Renowned Indian author Annie Zaidi has won the Fiction Book of the Year 2020 for “Prelude to A Riot” at the Tata Literature Live! Awards. The awards ceremony took place via a digital event in lieu of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. Aleph Book Company published the novel in September 2019.
@AlephBookCo
Annie Zaidi is a renowned author, poet, and scriptwriter for stage and screen. Her latest book, Bread, Cement, Cactus: A Memoir of Belonging and Dislocation, published by Cambridge, won The Nine Dots Prize. Zaidi’s other books include Unbound: 2,000 Years of Indian Women’s Writing, Gulab, Sleep Tight, and more.
Zaidi is also a professor at the Jindal School of Journalism & Communication, OP Jindal Global University.
Prelude to A Riot addresses the issue of communal intolerance between three generations of two families – one Hindu and the other Muslim, and the ensuing communal violence in the town that changes their lives forever.
The Tata Literature Live! also known as the Mumbai LitFest, was held between November 16 to 22. Apart from the Fiction Book of the Year, other awards presented during the festival include Lifetime Achievement Award, Poet Laureate Award, Non-Fiction Book of the Year, First Book Fiction, First Book Non-Fiction, Business Book, and Publisher of the Year.
The jury for choosing the winner of the Fiction Book of the Year 2020 comprised of Prof. Ashwani Kumar, Padma Shri Keki Daruwalla, Prof. Madhavi Menon, and Prof. Shashi Baliga. Apart from Annie Zaidi’s Prelude to A Riot, other books in the shortlist were Aravind Adiga’s Amnesty, Gitanjali Kolanad’s Girl Made of Gold, and Memory of Light.
Winners’ List at Tata Literary Live! 2020:
Lifetime Achievement Award – Ruskin Bond
Poet Laureate Award – Javed Akhtar
Fiction Book of the Year – Annie Zaidi, Prelude to A Riot (Aleph)
Non-Fiction Book of the Year – TM Krishna, Sebastian & Sons: A Brief History of Mrdangam Makers (Westland)
First Book Fiction – Deepa Anappara, Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line (Penguin Random House)
First Book Non-Fiction – Taran N Khan, Shadow City: A Woman Walks Kabul (Vintage Books) Business Book of the Year – Sunil Kant Munjal, The Making of Hero: Four Brothers, Two Wheels and a Revolution that Shaped India (HarperBusiness)
source: http://www.bombayreads.com / Bombay Reads / Home> News / by Noman Shaikh / November 23rd, 2020
The hijab-clad Karate maestro Shaheen Akhtar, 52, barely looks what she is — a 4-time National Champion in Karate, chopping her way surgically in all top events worldwide, is now appointed the first and only woman ‘Officiating Referee’ at the ongoing 19th Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games in China.
Packing up her bags to serve as the International Technical Official or Officiating Referee, Shaheen is a smiling but simple granny whose daughter Sana Hava and son Ayaan Ansari are also National Champions in Karate.
She learned her first Karate kicks, stances, punches, blocks and chops aged 13 while a schoolgirl at the Christ Church School, Byculla, excelled while studying for her B.Com degree from H.R. College, Churchgate and loved it enough to make it a full-fledged professional career as a ‘karateka’.
Over four decades since, she has punched her way from Youth League to Premier League to South Asian Championships to Asian Championships to Commonwealth Championships to World Championship events globally, earning medals and honours for her discipline and laurels for the nation, both as a participant and as a referee.
“In Hangzhou, I shall be the Officiating Referee for all events of Karate at the men’s and women’s events scheduled between October 5-7, with top champions participating from 42 Asian countries… It’s a very crucial responsibility,” said Shaheen softly, in a chat with IANS.
Discussing her upcoming challenges as Officiating Referee, Shaheen said that “handling pressure” will be the most critical part of her assignment — when over two billion pairs of eyes from all over Asia will scrutinise her every move and decision.
“All countries are coming there and vying for the medals… Besides the top-class champions from all countries in the ring, there will be top games experts from different countries, sports officials, VIPs, judges and viewers in the stadium and at their homes… Any wrong decision on my part can lead to havoc right inside the stadium,” Shaheen added.
Inside the ring, when the medal-hungry champions from different competing nations would be lunging at each other, the experience will be another trial even for Shaheen, herself an established and acclaimed figure in the sport.
“My job will be to control these rivals in the ring, command them to obey and adhere to the rules of the games, if they falter then there are levels of warnings, penalties, etc. to rein them in… And all under the watchful eyes of many,” Shaheen smiled.
