Category Archives: NRI’s / PIO’s

Woman Power – Dr. Afreen Mubeen Sheikh

Mangaluru, KARNATAKA / Dubai, UAE :

Mangaluru :

Dr. Afreen Mubeen Sheikh, a native of Mangaluru has made her hometown proud when she recently won the SHE Award in Dubai for her dedicated service to her profession and for contributing to the cause of women empowerment in UAE.

Dr Afreen is an alumnus of K S Hegde Medical Academy where she pursued her MBBS. She later did her Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynaecology from the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.

Dr Afreen is a mentor and coach for foreign medical graduates seeking medical licensure in the UAE. She is a women’s health consultant in Mamahood, Dubai. Her expertise and guidance have empowered countless mothers to make informed decisions about their health and well-being. She has also successfully founded a women’s modest fashion brand by name ’Hayaa by Afreen’ in Dubai and also has a popular blog page by name ’The Whitecoat Mama’ on Instagram.

She uses the platform to raise awareness about women’s health and Gulf medical exams. She’s not only a respected medical professional and social media influencer but also a brand ambassador for several renowned brands in the UAE. Dr Afreen’s inspiring journey and her achievements were featured in a popular Dubai magazine ’Xpatzhub’ in October.

Dr Afreen is married to Dr Mohammad Mubeen who is a Paediatric Intensivist.

Thumbay Healthcare Celebrates Milestone of Over 90,000 Deliveries

Mangaluru, KARNATAKA / U.A.E :

In honor of its achievement of over 90,000 deliveries, Thumbay University Hospital, UAE’s largest private academic hospital owned and managed by Thumbay Group, hosted a special event.

The festive occasion took place at the Thumbay Medicity (Al Jurf, Ajman), offering an evening filled with joy, laughter, and memorable experiences for the attendees present.

Since the first delivery in January 2003, Thumbay Healthcare has successfully conducted over 90,000 deliveries, significantly contributing to its growth and establishing itself as the UAE’s most sought-after family hospital for maternity care. The Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBG) department serves approximately 35,000 patients annually and is equipped with 10 state-of-theart labor and delivery rooms, a dedicated OBG emergency unit, and specialized operating theatres. Additionally, there is a postnatal ward with private rooms for new mothers, ensuring a comfortable and supportive environment during their recovery.

The event was graced by the presence of Chief Guest Dr. Thumbay Moideen, Founder President of Thumbay Group, along with Akbar Moideen Thumbay, Vice President of Thumbay Healthcare.

The celebration featured various activities designed to engage both children and adults. Highlights included balloon twisting, magic shows, face painting, and a best-dressed babies’ contest, with three winners announced. The event culminated in a cake-cutting ceremony that signified the growth and joy shared by infants and their families over the years.

Attendees also had the chance to participate in a raffle draw, with five winners receiving surprise gifts aimed at enhancing their parenting experience. A dedicated photo booth was available for families to create personalized keepsakes. Additionally, parents received vouchers for a health check-up valued at AED 3,499, available for AED 399, as well as a free dental consultation.

“As we commemorate the remarkable achievement of 90,000 deliveries within our hospital family, we recognize the profound honor of being part of these significant milestones in the lives of so many. It is a privilege to support the early development of each child, who represents the hope for a healthier and brighter future. Together with their families, we take pride in witnessing the growth, milestones, and vast potential that these new lives will contribute to our community. This milestone reaffirms our commitment to providing exceptional care and nurturing the next generation, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive,” said Akbar Moideen Thumbay, Vice President of Thumbay Healthcare.

