Category Archives: Business & Economy

APJ Abdul Kalam’s memorial is the new pilgrimage site in Rameshwaram

Amazing Feats, Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Inventions, Innovations (wef. Nov 30th, 2021), Leaders, Museums, Libraries (wef. April 16th, 2022), Science & Technology, Uniquely Indian - Inter Faith (wef. February 08th, 2023), , , ,

Rameshwaram, TAMIL NADU / INDIA:

A P J Abdul Kalam with children: an exhibit from the National memorial at Rameshwaram
A P J Abdul Kalam with children: an exhibit from the National memorial at Rameshwaram

In mid-December, when Suman and her husband Diwan Arora of Sonepat, Haryana, left for Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, for performing the pilgrimage to one of the holiest sites of Hindus, little did they know that their journey would also take them to another sacred place – a memorial to the son of the soil Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam aka Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam.

“I didn’t feel like leaving the place,” said Suman, a retired central government official of her experience of visiting the National Memorial for the 11th President of India A P J Abdul Kalam, located in his native city of Rameshwaram.

Suman said that the moment she removed her shoe to enter the National Memorial she experienced a surge of positive energy inside her. She and other tourists paid obeisance to the People’s President at his resting place inside the memorial.

 “I was visiting the place after I visited the temple; there I felt I had entered another sacred place,” she told Awaz-the voice.

Suman and Diwan Arora in Rameshwaram

On her maiden journey to South India, Suman said she was as much awestruck by the grandiosity and architecture of temples – Rameshwaram, and Meenakshi at Madurai as with the simplicity and grandeur of the life of the great Indian –  A P J Abdul Kalam.

“Seeing the incredible architecture of the temples was a great experience. Visiting the Museum of President Abdul Kalam was no less. It was also like a pilgrimage.”

Though not hyped as much as many other places, the museum is on the Tourism map of Rameshwaram city. According to Aroras, even the local auto-rickshaw drivers who offer tour packages to visitors, recommend the museum as the first place.

Suman said although their tour was in connection with the seven-day Bhagwad Gita path (Narration of the Bhagwad Gita) and was organized by a religious group, a friend had advised her to visit the museum at any cost. “After visiting the place, I can never thank my South Indian friend enough,” Suman said.

Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam’s memorial, Rameshwaram

Kalam’s grand-nephew APJMJ Sheik Saleem told Awaz-the voice that so far one crore people have visited the museum that was set inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 27, 2017.

Sheik Saleem who recently joined the BJP runs his business and a Foundation for social work. He says he is privy to people’s devotion and love for his ancestor as they visit his memorial.

“The museum is visited by at least 7,000 visitors per day and so far about one crore have paid their obeisance to the people President,” Saleem told Awaz-the Voice.

“Earlier people came to our city for pilgrimage to the (Rameshwaram) temple but now the pilgrimage is combined with the visit to the national memorial for APJ Abdul Kalam,” he said.

“I have seen people coming to the place and feeling there is something great there. Many visitors do stand silently in front of the memorial, some bow their heads, and others simply go in the prayer mode as if they are seeking His blessings,” the former President’s grand-nephew said.

APJMJ Sheik Saleem with Home Minister Amit Shah

He said it’s touching and a humbling experience to see how much Indians cutting across religions or other barriers loved Dr. Kalam.

Suman, her husband, and many in their group spent nearly two hours inside the memorial. Visitors must enter barefoot and not use cameras or mobiles to click the pictures. All this adds to the sacredness of the space.

Saleem said since the place sees a high footfall, the cameras are forbidden simply because if everyone starts clicking there will be chaos.

Diwan Arora said the pilgrimage jatha comprised 300 people from Punjab and Haryana who visited Rameshwaram for “Bhagwat sapthah’ the weeklong narration of the Bhagwat Gita.

Meenakshi Temple and the Sea at Rameshwaram

Besides the museum, A P J Abdul Kalam’s childhood home has also been converted into a museum that his elder brother maintains. “It’s a smaller collection of photos and family memorabilia. The place is visited by at least 4,000 persons per day,” Sheik Saleem said.

The national museum maintained by the DRDO narrates the story of the life of India’s missile man from a newspaper hawker in the coastal city to India’s missile man and the most popular President. It showcases pictures and models of missiles, rockets, and the Pokhran Nuclear test that Kalam was involved in. His favourite Veena which he played every morning sitting on the bare floor even in Rashtrapati Bhawan is also displayed in the museum.

Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam lived in the Rashtrapati Bhawan from 2002 to 2007. He became the most loved and respected head of the nation to get the sobriquet of People’s President.

 Kalam was a respected scientist specializing in aerospace engineering. His simplicity and dedication to serving the country motivated many youths to follow his path and he became an inspirational figure for the youth of India.

