Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

WKND Conversations: India’s first female radio newsreader ‘lived life on her own terms’

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

Bhopal, MADHYA PRADESH /Lucknow, UTTAR PRADESH / NEW DELHI :

Saaeda Bano in her glory days

Saeeda Bano’s Dubai-based granddaughter, Shahana Raza, tells WKND about rediscovering her ‘Bibi’ when she took on the task of translating her memoir.

Shahana Raza, Indian writer and journalist and granddaughter of Saeeda Bano
(Shihab)

One of the pioneering women of the 20th century who probably didn’t get the recognition she deserved in her lifetime was Saeeda Bano, the first woman in India to work as a radio newsreader on All India Radio (AIR) in 1947. However, Bano (fondly known as Bibi) did leave behind a poignant autobiography called Dagar Se Hat Kar in Urdu that was published in 1994. The book has now been translated into English by her granddaughter, Shahana Raza, a Dubai-based writer and journalist, and is titled Off the Beaten Track.

In a chat with KT, Raza reveals that she translated the Urdu memoir into English so that more people could read about the unconventional yet inspiring journey of a woman of indomitable spirit — her grandmother Saeeda Bano. Excerpts from the interview:

What led you to translate your grandmother’s memoir into English after so many years?

Dagar Se Hat Kar was published in 1994 in Urdu. My grandmother, whom I fondly called Bibi, suffered a paralytic stroke soon after. During that time, when I visited her in New Delhi, she asked me if I could translate the book into English for her. I told her that it was written in a language that I understood, but couldn’t read or write. She remained quiet then, but a few days later when I was leaving for the US to make a life for myself, I received a parcel containing eight audio cassettes from her close friend, who told me, “Bibi asked me to read and record the entire book onto these tapes, just so that you could translate them into English.”

The tapes travelled with me to the US and stayed with me till I settled down in Dubai in 2000. I did try transcribing them once before, but was intimidated by the heavy Urdu vocabulary. I delayed it until three years ago, when my dad motivated me to try again.

What is the story behind Bano becoming India’s first female voice on All India Radio?

An excerpt from the book tells us that, in 1938, a radio station was set up in Lucknow that also held shows for women and children; these were also hosted by women. My grandmother started participating in the radio shows regularly. When things on the personal front got a bit turbulent, she sent her application to BBC in New Delhi for a news reader and she got accepted. She moved from Lucknow (her husband’s house) to New Delhi with her younger son and took up accommodation at the YWCA and began working at AIR full time.

What made her life an unconventional one?

Although I always saw Bibi as a bold, independent woman who was truly ahead of her times, it was after reading and translating her book that I understood she was truly a force to reckon with.

Back in 1947, she had walked out of her marriage and decided to lead life as a single, working woman, which was unheard of at that time. She had all the possible comforts of life when she lived in the ancestral house in Lucknow with her husband and in-laws — but when she realised it wasn’t going in the right direction, she took the bold step of walking out of it along with her two boys, Asad and Saeed. She moved to New Delhi after putting her elder son in a boarding school and stayed in a women’s hostel in Delhi. Apart from making professional strides where her career soared as she started doing more shows on All India Radio, she was also quite candid about her relationship with a married man — something not many would do even today.

What are some of your favourite chapters in the book and what did you like about them?

The initial few chapters of the book are captivating, as Bano gives a very vivid description of the way people lived in the early 20th century, beginning with the life of her mother, who got married when she was 14. She gives a riveting description of how people traveled in palanquins and how the palanquin bearers communicated with each other; how homes were lit with oil lamps, and the way they were designed to keep women away from the public eye. Since the purdah system was practised by both Muslims and non-Muslims of that time, homes were designed in a way that there were no openings (windows) towards the façade of the house. It simply transports you to that era and gives you a glimpse of the socio-cultural setup of that time.

What aspects of Bano’s personality did you think stood out? Who or what shaped her ideas?

Bibi’s early days were spent in Bhopal, which I believe played a crucial role in moulding her personality, as the city was run and ruled by women (Nawab Begums) for four generations. The women of Bhopal were very empowered and were aware of their unique identity; they were encouraged to study and go out to women’s clubs, where they learnt how to live a life independently without the need for male approval.

She lived her life on her own terms and never bowed down to societal pressure. I never saw her doing anything that a traditional grandmother would do, like cook or oil our hair. I always saw her as a gutsy, fearless woman who drove around the city on her own, lived alone, and didn’t seek support from anyone — even in the lowest phases of her life. Her sheer determination always stood out, as she never looked back and regretted any of her decisions.

What are the key takeaways from the book? What would you want to imbibe from her?

Something that I really understood from her book was the importance of individuality. There is more to us than we are socially. We always try and slot ourselves into relationships — mother, daughter, sister, wife etc. Bibi taught us how to claim our identity. She never went back to her parents when her marriage didn’t work. She just used whatever skills she had to find a job and support herself. Even today, not many have the courage to take such a step. To me, the step that I would call the defining moment of Bibi’s life would be leaving her extremely comfortable life in Lucknow, where she would drive a convertible car, to move to a new city, New Delhi, where she would mostly commute on foot because she wanted to save money. The most invaluable lesson I learnt from this book is how, sometimes, to reclaim your identity, you may have to forgo the comfort and security of being in a family.

