Renowned Hyderabad-based writer and doctor, Dr. Abid Moiz, has been conferred the prestigious Delhi Urdu Academy Award for his outstanding contributions to science literature in Urdu. He is the only recipient from South India to receive this recognition for 2023-24, which includes a cash prize of ₹2 lakh.
As per Siyasat daily, Dr. Moiz’s ground-breaking work has made scientific concepts more accessible to Urdu-speaking audiences, fostering a deeper appreciation for science within the community. Known for his unique ability to merge science with literature, he has authored 23 science books and 17 humour and satire books, carving a distinct niche in the Urdu literature.
Dr. Moiz’s journey into science writing began with Diabetes Ke Saath Saath (Living with Diabetes), aimed at promoting health awareness. His repertoire includes books like Chiknai Aur Hamari Sehat (Fats and Our Health), Cholesterol Kam Kijiye (Reduce Cholesterol), Namak Kam Karen (Reduce Salt), and Ramzan Aur Hamari Sehat (Ramzan and Our Health). These books focus on health management and dietary choices, blending scientific knowledge with simple language and engaging graphics.
Dr. Moiz’s works, such as Motapa (Obesity) and Tarkari aur Phal Khayen (Eat Vegetables and Fruits), emphasise balanced nutrition and healthy living, solidifying his legacy as a visionary in the underrepresented genre of Urdu science literature.
In addition to his literary contributions, Dr. Moiz serves on the advisory board of Science Urdu, a popular science monthly magazine edited by Dr. Aslam Parvez, former Vice-Chancellor of Maulana Azad National Urdu University. His involvement underscores his commitment to promoting scientific awareness among Urdu readers.
The Delhi Urdu Academy also honoured several other luminaries this year, including Javed Akhtar for promoting Urdu, Taha Naseem for children’s literature, Anee Aazmi for drama, Prof. Ahmed Mahfooz for research and criticism, and Rakshanda Roohi for prose.
Previously, Dr. Moiz received Lifetime Achievement Award from the Telangana State Urdu Academy in 2019 for his sustained contributions to Urdu literature and science writing.
Dr. Moiz’s achievements exemplify how science and literature can harmoniously coexist, even in languages traditionally associated with arts and culture. By simplifying complex scientific ideas, he continues to empower readers and enrich the legacy of Urdu literature.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home>Pride of the Nation> Awards> Latest News / by Radiance News Bureau / January 09th, 2025
Many students dream of clearing the civil services examinations but those with small means, a majority of whom are from the Muslim community, can’t afford coaching and guidance from experts for it.
To address this, the Maharashtra State Minority Officers and Employees Association (MRAAKA) has announced its residential coaching classes for students from minority communities who are preparing for competitive examinations for jobs of admissions in higher learning institutes.
For several years, MRAAKA which is registred as Maharashtra Rajya Alpaksankhyak Adhikari – Karmachari Association. has been undertaking social work and spreading awareness among minorities. In its latest initiative, the organization said its classes will be held in Pune for the academic year 2024–25.
MRAAKA President Haji Jatkar said on the initiative, “The organization was founded by a group of Muslim government employees to contribute to the welfare of the minority community. Initially, we collaborated with Anjuman Islam to organize coaching classes. Since 2021, we have partnered with the Haj Committee for this purpose. Our organization is the first government-recognized institution in the country dedicated to working for the upliftment of the minority community.”
He further added, “Students from minority communities, particularly Muslims, face challenges in pursuing higher education. We provide them with hostel facilities, study centers, and financial assistance through scholarships.”
Highlighting the purpose of the initiative, Haji Jatkar said, “While other communities have access to competitive exam academies, there isn’t a single academy of this kind for minority communities in the state. If students from minority communities are given access to quality institutions and proper guidance, they can significantly contribute to the development of society and the nation. It is fulfilling to see our organization providing a platform for minority students to claim their rightful opportunities.”
Asir Sheikh, Assistant State Tax Commissioner and a member of MRAAKA, said, “The challenges faced by minority communities are often discussed, but concrete actions to address them are rare. Bringing minority students into administrative roles is essential for the community’s growth. That’s why our organization has launched this residential coaching program to guide students and help them enter the administrative system,” he said.