House of Kalam: the private Museum dedicated to the memory of Dr. APJ Kalam inside his ancestral house in Rameshwaram

Inside the memorial, one can see the selected photos, paintings, miniature models of missiles, etc. The memorial is less than 1 km from Rameswaram.

The museum’s exhibits narrate the story of his life and achievements. It’s located on Mosque Street and is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

 A. P J Abdul Kalam was born and brought up in Rameswaram and became a scientist and worked for DRDO and ISRO before being chosen to become India’s 11th President by the then NDA government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

He passed away suddenly while attending the IIT Shillong convocation on July 27, 2015, and was laid to rest at Pei Karumbu, Rameswaram on 30 July.

According to the statement of the Museum, Dr. Kalam always reflected the simplicity, depth, and calmness of Rameshwaram throughout his life, and it’s showcased in his memorial. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam National Memorial was inaugurated by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on 27th July 2017.

The memorial is spread over 2.11 acres of land, the memorial is constructed on the gravesite of Dr. Kalam, where his mortal remnants were put to rest on July 27, 2015. To pay tribute to India’s missile man, The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), with which Dr. Kalam had been associated for several years of his life, came up with an initiative to construct his memorial.

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The memorial was constructed in a record time of nine-month at the cost of Rs 120 crore,

The Museum is also included in the recommended place in Rameshwaram by the Trip Advisor company.

On its website, people who visited the place have rated it very highly. Their comments in the review section show that the People’s President continues to be in the heart of Indians even after his passing away. For example, Saurabh from Patna, Bihar, says:

 ..must visit place for everyone. I’m a huge follower of Bharat Ratna Late APJ Abdul kalam sir. It was inaugurated by Our prime minister in 2017. Here you can learn many things about Bharat Ratna APJ Abdul Kalam sir.

I visited this and will recommend every people to visit this place and should remember the person who shape and sculpt the Indian defense and space research organisation.

A Tourist from Bangladesh wrote in the same section:  “A scientist and leader has been honoured in the best way in his birthplace “

Another tourist to the museum from Hyderabad wrote:

.. A fitting tribute to the great son of India. Amazing that a man with such humble origins and from a very small town rose to the highest office in this country. A must-visit for students and youth who can take inspiration from the great man’s life. Plenty of Photographs, a peek into the life of Dr. A.J.P. Abdul Kalam.

A visitor from the NCT of Delhi wrote on Trip Advisor’s website :

Not only a memorial but a temple or place of worship where you can motivate yourself how an innocent boy who was used to distributing newspapers in a nearby area has become India’s first citizen. The place is full of photographs, a replica of missiles, statues, Samadhi, and many more … a calm environment despite of rush of school children.. A must-visit place at Rameshwaram.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Aasha Khosa, New Delhi / July 27th, 2023

The Kerala Story: Sound designer Resul Pookutty and cartoonist EP Unny inspire communal amity

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, Science & Technology, Uniquely Indian - Inter Faith (wef. February 08th, 2023),

KERALA:

While the response to the film in Kerala and neighbouring Tamil Nadu has been tepid, it seems to have opened the floodgates of abusive comments, both for and against.

A sketch by EP Unny that he tweeted shows a church (extreme right), a mosque and a temple “cuddling into” Palayam in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram, the Kerala capital. The sketch was a part of Spices & Souls: A Doodler’s Journey Through Kerala, published by DC Books, Kottayam, in 2001 /. Sourced by the Telegraph

Academy award-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty and cartoonist E.P. Unny have inspired many tweets highlighting communal harmony in their home state of Kerala, contrasting with the hate being spewed on social media following the release of The Kerala Story.

While the response to the film in Kerala and neighbouring Tamil Nadu has been tepid, it seems to have opened the floodgates of abusive comments, both for and against.

Against this background, Unny, chief political cartoonist at The Indian Express newspaper, has tweeted one of his old sketches that depicted a temple, mosque and a church that stand side by side at Palayam in Thiruvananthapuram as an exemplar of communal amity.

By Sunday evening, Unny’s tweet, dated May 5 and posted under the hashtag #KeralaStory, had been viewed by 2.97 lakh people, shared by 561 and drawn comments from 223.

Pookutty too, on May 5, exhorted people to share stories that would fit two hashtags he had created: “Guys if you have your own story of #brotherhoodinKerala share it here under the #MyKeralaStory.”

Lok Sabha member Shashi Tharoor shared Unny’s tweet and commented: “Proud to represent Thiruvananthapuram constituency. The Palayam example is one I often cite in my speeches. Beautifully drawn by @unnycartoonist.”

The image Unny tweeted was drawn in 2000 for his travel book Spices & Souls, commissioned by DC Books and published in 2001.

“I was not reacting to the film at all because I have not seen the film. If I had seen the film, I might have done a cartoon on it,” Unny told The Telegraph on Sunday.