Only on rare occasions, the moderator ‘Kansa’ (Match Supervisor) intervenes and also equally rarely the ‘third umpire’ or the video review supervisor, mainly while appealing for points is resorted to, she explained patiently, without clenching her deadly fists or flailing her arms.
In her new role, the former 4-time National Champion, 6-time Maharashtra Champion, a 8th Degree Black-Belt holder, Shaheen is also the highest and most qualified World Karate Federation and Asian Karate Federation female Referee in the country and in South Asia.
Now, Shaheen is passing on the baton to the gen-next through SAMA (Shaheen’s Academy of Martial Arts) affiliated to Karate India Organisation, and striving to groom future state-national-international champions and referees.
“I hope my long journey inspires the younger generations to take up Karate as a serious and viable career option… India has tremendous untapped potential and there could be many young champs waiting in the wings to grab their moment of glory given the right opportunity…I am always here to help anybody,” Shaheen declared.
source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> India> Indian Muslims> Sports / September 25th, 2023
Nooniya Basti under Mahingaon Gram Panchayat in Kishanganj district of Bihar is largely inhabited by Shershabadi Muslims, who trace their origins to Bangladesh.
It is in this conservative milieu, where girls are not allowed to even step out of their homes unchaperoned, that Ziratunnisa Khatun, 14, and her friends have been leading a campaign on family planning since the last two years.
The Kishori group members of Nooniya Basti interact with older women showing them samples of contraceptive pills, Copper T and condoms and telling them about the merits of keeping a five-year gap between children (Photo: Ajitha Menon\WFS)
“Our group comprises girls between 12 and 18 years and we have been trained to create awareness on the need for family planning, the ill effects of child marriage, related maternal health issues and the importance of good nutrition, water conservation and sanitation,” informs an articulate Nasera Khatun, 16, President of the Nooniya Basti Kishori group.
Since October 2012, activists of the Bihar Voluntary Health Association (BVHA) have been running the Kishori programme, as part of the Department of International Development (DFID) supported Global Poverty Action Fund project, ‘Improving Maternal Health Status in Six States in India’, initiated by Oxfam India.
Shares, Meraj Danish, Thematic Coordinator-BVHA, Kishanganj, “I remember how tough it had been for us to convince the elders in the Shershabadi community to give permission to their adolescent daughters to get involved in our maternal health intervention.
“We drew them in by facilitating their access to rations given to teenage girls under the government’s Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (Sabla scheme).
“The scheme provisions for three kilos of rice, two kilos of lentils and 40 iron supplement pills in a month to every out-of-school girl in the 11-14 age group and all girls between 14 and 18 years.
“As we managed to rope in more girls into Sabla, the trust quotient between us and the community increased. These were people who were anyway battling with poor infant and maternal health, anaemia and lack of nutrition in adolescents, so eventually they came around and agreed to let their girls attend our training sessions.”
Girls, for whom family planning had been a taboo subject, were in for a huge surprise at the training sessions conducted by the BVHA volunteers.
“The meetings were a real eye-opener. As we listened to the volunteers, we soon figured out the reasons behind our mothers always feeling weak and lacking energy. We realised that most of our brothers and sisters and, in fact, we ourselves, were suffering from the ill-effects of under nutrition.
“We also understood the need for family planning and the fact that spacing between children is critical for ensuring the good health of the mother and child. Above all, we learnt to improve our eating habits as well as maintain proper personal hygiene,” elaborates Habiba Khatun, 17.
Nooniya Basti’s Kishori group began its family planning advocacy by first speaking to their own family members, relatives and friends.
“We used to carry samples of contraceptive pills, Copper T (intrauterine device) and condoms and go door-to-door, talking to our mothers and their friends. Rather than insisting on use of contraceptives to limit the number of children, we told them about the need to have at least a five-year gap between each child,” explains Tanzera Khatun, 16, adding, “this automatically brings down the number of children per couple and removes any concerns regarding forced family planning.”
Till a couple of years back, most women living in and around Nooniya Basti had no clue about family planning and were mostly bogged down by three-four children, born within just a year of each other. Consequently, the mothers and their children used to be very weak and sickly.
“This is why the women immediately related to our conversations regarding the need for the body to fully recover between pregnancies and showed a keen interest in knowing how to use contraceptives to ensure spacing between children. By and large, we spread the message that it was alright to use contraception to achieve spacing between children even if family planning per se was taboo,” reveals Sabina Khatun, 16.
