Mohammad Zubair, one of the founding members of fact-checking and news website AltNews, won the 2023 Freedom of Expression Awards – Journalism by Index on Censorship.
“His fight against fake news and disinformation in #India has led to him facing attacks, slander and even jail,” The group said while announcing the award on social media.
Index on Censorship is a nonprofit that campaigns for and defends free expression worldwide. The other nominees for the award were Bilan Media — Somalia’s first women-only media organisation and newsroom— and Afghan journalist Mortaza Behboudi.
Jailed educationalist Matiullah Wesa from Afghanistan won the 2023 Freedom of Expression Awards – Campaigning. Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi won the award in the art category.
Alt News’ approach focuses on political fact-checking to scrutinise claims made by political parties, leaders and other persons in positions of authority; debunking social media rumours; and examining media misinformation and bias.
In June 2022, following a tweet exposing a national spokesperson of the BJP making hateful and Islamophobic utterances on national TV, Mohammed Zubair was arrested by the Delhi and Uttar Pradesh state police.
It has been reported that whenever Zubair was granted bail on one case another FIR would be lodged against him. This led to six FIRs being lodged against Zubair, resulting in him being caught in a 24-day cycle of arrest, bail and re-arrest.
The following month, the Indian Supreme Court granted Zubair bail and ordered his release, as there was no justification for keeping him in custody.
source: http://www.maktoobmedia.com / Maktoob Media / Home> India / by Maktoob Staff / October 20th,2023
Fouzia Tarannum started her preparation for UPSC in December 2010. She quit her job as a Business Analyst with Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. In CSE 2011, she cleared with AIR of 307, thereby joining the IRS (IT). The attempt in 2012 didn’t see any improvement in her rank/service.
Her preparation journey: Once posted she started feeling the difference in service – IAS and IRS. She felt that she should try one last time for her dream service and give one last attempt. A few weeks before 2014 prelims she jumped into preparation mode.
What made her successful this time? She reread the standard books, along with the sources available online. She feels that a big part of the improvement in rank to AIR 31 this year was due to her growth as a person, becoming more mature, having seen more of this world and a creeping sense of practicality and realism in approach, compared to an over-idealistic one earlier.
Her advice: She advises that UPSC is actually looking for more rounded personalities with problem solving approach and an analytical mind. The UPSC journey should be looked at in this light, and not merely reading of books.
How difficult it was to prepare with her job? She felt a deep sense of duty and responsibility towards her work that she doesn’t compromise on her present work while giving this attempt. She had to be more than justifying the salary that she was taking home.
Though it was tiring at times, but she made sure that at office, she would concentrate on work, and at home on preparation efforts.
How did she balance both? The balance came from management of time. There will never be enough time; rather we have to make time for everything. She took no leave before prelims, took 30 days leave before mains and 5 days leave for interview.
How did she plan her studies? She studied for atleast 2 hours a day, on working days – depending on her work day either early morning or late night – August to December 2014. She also managed to take a few Fridays off after the prelims results, so as to get 3 days of continuous studies.
She finished weekly newspapers that she piled up and studied for about 4 hours a day, on weekends and holidays.
How did she manage her different subjects? She focused on revising her strong areas (economy, geography, etc.) and re-prepared her weak areas (history, culture, sociology, etc.) along with preparing for the newly introduced topics.
She focused on current events and ensured that she remained updated with GS.
Optional Subjects: she chose Sociology as optional because it takes lesser time to prepare in comparison and enjoyed reading this subject, though she had never studied this subject academically.
Her tips for Ethics- GS Paper 4: She just read a few solved papers and looked up definitions on all the terms used in the syllabus and made short notes. She suggests that one must give true answers to most situational questions/case studies.
Did she practice writing answers? She says she couldn’t practise writing due to lack of time and also feels that if she had practised, she could have scored better.
Tips to write answers: She gave many examples in her answers, and tried to keep them interesting to whoever was to read them.
Time Management: There is a dire need for short, productive periods of reading through the day. For instance, she read the news feeds after returning from lunch at office, watched news/saved videos while travelling to and from office, etc. Such reading of 15 minutes in short bursts 4-5 times a day really adds up and contributes immensely to our efforts.
Whenever she felt low in her studies: She use to take up a subject that she liked and enjoyed when she would feel depressed. This really helps make our efforts more productive. She suggests one should be judicious in the time one allots to various “sub-subjects”.
