Sahebaan Business and Professionals Group (SBPG) and Sahebaan UAE conducted a Business and Professionals Meet at Al Jumairah Ballroom of Crowne Plaza Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, on 5th February 2023 from 2.00 PM onwards.
The event, sponsored by the Sahebaan Business Community UAE, was a success, with Sahebaan Community delegates from UAE, GCC, and India in attendance.
The event commenced with a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran. The convenor of SBPG, Althaf M.S., welcomed the gathering and explained the purpose of this maiden initiative.
The Program thereafter commenced with a panel discussion moderated by Althaf M.S., an EPC Oil and Gas Professional. The panel consisted of Dr. Abdul Rahiman Beig, a Professor at Khalifa University Abu Dhabi; Mrs. Ambreen Sheik, a Businesswomen and also an Honorary President of the Indian Ladies Association, Abu Dhabi; Mr. Mumtaz Hussain, an established Businessman from Qatar; Dr. Waleed Ahmed, Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (UK) and a well- known consultant and Mr. Syed Siraj Ahmed, Ex banker & Risk Management Consultant.
While speaking during the event, Mr. Imran Hidayath, CEO of Hidayath Group, Dubai, dwelt on his entrepreneurial journey to success.
Mr. Suhail Kudroli, Chartered Accountant, urged all to participate in such gatherings.
While speaking at the sidelines of the meeting, UAE Sahebaan Convenor Mr. Afroz Assadi and Mr. Siraj Ahmed appreciated the initiative and urged all to lend their support.
Business presentations were made subsequently by Mohd Salman on his startup business “The Stepup Ventures,” followed by Sahebaan ladies, Sahara Asif on “Life Skills Education” and Waseem Shaikh & Thanziya Khan on “Tru Choco & Nuts.”
The event’s highlight was Speed Networking, which evidenced active participation by delegates and interaction on a one-to-one basis with every delegate.
The Program was managed by Althaf M.S, Mohd. Samiulla, Mohd Sufiyan, and Faizaan Khateeb and anchored by Mohd. Sufiyan.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Gulf / by Vartha Bharati / February 13th, 2023
Delhi-based author Syed Ubaidur Rahman’s latest book is making waves among academics and history buffs these days. His book, ‘Forgotten Muslim Empires of South India: Bahmani Empire, Madurai, Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Golconda and Mysore Sultanates’ that was released earlier this month has caught the imagination of a large number of people.
While the Muslim history in north India is well documented, the history of Muslims in the Deccan hasn’t caught the same attention. This is the reason that while hundreds of books have been penned on the Mughals and the Delhi Sultanate’s rule in different languages, if you try to lay your hands on the Muslim rule elsewhere, there is very little available on the ruling dynasties and their rule in other regions including South India.
Syed Ubaidur Rahman’s latest book tries to correct this mistake and bring back the Muslim sultanates of the Deccan and south India into focus. The voluminous book of 664 pages, it contains a more than three hundred fifty page chapter on the Bahmani Empire alone.
When asked as to why he wrote so much on the Bahmani Sultanate, the author says, “Bahmani Sultanate, towards the end of the 14th century was the pre-eminent power not just in South India, but across the Indian subcontinent. However, despite its resplendent and great past, there is not much literature available on the Bahmani Sultanate that was the most powerful empire from mid fourteenth century till the end of the fifteenth century. It has been relegated to the margins of history in our school syllabus and even in our history books. In this book, I have made an effort to bring it back to common imagination and make it a talking point”.
The author goes on to add that “The Bahmanis and the latter day sultanates in the region had a transformative impact over the populace, both Muslims and Hindus. Not much is written about how the Bahmani sultans spread education across the region and established schools and colleges in every major towns of their realm that not just provided free education to the pupils but took care of all their needs including food and lodging. Muhammad Shah II, during his peaceful reign of close to two decades, ensured that schools and colleges were established in almost every part of the sultanate with hostel facilities. The building of Mahmud Gawan’s university is still standing tall in Bidar, the second capital of the Bahmani empire”.