(Off The Beaten Track is available at Ciel bookstore in Dubai.)

saman@khaleejtimes.com

source: http://www.khaleejtimes.com / Khaleej Times / Home> WKND> Interview / by Saman Haziq, Dubai / November 27th, 2020

Meet Nasir Akhtar, whose sole mission in life is Sikh-Muslim unity

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, , , , , , , ,

Malerkotla, PUNJAB :

Malerkotla:

The news about Muslims donating 33 tonns of grain to Golden Temple Langar was widely reported. This initiative of Malerkotla Muslim was highly appreciated by the Sikh Community around the world. The Muslim group reached Golden Temple and did Kar Seva while handing over grains’ trucks to the Golden Temple authorities.

 Malerkotla is one of the Muslim majority areas of Punjab. This good Samaritan group was led by Dr Nasir Akhtar who has been working for the Sikh Muslim Unity for the last 15 years. 

 Dr Nasir Akhtar is running a foundation for Sikh Muslim cooperation in Punjab and is well known for his devotion to Sikh Muslim Unity. 

 TwoCircles.net’s senior correspondent Aas Mohammad Kaif spoke to Nasir Akhtar of Malerkotla. These are excerpts from the interview. 

TCN: How did the idea to collect grains and send them to the Golden Temple come to your mind?

 Nasir Akhtar: During the coronavirus lockdown, Golden Temple had issued an appeal for grains. Sikhs were running a campaign to collect food grains for Golden Temple Langar. 

 Golden Temple runs a huge Langar (Free Kitchen) where food is being served to everyone irrespective of their religion. I felt that we should also contribute to this charitable work. I consulted the people around me. Everyone readily agreed to cooperate in this noble task.

 Though we could collect huge donations from a few wealthy people of the area, I thought we must collect 5 kgs of grains from every household in the Muslim majority villages. Such an initiative will give a positive message to further Sikh Muslim fraternity. We worked for 35 days and got a tremendous response.

 People cooperated eagerly which became the talk of the town in the surrounding areas. The word spread amongst the Sikh community that Muslims are also collecting grains for the Golden Temple Langar which increased brotherly spirit between these two communities.

TCN: How was your experience meeting the Sikh community?

 Nasir Akhtar: It was wonderful. Whenever we reached a village where Sikhs and Muslims live together, Sikh women cried as they couldn’t control their emotions and prayed for us. They offered us cold water and requested us to have meals in their households. The male Sikh elders were honouring us wherever we went. This noble task had an overreach beyond a mere collection of grains.

 This initiative has become a symbol of Sikh Muslim amity. Quite often we and our Sikh brother’s team reached a village simultaneously to collect the grains.

 They were collecting food grains in their community and we were doing the same in ours. If four or five wealthy people have contributed to arranging grains, this spirit of brotherhood would not have been created. Through this initiative, everyone is participating in this good Samaritan cause.

TCN: What kind of response did you get from Gold Temple authorities when you arrived there?

 Nasir Akhtar: Before arriving at Golden Temple, we were felicitated by the eminent Sikhs of Sangrur (District Malerkotla). When they came to know that we have collected 35 tonns of grains, they had requested local Gurudwara authorities to help us in delivering the grains to Golden Temple Langer. The local Sikhs and Muslims were highly impressed with this initiative.  

 When our group of about 8-10 reached Golden Temple, we were received warmly by Sardar Harpreet Singhji, Incharge of Akal Takht. Such a warm welcome in itself was a great honour for us.

 Though Muslims of Punjab do Kar Seva in Langar of Golden Temple, this act of going village to village to collect grains had made a huge impact and created a lot of goodwill. The Langar authorities served us food with great hospitality and we too participated in their Langar service.

 TCN: You have been working for the Sikh Muslim unity in Punjab since long. Can you talk about this experience?

 Nasir Akhtar: 15 years ago I used to run my clinic. I realized that there are many misconceptions between Sikhs and Muslims. Among them, there are things like enclosing children of Guru Gobind Singh Ji within a narrow chamber. My heart was not accepting it. I first researched myself, left the clinic, did my major in Punjabi, and studied Punjabi books. When I read the books written by Sikhs 300 years ago, I realized that Sikhism is very close to Islam. I understood that they both have the same message. I started speaking about the closeness of both religions in many aspects and for this I referred to Punjabi books. The verses of the Quran were explained in Punjabi and told that the beliefs of the two are quite similar. For this, I wrote books in Punjabi.

 TCN: What was the response to your initiative of working for Muslim-Sikh unity? 

 Nasir Akhtar: There are too many misconceptions. The wounds of 1947 are very deep. After the riots, Sikhs and Muslims came closer. But even today some people keep harping about past mistakes. Malerkotla is a Muslim populated area in Punjab. The local MLA Razia Sultana is a minister in the Punjab cabinet. The Muslims of Malerkotla are quite well off in comparison to other places.

 Muslims here work with Sikhs shoulder to shoulder and Sikhs do the same with Muslims where they are in the minority. This is a fine example of brotherhood between two communities. Good work always has good results. People on both sides understand the value of peaceful co-existence. Nowadays, since the news spreads fast, people here expressed appreciation when Muslims gave Mosque land in Saharanpur for Gurudwara. Langar running in Shaheen Bagh by Sikhs was also highly appreciated in Malerkotla.

 TCN: What is the goal of your Sikh Muslim affinity Foundation?

 Nasir Akhtar: This is an organization under whose banner we are doing this work. I formed this organization 15 years ago. We do all the programs of Sikh Muslim unity under the banner of this institution. The grain collection campaign was also run under the banner of this institution. Promoting brotherhood between Sikhs and Muslims is the only goal of my life and for this reason, I did not marry and left my clinic too. I want to work for this noble cause till my last breath. 

