Dr. Kaup Mohamed, Dean and Managing Director of London American City College, UAE, and Vice-Chancellor of London American University College, Zambia, participated as a guest speaker at the MENA chapter of Evolve by Meritto.
Dr. Kaup took part in a panel discussion on “Recruiting the Next Generation of Students in the Middle East,” where he shared insights on strategies, trends in education, and approaches to admissions and marketing.
The event brought together educators and professionals from the education sector to discuss developments and challenges in the field. London American City College expressed appreciation for Dr. Kaup’s contribution to the discussion.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Gulf / by Vartha Bharati / November 28th, 2024
Amidst these chants, almost at 1 AM today, the Ameer-e-Jamaat and Patron of SIO Syed Sadatullah Husaini announced that the National President of Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) for the upcoming term 2025-26 would be Abdul Hafeez.
The announcement was made during the ongoing two-day All India ZAC (Zonal Advisory Council) Meet of the organisation held in Udupi, Karnataka on Friday and Saturday.
Many people were overjoyed, while one person burst into tears. That person was none other than the newly elected National President, Abdul Hafeez himself.
For the past 42 years, the Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) has been preparing students and youth to reconstruct society according to divine guidance. To ensure focused work in a specific direction, it is essential for any organisation to have a president.
This is why whenever the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ sent a group of people on a journey, he would appoint one among them as their leader (responsible person).
According to the constitution of the Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO), it is essential for organisational office-bearers to possess the following qualities:
They should be a member of the organisation but must not aspire for any position.
They should excel in terms of religious knowledge, piety, understanding of matters, wisdom, sound judgment, adherence to the constitution, steadfastness and dedication in the path of Allah, and organisational abilities, making them overall the most suitable candidate within their electoral or appointed circle.
The SIO elections take place without any exit polls or opinion polls, and here, it is the winner who feels the greatest burden. In this system, it is not the opponents who cry, but the one who wins.
Abdul Hafeez has been engaged with SIO since his school days and was awarded with the Membership of SIO in 2012. Previously served as Regional president, City president of SIO Hyderabad, National Secretary of SIO of India, State President of SIO Telangana, and now Abdul Hafeez is newly elected President, SIO of India for the term 2025-26.
Abdul Hafeez is basically from Adilabad, later shifted to Hyderabad for education. He is a mechanical engineer by profession, graduated M.E. from Osmania University, and M.A. in Sociology from Nizam College.
May Allah give him more steadfastness, knowledge, wisdom, courage and patience to lead the students community of the beloved nation.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Focus> Report / Radiance News Bureau / November 30th, 2024
The Shaheen Group of Institutions is set to host a groundbreaking international conference on November 30 and December 1, 2024, in Bidar, Karnataka.
Touted as India’s first event of its kind, the conference aims to spotlight the contributions of Indian Muslims in critical sectors such as education, politics, media, economics, IT, social services, and madrassa education, envisioning their role in shaping a developed India by 2047, the centenary of the nation’s independence.
The conference will serve as a platform for thought leaders, intellectuals, and influencers from India and abroad to network and exchange ideas. Attendees will deliberate on the community’s potential to drive transformative change in various fields, aligning with India’s vision for growth and development.
This pioneering event highlights the Shaheen Group’s commitment to fostering dialogue and collaboration within the Indian Muslim community to contribute effectively to the nation’s progress.
source: http://www.thehindustangazette.com / The Hindustan Gazette / Home> News> Education / by Shifa (image source: shaheengroup.org) / November 27th, 2024
New battle-lines are being drawn in Parliament, and out of it, with waqf and its management at the centre of a major political slugfest.
New battle-lines are being drawn in Parliament, and out of it, with waqf and its management at the centre of a major political slugfest.
At this juncture, it is appropriate to recall the achievements of Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the founder of Jamia Hamdard, whose birth centenary was celebrated in December 2008, and the waqf he founded ~ the Hamdard (Waqf) Laboratories ~ is well into its ninth decade. Speaking during Hakeem saheb’s centenary celebrations at Jamia Hamdard, then Vice-President of India Hamid Ansari observed, “in our recent history Hakeem Abdul Hameed is probably the first, and the most successful, to resurrect the waqf concept in innovative ways so that a modern company was registered as a wakf institution whose income was to be used for public good in the areas of education, medical relief and the advancement of knowledge.
It was an important signal in the immediate aftermath of the painful Partition of India to thread together the religious element with socio-economic progress and alleviation of poverty.” The Vice-President added, “Since the 1930s and 1940s, over 25 educational research institutions were established, culminating in the Jamia Hamdard. The range is astounding ~ ranging from primary education to post-doctoral research, from Unani Medicine to Information Technology, from Islamic Studies to Business Management. Besides the university, the colleges and hospitals established for service to society, there are a set of institutions that bear testimony to his scholarly interests.
I refer to the Institute of History of Medicine, the Institute of Islamic Studies, the Ghalib Academy and the Institute of Federal Studies. Each of these has rendered significant service to scholarship.” Undoubtedly the list of achievements is long but as Hamid Ansari commented, “these achievements hold a mirror to the potential of what public-minded personalities can achieve through the institution of waqf for the socio-economic, educational and cultural betterment of the community. Future generations would behold Jamia Hamdard and Talimabad and wonder at the capacity, vision and dedication of an individual.” Truly so, for in ‘100 Great Muslim Leaders of the 20th century’, a publication of the New Delhi based Institute of Objective Studies (IOS), Dr Mohd Manzoor Alam provided a larger global context to understanding the achievements of Hakeem Abdul Hameed as an outstanding educationist and social reformer, along with his equally illustrious younger brother Hakeem Mohammad Said.