Writing style: She feels short, to the point, bullet points, covering as many dimensions and aspects as possible is the best way to write answers. She didn’t focus much on word limits, for some answers she looked for more space and for some she just jotted down half a page. She suggests interlinking of topics and use of diagrams/charts. She also underlined important points while writing.
Her suggestion: A lot of resources are available online, one must have a look and settle for what works best and not waste time on internet unnecessarily.
Do not lose focus and never lose faith. Stay consistent in your efforts. Believe in yourself! Don’t forget to keep learning and to keep improving!
Though a certain amount of luck is required, hard work does pay!
” She says- “I have not studied in big “Ivy League” institutions, nor do I have any civil servants in my family. I come from a very simple, ordinary, loving household, where education has never been very important”.
source: http://www.civilsdaily.com / Civils Daily / by Root
In a ceremony held at Taj Exotica, The Palm, Dubai, NRI entrepreneur Nasir Syed was honored with Business Icon award by NKN Media, celebrating the success stories of Indian business leaders in the UAE.
The event, boasting 16 icons from diverse industries, was graced by the presence of Dr. Shashi Tharoor, former Minister of State for External Affairs and acclaimed author, who handed over the award to Nasir Syed.
Nasir Syed, a prominent figure hailing from Moodbidri and the son of Syed Mohidin from Dakshina Kannada, has established himself as a renowned entrepreneur and international superbike rider in the UAE. He is the founder and CMD of Creative House Scaffolding.
The prestigious event was organized in collaboration with India Today Group, one of India’s leading media houses. The ceremony was broadcasted on India’s prominent news channels, Aaj Tak and India Today TV. The award aimed to celebrate visionary leaders and recognize their significant impact on the UAE’s business landscape and community.
Renowned actors and influencers, including Vivek Oberoi and Salman Yusuff Khan, shared exclusive video messages with their dedicated fan base, expressing their anticipation for the event.
In addition to these messages, India’s leading news anchor, Rajdeep Sardesai, graced the occasion with his presence.
The ceremony served as a platform to showcase the inspiring journeys and remarkable accomplishments of these business icons. Engaging 30-minute episodes highlighting their stories will be broadcasted, allowing viewers to gain insights into the experiences and achievements of these influential personalities.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Business / by Vartha Bharati / September 30th, 2023
CM, DyCM and other prominent leaders grace the inaugral ceremony of the ‘Bearys Souharda Bhavan’.
Bengaluru:
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced on Saturday that the state government has earmarked Rs 3,150 crores for the development of minority communities, with Rs 10,000 crores to be gradually reserved for this purpose in upcoming budgets. He made this announcement during his address at the inaugural ceremony of ‘Beary Souharda Bhavan’ here at HBR Layout.
The Chief Minister, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and other prominent leaders, inaugurated the Souharda Bhavan and the B.A. Mohideen Memorial Auditorium.
In his speech, Siddaramaiah emphasized the equal distribution of the state’s wealth among all its citizens, stating that “equal justice will be served, and no one can be treated unfairly.” He expressed pride in laying the foundation stone for Beary Souharda Bhavan and inaugurating it, highlighting its inclusivity by being open to people of all backgrounds.
Highlighting the important role played by harmony to achieve peace and progress in a country, he asserted that attaining peace and progress in a country or society is not possible without having harmony and equality among diverse cultures.
Stressing on creating harmony in the society, he stated, “Those who sow mistrust and hatred towards each other will be the primary reason for the downfall of this country. BA Mohideen was an exemplary personality with true secular values, who believed in friendship.”
He further assured strict action against those who disturb the peace in the society, emphasizing that individuals from all castes and religions are entitled to exercise their constitutional rights.
Beary community’s contribution to peace and development immense: D.K Shivakumar
Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Chief Minister D.K Shivakumar commended the Beary Community as having contributed a lot to the development of peace, harmony and educational institutions in the state. He also thanked the Beary community for its support to the Congress party in the recent Vidhana Sabha Polls.
Acknowledging the community’s positive impact on Kannada language, he added that, “the Beary speaking community has made memorable contributions to Kannada literature, culture and language is immense. While girls wear jewelry to look beautiful, the beary speaking community has made Kannada beautiful” he said.
Meanwhile, he also recalled the contribution made by the community towards the temples of the Dakshina Kannada district, and also acknowledged that it was Bappa Beary who constructed the Shri Durgaparameshwari Temple in Mulki.
Shivakumar also stressed on generating employment in hometown and asserted that instead of heading to foreign countries or the gulf one should stress on creating jobs in the hometown, the exit of talent will prove harmful for the development of the state.
