Category Archives: Business & Economy

Why India Must Remember its First Muslim Jurist

February 5, 2023Amazing Feats, Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, World OpinionFirst Muslim Judge of a High Court in Colonial Times, Justice Syed Mahmood, Syed Mahmoodmpositiveone@gmail.com

Delhi, Mughal Period / Sitapur, British India:

The first Muslim judge of a high court in colonial times, Syed Mahmood’s professional conduct offers a counterpoint to the declining standards in Indian judiciary.

WHEN Justice Abdul Nazeer addressed the 16th national council meeting of the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad at Hyderabad last December, he said, “Great lawyers and judges are not born but made by proper education and great legal traditions, as were Manu, Kautilya, Katyayana, Brihaspati, Narada, Parashar, Yajnavalkya, and other legal giants of ancient India.” In the symposium on “Decolonisation of the Indian Legal System”, Justice Nazeer also said the “continued neglect of their great knowledge and adherence to the alien colonial legal system is detrimental to the goals of our Constitution and against our national interests…”.

Perhaps Justice Nazeer should have also recalled 19th-century jurist Justice Syed Mahmood (1850-1903). A pioneer in bold assertions against the colonial judiciary, he produced incisive legal commentaries that reflect an audacious dissenter’s point of view. Writing in an Urdu newspaper, his father, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, narrates Mahmood’s resignation from the Allahabad High Court in 1893 to “protect the self-respect of Indians against the racism of British judges”.

In that era, conceptions of nationhood were still evolving in India. Indian judges would not muster the courage to contest the racism of the imperial power or fellow European judges. But Mahmood did, in intrepid ways. Khan founded the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental (MAO) College at Aligarh in 1877 and figures prominently but contentiously, stereotyped as a British loyalist and separatist in debates on contemporary nationalism. Mahmood supported his father’s modern education project, but unfortunately, his contributions are largely ignored by historians and the legal fraternity.

By 1920, MAO College, now Aligarh Muslim University, was the most prominent residential university in the country. Its history department has been a premier centre for advanced studies for a half-century. In 1889, primarily on Syed Mahmood’s initiative and his gifts in terms of books, journals and cash, AMU established a law department. Yet, he was neglected in its research. Only in 1973, seven years after the centenary of the Allahabad High Court, the Aligarh Law Journal brought out Mahmood’s contributions, and legal scholars reflected on his high calibre as a lawyer and judge.

The good news is, in 2004, Alan M. Guenther did his doctoral thesis on Mahmood at McGill University, Canada, which is available online for the public to access. His meticulous and well-researched account touches almost every aspect of Mahmood’s public life. Guenther also published an extended essay in 2011on Mahmood’s views on English education in 19th-century India. (In 1895, Mahmood had written a book on the theme for his speeches at the Educational Conference.)

In 1965, Asaf Ali Asghar Fyzee (1899-1981) complained, “Syed Mahmood’s contributions to the transformation of Muslim law in India have been largely neglected by historians and survive primarily as footnotes in legal texts on Muslim law.” Guenther, too, observes, “…overshadowed by the life and writings of his illustrious father, Ahmad Khan, his legacy has not received the attention it deserves. A large part of his father’s achievements in the reform of education, in fact, would not have been possible without the assistance of Syed Mahmood. But when he reached the age at which his father had made his most significant achievements, [Mahmood] had his life cut short.”

Mahmood had laid out his life plans clearly. S. Khalid Rashid, writing in 1973, reports that Mahmood decided early on that, like his ancestors, he would devote the first third of his life to educating himself, the second to earn a living, and the last to “retired study, authorship and devotion to matters of public utility”. But Guenther writes about how Mahmood’s health had deteriorated through alcohol abuse and disease. He died before he turned 53, broken by forced retirement, estranged from his father (who had died five years previously), stripped of responsibilities at the college he had helped found, separated from wife and son, and in poverty. He was selling personal items to repay debts. “His father’s numerous writings and letters are still republished, but Syed Mahmood’s contributions to Muslim thought are hidden in bound volumes of the Indian Law Reports and brittle files of government correspondence,” Guenther writes.

One aspect of Mahmood’s last years is captured by Prof. Iftikhar Alam Khan’s Urdu books, Sir Syed: Daroon-e-Khana (2006, 2020) and the recent Rufaqa-e-Sir Syed: Rafaqat, Raqabat wa Iqtidar Ki Kashmakash. These accounts expose the smear campaigns of the three companion successors of Sir Syed—Samiullah, Mohsin-ul-Mulk and Viqar-ul-Mulk—against Syed Mahmood as they vied for the secretary’s post at MAO College. Often European members of MAO College conspired with them. Exploiting his weaknesses and eccentricities, they ousted him to get a hold over college affairs, compounding his hurt during his tragic final years.

SYED MAHMOOD’S ROLE IN SIR SYED’S EDUCATIONAL ENTERPRISE

Having returned to India in 1872 after studying in England, Mahmood took time out of his budding legal career to assist his father’s reform work, particularly setting up MAO College. He prepared a detailed plan along the lines of his experiences in Cambridge. His specific aim, explained in February 1872, was to produce future leaders of India through an educational institution whose residential nature would be “as indispensable an education as the course of study itself”. The aim was to create a society of students and teachers quite different from the rest of society.