He noted, “So far, we have completed two batches of residential coaching classes. Only a limited number of students are selected through a rigorous admission process. Of these, 13 students have successfully cleared competitive exams and secured postings.”
At present applications for the 2024–25 residential coaching classes in Pune are being accepted by MRAAKA. The last date for submission is January 9, 2025. Applicants’ records related to state service exams will be reviewed. Following the scrutiny, 100 students will be shortlisted for interviews, and 25 will be selected.
Preference will be given to candidates who have cleared the preliminary or main state service exams in the past. Additionally, applicants will need to provide caste verification certificates as per government reservation policies.
Any graduate from a minority community who has appeared for the state service preliminary exam and demonstrates potential to succeed can apply. The program is open to motivated students from all branches of study.
The organization works for the welfare of minority employees and aims to increase the literacy rate and overall development of minority communities. It also plans to establish separate libraries for Hindi and Marathi to promote the development of these languages.
Additionally, with the support of central and state governments, MRAAKA encourages sports by providing scholarships and other incentives to athletes from minority communities.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by Fazal Pathan / January 05th, 2025
Muslim Mirror’s list of 100 Indian Muslim achievers features four notable personalities from Karnataka, recognized for their contributions to education, business, journalism, and community development.
Bidar’s Abdul Qadeer – Educator and Visionary Leader Abdul Qadeer, a renowned educationist and founder of the Shaheen Group of Institutions in Bidar, has dedicated his life to empowering marginalized communities through education.
Under his leadership, Shaheen Institutions have grown into a network providing quality education, emphasizing academic excellence and holistic development. His commitment to integrating modern and traditional education has enabled numerous students to excel in competitive examinations and achieve higher educational aspirations.
Mangaluru’s Dr. Abdullah Kunhi – Entrepreneur and Educationist Dr. Yenepoya Abdullah Kunhi, the founder of Yenepoya University in Mangalore, has transformed education and healthcare in Karnataka.
Known for his vision and humanitarian spirit, Dr. Kunhi established Yenepoya University as a multidisciplinary institution offering innovative programs across various fields.
He also expanded healthcare access through advanced medical facilities and initiated programs to uplift marginalized communities, including scholarships and community health initiatives.
Azim Hashim Premji – Business Tycoon and Philanthropist Azim Premji, former chairman of Wipro Limited, revolutionized India’s IT industry and emerged as one of the country’s most influential business leaders.
A recipient of the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan, Premji is also one of the world’s leading philanthropists. Through the Azim Premji Foundation, he has donated over $21 billion, primarily to improve education and healthcare in India, leaving an indelible mark on society.
Mohammed Zubair – Journalist and Fact-Checker Mohammed Zubair, co-founder of the fact-checking website Alt News, is a pivotal figure in combating misinformation in India.
Transitioning from an engineering background to journalism, Zubair has exposed numerous instances of fake news and disinformation, fostering accountability and promoting responsible journalism. Despite facing harassment and legal challenges, his dedication to truth and transparency remains unwavering.
Irfan Razack – Real Estate Mogul and Community Advocate Irfan Razack, Chairman and Managing Director of Prestige Group, is one of India’s leading real estate entrepreneurs.
Based in Bengaluru, he has played a pivotal role in shaping India’s real estate landscape, making Prestige Group one of the most prominent property developers in the country.
Razack is also the co-founder of Inventure Academy in Bengaluru and has held esteemed positions, including Honorary Secretary of the Al-Ameen Educational Society and Chairman of CREDAI.
His community contributions through the Kutchi Memon Jamat and philanthropic initiatives have earned him numerous awards, including the Real Estate Excellence Award (2008) and Entrepreneur Extraordinaire Award (2010).
According to the 2024 Forbes list of India’s 100 richest tycoons, Irfan Razack and his siblings are ranked 49th, with a net worth of $6 billion.
These five distinguished individuals from Karnataka exemplify excellence, resilience, and a commitment to societal progress, earning them well-deserved recognition on this prestigious list.
source: http://www.thehindustangazette.com / The Hindustan Gazette / Home> News> Education / by The Hindustan Gazette / January 06th, 2024
Senior scholar, thinker, and writer, Prof. Muzaffar Hussain Assadi, who served as the Acting Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the Political Science Department at Mysore University, passed away late Friday night at a private hospital in Bengaluru. He was 63 years old.