 TCN: Do you feel in the last few years, there is a growing misunderstanding between Hindus and Muslims in the country. Do you think there is a need to run such a campaign among these two communities?

 Nasir Akhtar: I told you that to explain my point of view to Sikhs, I searched and read their 300 years old books, did my Major in Punjabi, and spoke to Sikhs in Punjabi. I refer to their books. I freely quote the inspirational words of their gurus and then talk about my religion in their tongue. It makes a good impact on them. 

 Hindu and Muslims of India have diminished their understanding of each other. They do not conduct healthy discussions. The idle debates between them have created a lot of misunderstanding between them. Brotherly talk between these two communities should be encouraged. TV can play a big role to promote affinity in these communities. We are first humans, then Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs or others afterwards. 

 (Translated from Hindi by Mohammed Hussain)

source: http://www.twocircles.net / TwoCircles.net / Home> Lead Story> Sikhs> TCN Positive / by Aas Mohammed Kaif, TwoCircles.net / July 31st, 2020

Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub talks about his career, being an activist and his upcoming films

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues

NEW DELHI / Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA :

‘I always knew that there will be a price that I will have to pay for my outspokenness’ —says the Bollywood actor

Actor Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub / sourced by the correspondent

Ever since his debut as the antagonist in No One Killed Jessica almost a decade ago, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub has featured in roles that have effectively showcased his mettle as an actor, Shahid to Raanjhanaa, Tanu Weds Manu Returns to Article 15. The 37-year-old actor has also held his own in big Bolly, whether it’s Raees or Tubelight, Zero or Thugs of Hindostan. He’s also been one of the rare voices from the film industry who has repeatedly taken to the streets in protest against the Citizenship Amendement Act and more, and continues to voice his political views with abandon.

After a winning act in Chhalaang earlier this month, Zeeshan — as he’s popularly called — plays the central character in the thriller series A Simple Murder, now streaming on Sony LIV. The Telegraph caught up with the articulate actor on the upswing in his career and the actor vs activist in him.

How would you describe A Simple Murder?

It’s a show that’s a fusion of many genres. Our generation, per se, has grown up on a fusion of genres, whether it’s in movies or in music. A Simple Murder is kind of set in the Coen Brothers zone… the way it’s been shot. It will give you a feel of Fargo, there’s also a certain (Quentin) Tarantino-ish darkness. There is humour, but we can’t exactly call it a dark comedy. I sometimes find it very tough to describe the show. I have been a fan of all these film-makers and after reading the script of A Simple Murder, I was like, ‘Yaar, yeh toh pucca karna hain’.

You shot this show during the lockdown. What was that like?

It was, of course, very different from anything I had shot before. We shot the first schedule for 37-38 days in July in Hyderabad, in Ramoji (Rao Film City). The most surreal bit was that the whole of Ramoji was closed, and we were the only unit there. Solah sau acre ke property mein sirf hum kuch log thhe… it was quite bizarre (laughs). Honestly, after a few days, we kind of got comfortable… we were in quarantine, in a kind of bio bubble, aur baahar ki duniya ke saath hamara koi lena dena nahin tha. The whole thing of sanitising was pretty novel at first, but now that’s become a part of our lives… masks have become a part of our bodies now (laughs). There were some instances where the camera would start rolling and an actor would still have his mask on! We adapted quite quickly.

In August, we went to Amritsar for about three-four days, but it was tough to shoot there. We had a sequence at a bus terminal, but by that time the lockdown had lifted and it got so crowded there, that we had to stop our shoot and come back to Mumbai. In September, we went to Delhi for a week to shoot.

What’s happened in the post-Covid world is that shooting has not only become strenuous, but also lengthy. You have to keep taking breaks, sanitise and re-sanitise, and make sure all the protocols are adhered to.

In a year that’s been on pause for most, you have had A Simple Murder releasing within a week of your film Chhalaang. Even otherwise, the last few years have been busy with roles of impact. Would you count this as the best time in your career?

It definitely is one of the most exciting phases in my career. But there are so many moments and so many turns in an actor’s career. I can never take away from that time when Raanjhanaa and Shahid had released in the same year, or when my first film (No One Killed Jessica) released. Raanjhanaa, Tanu Weds Manu Returns and Raees have been very important films for me. Or for that matter the two massive flops I was part of within a month of each other, that is Zero and Thugs (of Hindostan)… even those were important moments in my career.

As you just mentioned, I have had two releases in two weeks now, and I have another coming up in January… it’s a big series on Amazon Prime Video. But for a year before this, there was no release. It was a conscious break because I wanted to change my career graph. I played the antagonist in Chhalaang and I am getting a great response for that. It’s really overwhelming. In A Simple Murder, I am the protagonist. I always used to crave for author-backed characters and what I got most of the time were weak characters that I had to develop on my own. My part in A Simple Murder is author backed and the world of the show has been built around my character. These are good times now and I hope they get even better (smiles).

Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub in A Simple Murder, streaming on Sony LIV / sourced by the correspondent

Do you think the audience no longer thinks of the protagonist as the ‘hero’ and everyone else as ‘character actors’ as was the case for decades, or does that still exist?

It is changing but we still have a long way to go. I always say that the Indian audience, for the large part, doesn’t appreciate the actor or his acting… they only look at the character you play. Nawaz bhai (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) was very good in Sarfarosh and Munna Bhai MBBS, but he was only noticed with Kahaani and Gangs of Wasseypur. Jaideep (Ahlawat), who is a good friend, has been doing some great work for years, but he’s only been noticed on a large scale with Paatal Lok. What’s happening with Pratik (Gandhi) with Scam 1992 is similar.