He travelled with his father to Punjab in 1873 and spoke at a rally to promote the project. In 1889, Sir Syed introduced a motion to nominate Mahmood as joint secretary of the board of trustees of MAO College by highlighting his assistance despite the opposition he faced. In particular, he considered his son’s influence the primary factor that persuaded European professors to come to India and teach there.

European staff members confirmed this around six years later when there was renewed opposition to Mahmood continuing as joint secretary. The principal, Theodore Beck (1859-1899), testified, “Syed Ahmad….acknowledged his reliance on Syed Mahmood for advice in all matters, and his imprint could be noted in the correspondence relating to the school. He declared his firm conviction that Syed Mahmood was the one person who shared his vision for the college, and apart from him, no one would be able to administer the school in keeping with that vision.” However, Samiullah (1834-1908) disagreed with Sir Syed on this count. As a result, a tussle for power began in the college management. The power-play could explain why AMU felt inhibited in bringing out a biography of Mahmood, a research gap that Guenther’s doctoral thesis fills. He has extensively relied on important correspondences of Mahmood preserved in the London India Office (British) Library.

SYED MAHMOOD’S TRYST WITH MUSLIM LAW

Mahmood is a forgotten pioneer of the transformation of Muslim law in modern South Asia. In 1882, at just 32, he became the first Muslim judge of the high courts in British India. He delivered numerous landmark decisions that shaped Muslim law, the law in general, and its administration.

Earlier, he blazed a trail his younger contemporaries followed in their judicial roles in British India. He was one of the first Indian Muslims to study in England and train in the English system of jurisprudence, the first Indian to enrol as a barrister in the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad in 1872, the first appointed as a district judge in the restructured judicial system of Awadh in 1879 and the first Indian assigned as a puisne judge to the High Court at Allahabad. He was the first Muslim in any High Court of India. He cleared a path for Indian Muslims to participate in administering justice in India. But his contribution is not limited to creamy career opportunities for Muslim youngsters. His lasting legacy is how Muslim law is perceived and administered in South Asia today.

CHAMPION OF ACCESSIBLE JUSTICE

An abiding concern of Mahmood was the cost of administration of justice. Court procedures were lengthy and expensive, and the “mass of law” was complicated. Distance from courts was another concern, for which he proposed a network of village courts for “on-the-spot” adjudication. He sought to make justice accessible through unpaid tribunals and honorary munsifs. He prepared a comprehensive draft for this, Guenther informs.

Furthermore, he attacked the [racial] mindset and court fees and stamp duties on legal documents. He ruled in August 1884 and February 1885 that “…if justice costs the same amount [to the] rich and poor, it follows that the rich man will be able to purchase it, whilst the poor man will not.” He declared, more than once, that British judges in India were too quick to find fraud.

In a speech at the Allahabad Bar in April 1885, Mahmood raised the language issue in judicial transactions, saying laws should be in languages intelligible to the masses. He insisted on the vernacular in arguments, pleadings and justice delivery and translated verdicts so that people unfamiliar with English could rest assured that judgments are reasoned. Of course, the issue of judicial language continues to be debated, and for this, acknowledgement is due to Mahmood.

AN INDIAN DISSENTER IN THE HIGH NOON OF BRITISH COLONIALISM

Mahmood is known most for outstanding dissenting judgements. In volume 2 of his 2021 book, Discordant Notes, Justice (retd.) Rohinton F. Nariman writes that Mahmood was known for detailed judgments, some of which stand out for thoroughness and fearless language. Mahmood would refer to the original Sanskrit versions when ruling on Hindu laws and the Arabic texts for Muslim laws, rather than using interpretations of the relevant texts.

From the 1860s to 1880s, during the codification of laws, he sought limits on importing British laws and protested that the local context was getting overlooked. His concern was not just the laws but their efficacy and adaptability within India’s cultural diversity.

Guenther observes, “…throughout his life, he identified himself as a Muslim as well as an Indian and a subject of the British crown, and that he was actively involved in the education and improvement of the Indian Muslim community. At the same time, Mahmood… [made] efforts to promote harmony between people of diverse backgrounds, and…[supported] initiatives that improved the situation of all Indians, regardless of religious affiliation…”

An anecdote from Altaf Hali’s Hayat-e-Javed (1901), cited by Shamsur Rahman Faruqi (2006), is worth sharing. “Contrary to the culture of sycophancy and genuflecting before the English colonial authority….Syed Ahmad Khan and his high-profile and brilliant son Syed Mahmud strived to conduct themselves as if they were equal to the English….Syed Ahmad Khan had stayed away from the [1867 Agra] Durbar because Indians had been given seats inferior to the English. A medal was to be conferred on Syed Ahmad Khan at that Durbar. Williams, the then Commissioner of Meerut, was later deputed to present the award to Syed Ahmad Khan at Aligarh railway station. Willams broke protocol and showed his anger at having to do the task under duress and said that government orders bound him, or he wouldn’t be presenting the medal to Syed Ahmad Khan. Syed Ahmad Khan accepted the medal, saying he wouldn’t have taken the award, except that he too was bound by government orders.”

