when you decide to be brave and do those things and, in a sense, “step off the edge”?

“You think you are going to fall, but you actually fly,” says Shubnum Khan, the South African writer of How I Accidentally Became A Global Stock Photo, a collection of odd and funny stories of her travels around the world, and of learning to be soft and vulnerable, particularly to herself.

In this breezy, delightful read, Khan packs in descriptions of experiencing travel and living abroad with a good dose of earnest reflections that tap into being a Muslim woman in the modern world, with bearings rooted in faith and family. The stories are resonant not because they are common or relatable (they are, rather, strange and wonderful) but because she contextualises them by revealing something of her life and herself.

For instance, Khan takes us through her life as the fourth of four sisters in an Indian Muslim family in Durban, where, at a point in her life, she had started feeling trapped and frustrated. So when an opportunity to go to Kashmir in 2013, to teach village children, came along, she took it up. “I immediately saw that this was the first step towards doing something different with my life as compared to everyone telling me to get married and have children,” says the 36-year-old on Zoom.

That experience and move away from a sheltered life catalysed other events and happenings, travels and sometimes bizarre incidents. Her new book straddles genres in that it’s as much a memoir as it is a travelogue and, together, transcends both. While it started as a collection of her experiences during travels—from turning into a “bride” on a rooftop in Shanghai to being trapped in a house in Delhi during an earthquake—it grew into much more. “As I was writing the book, I realised I was also telling the story of my life,” she says.

Shubnum Khan.
Shubnum Khan.

Khan is vulnerable in her stories and, in contrast to trope-filled memoirs and travelogues that spotlight strength and bravery, owns up to her less-than-brave feelings. She describes being anxious and nervous throughout most of her trips. But vulnerability and sharing one’s life (whether in a book or on social media, where Khan first found an audience for her stories) can involve treading a fine line. How does she decide what to share and what to keep to herself?

“Distance and space give you a clearer idea of the bigger picture,” she says. “You are sharing so you don’t feel lonely but you are also sharing so that other people don’t feel lonely,” she says. “I really wanted to share who I am but I also wanted to protect who I am.” When Khan says “anything could happen” if you step off the edge, she’s also aware that this doesn’t only mean good things. Neither does she ignore the presence of threat or danger. Instead, she confronts it with humour.

Even as Khan grapples with ideas such as living and travelling as a Muslim woman, she tells her stories with charm and wit. “In the book, I talk about being interrogated about my secret marriage. At the time I was so scared, it was such a serious situation. Now when I look back at it, I find it ridiculous,” Khan says. She doesn’t think of herself as a funny person but does believe that you can only laugh at certain situations in life to get through them. “Once you start seeing how ridiculous those are, you can pull out the humour from them,” she adds.

Apart from ideas of hope and courage, the book explores the theme of walking. It seems to be Khan’s primary way of experiencing any place she is visiting, especially because South Africa itself doesn’t allow her that freedom. She writes about how, in her home country, she has to watch what she wears even when going out to jog, how she can’t even carry her phone with her, and how she has to be hyper-aware of her surroundings, no matter where she goes.

How I Accidentally Became A Global Stock Photo: By Shubnum Khan, Pan Macmillan India, 256 pages,  <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>650.
How I Accidentally Became A Global Stock Photo: By Shubnum Khan, Pan Macmillan India, 256 pages, ₹650.

Her travel stories detail experiences and encounters of walking and getting lost in the streets of Istanbul, Casablanca, Seoul and Shanghai. A chance meeting with a weeping woman. Going down out-of-sight alleys full of possibilities. Discovering a mosque. “There’s such beauty in being able to get lost, and I can’t do that in South Africa,” she rues.

It’s an arresting vision, to imagine a young Muslim woman walking in cities of the world alone, and Khan is aware of it. “We have so many books about men walking in cities, and books about white women walking,” she says. “We don’t have too much about the Muslim woman walking.” Given the many places she has visited, it’s not unfair to think about Khan’s privilege, which she acknowledges. Does it mean adventures are possible only if certain things are aligned? “You should keep pursuing what you need to do and try to make it happen in whatever way possible,” she says. She had to fight her father to be able to travel, for instance. Some of her trips had some expenses covered. “You have to dream big but you also have to follow them with practical steps,” she says.