Unny had already, before the controversy over The Kerala Story broke, been planning to tweet the screen grab of the sketch to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Palayam church.

“I had a screen grab of this image and thought I would tweet it at some point since I had read sometime in March that this was the 150th year of the Palayam church,” he said.

“This in itself is remarkable with a temple, a church and a mosque adjoining each other in the Thiruvananthapuram landscape.”

Soon after, a storm began brewing over The Kerala Story, which controversially suggests that Malayali women are being lured into conversion and radicalisation by the Islamic State.

“That was when discussions started about this film and highly polarising comments were made around it. That was why I tagged #KeralaStory while tweeting it (the sketch),” he said.

“What I was responding to was the noise made around this film by people, many of whom had not seen it,” Unny said.

Pookutty’s tweet found immediate acceptance, with Carnatic vocalist and activist T.M. Krishna tweeting: “Singing in innumerable temples across the length and breadth of Kerala for over two decades and always having people who belong to diverse faiths sharing in the music. People from whom I learnt a lot! Will be singing Guru in Kollam tomorrow.”

“Guru” is a reference to social reformer Sree Narayana Guru, whose verses Krishna has been singing for several years.

Pookutty’s hashtag #MyKeralaStory has led to several stories about communal amity in Kerala being shared.

Shanmugavel Shankaran, a netizen, tweeted a picture of a Muslim couple who had married off their adopted Hindu daughter to a Hindu man at Kanhangad in Kasargod district.

P. Abdullah and his wife Khadeeja had adopted Rajeshwari after she was orphaned at the age of seven. The couple educated the girl and brought her up as a Hindu.

A man named Zafri tweeted: “Rightly said, Resul. There are so many stories of love to share. Recently attended the Nikah ceremony of my sister in Trivandrum. Our stay, our commuting as well as the marriage reception arrangements taken care of by the groom’s non-Muslim friends. #MyKeralaStory.”

Many tweeted a video clip of a Hindu wedding at a mosque that was recently shared by Academy award-winning composer A.R. Rahman. The video is about how the Cheruvally Muslim Jamaal Mosque in Kayamkulam, Alappuzha district, held a wedding for Anju and Sharath Sasi on January 19, 2020.

The event happened after the bride’s mother, a widow, sought help from the mosque committee for her daughter’s marriage. The committee fully sponsored the Hindu wedding, held on the premises of the mosque.

A man named Raj P. tweeted: “I looked after a child with a severe illness on a ventilator. The family couldn’t meet the expenses. Their church raised some money to help them. The neighbourhood mosque committee heard about this, collected funds from Muslim families, and helped the child. #mykeralastory.”

Many stories have been shared also about how Malayalis had cut across religious communities to help one another during the devastating floods of 2018.

source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph Online / Home> India / by K.M. Rakesh, Bangalore / May 08th, 2023

The DropOut: The man who built uncountable schools for poor children in Howrah

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

Howrah, WEST BENGAL:

Moumita Chaudhuri meets Mamoon Akhtar, the good samaritan of Howrah’s Tikiapara and gets to know a lot about his social moves and motives.

Mamoon Akhtar / Photos, courtesy Akhtar

Tikiapara is a downtown area in Bengal’s Howrah district, off NH22. Narrow lanes full of pedestrians and vans dangling dangerous iron rods and bars trundling through them, cars and bikes honking incessantly, piles of garbage and small iron manufacturing units. Amidst all of this stands Rebecca Belilious English Institution.

The English medium school is for the poor children of Tikiapara, Pilkhana and the neighbouring Bankra town.

Mamoon Akhtar is the principal and founder of the school. That day he is not in his office. He is attending to an elderly woman who is seeking a fee waiver for her ward. “The school fees are highly subsidised — Rs 100-150. Mamoon Sir believes that education should not be free. But if someone cannot pay, he will never turn a student down,” says Tapan Mandal, a member of the school staff.

The principal’s room has a single bed, a small sofa, a table and a chair. “Sir, spends his days and nights here,” says Mandal. “I have often spotted him sweeping the school premises at daybreak,” he adds.

Akhtar himself is a school dropout. After Class VII his father could not afford to pay the fees. However, he did not give up studying. “I started teaching primary students in my area and with that money completed my Class XII,” he tells The Telegraph.

Tikiapara in the 1990s and early 2000s was apparently a den of criminal activities.

Akhtar started his school with six children in 1999. “A room in my house a few hundred metres away from here, that was it,” he says. The story goes thus. One day, Akhtar was passing a slum when he saw a man was beating up a woman; she was refusing to sell drugs and he was egging her on. A little boy stood watching. When the brawl ended, Akhtar went up to the boy and told him he shouldn’t idle away his time and the boy said he would have liked to go to school except that nobody seemed keen to send him to one.