The hospital also offers an affordable maternity package, further enhancing its commitment to accessible and quality care for families. Maternity package at Thumbay University Hospital includes consultations with specialist gynecologists, free delivery booking, and antenatal classes. Priced at AED 5,499 for normal deliveries and AED 8,999 for C-section deliveries, the package is designed to diagnose, monitor, and prevent health issues, promoting healthier lifestyles for expectant mothers.

source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Gulf / by Vartha Bharati / October 16th, 2024

Assam’s Dr. Mustafa A. Barbhuiya among top 20 heroes of Pathology in US

Hailakandi District, ASSAM / Massachusetts, U.S.A :

Dr. Mustafa A. Barbhuiya at his workplace in the US

Hailing from a remote village in southern Assam’s Hailakandi district, Dr. Mustafa A. Barbhuiya has been selected among top 100 most influential people in Pathology, specifically, as one of the Top 20 Heroes of Pathology in US for this year.

Featured in ‘The Pathologist Power List’ 2024, Dr Mustafa has demonstrated innovation, leadership, and achievement in the field of Pathology. But the journey of Dr Mustafa to achieve this coveted position was not so easy.

Dr Barbhuiya completed his elementary schooling (HSLC/10th) in Sanuhar Ali Memorial High School, Bahadurpur, a remote village in Hailakandi district of southern Assam. During those days in the early nineties, his village neither had electricity nor had motorable road communication.

Dr Barbhuiya Mustafa with his family

“I used to cycle from my village on muddy roads to attend Advanced Mathematics and Science classes in Hailakandi town. I went to Gurucharan College, Silchar, Assam for 12th and Bachelor of Science with a major in Zoology and pass course in Botany, Chemistry and other science and language electives,” Dr Barbhuiya told Awaz – The Voice.

He studied further in Jiwaji University, Gwalior for Masters and PhD in Biochemistry which paved his way to become a Clinical Biochemist and a Molecular Biologist.

“I will remain ever grateful to two of my teachers who helped me to become what I am today. One is Prof. Baby Singha (Retired) of Department of Zoology, Gurucharan College, Silchar with whom I have specialized in the subject of Parasitology and I have never looked back. The other teacher who actually got me into Clinical Biochemistry was Late Prof. Meenu Rai, former Head of Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Cancer Hospital and Research Institute, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.

“My PhD guide Prof. Pramod K. Tiwari shaped me as the future molecular biologist with whom I have not only learnt about science of medicine, study of diseases but several life lessons that I continue to carry as of today,” Dr Barbhuiya said.  

Dr Barbhuiya with his collegaues

Dr Barbhuiya completed his PhD in Biochemistry Jiwaji University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh in July, 2013. He went to Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA in July 2013 to pursue advanced postdoctoral training.

“The ultimate goal was to return to India and set up my own laboratory around clinical biochemistry and molecular diagnostics in my home state Assam. But the circumstances after completion of my postdoctoral training in Johns Hopkins and lack of securing a suitable job back in India compelled me to pursue things in the United States. I further completed my clinical chemistry fellowship in Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA and have become a practicing clinical biochemist and clinical laboratory director,” he said.

Dr Barbhuiya currently holds the position of section medical director overseeing the Clinical Chemistry and Point of Care Testing operations of Baystate Health Pathology services across Western Massachusetts, USA.  He provides clinical consultation to physicians and other healthcare providers regarding the laboratory test interpretations in the subspecialty area as systems consultant. 

Dr Barbhuiya with other renowned pathologists

He ensures that the clinical laboratory meets several US federal and local state regulations delivering timely and accurate diagnosis for patients. He is accountable for the effective management and administrations of clinical operations of the Clinical Chemistry and Point of Care Testing service within the Baystate Health Pathology operations. He also serves as Assistant Professor of Pathology; Healthcare Delivery and Population Sciences, UMass Chan Medical School- Baystate Regional Campus.

Dr Barbhuiya has set up a global non-profit organization, Foundation for Advancement of Essential Diagnostics, both in the USA and India. “My next goal is to take my non-profit foundation activities to low and middle-income countries around the world and locally serve in underserved areas of the United States,” he added.

