Darul Musannefin, an institute established to propagate the rich cultural heritage of Urdu, Arabic and Persian texts through the institute’s publications and magazine, was established in 1914 by Maulana Shibli Nomani
Darul Musannefin, an institute established to propagate the rich cultural heritage of Urdu, Arabic and Persian texts through the institute’s publications and magazine, was established in 1914 by Maulana Shibli Nomani.
However, over the years like many other institutes associated with the Muslim community in India, this institute has fallen on bad days courtesy the apathy of the governments and the community’s disinterest with anything associated with its cultural and academic heritage.
When we talk about the rich heritage of Urdu books, then every Urdu lover bemoans that the government is not doing enough for saving and promoting the Urdu language – a language which binds at least 70% of Indians, socially and literally.
Yet, few of us ponders that what the Urdu lovers themselves are doing for saving and promoting the language. Their concern becomes abundantly clear by the everyday decreasing sales of Urdu books and newspapers. Further, what they are doing to save institutions which have been the flagbearers in propagating and saving the language by publishing books on different topics in Urdu. The answer is pretty obvious: nothing concrete except bemoaning and using hollow words.
One such institution is Darul Musannefin or Shibli Academy, just like the Rampur raza library of Rampur or the Khuda Baksh Library of Patna, in addition to a vast repertoire of books in private collections of individuals and organisations throughout India.
Darul Musannefin or Shibli Academy is a research academy based in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh. Its aim was to add authentic historical literature in Urdu so that people could have easy access to history. It was started as Darul Musannefin but later it was named after its founder Shibli Nomani.
Maulana Shibli Nomani, a Sunni Muslim scholar established it in Azamgarh in February 1914; after failing to establish the Academy in Lucknow, it was established in Azamgarh at Nomani’s mango orchard. It started working on 21 November 1914, 3 days after Maulana Nomani’s death under the guidance of Maulana Hamiduddin Farahi. Other founders included Maulana Syed Sulaiman Nadvi, Maulana Abdus Salam Nadvi and Maulana Masood Ali Nadvi.
Established just three days after Shibli’s death in 1914, the Academy is a leading institution of Oriental, Islamic and Mediaeval Indian Studies, and Azamgarh’s pride. It occupies nine acres donated by Shibli and his relatives. The centrepiece is a beautiful whitewashed building housing a massive library of over 1.5 lakh books and around 700 manuscripts, some of them rare, and an office.
Staff residences, the mosque and a conference hall stand apart.
Shibli Academy: A Treasure Trove
The Academy’s library is a treasure trove. Its spacious central hall is furnished with sofas and chairs, which have been graced by personalities ranging from Mahatma Gandhi, to Jawahar Lal Nehru, Indira Gandi or in other words virtually every Indian Prime Minister and President, except the present dispensation, and scores of other Indian and foreign dignitaries. “Here have sat dozens of famous dignitaries,” Academy’s senior fellow Mohammed Umair Siddique Nadvi, told me on my recent visit to the acclaimed institute.
Mohammed Umair showed me rare books and manuscripts, including Persian translations of Ramayan and Mahabharata, and Sirr-e-Akbar, Persian translation of the Upanishads by Mughal prince Dara Shikoh, a great scholar. The excellent condition in which most of these rare books have been preserved over the years shows the dedication of the institution’s staff despite meagre resources. The gold embossed titles and pages decorated with gold border still retain their sheen.
[Akbar Nama (L) and Monsiual Arwah]
Another gem is Monisul Arwah, a book on Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti by Dara’s sister Jahanara. “This is our most prized possession which Maulana Shibli found at an old bookshop in Lucknow and bought for Rs 100 in 1906. It was very dear to him and travelled to an international exhibition of rare manuscripts in Paris,” says Nadvi.
There’s a section where testimonies of some famous visitors, including Mahatma Gandhi, Madan Mohan Malaviya and Maulana Azad, are kept. Motilal Nehru and Jawaharlal Nehru, stayed at the Academy several times during their visits to Azamgarh. When Gandhi first visited it in the 1920s, the Academy’s founding secretary, Maulana Syed Sulaiman Nadvi, showed him the library by lantern light since electricity supply was erratic.
