Category Archives: Business & Economy

Business Badshas

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Chennai, TAMIL NADU :

The trade, commerce, politics, and history of south India have been shaped by several powerful individuals and families.

The proprietor of the mica mines examines the accounts at the Kuddusabad camp

Chennai :

The trade, commerce, politics, and history of south India have been shaped by several powerful individuals and families. Among the names that made it to the list, the Badsha family — members of the Urdu Muslim mercantile elite — were one of the leaders in extending business relationships to places like Arabia, Egypt and Japan.

In a tete-a-tete with the fourth-generation descendants, Faiz Badsha Sayeed and Faud Badsha Sayeed, we find out more about perhaps one of the oldest families to establish a strong base in Triplicane, their life in the Madras Presidency and their omnipresence in south Indian history.

Hand-drawn carts were taken up hills and through jungles to reach the mica mines

 By 1819, Haji Mohammed Badsha Sahib established their family firm — a textile company, Messrs H Mohammed Badsha Sahib & Co.

By the early 20th century, the family also became leading importers of Manchester cotton goods and exported indigo, tamarind, mica and Madras cotton piece goods to Britain. “He was one of the richest businessmen in South…he was also giving and god fearing. If we, his great-grandchildren are doing well in life, I believe it is because of all the good deeds our ancestors did,” he said, adding that his great-grandfather, was also known as ‘Mallikutujar’, the head of merchants.

He hands us a picture of a man clad in a tunic and turban, and says, “That’s our grandfather, MA Khuddus Badsha Sahib, the seventh son of Haji Mohammed Badsha. My grandfather and his brother Abdul Azeez Badsha Sahib, were born in the building located in Vallabha Agraharam Street — the Broadlands lodging house which was previously the Turkish Consulate in Madras. Our great grandfather built it in the 1800s,” shares Faiz with a child-like enthusiasm.

After H Mohammed Badsha Sahib’s retirement in the early 1870s, his sons took over his business. The duo, Abdul Azeez Badsha and Khuddus Badsha, served as the Consul and Vice-Consul at the Turkish Consulate in Madras and were popularly known as the ‘Badsha brothers’ and epitomised leadership. “My grandfather purchased the area constituting Triplicane-Wallajah Road, Khas Mahal – ‘The Old palaces of Nawabs’ while Abdul Azeez Badsha Sahib purchased the entire Gemini complex. Some of the fourth-generation descendants still live in and around the area,” he says.

Faiz shares that Khuddus Badhsa owned a piece of land in Mecca. “Unlike Azeez Badsha, my grandfather never performed the Haj but, he sent my grandmother along with my father to perform the Haj. After they returned, she fell ill and requested my grandfather to build a tap in the zamzam well in Mecca. After a lot of back and forth through telegrams, the tap was finally built and shortly after that, my grandmother passed away. That was probably her last wish,” he says.

He hands us a sheet which reads, ‘No more loyal subject of the King-Emperor or more respected Member of the Mohammadan Community will be the guest of the Madras government at Delhi for the Imperial Coronation Durbar’. “Our grandfather was invited to the Imperial Durbar between the late 19th century and early 20th century. He, along with his brother, actively took part in several organisations and they were philanthropists,” he says. The Government of India even conferred Azeez Badsha Sahib with the title of ‘Khan Bahadur’ in recognition of his public services.

From being the trustee of the Madras Port Trust, vice-president of the South Indian Chamber of Commerce to the vice-president of the South Indian Athletics Association, Khuddus Badsha wore many hats. “He was also one of the founders of the Indian bank,” shares Faud.

Khuddus Badsha bought thousands of acres of land across the south. While some were turned to cultivation lands or passed on to the next generation, most are under court litigation. “After land reforms and the abolition of zamindari system, a huge portion of the land was taken by the government,” he says.


Over the years, the descendants have shown little evidence of their past glory, living a simple and unassuming life. “My father and his siblings took to other professions.

He was a doctor and one of his siblings was a barrister, who was tutored by Dr Radhakrishnan!

We have our daily jobs and live a normal yet happy life. We have learned to work hard and be giving, especially towards those who are less privileged,” shares Faiz.

Mica business
Khuddus Badsha possessed several ‘Shrotriems’, ‘Jaghris’, diamond mines and was a pioneer in the mica industry. He owned mines in Pinnamitta, Chennur and Khuddusabad, a village in Nellore district named after him. “Mica exhibitions were curated, and he also ran a Mica showroom in Triplicane. The Wallajah Mosque compound is where the factory/mica workshop manufactured mica daily basis. We even found bits of Mica in the house’s well,” shares Faiz.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Chennai / by Roshne Balasubramanian / September 27th, 2013

A legacy left behind

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Chennai, TAMIL NADU :

Step into a time capsule as we walk you through the four-generation history of Triplicane’s Broadlands hotel, which was once the Turkish Consulate in Madras.

Chennai :

On an evening rush hour, I am standing amid the choked Triplicane high road — a concrete jungle with nothing but chaos, that’s often romanticised as ‘glorious traffic’. Trying to find my way to a famous heritage hotel, a haven for weary travellers from across the globe, I walk across the ‘burqa’ shops and hotels and a few minutes later, I reach ‘Broadlands’ lodging house, located in the quaint Vallabha Agraharam street. Standing in front of the facade of the unassuming building erected in the 19th century, we are welcomed by a board mounted on the wall right above the sit out, which reads: ‘Welcome, Namaste! Traveller!’.