Of course, it certainly was not always smooth sailing for the girls. Many women were quite unwilling to talk to “children” on issues of family planning and contraception.
“The fact that we could talk proficiently about the use of contraceptive pills and their possible side effects and demonstrate how to use Copper T and condoms added to our creditability in their eyes. After a few interactions, during our house visits, there was no hostility or shyness and the women could voice their different issues and concerns openly before us,” adds Ruksana Khatun, 16.
Whereas the community women have benefited from the Kishori group’s active engagement, the girls too have learnt a lot in the process. This has prepared them well for the future and set them apart from their lesser fortunate peers across the country.
“Thanks to this intervention, most of us have become vocal against early marriages. Moreover, we have become particular about eating nutritious food and taking iron supplement pills to fight anaemia,” points out Nasera Khatun.
The other advantage for this group has been in the form of access to better education. “Once the community elders saw how well the girls were faring, it was possible for them to seek permission to join mainstream schools to acquire better quality education, along with studying at the local madarsa. Many girls in the group are now attending regular school,” says Danish of BVHA.
At present, there are three Kishori groups in Kishanganj. Though there are about 20 girls in each, the health awareness campaign related to family planning and contraception is spreading effectively across several villages in the district, as the peer and friend circles are absorbing the knowledge and experiences of the core Kishori units and putting them to good use by reaching out to women of their own localities.
by Women’s Feature Service
source: http://www.weekendleader.com / The Weekend Leader / Home / by Ajitha Menon, Kishanganj / Vol.6, Issue 12 / May 23rd, 2015
Dr. MOHAMED BEDEEUZZAMAN is CEO of Integrated Education Council India (IECI). He completed his Ph.D in Biomedical Signal Processing from Aligarh Muslim University after having his B.Tech and M.Tech degrees from Govt Engineering College, Thrissur and NIT, Calicut respectively.
Dr. Zaman served MES College of Engineering, Kuttippuram, Kerala in various capacities for 22 years.
He was Vice Principal of the College from 2013 to 2020. He has contributed many papers and attended conferences and workshops at Rome (Italy), Prague (Czech Republic), Loughborough (UK) and Sharjah (UAE).
Dr Zaman is a good orator and prolific writer. He is an expert in outcome-based education, school grading and accreditation. He has conducted many workshops on NEP 2020 and its NCFs.
In an interview with MOHD NAUSHAD KHAN, he said, IECI gives academic support and guidance to about 100 schools, 600 plus primary/secondary madrasas, and 2 dozen colleges.
Excerpts:
What inspired you to work for education?Please tell us about your educational journey and what have you achieved so far?
In the early 90s, during inception of the college, the political atmosphere of Kerala was very much hostile to running of a private college due to its leftist leanings. Running a private college was considered almost synonymous with some anti-social activity. Being part of a team that attempts to establish something anew gave us many insights. It gave us a conviction that strong will and committed team with visionary leadership will make any dream true. The mentoring that we got from elders during the initial phases of the college was unparalleled.
Later, as Professor in the Applied Electronics and Instrumentation Department and Vice Principal of the college, I could shoulder many academic and administrative responsibilities.
By the grace of God Almighty, as NBA coordinatorI could be instrumental in getting NBA accreditation for four undergraduate programmes. This gave me an opportunity to closely learn the importance of outcome-based education. It made us ponder over the positive changes that may happen if the outcome-based approach was brought to different facets of education. Also, I strongly felt that rather than tertiary education, the outcome-based experiments will be more fruitful at the formative levels of education where the stakeholder involvement is much higher.
Fortunately, amid nurturing the dreams of doing something in a larger framework, I have got an invitation from Integrated Education Council India (IECI) to join them. IECI is a public spirited non-profit educational entity. It coordinates the activities of multitudes of educational institutions, from preschools to colleges across Kerala and Gulf region. It is engaged in preparing schemes and plans to promote quality in all facets of education.
What is the objective of your educational vision?
IECI has a rightly crafted vision statement: To make the world a better place by creating generations that uphold the dignity of humankind. We understand that the root cause of all problems that has afflicted the world today is our miserable failure to honourthe dignity of humankind. The solution to this anathema is to train younger ones to imbibe the values of human dignity, justice, and equality during their formative years.
What is the model of your educational system?