Akhtar asked the little chap to come to his house and he became his first pupil. Akhtar says, “The next day he came back with his friend. The third day, two more; on the sixth day, there were six children who wanted to study. I felt God was saying something to me. I cleaned up the front room of my mud house and started a school.”

There were no funds. Akhtar asked his students to bring old newspapers, broken items and discarded things from their homes or their neighbours’. He says, “I would sell the rags to the kabadiwala and with the money buy books, notebooks and stationery. I also requested the educated youth in the area come and teach. I paid them a small salary — Rs 100 per month.” The first funding for the school came from Lee Alison Sibley, the wife of the then US Consul General George Sibley. “I had seen her photograph in the newspaper and wrote to her asking for help for the school. Initially, she refused but she sent me a note appreciating my efforts. I wrote to her again and asked if she could help with some notebooks and pencils.” A few days after that, Lee visited the school with a journalist. She gifted a cheque of Rs 10,000 with which the school got its first toilet for the girl students.

Akhtar continues, “The journalist reported my story and one day I got a call from a Mumbai-based man called Ramesh Kacholia. He sent Rs 12,000 for cement flooring and windows. On completion, Akhtar found that he had spent Rs 8,000. He returned the rest to Kacholia.

The school was formally registered in 2007 as Samaritan Mission School High. By then, many organisations had come forward with grants. The Kacholia family stood by and connected Akhtar to Vidya Shah of Edelweiss Capital, an international investment company. These two associations have stood by the school and Akhtar through all these years. Once the school was in place, Akhtar turned to improving the living conditions of the people of Tikiapara. The students were from the nearby slums, children of labourers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Their parents were auto drivers, domestic help, property dealers and so on. Most of the children were first-generation learners.

LIGHT HOUSE: The first school started by Mamoon Akhtar

Once the school was in place, Akhtar turned to improving the living conditions of the people of Tikiapara. The students were from the nearby slums, children of labourers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Their parents were auto drivers, domestic help, property dealers and so on. Most of the children were first-generation learners.

Akhtar started a vocational training programme for women. The Howrah police and the administration too supported his endeavours.

In 2014, the wheels turned for Akhtar. The Rebecca Belilious English Trust of Howrah handed over their school building and clinic to him. “It belonged to a Jewish family by the name of Rebecca Belilious,” he says.

The building was renovated with funds from corporates. Akhtar named the five floors of the school building after Savitribai Phule, C.V. Raman, Swami Vivekananda, Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar, B.R. Ambedkar and Baba Amte. The clinic at the Rebecca Institute has now been turned into a small hospital that caters to the people of Tikiapara. Soon there will be a hostel for girls; Akhtar feels the slums in the neighbouring area are not safe for girls. A galpo ghor or storytelling room will start for the children of the primary school as they still do not have a library.

Akhtar’s first school has also gotten better — smart classrooms, science and computer labs, sports such as archery, basketball, football are encouraged. Children can also opt for NCC training. In 2015, Akhtar opened a third school named Samaritan Public School in the slums of Bankra in Howrah.

Students from his first school cracked the 2022 NEET examinations and one student qualified in the WBJEE exams last year. From six students, the number of children attending these three schools is now 6,300.

source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph Online / Home> Culture / by Moumita Chaudhuri / July 23rd, 2023

KEF Holdings’ Chairman Faizal E. Kottikollon appointed to SRTIP Board of Directors

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

Bengaluru / SINGAPORE / Dubai, U.A.E :

Sharjah: 

Faizal E. Kottikollon, Founder and Chairman of KEF Holdings, has been appointed to the prestigious board of directors at the Sharjah Research, Technology, and Innovation Park (SRTIP). This appointment represents a significant milestone for KEF Holdings, with Faizal Kottikollon bringing his expertise and entrepreneurial vision to contribute to the development of SRTIP under the leadership of Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi.

SRTIP is poised to become a leading hub for cutting-edge research, technological advancements, and innovation in the region. The inclusion of Faizal Kottikollon on the board of directors reinforces KEF Holdings’ commitment to innovation and sustainable impact in the fields of offsite construction, healthcare, education, and clinical wellness.

The esteemed board of directors comprises distinguished individuals such as His Royal Highness Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Sheikh Dr. Majid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Dr. Abdulaziz Saeed bin Butti Al Muhairi, Dr. Hamid M.K. Al Naimiy, Hussain Mohammed Al Mahmoudi, Dr. Susan Mumm, Najla Ahmed Al Midfa, Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, Khaled Issa Al Huraimel, Dr. Aisha Bint Butti Bin Bishr, Adel Abdullah Ali, Samer Salim Al Sayegh, Abdulaziz Basem Al Loughani, Mudassir Sheikha, and Alisha Moopen. Together, they will shape the strategic direction of SRTIP.