Chapters on Bijapur’s Adil Shahi Sultanate, Ahmadnagar’s Nizam Shahi Sultanate, Golconda’s Qutb Shahi Sultanate, besides Madurai and Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan’s Mysore Sultanates are also thoroughly engaging, detailed and informative.
The book is a must read for history buffs, especially the ones who are concerned with preserving Indian Muslim history in the country.
***
Name of the book: ‘Forgotten Muslim Empire of South India’
A Mangaluru student, Shaikh Uzayr Mohammed, studying in Qatar has won Bronze Medal at the International Mathematics Championship 2022.
Uzayr is a grade 3 student of MES School, studying in Qatar. He hails from Kankanady in Mangaluru.
The championship was held in December 2022 and the results were announced on Monday, February 20, 2023.
A total of 2288 students from over 20 countries had participated in the championship organised by Champ Yellow, wherein Uzayr secured a place in top 40%, thereby securing a rank in Bronze Medal category.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavali / by Vartha Bharati / February 20th, 2023
Sahebaan UAE, a premier organization for the Urdu-speaking Muslim Community hailing from the twin districts of DK & Udupi, hosted a grand social family get-together followed by gala dinner at Al Jumairah Ballroom, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, on 4th February 2023 from 5.30 PM onwards.
The event, sponsored by the Sahebaan Business Community UAE, was a grand success attended by more than 800 community members from all over UAE, neighboring GCC countries and India. Eminent personalities from the Sahebaan Community graced the occasion.
The event commenced with the recitation of verses from Holy Quran by Master Fazil Raheel Ali. Althaf M.S Coordinator, Sahebaan UAE welcomed the gathering and stated that Sahebaan UAE has been providing a platform for the community members to come together, connect and strengthen the brotherly bond.
The patrons of the Sahebaan community Janab Hidayathullah Abbas, K.S. Nissar Ahmed and Afroz Assadi were honoured in recognition of their outstanding business achievements and contribution to the local economy, commendable humanitarian service, charity work and unstinted support to Sahebaan UAE and its activities. Janab Syed Siraj Ahmed, Suhail Kudroli, and Althaf Khalife initiated the honoring proceedings.
On behalf of the patrons, Janab Hidayathullah Abbas thanked the organisers and the gathering for the honor bestowed on them. He urged the Community to strive hard for success, prioritize family, help the Community, and give back to society, thus earning goodwill for Sahebaan.
The Chief guest of the evening Janab Kassim Ahmed H.K., founder of Hidaya Foundation Mangalore, while addressing the gathering called for the upliftmemt of the poor and the deprived.
Janab Mohd. Akram, Mohammed Asif, Althaf Khateeb and Irshad Moodbidri conducted the felicitation of Sponsors. Dr. Abdul Rahiman Beig, Professor at Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi & recognised as a top rated scientist by Stanford University and Mrs.Yasmeen Irfan, winner of Foodshala UAE 2022 were honoured on the occasion.
Janab Afroz Assadi Patron and Convenor of Sahebaan UAE presented awards to the talented Sahebaan Youth, namely, Sham Akbar Sheik, Safa Tamadur, Rafa Riyaz Khalife, Daniyal Danish Iqbal, Rafhan Balanthi Baig, Mohd. Rafan, Sheikh Saahir Akbar, Mehek Sheikh, Nuha Riyaz Khalife for excellence in academics.
Anbar Althaf and Saqib Baji for Sports achievement and Anam Aslam for performing arts.
Faizaan Khateeb, Mohd. Samiullaha, Mohd Sufiyan and Abdul Ahad presented a photo journey of Sahebaan UAE through the years.
Well-known bollywood stand-up comedian and mimicry artist Jayvijay Sachan entertained all with his mimicry & comedy. A Sufiana troupe from mumbai mesmerized the crowd throughout the evening with their melodious rendering.