“In the face of formidable challenges which marked the lives of a selected 100 great Muslim men and women of the 20th century,” wrote Dr Alam in the preface, “their lives, struggles and contributions reflect the response of Muslims to the multiple challenges over the century…the ‘100 Great’ belonged to five continents and they came from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds, they were inspired by the eternal values and principles of Islam and the precepts of their illustrious forebears in the annals of Islamic history.” Through the tumultuous decades of the 20th century, Dr Alam observed that the ‘100 great Muslim leaders’ were unwavering in their “faith in the Holy Quran describing Muslims as ‘good people’, whose mission on earth is to help others live a meaningful life.
Even in the darkest hour the world of Islam was not plaued by a dearth of men and women who had the stature, mettle and competence to rise to the occasion. The two revered Hakim brothers ~ Hakeem Abdul Hameed and Hakeem Mohammad Said ~ who revived the Unani or Greco-Arab system of medicine and created two institutions, the Hamdard in India and its twin in Pakistan, are inspiring examples of leadership. They did not really belong to any one place. This is aggravated by Western colonial redrawing of the Muslim world map: Hakeem Abdul Hameed in India and Hakeem Mohammad Said in Pakistan were, in fact, two sides of a single sub-continental picture of Islamic excellence.”
The lifetime achievements of Hakeem Abdul Hameed were myth-busters: it had been an enduring myth of the 20th century that the Muslim world had been in deep slumber, their state of somnolence stretching back to centuries. Said Dr Manzoor Alam, “the 20th century instead turns out to be a period of extraordinary intellectual, moral and social awakening and struggle across the Muslim world with societies from Malaysia to Morocco trying hard to reform, promote and practice Islam as a living reality that could guide them through difficult times.” The Hamdard story began over a century ago when Abdul Hameed’s father, Hakeem Hafiz Abdul Majeed, established the Hamdard Dawakhana in 1906.
The vision was implicit in the name. Hamdard means ‘the sharing of pain’ and willingness to mitigate it was to be the motto of future generations as well. The vision was also to break the exclusivity of medicinal preparation of each Unani Hakim and make it available to the masses through modern laboratories along scientific lines. A traditional system of medicine was thus modernised with a nationalist inspiration and an indigenous base. “For this reason, Hakeem saheb can rightly be called a Mujaddid (or reformer) of Unani medicine,” said Ansari in the centenary speech.
Writing in ‘Muslim Mirror’, Abdul Rashid Agwan detailed the story. After Independence in 1947, Hamdard University or Jamia Hamdard has been the first institution that was established and managed on the basis of waqf income. In 1948, the manufacturing and selling unit of Hamdard Daw – akhana, Hamdard (Waqf) Laboratories, was converted into an endowment. Its deed dated 28 August 1948 provided for “Qaumi Income” (Public income) and “Khandani Income (Family income). However, the concept of family income was abolished by a declaration of the Settler/ Founder-Wakif Mutawalli in 1985, with retrospective effect from 1 January 1973. From the profits of the company, Hamdard Tibbi College was set up in 1963 in Old Delhi which later shifted to its present 90-acre campus in Tughlaqabad. In order to effectively manage and utilize the income accrued from Hamdard Waqf Laboratories for the promotion of its objective, Hamdard National Foundation was created on 12 May 1964 to disburse company profits to promote interests of society.
All profits of the company were obligated to go to the Foundation. Both Hamdard and the Foundation were registered under Section 12A of the Income Tax Act. Coinciding with the establishment of the Hamdard National Foundation in India, Hamdard Waqf Laboratories Pakistan also formed Hamdard Foundation Pakistan the same year. Its founder, Hakeem Muhammad Said, expressed the mission in these words, “Hamdard … has chosen to serve through activities for the promotion of good health and education ~ the twin pillars of progress.” Through the 1950s and 60s, when educational institutions namely, Indian Institutes of Technology, Indian Institutes of Management, AIIMS and Jawaharlal Nehru University ~ were being established with Government resources and with the focus of providing a new nation the benefit of modern science and education, Hakeem Abdul Hameed was single-handedly building schools, colleges and the university under the Jamia Hamdard banner, relying on internal resources of Hamdard Waqf Laboratories, and focused on rejuvenating the millennia-old Greco-Arab medicine which came to be simplistically known as Unani medicine. In this long process of reviving ancient knowledge, Hakeem saheb’s original contribution was the use of modern scientific methods and technology for the standardisation and manufacture of Unani medicine. “Quite early in life, when he was studying medicine at the Tibbia College, he was deeply impressed by the systematic and methodical approach of Hakeem Ajmal Khan towards the classification and standardisation of Unani medicines,” the IOS publication narrated. The Hakeem brothers travelled across Asia and Europe in the 1950s closely observing modern methods and techniques of drug making. They were convinced of the relevance and necessity of using modern technology for medical experimentation and manufacture of Unani medicines. At Hamdard Laboratories, Hamdard University, Hamdard Nursing Home and Majidia Hospital, these modern methods and technology were put into good use, ensuring the regimen of Unani system of medicine could co-exist with modern science and technology.
“This integrated, holistic approach to diagnosis and therapy is one of the most original and outstanding contributions of Hakeem Abdul Hameed,” the IOS publication stated. Eleven books on Unani medicine: Arab medicine and its relevance to modern medicine; Earth, elements and man: Search for a solid foundation of the theory and practice of medicine; and the magnum opus Qarabadin-e-Hamdard or Hamdard Pharmacopoeia are testimony to Hakeem Abdul Hameed’s medical observations, experiences and researches. In the 1980s, he initiated path breaking research on Ibn Sina’s Al-Qanun fit-Tibb or The Canon of Medicine. The 3-volume study was made available in multiple languages, including English.