Prof. Muzaffar Assadi conducted extensive studies on the lives and lifestyles of tribal communities.
He served as the chairperson of a committee appointed to address the displacement of tribal populations. His research and contributions spanned areas such as agricultural studies, globalization, Gandhian philosophy, political sociology, democratic theories, social movements, comparative governance, Indian politics, human rights, and global political theories, earning him significant recognition.
Hailing from Shirva in Udupi district, Dr. Muzaffar Assadi completed his postgraduate degree from Mangalore University, followed by an M.Phil. and Ph.D. from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi.
He later pursued a Rockefeller Fellowship and Post-Doctoral studies at the University of Chicago.
He authored 11 books during his illustrious career.
As the chairperson of the High Court Committee on Tribal Displacement, he submitted an impactful report.
His notable works include Multifaceted Feminist Narratives and Movements in Karnataka, Asmita, among others.
Previously, he served as the Special Officer of the newly established Raichur University.
Prof. Assadi received numerous honors, including the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karnataka / by Vartha Bharati / January 04th, 2025
A distinct day in the entire calendar year of Kanachur Group of Institutions, where the integral force of Kanachur Family namely students, staff, faculty, principals and trustees meet as a single unit; to remember and express their gratitude to their leader, chief and founder – Haji U K Monu was recently observed.
Kanachur Islamic Education Trust ®, under its flagship honors the following institutions: 1. Kanachur Institute of Medical Sciences 2. Kanachur College of Nursing Sciences 3. Kanachur College of Physiotherapy 4. Kanachur Institute of Paramedical Sciences 5. Kanachur Institute of Management & Science 6. Kanachur PU College for Women 7. Kanachur Public School 8. Kanachur Primary School 9. Kanachur Pre-Primary School
The momentous day started with a Vanamahotsava programme, where the chief guest Prof Dr P Subramanya Yadapadithaya – vice chancellor of Mangalore University planted a teak sapling in the Kanachur Health Education Campus. Prof Yadapadithaya was then welcomed with a ceremonial guard of honor, by the student scouts and guides who did a brilliant job.
A prayer song by the students of Kanachur Public School and a Quranic citation gave this amazing day a head start. Then followed a cultural extravaganza where in the student units of all constituent colleges under the trust displayed excellence and sheer talent, at the Medical College auditorium, Kanachur Academic Block.
Abdul Rahiman, director – Kanachur Institute of Medical Sciences warmly welcomed the entire Kanachur fraternity on and off the dais. He travelled down memory lane to when the trust was formed and he was in his late teens; the dreams that his father carried to offer education to the underprivileged and left no stone unturned to make this 70 acre campus transform into a temple of learning in rural India.
With these few words he welcomed the founder and chairman of the trust. Zohara Monu, trustee – Kanachur Islamic Education Trust; Prof Dr P Subramanya Yadapadithaya – VC, Mangalore University; Prof Dr M Abdul Rahiman, chairman, Advisory Board – Kanachur Academy of General Education and former VC – Kannur and Calicut Universities; Dr H S Virupaksha, dean – Kanachur Institute of Medical Sciences; Dr Sreesha Khandige, associate dean – Kanachur Institute of Medical Sciences; Dr Deviprasad Shetty, medical superintendent – Kanachur Hospital & Research Centre; Dr Rohan Monis, chief administrative officer – Kanachur Hospital & Research Centre; Dr Vivian D’Souza, principal – Kanachur Institute of Paramedical Sciences; Suhail Khan, principal – Kanachur College of Physiotherapy; Prof Renilda Shanti Lobo, principal – Kanachur College of Nursing Sciences; Prof Iqbal, principal – Kanachur Institute of Management & Science; Hemalatha, principal – Kanachur PU College for Women; Vinitha Mathias, principal – Kanachur Public School; Anandi, principal – Kanachur Primary School; Linnet, principal – Kanachur Pre-Primary and Dr Shahnawaz Manipady, HOD – Forensic Medicine were on the dais.
Prof Dr P Subramanya Yadapadithaya was respectfully felicitated by Haji U K Monu. In his chief guest addressal, he hailed the efforts of Kanachur U K Monu. He stressed that in today’s times, just a degree does not suffice. One needs KASH – Knowledge – to be ahead of the race, Attitude – so that all around are amicable, Skills – a mixed skillset and Habits – one that is infectious and aiming for excellence. Today’s era is evidence based and research informed and it is just going to get tougher.