Faizal Kottikollon expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration with SoiLAB, a venture within SRTIP, which aims to cultivate an environment conducive to creativity, technological advancement, and lasting impact on innovation, entrepreneurship, and technological progress not only in Sharjah but also beyond.

Faizal is the son of renowned Malayali entrepreneur and philanthropist PK Ahammed, Chairman of Peekay Group of Companies. He is married to Shabana Faizal, daughter of Late B Ahmed Haji Mohiudeen, Founder of B A Group, Thumbay, and a prominent business and community leader.

About KEF Group

KEF Holdings invest in businesses that are innovative, sustainable, cost-effective, and deliver positive disruptive solutions across core business sectors encompassing infrastructure, healthcare, and technology, to benefit society and build a better tomorrow.

It has a 20-year legacy of building successful businesses. It began its journey in 1995 with the opening of Al Ahamadi General Trading in Ajman, following this it launched a world-class Foundry, and a valve trading company JC Middle East. It then created Emirates Techno Casting, an integrated facility incorporating cutting-edge engineering and design lab, the world’s largest automatic molding line, steel refining furnace, machine shop, and research and development lab, rated among the top 3 technologically advanced foundries in the world.

In 2012 Tyco International, bought the business for USD 400 million, becoming the impetus for the launch of KEF Holdings’​ two new verticals KEF Investments and KEF Infra. KEF Investments, have built a global investment portfolio by capitalizing on low-risk, high-income opportunities in growing markets.

In the year 2018, KEF Infra announced a strategic merger with Katerra, the Menlo Park US-based technology company, revolutionizing the design and construction industries.

Staying true to its belief of being a social enterprise the company, in close collaboration with stakeholders in the public and private sectors, actively drives, funds, and supports high-impact social activities undertaken by the  Faizal & Shabana Foundation.

source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Gulf / by Vartha Bharati / July 18th, 2023

Presidency University Chancellor Nissar Ahmed awarded honorary doctorate by B’luru City University

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Education - Gold Medallists, Toppers, Merits, Achievers (wef. June 12th, 2023), Karnataka (under research project), Leaders, World Opinion,

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA:

Bengaluru:

Presidency University Chancellor Nissar Ahmed and two other achievers were awarded honorary doctorates by Karnataka Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot at the 2nd convocation ceremony of the Bengaluru City University on Monday.

During the program organized at the Jnanajyothi auditorium of the Bengaluru City University, Nissar Ahmed, who is a native of Mangaluru and also chairman of the Presidency Group of Institutions, was awarded a Doctor of Literature (D.Lit) degree.

Writer Tarini Chidananda and social activist Dr. Wooday P Krishna were also awarded D.Lit degrees by the Bengaluru City University during the convocation ceremony on Monday.

Renowned cardiologist and director of the Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research Dr CN Manjunath and Vice-chancellor of the Bengaluru City University Prof. Lingaraja Gandhi were present on the occasion.

source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karnataka / by Vartha Bharati / July 10th, 2023

Human Welfare Foundation & Railtel Corporation Of India Join Hands To Implement CSR Projects

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Leaders, Useful / HEALTHCARE, Women/Girls(since May26-2021),

NEW DELHI :

New Delhi:

Human Welfare Foundation (HWF), in collaboration with RailTel Corporation of India Limited, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to carry out a corporate social responsibility (CSR) project aimed at promoting healthcare and women’s empowerment in selected villages of the Jalna District of Maharashtra.

The project will include two interconnected initiatives. The first will address menstrual hygiene in a few selected villages in Jalna District, while the second will run a mobile unit staffed by healthcare professionals to facilitate special online consultations and offline solutions for common people in selected villages.

RailTel Corporation of India Limited will provide funding support for the project, which will be implemented over a period of one year in six villages in the Jalna District, namely Chikali, Dalegaon, Kedarkheda, Loangaon, Chandai, and Rajur.

The project’s activities will include the formation of two self-help groups comprising 60 women who will be responsible for the distribution of sanitary napkins in the villages. The project will also create a source of livelihood for the women, sensitizing and raising awareness among young girls and women in these villages about the health benefits of the use of sanitary napkins, menstrual hygiene, and health-related issues.

The project’s goal is to empower people in the selected villages to address health and nutrition issues and set up income-generating plants for women. The project will focus on two areas of activity, namely self-help group formation for menstrual hygiene management (MHM) and tele-health medicine.

The project aims to provide infrastructure, training, health, and medical facilities in Jalna District villages, promote hygienic menstrual practices among rural women and adolescent girls, eliminate stigmas and taboos related to menstruation, facilitate authentic information and guidance to reduce hospitalization, empower girls by addressing gender issues, provide comprehensive mobile health care services, and enhance the physical and psychological well-being of rural women. The project also offers free tele-consultations by an expert panel of doctors to all beneficiaries.

source: http://www.indiatomorrow.net / India Tomorrow / Home> Economy / by admin India Tomorrow / March 08th, 2023

My Journey From Small Industrial Town To G20 Action Council And Taskforce

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

Ambur, TAMIL NADU:

The story of a girl from a small town who goes out to make her place on a global map voicing out the importance of the equality, inclusion and economic empowerment of women.