Academically, Dr Barbhuiya is making efforts to continue his research areas of interest. His primary areas of research are studying biliary tract (liver and gallbladder) cancer mechanisms, discover biomarkers of diagnostic and therapeutic values.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Daulat Rahman, Guwahati / October 27th, 2024

Annual General Meeting of NRI Brothers Mukka Committee held in Jubail, new office-bearers appointed

KARNATAKA / Jubail, SAUDI ARABIA :

Jubail:

The Annual General Meeting of the NRI Brothers Mukka Committee was recently convened at the ‘Mask 7’ hall in Jubail.

Over 100 participants from Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and Qatar attended the event, which focused on reviewing the Committee’s achievements and planning future initiatives.

During the meeting, Committee President KM Hasan, along with Muzaffar and Shameem Moidin, introduced a new program, the Family Relief Fund (FRF) project. Mohammad Zainuddin provided an overview of the Committee’s establishment and its accomplishments to date.

The occasion also witnessed the launch of Shameem Moidin’s book, Hajj Experience 2024.

Senior members KM Iddinabba, Iqbal Hasan, and Abdul Ghafoor were honoured for their contributions to the Committee.

A quiz competition, led by Shameem Moidin, added an interactive element to the event.

New office-bearers were selected during the meeting. Sadiq Moidin assumed the role of President, while Mushtaq Ahmad and Mohammad Shaik were named Vice Presidents. Mohammad Safwan took over as the new General Secretary, with Mohammad Zainuddin and Rizwan Shafi as Joint Secretaries. KM Hasan was appointed as Treasurer.

The meeting commenced with a recitation of Quran by Muhammad Ashraf and concluded with the recitation of three salaths.

source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Gulf / by Vartha Bharati / October 07th, 2024

Assamese researcher Rahul Islam develops app to detect depression

ASSAM / New Jersery, U.S.A :

Amidst the joy of the Durga Puja festival, the news of an Assamese young researcher in the United States hitting a major success had doubled the happiness of the people across the State.

Rahul Islam a researcher at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey, has developed a mobile app that can identify people suffering from depression. The app can scan a person’s face and eyes to decode the state of his brain.

Rahul Islam, a native of Assam, is an important part of the research led by a senior professor at the university. He hails from the Radhakuchi village in the Karra area of ​​Baihata Chariali in the Kamrup district.

Rahul Islam graduated in Computer Science Engineering from the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIT), Guwahati, and left for the USA. received a scholarship to fulfill his dream of pursuing higher studies. Rahul Islam is researching under Senior Professor Sang Won Bae at one of the oldest universities in the United States established in the 1870s.

Rahul Islam, son of Golmahmud Ali and Sulema Begum, spent his childhood and adolescence outside the home.

Golmahmood Ali was a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) soldier.

Rahul attended several Kendriya Vidyalayas in India till higher secondary due to his father’s job that took the family across India. Rahul Islam passed his matriculation and higher secondary examinations from Dimapur Kendriya Vidyalaya.

Rahul topped the North East with 97% marks in the 2010 High School Leaving Certificate Examination.

In an interview with Awaz-The Voice, Rahul Islam’s father Golmahmood Ali said; “Rahul was a keen reader since childhood. He spent most of the day reading books. As a father, I am very happy and proud today. I have a daughter. Rahul is older, my daughter is younger Every year, Rahul comes home in December and returns to the United States in January.”

It is worth mentioning that depression is currently recognized as a silent killer of human society and a serious threat to mental stability. Identifying depressed people at an early stage is essential to free them. This can be done to identify such patients at an early stage. However, in reality, it is difficult to identify such patients in the early stages.

This is because people who suffer from depression do not want their inner turmoil to be expressed and do not allow it to be reflected on their faces.

Researchers at the Stevens Institute of Technology have developed two mobile apps that can scan a person’s face and eyes to detect depression. Both apps use artificial intelligence (AI). The first app detects brain functioning by scanning subtle changes in the size of the eyeballs that happensto a patient suffering from depression. 