In tune with the noble vision statement, we have developed certain mission statements that act as the basis of multitudes of activities carried out by IECI. They include: To equip people to actively participate in knowledge society by imbibing quality in various facets of education, Lead students to climb the social ladder by fixing suitable benchmarks and thereby making them vehicles of social change, Nurture the future generation as responsible citizens by providing them with a worldview built upon strong moral foundations, Design and implement various curricular and no-curricular programmes that will infuse self-esteem and awareness about the cultural moorings among the stakeholders.
Our attempt is to focus our activities on those who can be linked and mapped to the given vision and mission statements.
IECI gives academic support and guidance to about 100 schools, 600 plus primary/secondary madrasas, and two dozen colleges. Our institutions stand out in that admissions and appointments are made purely on merit without any discrimination based on caste, creed, or religion. Among other things, the IECI strives for educational uplift of the backward and marginalised sections of society by awarding scholarships to meritorious but economically weaker students and for strengthening the associated schools, quality-wise.
Concerns and apprehensions about preserving cultural sensibilities act as a major barrier to the education of children belonging to minority communities. We are helping people to overcome this fear by providing quality education with due consideration to the culture and tradition of stakeholders. Everybody wants to inculcate values and morals in future generations. Many of the times, this is achieved through earmarking separate periods for value education in the weekly timetable. Though we are also doing the same, our striving is to provide a value-laden ecosystem at our institutions in a level-appropriate manner. We train our institutions to adhere to the proclaimed core values and mentor them to stand witness to these values in the process and premises.
How is your chain of schools different from other existing chains of schools?
Our school activities are organised under the banner of Vidya Council for Education (VCE). It is an agency that stands for an education that aims for good academic standards. It strives for a process by which good citizens who honour the dignity of all fellow beings will be nurtured.
India is a very large country where the educational aspirations of citizens cannot be fulfilled by the government alone. Philanthropic interventions from not-for-profit entities are very much needed to reach our stated targets of access and equity in education. Schools associated with VCE fulfil the educational aspirations of many pupils belonging to rural areas where good education is not readily available. Also, many of our students are coming from socially deprived sections. In that sense VCE is contributing to strivings of our governments to create an equitable knowledge society.
We support the associated schools to improve their governance and process. In addition to the support to improve academic quality, we plan and implement various competitions and talent search examinations. We conduct training programmes for different stakeholder segments, considering their scope in the educational process.
If you ask for two features that make our school system unique, we will immediately tell you that one is its anchoring on values and the other respect for diversity. We are engaged in the process of equipping students to live in the knowledge economy by preserving cultural sensitivities. The twin task is done within the curricular framework created by governments and statutory bodies. We believe that the beauty of India lies in its diversity and it can make use of its demographic dividend if this diversity is preserved and taken care of. We find no difficulty in making respect to diversity a core value and at the same time preserving the cultural moorings of the Muslim community to which the major share of our students belongs. We have been conducting various programmes in our schools to give exposure to students regarding the social mosaic on which they will have to lead life as responsible citizens.
As stated in NEP 2020, teaching students the importance of “doing what’s right” at a young age and giving a logical framework for making ethical decisions is an important aim of school education. Through its multifaceted activities, IECI is working towards achieving this end.
Pre-primary schools have become a market these days.How are you different from those who have only commercial interest?
As stated earlier, not only the preschool, but the entire enterprise of IECI is envisaged as a not-for-profit entity.
Ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all by2030 is an important component of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of UN. This noble goal can be met only if quality education is provided since the very beginning. That is why much emphasis is being given to enhancing the quality of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) nowadays. Building the foundation for literacy and numeracy skills is a major learning outcome that is expected out of preschool education.
Even at their tender age, children are repository of boundless potentials. On many occasions they pose difficult questions that emanate from their inquisitive minds. Rather than addressing these innate queries properly, elders used to silence them. Our classrooms are also not an exemption. Instead, a conducive environment should be provided for the children where they feel the school as an extension of their homely settings. To reach this end, education must be more experiential, inquiry-driven, learner-centred and flexible.
Education is not mere imparting of literacy and numeracy skills. It should be a process that must help students to build character and enable learners to be ethical, compassionate, and value-driven.
IECI has developed two streams of pre-school curricula for foundational stage of schooling: One is Fly High and the other Heavens. Both were prepared to make the child school ready with 3-year pre-schooling. The latter gives emphasis on teaching recitation of the Qur’ān also along with other subjects.
What are the challenges before pre-primary education in India?
Following are some of the challenges before the pre-primary education:
Access and Enrolment: Due to the absence of sufficient schools or preschool facilities, many children, especially those in rural and economically backward areas, lack access to quality pre-primary education.