Indian democracy is an outcome of anti-colonial nationalism, and dissent is its core component: Mahmood’s dissent contributed to nationalism in his time. In 2022, the V-Dem Institute described India as an electoral autocracy where dissent is being criminalised, and the judiciary is failing to contain the majoritarian upsurge. Mahmood’s professional conduct is an encouraging counterpoint to the degeneration in the Indian judiciary.

WHAT DID MAHMOOD THINK OF THE INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS?

According to Guenther, though Mahmood never joined the Congress, he was “equally aloof” from the anti-Congress propaganda his father indulged in. “…a rare catholicity characterised his views on most of the controversial questions,” he writes. He adds, “His acceptance among the Hindus [elites] generally was demonstrated by the fact that they tried to send him as their representative to the Imperial Legislative Council, though he never received that appointment.”

Nonetheless, like his father, Mahmood harboured class and regional prejudices. Guenther reveals an article Mahmood wrote in The Pioneer on 4 September 1875, suggesting the government must strive to with the sympathies of the “higher classes of natives”. When challenged to defend his position by “Another Native” in the same newspaper two weeks later, Mahmood responded that people in Punjab and the North-western Provinces [now Uttar Pradesh] were, historically speaking, of “much greater political significance” than those of Lower Bengal. Gunther cites his write-up: “…any educational system that succeeded in ‘attracting the Bengalee and fail(ed) to exercise any influence upon the higher classes of the Rajpoot, the Sikh, and the Mussulman’ must be regarded as a failure.”

Considering the socio-regional composition of top functionaries of AMU, even impartial insiders would testify that it still harbours regional and sub-regional prejudices. The Sir Syed Academy is releasing many publications during the ongoing centenary celebration of AMU. Publishing Guenther’s dissertation may be a fitting tribute to Mahmood, who must be regarded as a prominent co-founder of MAO College.

Mohammad Sajjad teaches modern and contemporary Indian History at Aligarh Muslim University. Md. Zeeshan Ahmad is a lawyer based in Delhi. The views are personal.

First published by Newsclick.

source: http://www.theleaflet.in / The Leaflet / Home> History / by Mohammad Sajjad and Zeeshan Ahmad / April 01st, 2022

The origin of Biryani – how a Mughal delicacy invaded Bengal

February 4, 2023Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Inventions, Innovations (wef. Nov 30th, 2021), Travel & Tourism, World OpinionBiriyanimpositiveone@gmail.com

WEST BENGAL:

Bengalis are a race of foodies who practically eat to live and live to eat. It’s an inevitable component of any adda and the Bengalis are dead serious about it, any day, any time. Even people who have lived all their lives in the comfort zone of their homes and hearth do not hesitate to become the quintessential explorer when discovering new food or joints.

And when it comes to something like biriyani, the happiness of the Bengali Epicurean is one of exuberance and excitement and all one’s self-restraint is defeated as the flavourful aroma overpowers the senses. Truly, biryani is one dish that Bengalis unanimously love indulging in though it is not an indigenous dish of India.

The exact origin of biriyani is not known, though historian Lizzie Collingham writes that the modern biryani was developed in the royal kitchens of the Mughal Empire (1526–1857) and is a mix of the native spicy rice dishes of India and the Persian pilaf. According to Pratibha Karan, who wrote the book ‘Biryani,’ biryani is of Mughal origin, derived from pilaf varieties brought to the Indian subcontinent by Arab traders. She speculates that the pulao was an army dish in medieval India. Armies would prepare a one-pot dish of rice with whichever meat was available. Different varieties of biryani developed in the Muslim centers of Delhi (Mughlai cuisine), Rampur, Lucknow (Awadhi cuisine), and other small principalities in North India. In South India, where rice is more widely used as a staple food, several distinct varieties of biryani emerged from the Hyderabad Deccan. Whereas, some believe that the dish originated from Tamil Nadu (Ambur, Thanjavur, Chettinad, Salem, Dindigul), Kerala (Malabar), Telangana, and Karnataka (Bhatkal), where Muslim communities lived.

All said and done, there is no denying that biriyani staged a bloodless coup and became the monarch of all gourmets in India, kings and paupers alike. The deliciously complex blend of flavours, spices, and aromas in biryani epitomizes the zenith of Indian cuisine. The ingredients for biryani vary according to the region and the type of meat and vegetables used. Meat (of either chicken, goat, beef, lamb, prawn, or fish) is the prime ingredient with rice. As is common in dishes of the Indian subcontinent, vegetables are sometimes also used when preparing biryani. Corn may be used depending on the season and availability. Navratan biryani tends to use sweeter, richer ingredients such as cashews, raisins, and fruits, such as apples and pineapples. The spices and condiments used in biryani also differ according to regional preferences.

The evolution of biryani spans many centuries, many cultures, many ingredients, and many cooking styles. From an army dish to a dish fit for royalty, the biryani today is a pan-India culinary favourite. Its varieties reflect the local tastes, traditions, and gastronomic histories of their regions of evolution. There are so many types of biriyanis with local and hyperlocal variations that one is truly spoilt for options when it comes to experiencing this melting pot of flavours.