Prof Dr M Abdul Rahiman was the guest of honor for this pompous occasion. He stressed on the fact that U K Monu always stressed on quality and that they as leaders and faculty of Kanachur should support him.
Haji U K Monu and his able life companion Zohara Monu were felicitated by Prof Dr Abdul Rahiman and Shanti Lobo. Later, all the heads of all the constituent institutions paid their floral tributes to them and wished them on the occasion of Founder’s Day. In his presidential address, Haji U K Monu stressed that this day is a special day with all his faculty and students and that he appreciates every hard working person in the institute. He said there is no replacement for hard work and that is the way it should be.
The vote of thanks was given by Dr H S Virupaksha. The event ended with the National Anthem.
Dr Annet, assistant professor – Dept of Microbiology was the emcee.
All the principals, faculty, staff and students were present at the Medical College auditorium. It was a day filled with pride and was very inspiring indeed.
Kanachur Islamic Education Trust ® and their group of institutions are very proactive in helping to realise the dream of the needy students in rural India. This is an active nation building process and education of young minds and their hearts is their mainstay.
In the words of Nelson Mandela ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which can be used to change the world’ which the trustees stand by.
source: http://www.daijiworld.com / DaijiWorld.com / Home> Campusbeat> Mangaluru / by Media Release / July 18th, 2018
Masood Group of Institutions inaugurated its new campus building on Sunday at Saripalla village, located on the outskirts of Mangaluru city. The event was marked by the presence of several eminent dignitaries, with the Hon’ble Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, UT Khader Fareed, formally inaugurating the facility.
Joining the occasion was Dr. Riyaz Basha, Registrar Evaluation, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) along with other distinguished guests.ix
Al Haj KS Mohammed Masood, former MLC, ex-chairman of the Karnataka State Minorities Commission, and the President of Masood Educational and Charitable Trust, presided over the event.
During his address, UT Khader Fareed congratulated Al Haj KS Mohammed Masood and his family for their visionary efforts in prioritizing education at a time when it is crucial for the progress of society. He lauded their commitment to creating opportunities for learning and empowering the younger generation.
Khader expressed his confidence that the Masood Group of Institutions would emerge as one of the premier educational establishments in the country, setting benchmarks for excellence in academics and overall development. He urged the students to take their studies seriously, emphasizing that education is the foundation for personal growth and societal advancement.
Highlighting the significance of such initiatives, Khader remarked that starting educational institutions is a form of true patriotism. He stated that by investing in education, the trust is not only nurturing young minds but also contributing to the upliftment and progress of the nation as a whole.
In his address, Riyaz Basha highlighted the growing demand for health sciences education in Karnataka, particularly in the post-COVID era. He noted that the pandemic underscored the critical importance of a robust healthcare system, leading to significant transformations in the state’s health sciences infrastructure. According to Basha, this evolution has positioned Karnataka as a hub for advanced medical education and healthcare services, attracting students and professionals alike.
He observed that India’s healthcare system is gradually transitioning towards a Western model, where the concept of teamwork in medicine is gaining prominence. Basha explained that unlike the traditional approach where the doctor was viewed as the sole authority, the emerging system emphasizes the collaborative efforts of an entire team of health sciences professionals. This shift, he pointed out, places greater responsibility and opportunities on allied health professionals, nurses, technicians, and administrators, making their roles indispensable in delivering holistic patient care.
Basha urged students to view education not merely as a means to attain degrees but as a tool for building strong character and moral values. He emphasized the importance of humility, stating that true education goes beyond academic achievements and is reflected in one’s behavior and attitude. He encouraged students to remain grounded, focus on continuous learning, and contribute positively to society, embodying the essence of education through their actions and interactions.
UT Iftikhar Ali, Chairman of the Karnataka State Allied and Healthcare Council, addressed the gathering with a special request to Riyaz Basha, urging him to consider designating Masood College as an examination center for Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS). He emphasized that such a move would be a significant step forward for the institution, providing convenience to students and enhancing its standing within the academic community.