My Journey From Small Industrial Town To G20 Action Council And Taskforce
A survival story of a girl from an industrial town with an SSLC graduation who goes out to make her place on a global map voicing out the importance of the equality, inclusion and economic empowerment of women.

How I became an entrepreneur

I was born and brought up in a very well-reputed, broad-minded family of people involved in the leather business. I got married at the early age of 16 to the only son of the leather industry’s biggest names. My parents found the best for me. However, life isn’t a bed of roses and i and my spouse had our struggles.

The sudden demise of my father-in-law had shattered my husband and then I decided to accompany him in his business. It was very much unheard of and extremely novel in the industrial town of Ambur to see a woman come out and shoulder financial responsibilities with their husband in business.

What was the turning point?

The formation of ‘Ammara’ a footwear manufacturing factory is unique with its idea of the implementation of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and its individuality stands alone as it’s the only women-owned factory in the whole industrial belt of Ambur, Vaniyambadi, Ranipet, Vellore, Gudiyatham, etc are the industrial towns completely male-oriented businesses where “Ammara” stands unique with the only female-run business where I had always strongly stood for women empowerment actively volunteering with the Government and International organisations like Tamilnadu State Planning Commission, NITI AAYOG, UNDP, United Nations for the awareness of entrepreneurship development in women by organising Awareness programs in villages and rural areas for the same.

What was the lesson I learnt

“Believe in yourself…If you believe it then you can Achieve it”

When I entered into the business of footwear manufacturing in a male-oriented industry, it was very tough for me to survive as there was no encouragement or positive energy. I had to face a lot of criticism and abuse. I was targeted for the wrong reasons and there were constant blame games on my name. I had to overcome hurdles and obstacles until I found my place in the business and the industry. I am a firm believer in destiny and have always had a positive outlook on things.

I have always believed that these were tests and are nothing but a process of learning and grooming on the road to success. I started small with the pure motive of the economic empowerment and growth of women. I named my factory ‘Ammara’ meaning ‘Eternal’ which I believed will InshaAllah, like its meaning last forever against all odds and will triumph towards the Implementation of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 5 and 8.

Coming from an orthodox conservative Muslim society, I chose the path less travelled, and that made all the difference in my life.

Why financial independence for women is key

Each and Every woman should be financially independent as everyone is born with gifts by birth but aren’t aware of what to find in them and I believe that girls and women in my home town Ambur are very intelligent and smart but they lack the right support and the correct guidance in the areas of knowledge on skill development, capacity building, mentoring, financial assistance that make a woman strong. I believe that these skills made me strong enough to voice out my opinions louder about the need for knowledge and education on life skills. I had always felt that it was the need for the hour and the cry of society on the road to women’s empowerment & entrepreneurship.

How a women’s health platform is needed to ensure more women join the workforce

Awareness/Advocacy/Action/Accountability is the key to ensuring that we make more women join the workforce. The only idea is to see ‘women in a leadership role’ which keeps me motivated and inspired. I have always believed that women are driven, courageous, brave and strong. Women can achieve anything and everything they set their minds to. I’ve always wanted women to be honoured in my industrial town in leadership decision-making roles. I second the opinion that the world needs more and more women in the board rooms, in the courtrooms, in academia and in civil service. I am inspired by women achieving in many areas and it keeps me motivated.

What’s next for Aysha

‘Inclusion & Equality’

Progress is impossible without change and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything it’s high time that we believe Inclusion is a must to see the growth in the GDP and the economic progress of a country will be made possible by empowering more women and Seeing is Believing and Believing is Achieving and she has always strongly believed in herself and her instincts which kept her moving forward. She has witnessed herself and the organisation progressing towards our vision & goal from the day she started. From the scratches till today, she considers each day is a new lesson and new development in the areas of manpower, product, technology, fashion, manufacturing and empowerment. Her husband and her fellow workers and staff of her factory have come a long way by understanding the process of standing together throughout the journey and she has always seen herself getting closer to the light at the end of the tunnel. She has been growing since Day 1 and each day is a new day with a new opportunity and a new idea.

I’m now moving towards my next endeavour and all set for my first in-person meeting of the Action Council in Delhi on March 15 as an integral part of the G20 Action Council & Taskforce.

source: http://www.shethepeople.tv / She The People / Home> Personal Stories> Drafts / by Aysha Sanober / March 08th, 2023

“Muslim youth need to dream big,” say founders of Misaal initiative

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , , , , , , , , ,

INDIA:

Screenshot of the website Misaal

Misaal is a platform committed to inspire and influence young Indian Muslims by sharing success stories of people from the community who achieved incredible milestones and emerged as pioneers and champions in various fields.