Another famous visitor was Bi Amma, mother of Muhammad Ali Jauhar and Shaukat Ali, freedom fighters and Khilafat Movement leaders better known as the Ali brothers. But while the Academy is Azamgarh’s pride, it faces a severe financial crunch. It has only one librarian, 48-year-old Saleem Javed, son of the Academy’s former director Maulana Ziauddin Islahi, to look after the vast collection.
“I do whatever I can, but it is not possible for one person to look after so many books. I opened my eyes on this campus and have been working here for around 25 years, and will continue to do so.” says Javed, apparently resigned to his and the institute’s fate.
The funding crunch prevents the management from hiring more staff and expediting translation and digitisation of titles from Arabic, Persian and Urdu into other Indian languages and English.
Future of Darul Musannefin
The Academy’s primary purpose is to protect and propagate the scientific, authentic history and rational interpretations of Islam. It also upholds Hindu-Muslim harmony, or the much talked about Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb, and sheds light on the life and times of Maulana Shibli, yet so far no one has come forward to help the institute and its committed staff to restore the institute to its former glory. Before Independence, it received grants from Nizam of Hyderabad, Nawab of Bhopal, and others. But now that those streams have dried up, many say the cash-starved institution should look beyond its four walls.
Maulana Shibli had donated his own land with a mango orchard and persuaded close relatives to donate parcels of their land for Darul Musannefin, the library, printing press and publication of Maarif, the monthly journal founded in July 1916.
Since Urdu is shrinking, the library’s patrons have dwindled over the years.Today, it would help if more people started subscribing to Maarif for Rs 10,000 as a life member or even if subscribing to the same for Rs 400 or Rs 1800 towards annual or five years subscription, as a corpus of Rs 10 crore can bail out the institution and help implement its future development plans. In this regard any of the big business houses can also help, as part of their CSR responsibility.
(The writer, Asad Mirza, is a New Delhi-based senior commentator on national, international, defence and strategic affairs, environmental issues, an interfaith practitioner, and a media consultant.)
source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home> Special Report / by Asad Mirza / February 25th, 2025
Dr Mohammed Abdul Saleem, a distinguished Hyderabadi NRI and dental surgeon, has been appointed as the chairman of the Indian International School in Jeddah (IISJ), one of the largest Indian community schools in Saudi Arabia.
Dr Saleem formally assumed charge on Monday in the presence of school officials and management committee members. He succeeds Dr Hemalatha Mahalingan, who completed her tenure and made history as the first woman to head a community-run Indian school in the Kingdom.
A prominent figure in the expatriate Indian community in Jeddah, Dr Saleem has been actively involved in the school’s management. IISJ, established in 1969, serves the academic needs of the Indian expatriate community and is affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). The school, which has over 10,000 students, is recognized for its academic excellence and was among the first to introduce Telugu as an optional language for students.
Dr Saleem’s appointment is expected to bring further advancements to the institution, strengthening its commitment to quality education and community service.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Education> Latest News / by Radiance News Bureau / February 26th, 2025
U. Mohammed Khalilulah, former President of MEASI, Anjuman-E-Himayath-E-Islam, All India Muslim Education Society, and Agent of Prince of Arcot Endowment, breathed his last on Tuesday at 4.45pm.
U. Mohammed Khalilullah was the legendary doyen of the Muslim community in Chennai, a highly respected, recognized and well-appreciated member of the chartered accountant fraternity, and a remarkable and graceful human being with the core inbuilt values of utmost decency and universal brotherhood.
Mr. Elias Sait, Hon. Secretary of MEASI and President of NCAA, in his condolence message, said: “Allah has called him back to the heavenly abode, taking him away from us. A big unmeasurable loss to our community, to his family, and to his innumerable friends and well-wishers.
“One of the saddest days for MEASI, AHI and many other Muslim institutions, and for all of us in this MEASI EC GROUP.