Biryani can be cooked using one of two styles/techniques, pakki (“cooked”) and kacchi (“raw”). In pakki biryani, the rice, marinated meat, and vegetables are partially (“three-quarters”) cooked separately, before being combined into layers in a cooking vessel. Different layers of rice may be treated with different spices (e.g., with dissolved saffron or turmeric to give the rice different colours and flavours). The contents are then baked to complete the cooking and allow the flavours to combine. Alternatively, the components may be fully cooked, and then simply combined by layering before serving.

In kacchi biryani, layers of raw marinated meat are alternated in layers with wet, pre-soaked, raw rice (which may be treated with different spices as above), and cooked together by baking, or applying medium-to-low heat (typically, for at least an hour). Cooking occurs by a process of steaming from the ingredients’ moisture: the cooking vessel’s lid is sealed (traditionally, with a strip of wheat dough) so that the steam cannot escape (proper Dum pukht). A yogurt-based marinade at the bottom of the cooking pot provides additional flavour and moisture. Potatoes often comprise the bottom-most layer because, with their natural moisture content, they brown with less risk of getting burned accidentally. The lid is not opened until the dish is ready to serve.

In Bengal, the Calcutta or Kolkata biryani evolved from the Lucknow style, when Awadh’s last Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was exiled in 1856 to the Kolkata suburb Metiabruz. Shah brought his chefs with him. The Kolkata biriyani is characterized by the unique presence of potato, along with meat and egg. It is said that the former Nawab of Awadh was a great connoisseur of good food and encouraged his chefs to try new ingredients in the dish. The potato was an exotic vegetable in India and his chefs added it to biriyani, transpiring pure magic!

Unlike other Indian biryanis, which are eaten with salan or raita, the Kolkata biryani is a complete meal and needs no accompaniment. Many, however, many swear by the combination of biryani and chaap—slow-cooked meat in a luscious gravy. It’s a great spicy companion to the otherwise mellow biryani. As one of the most popular dishes in Kolkata, it also has a fan following to match.

Some of the oldest and best-known biriyani joints in Kolkata include names like Shiraz Golden Restaurant on Park Street, Aminia in New Market, India Restaurant in Kidderpore, ZamZam in Park Circus, and New Aliah Hotel. Many new players have entered the fray and are also doing very well. The delicate flavour of Kolkata biriyani combines well with mutton pasanda and mutton chaap. Gourmets recommend Kachi Gosht biryani at India Restaurant, a recipe derived from Hyderabadi biryani preparations.

The Dhakai version of the dish from the Bangladeshi capital is no less seductive and is believed that it could have traversed the sea route to reach this port city, which was once ruled by nawabs. In 1610, after the Mughal rulers declared Dhaka as the provincial capital, Mughal subedars and other high officials arrived in Dhaka to manage the administration, and they brought — along with intrigue, grandeur, and tantrums — the biryani. Back then, people believed that the biryani could be prepared only for members of the ruling family, and that too on special occasions. The cooks came from the west, where the Hyderabadi biryani had only started to spread its aroma around India.

Somewhere along the way though, the Dhaka biryani developed its characteristics, which set it apart from its Hyderabadi progenitor – and even from the Sindhi, Kozhikode, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Tehari offshoots. The Kachchi Biryani is perhaps the most pleasant and authentic cuisine of Bangladesh. So, what makes Dhakai Kachchi different from other schools of biryani?

It refers to the ingredients which are cooked raw and in layers. Layers of meat, rice, and potatoes are infused with delicious blends of aromatic spices to prepare the Dhakai Kachchi Biryani. The key is to get the right balance of spices – not too spicy, not too bland, just right with succulent pieces of meat and potatoes.

Dhaka is also known for selling Chevon Biryani, a dish made with highly seasoned rice and goat meat. The recipe includes highly seasoned rice, goat meat, mustard oil, garlic, onion, black pepper, saffron, clove, cardamom, cinnamon, salt, lemon, curd, peanuts, cream, raisins, and a small amount of cheese (either from cows or buffalo). Haji Nanna Biriyani is a favourite joint as are Hazi Fakhruddin Kachchi, Shalimar Kachchi, Bashmoti Kachchi, Sultan’s Dine, and scores of others.

Unfortunately, a majority of biriyani lovers are not acquainted with the real taste of true-blue biriyani because the fare dished out at most eateries can be best described as “frying pan biriyani”. Here you may find long grain Basmati rice with a hint of saffron, but the traditional cooking process is not followed. Instead, most chefs have developed the fine art of “assembling” the dum ki biriyani. Despite all, Bengal’s love affair with biriyani continues unhindered and grows by the day. mellow biryani. As one of the most popular dishes in Kolkata, it also has a fan following to match.

source: http://www.getbengal.com / Get Bengal / Home> Culture> Food / by Shuvra Dey / November 16th, 2022

This techie has successfully tried his hand on farming

February 4, 2023Agriculture (since June 07th, 2021), Business & Economy, Karnataka (under research project), Science & TechnologyShabbir Jagirdarmpositiveone@gmail.com

Bijapur, KARNATAKA:

Shabbir Jagirdar has been working from home as software engineer, also doing farming

Bijapur :

Strolling in the farm under the scorching heat and watering capsicum and watermelon plantations, Shabbir Jagirdar does not appear like any typical farmer. For the reason; he is a software professional and works for a Pune-based software company.

Yet, this techie has chosen farming as his passion along with his profession while working from home for the company.