As soon as we enter the building, it seems like we have stepped inside a time capsule — multiple courtyards, shutter windows and doors, stained glasses from a bygone era, antique furniture, crumbling lime plaster walls and a comforting blue, green and pink paint give us a welcoming taste of its old world charm. An enthusiastic staff member welcomes us and while we wait to meet its owner, the friendly banter of the guests keeps us engaged.

Clad in a red t-shirt and jeans, Krishna Rao, the third generation owner of the lodge welcomes us in. “My grandfather was from Andhra but had strong business ties here,” he says. According to Krishna, the building came into the family’s possession as part of a business deal or a bank auction. “Unfortunately, most Indian families have neglected to educate the next generations about their origins and history. So, what I know of this building’s history is very limited,” he explains.

Krishna Rao’s family came into possession of the building in 1951 from the ‘Badsha’ family, post which it was converted into a hostel and later into a lodge. “Law college students used to stay here when it was a hostel. Many even went on to become Supreme Court judges in the 90s and 2000s. This building is now a part of our family’s legacy and we haven’t changed anything here. Everything is intact, just like how we got it. With occasional maintenance and renovation work, the building is in great condition,” he beams as he walks us through the building.

Paintings and photographs from travellers are mounted on walls and as we progress from one courtyard to another (of a total three), it’s evident that the house gets bigger as we go further. “The current entrance of the building used to be the back or servant entrance before we took over the building. The main entrance opens to the big mosque but, we have always kept that closed. That’s why this part of the building is bigger,” he explains as we go up the labyrinth staircase.

“We really don’t know what the original history of the building is. Perhaps the previous owners could shed light on that,” he says, as we stand on the terrace of the building, watching the sunset, with a view of the big mosque, LIC building, Secretariat and Raheja Towers.

As questions of the larger part of the origin of the building shroud us, Krishna Rao offers us the number of a 66-year-old Faiz Badsha Sayeed, a fourth generation descendant of the Badsha family.A couple of phone calls later, along with Krishna, we land at the house of Faiz, in Triplicane.

Seated in the hall with a stack of old photographs, a trade book about the family’s Mica business, Faiz along with his elder brother Faud walk us through the history of the building, which once was a link between Madras and Turkey. The now Broadlands was once the ‘Le Consulat de Turquie a Madras’ or the Turkish Consulate in Madras! Faiz narrates, “Our great grandfather Haji Mohammed Badsha Sahib is where the family root began. He was a very ‘normal man’ but, he got lucky when a piece of cloth, possibly indigo dyed, fetched him a fortune from Britain.”

The history of the building which once opened its gates to foreign dignitaries is lost somewhere in time. “We are old and there’s only so much we can recollect about its history. We hope that the next generation takes it up and tries to document more about the heritage of the building and the family,” says Faiz, as he shows us a vintage picture of the consulate in all its glory, taken from the main entrance. “It’s funny that we have never been inside the building. We would like to visit Broadlands someday,” smiles Faiz looking at Krishna as he gives an affirming nod.

Trivia

Haji Mohammed Badsha went on to become one the richest businessman in South India and founded the Messrs H Mohammed Badsha Sahib & Co, a leading textile firm. “He was the one who built this building back in the 1800s. It was also his personal residence and my grandfather MA Khuddus Badsha Sahib and his brother Abdul Azeez Badsha Sahib were born in that building,” shares Faiz about his grandfather Khuddus, who was the seventh son of Mohammed Badsha. “He was also one of the founders of the Indian Bank and served as the Vice-Consul at the Turkish Consulate in Madras. This is just the tip of the iceberg Berg, he wore several hats,” beams Faiz.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Travel / by Roshne Balasubramanian / March 24th, 2018

How two sisters’ commitment scripting Moradabad’s brass industry’s future

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

Moradabad, UTTAR PRADESH :

Rashida Parveen (on the right) and Saiyyada Parveen (on the left) at their home.

New Delhi: 

“This work not only supports our family but also sustains the entire Uttar Pradesh,” claimed 52-year-old Rashida Parveen, who has been working in Moradabad’s brass industry since her early teens.

Popularly known as “Pital Nagri” (Brass City), the western Uttar Pradesh district is famous for its brass handicrafts industry. It is home to thousands of workers who keep the industry 9alive and thriving.

However, over the years, the market has experienced several changes that have impacted the industry. Despite challenges, two women are striving to sustain and revive the artform, aiming to bring better days not only for themselves but also for other women co-workers.

Having completed her bachelor’s in education and a training diploma in Natakashi (brass work), Rashida began learning the art of carving and sketching in her childhood. “Brass handicrafts have been practiced in my family for generations. Over the years, I realized that the work does neither make your hands nor your clothes dirty. What is required to become a good artisan is dedication and hard work,” she said.

Her sister, Saiyyada Parveen, started working at the age of 10 and has been doing so for the last 44 years. For both sisters, it was their father who sparked their interest in this field. “My father, Abdul Hamim, encouraged me to take up this work. When he went to offer namaz (prayer), I would carve wood, hammer metals and learn the craft of carving in his absence. I once carved a peacock out of wood, which made him very happy. I began with sparing little time for it, but later, with dedication, I became skilled enough to receive a state award,” says Saiyyada.

“When I came home from school, I would observe my father carefully. He used to draw with his pen, and I would use a pencil. My brother, who has received a national award twice, also encouraged me. He helped me with drawing and scaling, which further improved my skills,” she stated.