Several national and global awards were bestowed on Hakeem Abdul Hameed who lived an austere life on campus till the age of 91, with a Gandhian determination to build the new nation through promotion of medicine, modern education and public charity. Like Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Hakeem Ajmal Khan, Hakeem Abdul Hameed remains a towering personality whose contribution to modern education and medicine is second to none. It is in the domain of waqf management that Hakeem saheb gave modern India a new path for sustainable, equitable development.
(The writer is a researcher writer on history and heritage issues and a former deputy curator of Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya)
source: http://www.thestatesman.com / The Statesman / Home> Opinion / by Raju Mansukhani, New Delhi / October 07th, 2024
Thousands Attend Last Rites in Karnah; Ministers Sakeena Itoo, Javed Ahmad Dar, CUK, and KU Mourn Demise; Institutions Across J&K Express Grief
Thousands Attend Last Rites in Karnah; Ministers Sakeena Itoo, Javed Ahmad Dar, CUK, and KU Mourn Demise; Institutions Across J&K Express Grief
Karnah (KNS):
Professor Abdul Wahid Qureshi, a prominent scholar and former Vice-Chancellor of Kashmir University, passed away on Sunday at SKIMS Soura Srinagar.
According to KNS Correspondent Karnah, Professor Qureshi, originally from Karnah area of Kupwara, had a distinguished career in academics and administration. After completing his early education at Higher Secondary School Kandi Karnah, he pursued higher studies at SP College Srinagar and later earned his master’s and Ph.D. in Economics from Aligarh Muslim University.
In 1996, at the age of 26, he began his academic career as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics at Kashmir University. He later served as Vice-Chancellor of the university from 2004 to 2007, followed by a tenure as the founding Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Kashmir from 2009 to 2012.
Professor Qureshi was known for his contributions to education and the community. He was a strong advocate for educational opportunities in his home region of Karnah and supported students through guidance and financial assistance.
He is survived by his wife and three sons, who are professionally established as a doctor, an engineer, and a college professor.
Thousands of people gathered at his Lal Bazar residence in Srinagar to pay their respects before his body was transported to his ancestral home in Karnah. He was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard in Kandi on November 17, 2023, with a large number of mourners in attendance.
Professor Qureshi’s death is being widely mourned in the region, with many recognizing his significant contributions to education and society.
Meanwhile, Central University of Kashmir (CUKashmir) faculty members, administrative staff, research scholars and students, led by Vice-Chancellor, Prof. A Ravinder Nath, deeply condoled the demise of its founding Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdul Wahid Qureshi.
Prof. Abdul Wahid Qureshi was also the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kashmir, and an eminent Economist.
In his condolence message, Vice-Chancellor, Prof. A Ravinder Nath, said, the demise of a founding figure is a moment of profound reflection and mourning, especially when that person has contributed significantly towards the establishment and growth of the varsity.
“Prof. Qureshi was a visionary leader who laid the foundation of CUKashmir and was instrumental in the creation and growth of the institution. His unwavering dedication, passion for education, and commitment to academic excellence were the cornerstones upon which this university was built,” Prof. A Ravinder Nath said, adding that Prof. Qureshi, played a pivotal role in the academic growth of the varsity and guided the faculty members for achieving academic excellence in their respective fields. Prof.
A Ravinder Nath further said, “We will continue to honour his memory through our work, our commitment to education, and our dedication to shaping the future Prof. Qureshi so passionately envisioned.”
In his message, Dean Academic Affairs, Prof. Shahid Rasool, said, the passing away of the founding Vice-Chancellor marks not only a loss of an individual but a pivotal moment in the history of the institution itself. “Prof. Wahid Qureshi, contributed through his expertise, academic and administrative standing for the overall progress and holistic development of the university since its inception,” Prof. Shahid Rasool said.
“Prof. Qureshi’s leadership extended beyond the classroom, as he endeared himself to all with his humility, wisdom, and generosity.” “For me it is a personal loss as I have had the opportunity of working under his affectionate leadership for over two decades and a memorable association of over three decades.”
In his message, Registrar, Prof. M Afzal Zargar, said, “Prof. Qureshi’s vision for a forward-thinking, inclusive, and student-centered university continues to guide the institution today.” He said the entire CUKashmir mourns this great loss, and stands united in our commitment to uphold the vision and principles of Prof. Abdul Wahid Qureshi.
The CUKashmir faculty and staff expressed solidarity with the bereaved family and prayed for peace to the departed soul. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family during this difficult time,” the CUKashmir employees said.
The CU Kashmir has organised Condolence meetings at all the Campuses on Monday at 3:30pm.
With profound grief and a heavy heart, the University of Kashmir is mourning the sad demise of former Vice Chancellor (VC), University of Kashmir (KU), Prof Abdul Wahid Qureshi.
Prof Qureshi passed away Sunday due to cardiac arrest at a hospital in Srinagar. A distinguished academic and senior professor, Prof Qureshi served as KU Vice Chancellor from 2004 to 2008.
In a heartfelt message, KU Vice Chancellor, Prof Nilofer Khan, expressed her deep sorrow and offered her condolences.
“Prof Abdul Wahid Qureshi’s passing is an irreplaceable loss for the academic community. His leadership and visionary contributions have left a lasting impression on the University of Kashmir,” she said, adding that Prof Qureshi’s work will be remembered by generations.