“All the staff of all MEASI institutions will be grieving over the loss of their father like figure for nearly three decades.
“Our condolences to his large family of daughter, sons and grandchildren, more particularly to his eldest granddaughter who took care of him so meticulously in every aspect, during the last years of his life. Allah give them the fortitude and sabar to bear this huge loss.”
At the time of transition of the services of Agent of Prince of Arcot Endowment from U. Mohammed Khalilullah to Nawabzada Mohammed Naser Ali on 29 November 2024, the Prince of Arcot, His Highness Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali lauded Mr. Khalilullah for his decades of dedicated service to the Endowments. “His tenure of 31 years as the agent is marked by significant improvements and remarkable contributions to the development and overall progress of the institution,” he said.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News> Obituary / by Radiance News Bureau / February 27th, 2025
Shaukat Ali Khan, who received the “International Hero in Literature Award” from Cambridge University and was awarded the President’s Award, is now no more. He breathed his last on Saturday night during treatment in Jaipur. He was 87.
Born on 11 July 1936 in the family of Sahabzada Idris Ali Khan of Tonk, Shaukat Ali Khan is a distinguished personality of the Amiriya family. He was the first Director of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Arabic-Persian Research Institute (APRI).
Sahabzada Shaukat Ali Khan participated in the International Sufism Seminar organized by India in Afghanistan.
In view of this, the then President Giani Zail Singh himself considered him worthy of being honored with the National Award.
Shaukat Ali Khan also received an award in a seminar organized by UNESCO.
Apart from being a writer, historian, translator, and poet, he possessed many salient features rarely found in the world of literature.
Shaukat Ali Khan with APRI team
The APRI, which has its own identity in the country and the world, is also the result of the hard work and dedication of Shaukat Ali Khan.
Shaukat Ali Khan with President of India Giani Zail Singh at APRI, Tonk
In 1986, then President Giani Zail Singh visited the APRI. At that time, he wrote, “I am happy that such a director and such an organization exists in Rajasthan, due to which Rajasthan is known in the Arabic-Persian world. This happens very rarely. The idea is that someone should establish a path for the simultaneous progress and development of both the languages. I am extremely proud that a single person has created a platform for the progress of the Arabic and Persian languages and made it popular in the world. For this, its director Shaukat Saheb should definitely get the National Award, which he deserves.”
The life of Shaukat Ali had many forms and colors. With his efforts, he not only converted a nursery into an institute but also brought glory to Tonk. The APRI is proof of his pioneering efforts and wisdom. As long as the APRI continues to exist, the name of Shaukat Ali Khan will be there.
Shaukat Ali Khan was initially appointed Nigran of Nawab Mohammad Ali Khan’s library. He collected about 50,000 Makhtutats and wrote about 60 books in different languages – two books in Arabic, 10 in Persian and about 45 in English.
He had been carrying out research and writing work for about 40 years. He was a scholar of Arabic, Persian, English, Hindi and Urdu languages. He has also served as a member of many national and international government organizations.
Shaukat Saheb, who presented papers at national and international conferences and seminars, also edited and translated 6000 manuscripts, and published about 300 articles in more than 100 journals in English and Urdu. There is a long list of honors received by him at the national and international levels as well as at the state level. After retirement, he was living his life as a Sufi saint.
People across the country, including Mujeeb Azad, Director of Tonk Arabic Persian Research Institute; Sahibzada Mohammad Ahmed Bhayyu Bhai, Chairman of Royal Family Tonk; Retired Research Officer Anwarunnisa Nadira, State General Secretary of Human Relief Society, Tehreek-e-Urdu Rajasthan Advocate Akhtar Khan Akela, Cricket Coach Imtiaz Ali Neelu, have expressed grief over his demise, calling it an irreparable loss for the Arabic-Persian Research Institute, Tonk residents, and the Tonk Royal Family.
Condolence Letter by Sachin Pilot, MLA of Tonk
Sachin Pilot, MLA of Tonk has also sent a condolence message.
