For 90 years, one optical store in our city has been framing and giving correct sight to Mysureans.
Ismail Optical and Co. on Sayyaji Rao Road, founded by Abubakar Ismail Sait and registered as A. Ismail & Bros on Feb. 16, 1932, was the first store selling optical devices, particularly spectacles with corrective lenses in city.
Speaking about how Ismail Optical Co. came into existence, Sadiq Sait, the present Proprietor and grandson of Abubakar, said that in the 18th century, a group of young entrepreneurs from Gujarat migrated to different parts of the country to try various business ventures and in South India they explored cities like Kochi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Ooty and Madikeri, etc.
When the erstwhile Maharaja of Mysore learnt about these entrepreneurs who were in Kodagu, he invited them to start their business in Mysore. One of these entrepreneurs, was Sadiq’s great grandfather Ismail Sait, who started a supermarket called ‘Ismail Stores’ in 1878 in Mysore.
The Maharaja had gifted Ismail Sait a building to set up his supermarket. In fact it was so large that the building had 11 doors! Even to this day, one can see a painting depicting Jumboo Savari procession with old Ismail Stores in the background displayed at Mysore Palace, says Sadiq.
Ismail Stores was located near Olympia Talkies, which was earlier known as Shivarampet. The supermarket sold a variety of items including spectacles which was one of its kind in those days. When K.R. Circle was being constructed, the supermarket was demolished and the Maharaja then provided another store nearby.
Ismail Sait’s son Abubakar Ismail Sait took over the supermarket business and then added a new exclusive optical store and registered it as A. Ismail & Bros in 1932. A receipt for goggles sold for Rs. 3 and 8 annas in 1934 is still preserved at the present store.
While the supermarket closed down, the optical store thrived. In 1971, the optical store was shifted to the present Devaraja Market building and this store was run by Sadiq’s father Gul Mohammed Sait, son of late Abubakar Ismail Sait. The store had already become famous by then for not only selling corrective lenses and frames but also for selling sunglasses to actors and film crew during film shootings.
Sadiq recalls his father selling sunglasses to actors Dr. Rajkumar, Dwarakish, Srinath, Amrish Puri, Jitendra, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff and Prem Chopra. The store had also supplied spectacles to the members of the Mysore royal family during the regime of Krishnaraja Wadiyar and Chamaraja Wadiyar, he added.
Sadiq says, in the early days of the business, glasses and lenses were manufactured in their factory which was discontinued after 2005 as plastic lenses came to the market and the demand for glass lenses came down.
“Earlier there were no eye hospitals and only Ismail Optical was testing eyes. Employees of the Railway Department were being sent to the stores for eye testing. All was well untill the building caught fire in 1977 and the store was gutted. It was later renovated and by that time, many eye testing centres had come up,” Sadiq revealed.
Now, Ismail Optical & Co. has 12 branches across Mysuru City which are managed by Sadiq and his brothers. They have also expanded to Kodagu and have a branch at Gonikoppal.
Over the years, Sadiq says they have managed to constantly increase the choices for their customers. “Carl Zeiss glasses from Germany, Altan frames and Crooks lenses from England are imported. We deal with a variety of frames and lenses from across the globe so our customers have choices. We also have qualified and trained staff to repair these frames,” Sadiq said.
When asked about the common complaint about buying sunglasses — fakes, Sadiq says it is very difficult for a common man to differentiate and hence it is best to purchase such sunglasses from an authorised store or dealer and added with a smile, “may be like you get a second opinion from a doctor for health, you may need to get a second opinion about the authenticity of your glasses from an authorised dealer like us,” he said.
Ismail Optical still has eye testing and an in-house eye testing clinic. “Our mission is to provide quality vision to Mysureans and we hope to set up an eye hospital soon to help achieve a cataract-free Mysuru,” says Sadiq.
Innovative – ‘Dial a Spex’
Ismail Optical has also been innovative in their service. In 2016, a unique service called ‘Dial a Spex’ was introduced where a customer could dial for an appointment with an eye specialist and a mobile van, with eye testing equipment and a doctor, would then reach the customer’s doorstep. Once the spectacle is ready, it would be delivered to the patient. This service turned out to be useful during the pandemic.