“His legacy of dedication and compassion will continue to inspire us. May Almighty Allah grant him the highest place in Jannah,” Prof Khan said in a statement issued here.
KU Registrar, Prof Naseer Iqbal, on behalf of the KU administration, extended his heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family.
“Prof Qureshi’s profound impact on higher education in Jammu and Kashmir, his commitment to student welfare and his tireless efforts for academic advancement will remain forever in our hearts,” he said, reiterating that the region has lost a mentor and revered academician.
The university community, including faculty, students, scholars and staff, joined in collective mourning for Prof Qureshi praying for eternal peace to his soul.
Teachers and students remembered him as an inspiring figure whose contributions strengthened the foundation of the institution and enriched the lives of countless individuals.
Scholars reflected on his mentorship and expressed gratitude for his dedication to education and learning. “In this moment of grief, the University of Kashmir stands in solidarity with Prof Qureshi’s family. May Almighty Allah grant him the highest place in Jannah and bestow patience and forbearance upon his family to bear this irreparable loss,” a spokesperson said in the statement.
To pay homage to the departed soul, KU scheduled a condolence meeting on 18th November (today) at 11 am in the main campus, added the statement.
Also, Minister for Education, Social Welfare, Health & Medical Education, Sakeena Masood has condoled the sad demise of former Vice Chancellor of Kashmir University (KU) and Central University of Kashmir (CUK), Prof. Abdul Wahid Qureshi. In her condolence message, Sakeena Masood described the late Prof. Qureshi as distinguished academic leader and visionary, who dedicated his life to advancing education and fostering excellence.
She added that during his tenure as Vice Chancellor of Kashmir University, he played a pivotal role in the transformation and growth of University, bringing significant improvements in curriculum, infrastructure and faculty development. She underlined that through his acumen and vision for future, Prof. Qureshi started the entrance based exams for admissions in KU, adding that he also has been the pioneer of starting several new courses in the Varsity.
The Minister also remembered the role of Prof. Qureshi in hand holding the students of far-off areas and downtrodden communities and nurturing them to excel in education. She also said that Prof. Qureshi, as first Vice Chancellor, played a vital role in establishment of Central University of Kashmir. She added that during the infancy years of the University, Prof. Qureshi played critical role in starting various courses in different programs at the Varsity.
She further highlighted that Prof. Qureshi, because of his integrity and honesty, has served as the Chairman of J&K Bank selection committee for a considerable time. The Minister, while playing glowing tributes to former Vice Chancellor, said that Prof. Qureshi’s legacy will continue to inspire future generations and his absence will be deeply felt in the academic community. She also extended her deepest sympathies with bereaved family and prayed for highest place in Jannah for the departed soul.
Minister of Agriculture Production, Rural Development Department and Panchayati Raj, Javed Ahmad Dar, has expressed profound grief and sorrow over the demise of former Vice Chancellor of Kashmir University (KU) and Central University of Kashmir (CUK), Professor Abdul Wahid Qureshi.
The Minister described late Wahid Qureshi as a visionary academic leader who not only excelled in his field but also motivated others to strive for excellence.
Paying glowing tributes, the Minister said that Professor Wahid Qureshi was a person of par excellence, who dedicated his life towards taking education to new heights. He said that the deceased played a pivotal role in establishing both University of Kashmir and CUK as great campuses for learning and academic leadership.
Javed Dar extended sympathies to the bereaved family and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul. He acknowledged that Prof. Qureshi’s teachings will continue to inspire students and professionals to improve educational scenario in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that late Prof. Wahid Qureshi was a beacon of knowledge and inspiration for academic world.
source: http://www.knskashmir.com / Kashmir News Service / Home> Education / by KNS Desk Srinagar / November 17th, 2024
Thahaani Hashir released her 3rd book at the SIBF on Sunday afternoon. Kamal Kassim/Gulf today
Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) on Sunday was full of hustle and bustle. Lots of beautiful minds landed in Sharjah to regale audiences in the evening.
Celebrated Indian writer Chetan Bhagat inspired his fans, while Bollywood star Huma Qureshi mesmerised her audience. Malayalm actor, author and presenter Aswathy Sreekanth also arrived at the book fair on Sunday evening to talk about her latest book “Kaali.” She also enchanted her fans with her exciting talk.
On the other side, Writers Forum of the SIBF was swarming with school-going children in the afternoon. They were all chirping and giggling with excitement and joy. They were at the venue to cheer their young friend and classmate Thahaani Hashir. Thahaani’s journey to the world of writing is indeed incredible. Her brush with pen and paper started very early in life.
We expect a 16-year-old student to read books to develop his or her intellect, but Sharjah-based Indian student Thahaani Hashir was gracing the podium of SIBF with her third book of poetry, “Made For Love,” in the presence of a huge gathering, who were constantly clapping for this young girl. It was indeed a moment to behold.
Thahaani is an 11th grade student of Our Own English High School, Sharjah. Born and brought up in the UAE, she hails from Kollam, Kerala, India.
Thahaani made her debut at the age of 10 with her book “Through My Window Panes.” The book was released in 2018 and she became the youngest author at the SIBF. She received lots of praise for her debut book. Her second book of 30 poems “Flames That Never Died” came in 2021, while she was 13.
Talking to Gulf Today before the launch of her book, she said, “I always had the habit of writing. I must have been six years old when my class teacher noticed the talent in me. I would write short stories or something in song format. I did not know then how a poem looks like. But it was my class teacher Madhavi ma’am who saw this talent in me and she encouraged me to carry on and that’s how I got into writing.”