In addition, Ali took the opportunity to invite everyone present to participate in the inauguration of the Regional Centre of RGUHS in Mangalore, scheduled for January 17. He highlighted the importance of this event in strengthening the presence of RGUHS in the region and its commitment to advancing health sciences education. Ali also reaffirmed his support for Masood Group of Institutions, pledging to assist in every possible way to help the institution achieve its goals and contribute meaningfully to the healthcare sector.
MLC Ivan D’Souza, addressing the gathering, spoke about the highly competitive nature of the world today, emphasizing the importance of providing students with the right environment to excel. He remarked that the facilities and infrastructure at Masood Group of Institutions are designed to create an atmosphere conducive to learning, growth, and overall development.
D’Souza commended the institution for its commitment to nurturing young minds by offering a supportive and stimulating environment that prepares them to meet the challenges of a competitive world. He expressed confidence that the campus would serve as a platform for students to not only excel academically but also to develop the skills and resilience needed to succeed in their chosen fields.
In his presidential address, Al Haj KS Mohammed Masood, President of the Masood Educational and Charitable Trust, extended heartfelt gratitude to everyone who had gathered to celebrate the inauguration of the new campus building. He expressed his appreciation to all dignitaries, guests, faculty, students, and well-wishers for their support and encouragement, which he said has been instrumental in the institution’s journey of growth and excellence.
Masood made a special mention of UT Iftikhar Ali, Chairman of the Karnataka State Allied and Healthcare Council, acknowledging his support and guidance. He thanked Ali for his encouragement and for advocating the inclusion of Masood College as an examination center for Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS).
Several members of the staff and those contributing in the construction and development of new campus were felicitated during the event.
Arif Masood, Secretary, of Masood Educational and Charitable Trust welcomed the guests and gathering while his Asif Masood, Trustee of the group presented vote of thanks.
Former MLA of Mangalore South JR Lobo, KPCC General Secretary Inayath Ali, and SM Mustafa of New Bharath Infrastructure addressed the gathering.
Nissar Ahamed KS, Chairman, Nash Engineering Dubai, Bhaskar Moily, Corporator Mangalore City Corporation, Sridhar, Panchayath President Neermarga, Dhanvathi, Ex President Neermarga Panchayath, Dr. Vaishali, Senate Member of RGUHS, Dr. Haji UK Monu, Founder Chairman of Kanachur Group of Industries and Institutions, and others were present during the event.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavali / by Vartha Bharati / January 05th, 2025
Tonk has been renowned for its calligraphy, a centuries-old art form that has earned the nawabi city an esteemed reputation on the international stage. This rich cultural heritage continues to thrive through the dedication of talented artists.
Recently, a national-level calligraphy competition was held in Aurangabad, attracting participants from across India, including Telangana, Maharashtra, Kashmir, and Rajasthan. Ustad Zafar Raza Khan and his student Shahjahan, both from Tonk’s Markaz-Talimul-Khutut institute, represented their city at the Second All-India Quranic Calligraphy Competition. The event was organised in collaboration with Maulana Azad College of Arts, Science, and Commerce (Aurangabad) and the Iran Culture House, Mumbai and New Delhi.
Participants were initially shortlisted based on online submissions of their work. Those selected were invited to the competition held on December 27. Among the contenders, Tonk’s calligraphers distinguished themselves, securing the top two honours and bringing glory to their city.
Ustad Zafar Raza Khan received high praise for his exceptional skill in the Nasta’liq script. While judges unanimously considered his work the finest, he was awarded the second prize due to international competition rules. These rules stipulate that if only one individual meeting the standard for first place remains in the competition, the top prize is withheld, and the second prize is awarded instead.
Shahjahan, another participant from Tonk, triumphed in the Naskh Arabic (Osmani Naskh) script category, winning first prize. Their achievements underscore the exceptional training provided at Markaz-Talimul-Khutut, a new institute established in Tonk on January 1, 2024.
The institute has rapidly gained prominence, thanks to its internationally acclaimed instructors, Ustad Zafar Raza Khan and Ustad Khurshid Alam. Both are celebrated as among the finest calligraphy masters globally. Their dedication has elevated the institute and inspired a new generation of artists to master this ancient art form.