The big change that the web has brought about is that, unlike in films, there can be six or seven primary characters in a show. More actors are getting exposure and you no longer need a star to push a web series. A good performance can now create a new star far more easily because the web ensures that the content reaches people. We have a long way to go to mature, but we are on the right path, I feel. Hopefully in the next two-three years, we will start appreciating actors and acting much more.

Is the audience able to separate the actor and the activist in you?

I think the audience is still willing to accept. People haven’t reached that level of hatred ke bole ki, ‘Achha iss show mein yeh so-called activist hain toh hum nahin dekhenge’. I don’t think anyone, apart from the IT cell of political parties, says that yet (laughs). Viewers may disagree with me politically, but if my work is good, they will watch it. Even with Chhalaang, I have got texts saying, ‘Main aapke politics se bilkul disagree karta hoon, but I must say it was a very good performance’ (laughs). Kahin na kahin, conscience abhi bhi jaagi hain audience mein.

Does your outspokenness and political leaning affect work coming your way?

There are some people who are scared. They don’t want to keep you during promotions because they feel bina baat ki controversy khadi ho jayegi iss aadmi ke chehre ke saath. But it depends on the people you are working with… some also feel that if they have chosen an actor, it’s because of his acting capability and not because of his political views. Jab tak aise log hain kaam chalta rahega.

I always used to speak out, but people now notice more because as your fame as an actor goes up, the fame of your activism also goes up (laughs). But I always knew that there will be a price that I will have to pay for my outspokenness and the fact that I have chosen my conscience over everything else. Kuch kaam definitely chhooth rahein hain, but if there are people who are not giving me work for my activism, it’s best that I don’t do work like that. I don’t want to work with weak people… I want to work with people who can take a stand, or at least support you if you are taking a stand.

source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph Online / Home> Entertainment / by Priyanka Roy / November 23rd, 2020

Prominent Shia scholar Kalbe Sadiq passes away

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

Lucknow , UTTAR PRADESH :

Maulana Kalbe Sadiq  

Prominent Shia preacher and scholar Maulana Kalbe Sadiq died late on Tuesday after prolonged illness. At 83, he was perhaps the tallest and most reputable Shia cleric in Uttar Pradesh and its capital Lucknow.

Sadiq breathed his last at 10 p.m., said his son Kalbe Sibtain Noori. Sadiq was admitted to the ICU of a private hospital on November 17.

“He was very unwell. His condition was deteriorating over the past three days,” said his son.

In a health bulletin issued hours before his death, Era’s Lucknow Medical College said Sadiq was suffering from colorectal cancer with metastasis with severe pneumonia, UTI and septic shock with acute kidney shutdown and paralytic ileus.

An educationist and Islamic scholar in his own right, Sadiq was also the vice-president of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board.

His nephew and Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawad said Sadiq’s death was a big loss not only for the family but also for Shias, Muslims in general and the nation. “It is an unbearable loss,” Maulana Jawad said in a statement issued from Jammu and Kashmir.

Support to protest

Despite his ill health, in perhaps in one of his last public appearances, Sadiq offered his support to the protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act earlier this year. In January, he visited the Hussainabad Clocktower protest site in old Lucknow and expressed solidarity with the women who had assembled there.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Miscellaneous> Others / by Special Correspondent / Lucknow – November 26th, 2020

When Kaifi Azmi First Met Shaukat : Love Story of a Poet

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

UTTAR PRADESH / Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA :

Kaifi Azmi and Shaukat Kafi

(Following is an excerpt from the autobiography of Shaukat Kaifi, wife of Kaifi Azmi. The autobiography, Yaad Ki Rahguzar, is originally written in Urdu. English translation is done by Nasreen Rehman.)

Kaifi Azmi & Shaukat Kaifi with their daughter Shabana Azmi.

Choti Apajan was married to Akhtar Hasan, a Progressive writer and poet who was invited to Hyderabad in 1946 by Qazi Abdul Ghaffar, of Laila ke Khatut (Laila’s letters) fame, to join him as editor of the Urdu daily, Payam. Akhtar Bhai was a gracious host and Choti Apajan was always by his side in their open house where writers from the Progressive Writers’ Movement, such as Makhdoom Mohiuddin, were regular visitors.

In February 1947 a Progressive Writers’ conference was organized in Hyderabad and Akhtar Bhai arranged for the poets Kaifi Azmi and Majrooh Sultanpuri to stay with his elder sister, Baji. His youngers sister Rabia Burney lived next door, and it was here that Sardar Jafri was staying with her friend Sultana, who later became his wife. Fortuitously, this was during the long school holidays, and as I happened to be visiting my sister in Hyderabad, I was able to attend the conference and meet the Progressive Writers about whom I had heard so much. In Hyderabad it was not uncommon for writers with slightest claim to fame to put on airs and treat with disdain those whom they considered less fortunate or famous than themselves. The young progressive writers were a refreshing change; they wore their fame so lightly that I was overwhelmed. Little did I know that this chance encounter would change my life forever.