Thahaani’s ability to express her emotion with so much of maturity at this age is what makes her a shining star.
“Made For Love” is a compilation of 60 poems written by Thahaani Hashir and illustrated by Ashar Gandhi. Each of the 60 poems are depicted through one line illustration (entire illustration is drawn with a single continuous line, the pen is only lifted when completed). It is a rare occurrence to see all the poems in a book depicted through one line art.
Talking about her book she said, “Majority of my poetry is about love.” When asked how much time it took for her to complete her third book, she informed, “After my second book, I did not write for a good while for some reason. It could be writer’s block sort of thing. But in the last one year I could find my rhythm back and here I am with my new book.”
When asked to reveal her favourite author, she said, “Palestinian poet and author Mahmoud Darwish is my all-time favourite.”
Daughter of a civil engineer father and journalist mother, Thahaani has received several accolades.
Praising Thahaani, one of her teachers, who was present at the event said, “While she was in Grade 1, she was brilliant in all the subjects. She would always come to meet me with different ideas. Everyday she would write and show to me. I really have no words to express her talent and I am extremely happy to have been her teacher.”
The 12-day cultural extravaganza, organised by the Sharjah Book Authority, is themed “It Starts with a Book,” and has in store 1,357 activities for children and adults alike. It will come to a close on November 17 after playing host to 2,520 publishers from 112 countries.
source: http://www.gulffoday.ae / Gulf Today / Home> Culture / by Raghib Hassan, Staff Reporter / November 14th, 2024
Bihar is on top of the list of Sahitya Akademi Awardee for 2020. Three litterateurs including Anamika of Muzaffarpur figure in the coveted national list. She is the first woman in the country to receive the Sahitya Akademi Award in Hindi for her poetry collection.
The 80-year-old Kamalkant Jha, who hails from Jayanagar in Madhubani, would get the award for his story collection ‘Gachh Rusal Achhi’ published in Maithili language.
The most discussed award is that of the famous storyteller Hussain-ul-Haq of Urdu, who lives in New Karimganj. He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award for his novel Amavas Mein Khwab. (Dreams in dark night).
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has congratulated Hussain-ul-Haq for getting Sahitya Academy Award. In a message to all three, the Chief Minister said it was a matter of great pride for Bihar that three of Bihar’s writers were named to receive the Sahitya Akademi Award. The entire Bihar is proud of them,” he said.
Hussain ul Haq has not been keeping good health. He returned home from Delhi where he had gone for treatment. This honour has brought cheers to the family. They shared happiness by distributing sweets.
Haq’s younger brother Dr Ain Tabish is Head of the department of English in Mirza Ghalib College, Gaya. Tabish told Awaz-the Voice, “Bhaiya receiving this honor is a big day for the family. It will inspire young writers and also make people realise that writing on social issues is relevant.”
Hussain ul Haq’with family and his books
Born in Sasaram in 1949, Hussain ul Haq’s writings are mostly on human bond and the middle-class society. According to Ahmed Sagir, a young writer who is close to Haq, in 1991, Hussain ul Haq’s first novel ‘Bolo Mat Chup Raho’ (Don’t speak; keep quiet) made waves. His second novel,‘Farat’ published in 1994, got him more limelight and recognition. For some reason, Hussein-ul-Haq didn’t write for a long period. The third novel ‘Amavas Mein Khawab’ hit the stand in 2071 and it sold like hotcakes. It made a great impact in the world of Urdu literature. He has been awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award for this novel. The novel is based on a story about the changing socio-political environment in the time period between 1930 and 1950.
Hussain-ul-Haq has a deep affinity with Sufism. His family is the successor to the legacy of a great Sufi Saint and also the caretaker of his tomb – khanquah. His father, Maulana Anwarul is a well-known personality of Sasaram. Hussain ul Haq says he has imbibed the thinking and the way of understanding things from his father.
Though the family is settled in Gaya, their relationship with Sasaram remained intact. The influence of Khanqahi culture and Sufiism has played role in Haq’s focus on human bonds in his writing.
Hussain ul Haq, who retired as head of the Urdu department and proctor of Magadh University has also published eight story collections, three novels, and half a dozen other books.
After Abdul Samad, Mazhar Imam, Ilyas Ahmed Gaddi, Professor Jabir Hussain he is the fifth Urdu writer from Bihar to receive the Sahitya Akademi Award.
Hussain ul Haq’speaking at a function
Friday brought in a lot of happiness in the Haq family. In the morning, the first news came that Hussain ul Haq has been awarded the Shamim Nikhat Memorial Fiction Award in UP and he will be honored on 13 March at Lucknow. The organisation confers writers with a sum of Rs 50,000 and a memento. Haq will skip the award due to his ill health.
By the evening came the news of the Sahitya Academy Award filling the home with happiness and joy.
Ain Tabish says this award will have a big impact in the Urdu world as the message that writing based on serious issues and principles is still valued today.
Sahitya Akademi Award is the top award for Indian literature and is given away for 20 Indian languages. Among the recipients of this award are senior Congress leader and former Union Minister of Karnataka Veerappa Moily.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home>Story / by Seraj Anwar, Patna / March 13th, 2021
The novel, Akhri Sawarian (The Last Rides), by Syed Mohammed Ashraf woven around a well-knit plot, captures the reader’s attention at its outset. Written in first person, it begins with the anguish and curiosity carefully embedded in the structure of the narrative through introducing an enigmatic ancestral memoir comprising a travelogue which constantly keeps us on tenterhooks till its magical mystery is unraveled at the end.