Having cultivated capsicum, tomatoes and watermelon, Shabbir, though started farming, as a hobby but now has taken it as passion and involved himself fully.

Shabbir vehemently believes that farming should be done scientifically and professionally to earn profit and to convert the farming into a lucrative business.

“ I strongly believe and want to send the message to people that educated people can do farming in a far better manner than uneducated or people with limited educational qualifications. The educated people can do farming using skilled methods unlike traditional farmers”, he said.

With the clear objective of dispelling the notion that educated people are not fit for farming, he said that while traditional farmers, despite spending entire days at the farm, and still do not earn enough profit, the educated people can spend only a few hours in the farm and still can earn more profit.

“ Since I am working from home, I carry my laptop to the farm here. I spend around 3-4 hours at the farm, later I do my software job”, Shabbir said.

Admitting that the farming is not easier said than done, he however asserts that with a strong commitment and zeal, it is surely possible to earn in the farming.

“ In the beginning I did face some hurdles on cultivation, watering, controlling pests etc. but as I started getting more involved into it, I began learning from the mistakes”, he said.

Having cultivated watermelon and capsicum which is expected to give higher returns, he however experienced some loss in tomatoes after market crashing.

“ I would have earned profit even if I had sold tomatoes for Rs. 4/kg, but since the market has crashed, I have experienced loss”, he said.

Since he has adopted a multi-cropping system which he advises other farmers also, he said that if one crop causes loss, another crop helps in recovering the loss.

He is intensely hoping to recover the loss in watermelon as the demand will increase in the summers and from the capsicum which will come for harvesting in a few days.

For details, he can be contacted on 8956686124

source: http://www.thehindustangazette.com / The Hindustan Gazette / Home> News> Business / by The Hindustan Gazette / March 30th, 2021

JMI Dr Ibadur Rahman’s invention ‘environment-friendly cement’ secured Australian Patent

January 31, 2023Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Education, Inventions, Innovations (wef. Nov 30th, 2021), Science & Technology, World OpinionDr Ibadur Rahman, Dr Ibadur Rahman - Asst Professor - Dept of Civil Engineering - JMI, Environment Friendly Cement, Ibadur Rahmanmpositiveone@gmail.com

INDIA:

Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) faculty have invented an environment-friendly cement. The cement was invented by Dr Ibadur Rahman, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Jamia Milia Islami, including other researchers from AMU. The Patent Office, Government of Australia has granted a patent to this cement as an intellectual property.

The invention is entitled ‘A Method for Preparing Modified Cement and Evaluating Mechanical and Chemical Properties,’ it’s main objective is to reduce carbon emissions.

Professor Mohammad Arif, Professor Abdul Baqi, Er Mohammad Gamal Al-Hagri, Er Amer Saleh Ali Hasan and Dr M Shariq are the co-inventors from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).

Dr. Rahman said “There is a pressing need for the construction and other industries to go through green revolution-in other words, industries need to adopt and introduce environment-friendly materials.”

An official statement said this invention emphasis on the cement replacement effects with micro-silica fume, nano-silica fume and fly ash in a combination of two supplements on the mechanical properties of the concrete mixes.

The inventors said that the mixture of micro and nano-silica fumes, improves the mechanical properties of concrete and ultimately the microstructure and chemical analysis of the modified concrete show amplification in the morphological properties of concrete yielding to pore filling with further dense and compact formation.

Dr. Rahman has been working for the last eight years in the field of nano-based modified cement and concrete composite during his PhD research. A JMI statement said Dr. Rahman now has two patents to his merit.

Last year September, the intellectual property at the Patent Office, Government of India bestowed Dr. Rahman, the patent titled “High Strength Cementitious Nanocomposite Compositions and the methods of making the same.”

source: http://www.thehindustangazette.com / The Hindustan Gazette / Home> News> Lifestyle / by Rabia Shireen / June 11th, 2021

Kerala: 17-year-old boy builds a robot for his mother to help with household chores

January 31, 2023Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Education, Inventions, Innovations (wef. Nov 30th, 2021), Science & Technology, UncategorizedAndroid Kunjappa, Android Pathooty, Chathoth, Muhammed Shiyad Chathoth, Shiyadmpositiveone@gmail.com

KERALA:

Muhammed Shiyad Chathoth, a 17-year-old Kerala resident studying computer science in class 12, has created a functional robot to assist his struggling mother with some household chores.

When Chathoth and his family were being served by a simple humanoid robot in a Kannur eatery, that is when Chathoth first thought of the concept, when he overheard his mother saying, If only she had a robot that could assist her with chores around the house.

Chathoth enquired about the robot at the same restaurant and was told that it cost Rs 3-4 lakh, and they did not have any technical details about the robot system.

Buying the expensive robot was out of the question he researched and came up with cost-effective ways to build such a system.

He said, “There is no direct information available on the Internet about putting together a robot. But I noticed that the machine in the restaurant was following a fixed path. My research led me to find many videos that explained this tech.”

He build it in about 10,000 rupees and named his robot named Android Pathooty, after a Malayalam film named Android Kunjappan.

Within a year, Shiyad created a simple design by mounting a plastic stool on top of an aluminium base supported by four tyres. A female mannequin that can turn 180 degrees makes up the robot’s top half. But the system is entirely automated.