Chaudhary Akbar Qasmi, national convenor of Sanjhi Virasat Manch, has written that Sahabzada Shaukat Ali Khan was a descendant of Tonk Nawab and was one of the great intellectuals of Rajasthan. No one can deny his important role in establishing a big library (Arabic Persian Research Institute) in Tonk City and in raising it from the ground to great heights. As long as he was able to walk, he stood before writers and research scholars as a bright lamp of hope.
He was indeed a man of knowledge and grace.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Focus> Markers of Excellence> Obituary / by Raheem Khan / December 12th, 2023
Kerala Muslim Jamat president Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliar (right) releasing the autobiography of Madin Academy chairman Syed Ibrahim Khaleel Bukhari (middle) by giving a copy to Yemeni scholar Habib Umar bin Hafiz at Markaz, Karanthoor, on Monday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Sunni spiritual leader and Madin Academy chairman Syed Ibrahim Khaleel Bukhari has published his autobiography, The life so far.
Releasing the book, Kerala Muslim Jamat president Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliar said on Monday that the life story of Mr. Bukhari embodied a significant lesson on how an individual could transform crises into opportunities and turn despair into hope.
According to Mr. Kanthapuram, the experiences Mr. Bukhari gained through his extensive travels and intense trials would ultimately benefit society at large.
Renowned Islamic scholar Habib Umar bin Hafiz from Yemen received the first copy of the book.
Mr. Kanthapuram said that the story of Mr. Bukhari’s growth from Kadalundi coastal village to a respected Muslim leader was, in many ways, a reflection of the history and development of the Sunni movement he led.
“His [Mr. Bukhari’s] growth has been distinct from other Muslim leaders of Kerala. There are many things that set him apart from the rest,” said Mr. Kanthapuram, attributing his swift rise to prominence within the community to his ability to innovate and implement projects that benefitted marginalised groups.
Umar Mahmood Hussain Samrai from Baghdad, Sheikh Rahmatullah Tirmidhi from Tashkent, Sheikh Bilal Halakh from California, Sheikh Rilwan Ibrahim from Russia, Habib Jindal bin Noufal from Indonesia, Markaz director C. Mohammed Faizy, Haj Committee chairman Husain Saqafi Chullikkode, and Markaz Knowledge City managing director Abdul Hakeem Azhari were present.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Kerala / by The Hindu Bureau, Malappuram / February 18th, 2025
In a ground-breaking medical achievement for coastal Karnataka, doctors at Indiana Hospital & Heart Institute have successfully implanted the region’s first-ever artificial intelligence (AI)-driven, leadless pacemaker in an elderly woman. This milestone marks a significant advancement in cardiology and reinforces Mangaluru’s reputation as a hub for cutting-edge healthcare services.
The patient, who had been suffering from Tachybrady syndrome, a condition where the heart alternates between dangerously fast and slow rhythms, had been hospitalized multiple times over the past year due to heart failure. After extensive evaluation, doctors recommended a radiofrequency ablation and pacemaker implantation.
However, a traditional pacemaker was not a viable option due to the patient’s pre-existing infection and high risk of recurrent sepsis. Conventional pacemakers use leads connected to the heart and positioned on the chest wall, which can pose serious infection risks for vulnerable patients.
To overcome these challenges, a team of experts, led by Dr Yusuf Kumble, chief interventional cardiologist at Indiana Hospital, along with Dr Maneesh Rai (Electrophysiologist), Dr Garry Valerian Pais (Consultant Interventional Cardiologist), Dr Sukhen Shetty (Cardiac Anaesthetist), and Dr Pradeep, opted for an innovative, leadless pacemaker solution.
Unlike traditional devices, this self-contained pacemaker is implanted directly into the heart through a minimally invasive procedure via the groin, eliminating the need for external leads or chest wall placement. This significantly reduces infection risks and complications, making it a safer, more effective option for patients prone to infections. Following the successful implantation, the team also performed radiofrequency ablation to treat the patient’s arrhythmias.