In the course of the illusive journey of the protagonist who is glued to the chariot of time is seen passing through, and rejoicing the tremendous hues associated with the blossoming of socio-cultural life of the vast Indian society. The narrator, a master craftsman, despite being aware of the futility to remain entangled to his ancestor’s fascination to Central Asia’s mighty ruler Emir Timur, cannot abruptly circumvent from this central trope as it is the only peg to hang on to the storyline. However, his full attention is diverted to main predilections i.e., the celebration of the confluence of ethnicity and the portrayal of cultural bonds of fraternity between individuals of different creeds and diverse identities. The stunning visual effects of a vast thriving society characterized by its homogeneity, valor and wisdom promises a prominent place in the annals of India’s multi-cultural history.
Ardent lover of Nature
The narrator is an ardent lover of Nature and its splendid ethereal beauty especially in rustic environment. He is always found in its realm freely mingling with simple human beings, birds and animals and enjoying the fragrance of the wild fruits and flowers.
Jammu, an innocent charming girl from a destitute family being kept in the landlord’s family and the protagonist nursing a clandestine liaison with her despite his tender age, seems to be natural, especially when the girl herself appears to be smitten with his innocent gestures.
Nevertheless, forced by the destiny when she is married to an old man with two grown up siblings from the previous marriage, she doesn’t bemoan her fate. She rather keeps her spirit high and does everything for the children except succumbing to her husband’s libidos. Her bold stand in the face of repression and her desire to a dignified existence is remarkable. Noting its poignant narration, it is reminiscent to a story by Tagore though in a different situation, depicting the absurdity of child marriage in ancient times.
Here he is looked after by the innocent girl in a spirit which only a mother or sister can afford to display. Akhri Sawarian is neither a didactic novel nor has any edifying quality. However, keeping in view, the protagonist’s own code of conduct, self esteem and ethical parameters though much less than Premchand, he is definitely a critical insider who despite having amorous tendencies never ventures to trespass a certain moral barrier in his relationship. Here the narrator unlike any other feminists seems to be more realistic, conscious and sympathetic to the cause of women empowerment.
Enriched with inter-textual references, frequent flashbacks, tropes and motifs, this novel, a fine example of cultivated aesthetic and literary taste, never deviates from its path and primary aim of retrieving and showcasing the glimpses of a culturally fascinating and vibrating Indian society.
Strategies are many
There are several strategies converged in the plot and the texture right from the time of conception to structuring the narrative to justify the projection of a particular view of life in the novel. One of them is to ensure the protagonist growing up and not attaining abrupt maturity so as to be able to witness and be a part in his childhood of the generally pastoral serenity, its soothing ambiance and the panoramic view.
The nuanced and incisive description of abject impoverishment, onslaught of maladies, the convergence of the people on mass scale at special occasions, empathy, quarrels on ordinary things, yearnings, deprivations, simplicity in attires and imaginations and a firm belief in rituals and sacraments bring forth the clear picture of a society.
Now in the last stage of the fast changing scenario, we come across a stage where we see the protagonist albeit in a new Avatar. Sitting in the carriage drawn by the galloping horses in the dust of time, surmounting hurdles, passing through rough terrain, lesser known places and locations. Through this arduous journey, we are transported to a completely different and highly perturbing level of existence where the protagonist is now capable to comprehend the purpose of life. Though distraught and shattered, he is seen in this mist, conversing with his better half who is helping her husband to navigate through the ravaging river of time. This phase is marked by the presence of sharpening intelligence and probing glances of our hero’s life companion. She becomes instrumental in decoding the mystery surrounding the small purse and the great grandfather’s travelogue. It is a great redeeming factor in settling an intriguing paradox. It also opens the possibility of a plethora of other wounds to be inflicted by the arrows of time in the days to come. Now as the story proceeds on the predictable lines, a depressingly brooding protagonist seated as usual in his moving coach, now in familiar locations, though initially reluctant, relents willy-nilly to his equally subdued and stressed wife’s persuasions to shed some light and unfold the long held mystery around the ancestral box, being the life threatening crux of the problem.
She exclaims: Your great grandfather’s old wallet has become the tormenting scabbard of Timur. It has kept you since your childhood on the tenterhooks.
This leads to the opening of a Pandora’s Box of hazardous historical events, fancies and hallucinations spread over a long period of time. During recounting the chain of events, one is struck with disbelief to see the pathetic scenes of the fettered skeleton of the last Mughal emperor; Bahadur Shah Zafar perched in a bullock cart passing through the rugged surface all the way to be incarcerated in Rangoon. In the meanwhile the wheel of chariot moves forward to the delight of the chronicler to a tempestuous journey undertaken by the protagonist’s great grandfather in his younger days to Samarkand, in murky past and his illusory encounter with a bed ridden and mutilated legendary despot Emir Timur.
In the technique of sub-plot along with the main story there is also a rare moment when the narrator to his utter bewilderment, suddenly discovers that his great grandfather is being gifted with the snippet of the royal sword’s scabbard and a relic by the mighty hands of none other than Timur himself. After revealing this secret to his wailing and sobbing wife, he seems to be all the more desperate to be under the spell of lunacy that needs immediate medical attention. This part of the narrative culminating to the final closure becomes more interesting because of the protagonist’s realization of the social polarization, simmering discontent and unintelligible contradictions in the society at large. He, who had never envisaged such dreadful lurking images earlier, gets traumatized.