All that is required is to put a tray of food onto Android Pathooty, and it will proceed to the table along a predetermined course that has been indicated with black tape. The movement is powered by a gear and motor that ran on 12 volts and is controlled by an ultrasonic sensor. The distance between the kitchen and dining area is long, now Pathooty carries the food from the kitchen to the table.

Additionally, a mobile application has been developed through the MIT app and Admega MicroController. It can work both manually and automatically as well as carry a load of up to 6 kg.

Chathoth has big dreams, as he hopes to launch a robot startup in the future.

Source: First Post

source: http://www.thehindustangazette.com / The Hindustan Gazette / Home> National> Kerala / by The Hindustan Gazette / October 26th, 2022

Chiropractor Dr. Asif Naqvi can treat patients by resetting spines

January 29, 2023Business & Economy, Science & Technology, Useful / HEALTHCAREmpositiveone@gmail.com

NEW DELHI :

Dr.Asif Naqvi, a Delhi based chiropractic

Sitting in his clinic at Defence Colony, Dr. Asif Naqvi reminisces about the year 2012 when he was associated with the then Indian Premier League’s (IPL) Delhi Dare Devils team, and Kevin Peterson was a member of the squad.

Dr.Naqvi told Awaz-the Voice, “Back then Kevin was desperately looking for a chiropractor to adjust his spine and during that time in India nobody had a clue as to what this holistic method of treatment was…”

Frames in Dr.Asif’s clinic where he can be seen with cricketers

Coming from a sports background Dr.Asif says, “I have been rather I am a cricketer and truly speaking sports is my true love, while growing up I witnessed doctors accompanying the sports team and that inspired me to do something in this field…I was never an ace as a sports person thus I became a doctor to stay connected to my roots…”

After 2012, Dr Asif switched to sports medicine. He joined Sweden’s Ackerman College to study Chiropractic and later obtained a certification in Sports Rehabilitation from London Academy’s Sports and Health Sciences.

Today in South Delhi’s Defense Colony, he runs a clinic where patients are treated most holistically. Awaz- the Voice spoke with Dr.Asif about this journey from a sports physiotherapist to a Chiropractor and about this genre of medicinal therapy. Excerpts from the interview:

Normally people are interested in the more well-known genre of medicine, like gynecology, physiotherapy, neurology, or a plain master’s degree in medicine; why you became a chiropractor?

See, chiropractic is something we can do some manual treatment of your spinal joints. There are many problems where one often pops pills but that isn’t a cure, that is the management of an ailment for say a particular period. For example if one has diabetes, taking medicines would keep diabetes in control but would that be a cure? Of course, not. Similarly, posture misalignment is not a disease that can be cured by popping pills, rather it is a disorder that is prominent due to incessant working hours on the system.

Now if the posture is not correct the spine suffers the most as it is the most important thing in the body; all the nerve roots come out from the spine. The spine connects with your muscles, bones, organs, and everything through nerves, now if there is a posture misalignment, your body is not aligning and any nerve pressure means a disturbed supply from nerves to the respective body parts; this leads to the feeling of pain or weakness. Cervical slipped disc, and vertigo is some very common ailments that patients suffer due to posture misalignment.

In modern Allopathy, one would go for painkillers, but again, that further damages the central nervous system, here in chiropractic we re-align the spine and work on healing the posture, de-compressing the nerves, and so on.

Frames in Dr.Asif’s clinic describing neck injuries

How would you describe decompression to a layman?

Decompression means when you have a disc problem – lots of people nowadays have it – because of sitting on the system for long hours say 10-15 hours a day. Such people develop weak spines. Those who are going to the gym or playing sports can also have such problems.

Thus if you are going to the gym and doing the wrong exercise or doing very heavy exercises, you can injure your back and your disc. Also, it can happen if you have put on weight also. So once you put on weight, there’s extra load on your spine, especially your lower back.

Disc injury is very common nowadays but then this is not a disease but a basic structural problem. These days youngsters can be seen struggling with this problem. Above 60, we may say it is due to age but in the age group of 20, 30, 40, and 50 it is more of a misalignment.

Would you say changing lifestyle is one major reason for people to develop weak spines?

Well, yes, we can say that.

So why did you choose Sweden and London to study Chiropractic therapy?

Reason…It is easier in Europe to get admission than in America; also in Europe, there are n-number of short-term courses available for training as a chiropractor.

From a specialist in sports injury to a chiropractor; how would you describe your journey so far?

As far as my journey is concerned I would say, in the medical sciences or medical field, you always learn, you are always eager to learn new things and there’s always new research that comes and you have to update yourself. And that’s why it’s called practice. You always do the practice. You are never an expert. Exactly. So that’s how you know, we have to keep updating our knowledge and skills in all the related fields. Whether you are doing chiropractic or sports engineering medicine, whatever you are doing, you have to do a lot of fellowships, and crash courses to stay updated in this school.

So, that’s why I still do many courses, because when I see something new, I feel I can improve. I guess I am still learning.

What are the key myths around Chiropractic in India; are people scared of this therapy?

Definitely, they are, as you know, chiropractic is something new to Indians and people have only seen the video; though it looks exciting there when they face it they feel scared. We try to convince them but to date, I come across many patients who don’t allow me to do neck alignment, they say, “neck toot toh nahin Jayega, bone Chetak toh nahin Jayeza..(I will break my neck)”. Especially if somebody is a senior citizen, his children are more scared but we are taught to apply different pressure to different age groups, this practice is safe even for kids.