“This achievement underscores the exceptional expertise of our cardiology team and our commitment to bringing cutting-edge medical technologies to Mangaluru and beyond,” said Dr Yusuf Kumble. “By implanting the first AI-driven wireless pacemaker in coastal Karnataka, we have further established Indiana Hospital as a leader in interventional cardiology, not just in Karnataka, but across India.”
The leadless pacemaker is smaller, more efficient, and less invasive than conventional devices, providing patients with enhanced quality of life while minimizing associated risks.
With this pioneering procedure, Indiana Hospital and Heart Institute continues to set new benchmarks in advanced cardiac care, further cementing Mangaluru’s position as a center for innovative medical interventions in India.
source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Daijiworld.com / Home> Top Stories / by Media Release / February 18th, 2025
The ‘Beary Mela-2025’ was inaugurated in a grand ceremony at the Etisalat Academy Ground on Sunday.
Organised under the aegis of the UAE Bearys Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI), the event was inaugurated by S.M. Rasheed Haji, President of the Mangaluru Bearys Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI), who extended his best wishes.
Speaking as the chief guest, Zakariya Jokatte, CEO of Al Muzain in Saudi Arabia, stated that the Beary community is known for its peaceful and harmonious nature. He emphasised the importance of preserving the community’s culture and continuing initiatives that benefit the community.
During the event, he announced that the next Beary Mela would be organised in Saudi Arabia after the Eid celebrations in 2026.
Hidayath Addoor, President of the UAE chapter of BCCI, delivered the presidential address.
Other dignitaries present included Umar U.H., President of Beary Sahitya Academy, Golthmajalu Razak Haji, Badruddin, Imtiyaz, and Ronald Martis.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Gulf / by Vartha Bharati / February 09th, 2025
The Indian Nawayath Forum (INF) has appointed its new office bearers for the term 2025-2028, with Aftab Kola assuming the role of President. Hashim Mohtesham (Barni) and Fayyaz Mohtesham have been named as the first and second Vice Presidents, respectively.
Adil Nagarmat has been entrusted with the responsibilities of General Secretary, while Gufran Lanka will serve as Secretary. The forum’s financial management will be overseen by Treasurer Ummer Khalifa, and Faizan Lanka has been designated as the Internal Auditor.
The Indian Nawayath Forum, a prominent organization working for the upliftment and welfare of the society, plays a crucial role in social, educational, and cultural initiatives. With a strong commitment to community development, the newly appointed team aims to carry forward the organization’s objectives and address various issues concerning the Nawayath people.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavali / by Vartha Bharati / February 10th, 2025
He can afford to hand out fistfuls of Liv.52 to anyone feeling liverish, although he would prefer to sell the pill. As Meraj Manal says, one Liv.52 is bought every second somewhere in the world. The only ayurveda pill among the 12 bestselling medications in India, Liv.52 has powered its manufacturer The Himalaya Drug Co into the ranks of Big Pharma in India.
But ask Manal to sell a slice of his privately-held company and you are shown the door. Many consumer care companies have tried to acquire a stake in Bangalore-based Himalaya. Dealmakers know it is not up for sale, but they do not give up hope or stop making bids.
Why should they? Himalaya, started by Manal’s father, the late M. Manal, in 1930 to make herbal tablets in the Himalayan town of Dehradun, is today an established brand in over 70 countries with about 160 products – 66 in pharma, 63 in personal care, nine in baby care and 22 in animal care.
After India, its three top markets are West Asia, Russia and the CIS, and South East Asia. In 1999, Himalaya took its personal care range into global markets, piggybacking the equity of its pharma products.
Figures are not available, but Manal says turnover has crossed Rs 1,000 crore on the back of Liv.52, some similar pills and the personal care products. “Liv.52 is one of the biggest successes of my father,” says Manal, Chairman of Himalaya Global Holdings, which owns the nine operating subsidiaries in different regions.