By way of ensuring tranquility and spiritual solace, he is led during a frosty winter night to a secluded corner in Mehrauli at Delhi. However, owing to mental inconsistency, delusion, persisting gloominess and strange feelings, lying in his beloved wife’s lap he looks around with his eyes wide open as a shudder runs down his spine with the constantly blowing freezing gusty winds.
The narrator in order to epitomize his idea of a synthetic national identity has frequently employed the analogy of “Assorted Fragrance” which signifies India’s century’s old multi-cultural and ethnic diversities.
The hanging clouds of haze and fog appeared to him like gigantic civilizational legacies being snatched and driven away by the thugs on the wings of time. With little hope to see them again, shivering with high fever in the freezing atmosphere, he is weeping profusely and bemoaning as he is fully disillusioned with the new found realities of time and feels himself completely misfit to reconcile with the changed vocabulary of social etiquette replaced with tardiness of behaviors and degrading moral bonding. Sitting beside the citadel of a vast and magnificent cultural repository, he murmurs to himself in utter chaos and suffocation, the couplet of Mirza Ghalib.
Mauj-e-Khoon, Neelay Samandar Ka Safar Karti Hui,
Dajla Roshan Kabhi Is Rang say Ganga Roshan
Blood laden waves passing through the blue oceans
It’s colour, blazing Tigris often Ganges
Notwithstanding the fact that the narrator is fully aware of the implicit subversion of our ethos and a perceptible indiscretion in people to people relations, he doesn’t necessarily commit himself to pinning down the obvious reasons or casting aspersion on anyone for wrecking-havoc in the society. He prefers instead to deal with the effects rather than the reasons of the turmoil, thereby restricting himself to merely lamenting and bemoaning the loss of the mosaic of cultural identity.
Even against the backdrop of the shifting sands of the historic realities in the subcontinent, the narrator riding high on the back of the unbridled horse of the time, though in pensive, mood is still ready in bardic fashion to go extra miles to see a new sun rising from the dusty horizon. Worries and tensions writ large on his countenance, an anguished protagonist with an indomitable flickering spirit, at times appears engrossed in the futile act of thwarting the course of the tidal waves and the next moment sitting on the threshold of humanity awaiting a miraculous return of the caravan lost in the wilderness. Contemplating in melancholic mood, he mutters in a state of soliloquy wondering about a formidable humanity vanishing with little hope to emerge again from the whirl pool .of the ravaging river of time. It’s reflective of his amazingly unwavering resilience to cope with the harsh reality of the moment with fortitude but with little hope.
However, it is not to be forgotten that the awe inspiring picturisation of mental images, enormous capacity to traverse through the wide spectrum of human emotions and tantalizing depiction of the fictional realities of life are definitely the outcome of a highly skilled, sharply focused and a calibrated mind of the artist which has found full expressions in this novel in terms of its unconventional craftsmanship, terrific sense of impish humor, irresistible quest for wit and irony taking precedence over many other devices and attributes of linguistic and literary manifestations.
Akhri Sawarian is another post-partition trail blazer of Syed Mohammed Ashraf though tragic at the core shall stay in our thought and imagination.
Qazi Obaidur Rahman Hashmi is a distinguished Adjunct Professor of Urdu at Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi. His dedication to Urdu literature and education is highly appreciated.
source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> Featured News> Books / by Qazi Obaidur Rahman Hashmi / June 27th, 2024
Hussainul Haq’s novel “Amawas Mein Khwab” initiates a new debate on the Hindu-Muslim relationship.
REFLECTING REALITY Hussainul Haq
At a time when people cherish to be lied to, what can scare away the spectre of an unprecedented assault on the very idea of truth? Is truth a sociological reality or an unachievable ethical reality? Does the narrative of homogeneity set in motion by new information technology produce a kind of immodesty that allows us to recognise falsehood but we still treat it as if were a reality? Does our intent on peddling fantasy as a fact correspond to “Suspended Disbelief” that Coleridge found essential for literature? These frightening and unsettling questions thrown up by the post-truth period are impeccably sewn together in a novel of a celebrated Urdu novelist and short story writer Hussainul Haq and his latest novel has been doing rounds in the Urdu knowing circles of the subcontinent.
His recently published novel, “Amawas Mein Khwab” (Dreaming in the last night before the new moon), poignantly tells a tale of Ismael Rajai, who lost all his family members in a communal riot but a marked Indian passion for free-flowing of inter-personal relationship unencumbered by religious and cultural affinity and uncontaminated by self-interest enabled him to begin a new life. Ismael, lived in Bombay, Bhiwandi and Patna, and is exposed to many cultures and as a power loom owner, teacher, a friend of a landlord, a father and a thinking human being, he tries to understand why common people do the uncommon to transform themselves. His stint as a lecturer at a college in Bihar provides him with a space where several mediations are carried out. Arousal of mass-hysteria in the name of caste and religion acquaints him with the aggressive and self-destructive potential of conflict and disharmony. His tantalising journey of a new life transcends inadequacies and presents a higher level of synthesis where being apart and being together emerge a reality as audaciously as they can.
The book cover
Ismael’s struggle reveals new insight and a fresh perspective on several issues plaguing the country.
Believable narrative
At a time when religious passions are running high and the concept of peaceful existence is being threatened, the novelist initiates a new debate on Hindu-Muslim relationship. Direct intervention of a well known scholar or a reference to a widely acclaimed text lends credibility to the narration and the reader takes pleasure in passages that are explicitly historical.