How do you convince them?

Actually, we give them options like physiotherapy and so on. We try to convince them but if they do not agree then we do not force them. We even get our patients to sign the consent form.

Do you feel the millennials are the approach to holistic methods of healing? If yes, then what would your advice be to them to shun medicines or operations?

See chiropractic is something that is very much required, especially in a country like India which has the largest population, with this approach people can be saved from consuming medicines thus saving one’s liver and kidneys. So in the coming days, people will get fully aware of chiropractic and this treatment being solely for the spine or your joints and the shortest solution for any sports injury.

So that’s all in the coming days and the coming age. From what I see I feel chiropractic care is going to pop up in India and everyone is going to be aware of it. As you know, I’m getting patients from all over India. They come here as they can not find a chiropractor in their place. Also, I have treated patients from Nepal, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, and so on…So, they are here because chiropractic cure is somehow not very popular in their countries also.

And when they see the videos online, they understand the therapy. Some people have been suffering for many years, especially from spine-related health issues. And a chronic illness leaves a person paralyzed and dependent upon the family as no hard labour can be expected from him. So, they are looking for a magical treatment.

How affordable is this therapy? I’m sure that many university students who are into sports could need it. How affordable is it for them or say for a middle-class person?

See, right now, obviously, Chiropractic treatment is expensive as there’s no competition. So, the basic thing is that we don’t even have a chiropractic school or college in India. Once we have this infrastructure, once we have a college, and many students are coming out from these then obviously there will be competition and prices will be at par with other therapies. Also, Chiropractic treatment would be more visible, easily available, and cheaper. But right now as it’s a bit expensive I do have students, senior citizens, or economically weaker sections in my consideration and offer them discounts. At times when we feel that some patients are very poor then I have even waived my consultation charges.

Is chiropractor an ancient therapy; like how would you define the root of chiropractic treatment?

Is a part of osteopathy (Bone therapy). You must have heard about the osteopaths and bone setters, in ancient times there weren’t any doctors so these bone setters would use sticks to wrap up the hands or legs. Just like Yoga, this practice is also ancient but today it has caught up the popularity and is spreading more scientifically.

Is there a change in the psyche of patients these days? Do you feel that holistic treatment is catching up with Gen Z?

It is mostly word of the mouth but then so much is available online at times that is a scam too so similarly, we get more and more patients via word of the mouth. I think that in our practice we are getting more patients from the word of mouth. We are treating more patients every day and obviously, people are getting cured and once you get cured, then you obviously refer other patients.

Can you tell me about a patient with chronic illness whom you have treated?

See, there are many. But I will mention about one lady who came from Manipur. She is Sangeeta, she has been advised of surgery. Also at a Delhi hospital, she was treated with injections. She was really in a lot of pain, I have given her 7 or 8 sessions and she is now walking. I will soon upload her interview on my YouTube channel, Dr.Asif Naqvi.

Dr.Asif’s clinic — Frames describing the spine

Do you use social media platforms to promote your therapy?

Yes, we do so. Social media is the medium through which we can spread awareness about this field of medicine. However, that alone is not enough. Only if your work is good, you cannot retain patients. I do not like promoting myself but when I see people suffering I wish to help them. I think social media is a good platform to spread awareness about this field of medicine.

How far have we come from 2012 to the present day in the field of chiropractic treatment?

We still have a long way to go as we have a large population and we need good chiropractors. Unless we have colleges and schools in India it is very difficult. it is not affordable for everyone to go to America or to Europe to get an education we must have the course here.

Why one should go to a chiropractor and not for regular medicine? What would your advice be?

Obviously, I am not saying that people should not go for regular medicinal therapies but chiropractic can solve so many problems without making one swallow medicines. I think people prefer this nowadays. Awareness regarding the same is catching up these days. In the West people prefer naturopathy, massage or any treatment with fewer medicines and I guess here too this trend is now catching up. I believe that in the coming days once the awareness about the side effects of the pills increases more and more people would switch to holistic treatments.

How easy or how tough has it been for you?

Initially, when I opted for sports medicine then too it was a tough time as there wasn’t any awareness about this field of practice. Sports weren’t this popular in India back then. A normal sports injury would be taken to a regular doctor. Sports were played for the sake of playing and not for making careers. But today with the advent of IPL and other leagues parents are pushing their kids into sports and more and more as a professional.

So do you have any sportsperson as your client?

Currently, I don’t but yes I have treated Sachin (Tendulkar), Gautam Gambhir, and others

Dr.Asif’s chamber — Frame describing Chiropractory

Is a doctor for sports an interesting glamorous job?

I love my job as I am a sports person. To date, I go to the gym and play corporate cricket. I am thankful to Almighty for all the opportunities and I feel proud that I have helped many through my practice. Sports is my inspiration.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home / by Shaista Fatima, New Delhi / January 23rd, 2023

Shah Rukh Khan only Indian to feature on British magazine’s list of 50 greatest actors of all time

January 28, 2023Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Leaders, World Opinionmpositiveone@gmail.com

Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA:

Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan (File Photo | PTI)

London :

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has become the only Indian to be named in an international list of 50 greatest actors of all time by a prominent British magazine.