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I get 3 or 4 offers a year: Meraj Manal
Meraj Manal, 62, has always let his business heads to do the talking. In a rare interview with BT’s K.R. Balasubramanyam, he explains why he does not want outside investments, and why values count more than profits. Edited excerpts
How did your father get into the herbal medicine business? My father spent his lifetime gathering knowledge about traditional household remedies, standardising them, testing them for safety and efficacy and demonstrating them to doctors. He was the first who thought of producing herbal medicines in tablet form so doctors can prescribe them… Whenever he heard about a remedy, he would jot it down on a plain card to work on them later. We have tens of thousands of such cards stored in boxes. Our toothpaste is a product from one such card scribbled 40 years ago.
Why are you still not a public company? I don’t want a rupee from anyone other than the bank, because it is difficult to explain what we do to a shareholder. Can I accept outside investments and allow these cards (pointing to the stacks of his father’s cards) to disappear? Our whole philosophy, our value system is so different, how do I explain this to investors? All my children – four daughters and three sons – think so.
Do you get offers? I receive three or four offers a year. Multinationals have spoken to me and one of them even said we are the nugget of the herbal industry. If I accept these offers and put that money in a bank, I would no doubt get millions every month… What will I do with that money? I don’t want the liability of someone else’s money with me, big or small. Once you accept outside investment, they will start advising us on things like cutting the number of curries in the lunch at our canteen… or the staff transport. They will ask us why you are doing this and that. There is no “why” here. This is how it is. Since we are closely held, I have the luxury to say profits are not everything.
How much of your revenues goes into R&D? In this company, there is no limit on expenses on R&D. That is the only division without a budget. These (pointing to the cards) have to be converted into products.
How are you professionalising the company? As you grow, you need people who know more than you do. You cannot reach the next step unless you professionalise…. We will reserve the holding company for family members and the subsidiaries will have only professionals. We have separated ownership from management. Family members will be responsible for nurturing our value system. I don’t want family members on the business side. If they have energy, they are free to go out and pursue their interests.
So a family member becomes part of the holding company by default? Admission is not by default. They must have something to contribute….My son heads the US business, and not because he is my son, but because he is a professional who knows the US market the best. He is doing remarkably well.
What about this Deputy Chairman’s post? I created the post two years ago and appointed Ravi Prasad for a very special reason. To send a strong message that the operational head does not have to be a Manal. People were astonished and are happy about the decision. Like any CEO of any other region, my son too reports to Ravi. (Ravi Prasad was elevated as Executive Chairman in October. He leads the global management team.)
Are you satisfied with your growth? The growth we have had is more than satisfactory. If I want more than that, then we are greedy. We crossed Rs 1,000 crore in revenues last year. I don’t know much about finances. Professionals handle that. I just sign on the papers. …When I joined the business in 1965, the revenues were Rs 40 lakh…. The way we are growing in North and South America tells me that 20 years from now, they could possibly be our largest markets by volume.
Where is Himalaya headed? We will never move from our core competence. I am not for diversifying. I am not a person who can do other things. Opportunities for growth are unlimited and there is no real need to diversify. Our global operations have taught us many things. The country does not matter. As long as there are homes with people, we will go there.
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Research backbone Although Himalaya’s reliance on Liv.52 has come down after both its new as well as old pharma products picked up steam in the market, and it launched personal care products, it all began with this blockbuster, whose recipe was among the many jotted down by Manal’s father on a card.
(Himalaya’s future lies in thousands of similar cards with notes that are stacked in boxes in Manal’s room.) The 52nd formula was a hit. Manal senior’s aim had been to make herbal remedies available in tablet form, scientifically tested for efficacy, identified by name and prescribed by doctors. The passion for research continues.
Ravi Prasad
Himalaya has raised its research, development and manufacturing standards so that its products clear regulatory hurdles abroad. “Apart from ayurvedic institutions, we also do clinical trials in leading allopathic institutions both in India and abroad,” says Ravi Prasad, Executive Chairman of Himalaya Drug Company, who leads the team of professionals worldwide.