A second app, FacePsy, identifies such patients by studying the person’s emotional state through changes in facial muscle movement and brain posture. The innovative discovery of the son of Assam has already been published in various scientific journals in the United States as well as in the national media of India.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Ariful Islam, Guwahati / October 19th, 2024

Thumbay Group honours Dr U T Ifthikar Ali with ‘Star of the Year Award’ at annual conference

Mangaluru, KARNATAKA / Dubai, U.A.E :

Ajman (UAE) : 

Thumbay Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Hospital honoured Prof Dr U T Ifthikar Ali, chairman of the Allied & Healthcare Council Karnataka, with the prestigious “Star of the Year” award during the 4th International annual conference on “Innovation in Rehabilitation Practice and Medicine” held at Thumbay Medicity in Ajman.

Dr Ifthikar, a distinguished educationist, healthcare professional, sports enthusiast, and social activist, has played a vital role in overseeing allied and paramedical colleges across Karnataka. His remarkable efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic, where he tirelessly worked for the welfare of the people, were particularly highlighted during the ceremony.

Dr Thumbay Moideen, founder president of Thumbay Group, commended Dr Ifthikar for his unwavering commitment to the fields of education and healthcare. He stated, “Dr. Ifthikar Ali embodies the spirit of hard work and compassion, especially during challenging times like the pandemic. His contributions have not only enriched the education sector but have also significantly improved healthcare delivery in Karnataka. We are confident that he will continue to be a catalyst for positive change in society.”

The felicitation ceremony was made even more special by the presence of Sheikh Dr Majid Bin Saeed Al Nuaimi, chairman of the ruler’s court, Ajman, further emphasising the importance of the occasion.

In his acceptance speech, Dr Ifthikar expressed his gratitude, stating, “I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition. It serves as a motivation to continue my efforts in enhancing healthcare and education in our community. Together, we can create a better future for the next generation.”

The 4th international annual conference on “Innovation in Rehabilitation Practice and Medicine”, held at Thumbay Medicity in Ajman, served as a pivotal platform for discussing advancements in rehabilitation and healthcare. Esteemed healthcare professionals, researchers, and industry leaders gathered to share insights and explore innovative practices that enhance patient care.

The conference featured talks focused on emerging therapies and technologies, including the integration of holistic approaches in rehabilitation. This year’s event highlighted Thumbay Healthcare’s commitment to leading the way in healthcare innovation, emphasising the importance of collaboration in addressing the evolving needs of patients, particularly the elderly population.

The conference not only celebrated achievements in the field but also nurtured networking and knowledge-sharing among participants dedicated to improving rehabilitation practices.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Daijiworld.com / Home> Karnataka / by Media Release / October 19th, 2024

Rana Ayyub Bags 2024 Int’l Press Freedom Award

Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA / U.S.A :

Rana Ayyub, an Indian investigative journalist and Global Opinion Writer at The Washington Post, is the recipient of one of the two coveted 2024 International Press Freedom Awards, as announced by Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE). She has been named for this award for her reporting that tenaciously upholds press freedom while holding governments accountable.

Ayyub will attend the CJFE Gala: A Night to Celebrate Courage in Journalism, where she will accept the award in Toronto on October 23.

When Ayyub went undercover in 2010 to look into the government’s role in communal violence – which is defined as violence based on race or religion – she established her reputation for fearless reporting. Since then, she has provided news and investigative reports about the persecution of minorities, state-sanctioned violence, and communal politics for a variety of Indian and international publications, such as The Washington PostThe New York TimesThe GuardianThe Atlantic, and Foreign Policy. Her best-selling book, Gujarat Files: Anatomy of a Cover-up was released in 2016.

The Modi administration has reacted angrily to Ayyub’s political exposés. Ayyub is one of India’s most harassed and abused reporters, according to the International Centre for Journalists, and the UN special rapporteur has urged Indian government to stop the “relentless misogynistic and sectarian attacks” against her.

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Pride of the Nation> Awards / by Radiance News Bureau / October 04th, 2024

Aamir Qutub Wins 2024 IABCA Young Professional of the Year Award

INDIA / AUSTRALIA :

Aamir Qutub, an India-born entrepreneur and CEO of Australian IT multinational Enterprise Monkey, has been awarded the 2024 India Australia Business and Community Alliance (IABCA) Young Professional of the Year Award. The accolade recognizes his exceptional contributions to entrepreneurship and social service in Australia.