Awards
The Optical store has won many awards for being the best opticals in Mysuru. In 1996, it won an award for being the Best Optical Store in South India; Best Optical Store in Karnataka Award in 2003 and it bagged the Mysore Excellence Award — Excellent Opticians in Mysore in 2018.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / by S Kenneth Shishir / March 18th, 2022
When bullock carts were the prime mode of transport, an Arab businessman was pained to see the beasts carry loads up the steep, rough climb.
In the 1930s, when bullock carts were the prime mode of transport, an Arab businessman was pained to see the beasts carry loads up the steep, rough climb from Hebbal Tank. Their hoofs wore thin very soon. So, he levelled the path, spending Rs 10,000 out of his pocket. When this came to the notice of Sir Mirza Ismail, the then diwan of Mysore, he promptly informed Krishnaraja Wadiyar. A private citizen spending for public good, the king thought, reflected badly on his administration. He made good the businessman’s expenses and named the area at the junction of Bellary Road, Jayamahal Road and CV Raman Avenue in his honour. Today , we call it Mekhri Circle.
The selfless businessman was M Enayathulla Mehkri (not ‘Mekhri’ as it is spelt today). The Enayathulla Mehkri Square was inaugurated by Sir John Hope, governor of the Madras Presidency , in April 1935.The space had a lamp post with five lights. A garden around it was maintained by ward officers. Later, in 1965, RM Patil, minister of home and municipal administration, notified it as Enayathulla Mekhri Circle through a notification in the state gazette.
Mehkri’s story , however, goes beyond the one philanthropic initiative he is most known by.
Mehkris were originally based near Medina in Arabia and migrated to India after the Turkish invasion. The family’s legacy dates back to more than 600 years. “While people believe that our name is derived from a place called ‘Mehkr’ in Syria, documents suggest that we were named after Mekhar in Maharashtra,” said Fazal Mehkri, nephew of Enayathulla Mehkri.
In India, the family held key posts under the Mughals and the Mysore maharajas.
Enayathulla Mehkri, born in 1898, went on to become a freedom fighter. At 17, he joined the Indian National Congress.
A contractor by profession, he participated in the freedom struggle, and was jailed for six months at Madras Central Jail along with C Rajagopalachari and EV Ramaswamy Naicker.
Mehkri was the municipal commissioner (between 1947 and 1948) and a councilor of the City Corporation for 16 years before that. He was not only the only member from Karnataka to be on the Advisory Council of the Freedom Fighters Cell of the AICC, he also headed the Karnataka Freedom Fighters’ Association till his death on November 28, 1990.
source: http://www.economictimes.indiatimes.com / The Economic Times / Home> Panache> ET Magazine> Travel> Business News> Magazine / by Divya Shekhar, ET Bureau / April 28th, 2016
Mahbubul Hoque, Chancellor of USTM receiving Maeeshat Edu Doctor Award-2022 from the hands of P. A. Inamdar, Founder President, Azam Campus, Pune (centre) at Golmez Edupreneur Conference held at USTM on March 10, 2022
9th Mile, Khanapara, Ri Bhoi :
Maeeshat Media Pvt. Ltd, India’s first media outlet dedicated to covering economic activities of minority communities, has given away its 11th edition of business awards at the Golmez Edupreneur Conference held in association with the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) here today. Mahbubul Hoque, Chancellor of USTM and P. A. Inamdar, Founder President, Azam Campus, Pune was conferred with Edu Doctor Award-2022 while Dr Abdul Qadeer, Founder Chairman, Shaheen Group, Karnataka was conferred with the Edupreneur of the Year Award.
The keynote address of the conference was delivered by Dr Frank F Islam, Chairman and CEO of FI investment group, USA. The conference has been attended by economic experts, business leaders, entrepreneurs, social workers, and professionals from across India.
Addressing the gathering of entrepreneurs, P. A. Inamdar urged, “Let us not talk about anything negative. We have to talk how much we have achieved and how far we have to achieve for development.” Emphasizing on imparting spoken English in all vernacular medium schools, he said that technology can create a much better environment and contribute to educational progress. He suggested all to think about how to empower neighbourhood small institutions.