It’s a curious book to have been written in 2020, when the pandemic was blazing and travel was far from our minds. And yet, it was also the perfect time for the book, which has been as much influenced by the pandemic as it is a product of it. Khan says that were it not for that strange, isolating, terrifying time, she might not have come to some of the conclusions and reflections she did in her book.

“It started making me think intensely about who I am and my role, the kind of experiences I have,” she says. “In my stories I am talking about travelling by myself, being by myself, being single, doing things alone. And then, when I was writing this book (during the pandemic), I was by myself, and I was missing everyone. I felt isolated. I think it helped tell a more intense story.”

That time in 2020 was also a period when, amid the despair and grief, we were all looking for hope. Because it wasn’t around her while she was writing, Khan says she tried to write that hope into her book. “Everything felt hopeless and writing the stories felt like I was trying to inject that magic back into life,” she says.

That is the book’s mainstay: the idea that there is hope and magic to be had from life, for anyone who wants it and is brave enough to push for it. Khan calls her book “part memoir, part travelogue, part love letter to anyone who has been afraid”. It’s essentially about choosing your own path in the face of conventionality but it is the heart and humour with which she tells her tales that make the smile already on your face linger a little longer.

I ask her what advice she would give to someone who carries the weight of dreams in her heart—and it’s usually a her—except that she’s afraid. Khan’s reply is tender and full of warmth. “It will be scary and hard but you should never stop dreaming. People will always be telling women how to be, how to act and what to do. But you have to follow what you want to do because you are living your life,” she says. “You are going to be on the journey with you. No one else will live your life.”

Tasneem Pocketwala writes on culture, identity, gender, cities and books. She is based in Mumbai.

source: http://www.lifestyle.livemint.com / Mint Lounge / Home> News> Big Story / by Tasneem Pocketwala / November 04th, 2021

Keralite woman from Chavakkad wins Big Ticket lottery worth Rs 44.75 crore

Anjangadi (Thrissur District) KERALA / Abu Dhabi, UAE :

Leena Jelal

Abu Dhabi:

Leena Jelal, hailing from Anjangadi near Chavakkad in Thrissur district, bagged the Big Ticket lottery worth Rs.44.75 crore (2.2 crore Dirham). The ticket, which she purchased along with her nine colleagues, brought huge luck for her. Jelal has been working as an HR professional at Shoidar Project Electronics Mechanical LLC in Abu Dhabi for the last four years.

“Though my friends were jointly taking tickets for the last one year, this was the first time that the ticket was purchased in my name.

When I was told about it first, I couldn’t believe it. I thought somebody was playing a prank on me. I am not getting words now. I am indebted to God. I have not decided what to do with the money. Anyway, I will continue with my job. The rest of the things will be decided after consulting my family members.” she said.

All other winners Suraif Suru, (10 lakh dirham), Siljohn Yohanan (5 lakh dirham), Ansar Zacharia Mansil (2.5 lakh dirham) and Divya Abraham (1 lakh dirham) are Indians.

Twin brothers win lottery

The Malayali family of two twin brothers and two twin sisters in Kuwait got Rs.50.88 lakh (2.5 lakh Dirham) prize at the weekend Big Ticket draw. The ticket taken in the name of Savitha Nair, a Clinical Staff Nurse working under the Kuwait Health Ministry, fetched the prize.

Savitha’s husband Ramesh Nair, her sister Saritha Nair and Saritha’s husband Rathish Nair jointly purchased the ticket. Savitha and Saritha, hailing from Kuravilangad in Kottayam district, are twin sisters and Ramesh and Rathish, hailing from Nedumudi in Alappuzha district, are twin brothers.

The Malayali family of two twin brothers and two twin sisters

Savitha’s son is Abhinav R Nair (Learners on Academy, Kuwait). Saritha’s children are Niranjan R Nair (Kazhakootam Sainik School) and Nirajith R Nair (Learners on Academy, Kuwait).

source: http://www.onmanorama.com / OnManorama / Home> News>Kerala / by OnManorama Correspondent / February 04th, 2022