In addition to working at home, the two sisters also empower young girls and women. “We travel 16 kilometers every day to impart training to 250 children. After returning home in the evening, we give training to another batch of children and women here, especially those who work as domestic help. Many of them are now skilled artisans, who are earning a dignified living,” she claimed.

They train women without any distinction of religion or castes. “We impart training to girls belonging to different religions and castes,” said Saiyyada, emphasizing that this routine continues from morning to evening.

Rashida and Saiyyada have been helping women learn the art since 2002. “It was started after the Central as well as the state government sponsored him under the Training and Extension Scheme. While he began training men, we (the two sisters) worked with women,” explained Rashida.

However, as the number of artisans decreased, the training programme faced setbacks. “There are many mistakes in the artisans’ cards, which are issued by the department of handicrafts through its local offices in Kanpur and Bareilly. Only those with artisan cards could participate in the training. Since 2012, I have been going to the offices concerned to get the issue resolved,” said Saiyyada.

However, change in policies adversely impacted the quality of training. As a result, with the basic training and little support, it is impossible for women artisans to sustain in this industry for a long time.

“It is very similar to how a child progresses from nursery to higher education. Similarly, the women have learned only the basics of the artform, they have not been able to master it yet,” said Rashida, noting the lack of growth opportunities.

She further added that the government-sponsored training has now come to a halt due to the suspension of the scheme. “As a result, the artform is facing the threat of gradual extinction,” she said.

Azam Ansari, a member of Moradabad’s Brass Manufacturers Association, explained the National Handicrafts Development Programme (NHDP), which aims to support handicrafts clusters and artisans by providing essential resources and infrastructure to cater to the target market. “In 2012, the NHDP budget stood at Rs 1,500 crore, but it has now been reduced to Rs 500 crore. This budget cut has affected the training programme,” stated Ansari.

To address these problems, Rashida and Saiyyada established an NGO in 2018 to help women become skilled artisans. Gradually, women of all ages and from various walks of life got associated with it.

“We surveyed the women around us, understood their situations and made efforts to introduce them to the art form. They include widows who lost their husbands to COVID-19. We picked up their young children and the women who work as domestic help and began training them so that they become self-reliant,” said Saiyyada.

This initiative not only helped them become financially independent but also enabled them to receive a stipend of Rs 5,000 every month from the government. “We guided them to make good use of the financial assistance,” she said.

These efforts earned Rashida an honour from the state government. In 2022, she received a trophy and a prize of Rs 25,000. “In the first attempt, when I applied for the award, my application form was rejected. My family encouraged me to try again, and in 2022, I was finally shortlisted,” said Rashida, enthusiastically adding that “to achieve something big in life, you have to compete with others”.

“I received the award from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. He draped a shawl over me. I am happy that my art is reaching people,” Saiyyada said with a big smile on her face.

“We have mastered the craft, and we want more women to learn it and become skilled and advanced. When this happens, it will inspire and motivate others as well,” she added.

Rashida urged the government to formulate more schemes to help young children and women become self-reliant and empowered. “A college is proposed to be established here to make youngsters certified artisans, and I am glad to share with you that I have been selected as a teacher there. We faced difficulties but it only made us committed to pursue a career in this field,” said Rashida.

“What started as a small initiative has transformed the once hopeless lives of hundreds of women into a promising future,” she remarked and added, “We find joy in supporting and teaching others. Helping others brings blessings”.

source: http://www.twocircles.net / TwoCircles.net / Home> India News> Lead Story / by Anushka Kogta and Namya Jain, TwoCircles.net / May 23rd, 2024

UAE travel group launches Alhind Air – A ‘low-cost airline’ for Indian expats

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Leaders, NRI's / PIO's, Transport, Travel & Tourism, World Opinion, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Kozhikode (Calicut), KERALA / U.A.E :

The group is looking to tap the fast-expanding air traffic between India and the Gulf.

Kerala-based travel service operator Alhind Group with a strong presence in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to launch its airline, aiming to provide economical air travel options for residents.

The group, which has been a significant player in the travel industry for over three decades, has received the Civil Aviation Ministry’s initial nod to start an airline — Alhind Air.

The chairman, Mohammad Haris announced that the Group is in the final stages of obtaining the required approvals.

“Last week, we had a meeting with officials at the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL); we submitted all documents required for landing permission at the airport,” he said. “We had earlier received the no objection certificate (NOC) to start the airline. We are hoping to begin operations by January 2025, if not earlier,” said Haris as quoted by Khaleej Times.

Initial operations and fleet

According to the reports, Alhind Air will start its initial operations with three Atr-72 turboprop aircraft, focusing on regional routes in southern India, including connections between Cochin, Bengaluru, Thiruvananthapuram and Chennai with an initial investment of ₹200 crores to ₹500 crores as it adds more planes into the fleet.

“We will have five ATR planes in total to fly on regional routes. We have secured all support from Cochin International Airport for our operations. Once this process is completed, the exercise for hiring pilots, cabin crew, engineers and other ground staff will start, a top official of the group told CNBC-TV18.

The group’s promoter revealed that the Alhind Group offers services including air ticketing, holiday packages, Haj-Umrah services, visas, and money exchange. The group already boasts a turnover of ₹20,000 crore and has a robust sales network that could facilitate the successful launch of the airline.

Pertinently, Alhind Group is one of the leading players in the travel and tourism industry in India and abroad.