Equity and Inclusivity: Ensuring equitable access to all children remains a major challenge. Children from marginalised sections, including those from lower castes, educationally backward minorities, tribal backgrounds, and economically disadvantaged families, often face barriers to pre-primary education.
Medium of Instruction: It is a fact that those who are getting quality English medium pre-schooling have an edge over those who are getting substandard pre-schooling in vernacular languages in their later careers. At the same time, English medium pre-schooling is a luxury beyond the scope of many ordinary Indians.
Parental Awareness and Involvement: Lack of awareness about the importance of early childhood education among parents can lead to low enrolment rates. Additionally, some parents might not have the resources or time to actively engage in their child’s learning process.
Lack of Proper Funding: Adequate investment in early childhood education is essential to improve infrastructure, teacher training, and overall quality. While limited financial resources allocated to pre-primary education can hinder its growth and development.
source: http://www.radianceweekly.net / Radiance Views Weekly / Home> Education / by Mohd Naushad Khan / August 22nd, 2023
The Karnataka State Sunni Student Federation (SSF) celebrated a significant milestone on Sunday, marking 50 years of dedicated service to the student community. A grand event was held at the Palace Grounds in Bengaluru, where thousands of students and community members gathered to commemorate the organization’s achievements.
Addressing the attendees, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah lauded SSF’s contributions to upholding the values of unity, the constitution, and the integrity of the country. He emphasized the importance of education and urged students to channel their energy and organizational skills to propel India’s development.
The Chief Minister reiterated that India belongs to every Indian and pledged to protect the rights of all citizens, discouraging any form of discrimination based on name, caste, or religion.
Housing and Minority Affairs Minister Zameer Ahmed commended SSF for its exceptional 50-year service in education. He praised the organization for becoming a global model and for its significant contributions to the nation’s prosperity.
Minister Ahmed highlighted SSF’s role in producing IAS and IPS officers from its alumni and reaffirmed the Karnataka Congress government’s commitment to supporting minority community students, particularly in higher education.
He also announced plans to introduce Kannada language teaching in Madrasas within the state and the consideration of establishing a Madrasa Board, drawing inspiration from Kerala’s Madrasa education system.
SSF State President Hafiz Sufiyan emphasized the organization’s educational priorities and its dedication to operating numerous madrasas. He underscored that SSF members have remained committed to societal well-being.
The conference also featured the presence of notable figures, including the Grand Mufti of India, Sheikh Abubakr Musliyar, Kerala Muslim Jamaat General Secretary Syed Kalilul Bukhari Thangal, Waqf Board President Anwar Basha, former Karnataka Wakf Board President Shafi Saadi, Nasir Lucky Star, and others.
Founded in 1973 by Sheikh Abubakr Musliyar in Kerala, the SSF’s mission is to provide students with opportunities for education, social engagement, and community service.
For five decades, the SSF has been actively involved in the field of education, playing a significant role in promoting education and empowerment among Muslim students. Over the years, the SSF has established numerous educational institutions, including schools, colleges, and madrasas. The organization has also offered scholarships and financial aid to deserving students. In addition to its educational activities, the SSF has been engaged in various social welfare projects, including healthcare, housing, and poverty alleviation.
Over the past 50 years, the SSF has evolved from a small group of students in Kerala into a large organization with branches in multiple states.
source: http://www.thecognate.com / The Cognate / Home> News / by The Cognate News Desk / September 11th, 2023
Established on January 8, 1877, AMU Mathematics Department is one of the oldest in the university.
Aligarh:
Up-scaling on the graph of achievements among the best departments of Mathematics in the country, the Department of Mathematics, Aligarh Muslim University has become number one in India, taking a big leap to 137th position from the 175th in 2022, according to the Best Global Universities for Mathematics in India.
The latest ranking has been published by the U.S. News and World Report 2023.
Where AMU Maths Dept Stands?
Prof Mohammad Ashraf, Chairman of the Department said the AMU Mathematics Department’s progress is evident from an outstanding overall subject score of 56.8, positioning it at the top most on the national level followed by TIFR, whose ranking is 324 worldwide.
The third position is secured by the ISI, Kolkata with a ranking of 342, and the fourth by IIT Kanpur whose ranking in world list is 352.
On the other hand, IIT Madras and IISC Bangalore are at fifth and sixth positions with ranking 372 and 384 respectively. There are only six institutions of India on the list.
“Our achievement in this important global ranking is a testimony to the several years of dedicated efforts from our faculty and research scholars to enhance the ranking of the department. It is an accomplishment that could truly change the trajectory of the Department’s future”, Prof Mohammad Ashraf said.