Encouraging people of Mangaluru, he cited the coastal city as the investors’ paradise and that the people should generate employment locally and remove the stigma of the city being called as the laboratory of communal riots.
Speaking about the requests made by the beary community for the grants, Shivakumar assured of all possible assistance within the framework of the law.
“Increase Muslim representation in the state cabinet”
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Syed Muhammad Beary, President of the Bearys Group and Beary Souharda Bhavan Building committee, urged an increase in Muslim representation in the state cabinet. Simultaneously, he also suggested giving ministerial positions to three people of the community including speaker U.T Khader.
In response to Syed Beary’s remarks, D.K Shivakumar noted during his address that, “You requested that UT Khader, who holds the position of a speaker, be considered for a ministerial role. He currently occupies a higher position above ours. SM Krishna and Jagdish Shettar were also speakers.”
Syed Beary also mentioned that the state government initially allocated a 30,000 sq ft plot of land. However, for some reasons, only 12,000 sq ft of land was allotted, and they have fully utilized it for the construction of this building.
Beary expressed hope that the government would allocate the remaining 18,000 sq ft of land for the construction of another building on the same model and hostel facilities for men.
B.A. Mohideen’s dream inspired the construction of this building, which has been named ‘Beary Souharda Bhavan’ in accordance with his suggestion. Syed Beary expressed, “This Bhavan will serve the community well, in line with the aspirations of B.A. Mohideen, who sparked an educational revolution amongst the Beary Muslims.”
The ceremony was attended by Speaker U.T. Khader, Energy Minister K.J. George, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, Chief Minister’s Political Secretary Naseer Ahmed, Legislative Council Ruling Party Chief Whip Salim Ahmed, Umar Teekay, G.A. Bawa along with many other distinguished guests.
President of Bearys Welfare Association, Bengaluru and Member of Legislative Council B.M. Farooq presided over the event.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karnataka / by Vartha Bharati / September 30th, 2023
The All India Ideal Teachers Association (AIITA) has announced a highly anticipated State-level program set to take place on October 1st, 2023, at Gulbarga, Karnataka.
In a recent press conference, Muhammad Raza Manvi, the President of AIITA’s Karnataka Chapter, unveiled the event’s details, highlighting the prestigious State Level Education Award, the Afzal Hussain Shikshan Ratna Award, which will be bestowed upon Dr. Abdul Qadeer the founder of Shaheen group of Institutions, a distinguished figure in the field of education.
Dr. Abdul Qadeer has been selected to receive this distinguished accolade in recognition of his remarkable contributions to the field of education, setting an inspiring example for educators across the state. The award ceremony is expected to draw attention not only to Dr. Qadeer’s accomplishments but also to the importance of education and its transformative power.
The highlight of the event will be the presence of Dr. Fouziya Tarannum, the District Commissioner of Gulbarga, who has graciously accepted the invitation to serve as the chief guest.
The event is anticipated to be a gathering of educational luminaries, as teachers and educators from across Karnataka are expected to participate. This assembly will not only celebrate Dr. Abdul Qadeer’s exceptional achievements but also provide a unique opportunity for educators to come together, exchange experiences, share knowledge, and gain valuable insights into the evolving landscape of education in India.
The AIITA State-level program on October 1st, 2023, promises to be a momentous occasion, celebrating excellence in education and the dedication of individuals like Dr. Abdul Qadeer, who continue to shape the future of our nation through their unwavering commitment to learning and teaching. The event is expected to inspire and motivate educators, fostering a spirit of innovation and collaboration in the pursuit of educational excellence across Karnataka.
source: http://www.thehindustangazette.com / The Hindustan Gazette / Home> News> Education / by The Hindustan Gazette / September 30th, 2023
Haji Abdul Razak Kote Hejmady, owner of Metalco Group of Companies was conferred with ‘Best Entrepreneur of Bahrain’ award.
Former President of India Ramnath Kovind presented the award to Haji Abdul Razak.
Abdul Razak, who is the president of Dakshina Kannada Muslim Welfare Association in involved in social and religious works since many years.
Abdul Razak has been residing in Bahrain from the past 47 years. He hails from the Kote family of Hejmady in Udupi district.
He has been the voice of Muslim Community of this Island for three decades and with his vision he established Dakshina Kannada Muslim Welfare Association, which continuously works for the betterment of the community.