Upon receiving the award, Qutub expressed his gratitude in a conversation with Radiance from Australia. “More than a decade ago, when I left my hometown for Australia, I never imagined standing in the grand Parliament Hall, receiving an international award in the presence of the Prime Minister. I am deeply humbled and honored to have received the 2024 IABCA Young Professional of the Year Award.”

Reflecting on his journey, Aamir shared, “This recognition is not just about my individual efforts but highlights the power of community support. From my early days in India to establishing myself in Australia, the backing of people around me has been crucial. This award is for my work as a founder and CEO, where we have created jobs and contributed to the local economy. Our initiative, Angel Next Door, played a key role in helping over 100,000 Australians during the COVID-19 crisis.”

Aamir also offered advice to emerging entrepreneurs in India, encouraging them to pursue their dreams, regardless of their background.

“I come from a middle-class family in a small Tier 3 city, but I dared to dream big. The journey was not easy, but persistence, adaptability, and continuous learning made it possible. Your background does not define your future – your determination does. Every small step you take today contributes to tomorrow’s success,” he said.

Reflecting on his journey, Aamir acknowledged the many people and institutions that played a role in his success.

“From the regional city of Aligarh and the nurturing environment at AMU, where I laid my foundation, to the vibrant city of Geelong, where Deakin University provided me with a platform to grow – this journey has been shaped by countless hands and hearts,” he added.

A proud alumnus of AMU, Aamir has received numerous accolades, including being a finalist for the Australian Young Business Leader Award. He was the youngest General Manager of ICT Geelong and also served as Digital Manager for Australian Sports Tech Network. In the early stages of his career, Aamir worked as a cleaner during the day and a newspaper delivery boy at night to fund his startup. He has also demonstrated his commitment to social causes by spending a night on the streets with other CEOs to experience the life of homelessness, raising awareness for Australians without shelter.

Aamir’s professional journey began with Honda Cars India as a Production Manager before he co-founded the Stand India Foundation, a not-for-profit social venture. He holds an MBA in Information Management from Deakin University and a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from AMU, where he served as General Secretary of the AMU Students’ Union.

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Pride of the Nation> Award> Markers of Excellence> Latest News / by Radiance News Bureau / October 07th, 2024

Badsha Peer, King of Africa: Seeking India’s Deccan in South African Tales of Indenture

SOUTHERN INDIA / SOUTH AFRICA :

By Nikhil Mandalaparthy. Nikhil is a journalist, community activist, and consultant focused on religious pluralism and social justice in South Asia and North America. He is the curator of Voices of Bhakti, a digital archive that showcases translations of South Asian poetry and art on religion, caste, and gender. He recently served as Deputy Executive Director of Hindus for Human Rights and is currently conducting research as a 2024-25 Luce Scholar.

Editor’s Note: This story was supported by the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting.

___________________________________

kitne pyare hai yeh badshah jis pe hum marte hain
yeh haqeeqat hai tasawwur mein unka deedar karte hain
unka roza hai beshaq maqaam-e-madad
hum ghareeb ki taqdeer ko acche mein badal dete hain

How loving is this Badsha whom we “die” for
The truth is: in our imagination, it’s him we see
Without a doubt, his tomb is the destination for help;
He changes our unfortunate destinies to good.

– Iqbal Sarrang (2002) 
(Translated by Goolam Vahed, with edits

_______________________________

Mazaar of Badsha Peer, Durban, South Africa / Source: Author

In the historic Brook Street cemetery in Durban, South Africa, a gleaming white and gold structure towers over dozens of tombstones. This is the mazaar (tomb) of Sufi saint Badsha Peer. Thousands of miles from his birthplace in southern India, he is said to have found his final resting place here in 1894.