“The department’s recognition also highlights the caliber of mathematics education and it is a testament to the impact of our teaching and research in India on the global stage”, he added.
One of the oldest departments in AMU
Prof Ashraf pointed out that the department is one of the oldest departments of studies in the university with its foundation dating back to January 8, 1877 with the establishment of Mohammadian Anglo Oriental College, which later became a university in 1920. The department has had the honour of having the great mathematicians like J.C. Chakravarti, Dr Ziauddin Ahmad, Mr. M.A. Aziz and Mr. Abdul Majeed Kuresihy on its staff.
The US News Education monitors higher education data for the world’s research-led institutions and it is through these rankings that students all over the world make their choices for study and career.
The subject rankings, according to the US News, are powered by Clarivate Analytics, which provided the data and metrics used in the rankings and the bibliometric data are based on the Web of Science.
The bibliometric indicators used in this US News ranking analysis have been drawn over the last five-year period from 2018-22. However, the citations to these papers came from all publications up to the most recent data available.
Some of the indicators on which the ranking is based, include publications, total citations, books, conferences, number of publications that are among the 10 percent most cited, number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited in their respective fields, international collaborations, etc.
source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home> Education & Career / by ummid.com news network / September 18th, 2023
He will celebrate authenticity with traditional cooking styles in tandoor and Mughlai dishes with a selection of signature curries and biryanis from the famed royal kitchens.
Mohammed Sirajuddin, Indian Master Chef- Nazaara, Courtyard By Marriott Bengaluru Hebbal.
Chef Mohammed Sirajuddin has been appointed as the Indian Master Chef at Nazaara, the rooftop restaurant at Courtyard by Marriott Bengaluru Hebbal . An experienced culinary professional, he is ready to spice up the gastronomic scene at Nazaara, known for its extensive offering of authentic Indian cuisine.
In his new role, he will take the dining experience at the restaurant a notch higher, celebrating authenticity with traditional cooking styles in tandoor and Mughlai dishes with a selection of signature curries and biryanis from the famed royal kitchens.
Prior to joining Courtyard By Mariott Bengaluru Hebbal , Sirajuddin was associated with JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu, where he began his culinary journey and mastered the intricacies of the art of cooking. At Courtyard By Marriot Bengaluru Hebbal, Chef Sirjauddin will spearhead the operations at Nazaara. With his immense passion for aesthetics and love for Indian and Mughlai Cuisine, he will play a crucial role in enhancing the skills of his team and further elevating the dining experience for the patrons.
He will also be responsible for the smooth and safe running of the kitchen operations while ensuring all health and safety and service standards are being enforced. He enjoys engaging with his guests and presenting his dishes while recounting the unique history and tradition behind each dish.
When not at work, Chef Sirajuddin spends his quality time cooking for his family and playing cricket. He loves travelling and listening to music.
source: http://www.hotelierindia.com / Hotelier India / Home> Operations / by Staff Writer / April 25th, 2022
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), the apex watchdog for the rights of Indian children has released stunning figures about education and poverty. It says 10 lakh people stopped going to school in 2021 because they could not pay the fees.
While most of us read it and moved on, the 23-year-old Wali Rahmani, a student of law, is working hard to change this situation. His focus is on Muslims, who have the worst record in education among the Indians.
The Kolkata-based Wali Rahmani is studying in the final year of law. He has studied at the country’s best schools, St. James, Kolkata, and Genesis Global School, Noida. As a student of the Singapore International School, he won the national-level gold medal in the turncoat debate held in Mumbai.
Wali Rehmani has set up Umeed Academy, an institution where he is trying to impart “Convernt-style” education to girls and boys who come from poor Muslim families. Soon after passing his 12th standard in 2018, he started the Umeed Foundation and his school project with 10 children.
Students of Umeed Academy
Wali Rehmani’s dream is to provide A-class and “Convent-style” education to a large number of Muslim students. At present the campus of the Umeed Academy is being built on a two-acre plot near Kolkata. When completed, it will have a school, separate hostels for boys and girls, a football ground and a basketball court.
However, since all this costs money and is beyond the means of one person, Wali Rehmani has released a video on social media to raise funds transparently and innovatively. In it, he says if 10 lakh Muslims donate Rs 100 each it will raise Rs crore and give wings to his dreams and those of the children who lose the race in life because of poverty.