One night there was a mushaira. I was sitting in the front row with Bade Bhaijaan. The air was filled with expectation. Finally, I was going to hear the celebrated poets. I had spent hours before a mirror trying on one kurta after another and head settled on a white kargah kurta, a white salwar, a dupatta skillfully dyed in the colours of the rainbow and golden salimshahi shoes. I was determined to overshadow all the other young women. When Kaifi began to recite his poem Taj, I felt impelled to fix my gaze on this tall, slim and charismatic young man, whose voice, God help me, had a timber like the Rumble of storm clouds. How brave of him to recite a powerful poem against monarchy and injustice in the Nizam’s city! Bade Bhaijaan turned to me and said, ‘Such a bold poem from one so young; these people are truly fearless’. after the Mushaira people rushed towards the three poets with their Autograph books. College girls swarmed around Kaifi like flies but I preferred to wait my turn, and giving him an arch look, I turned towards Sardar Jafri and asked for his Autograph instead.

After the crowds had dispersed, I walked up to Kaifi with great confidence and held out my autograph book to him. From the corner of his eye Kaifi had caught me going towards Sardar Jafri; and to my dismay he scribbled some meaningless couplets in my book.

The flaming cloud that seems to shine

The earth of the nightingale’s honour 

Come into my domain like a secret 

My heart bell rings and lightening swings 

Grab the beauty and come into my heart

I was miffed. Kaifi has inscribed a charming couplet for my friend Zakia who was beaming with delight and I was consumed with envy. When we returned to Chhoti Apajan’s, I joined Kaifi on the steps leading to the house and demanded petulantly, ‘Why did you write such silly couplets for me?’

‘Why did you ask for Jafri Sahib’s autograph first?’ Kaifi asked mischievously. He was pleased to see that I was amused in spite of myself and we sat right there on the steps, slipping into a conversation as though we were old friends. The eagle eyed Chhoti Apajaan descended upon us announcing, ‘Dinner is served.’ Then she continued, ‘and yes, Kaifi don’t forget to congratulate Shaukat; she is getting married in three months time to Usman, our Mamu’s son. Kaifi’s crestfallen expression mirrored my dismay as we made our way to dinner. I had learnt from Sardar Jafri that Kaifi was getting married to some lady in Bombay who wanted to have a sherwani made for him and that two of hemru, a rich brocade, which was the speciality of our region. I could not help but feel a twinge of envy.

After dinner Kaifi and I returned to sit on the steps. ‘In three months you will be married and you won’t even think of me.’ Kaifi said in a very subdued voice.

‘And you will go back to Bombay and get married,’ was my rejoinder.

‘Now, I will never get married, not for the rest of my life,’ Kaifi declared.

‘ Marriage is a must,’ I counselled him like an agony aunt, ‘without marriage life is incomplete…… human being remains unfulfilled…’ I was rambling on when I caught Kaifi staring at me. Avoiding his gaze, I rushed off to my room! Something had stirred in me – an emotion unfamiliar but exciting. I could not wait for Dawn to break.

Next morning, I went into Kaifi’s room. He was standing there, wearing a pair of grey trousers and a white shirt. Fresh from his bath, there were drops of water glistening on his long black hair. I had with me the perfume ‘Evening in Paris’ which was all the rage at the time. Purposefully, I rushed up to Kaifi and daubed some on his test. As I turned around and ran I could sense his eyes full of laughter following me out of the room.

Kaifi went for a meeting after breakfast and disappeared for the whole day. In the evening, Akhtar Bhai and Baji were hosting a dinner party; Zakia and I flitting around preening ourselves. It was eight o’clock and there was no sign of Kaifi. Zakia said, ‘I think, Kaifi is asleep at Rabia’s house.

‘Go, go and wake him up,’ I need her. 

‘Why should I?’ She asked. I was just saying, ‘Indeed, and why would I….’ when Kaifi walked into the room.

I was standing by a window, near and earthenware pot of cold water, covered with an engraved silver bowl. Kaifi walked up to me and said, ‘I am very thirsty.’ I filled the bowl with water and offered it to him.

He said, ‘More.’ 

I refilled the bowl. He said, ‘More,’

I poured some more,

‘More,’ said Kaifi.

I looked at him questioningly. 

He said, ‘My thirst is unquenched.’ 

Flushed, I hurried away. My world was transformed into a kaleidoscope of colours.

source: http://www.heritagetimes.in / Heritage Times / Home> Urdu> Writer / by Saquib Salim / January 14th, 2020

Kashmir police officer sets up ‘wall of kindness’ for the needy

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, COVID 19 - Community of Soldiers, Leaders, , , , , , , ,

Srinagar, JAMMU & KASHMIR :

The 33-year-old officer says he chose the location outside his office so that he could monitor and supervise the arrangements.

From food items to hangers filled with warm clothes, ‘Wall of Kindness’ in Srinagar brings warmth during this harsh winter | Zahoor Punjabi

As the mercury drops to 2 degree Celsius on a windy Saturday evening  in Srinagar, a youngster, Zubair Ahmad, puts up a blanket on a hanger mounted on the ‘Wall of Kindness’, a unique wall set up for the needy and homeless, outside the office of the traffic police department.

Ahmad is among thousands of residents who have come forward to donate their clothes — jackets, coats, suits, mufflers, among others — for those in need of warm clothes during the chilly winter, as a gesture of their “kindness”.  

And the ‘architect’ behind the Wall of Kindness initiative is Sheikh Aadil Mushtaq, a 2015-batch Kashmir Police Service (KPS) officer from Baramulla district who is posted as deputy superintendent of police (DSP) traffic police in Srinagar.

Moved by the deplorable conditions of the poor — hit by two shutdowns, after the abrogations of Article 370 in August last year and the Covid-19 lockdown in March —  the young police officer took the initiative on November 13 on the occasion of World Kindness Day. The Wall of Kindness was first started in Mashhad in Iran in 2016 and later, the charity initiative spread to other parts of the world.