Sahil Zaheer, a fellow Sahebaan and a hugely popular stage & radio artist from Mangalore, compered the program and entertained the crowd with his wit and humor.
Sahebaan Ladies Wing members Sahara Asif, Reena Althaf, Mehek Sheik and Riza Mustafa managed the children’s Program.
The function was sponsored by Hidayath Group, NASH Engineering FZCO, Northern Insurance brokers LLC, Prestige Engineering LLC, Petrosolutions FZCO, Creative House Scaffolding, Advanced Creative Techncial Services, Al Sitara Gulf Contracting, Multiline Technical Co. LLC, Progressive Technology & Services LLC, Sumtech Multiline Trading, Right Choice Trading, Al Bustan Trading, Vertex Engineering, Izza Gold & Diamonds Dubai, Cell Town, Invension Medical Requisities, Core Elements Interior Decoration LLC and Hasmai Mangalore.
The function concluded with a raffle draw and vote of thanks by Syed Mohd. Ajmal.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Gulf / by Vartha Bharati / February 13th, 2023
Muslim Educational Institutions Federation (MEIF) is not just providing excellent education, it is also spreading social harmony, Umar Teekay, Honorary President of MEIF and Chairman of Teekays Group, said.
He was addressing the educational conference organized by the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi Districts Muslim Educational Institutions Federation at the Town Hall in the city on Monday.
“Former minister BA Moideen had dreamt of integrating all Muslim educational institutions. MEIF is a step towards bringing that dream to life,” he said.
“Solving a problem is important, but it should not become the priority. The priority should always be of preventing problems,” Teekay advised.
Citing the instance of the recent hijab controversy, he said, “We handled the situation carefully while facing opposition from all ends and ensured that Muslim girls were not deprived of a chance to take the examinations. This was possible through the joint efforts of the members of MEIF.”
Dr. N Vinay Hegde, Chancellor of NITTE Deemed to be University inaugurated the educational conference.
Umar Teekay presided over the conference while Syed Mohamed Beary, Honorary Advisor of MEIF and Chairman of Bearys Group of Institutions, delivered the introductory address.
Yenepoya Deemed to be University Chancellor Dr. Y Abdulla Kunhi, national-level trainer Rajendra Bhat, resource persons Mahesh Masal from Dharwad and Syed Sulthan Ahmed from Bengaluru, MEIF vice-presidents B M Mumtaz Ali, K M Mustafa Sullia, Shabi Ahmed Qazi and B A Nazeer were among those present on the dais.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavali / by Vartha Bharati / February 13th, 2023
Siddi children performing Dance Dhamaal in Ahmedabad in Gujarat, India. Courtesy Sayan Dey, CC BY-SA
The term Siddi refers to Afro-Indians – Africans who mixed with Indians through marriage and relationships. Africans crossed the Indian Ocean and arrived in India during the 1200s, 1300s and 1400s. They were transported by Islamic invaders and Portuguese colonisers as enslaved people, palace guards, army chiefs, harem keepers, spiritual leaders, Sufi singers singers, dancers and treasurers.
Today, the majority of Siddis are found in the west and south-west of India, in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana states. As they settled, they preserved and practised their African ancestral sociocultural traditions – and also adopted local Indian traditions.
This interweaving of African and Indian cultural values gave birth to various creolised (mixed) food, music and spiritual practices.
As a diversity studies scholar, I have been researching Siddi culture for some time. Working within this community in Gujarat and Karnataka, I found that their creolised cultural practices emerged as a resistance to colonisation, racialisation and victimisation in postcolonial India.
My most recent research – which can also be seen in a new documentary – has focused on the music and dance performances of the Siddi community in Gujarat, called Dhamaals.
The story of Dhamaal performance traditions reveals the rich and complex mixing of cultures in a world shaped by human movement and history.
What are Dhamaals?
Dhamaal is a mix of Sufi and African (mostly East African) musical and dance traditions. It refers particularly to the spiritual practices of the Siddis of Gujarat.