(From left) Prof. G. D. Sharma, VC, USTM, Waqar Naqvi, Managing Partner, RDVLLP Mumbai; Danish Reyaz, Managing Editor, Maeeshat Media; M. Nurul Islam, Founder General Secretary, Al Ameen Mission, Kolkata; P. A. Inamdar, Founder President, Azam Campus, Pune; Dr Abdul Qadeer, Founder Chairman, Shaheen Group, Karnataka and Mahbubul Hoque,
Delivering the keynote address in the inaugural session, Dr Frank F Islam emphasized on the need for edupreneurship in India. “Much has been done for the development of education among the minorities in India, and unfortunately much remains to be done”, he said.
Welcoming the guests, Mahbubul Hoque said that through institution building one can change the environment of a particular place and bring progress to the people of the area. He thanked all the participants for coming over to the North East and for their desire to contribute for the development of the people through promotion of education. “We as Indians have to think for development of every citizen, not simply of the minorities”, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof G. D. Sharma, VC, USTM mentioned about National Education Policy-2020 and said that USTM is preparing 82 teachers for technology oriented courses so that the university becomes a global university through technology. “We have to establish peace in the North East region though the means of education”, he added.
A magazine of Maeeshat Media was released on the occasion by M. Nurul Islam, Founder General Secretary, Al Ameen Mission, Kolkata and other dignitaries.
Some of the distinguished participants in the conference include: Waqar Naqvi, Former CEO, Taurus Asset Management Company, Mumbai; Danish Reyaz, Managing Editor, Maeeshat Media; Munir uz Zaman Deshmukh, Pearls Academy, Aurangabad; Rashid Nayyar; M Mohammed Tahir Madani, M Burhanuddin Qasmi, Director, MMERC, Mumbai; Moulana Mohammad Ilyas Nadvi, GS, AHAN Islamic Academy; Moulana Mutiur Rahman Madni, Founder, Imam Bukhari University, Kishanganj; M Azizurrahman, Founder, TCIS, Malda, Dr Nazibur Rahman, Principal, Kaliachak College, Malda; M Wajihuddin, Assistant Editor, Times of India, Mumbai; Zaya Ahmed from Delhi; Izhar Khan and Affan Ahmed Kamil from Mumbai.
source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Indian Muslim> Positive Story / by Muslim Media Networks / March 10th, 2022
The Frank and Debbie Islam Incubation Center at AMU mentors the women in their craft, upgrading their skill base and providing them design and marketing support.
Aligarh:
The Frank and Debbie Islam Incubation Center of the Department of Business Administration at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) is crafting the future of Muslim Women Entrepreneurs in Uttar Pradesh and elsewhere, and definitely the bells should toll for it on the Women’s Day that falls on March 8.
The Frank and Debbie Islam Incubation Center at AMU mentors the women in their craft, upgrading their skill base and providing them design and marketing support. This enables the incubation center to bring applique craftswomen to get trained in entrepreneurial skills to help start their small businesses.
This project was conceived during the world Alumni summit of 2008 when Mr. Ameer Ahmad (MBA1978) and Mr. A.G. Danish (MBA1988) committed Rs. 1 crore and Rs. 10 Lakh respectively for the building project.
The project got a major fillip when Dr. Frank Islam, a Washington-based AMU alumnus originally from Azamgarh and his wife Debbie Driesman, through their Frank Islam and Debbie Driesman, pledged USD 2 million for this project.
In addition to the contribution of Dr. Frank Islam, the project received contributions from other alumni, well-wishers, students, faculty members, and others from India and all over the world.
This building of this innovative project is constructed on a 3-acre plot in the Sir Syed House Complex. The Complex is the new home of the Department of Business Administration and Faculty of Management Studies and Research. The building is a state-of-the-art facility but maintains the architectural legacy of AMU.
The construction began in May 2015 and the foundation stone was laid on 15th February 2016. The Project was completed in a record time of two years, creating a facility of 50000 sq feet, containing an academic block, a faculty-cum-administrative block, a facility block comprising library & IT facilities, and open areas. Phase 1 of this Building was inaugurated on 12 Feb 2017 and it was occupied in June 2017.
Phase 2 of the project is being built with the help of Dr. Nadeem Tarin, another distinguished and committed alumnus of AMU. This phase shall house a seminar hall, an incubation center, additional classrooms, including facilities for executive training.
The additional facilities will broaden the scope of the MBA Department’s offering that has already started two additional Master’s programmes, namely MBA (Islamic Banking and Finance) and MBA (Hospital Management). Another MBA for working executive is due to be started soon. In addition, phase 2 shall provide additional space for other incubating start-ups.
source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home> Business & Economy / by Syed Ali Mujtaba / March 08th, 2022
Badsha’s ‘Tehey’ is a one-stop shop for a new bridal experience in city.