The strategic launch into the aviation sector is anticipated to enhance completion, potentially lowering airfares and improving service quality for travellers.

Mohammad Haris stated that the group which is also the General Sales Agent (GSA) for many airlines is looking to tap the fast-expanding air traffic between India and the Gulf.

source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> News> India / by Sayima Ahmad , (Headline edited) / August 22nd, 2024

Makeup artist from Budgam makes it to international book of records

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Chadoora (Budgam District), KASHMIR / JAMMU & KASHMIR:

Creates world record of doing Indian Bridal makeup in less than 9 minutes’*

Budgam :

A youth from Budgam district of Kashmir has made it to the International Book of records for doing the fastest Indian bridal makeup.

Younis Ahmad Sheikh (22) known by the name Afnan, a resident of Bugam district area in Chadoora hamlet of Budgam district has created a record for making Indian bridal makeup in less than 9 minutes.

Younis said that he was interested in calligraphy since childhood which later turned to designing and make up art as well.

“Despite facing taunts from the society as makeup artists being a female dominant area during the initial stage as there was no make up artist in Kashmir, I continued my passion and joined training programmes online,” he said.

Younis first used to do make-up of his customers at his residence as he wasn’t in a position to start his saloon due to financial issues.

“As my mother left this world in my childhood and father was old and not in a position to earn anything. After struggling hard, somehow I managed to start a saloon at my own village and slowly society has started becoming supportive as well,” he said.

After starting a salon titled YAS professional beauty salon, the number of customers started increasing and currently three girls are working as helpers at his salon.

“Three girls have got a job at my salon as currently makeup is available for ladies only and I am planning to start making up for male folk as well,” Younis said.

He said that earning livelihood for himself and providing jobs to others is a big achievement at a time when youth are getting involved in anti-social activities.

Younis claims that he had first made it to the Indian book of records followed by the Asia book of records and now the International book of records. He made to international book of records by breaking the previous record of Indian bridal make up of Assam girl in 13 minutes 46 seconds to just 8 minutes and 58 seconds

“I made it to the International book of records for making the fastest Indian bridal makeup and creating a world record,” he said. He said that people shouldn’t be judgemental as every art is a gift of Allah and everyone must respect it.

“Many people don’t show their arts just out of the fear that how society will react to it and if there are equal rights, then men can go in the field of women and vice versa,” he said—(KNO)

source: http://www.thedispatch.in / The Dispatch / Home> The Lead> The News Feed / by The Dispatch Staff / May 08th, 2023

Fazal e Elahi sacrificed his business in non-cooperation movement

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Freedom Fighters (under research project)

PUNJAB / DELHI / Kolkata (WEST BENGAL) :

A diorama of Mahatma Gandhi leading satyagrahis in burning British clothes at Gandhi Smriti, New Delhi

Shaikh Mohammed Elias, son of Shaikh Mohammed Younus Fakhre Quaum often heard the story of his great-grandfather’s sacrifice for freedom.

Fazal e Elahi Gorey Fakhre Quaum was a wealthy dealer of foreign goods in the 1940s when the British Empire had reached its zenith in glory and power. 

In that pre-Independence era, all rich Indian merchants did well by shipping exorbitant British products from Britain and selling them in India.  Because of his buoyant import-export business, Fazal e Elahi and his family lived in the lap of luxury. In those days, when no one had big branded cars, he was driving his grand Impala car around!

He and his family lived in Delhi. However, due to the exponential trade with Kolkata as the British capital, he moved there for business prospects.  Since he was dealing with the British, he was given the moniker of Gorey Wale by the local people for a person who traded with the ‘whites’.

Rukhshi Kadiri Elias, entrepreneur and founder of Taajira-The Businesswoman, is the great grand-daughter-in-law of  Fazal e Elahi. She told Awaz-The Voice that her great grand-father-in-law’s nickname Gorey Wale stuck on with him until an incident happened that elevated his name to a title awarded to him by the community, “Fakhre Quaum (Pride of the community).

Her father-in-law Shaikh Mohammed Younus Fakhre Quaum told her that even Mahatma Gandhi who fought vigilantly for the freedom of India would visit  Kolkata and stay with him in his home during his visits.  The family shares that Fazal e Elahi was a grand, gracious, and dignified man who lived by ethics. 

Fazal e Elahi Gorey Fakhre Quaum

The Swadeshi movement was gaining momentum with passions running high, and at this time, the boycott of British goods started to take on a fresh vigour.  Ruskshi’s husband, Elias Mohammad Shaikh shares with the family how his great-grandfather, Fazal-e-Elahi in a defining moment took a bold step to join the Swadeshi movement.

Not thinking about himself, his family, or his future, he gathered the massive pile of British products from his warehouse, transported them to the Kolutolla crossing near the Mohammed Ali Library, and stacked them into a mountainous heap before the gaping crowds, he set the entire lot of goods ablaze in a roaring fire.  His business days with the British were over and the Gorey Wale sealed all doors shut for any future trade with the British.  Impressed, the crowds gave him the grand title of  Fakhre Quaum, meaning “pride of the community.”

It only takes a spark to set a fire blazing. The locals watching him inspired by his sacrifice rushed back to their homes and gathered all the British products they were using, started to make little piles on that road and burn them up and soon the road was aflame with British merchandise. This was the start of the boycott movement in the Muslim community as well as all over Kolkata

Fazal-e-Elahi as a freedom fighter turned all his words into actions by bringing his entire warehouse of goods onto the streets to burn them.  Setting an example to the others who never expected him to take this step, losing most of his business overnight, they perceived this act as going beyond mere words or loud speeches.  It was a big turning point for himself as well as his family which would negatively impact his children bringing them financially down from this point forward.