The Siddis begin almost every Dhamaal song by blowing into a conch shell. This is often followed by the slow playing of East African percussion instruments like the musindo and the slow thumping of feet that marks the onset of the singing and dancing Dhamaals. The ritual of foot thumping is a crucial part of spiritual East African dance and musical traditions.
The Siddis are followers of Islam and arrived in India from Muslim communities in East and Central Africa. Dhamaals are performed in memory of their spiritual leaders, among them Bava Gor, Mai Misra, Baba Habash and Sidi Nabi Sultan. According to Siddi folklore they arrived from Ethiopia through the Nubian Valley, Syria and the Indian Ocean to the coast of Kuda in the Bhavnagar district of Gujarat.
Shipping line Shipping ports Railway line Map: Usifo Omozokpea Source: Sayan Dey Created with Datawrapper
Usually, Dhamaal songs and dances are performed to celebrate the anniversary of the birth and death of spiritual leaders. They are performed in two ways – Dance Dhamaal and Baithaaki Dhamaal. The Baithaaki Dhamaal is performed in the sitting position and the Dance Dhamaal is performed in both sitting and dance positions.
During the performance of Baithaaki Dhamaal the focus is more on the lyrics and less on the musical instruments. During Dance Dhamaal the focus is more on the sounds of the instruments. These are often played in a frenzied manner and accompanied by frenzied dance movements. The spiritual songs that are sung during the Dhamaals are known as zikrs.
A mixing of cultures
The creole cultural aspects of Dhamaals are broadly reflected through the Swahili Creole language used to sing the zikrs, the Indian and African musical instruments used to perform them and the Afro-Indian body movements of Dance Dhamaals.
Historically, the Swahili Creole language in India emerged among the Siddis through the mixing of Kiswahili from East Africa with Gujarati, Hindi and Urdu languages from India. As an example, these are the lyrics of one zikr:
Ya bolo sabaya hua wey
Ya bolo sabaya hua wey
Hu sabaya
Salwale Nabi Sultan
This zikr is sung in the praise of Siddi spiritual leader Nabi Sultan, believed to have arrived in Gujarat from the Nubian Valley. The Swahili words that have been used are “hu” (a common expression of consent) and “sabaya” (meaning that everything is alright). The zikr means that with the blessings of Nabi Sultan no evil can befall the Siddis of Gujarat.
Siddis performing Baithaaki (sitting) Dhamaal in a shrine in Gujarat. Courtesy Sayan Dey, CC BY
The musical instruments used to perform the zikrs are East African percussion instruments. The musindo, for example, is a cylinder-shaped, two-sided drum from Kenya. The misr kanga is a small, funnel-shaped instrument from Ethiopia, containing small stones. The mugarman is a large, cylinder-shaped, one-sided drum from Tanzania. These are played along with traditional Indian musical instruments. These include the harmonium (a keyboard instrument) and the dholak (a two-headed hand drum). The intermingling of Indian and African musical instruments generates creole rhythmscapes which are traditionally African and Indian at the same time.
During the Dance Dhamaal, the hand and the body movements of the Dhamaal dancers in Gujarat are very similar to the Ngoma dancers of East Africa. The Ngoma dancers thump their feet and swing their arms sideways to the rhythm of drums. The Dhamaal dancers also swing their arms sideways, but the thumping of feet depends on the context of their dance. During religious occasions, for example, the foot thumping is slow. This is because the Siddis follow many spiritual aspects of the Sufi tradition. For Sufis, heavy and frenzied feet thumping is prohibited when worshipping spiritual leaders.
Transoceanic roots
These creolised musical and dance performances allow the Siddis in Gujarat to maintain their African ancestral practices. They do so in collaboration with Indian practices so that they do not forget their historical roots yet can respect local traditions at the same time.
Siddis performing Baithaaki (sitting) Dhamaal in a shrine in Gujarat. Courtesy Sayan Dey, CC BY
These creole practices have allowed the community to build a transoceanic identity (one which crosses the oceans). This is done in a collaborative, reciprocal and diverse way.