In the video message released on YouTube recently, Wali Rehmani tries to explain easily the figures of school dropouts among Muslims.
Besides quoting the NCPCR, he also quotes the 2019 data of the National Council for Applied Economic Resources, which says that 21 percent of the Muslims in the country are forced to live below the poverty line. The monthly income of 6 crore Indian Muslims is less than Rs 2500, while there is no data available for those earning Rs 2500 to Rs 10,000 per month.
Wali Rahmani says, in his video, that after passing his 12th standard, he decided to provide Islamic-convent education to the children of hard-working Muslim families.
A student makes a presentation
He says the existing Umeed Academy campus in Kolkata is small, the upcoming campus on two acres is being constructed. He says if this experiment is successful the corpus of Rs 10 crore will help him build 100 more such schools.
His message is impactful. People are donating money and his video is being shared widely on other platforms to spread the message.
As such, Wali Rahmani is a social influencer with more than one million followers on social media. He appears in various national television debates. He says his work is not ‘social work’ but his social duty.
Wali Rehmani believes that leaders are not born, they are made.
Wali Rehmani is the recipient of the Young Social Hero Award at the South India NGO Conference in 2019.
He has established the Al Hadi School Trust to carry forward the work of the school.
Wali Rahmani says Umeed Academy is not just an institution but an expression of a dream. It works towards the holistic development of destitute children and orphans and enables them to take control of their lives. “The goal is to convert these children, who are currently considered a liability into assets of the society.”
Meal time in Umeed Academy
The Ummeed Academy has a curriculum that combines worldly education and Islamic principles to inculcate the idea of civilization and spirituality at the same time.
Wali Rahmani says every child who graduates from Umeed Academy will become an institution builder and leader.
“Our mission is to promote inclusive growth by educating and skilling underprivileged children through easy access to quality education. Our objective is to bring rapid educational transformation in the weaker sections of the society who generally cannot afford to educate their children.”
The school has the CBSE and ISC curriculum. Given the background of students, they are mostly malnourished and not in good health. That aspect is also taken care of at the Academy.
The Umeed Foundation also aims to work on social problems like child marriage, sexual violence, lack of awareness about menstrual hygiene and child labour, drug addiction, and drug-induced environment faced by children from marginalized communities.
According to Wali Rahmani, Umeed Academy has adopted a holistic approach for its children. Our goal is to provide privileged education to the underprivileged. To achieve that goal, we follow the CBSE curriculum with special emphasis on outcome-based learning, discussion, debate, and interdisciplinary learning.
Students in the kickboxing class
We have developed a well-integrated system of curriculum, instruction, and assessment, where learning outcomes, teaching objectives, and goals are clearly defined for teachers.
The lesson plans are divided into three categories. Smart classes are installed in all the classrooms. We believe in visual and auditory learning. Muslim children are taught Quran recitation, Islamic history, Seera, Dua, Hadith, and Islamic etiquette.Rehmani says he is proud of the fact that the children have a glow on their faces because of the good and nutritious food provided to them at the academy.
The students also also taught kickboxing as a means to defend themselves. He says most children have faced sexual and domestic violence and kickboxing empowers them and makes them bodily and mentally stronger. They also learn martial arts from coach Noor Muhammad Bhutia.
Wali Rahmani says, “We have introduced research and presentation as a part of our curriculum, which mainly focuses on subjects like science and social studies.’
According to Wali Rehman, the foundation of our curriculum is to impart ethics and values. We want to give our children a healthy environment where they can develop unique personalities. Besides, research and presentation are also part of the curriculum.
Wali Rehmani offering bank details for donation
The Academy has developed a well-integrated system of curriculum, instruction, and assessment, where learning outcomes, teaching objectives, and goals are clearly defined for teachers.
The lesson plans are divided into three categories. Smart classes are installed in all the classrooms. We believe in visual and auditory learning. Muslim children are taught Quran recitation, Islamic history, Seera, Dua, Hadith, and Islamic etiquette.
curriculum, instruction, and assessment, where learning outcomes, teaching objectives, and goals are clearly defined for teachers.
The lesson plans are divided into three categories. Smart classes are installed in all the classrooms. We believe in visual and auditory learning. Muslim children are taught Quran recitation, Islamic history, Seera, Dua, Hadith, and Islamic etiquette.
“Our children come from dark backgrounds, which have distorted them in some way or the other. Most of all, we want our children to grow up as kind and decent human beings. We tell children the difference between good and bad and right and wrong,” Wali Rehmani said.