He also used the remaining parts of his wealth to give make monetary contributions to the freedom struggle.  To survive, he diversified into different Indian products and started making handmade candles, ink  and other products and trading in the same. His son, Mohammad Younis also started on a small scale at a time when Bangladesh and West Bengal were one big state.  During the Partition, while they had to shift from Bangladesh to Kolkata, they went through pain and struggle.  Properties were confiscated and there was a great loss all around.

During the partition, many families of the freedom fighters split. Shaikh Mohammed Younus Fakhre Quaum had nine brothers and two sisters with most of the family living in Pakistan, while four remained in India.

Gandhi addressing Satyagrahis

Fazal-e-Elahi’s family was from Sargodha located in Punjab province of Pakistan.  In the 1900s, looking for better prospects in trade, they traveled by caravan to the courts of the Mughal emperor of Delhi.  The emperor encouraged people to come and settle down in the new city of Delhi. Learning about this, the family embarked on a journey to Delhi.  During their travels on the way, the Hindu Punjabi traders met a seer by the name of Hazrat Shams Tabrez. 

Highly influenced by his inspiring speeches and extraordinary demeanor, the entire party in the caravan converted to Islam.  When they came and settled in Delhi, they became Delhi wallas known as Delhiwal meaning they were Punjabis settled in Delhi. They adopted Urdu, the court language of Delhi.  Even today, while settled all over the world, they are known as Delhiwal and these groups of people are mostly concentrated in Kolkata and Delhi and all called Delhiwal. 

While propagating the Quit India Movement, Fazal-e-Elahi rose quickly to become the president of the Baradari (brotherhood) of the Delhiwal community in Kolkata.  When travelling down narrow lanes to build up the movement of Quit India, he abandoned driving his Impala car and started to use a horse.

Quoting her father-in-law, Rukshi says that India saw amazing unity during the Freedom Movement. Those days, one could make friends so easily, and it was the most normal thing to build bonding friendships with anyone across different communities. The freedom movement drew Indians into close ties where Indians forgot all their differences and only had the motive to defeat the Enemy.   

Fazal-e-Elahi Gorey Fakhre Quaum sacrificed his flourishing business without thinking twice about it towards establishing the freedom of India setting patriotism waves over the community.  Rukhshi says, “How many people will do that today is the question in this materialistically attached generation that we live in today.  It was pure selflessness because Fazal-e-Elahi Gorey Fakhre Quaum considered India his own country.  Such people will revive the spirit of India, sacrifice, and unity.”  With a laugh she adds, “I could never think of throwing away my lovely tea set I bought in Britain, but he did it so easily.”

Rita Farhat Mukand is an independent writer and author

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Rita Farhat Mukand / August 12th, 2024

Heritage walks uncover new angles of Indian history

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Royal Families, PreIndependence -Descendants (wef. Jan 02nd,2022), Travel & Tourism, World Opinion

DELHI :

Historians and enthusiasts are taking public education into their own hands to tell the story of the country’s Muslim communities.

Chaotic narrow lanes lined with opulent old mansions, shops selling spices, dried fruits and kebabs, all overhung by dangling power cables – any trip to Old Delhi, a bustling Muslim hub built by Mughal ruler Shah Jahan, is a full sensory experience.

Abu Sufyan weaves through the crowd with about 20 people in tow, making his way through streets smelling of flatbread soaked in ghee, the call to prayer at a nearby mosque mingling with the bells of a Hindu temple.

He is on a mission to change negative perceptions of Muslims by showing visitors more of their history in the capital.

“People in old Delhi were labelled as ‘terrorists’ and ‘pickpockets’ because they were predominantly Muslims from the lower economic background, and Mughal rulers were vilified as cruel invaders, as they were considered the ancestors to Indian Muslims,” Abu Sufyan, 29, says.

“My walks involve the local community members including calligraphers, pigeon racers, cooks and weavers with ancestral links in the Mughal era to showcase old Delhi’s heritage beyond these stereotypes.”

Abu Sufyan is one of a growing crop of enterprising men and women using the medium of heritage walks to educate the Indian public and tourists on the nation’s lesser-known history.

He started his walks in 2016, when hatred against Muslim communities was on the rise after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party introduced several anti-Muslim policies.

In 2015, a BJP politician urged the local civic body in Delhi to change the name of Aurangzeb Road to APJ Abdul Kalam Road. The civic body immediately obliged, removing the reference to the Mughal ruler from the road by naming it after the former president of India, who was always considered a “patriotic” Muslim.

Later, the 2019 Citizenship (Amendment) Act caused further division, as critics said it could be weaponised against Muslims, who are designated as “foreigners” under the National Register of Citizens.

Occasionally, divisions lead to violence: Thirty-six Muslims were killed in Hindu mob attacks for allegedly trading cattle or consuming beef between May 2015 and December 2018, according to Human Rights Watch.

‘A sense of belonging and togetherness’

Over 2,000 kilometres away in Chennai, documentary filmmaker Kombai S Anwar hosts walks in Triplicane to tell stories of Tamil Muslim history, Tamil Nadu’s pre-Islamic maritime trade links with West Asia, the arrival of Arab traders, Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s rule, the appointment of a Mughal minister’s son Zulfikhar Ali Khan as the first Nawab of Arcot, and the lives of the subsequent nawab’s descendants.