The Dhamaal tradition of the Siddis has socially, culturally and economically empowered the community as well. Several community members, through the assistance of government and private organisations, travel across India and the world to perform at cultural festivals. This encourages the Siddis to share their creolised cultural values across the globe.
This in turn invites audiences to consider history through an interracial and intercultural lens.
source: http://www.theconversation.com / The Conversation / Home> Global / by Sayan Dey, University of Witwatersrand / February 03rd, 2023
The new Governor of Andhra Pradesh has once said ‘he has lived a dream’
File photo of retired Supreme Court judge Justice Abdul Nazeer. | Photo Credit: Sandeep Saxena
Justice S. Abdul Nazeer, retired Supreme Court judge and the new Governor of Andhra Pradesh, once said “he has lived a dream”.
The man whose face, Supreme Court lawyers say, breaks into a “million dollar smile” before dismissing their cases, started his life’s journey in singularly tough circumstances in Karnataka’s Beluvai and later in Mangaluru.
Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud narrated how a young Nazeer worked in his uncle’s farms to make ends meet. During those bleak early years, he would scavenge for fish which washed up ashore at the Panambur beach to supplement his family’s income.
Justice Nazeer was born in 1958 into a family of several brothers and a sister. His father died early. He has often spoken about the sacrifices of his mother for the family. Justice Nazeer completed his graduation in Commerce and obtained a law degree from SDM Law College in Mangaluru. He was the family’s first lawyer. He moved to Bengaluru, overcame his natural shyness and “difficulty with the English language” to set up a substantial practice in tax and civil laws.
‘Duck syndrome’
He compared his early years as a lawyer to the “duck syndrome”. “I was like a duck who is seen gliding smoothly on the water, but is actually paddling furiously under the water just to keep itself afloat,” Justice Nazeer said at his farewell from the Supreme Court.
Justice Nazeer was elevated to the Karnataka High Court Bench at the early age of 45, largely owing to the recommendation of Justice R.V. Raveendran, the senior-most local judge of the High Court at the time. He spent 14 years at the High Court before his appointment as a Supreme Court judge on the proposal of a Collegium led by then Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar in 2017.
Justice Nazeer was not even a Chief Justice of a High Court when he was elevated to the Supreme Court. He was in fact the fourth senior-most among minority community judges of the High Courts.
His tenure gave him opportunities, one after other, to be in the thick of almost every momentous decision of the apex court.
He supported Chief Justice Khehar’s minority view to uphold triple talaq while the majority on the Constitution Bench struck it down. He was part of the nine-judge Bench which upheld privacy as a fundamental right.
Then came his role as the sole minority judge on the Ayodhya Bench, which gave the title of the disputed Ramjanmabhoomi to the Hindus. Senior advocate Vikas Singh said the unanimous Ayodhya judgment showed Justice Nazeer had “placed the nation first, him as a judge second and him as an individual last”.
On Justice Nazeer’s last working day, Chief Justice Chandrachud, who was also part of the Ayodhya Bench, said “Justice Nazeer was not the one who would be neutral between right and wrong but he stood for what is right. We shared the Ayodhya Bench and we worked together and delivered a decision together”.
His last few days as apex court judge saw a Constitution Bench presided by Justice Nazeer uphold the government’s 2016 demonetisation policy as flawless.
Justice Nazeer is also remembered for his speech at the National Council meeting of the Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad in Hyderabad in December 2021, highlighting the need to chuck the colonial legal system detrimental to national interest and embrace the “great legal traditions as per Manu, Kautilya, Katyayana, Brihaspati, Narada, Parashara, Yajnavalkya and other legal giants of ancient India”.
Justice Nazeer is known for his fondness for theatre. He writes dialogues and composes songs for his dramas. He is also well known for his Tulu songs. Justice Nazeer has learnt Sanskrit. Chief Justice Chandrachud credits this endeavour to his “diversity, inclusion and openness of mind”.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India / by Krishnadas Rajagopal / February 13th, 2023
Andaleeb Wajid is a Bangalore-based writer who attempts to authentically portray India’s Muslim diaspora through novels that focus on life, food, family and relationships.