Abdul Razak has been a tireless advocate for the Tulu and Kannada communities. His contribution towards various programmes to promote Tulu and Kannada languages and culture has been phenomenal.
source: http://www.daijiworld.com / DaijiWorld.com / Home> Top Stories / by Daijiworld Media Network – Bahrain (MS) / September 23rd, 2023
It seems, on Thursday all roads led to a Swedish Furniture Store in Hyderabad — IKEA. The company’s name is an acronym — Ingvar Kamprad the name of its Founder, Elmtaryd name of his Farm and Agunnaryd the name of his Hometown in Sweden.
So the world famous furniture store IKEA opened its first store at HITEC City in Hyderabad and it lured so many people that traffic in the area came to a halt. Was it just curiosity that drove people there or a real desire to buy? Because Indians love heavy teak furniture that lasts forever and IKEA doesn’t really sell that kind of furniture.
IKEA produces light wood furniture and for the most part it’s a ‘Do It Yourself’ (DIY) project. Which means, when you go to an IKEA store and buy furniture, you will not get a fully assembled product. Instead, you take home all the required components and a detailed manual so you can assemble the furniture yourself.
When I mentioned IKEA’s DIY style of business to a friend he said, “What is this DIY? It’s like going to a restaurant, ordering a dish, and the waiter brings all the ingredients; you have to cook it yourself?” IKEA well understands this reluctance among Indians and has partnered with a company called Urban Clap which will send over a carpenter to assemble the furniture for a fee of Rs. 900.
Apart from contemporary furniture and lifestyle products, companies like IKEA bring something to a nation’s industrial landscape — they make our local companies globally competitive.
A month ago, I visited MAS Furniture, a Mysuru-based furniture manufacturing company headed by Shabbir Vagh. When I met Shabbir he was busy planting trees at the factory premises. When I enquired about it he replied saying, “We’re now manufacturing for IKEA and they have a requirement which states that every factory must have a certain amount of green cover.”
It seems to be qualified as an IKEA supplier one has to follow IKEA’s IWAY policy. IWAY is short for the IKEA-Way of doing things. One such IWAY is that vendors that partner with IKEA must have a healthy male to female ratio in the factory.
Shabbir says that ratio is 1:1 and now he has hired a whole lot of women to make for a 1:1 workforce. IKEA also wanted pay parity that is based on merit and experience rather than gender.
Strict standards have been laid out for workers’ safety, which means all workers on the shop floor have to wear gloves, bright vests and goggles. Apart from this, the vendor has to maintain clean accounting standards.
As for the raw materials, Shabbir shows me a beautiful vegetable crate made from pine wood which he supplies to IKEA and tells me the varnish on the wood has undergone innumerable tests to the point that the wood is safe enough even for a child to chew on.
He also informs me that every piece of wood used by IKEA is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, an international body governing the sustainable and responsible use of forest resources.
So how has all of this helped Shabbir’s family furniture business? Thanks to following the IKEA way of manufacturing, the company has attracted new global partnerships. MAS Furniture now supplies furniture to the Trump Tower being built in Pune and is making furniture for the world famous French product designer Philippe Starck.
This is proof that when global companies with good practices partner with local manufacturers, they improve their standards making them globally competitive. When our industrialists can learn, adapt and become globally competitive, why can’t our politicians and bureaucrats? Well, it turns out politicians and bureaucrats of Telangana already have.
It was reported that IKEA was first to open in either Mumbai or Bengaluru but suddenly chose Hyderabad. The reason being that the Principal Secretary of Telangana, after reading about IKEA’s plans for India, contacted them and deputed a few proactive bureaucrats to help them get all the approvals and allotted land in HITEC City. The speed at which things moved ensured that IKEA opened its first India Store and the country’s largest retail space in Hyderabad while providing employment to 950 people in the store alone!
In contrast, a mobile phone brand based in Bengaluru approached the Karnataka government for industrial land to setup a mobile research and development lab in 2015. They even met the previous Chief Minister but nothing came of it. Later, Telangana heard about this project, called the owners, held talks and soon offered them 1.6 acres in Gachibowli to set up their Lab. Today the construction is on track and is expected to be completed by 2019 and will employ over 300 people.
The manufacturing philosophies of companies like IKEA are very relevant for a growing economy like ours. Karnataka needs such companies and for that our leaders have to be proactive. The last time we had such a Chief Minister was S.M. Krishna, who ushered in the IT boom. Now we have a coalition government and there is an atmosphere of industrial gloom.
e-mail: vikram@starofmysore.com
source: http://www.staromysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Columns in Black & White / by Vikram Muthanna / August 11th, 2018
Giving a tight slap to all the protestors, 18-year-old Tabassum Shaik scored a perfect 100 in Hindi, Psychology and Sociology.