The 57-year-old actor is included in Empire magazine’s list which also recognises Hollywood giants like Denzel Washington, Tom Hanks, Anthony Marlon Brando, Meryl Streep, Jack Nicholson and many others.

In the accompanying short profile, the magazine said Khan has a career that has now spanned four decades of “near unbroken hits, and a fanbase of pretty much billions”.

“You don’t do that without outrageous amounts of charisma and absolute mastery of your craft. Comfortable in almost every genre going, there’s pretty much nothing he can’t do,” it added.

From his extensive filmography, the publication highlighted Khan’s notable characters from four movies — Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed “Devdas”, Karan Johar’s “My Name Is Khan” and “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai”, and “Swades”, directed by Ashutosh Gowarikar.

His dialogue from the 2012 movie “Jab Tak Hai Jaan” — “Zindagi toh har roz jaan leti hai… Bomb toh sirf ek baar lega” (Every day life kills us a little. A bomb will kill you only once) — has been recognised as the “iconic line” of his career.

“Jab Tak Hai Jaan” was filmmaker Yash Chopra’s swansong and featured Khan as an Indian Army Major named Samar Anand. The film also starred Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma.

The actor will be next seen in the actioner “Pathaan”, set to be released worldwide on January 25, 2023. Directed by Siddharth Anand, the movie also stars John Abraham and Deepika Padukone.

Khan will also star in two more movies — action-entertainer “Jawan” with filmmaker Atlee and the Rajkumar Hirani-directed “Dunki”.

“Jawan”, a pan-India project, is set to come out on June 2, 2023, while “Dunki”, also starring Taapsee Pannu, will release in December 2023.

source: http://www.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home /December 20th, 2022

Mangaluru: Challenging procedure performed successfully at Indiana Hospital & Heart Institute

January 28, 2023Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Karnataka (under research project), Science & Technologympositiveone@gmail.com

Mangaluru, KARNATAKA:

Indiana Hospital & Heart Institute, in yet another milestone, performed a minimally invasive procedure using a transcatheter technique on a Kenyan patient who was advised redo bypass surgery where she was first treated.

A 65-year-old lady from Kenya who had mitral valve disease had undergone bypass surgery and the valve was replaced in 2014 at a hospital in Ahmedabad. After a gap of 8 years, she had degeneration of the valve; in other words, the artificial valve started malfunctioning which resulted in heart failure. This condition was further worsened with respiratory issues and pulmonary hyper-tensions. When she came back to the same hospital in Ahmedabad, they advised to change the valve again, meaning repeating the surgery which was a risky affair.

The patient party came to know of Indiana Hospital and consulted Dr Yusuf Kumble who advised an alternative option of not undergoing any bypass surgery. He suggested that the valve can be changed without removing the old valve through an interventional technique and was very challenging. The entire procedure was completed within one hour successfully. “Valve in valve technique is one of the rare situations where the mitral valve is replaced without opening the heart. It is called trans catheter mitral valve replacement,” said Dr Yusuf Kumble cardiologist and managing director, Indiana Hospital.

Dr Yusuf Kumble and his doctors in Indiana Hospital did a fantastic job in one hour time. The patient was mobilized within 8 hours and was able to move out of ICU in 24 hours. The patient is ready for discharge after 5 days of hospitalisation.

It may be recalled that for the first time, TMVR was done in 2019 in Karnataka at Indiana Hospital, Karnataka. TMVR, also known as transcatheter mitral valve replacement, is a relatively recent technique of replacing the mitral valve in the heart without the need for conventional open-heart surgery.

Dr Apoorva S, medical director, Dr Ali Kumble, chairman, Indiana Hospital, and Dr Sandhya Rani was also present.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Daijiworld.com / Home> Top Stories / by Media Release / January 10th, 2023

Padmashri Award for Bidri craftsperson

January 27, 2023Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Inventions, Innovations (wef. Nov 30th, 2021), Karnataka (under research project)mpositiveone@gmail.com

Bidar, KARNATAKA:

Shah Rashid Ahmed Khadri, a 67-year-old Bidri craftsperson from Bidar, is among the Padmashri Award winners this year.

He gained instant popularity when he sat working with his tools on the Karnataka Tableau at the Republic Day parade in 2011.

He has spent nearly five decades in the art that he learnt from his father Shah Mustafa Khadri, a master craftsman who was honoured by the Nizam of Hyderabad.

The Khadris were a family of limited means and Rashid could study only up to PU. His father, however, did not want him to be a Bidri craftsman as he felt they did not earn enough. He enrolled Rashid into English typewriting course. However, he began assisting his father who began losing eyesight due to old age.

He is a winner of Shilpa Guru Award, Rajyotsava Award and national award for handicrafts. He is a regular invitee to the Suraj Kund Mela, Dilli Haat and other exhibitions in India.

He has also served as a procurer for the Cauvery handicrafts museum in Bengaluru and a master trainee for various various craftsman training programmes of the Central and State governments.

His creations have been exhibited in the U.S., Europe, West Asia and Singapore.

He said that he had never expected this honour. “I miss my father today. I am sure he would have been happier than I am,” he said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / January 25th, 2023