“The regulatory picture is not clear in many countries and in some countries our standards have been recognised as the benchmark,” he says. Himalaya’s R&D facility, he says, is one of the biggest for an ayurveda manufacturer, with about 120 multidisciplinary scientists. As Manal proudly declares, R&D is the “backbone” of the company.
Himalaya knows the key to growth lies in its ability to create more patents. The US Patent and Trademark Office has granted it patents for its sunscreen, under-eye cream, laxative, sedative, immunestimulant, anti-acne range and hairloss cream, and 76 applications are pending. It has just released in the US markets a new type of tablet in which the binders are also derived from herbs. “No company has done this before, and we have filed for a process patent,” says Ravi Prasad. Until the 1990s, Himalaya’s portfolio had only pharma remedies. It entered the equally lucrative consumer care market with some 20 products under the Ayurvedic Concepts range in 2001. Two years later, it created the umbrella brand Himalaya Herbal Healthcare. It also began opening exclusive outlets: there are 130 shops in India and 25 in Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa and the Cayman Islands.
Dream run According to Ravi Prasad, Himalaya’s personal care products are growing much faster globally than pharma products, because pharma faces tough regulations in some countries. As of now, Himalaya gets 58 per cent of its revenues from pharma products, but that seems set to change. Saket Gore, Business Head of the consumer products division, says: “Today, we are the market leaders in face washes in the UAE, India and Malaysia.”
According to The Nielsen Co figures for April-June 2010, Himalaya face washes had a 17.8 per cent market share in India, less than two percentage points behind multinationals Hindustan Unilever Ltd and L’Oreal. Himalaya’s individual products also face competition from firms that are strong in one or just a few products, such as Colgate in toothpaste and Fair & Lovely in face masks. Doctors have been Himalaya’s biggest brand ambassadors in pharmaceuticals.
Philipe Haydon, President & CEO for pharmaceuticals, says Himalaya is in touch with about 3.75 lakh doctors and reaches 94 per cent of pharma retailers. “We are the modern face of ayurveda in India and our medical representatives promote products with scientific detailing,” says Haydon, who is also the CEO of the Asia Pacific region. In ayurveda retail, Himalaya competes with the likes of Dabur, Charak, and Baidyanath
Source: Indian Pharmaceutical Market rankings based on Org SSA report / Aug 2010
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Internationally, consumer care and pharma contribute equally to revenues. “In 20 years from now, North and South America could possibly be our largest markets by volume. They are very big on herbal medicine,” says Manal. These markets are headed by his son Nabeel, 36.
The Prognosis Industry observers believe that while Himalaya has built a cult in Liv.52, it needs more such blockbusters to make up for its low-key marketing and a distribution network weaker than that of rivals such as Dabur India.
“Today, the brand Himalaya is recognised and closely associated as a natural remedy, but on the personal-care front it sends out no cues to a consumer. This is important in the FMCG category where it competes with many others,” observes Kannan Sitaram, a former chief operating officer of Dabur.
Analysts say that opening shop-in-shops and branded stores is a good strategy. “But brandbuilding investments are required so that consumers will walk into a shop only for the Himalaya display. Also, being positioned as a mass brand, it needs greater presence and investment in distribution,” says Sitaram. But the company has to figure out if its returns are justified. “After all, rentals are going up,” he says.
In pharma, Himalaya is stronger. “It has very sharply- positioned products for the eyes, liver, bones and so on. It is also present in areas that are not crowded. Besides, it spends huge sums on R&D and can compete with some of the best pharma companies in India,” says R.B. Smarta, Managing Director, Interlink Marketing Consultancy.
This also gives it an edge in global markets, where the demand for natural, ayurvedic and herbal remedies is growing. “They have very precise and extensive documentation on each of their ingredients, that can withstand the rigor of clinical trials. Their patents also stand them in good stead,” says Smarta.