The institute’s officials attribute their success to the hard work of their students and faculty, pledging continued efforts to preserve and promote the art of calligraphy. This achievement is a source of pride not only for Tonk but for Rajasthan and the entire nation.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News / by Raheem Khan, Radiance News Bureau / January 01st, 2025
Muslim Mirror, in collaboration with the Minority Media Foundation, has released its highly anticipated list of the“100 Most Influential Indian Muslims of 2024.” This initiative, celebrated as a benchmark of excellence, acknowledges the remarkable contributions of Indian Muslims across various fields, showcasing their leadership and societal impact on a national scale.
A Mission to Shift Narratives
The project aims to counter the negative portrayal of Muslims often propagated by corporate-funded media serving political agendas. By curating this list, Muslim Mirror presents a positive narrative, celebrating the vibrant and diverse contributions of Indian Muslims to the nation’s development and society.
Comprehensive and Inclusive Representation
The selection process emphasizes inclusivity and diversity, representing achievers from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Assam to Gujarat. The list spans a wide array of sectors, including politics, religion, activism, literature, entrepreneurship, academia, sports, and entertainment.
In an effort to reflect the broad spectrum of the Muslim community, individuals from all sects—Barelvis, Deobandis, Ahle Hadith, Shias, Bohras, and others—have been recognized. The selection underscores the community’s rich cultural and social diversity.
Spotlighting Leadership and Impact
The list features leaders from prominent Muslim organizations and unsung heroes who have made unparalleled contributions in their respective domains. Special attention was given to young achievers, whose recognition aims to inspire future generations of leaders.
Notably, the initiative also includes individuals facing legal challenges and imprisonment, underscoring the principle that they are accused, not convicted. This approach highlights their contributions despite the adversities they face, reaffirming the importance of justice and fairness.
A Rigorous and Ethical Selection Process
Selecting 100 individuals from a community of over 200 million posed significant challenges. Extensive consultations with grassroots representatives across India informed the process. A team of experts finalized the list, which is presented in alphabetical order due to the absence of a ranking mechanism.
While the team strived for accuracy and fairness, they acknowledged the possibility of unintentional exclusions. Readers and stakeholders are encouraged to provide suggestions for deserving individuals to be included in the 2025 list. To maintain ethical standards, members of the Muslim Mirror team and the Minority Media Foundation were not considered for the list.
The Muslim Mirror 100 serves as a testament to the exceptional contributions of Indian Muslims in shaping the nation. By shining a light on their achievements, the initiative not only celebrates their successes but also fosters a sense of pride and inspiration within the community.
As the list continues to evolve, it stands as a powerful reminder of the resilience, talent, and leadership within the Indian Muslim community, setting the stage for even greater accomplishments in the years to come.
source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Big Story> Indian Muslim> Positive Story / by Muslim Mirror / January 03rd, 2025
Asar-us-Sanadid was published in 1847. Yet, Syed Ahmad Khan distresses over the ‘recent’ increase in Delhi’s population.
Ruins of Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi | Commons
Delhi is introduced, interpreted, and celebrated all the time through walks, performances, talks and articles. But not many realise that the person who began telling the stories of Delhi was a young man in his 20s named Syed Ahmad Khan. Two centuries after he was born, his work Asar-us-Sanadid can now enjoy a wider readership because of its translation into English by Rana Safvi in 2018.
Syed Ahmad Khan was not the first writer to describe Delhi, but when he compiled his notes on the ‘remains of the great’ (asar-us-sanadid) into a book, he chose to write not in Farsi but in the accessible Urdu — making him a pioneer. Another first was that it appeared as a book rather than as a manuscript because his brother had just installed a new Urdu printing press in Delhi. Khan’s qualifications to write were not that of a narrow specialist. In those happy days, when education was not one fixed menu, he had studied science, mathematics, Farsi and Urdu. In his 20s, living in his family home in Shahjahanabad (present-day Old Delhi), Khan was a junior official in the East India Company, helping his brother publish an Urdu newspaper, and translating Farsi manuscripts.
Asar-us-Sanadid was published in 1847, and had a quality of eagerness explained by Khan learning the subject as he went along. Khan went to great lengths to transcribe inscriptions (‘He is climbing up with such enthusiasm/That people think he has some work in the sky’ was an affectionate comment about his swinging round the Qutub Minar in an improvised basket-and-poles contraption to read the inscriptions on the higher storeys). The artists’ drawings for the book were based on his own sketches.