Every morning, children attend an assembly where morals and values are taught. Along with education, teachers also work with children on language skills, basic etiquette, table manners, politeness, love, compassion, kindness, agreement, caring, appreciation, and integrity.
Umeed initially visited underdeveloped target areas to promote a clean, hygienic environment and safe drinking water, but as time passed, our team learned about all the social issues that come with illiteracy.
Today, apart from providing exemplary education, our efforts are also towards addressing social issues like child labor, child marriage, sexual and domestic abuse, and substance abuse.
Studies have shown that almost 70 percent of girls do not know anything about the menstrual cycle before their first menstruation. So the girls in the school learn about this biological process well in time to remain prepared to handle it.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Malick Asghar Hashmi, New Delhi / September 19th, 2023
Industrialist and Philanthropist Usman Kukkady breathed his last at a private hospital in the city on Monday night following brief illness.
Kukkady, aged 56, was a respected industrialist, and also served as the Deputy Governor of Rotary International, and was partner in Uno Pack Industries and Plama Plywood.
Hailing from the popular Kukkady family of Baikampady, Usman Kukkady had earned a reputation not only for his business achievements but also for his dedication to social work.
He is survived by his wife, one son, one daughter and a large circle of relatives and friends.
The mortal remains of Usman Kukkady have been kept at his brother, Abdul Kader Kukkady’s residence near Surathkal Vidyadayini School. The final rites are scheduled to be held at Idgah Masjid, Krishnapura 7th Block at 11 am on Tuesday, said family sources.
source: http://www.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavali / by Vartha Bharati / September 18th, 2023
Idris Khan Mohammed, who runs the popular Mohammedia Shawarma, gets candid about his small business journey.
Idris Mohammed Khan shows how the perfect shawarma is made. | Photo Credit: Serish Nanisetti
Hyderabad, which is known for biryani, haleem, mirchi bajji and Irani chai has a new contender in popularity: the shawarma. The credit largely goes to one man — Idris Khan Mohammed. He is an elusive man but the brand he has created —Mohammedia Shawarma — is everywhere in Hyderabad.
His food can be found across the city, in malls, on street corners, and restaurants. In the evening, he sits in a small cubicle reached by a fire-escape and watches the CCTV feed of his dozens outlets. “I start my day at 4 a.m. to supervise the arrival of meat from three chicken producers. I check the quality of all the ingredients to ensure that my outlets have the same quality, be it in Qadeer Bagh or DD Colony,” says Mr. Khan.
Beginning as a DTP operator in a financial firm, Mr. Khan dabbled in real estate until the 2009 Telangana agitation crushed his plans. Mr. Khan took the calculated risk of starting a small business. “I realised that shawarma as a snack requires very little investment. But it was available only in two or three places in the city. I decided I can do this business with a low investment.” He invested ₹80,000 in 2011 and started the business in the Qadeer Bagh area just beside the place where he has his office now.
“I used to use one or two chickens. Make the preparation at home and bring it here. Before this, I had never cooked salan (curry) or even entered the kitchen. Some days, I sold one. Other days I could not sell any,” says Mr. Khan. He tried to hire an expert chef but to no avail. “Then I turned to YouTube and watched hundreds of videos and noted down the ingredients. I noted they had 30 ingredients in common. I got my formula by tweaking them. Using that information, I turned around my business,” says Mr. Khan who now uses 40 kilograms of green chillies every day for the marination process.
Shawarma is a middle-eastern dish that uses a vertical rotisserie to turn and roast thin slices of meat which is used as a filling, along with mayonnaise and chopped vegetables to stuff bread and served as a roll. Idris had spiced it up with chillies and turned it into an appetising and filling snack that is popular among the younger people who eat on their bikes and scroll through Instagram reels and YouTube videos about food.
“By 2013, people started enjoying my shawarma and I had to start a token system as the crowd became unmanageable. The kitchen of my rented house was not big enough to cook so much food,” says Mr. Khan. He bought a larger premises and built a warehouse as well as a palatial home in an area known as Golden Heights. How many shawarmas does he sell? Mr. Khan remains tightlipped about the figure. But a back of envelope calculation yields a figure upwards of 10,000 per day.
Now there are dozens of franchisees who invest money and lease premises while Mr. Khan provides the chefs and processed food. For a man who began with a hired help, a scooter and a kitchen in a rented house; Mr. Khan now employs hundreds of people who source, process, cook, slice up meat, and deliver his shawarmas through the city.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Telangana / by Serish Nanisetti / September 16th, 2023