Inside the shrine, an inscription declares that this is “The MAQAAM (Resting Place) Of The King Of Africa – HAZRATH SHAYKH AHMED BADSHA PEER (RA)”.

Visiting Badsha Peer’s shrine challenged much of what I was told about South African Indian identity and history. In my conversations with South African Indians, I was told that most Muslims in the community were Gujarati or Konkani, and that most South Indians were Hindu or Christian. But here I was, at the shrine of a Muslim saint who was also South Indian. I was intrigued—and confused.

Digging deeper, I found that the story of this “King of Africa,” Badsha Peer, is a tale of multiple migrations, across the Deccan, South India, and beyond. His story involves Konkani Muslims and Hyderabadi Sufi teachers traveling to colonial Bombay, and Tamil and Telugu indentured workers making the long and treacherous journey from Madras to South Africa.

Tracing the story of Badsha Peer—and Soofie Saheb, the man who popularized his memory—shines light on how Indian religious, linguistic, and regional identities were transformed in the Deccan and South Africa, during the colonial period and through indenture and migration.

Locating Badsha Peer in History

Pinning down the historical Badsha Peer is difficult. Goolam Vahed, a scholar of South African Indian and Muslim history, describes the saint as having a “sketchy biographical profile and unclear genealogy”.

Ashwin Desai and Goolam Vahed write of a Sheikh Ahmed who arrived from Chittoor (modern-day Andhra Pradesh) or Arni in North Arcot district (modern-day Tamil Nadu) on the first ship from India, the SS Truro, which arrived on November 16, 1860. On the other hand, Nile Green, a historian of Indian Ocean Muslim networks, points to a Sheik Ahmed from Machilipatnam (modern-day Andhra Pradesh) who arrived a month later, in December 1860, on the Lord George Bentinc

Either way, according to oral tradition and popular anecdotes, Badsha Peer is remembered as arriving with the first indentured laborers from India. A man of great spiritual power, he is popular for the miracles he performed on the colonial sugarcane plantations, such as accomplishing his tasks in the fields while simultaneously meditating all day.

According to Nile Green, South African oral traditions declare that he was “released early from his indenture due to ‘insanity’”, which was later given a Sufi interpretation as “spiritual rapture (jazb).” Following his release, he is said to have lived the rest of his life as a faqir (mendicant) around the Grey Street mosque until his death in 1894.

Muslims like Badsha Peer made up about 10 percent of the approximately 152,000 Indians who were brought to South Africa as indentured workers; over 80 percent were Hindu. Around 44 percent of indentured Muslims departed from Madras, and among these workers, over 60 percent came from four areas: Arcot (31 percent), Malabar (14 percent), Madras (11 percent), and Mysore (7 percent).

Indentured Muslims, like Hindus, largely came from marginalized castes. In his shrine, Badsha Peer’s caste is simply listed as “Muslim” and “Mohamedan”, which is how around half of indentured Muslims named their caste according to immigration records.

However, Desai and Vahed mention Badsha Peer’s caste as julaha (weaver). He may have been from the Dudekula community , a Telugu-speaking Muslim caste associated with weaving and cotton cleaning. 

Soofie Saheb and His “Overpowering Influence”

Shrine of Badsha Peer, Durban, South Africa / Source: Author

The reason that Badsha Peer is remembered today is due to the efforts of a non-indentured Indian migrant. This pivotal figure is Shah Ghulam Muhammad (d. 1911), popularly remembered in South Africa as “Soofie Saheb.”

Soofie Saheb was born into a Konkani Muslim family in the town of Ibrahimpatan in Ratnagiri district. The family held a high social status on account of its claim to descend from Abu Bakr, the first caliph of Islam. After studying in Kalyan, he departed for Bombay. Nile Green situates his move within “a much larger migration of Konkani Muslims to the city that had taken place over the previous decades”. 