The young Indian Muslim writer Andaleeb Wajid has published five books in almost as many years. Courtesy Andaleeb Wajid
Modestly dressed in a pretty headscarf and shalwar kameez, the Bangalore-based writer Andaleeb Wajid smiles as she talks about her short but successful writing career – she has published five books in six years, most of them featuring a Muslim setting and credibly representing the community in India.
Wajid, 36, says she has been writing since she was 10. Her first book, Kite Strings, was released in August 2009 followed by Blinkers Off (August 2011), My Brother’s Wedding (May 2013) and More Than Just Biryani (January 2014). No Time For Goodbyes, released in April this year, is her latest book and the first in the Tamanna Trilogy series, books on time travel targeted at young adults. The other two will be released in September and December this year.
How did you begin writing?
I have been writing stories since I was 10. When I was in Grade 12, I was left very confused about what I would do with my life. There weren’t many options for girls from orthodox Muslim families. Then it occurred to me to take up writing as a career. I was certain that no one would stop me.
Is there a reason why many of your books have been set in a Muslim milieu?
I’m quite amused with the way Muslims are depicted in Bollywood films and on television in India. My stories attempt to show a slice of Muslim life, which is no different from anyone else’s. I wrote More Than Just Biryani only because I strongly felt that the world has labelled us as just biryani-eaters and I wanted them to be aware of the diversity in Muslim cuisine. Kite Strings discusses the issues a young girl from an orthodox Lababin Muslim [a community from Tamil Nadu] family faces. But a large number of non-Muslim fans also reached out to me, saying how much they identified with the character, which proves that some things transcend religious boundaries.
More Than Just Biryani was conceived as a recipe book. What prompted you to turn it into fiction?
My brother and I had thought of writing a culinary memoir but the idea never took off because I realised early that I could never do justice to non-fiction. Instead I wrote about three women and the role food plays in their lives. Nearly every chapter of the book has a recipe, which is woven into the story.
Have you drawn upon your personal experiences to craft stories?
Yes. Like most writers, I started off writing about what I knew best. In Kite Strings, the protagonist Mehnaz is a rebel without a cause and behaves a lot like I did as a teenager. The story is set in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, where as a child I spent several holidays with my grandparents. In More Than Just Biryani, one of the protagonists loses her father. It was the most painful chapter I have ever written.
What else is in the pipeline?
I have one more young-adult novel in my kitty, about a girl whose mother has left the family. Then there’s another about a crochet teacher and the four women who learn this beautiful craft from her and end up baring their lives to her.
• Andaleeb Wajid’s books are available on Amazon
artslife@thenational.ae
source: http://www.thenationalnews.com / The National / Home / by Priti Salian / July 05th, 2014
A museum in Bhatkal is a treasure trove of Nawaiti culture and heritage.
Ajaib Shabbir with a writing desk which also acts as a jewel box | Subhash Chandra NS
Bhatkal (Uttara Kannada):
There stands a heritage building in Bhatkal. This 150-year-old edifice is home to a very unique museum. Within its halls is a trove of artefacts, which visitors want to touch and feel. But Ajaib Shabbir stands guard with his eyes roving around, warning people against doing so. “Do not touch anything! Just look at them,” he repeats every now and then, concerned about the safety of the property. In the museum is the collection of a community’s culture, that of the Nawaitis.
The old house — a unique Nawaiti museum — was opened by the Navayathi Mehfil. On entering, visitors are greeted by a replica of an old boat with a mast. On entering another room, there are old brass, porcelain, and other artefacts made of tin and iron. Just below the high-beam lamps, hang at least two dozen lanterns collected over a hundred years.