‘Tehey’ means layers in Sanskrit and there are layers of ceremonial wear — from exquisite bridal lehengas for the foremost bride to classy ethnic wear for the guests.
‘Tehey’ traces its roots to the early 1900s when a successful silk and cotton textile business was established by their ancestor Abdul Rehman Badsha and his four sons in Virajpet, Kodagu. The first formal retail outlet was opened in Mercara in 1922.
Now with the launch of ‘Tehey’ people can choose from a range of exclusively designed Indian ethnic occasion wear sarees, lehengas and salwars.
‘Tehey’ also offers Kodava attires for men and women, including the Kupya-Chele & Mande Tuni for men; Bottu Podiya, Kambi Podiya, Muskoli and Checked Vastra for women.
To enjoy the shopping experience, visit ‘Tehey’ which was inaugurated on D. Devaraj Urs Road in city on Feb. 26.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / March 03rd, 2022
Passionate for journalism, Najir couldn’t pursue a degree in it due to financial constraints. | Photo by arrangement
Najir Hussain wanted to be a journalist ever since he distributed newspapers for work but couldn’t pursue his dream due to financial constraints. His dream came true when Bahujan news outlet The Mooknayak began publishing his stories.
New Delhi :
40-year-old Najir Hussain wakes up early in the morning and sends his three daughters to school, says bye to his wife, and sets up his vegetable shop in the Bichhor, Chittorgarh city in Rajasthan. Najir is a vegetable seller and a journalist.
While selling vegetables, he picks up his cellphone and scrolls through messages from his editor Meena Kotwal assigning him a new story. He credits Kotwal for his position as a journalist today. “Without Meena and a Bahujan space like The Mooknayak, who would have given space to my words?” Najir told TwoCircles.net.
Najir has done all of 20 reports for The Mooknayak in the last six months. The journey of becoming a journalist was not easy. “I used to distribute newspapers in my village. Un surkhiyon ke beech kabhi mera bhi naam hoga, maine sapne dekhta tha. (I used to dream of having my bylines in those newspapers),” Najir said.
Najir could not pursue a journalism course, or for that matter any course, due to financial and social constraints. Najir is from aPasmanda Muslim community. He was married shortly after finishing school and has ever since been a breadwinner for his family. “I used to be very smart in school and secured 1st division in my 12th standard examinations,” he said.
Ever since leaving school, Najir has been engaged in many casual odd jobs— motor mechanic, a newspaper distributor and now a vegetable seller. His life changed when with the access to social media, and his passion for journalism got rekindled.
“I started using social media around two years ago and saw so many vocal Muslims, Dalits, Bahujans and Adivasis. It greatly inspired me and made me think of the days when I thought I could become a journalist. I started reaching out to editors of progressive newsrooms,” Najir said.
Najir said nobody responded to him, considering he did not have a degree and had no prior experience in the field. However, in September 2021, Meena Kotwal, the founder of The Mooknayak, wrote back to him asking him to send some reports.
Najir Hussain from Chittorgarh, Rajasthan sells vegetables and is a journalist. | Photo by arrangement
Talking to TwoCircles.net, Kotwal said that Najir is passionate about journalism.
“You won’t believe me, but the truth is that big privileged journalists have failed in front of Najir’s passion. He ran the shop all day long and started reporting many unreported or new incidents of atrocities from Rajasthan. This is what I have intended to do with The Mooknayak, and I am happy that someone as passionate as Najir helps me to pass the mic,” Kotwal said.
Najir would make many mistakes when he started and would get help from Meena. “She is such a patient editor,” he said.
“Other contributors in The Mooknayak would help me out and although I got scolded sometimes, I am glad I learnt so much,” he said.
Najir used to be scared of the police before becoming a journalist. His socio-marginalised identity as a Pasmanda Muslim affected how he felt around police personnel. Reading news about police brutality made this even more pressing. Being a journalist now has helped him become more confident.
A Twitter threadposted by Meena Kotwal about Najir’s story became viral.
Najir’s eldest daughter is in 9th grade and uses Instagram on her mother’s phone. One day, as she scrolled through her feed, she was excited to find her father’s photo in one of her friend’s posts.