Starting from food items to hangers filled with warm clothes to sanitary pads, the Wall of Kindness in  the heart of summer capital brings warmth during this harsh winter. Painted in white, the wall has a message, too:  “If you don’t need it, leave it. If you need it, take it.” “It is not a new idea. It is a corollary effort. This Wall of Kindness is an interface that I have dedicated to the people of Srinagar,” Aadil says.

The 33-year-old officer says he chose the location outside his office so that he could monitor and supervise the arrangements. According to Aadil, there has been an overwhelming response to the initiative.  “Every day, hundreds of people come and donate items such as woollen clothes, food and blankets etc.” The DSP, who is pursuing post-graduation diploma in cybercrime, says with the onset of winter, the arrangements for kangris (earthen hot pots) have also been made at the wall.

A coffee and tea vending machine has also been set up there by the donors. “Any homeless or an underprivileged person can have a cup of tea or coffee to beat the chilling winter,” the officer says, adding that it is being ensured that the items reach the needy only. “My initiative has been successful. The things are reaching the needy and the deserving people, and this was the main purpose of my initiative,” Aadil says. Asked whether people have been hesitant in donating, the officer says: “I have been lucky here. The kind of love and affection I get from people is overwhelming.

Without their help, it would have been impossible. I don’t have to instruct much. People are themselves cooperating and donating items.” “I am not doing it as a police officer. Being a police officer is my second identity. I am a responsible citizen first, and I have certain responsibilities towards the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” says DSP. Aadil says he has been receiving calls from people from Jammu and other places who want to join the initiative and generously donate for the destitute. 

The police officer says the winter in Kashmir is harsh and many people struggle in the absence of warm clothing. He said he and other police personnel wanted to help those people. The clothes hanging on the wall catch the attention of people who stop to take a look. Locals have, however, appreciated the initiative. Ahmad, a local who has also donated a pair of blankets, says the initiative should be appreciated to encourage others.

“It hardly matters whether the initiative has been taken by a police officer or a civilian. What matters is that we need to be compassionate towards people, who have been economically hit by two lockdowns since August 5 last year. We need to be compassionate towards each other and help each other in the trying times like Covid-19 pandemic. We should come up with such initiatives regularly,” he says.

Moved by deplorable conditions of the poor in Srinagar, after two lockdowns in seven months, a young traffic police officer sets up a ‘Wall of Kindness’ where people can donate clothes for those in need, reports Fayaz Wani.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by Fayaz Wani / Express News Service / November 22nd, 2020

Sana Khan ties knot with Mufti Anas in Gujarat

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

GUJARAT :

Sana Khan ties knot with Mufti Anas in Gujarat
 Sana Khan with her husband Mufti Anas (Instagram)

In October, Sana Khan shared the news of her quitting showbiz forever citing religious reasons

Mumbai:

Television actress and Bigg Boss 6 contestant Sana Khan who quit showbiz to follow spiritual path, got married to Mufti Anas in Gujarat  on Saturday.

The videos of an intimate wedding ceremony of Sana Khan are surfacing online. We got our hands on an adorable video where the newly married couple was seen cutting a cake in the presence of their family members. The video was shared by Bollywood’s ace photographer Viral Bhayani on Instagram .

Sana Khan looked resplendent in a white bridal gown. She also wore a hijab along with her wedding dress and looked stunning. She compliment the look with a very simple and light make up. Her partner, Mufti Anas kept it traditional on the wedding day. He chose a white kurta-pyjama for the occasion.

Who is Mufti Anas?

Mufti Anas is a Muslim cleric from Surat, Gujarat. ‘Bigg Bos 8’ contestant Ajaz Khan reportedly introduced Sana Khan to her husband.

In October, Sana Khan took to her social media and surprised her fans by sharing the news of her quitting showbiz forever citing religious reasons.

In her post on Instagram, Sana Khan said that the entertainment industry has given her “all kinds of fame, honour and wealth” but she has realised that she should not make “wealth and fame” her only goal. She added that from now on, she will “serve humanity and follow the order of her Creator.”

“When I searched for the answer to this question in my religion, I realized that this life in the world is actually for the betterment of life-after death. And it will be better if the slave lives according to the command of his Creator, and does not make wealth and fame his only goal; rather, he/she should avoid sinful life and serve humanity, and follow the path shown by his/her Creator. Therefore, I declare today that from today onwards, I have resolved to say goodbye to my Showbiz lifestyle forever and serve humanity and follow the orders of my Creator. All brothers and sisters are requested to pray for me to Allah to accept my repentance and grant me the true ability to live in accordance with my determination of spending my life following the commandments of my Creator and in the service of humanity, and grant me perseverance in it“.

“Finally, all brothers and sisters are requested to not consult me with regards to any Showbiz work henceforth,” she wrote.

While sharing her decision, Sana removed several pictures and videos of herself from her shoot diaries and trips from her social media account.

source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> Top Stories / by Rasti Amena / November 21st, 2020

KBC 12: Meet Nazia Nasim, The First Crorepati Of This Season Of The Game Show

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, , , , , ,

Ranchi, JHARKHAND / NEW DELHI :

The Wednesday episode of KBC (Kaun Banega Crorepati) was memorable for the Season 12 as the show got its first crorepati in Delhi-based Nazia Nasim. The contestant was lauded not only for her historic victory, but also for not using any lifeline till late during the game.