Image Source : TWITTER/@TAHSEEN_JNU Tabassum Shaik with his parents.
A year after Karnataka hit the headlines of major global media outlets following a controversy that erupted after a dispute pertaining to some Muslim students who wanted to wear hijab in classes were prevented by their classmates, it has again gained media attention. But this time, for some good reasons.
Among the Muslim girls who protested against the college uniform, 18-year-old Tabassum Shaik again hit the headlines and proved “Success is the best revenge”. Notably, Karnataka’s 2nd PUC results were declared on Saturday, April 21. Shaik, who faced thousands of her classmates agitating against her Muslim attire, topped the arts stream in the Second Pre-University (PU) exams.
Shaik scored 593 points out of 600
Among the highest scorers, the 18-year-old who still wears a black scarf proudly, received 593 points out of 600 and placed first in the Arts Stream. Giving a tight slap to all the protestors, she scored a perfect 100 in Hindi, Psychology and Sociology.
Meanwhile, speaking to Indian Express after her achievement, Shaik said that she preferred to choose “education over hijab.” “I decided to give up the hijab in college and pursue my education. We will need to make some sacrifices for education,” Shaikh was quoted as saying to The Indian Express.
Follow the law of the land: Proud father
Her proud father, Abdul Khaum Shaik, who played a significant role during her tough days, said he always suggested his daughter prioritise her education over other kinds of stuff.
He told his daughter it is important to “follow the law of the land. Education is more important for the children”.
Notably, all the Muslim girls including Shaik stubborn about wearing hijab, had filed a petition in the court, seeking permission to attend classes wearing hijab.
Tharoor praises efforts
When the controversy broke out, the matter was confined to some regions of the state but soon it evolved into a significant dissension that even the High Court had to intervene. According to the agitating students, wearing a black scarf was their ‘fundamental right’ bestowed under Articles 14 and 25 of the Indian Constitution. Besides, they also argued wearing a hijab is an ‘integral practice of Islam’. However, the Karnataka high court upheld a government order and asserted to continue banning religious attire in educational institutions.
Subsequently, Shaik said she accepted the court’s order and resumed her studies without the scarf. Meanwhile, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor praised the efforts of the student and said, “Success is the best revenge”. #ShabashTabassum!
source: http://www.indiatvnews.com / India TV / Home> English News> Karnataka / by Ajeet Kumar, New Delhi / April 24th, 2023
The Internet has been overjoyed with Ilham’s success. Many shared her success story and pointed out that her religious identity did not deter her from securing a top rank.
Ilham and Anisha Mallya
On June 18, as Karnataka PUC results were being announced, Ilham, a Muslim woman who wears a Hijab, discovered that she had scored overall state second rank in the science stream. Her batchmate Anisha Mallya from the Commerce section also scored overall second rank in the state.
Both the girls have scored first rank in Dakshina Karnataka. While Ilham scored 597 out of 600, Anisha secured 595 out of 600 marks.
Ilham and Anisha are students of St Aloysius PU College from Mangalore in Dakshina Karnataka. The irony is worth noting as a mere few months ago the hijab row had engulfed the country?
Speaking to reporters, Ilham said, “I am very excited. I checked my percentage which was 91.5%. I informed my relatives. After some time, I started getting calls from my cousins saying my name is coming in the news. At that moment I realised that I got a rank. Till then I was unaware.”
Ilham says she still has not come in terms of her success. Asked what would she want to become in the future, she said she was always interested in pursuing a career in BSc in Clinical Psychology.
Ilham’s parents are over the moon. Her father, Mohammed Rafiq, used to work in the Gulf as an IT employee and now is retired while her mother Moizatul Kubra is a housewife.
The Internet has been overjoyed with Ilham’s success. Many shared her success story and pointed out that her religious identity did not deter her from securing a top rank.
Her classmate, Anisha Mallya, who secured Karnataka second rank in the Commerce section said the results were unexpected. “I have achieved this feat with the help of teachers and they have been really supportive. I gave my 100 percent. I am very happy and content,” Anisha said. She plans to continue studying in the same college.
In December 2021, six Muslim students wearing Hijab were banned from their school in Udupi, Karnataka. The management stated that they cannot enter the school wearing a hijab as it represents a religious symbol.