One of the characters of the novel asserts: During the reign of Mohammad Bin Qasim, the religious places of Christians, Jews and Hindus were treated equally. Quran describes Sabaen (an ancient nation of star worshippers) as people of the book though there was hardly any mention of book related to them. Even in the time of the second caliph, Zoroastrians were given the status of people of the book and why this status still eludes Hindus?
For his doctoral thesis, Ismael chooses a topic that baffles his friend Anil Sharma. Anil finds the topic “Muslims’ Contribution in Ancient India” inadmissible but Ismael argues: “One has to concentrate on the culture, language and ideologies that dominated India before Mohammad Bin Qasim. In what way, the arrival of Mohammad Bin Qasim and saint, Ali Hajveri, affected the culture. Did anyone notice a creative interaction at epistemological or ideological level, if yes, what are the traces, this question has tremendous research potential?”
“Yes, it is a fertile topic, but you have to work hard,” Anil nodded.
Ismael, living a comfortable life in Bihar, lost his life in a blast and it spells doom for his life. His daughter Nayela landed up at a brothel and the son Quidar finally got whatever he longed for. The novel ends with a positive note and Hussainul Haq creates an autonomous space which has its own logic of unfolding of interpersonal relationship involving cooperation and conflict and it also reveals dark underpinnings for our dreams for a strong nation.
For Hussain, humanity is undoubtedly grasping breath but he is courageously on the side of rational and truth loving liberals who want to understand what instils a strong sense of grief and chaos in us. Hussain’s elegant prose illuminates conflict of nostalgia, loneliness and social consciousness astutely and he makes it clear that we tend to lie to ourselves with a bad conscience and the ever-increasing ethical relativism and blooming narcissism reflected in selfies is nothing but an act of self-deception.
Hussainul Haq’s new novel turns attention to the episodes of real life that outstrips fiction and his novel is a testimony to what Philip Roth says: The culture tosses up figures almost daily that are the envy of any novelist.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Books> Authors> Going Native / by Shafey Kidwai / February 16th, 2018
Dr. Aakif Anjum with his supervisor Dr. A.A. Shaikh
Malegaon:
In a city where the dreams of many are shaped by the resilience of its people, there is one story that stands out as a beacon of perseverance, intellect and boundless ambition. This is the story of Dr. Aakif Anjum Shaikh Usman, who, in 2024, made history by becoming the first person from Malegaon to earn a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering. His journey, from a small hamlet to the prestigious National Institute of Technology (NIT), Surat, is not just one of academic success, but of overcoming adversity, defying odds and inspiring future generations.
Growing up in Malegaon, Aakif was shaped by the values of education instilled by his late father, Shaikh Usman, a primary school teacher. His father’s influence was pivotal in cultivating Aakif’s deep passion for learning and academic excellence. “My father always believed that education was the key to a better future,” he recalls. “He taught me to never give up, no matter how difficult the journey.”
Aakif’s academic journey began at The Malegaon High School and Junior College, where he laid the groundwork for the challenges ahead. It was here that he first realised the importance of hard work and perseverance. After completing his schooling, Aakif pursued his Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) degree in Mechanical Engineering at the PREC Engineering College in Loni, Maharashtra, where he graduated in 2016.
His thirst for knowledge and ambition propelled him to further his education, leading him to pursue a Master of Technology (M.Tech.) in Mechanical Engineering from the Government College of Engineering, Karad, Maharashtra, in 2018.
But Aakif’s aspirations did not stop there. He set his sights on a Ph.D. at the prestigious National Institute of Technology Surat (NIT Surat), a dream that seemed distant for a young man from Malegaon. In 2024, after years of dedication and hard work, Aakif achieved what many thought impossible — he earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering. He became a trailblazer for future generations in his city.
From right Dr. Aakif Anjum and his research team
Under the mentorship of Dr. A.A. Shaikh, head of the Mechanical Engineering department at NIT Surat, Aakif conducted groundbreaking research that spanned various facets of optics and laser technologies. His research resulted in 19 published papers in prominent international journals, including Elsevier, Optics and Laser Technology, Infrared Physics and Technology and the Journal of Engineering Research.
His work has earned him recognition on global platforms, with his discoveries being presented at two international conferences. Aakif is also the proud holder of a patent in laser technology, with another patent currently under review.
Aakif’s research was not just academic; it was also practical and impactful. His work was backed by two rounds of funding from Gujarat’s Student Startup and Innovation Policy (SSIP), an initiative designed to support young innovators. This recognition from the Gujarat government underscored the real-world applicability and inventiveness of his contributions to the field of mechanical engineering.
Further amplifying his global influence, Aakif has collaborated with esteemed institutions such as King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia, Khalifa University in Dubai and Deakin University in Australia. These collaborations have solidified his place in the global scientific community, further highlighting Malegaon’s potential to contribute to cutting-edge research and technological advancements.
Dr. Aakif Anjum Shaikh Usman’s achievements are a testament to the power of education, perseverance and the importance of supporting one’s community. By becoming the first Ph.D. recipient in mechanical engineering from Malegaon, he has opened the doors to a future where the youth of Malegaon and beyond can dream big and aim high.
Aakif’s journey is a shining example of how dreams can be realised through dedication, hard work and the unshakeable belief in the transformative power of education.
As Malegaon celebrates the achievements of one of its own, Aakif’s story serves as a beacon of hope for countless aspiring engineers, scientists and innovators in his city and beyond. His journey, from a small hamlet to the hallowed halls of NIT Surat, is a reminder that with determination, no goal is too distant and no dream too big.
source: http://www.twocircles.net / TwoCircles.net / Home> Indian Muslim / by SN Ansari, TwoCircles.net / November 19th, 2024