On November 11, she won the prize money of Rs 1 crore after answering 15 questions correctly. Nasim was the roll-over contestant of Tuesday’s game, during which she had earned Rs 40,000 already. Although Nazia couldn’t answer the 16th jackpot question of Rs 7 crore, she is hailed as the first crorepati after the season premiered on September 28, 2020.

Here are 10 things to know about Nazia Nasim.

  • Nasim hails from Ranchi, Jharkhand. She moved to Delhi in 2004 to do a PG diploma in advertising and PR from Indian Institute of Mass Communication. Currently, Nasim is working as a communication manager.
  • She got married in 2008. Along with her husband and 10-year-old son, she resides in the National Capital Delhi.
  • Nasim’s credits her inspiration of participating in KBC to her mother who has been a die-hard fan of the show and host Amitabh Bachchan. She and her father used to go to the telephone booth early morning to answer KBC’s participatory questions. After having tried for more than 8-10 seasons for 20 years, she finally had to chance to try her knowledge at the game show.
  • For Nasim, winning the prize money was a ‘Slumdog Millionaire moment’ as she just had to refresh the knowledge she had acquired over the years to answer the questions as she hadn’t prepared much for the show. Slumdog Millionaire is a 2009 Academy Award winning film about the journey of a teenager from slums of Mumbai becoming a millionaire.
  • Nasim revealed that she would use her prize money for medical expenses of her parents and in-laws. She also wants to get his son proper soccer training as he is an enthusiast of the sport. Moreover, she would donate 2.5 percent of the money for charity (zakat).
  • Nasim identifies herself as a feminist as she is a big propagator of women’s rights. She hopes that her victory helps cultivate confidence in women and girls from small towns to thrive.
  • The first crorepati of KBC 12 feels that the show is much more than just money as it provides a stage and opportunity for a person from a decent family to appear on national television and talk to a celebrity.
  • On talking about not winning the jackpot amount Rs 7 crore, she said that she had gone on the show to fulfill her mother’s dream.
  • The question that fetched Nasim one crore rupees was, “Which of these actresses once won a National Film Award for Best Playback Singer?” which she answered correctly as Roopa Ganguly.
  • Nasim’s strategy on the game show was eliminating every wrong option, which did eventually lead her to the right answer. Notably, she didn’t use any lifeline till the 11th question.

Shikha Chandra is an intern with SheThePeople.TV

source: http://www.shethepeople.tv / She The People / Home / by Shikha Chandra / November 13th, 2020

Hyderabad duo Thug Unit makes a comeback with ‘Resurrection 040’

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

Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

Local flavour, global appeal Mudassir Ahmed and Syed Irshad of Thugs Unit  

Mudassir Ahmed and Syed Irshad have pioneered Urdu hip hop movements since the early 2000s.

Mudassir Ahmed and Syed Irshad of Thugs Unit are unable to contain their excitement about making a comeback with hip hop album Resurrection 040 on Apple Music on Friday, November 20.

Syed Irshad says, “The album will feature exclusively on Apple Music once it goes live on November 20, following which it will be released on other music platforms after a fortnightly exclusive with Apple. We are elated that Bobin James, Editor and Artists Relations Lead at Apple Music liked them enough to feature our music on their platform.”

Within the hip hop community, Mudassir Ahmed and Syed Irshad are popular as ‘Mo Boucher’ and ‘Irish Boi’ respectively. The duo from Hyderabad is known as one of India’s finest hip hop groups who pioneered Urdu hip hop genre in Hyderabad.

Explaining the essence of Resurrection 040, Mudassir says, “The tracks in the album blend eastern and western music producing a mystical confluence of Sufism and hip hop genres. The 12-track album features expressive lyrics in Urdu, English and Jamaican styles. It has tracks include . ‘Rubaroo’ (Face to face), ‘Raahe Rast’ (Straight path), ‘Suroor-e-Ishq’ (Exhilaration of love), ‘Pardafash’ (Unmasked), ‘Azmaish’ (Test), ‘Atishbazi’ (Fireworks), ‘Bossman’, ‘Bus’em’ (Bust Them), ‘Hate monger’, ‘Intro’, Kun (Be) featuring Rebel of Khan Artists, and ‘Original Rajah’ (Original ruler). Our music is Sufism-inspired, self-reflection and raises voice against community evils and power establishments.”

Giving a little background of where the two started from, Mudassir says, he’s been writing, creating and recording his music since 2006. He says, “Around the same time, I came to know of Irshad who used to hold hip hop parties and events. Without wasting time, I met up with him and also performed at his hip hop events. We got along instantly and decided to create our own music with our experience. We cut a few mixed tapes in 2008 and 2010.” The duo later released a couple of singles in 2012 and 2014 on myspace and YouTube. “After our musical journey and the continuous association, I felt I was stuck in a loop; we seemed to be creating one track after the other and yet, I found no contentment. I took a break and pursued a spiritual journey in 2014.” Mudassir explains his spiritual journey ‘as the quest to reflect the purity of thoughts in music.’

Some of their mix tapes are The Beginning (2008), The Movement (2010) and Poets Word (2012). Later in 2019, the duo reconnected to create Resurrection 040.

The pull of Urdu

Why in Urdu? “To bring the real flavour of what Hyderabad has to offer in terms of music. All our music is a mix of Urdu and English for ease of understanding by people of all languages. In the early days, Irshad and I experimented with local languages and decided to go with Urdu as we loved how it sounded. Our followers too appreciated the Urdu hip hop, so we decided to make it our signature style. We also lace it with Jamaican flavour by adding a bit of reggae,” explains Mudassir.