In the early 1890s, Soofie Saheb became a disciple of Habib ‘Ali Shah (d. 1906), a Sufi teacher of the Chishti order. Habib ‘Ali Shah himself was a migrant from Hyderabad who developed a following primarily among Konkani Muslims in Bombay, particularly workers around the Mazgaon dockyard. In 1895, Soofie Saheb was instructed by his teacher to go to South Africa to spread the message of the Chishti order to the indentured Indian population. 

Soon after arriving in Durban in 1895, Soofie Saheb “encountered a situation of close proximity and mixing between Muslims and the large majority of Hindu laborers,” as anthropologist Thomas Blom Hansen writes . Faced with the fact that “Muslims participated widely in Hindu rituals and festivals”, Soofie Saheb began to promote a more “proper” Islamic identity for indentured Muslims. Similar efforts would soon take place among the Hindu community as well, led by Arya Samaj missionaries like Bhai Parmanand and Swami Shankaranand.

One of the first actions of Soofie Saheb in South Africa was to build a shrine over Badsha Peer’s grave, which he is said to have identified through a dream or vision. Shortly afterwards, in April 1896, he purchased a plot of land on the banks of the Umgeni river, upon which he built a complex that included a mosque, khanqah, madrasa, and Muslim cemetery.

Interestingly, the legal documentation for this purchase was prepared by a young Gujarati lawyer who had arrived in South Africa just a few years prior: Mohandas K. Gandhi. Vahed writes that “Between 1898 and his death in 1911 Soofie Saheb built 11 mosques, madrasas and cemeteries all over Natal.”

Reimagining South Asian Languages and Religions in South Africa

A book published by Soofie Saheb’s madrasa in 1970 includes this quote by a Hindu observer: “there were many Tamil-speaking Muslims who, but for the recitals of the Koran, were by tradition and culture typically South Indian. Soofie Saheb’s mystic personality had an overpowering influence on the Muslim community widely scattered.” (emphasis mine)

This framing positions South Indian and Muslim identities as mutually exclusive, with the suggestion that shifting towards a more explicitly Muslim identity necessitated shifting away from South Indian culture. The framing also implicitly links South Indian and Hindu identities together.

What was the nature of Soofie Saheb’s “overpowering influence” among indentured Muslims in South Africa? As Nile Green has noted, Soofie Saheb promoted the Urdu language as core to Muslim identity, even though few indentured Muslims spoke the language.

Green argues that Soofie Saheb was simply following “specific currents of linguistic change in his own Konkani community in India, in which the use of Urdu spread significantly during the early twentieth century, partly as a result of migration” from the Konkan coast to Bombay. Similar developments had taken place elsewhere in the Deccan, such as the rise of Urdu in Hyderabad State in the 1880s as the prestige language of education and social status. 

Soofie Saheb’s efforts made Badsha Peer the most revered Sufi saint in South Africa. At the same time, he promoted a cosmopolitan, Urdu-centric Muslim identity that likely would have been unfamiliar to Badsha Peer himself, as a Telugu- or Tamil-speaking indentured Muslim.

These shifts were perhaps aided by the fact that in decades following Soofie Saheb’s death in 1911, many South Indian associations in South Africa adopted explicitly Hindu orientations.

For example, a year after the Andhra Maha Sabha of South Africa was formed in 1931, the organization became an affiliate of the South African Hindu Maha Sabha. The Andhra Maha Sabha’s logo is a Telugu-script Om, and the organization’s headquarters in the Indian township of Chatsworth includes an elaborate Venkateswara temple, which was built in 1983.

Thus, on one side, Telugu cultural associations in South Africa defined Telugu and Hindu identities as synonymous, while Muslim leaders like Soofie Saheb consolidated an Urdu-oriented Muslim identity.

South Asian Legacies: Shared Devotion at Badsha Peer’s Shrine

Interior of the Shrine for Badsha Peer / Source: Author

Although Badsha Peer is remembered as coming from Andhra Pradesh or Tamil Nadu, Soofie Saheb’s emphasis on an Urdu-centric Muslim identity means there is little to no visible South Indian influence in the rituals and practices associated with his shrine today.