Everyone in the village calls him “Mooknayak vala Najir”.
“It makes me feel proud to be addressed like this. My family is supportive and appreciative of my work. My heart swells with pride every time my 13-year-old daughter calls me ‘Mooknayak vale papa.’ It is all because of Meena didi, and Bahujan newsrooms like this,” he said. excitedly.
Suchitra is an independent journalist working on social justice, focusing primarily on gender justice. She tweets at @Suchitrawrites
source: http://www.twocircles.net / TwoCircles.net / Home> Lead story / by Suchitra, TwoCircles.net / February 09th, 2022
All lathe machine operators, constantly worried about the fly out accidents during the machining operation can now rest easier as Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) Associate Professor from the University Polytechnic; Mr Shamshad Ali has invented an ‘Automatic Carriage Stopper’ which will reduce the chances of accidents.
The invention has been patented recently by the Patent Office, Government of India.
“The carriage stopper can be installed as a utility tool clamped on the lathe machine bed with a station ratchet system. It will be used as a multi stage stopper mechanism for turning application”, said Mr Shamshad.
He pointed out that the purpose of the invention is to reduce the likelihood of accidents, improve productivity, reduce product cost, lessen the rejection rate during manufacturing process and decrease the mental and physical fatigues of the operator.
Explaining how the invention will work, Mr Shamshad said: “The ‘Automatic Carriage Stopper’ will open the split nut in conventional lathe machines automatically to disengage the power source from the carriage, resulting in the carriage stop at desired position”.
“Similarly carriage movement through the feed rod will also be stopped automatically by using the ‘Automatic Carriage Stopper’. This auto carriage stopper can be used for any conventional lathe machine without any change in its design and it is easy to manufacture, maintain and operate at a low cost”, he added.
Mr Shamshad has invented the auto carriage stopper with his students, Suhail Ahmad.
source: http://www.amu.ac.in / Aligarh Muslim University / Home> Public Relations Office / February 08th, 2022
Prof. (Dr.) M. Afshar Alam, Vice Chancellor presents a bouquet to Hammad Ahmed Chancellor of Jamia Hamdard.
New Delhi:
Hammad Ahmed, Co-Chairman, Hamdard National Foundation (India), President, Hamdard National Foundation (India) – HECA, and Chief Mutawalli (Trustee) of Hamdard Laboratories India (Foods), has been appointed as Chancellor of Jamia Hamdard (Deemed to be University).
In the Vice Chancellor Board Room, Jamia Hamdard, the Chancellor was greeted by Prof. (Dr.) M. Afshar Alam, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Iqbal S. Hasnain, former Pro-Chancellor, and. Syed Saud Akhtar, registrar, in the presence of various Deans of Schools, Dy. Registrar, Chief Proctor, DSW, FSA, Executive Engineer, and other senior officers of Jami
Hammad Ahmed is also a well known philanthropist, man of wisdom and exemplary character. He is one of the founding members of Hamdard National Foundation at its inception in 1964; he brings with him infinite wisdom and experience. Over more than 50 years, he has forged Hamdard National Foundation into one of India’s most prominent and respected charitable organizations. Hammad Ahmed’s quiet modesty hides the magnitude of his achievements in introducing new initiatives for contributions to society, and his relentless commitment to the charitable cause has improved the lives of countless people.
Late Janab Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the founder of Hamdard National Foundation and Jamia Hamdard, instilled in him a lovely and motivating personality. Hammad Ahmed’s gentle modesty belies the immensity of his contributions to society through the introduction of new initiatives, and his unwavering commitment to the charity cause has benefited the lives of countless people.
He has been involved in Jamia Hamdard before its recognition as Deemed University status in 1989. Over the years, he has served in the Executive Council, Finance Committee and various other advisory bodies of the University and has championed the growth of Jamia Hamdard through sustained personal attention and interest.
Since joining Hamdard Laboratories India as its Sales and Marketing Head in 1973, he has overseen a meteoric rise in business and the Hamdard name, in the process establishing himself as one of India’s prominent business leaders.
Educated in Sherwood College, Nainital, and then in Cornwall, UK and New York, USA for further studies, Hammad Ahmed has inculcated a strong sense of discipline in his life and work, and the results are self-evident.
source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Indian Muslim / by Special Correspondent / January 26th, 2022