Irshad adds, “We see hip-hop as a tool for spreading knowledge and shifting mindsets. Essentially, hip hop is a genre for representing the voice of the people; we use it as a tool to voice our thoughts against oppression in all forms. When we see something wrong in our community, we speak about it in our music.”

The artistes are very proud that the music for the album is produced by Grammy-nominated and multi-platinum producers like Buck Wild. This also makes the duo the first from Telangana (and perhaps from India) to work with the US-based Grammy-nominated producers.

Resurrection 040. will be available for streaming and purchase on all leading music platforms including Spotify and Amazon among others after 15 days.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Prabalika M. Borah / Hyderabad – November 20th, 2020

Ustad Imrat Khan: The unsung brother

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

Calcutta, INDIA / USA :

Ustad Imrat Khan   | Photo Credit: Avinash Parischa

Remembering surbahar legend Ustad Imrat Khan, who shone bright despite being overshadowed by his celebrated brother Ustad Vilayat Khan

Mention the name Ustad Imrat Khan to any young Indian classical music lover, and chances are the reply will be, “Imrat Khan sahib? Oh yes, Ustad Vilayat Khan’s younger brother, the surbahar player.” But Ustad Imrat Khan was much more than just the younger brother of an iconic musician. He was also one of the finest instrumentalists of his time, an innovator, composer, great teacher, and the inheritor of the surbahar playing tradition of the five-generation-old Imdadkhani gharana.

Largely forgotten by a younger generation of listeners, he is a musician whose impact can be discerned in the instrumentalists of today. For one, the fact that he was as fine a sitar player as surbahar player was deliberately underplayed by his mother, Begum Inayat Khan, who was keen that the legacy of her late husband Ustad Inayat Khan be carried forward equally by both her sons, Vilayat and Imrat. From an early age, Imrat was encouraged to practise only the surbahar, on which he was trained by his uncle Ustad Wahid Khan.

Imrat was only three when his father died, so his gurus were his maternal grandfather, Ustad Bande Hasan Khan, uncle Ustad Wahid Khan, and brother Ustad Vilayat Khan. In the early years, the brothers were encouraged to also present their music as a jugalbandi, with Imrat playing the much heavier, more difficult surbahar with his brother Vilayat Khan on the sitar. Some of their immortal recordings, ‘Night at the Taj’, ‘Mian Malhar’, and a private recording of Yemeni on YouTube, reveal Imrat’s musical prowess. Although Ustad Vilayat Khan was famed for his amazing musicality, creativity and virtuosity, the jugalbandis reveal that Ustad Imrat Khan managed to hold his own with elan.

Looking at the legacy he left behind, foremost is his excellence as a guru. He was thorough, exacting, meticulous and inspirational. His sons and disciples, Nishat, Irshad and Wajahat, are well known worldwide. Ustad Imrat Khan was also a fine composer — Satyajit Ray, who interacted with him closely during the making of Jalsaghar, apparently said that though the name of the music composer was given as Ustad Vilayat Khan, it was Ustad Imrat Khan who dealt with the minute details. He created raags Chandra Kanhra, Madhuranjani, Geetanjali, Amrit Kauns, among others, but these never really became mainstream ragas.

Unusual raags, his forte

Understanding that he had to carve out a musical identity distinct from his more celebrated brother, Ustad Imrat Khan revelled in playing unusual raags; two that he popularised were Kalavati and Abhogi Kanhra. His compositions too reveal an attempt at individuality — son Ustad Nishat Khan speaks of a ‘gat’ in raag Gaoti, which was ‘the smallest gat ever composed, in which the mukhda was in just two matras. Says Nishat, “His compositions had a unique style; he used bolkaari (stroke work) in a distinctive way,” a style that was followed later by other instrumentalists. His son Ustad Irshad Khan remembers how he played compositions other than in teen taal. “This was something his gharana was not known for.”

The training on the surbahar gave him a command on the sitar that was awesome, and the wazan of his right hand, the fluid stroke work, and the extensive use of gamak taans on the sitar were distinctly his own. He preferred to encourage the then relatively lesser-known tabla players, Ustad Lateef Ahmed Khan of the Delhi gharana and Pt. Mahapurush Mishra and Pt. Kumar Bose of the Banaras gharana.

Yet, living in the times of those superb sitariyas, Ustad Vilayat Khan and Pt. Ravi Shankar, Ustad Imrat Khan never got the acclaim that was his rightful due. He moved to the U.K. where he taught at the Dartington College of the Arts, then to Europe in the mid-1970s, where he taught at the Central Academy of the Arts, Berlin, then moved to the U.S. in the 80s, where he taught at Washington University, St Louis. In the process, his concerts in India shrank, and a newer generation of listeners forgot his presence. Recipient of the Sangeet Natak award in 1988, the nation forgot him till his Padma Shri in 2017, which he declined as being too little too late.

The Ustad was a simple, large-hearted and fun-loving man. He loved good food and enjoyed watching Hindi movies. Most of his waking hours were spent in music, whether playing, listening or teaching. He was technically proficient, and and was able to tweak the jawari (the ivory tuning bridge) perfectly. A traditionalist, he turned down all offers for fusion concerts, saying there was enough to explore in Indian music. Today, four decades after his prime, one is able to appreciate the extent of his mastery.

The Delhi-based author writes on Hindustani music and musicians.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Entertainment> Music / by Shailaja Khanna / November 19th, 2020