“Predominantly, non-Muslims participate in these walks because they are ‘curious’ about local Muslims and their heritage. During [Ramadan], they are invited to the historic Nawab Walaja mosque, where they experience the breaking of fast and partake in the iftar meal,” Mr Anwar says.

Tickets for heritage walks across India range between 200 and 5,000 Indian rupees ($2-60).

Historian Narayani Gupta, who conducted heritage walks in Delhi between 1984-1997, said any controversy related to history generates more interest.

“Whether history is right or wrong or good or bad, it has to be backed by research findings,” she said

Saima Jafari, 28, a project manager at an IT firm, who has attended more than 30 heritage walks in the past five years, says it is hard to ignore the historical monuments in the city since they are almost everywhere.

Delhi-based Ms Jafari recalled one of her best experiences was a walk, in 2021, trailing the path of “Phool Waalon Ki Sair”, an annual procession of Delhi florists, who provide sheets of flowers and floral fans at the shrine of Sufi saint Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki and floral fans and a canopy at the ancient Hindu temple of Devi Yogmaya in Mehrauli.

“When I walked along with others in that heritage walk, I realised that heritage enthusiasts across religion walk together in harmony,” Ms Jafari says.

“One of the best parts of heritage walks is the storytelling that connects places with lives of people of a certain period. Plus, it always gives a sense of belonging and togetherness.”

Anoushka Jain, 28, a postgraduate in history and founder of heritage and research organisation Enroute Indian History, which holds walks to explore the erstwhile “kothas (brothels),” and “attariyas (terraces)” of old Delhi, said during pandemic lockdowns, posts on Instagram helped sparked interest.

“Before the pandemic, barely 40 people participated in two weekly walks as opposed to 50 in each of the four weekly walks which we conduct now,” she says.

But it is not all smooth sailing.

Ms Jain says some people feel uncomfortable when they are given historical facts and research that show Hindu and Jain temples constructed by Rajput rulers were repurposed during the rule of Delhi Sultanate, Qutb ud-Din Aibak.

Iftekhar Ahsan, 41, chief executive of Calcutta Walks and Calcutta Bungalow, adds that sometimes, participants come with preconceived notions that Muslims “destroyed” India for more 1,000 years – but walk leaders hold open conversations to “cut through the clutter” with authentic information.

For some, heritage walks often change perceptions.

“Until I visited mosques in old Delhi during a walk, I didn’t know that women were allowed inside mosques,” law student Sandhya Jain told The National.

But history enthusiast Sohail Hashmi, who started leading heritage walks in Delhi 16 years ago, cautions that some walk leaders present popular tales as historical fact.

A mansion called Khazanchi ki Haveli in old Delhi’s Dariba Kalan is presented as the Palace of the Treasurer of the Mughals by some walk leaders, Mr Hashmi says. The Mughals, however, were virtual pensioners of the Marathas – Marathi-speaking warrior group mostly from what is now the western state of Maharashtra – and later the British and had no treasures left by the time the mansion was built in the late 18th or early 19th century.

Another walk leader had photo-copied an 1850 map of Shahjahanabad, now old Delhi, passing it off as his own research, he adds.

“The walk leaders must be well-read and responsible enough to ensure that the myths are debunked,” Mr Hashmi says.

source: http://www.thenationalnews.com / The National / Home> International Edition> World> Asia / by Sonia Sarkar / June 01st, 2023

Umar Sobhani supplied yarn from his mill for Gandhi’s swadeshi movement

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Freedom Fighters (under research project), Leaders, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

BOMBAY (Mumbai) / PRE-INDEPENDENT INDIA :

“He (Mahatma Gandhi) said that while he did not think that Umar Sobhani was a revolutionary, he was frank and open by nature and he (Gandhi) thought that if Umar felt convinced that a revolution was the best way to secure the well-being of India, he would not hesitate to adopt such methods. He thought that in such a case Umar Sobhani would plainly tell him (Gandhi) of his intentions…” This is what Mahatma Gandhi was reported to have told to C.I.D on 8 May 1919 during a police interrogation.

Unsung Heroes of Freedom Struggle

Sobhani was a rich businessman from Mumbai who traded in cotton and joined the freedom struggle early in his life.

Those who take an interest in Mahatma Gandhi consider Young India, an English journal edited by Gandhi, and Navajivan, a Gujarati journal, as his voice. Interestingly, these journals were started by Sobhani who later cajoled Gandhi to take charge as the editor.

Rajmohan Gandhi, one of the grandsons of Mahatma Gandhi, notes, “Three of the Sabarmati ‘covenanters’, Umar Sobhani, Shankerlal Banker and Indulal Yagnik, were between them bringing out two journals, Young India, a weekly in English from Bombay, and Navajivan, a monthly in Gujarati from Ahmedabad, and were also associated with the nationalist daily, the Bombay Chronicle. At the end of April, in one of the Raj’s drastic measures, Horniman, the British editor of the Chronicle, was deported, and the paper’s publication had to be suspended.

“In response, Sobhani, Banker, and Yagnik requested Gandhi to take over the editorship of Young India and Navajivan and with their help bring out Young India twice a week and Navajivan every week. Gandhi agreed, and on 7 May 1919 the first number of Young India, New Series, came out. When, soon, the Chronicle resumed publication, Young India reverted to being a weekly but now published, for Gandhi’s convenience, in Ahmedabad, along with Navajivan, which first appeared as a weekly on 7 September.