And yet, despite Soofie Saheb’s activities to consolidate a distinct Muslim identity among indentured Indians, Badsha Peer’s shrine became a site for prayer, pilgrimage, and worship for Indians across regional and religious identities. In a way, his shrine provided a conduit for older South Asian practices of multi-religious devotion, such as reverence for Sufi mazaars and dargahs. 

From the earliest years of the shrine, non-Muslim devotees played a role—Goolam Vahed notes that in 1917, “A corrugated iron structure was erected by a Hindu, Bhaga, around the dome” of the shrine. In 2002, one of the qawwali groups performing at the saint’s urs (death anniversary) was led by a Hindu singer. 

Community archivist Selvan Naidoo, director of the 1860 Heritage Centre, recalls that “In my early childhood days, such was the power of this place that my staunch Tamil mother would often take us there to pray at this great place of indentured reverence.”

This reverence for Badsha Peer continues to this day. Mark Naicker, an interfaith activist in Durban from a Catholic family, shared with me that “sometimes you hear Hindus also go to Badsha Peer … when people have a baby, they would go to that shrine” to seek blessings.

It has been over 160 years since Badsha Peer and the first indentured Indians set foot on South African shores. He is a unique figure in South African Indian history. Unlike most indentured Indians, he was Muslim. Unlike most Indian Muslims in South Africa, he was from southern India. And unlike nearly any other indentured Indian Muslim in South Africa, he is revered as a saint whose power is manifest even to this day. 

Badsha Peer’s story, intertwined with that of Soofie Saheb, provides us with a glimpse into how Indian identities were transformed and reconfigured in South Africa. “Muslim” and “South Indian” identities took increasingly divergent paths. And yet, despite these shifts, his memory lives on, drawing devotees from across religious and regional backgrounds who seek the blessings of this “King of Africa.”

source: http://www.maidaanam.com / Maidaanam / Home / by Nikhil Mandalaparthy / June 17th, 2024

Hyderabad’s Burhan Quadri who made a name to reckon with in Saudi Arabia passes away in US

Hyderabad, TELANGANA / SAUDI ARABIA / California, U.S.A :

Hyderabad:

Syed Burhan Badshah Quadri alias Salik, a well-known media person in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, lost a five-year long and painful battle with cancer in Santa Clara, California, the USA, on Thursday (December 22).


Burhan, as he was known among most of his friends, came from a traditional and elite family of Hyderabad.  He was 74 years old.

His father Syed Kaleemullah Qadri was the last Subedar of Hyderabad of the Nizam era. After the Police Action of 1948 he was arrested and released after some time.  After he was reinstated he worked as head of several departments before his superannuation.

Burhan is survived by his wife Shahnaz and four children–two daughters and two sons.

Burhan after completing his bachelor’s degree with the Nizam College had joined Nizams Sugar Factor as a management trainee and moved over to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia somewhere in the mid-seventies.

Within few years of him arriving in the Kingdom, he became one of the topnotch executives from India.  He worked with several companies and finally began his own advertising agency Zee Ads which counted many major companies among its clients. He was one of the few Indian executives in the Kingdom at that time who owned a BMW and lived comfortable, if not luxurious, life. The company had to be closed down owing to some managerial issues.  From there started the next phase Burhan’s life.

Among a host of his close friends who are deeply bereaving his loss are Mohammad Majid Ali, Nadir Yar Khan, Zahyr Siddiqi and Syed Inamur Rahman Ghayur.

Burhan a photographer by passion took keen interest in the political developments taking place in India and expressed his opinion without any hesitation.  His talk which he considered free and frank was painful for many of his friends. Among his favourite personalities was Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan, the last Nizam of Hyderabad. He would never keep quiet if he heard any negative comment about the Nizam. In his eyes the Nizam was a symbol of tolerance, development and Hindu-Muslim unity.

It is not yet known when and where he would laid to rest.

source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> Obituaries / by Mir Ayoob Ali Khan / December 23rd, 2022