“These have been collected from various people in Bhatkal, who have preserved them like treasure. I requested them that these be displayed in a museum and they obliged. Many families like those of Damudi Abdulla and Saeed Shoupa, and others, donated their collections. A few even lent them,” says Shabbir, whose brainchild is this museum.
Pointing out to some of the lanterns, he says these were our means of lighting before the advent of electricity in Bhatkal, sometime in the 1960s. Then turning to a visitor, he describes a writing desk nearby, saying, “This would act as a writing desk and a jewellery box. It’s a 100-year-old design. You can hide your valuables and lock it, and then cover it with materials for writing to use as a desk.”
Moving on, there are areca cutters, hookahs, and coconut graters in designer brass, which look like they are from another era. Explains Shabbir: “The use of these tools in households stopped several decades ago… Maybe when I was a child. These are all very valuable.”
The porcelain products displayed at the museum are among his most valued possessions, and he reminisces how his forefathers collected them from various places. Lifting one of the exhibits, he says, “This plate is from Holland. It was in the possession of a family here.” He adds, “We have materials from Italy, Yemen, England and other European countries, contributed by various families. We are all proud of them,” he says.
Large copper pots, both carved and uncarved, pans, kettles and other products are displayed too. The latest exhibit to join the collection is about 50-years-old, while the oldest is at least 150 years. “We do not look at our exhibits as old articles. They are aimed at explaining how we lived in our past, and the place we came from. That’s why we placed a replica of the ship in which legendary historian Ibn Batuta came to Bhatkal. We consider him as our pioneer,” said businessman and philanthropist Jaan Abdul Rehman Motisham.
Replicas of several old mosques have also been highlighted in the museum. One of the mosques, said to be the second oldest in the country, has undergone several changes except to crucial parts inside, and in its dome.
“These are some replicas of old mosques, how they were in the days gone by,” he says, adding that this museum is a symbol of co-existence as both Muslim and Jain communities have been living in harmony here. Likewise, the Basti constructed by Chennabhaira Devi, the queen of Gerusoppa, is a living holy spot where the devout come and worship.
Preserving culture
The Navayathi Mehfil, which began the museum, came into existence 20 years ago, with an aim to preserve Nawaiti culture, language and social life. The language spoken by the community is a unique mix of Marathi, Urdu and Konkani.
Communal harmony
Nawaitis share a special bond with the Jain community, and both have coexisted in Bhatkal for centuries. According to studies, Nawaitis claim that they have a 1,400-year-old culture. Accordingly, they came with horses for trade and immediately liked Betkal (the name for ancient Bhatkal), the place where they landed. According to Ajaib Shabbir, their culture matches with Yemenis, Arabs and Jains. They consider Ibn Batuta, the great traveller who visited the court of the Vijayanagara Rayas, as their pioneer.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by Subhash Chandra NS / Express News Service / February 05th, 2023
Nooshin’s restless will to compete helped her transition from an elite player to an elite coach.
While Nooshin was looking for a breather, she is getting to experience what it feels to be part of a team that became the first women’s team to bring an ICC title home – a completion of a well-deserved redemption arc. (Special Arrangement)
Nooshin Al Khadeer hasn’t even had the chance to put her feet up and enjoy a brief break. Being the head coach of the India Under-19 women’s team, the last few months have been busy in every sense. Be it a preparatory camp at the NCA, a bilateral series in Vizag, or a preparatory camp in South Africa, Nooshin was at the forefront of everything. The reward: India getting their hands on the inaugural Under-19 World Cup trophy on January 29, defeating England in the final.
While Nooshin was looking for a breather, she is getting to experience what it feels to be part of a team that became the first women’s team to bring an ICC title home – a completion of a well-deserved redemption arc. Nooshin was, in fact, the final Indian batter to have gotten out in the 2005 Women’s ODI World Cup final against Australia, giving the Aussies the fifth of their seven titles.
pix: @NooshinKhadeer
After landing in Mumbai, she left for Ahmedabad, where the BCCI felicitated the team, before taking the next flight to Ranchi to be part of the Railways team at the ongoing Senior Women’s One-Day tournament. “After winning the title, I told the team it is just the start. And even some of the players feel the same way. So it is important to get down to business straightaway,” Nooshin tells the Indian Express.