The issue soon spread in other schools of Dakshina Kannada which then snowballed into a national issue. Female Muslim students wearing hijabs were not allowed on the school premises. Even the teaching staff faced the brunt and many resigned.
In fact, it took a deadly turn with many Hindu students, all from pre-university colleges (PUC) started supporting the anti-hijab movement and partook in proests. Visuals of saffron shawl-clad teenagers in their school uniforms began flashing in news channels as the students revolted against their Muslim peers.
The issue took a legal turn with the six Muslim students filing a petition at the Karnataka high court against the state government of Karnataka. Unfortunately, the verdict was pronounced against the girls and Hijab has been banned.
For many, especially members from the right-wing sector, it was a huge win.
The Karnataka government made it clear that those wearing Hijab will neither be allowed into the classrooms nor allowed to sit in the recently concluded PUC examination. As a result, many young Muslim girls opted to stay at home rather than abandon the hijab.
source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> News> India / by The news desk (headline edited) /posted by Veena Nair / June 20th, 2022
India is home to 16 distinct varieties of coffee. (Supplied)
India, the world’s sixth-largest coffee grower, on an average produces about 3.2 lakh tons of coffee every year of which 75 percent are exported to countries like Italy, Germany, Russia, Belgium and Turkey. Today, India is home to 16 distinct varieties of coffee.
The journey of coffee to India has a vivid Arab connection. A devout pilgrim hailing from Chickmagalur, a picturesque hill station in India’s Karnataka state, Hazarat Shah Janab Magatabi, fondly known as Baba Budan, on his return journey, around 1600 AD via Yemen brought with him seven Coffee Arabica seeds by strapping them to his chest under his tunic.
Bababudangiri Hills in Chickmagalur where coffee was first planted in India. (Supplied)
Legend has it that Arabs were extremely protective about their coffee industry and taking the seeds outside was not allowed. The saint had known that they were magical seeds for making refreshing beverage as he had tasted the kahwa (Arabic for coffee) in Mocha, a port city of Yemen that overlooks the Red Sea.
Besides being a trading hub for coffee, Mocha was the source of the popular Mocha coffee beans. After reaching his native place, Baba Budan sowed the seeds in his hermitage garden near a hill cave at Chandragiri and the rest is history.
Chickmagalur is a picturesque hill station in India’s Karnataka state. (Supplied)
The coffee plants gradually spread as backyard plantings, and later on to the hills. The hills are now called Baba Budan Hills after the him. Today Chickmagalur, the birthplace of coffee in India, is filled with coffee plantations throughout its length and breadth.
Besides Chickmagalur, the charming region of Coorg is also one of the major grower of coffee. Coffee cultivation grew and thrived in India during the British rule and beyond.
A fall amid coffee plantations in Chickmagalur. (Supplied)
The Dutch began to harvest coffee in the Malabar region, but a major transition happened when the British led a relentless drive to set up Arabica coffee plantations across the hilly regions in South India, where the climatic conditions were more favorable for the crop.
Grown under a canopy of thick natural shade in ecologically sensitive regions of the Western and Eastern Ghats spread over Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Indian coffee quickly spread to non-traditional areas like Andhra Pradesh and Odisha on the Eastern Coast; Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh in the North East. Despite many states growing coffee, Karnataka and Kerala, accounting for nearly 90 percent of total production.
The charming region of Coorg is also one of the major grower of coffee. (Supplied)
In India, based on region of production, 13 regional coffees are classified: Anamalais, Bababudangiris, Biligiris, Araku Valley, Brahmaputra, Shevaroys, and Pulneys (for Arabica) and Wayanaad and Travancore (for Robusta). Coorg, Chikmagalur, Nilgiris and Manjarabad are famous for both Arabica and Robusta.
Apart from these 13, there are three Specialty Coffees classified based on their international popularity. They are Monsooned Malabar, Mysore Nuggets and Robusta Kaapi Royale.
Stall owners are thankful to Arabia for the wonderful coffee. (Supplied)
During a recent visit to Baba Budan hills, this correspondent spoke to stall owners and few tourists who still are thankful to Arabia for the wonderful coffee.
One stall owner who sells cool drinks and snacks on the hills overlooking the shrine summed up, “It is because of Baba Budan that India got coffee so early and the credit for discovering coffee goes to Arabs who invented and discovered hundreds of stuff including the coffee.”
Little wonder then a small cup of coffee has so much history behind it.
source: http://www.english.alarabiya.net / AlArabiya News / Home> Features / by Aftab Husain Kola / October 07th, 2018