By buying raw materials directly from growers, collectors and nongovernmental organisations, Himalaya keeps costs under control. Recently, it signed an agreement with the Sikkim government to prepare farmers in organic farming of herbs and sustainable collection. In September, Himalaya, along with a few others, came under fire from the Centre for Science and Environment or CSE, which claimed that Himalaya’s honey contained antibiotics beyond the stipulated standards. Ravi Prasad denies the charge. “The same batch was tested at three independent laboratories and none found any trace of antibiotics.
Our technical team will soon meet the CSE with these findings and seek its comments,” he says.
No entry Manal does not run day-to-day affairs and has professionalised the company by elevating Ravi Prasad as the executive head, so that his father’s legacy grows independent of the family. “My father’s life’s mission was to help people and we will move in his footsteps,” says Manal, who follows the modest example set by his father. (In September, when Ravi Prasad called on Manal at his apartment in Dubai, the chairman travelled with him to Himalaya’s office in the Metro and then took a bus to attend another meeting.)
Of Manal’s seven children, only Nabeel works for the company. Two daughters are married and homemakers, and the other two daughters and a son are still studying. One son works in the financial sector in the US. Manal is content with bank funding, and proud of his 40-yearold relationship with Union Bank of India. In turn, M.V. Nair, the bank’s Chairman and Managing Director, says its long relationship with Himalaya is a wonderful example of a banker- entrepreneur growth story.
Himayala’s requirement of funds depends on projects. It borrowed Rs 100 crore two years ago from the bank to make its manufacturing unit in Bangalore compliant with European and American standards.
Dealmakers and investment bankers are not put off by Manal’s “No Entry” board. Recently a personal-care multinational contacted Bangalore’s Viedea Capital Advisors, looking for a sizeable stake in Himalaya. Deepak Srinath, cofounder of Viedea, says: “The management did not entertain any conversation on the subject.”
Himalaya, Srinath says, is a dream mandate for any investment banker because it has all the ingredients that a PE or strategic investor looks for – a highly credible brand name, an impressive product portfolio, a professional management and profitability.
“Also, the promoters have a reputation for being ethical,” says Srinath. According to the India head of an American PE firm, Himalaya is an ideal target since its capex needs are not large and can be met by internal accruals and bank funding. Such companies usually give robust returns.
But Manal is focused on different things: “The scope for growth is unlimited. As long as there are homes with people, that family is our customer. We don’t recognise borders.”
With inputs by Shamni Pande
source: http://www.businesstoday.in / Business Today.in / Home> News> BT Magazine> Features / by K R Balasubramanyam / Print edition / November 28th, 2010
Vice President Hamid Ansari released here on 21 November a book on the life and services of Akhlaqur Rahman Kidwai, the veteran Congress leader who honorably served the country in various capacities like Rajya Sabha MP, chairman of Union Public Service Commission and governor of the states of Bihar, Orissa, Haryana and Punjab.
The book “Me’mar-e Qaum” [Builder of a nation], is authored by Mufti Ataur Rahman Qasmi and published by Shah Waliullah Institute.
The book release was held at the India Islamic Cultural Centre. Vice President Hamid Ansari said that services of Kidwai cannot be forgotten by the people of the country. He said Kidwai enjoys serving people, an spirit rarely found in people these days. He helped many. One of his historic initiatives was to start Mewat Development Board.
While speaking during the function, AR Kidwai said his character has been shaped by Jamia Millia Islamia which he joined in 1924 as a student of class 2. He was fortunate to get the attention of an educationist like Dr Zakir Husain.
The function was chaired by the former Union minister and the present general secretary of Congress Party, Shakil Ahmad who said that the services of AR Kidwai are such that one yearns to emulate him. He said that a characteristic of Kidwai is that he never exhibits his work.
Ataur Rahman Qasmi, the author of the book, said that Kidwai added to the stature of any post he held. He never compromised on his principles. These days it is rare to find such servants of the people.
The function was attended by a sizeable number of Delhi elite which bore witness to the popularity of Kidwai who is now leading a private life after offering an example of how Muslims can selflessly serve the country with honesty and dignity.
source: http://www.milligazettec.com / The Milli Gazette / Home> News> Special Report / by The Milli Gazette / November 26th, 2013