“Gandhi now possessed what he had hoped for from the moment of his return to India: vehicles to communicate his message.”

Charkha (spinning wheel) is a synonym for Mahatma Gandhi and his movement and Sobhani played an instrumental role in making it a success. Rajmohan writes, “Indian spinning mills wanted to turn all their yarn into mill-made cloth, not sell it to hand-weavers. Gandhi therefore asked associates to search for spinning wheels that could make yarn. At the Godhra conference in November. 1917, a woman called Gangaben Majmudar, who had ‘already got rid of the curse of untouchability and fearlessly moved among and served the suppressed classes’ (A 442), promised him that she would locate a wheel.

“She found not one but hundreds in Vijapur in the princely state of Baroda, all lying in attics as ‘useless lumber’ (A 443). Women who in the past plied the charkhas told Gangaben that they would spin again if someone supplied slivers of cotton and bought their yarn.

Gandhi said he would meet the conditions, his friend Umar Sobhani supplied slivers from his Bombay mill, and the ashram received more hand-spun yarn than it could cope with.”

Sobhani was one of the original 20 signatories of the pledge to oppose the Rowlatt Act. The pledge was prepared by Gandhi at his Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad. Along with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Sobhani was one of the associates of Gandhi who backed him against the old guards in Congress on the question of the non-cooperation movement in 1918.

K. R. Malkani, a former R.S.S stalwart and BJP leader, writes, “Gandhiji’s right-hand man in Bombay in the 1921 movement was Umar Sobhani. The first bonfire of one and a half lakh pieces of choicest silk was ignited by Gandhi in Umar’s mill compound in Parel.

“When Gandhiji decided to collect Rs. 1 crore for Tilak Swaraj Fund, Umar offered to contribute the entire amount, but Gandhiji wanted it collected from a large number of people. But even so, Umar contributed Rs. 3 lacs.

“Umar was a big cotton merchant. When the British came to know of his role in the Freedom Movement, they ran special trainloads of cotton to Bombay by Viceregal order. As a result, cotton prices collapsed in Bombay and Umar suffered a loss of Rs. 3.64 crores. Daan-Vir Sobhani ended his life.

“Earlier the British tried to divide the family. At their instance, Umar’s father, Haji Yusuf Sobhani contested the office of Sheriff of Bombay. Umar worked. against his father and had him defeated. Later the British tried to tempt Yusuf Sobhani with a knighthood, but Umar told his father that he could accept the title only “over my dead body.” Today probably not even people living on Sobhani Road, Cuffe Parade, Bombay, know who the great Sobhani was!”

Sobhani used to lead the marches in Mumbai, arrange the meetings of Gandhi, and raise funds for the political agitations against the English. Gandhi, according to the police reports, used to call him one of the props of the satyagraha in Mumbai. 

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Saquib Salim / July 31st, 2024

Hyderabad: Mahboob Radio Service and the challenge of saving heritage

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

The store originally goes back to about a century ago, when it was situated at Dabeerpura in the Old City of Hyderabad.

  Vintage radio sets at Mahboob Radio Service. (Image: Siasat.com/Yunus Lasania)

Hyderabad: 

Monuments are often built to last forever, or at least are built with the intention to last. These edifices are the more obvious markers of our heritage in cities. However, we often overlook the importance of everyday places that also are an equally important part of our culture and heritage. And oftentimes, without anyone doing anything, fate puts such places at the crossroads of extinction.

When I first visited Mahboob Radio Service, it was very nonchalant. It was in fact during a heritage walk early on a Saturday morning about seven or eight years ago and I never really thought much of it. However, I eventually went back, and kept returning as many times as I could because of the immensely important significance it holds for Hyderabad and the legacy of its heritage.

As I began peeling back layers of its history, I understood one thing: that Mahboob Radio Service is special. It became that by just existing and its owners doing what they do with dedication – fixing vintage radios. And of course, as any other typical old establishment, it had one owner who was a tough nut to crack. That would be Mr Moinuddin.

His elder brother Mujeebuddin (below) who I met several times in the past unfortunately passed away a few years ago. In fact, when he was no more, I suddenly realised that Mahboob Radio Servie may not be there anymore when Mr Moinuddin is gone in the future. That sinking feeling has hit me harder after I learnt in recent times that Mr Moinuddin, who is 74 years old, suffered a stroke in recent times.

Thankfully, he recovered and is back in the store fixing old radios as he always did. When we mourn the loss of our heritage in Hyderabad, it is usually when monuments are destroyed. And in the case of Mahboob Radio Service, it also may not survive and carry forward its legacy if there is no one to carry it forward.

By simply continuing to fix vintage radios regardless of how much technology advanced over decades, the place has managed to remain permanently locked in time. Mahboob Radio Service needs to survive. Establishments like these are part of the city’s soul, and the death of such places is in fact a great loss to our cultural heritage.

Nothing except a collective effort can save such places. In this case, I am not sure how that would work, but perhaps this is the time for the city and its lovers to think about what can be done.

How it began

The store originally goes back to about a century ago, when it was situated at Dabeerpura in the Old City of Hyderabad.