Those who know Nooshin up close attribute this dedication and hardwork to her success. Be it Vinod Sharma, who was the head coach of the Railways team she represented for long, her India teammate Punam Raut, or her long-time friend and teammate Mithali Raj, all have a common thing to say: “She was destined to be a coach.”
Lessons in patience
There was, however, one thing Nooshin still had to take care of before charting her path as a coach.
“She was an aggressive player who always wanted things to work out on the field. But you can’t have the same trait as a coach,” Mithali says of her friend. “When she decided to get into coaching, it was something we had a conversation about. When you are a coach, you are not only coaching the seniors, but you also have to coach youngsters, and you need to develop patience. She worked hard on that. That is her biggest transformation,” she adds.
A key part of developing that patience started when Nooshin moved to Hyderabad, where she began her coaching stint with the Under-16 side for two years before moving to the Chhattisgarh senior side.
“I would say I never rushed into coaching saying ‘look I’m an Indian player and I’ve contributed for so long, I have to take up a senior side.’ I wasn’t eligible for it. I wanted to get through the levels — Level A, and B,” Nooshin said.
“Playing and coaching are two different roles. This is a totally different profession, and I’m glad that I understood that early in my life. I took up Chhattisgarh because I wanted to test myself, especially my patience. Coaching needs calmness and patience because I really had to go down to their level, explain things, and build a team,” she added.
Nooshin was, in fact, the final Indian batter to have gotten out in the 2005 Women’s ODI World Cup final against Australia, giving the Aussies the fifth of their seven titles. (Special Arrangement)
As Chhattisgarh did well by making it to the knockouts, her employer Railways would come calling. For a team that is known to win silverware, they had just lost two big titles, and as they pressed the reset button, they came calling for Nooshin. “I had no choice but to take that because I still had a contract running with Chhattisgarh. But since it is the institution that I work for, I took it up as a challenge.”
It is at Railways that Mithali would first see a different Nooshin. The aggressive player, and one who didn’t hesitate to speak her mind, was long gone. “When she came to Railways, I could see she was not Nooshin, the player I knew. Standing in front of us was Nooshin, the coach. And that is when I started to trust her and we started having a lot of conversations about my batting, the team and a lot of other stuff,” Mithali says.
Understanding people
The smooth transition is also a reflection of how Nooshin was quick to adapt. According to her Railways coach Sharma, she has always had leadership qualities, and was especially good at communication. In a simple sense, she was a very vocal player, who wasn’t hesitant to share her views even when some of her senior players chose to stay mum.
“I’m a chatterbox, and I talk to everyone and anybody. To understand people, you need to know them, and the only way I can know someone is if I talk to them. There are 15 different players in the team and each one is different. So reading them is not easy.
“I talk to groundsmen, guys who carry water to the field, because it helps me improve my communication. I get to understand a lot of things by talking to them. For someone to open up, you should make them comfortable and I think I have that natural capability to communicate well,” Nooshin says.
For a player who hung up her boots on March 16, 2012, she hardly had a break. While most players would have preferred to stay away from waking up early and hitting the ground, Nooshin was back on the ground in a fortnight. “On April 1, I was at a coaching camp in Hyderabad,” Nooshin says.
Mithali feels there was a reason for it as well. “I wasn’t surprised that she took up coaching. The way her career ended, she felt there was unfinished business. She wanted to give back to the game. She thought she could do something through coaching. And she worked very hard for it. Whenever I called her, she would be on the ground,” the former India skipper says.
“Look I could have been a selector or completed five years and be eligible to become a match referee. But that isn’t me. I wanted to give something back to the game, even 20 percent of what I learned. Why was never a question, but I never thought I would come this far,” Nooshin says.
source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Sports> Cricket / by Venkatar Krishna R / February 07th, 2023
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