At a time when Covid-19 lockdown forced all of us to stay indoors and positive stories were in short supply, three Muslim youth came up with an initiative called Misaal to highlight success stories from the Muslim community. Three youth Aman Mansuri (25), a consultant at BCG, Amim Fatmi (25), associate manager at TCS and Shaista Khan (25), a venture capital associate who are alumni of India’s premier institutes like IIT Roorkee, IIM Ahmedabad, XLRI Jamshedpur, NIFT Delhi and NIFTEM started Misaal.

Misaal is a platform committed to inspire and influence young Indian Muslims by sharing success stories of people from the community who achieved incredible milestones and emerged as pioneers and champions in various fields.

Aman Mansuri

“Misaal in Urdu means ‘a good example.’ We wanted to find out the Misaals of our community and share their experiences to hone the self-confidence of the youths and introduce them to the world of possibilities,” Aman told TwoCircles.net.

The trio acknowledged the privilege they had in getting into institutes of national importance, however, they say that they were perplexed by the lesser ratio of the Muslim students in such institutions. “I had only two female Muslim students as my batchmate,” said Shaista. “If I made it to the list, so can others, and this is what the initiative is about,” she added.

Misaal believes that the first step to achieving something is to dream big.

“Muslim youth need to develop big aspirations and not restrict themselves. Currently, the major focus among the community’s youth is on quick income generation. This, coupled with a widespread lack of awareness about the opportunities leads many to drop out and overall poor education levels,” said Amim.

“While there are many reasons for lack of aspiration, the most important one is the lack of visible role models who can serve as positive examples to the youth,” added Aman.

Amim Fatmi

Aman shared an anecdote wherein the only prominent Muslim figures that his friends knew of were late Indian president Dr A. P. J Abdul Kalam and the first Minister of Education of independent India, Abdul Kalam Azad. “This obliviousness about the contemporary prominent Muslim figures was alarming,” the trio said.

Misaal has posted a total of 14 episodes starting August 16, 2020, to date. Each episode is of 25 – 30 minutes long entailing relatable lived experiences in which successful people from the Muslim community share their inspirational stories. Some of the prominent figures featured on their You Tube channel are Shahrukh Alam, a lawyer at the Supreme Court of India, Quaiser Khalid, IGP, Maharastra Police, Shabina Akhtar, founder of eNewsroom, Talha Abdul Rahman, an Advocate on Record, Supreme Court, and Dr Mohammad Hussain, founder of Baroda Muslim Doctors Association.

“I am very glad that I was contacted by Misaal to share my story as an inspiration. I am more than happy to contribute in whatever way I can in this endeavour,” commented Parveen Khanam, Assistant Vice President, Genpact, who had shared her story on the platform.

The trio identified the lack of guidance and inspiration among the Muslim youths as a problem and have set out to provide a solution through Misaal. To make a positive difference among their community’s youngsters, they want to create an efficient system working on three levels, “To inspire the Muslim youths by sharing the stories of high-achieving Indian Muslims and to provide mentorship and scholarships, and to upskill them through workshops.”

Shaista Khan

“We are in the initial phase where we are trying to create a fraternity. So far it’s been only a one-way communication but going forward we want to engage on a personal level with our audience and address their needs,” said Aman. “As things start to settle well, we will gain grounds and start conducting mentorship programs and workshops extensively,” added Amim.

The trio believes that educated Muslims can build a progressive society and eventually help build a better and stronger nation. The trio says in unison, “Padhega Muslaman, tab hi badhega Muslaman aur phir badhega Hindustan” (Only an educated Muslim can make for a progressive Muslim community and in turn making a better India).

The Misaal episodes are available to watch on their YouTube channel and they can be approached through other platforms on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

www.misaal.co.in

source: http://www.twocircles.net / TwoCircles.net / Home> India News / by Shalini S , TwoCircles.net / March 01st, 2021

West Bengal: Workshop to develop entrepreneurship among Imams and Ulema

Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education

Kolkata, WEST BENGAL:

Workshop to develop entrepreneurship in Imams and Ulema.

In Kolkata, West Bengal, a workshop organized by the Maaeshat Foundation and Tarbiyah Cambridge International School provided imams and ulemas with an opportunity to acquire entrepreneurial skills.

The day-long workshop took place at the Indian Science Congress Auditorium, where Ahmad Hasan Imran, the chairman of the West Bengal Minorities’ Commission, engaged in interactive sessions with the religious leaders.

Ahmad Hasan Imran said that the primary objective of the workshop was to assist Imams and Ulema in initiating their own businesses and achieving financial independence.