There are very few extant copies of the original edition. The better-known second edition, published in 1854, bears the blue pencil marks of the Collector A.A. Roberts, who did a hatchet-job, reducing it by a half, adhering to chronology, giving British scientists a role in the Jantar Mantar project, removing all the poets and artists, and making it an altogether dull book.
Sights, sounds and silences
To Khan, historic architecture was not just patrons, materials, form and function. It was part of a continuous culture, nourished by new infusions. Political history, the overlapping cities and forts, the increasingly sophisticated elements in architecture – these became four-dimensional by reading mosques, dargahs and mazhars as sacred spaces, calm with the presence of mystics and scholars long departed. They were to be experienced in silence, reading the inscriptions, not listening to the patter of a guide. He delineates the complementarity of a vibrant urban culture —music, poetry, dance — and animated bazaars, the tranquil atmosphere of the countryside, fields and hills dotted with ruins. “The charm of the Delhi scene,” as historian Percival Spear would describe it a century later.
In a sentence that sounds startlingly contemporary, Syed Ahmad Khan is distressed by the “recent” increase in the city’s population, making it — and also the bracing hills of Mehrauli — unpleasantly congested. But he insists that “in spite of all these factors, the climate of Delhi is still a thousand times better than that of other cities.” The magnificent Mughal fort (remember that he was writing well before 1857) is described in the second chapter; Shahjahanabad in the third; the artists, poets and musicians in the fourth (the section captioned, charmingly, ‘The nightingale-like sweetly-singing people of Shahjahanabad on the outskirts of Paradise’).
Shining light on Delhi for other historians
It was a challenging task. Delhi’s landscape was not easy to read in the complete absence of any older accounts or images. There was overlap, modification (particularly in the Qutub Minar area), vandalism (of poet Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana’s tomb by the ruler of Awadh). As a teenager, Syed Ahmad Khan was interested in astronomy, so his distress over the neglect of Jantar Mantar is understandable. He would have liked to spend more time studying it: “I will need a separate book to describe the workmanship, use and effectiveness of these instruments.”
Mirza Ghalib, in the ‘Foreword’, describes his friend’s book as one that would “numb the hands of other writers.” Khan’s meticulous account of buildings, even those in ruins, became the template for later books in English. “He who undertakes to write the archaeology of Delhi must constantly seek for light in the pages of Syed Ahmed Khan’s interesting work on that subject,” wrote Carr Stephen in The Archaeology and Monumental Remains of Delhi (1876).
More than 20 years lapsed between Asar-us-Sanadid’s second edition and Stephen’s book. A world separated the two publications. Khan, posted in Bijnor (in present-day Uttar Pradesh), was not caught in the trauma of 1857 (the Great Revolt). Some of the poets he had listed in Asar-us-Sanadid — like Ghalib — sought relief by writing laments to their ravaged city. His own reaction was different. With a sense of grief at seeing an efficient machine derailed, Khan would write Asbab-e-Baghawat-e-Hind (The Causes of the Indian Rebellion) to understand what had gone wrong. His bond with Delhi was severed. He went on to become a distinguished public figure in north India, remembered today for the institution he founded, the Aligarh Muslim University.
Hopefully, reading Asar-us-Sanadid now will return the young Syed Ahmad Khan to us. The past is in many ways a foreign country, and to walk with a guide through towns of the past is an invigorating exercise.
This article is the first of an eight-part series on Reading A City with Saha Sutra on www.sahapedia.org, an open online resource on the arts, cultures and heritage of India. Read the series here.
Dr Narayani Gupta writes on urban history, particularly that of Delhi. Views are personal.
source: http://www.theprint.in / The Print / Home> Opinion> Sahapedia / by Narayani Gupta / December 01st, 2019
(From left) Lokaraj Urs (Founder, Madilu Seva Trust NGO), Veeresh, President, Suvarna Karnataka Chemists and Distributors Association, S. Manjunath, President, Mysore District Chemists and Distributors Association, C.K. Muralidharan, Ashok Kumar, Joint Secretary, Mysore District Chemists and Distributors Association and Nigin.
World’s youngest Head Master (HM) Babar Ali, who was in city recently, was felicitated by the office-bearers of Mysore District Chemists and Distributors Association.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Photo News / December 31st, 2024