Shaik Mahboob, the original proprietor, was selling other things which he would bring from Bombay, until he one day brought back a radio unit to sell. Thus was born Mahboob Radio Service. Soon he along with another person began repairing and selling radio sets. The shop eventually shifted to its current location at Chatta Bazar in 1948.

“I was in fact a motor repairman earlier. I started running Mahboob Radio Service after my father passed away in 1996,” Mr Moinuddin (above) told me during one of our several conversations over the years. Oftentimes he’d laugh and tell me how he refused to entertain ‘pesky’ people. But I came to this stage of comfort with him also after years of spending time with him. As of now, his nephew Mr Majeeduddin is also helping out to fix the old radios. So perhaps there is hope.

I think more people from Hyderabad should spend time loitering at legacy places like these so that it creates a bond. There is no point in writing obituaries and having only memories remaining of such places, because the more important job we have is to save our heritage instead of mourning it. Here’s to hoping that Mahboob Radio survives and thrives.

source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> News> Hyderabad / by Yunus Lasania X / July 31st, 2024

Dr Syed Farooq: Himalayan Drugs director is inspired by his grandma Nani Apa

Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri Award (since January 01st, 2024), Business & Economy, Inventions, Innovations (wef. Nov 30th, 2021), Karnataka (under research project), Leaders, Science & Technology

Dehradun, UTTARAKHAND / NEW DELHI / Bengaluru, KARNATAKA :

Dr Syed Farooq with King Charles in London

Dr Syed Farooq, the soft-spoken director of the famous Ayurvedic medicine company Himal Drug, gives all credit of his success to his maternal grandmother whom he called ‘Nani Aapa’. He is so influenced by her that even today his childhood memories revolve around her.

In a special; conversation with Awaz-The Voice, he narrated many stories of his childhood and all were linked to his grandmother.

Dr Syed Farooq was born in 1955 in Dehradun in the family of Syed Rashid Ahmed, a renowned Ayurveda researcher.

He completed his M.Sc, Ph.D, D.Sc degrees from Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University. Apart from this, he completed his Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management from AIMA Delhi.

The Delhi-based Dr Syed Farooq is the editor-in-chief of Universities Journal of Phytochemistry and Ayurvedic Medicine. He is also the chairman of Tasmiya All India Education and Social Welfare Society. He was nominated for the Padam Shri Award in the year 2004.

He is the director of Himalaya Drugs and patron of many degree colleges and schools besides being associated with many state and national-level educational institutions.

For the uninitiated, Himalaya Drug Company is an Indian multinational pharmaceutical company based in Bengaluru. It was originally founded in 1930 in Dehradun by Mohammed Manal. It produces healthcare products containing Ayurvedic ingredients under the name Himalaya Herbal Healthcare.

Its operations are spread across India, the United States, the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Oceania while its products are sold in 106 countries. 

Speaking about his days growing up in Dehradun, Dr Syed Farooq says, “My house was in Dehradun and my grandmother’s house was in Muzaffarnagar. We used to go there during summer vacations. In my grandmother’s house, water came from a hand pump that was used by all the neighbours. A portion of the house was made of mud and I liked it very much. It had a pleasant fragrance and remained cool in the summer days.”

He goes on, “I remember that in summers we used to sleep under a Jamun tree and a mosquito net. In the morning, ripe Jamuns would be lying on the mosquito net. The taste of those fruits was so different from what we get today.”

Going down memory lane, Dr. Syed Farooq says, “When I was young, I was fond of hunting and horse riding. I would go far away from home and hunt, there was no restriction. In our orchard, a variety of mangoes grew, and on ripening, we used to enjoy the delicious fruit.”

“When I was studying in a school in Dehradun, I wore a tie as part of my school uniform. Strangers often stopped me and asked me to read a passage or text. Back then children were not afraid of being beaten or abused by elders; people loved children. The line in the poem is that

The elders including unknown people gave blessings to the children while walking on the road. Where are the people who give blessings these days? Now there are neither takers nor givers.

In a philosophical tone, he says people should realise that the colour of hair turns white for a purpose. “Allah changes it to white with age as white symbolises peace.”

Recalling his memories of his Nani Appa, Dr. Syed Farooq said, “My grandmother was a simple lady. Nani Apa was so incredulous that she fell for all the naughty things children did and presented the same differently to her. When the truth was out, she used to complain to our mother and say, “Noor Jahan, my eyes are opened and mind is surprised after seeing your children.”

Nani Apa never sat idle, she always kept doing some work. If there was no work to do, she would sit and talk with the children and listen to stories but she never told them any stories. 

Nani Apa loved chaat. If Nani Apa ever felt upset the children offered her a treat of chaat after making her promise that she would not complain to their mothers. “As soon as we got her chaat, Nani Apa would be happy and say, “It’s okay, you are forgiven but never do it again.”

Dr Syed Farooq recalls says he was 10 years old when his grandfather Niaz Ahmed passed away. He was in the police during the British rule. He was a very cheerful and affable person who loved children.

He says his grandfather used interesting phases while narrating stories to the children.

He remembers every moment spent with him; his face while his body lay in the coffin. “I remember that Nana Abba used to sharpen pencils for us with his pocket knife. The pencil tip was sharper than what we get today with a sharpener.” 

Dr. Syed Farooq says his great-grandfather Syed Hamid Madani was a businessman. Our great grandfather Syed Mohammad Baranjad Madani lived in Roorkee and was into the carpet business. His great-grandmother hailed from Kashmir.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Mohammad Akram, New Delhi / July 21st, 2024