“In the Muslim community, Imams play a significant role. In West Bengal, imams and Ulema are financially weak. We need to do something to make them financially strong.
Their salary is very low. The objective of this workshop is to make the imams and ulemas learn business skills. This will help them to start their own business and earn their livelihood,” said Ahmad Hasan Imran.

Ahmad Hasan Imran highlighted the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), emphasizing the significance of business.

Referring to the neighbouring country Bangladesh, Ahmad Hasan Imran said: “In Bangladesh, there are Islamic institutions which give different types of business training to imams. In India, Islamic organisations give different types of small business training to religious leaders. For example, Maaeshat Foundation is conducting an entrepreneurship workshop for imams and ulemas to learn the trade of tea, either, dates and items.”

At the workshop, experienced businessmen shared insights on the fundamentals of business with the participants. The clerics had the opportunity to engage with business experts and address their inquiries, thereby gaining clarity on various aspects of entrepreneurship.

During the workshop, Mr. Huzaifa Arshad, the proprietor of Natural Shine, a tea trading business, encouraged businessmen who were involved in trading tea or dates to step forward and participate in this noble cause. He emphasized the importance of leveraging their business expertise and resources for a greater purpose, possibly referring to initiatives that benefit the community or promote social welfare.

“It should be done keeping in mind the Akhirat. There are two types of human beings in the world. The first type of human being is the one who live for his children, wife and family. The other type is the one who thinks about the society and do good deeds for the society for the sake of Allah (God). They do for sadqah jaria. Businessmen should contact Maaeshat for this purpose,” Arshad said.

Mr. Md Arif of Dania Dates International addressed the concern of hesitation or apprehension among imams regarding potential business losses. He emphasized the importance of dispelling such worries, stating that it is not necessary for imams to exclusively purchase dates from his company. He stressed the need to raise awareness among imams about entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency, encouraging them to earn their livelihood and reduce dependence on others.

Earlier, on March 12, 2023, the Maeeshat Foundation and Tarbiyah Cambridge International School joined forces to host a comprehensive day-long workshop on entrepreneurship for Ulemas and Imams. The event took place at the Tarbiyah Cambridge International School Auditorium in Badanagar, Danga, Jalalpur, Malda, West Bengal.

During the workshop, Reyaz highlighted the primary objective of the Maeeshat Foundation, which is to equip religious leaders with the necessary education and training to engage in business ventures across the country. The foundation aims to empower Ulemas and Imams by providing them with the skills and knowledge required to successfully navigate the world of business, thus enabling them to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities with confidence and competence.

“We want they (imams) not have to rely on the pay provided by the Masjid committees for their basic needs, but rather develop their own sustainable sources of income,” he said.

During the workshop, the Clerics and Ulema were presented with hampers called “Madina Basket”.

The “Madina Basket” is an assortment of goods intended for distribution among mosque clerics and imams. It includes various items such as non-alcoholic fragrances (attar), dates, honey, caps, handkerchiefs, and more. Each “Madina Basket” carries a retail value ranging between Rs 25,000 and Rs 30,000, encompassing a selection of products that hold significance in religious and cultural contexts. These baskets are designed to provide essential items and meaningful gifts to support and show appreciation for mosque clerics and imams.

In connection with the Tea business, Natural Shine’s proprietor Huzaifa said: “We want to promote Madina Basket because it’s a noble concept. It is my privilege to be part of it Madina Basket and this initiative (community change programme). We want to sell our product (Tea) at a reasonable price to imams and ulemas. They (imams and ulemas) can purchase our tea (suppose 5 – 10 kg) and then re-sale it. They will earn some money after reselling it.

Concluding the workshop, Reyaz said: “The goal of conducting training programmes and entrepreneurship workshops here (West Bengal) is that. It is the belt where such workshops are needed the most. We will find that there is a huge population of ulemas and imams in West Bengal. They go to other states and carry out imamat. Poverty here is more than in other states. The salary of imams is also very low in West Bengal. They are being utilised the politicians to influence the masses. We want that they should not get utilised, become financially strong and lead a life with dignity. Madina Basket or the Maeeshat’s programme is trying to solve this issue.”

He emphasized that Maeeshat Foundation has dedicated several years of effort to this endeavour, and their work has now achieved success in creating awareness among the public.

source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Indian Muslim> Positive Story / by Muslim Mirror Network / June 28th, 2023

Mansoor Ali takes charge as the Commissioner of Mangaluru Urban Development Authority

Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Karnataka (under research project), Leaders,

Mangaluru, KARNATAKA:

Mansoor Ali

Mangaluru: 

In a latest development, Mansoor Ali took charge as the Commissioner of Mangaluru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, The Mangaluru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) earlier in the day announced in a press release, that the public can directly contact the authority during office hours to discuss their grievances and any matters falling within the authority’s jurisdiction.

source: http://www.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavali / June 21st, 2023