Category Archives: Women/Girls(since May26-2021)

Who was the New Woman in 20th Century Hyderabad?

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Women/Girls(since May26-2021)

Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

The story of dashing Urdu women writers in Hyderabad continues in this second part of a stunning literary history.

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Read part one here.

The development of Urdu prose and journalism and the parallel agenda of social reform in 19th-century Hyderabad played a vital role in setting the ground for the emergence of the Progressive Writers’ Movement a few decades later. The aims and objectives of the Progressive Writers’ Movement (PWM), which began in the 1930s in North India, resonated with students, poets, writers and scholars in Hyderabad. The PWM urged writers and poets to organise and break away from the hackneyed tropes, themes and genres of classical, romantic poetry that had dominated the literary milieu of Hyderabad and were associated with great cultural capital. Instead, the PWM wanted to create a new, more meaningful aesthetic that would represent changing political and social conditions and confront the material realities and experiences of everyday life. Apart from class struggle and class injustice, which was a major concern for the PWM, progressive writers also stressed the need to fight for political freedoms, resist political repression, and forge grassroots connections with the people 1.

The Hyderabad chapter of the Progressive Writers’ Association (PWA) was established by Makhdoom Mohiuddin along with Akhtar Hussain Raipuri and Sibt-e-Hasan in 1936. Sarojini Naidu offered her home, The Golden Threshold, as a venue for PWA gatherings and, later, for meetings of the banned Communist Party of India (CPI) 2. Among the women writers, journalists, intellectuals and activists associated with the PWA in the 1940s and 1950s were Jahanbano Naqvi, Zeenath Sajida, Rafia Sultana, Azeezunnisa Habibi, Brij Rani, Jamalunnisa Baji, her sisters Razia Begum and Zakia Begum, and Najma Nikhat. Amena Tahseen emphasises that the period after 1936 was critical for the history of women’s writing in Hyderabad because although women had been publishing their work, forming associations, and leading and participating in social, educational and literary initiatives for decades before the formation of the PWA, these endeavours were limited largely to women’s gatherings alone 3. The PWA changed this forever, and women began to attend and participate in literary and intellectual gatherings which had previously been restricted to men only.

Sarojini Naidu’s first collection of poems, named The Golden Threshold was published in 1905. (Photo: Getty Images)

The most vivid example and description of this shift comes from Jamalunnisa Baji’s autobiography, Bikhri Yaadein (Scattered Memories; 2008), which not only documents and assesses the political and literary events that took place in Hyderabad over the span of almost a century, but also furnishes information and reflection on what these events meant to women like Baji. Pardah is an important preoccupation in this account. Baji had long considered it her bane but had been unable to give it up. She describes how her younger sisters—who had had more freedom than her, were better educated, and were allowed greater choice in choosing their partners—had discarded the pardah at a young age. Literary gatherings with the leading Progressive figures of the day began to take place in Baji’s house in the 1940s on her and her brother Akhtar’s initiative. She had always been interested in literature and politics and was supported by parents and siblings who had an apparently insatiable appetite for education and literature. This drew her all the more to discussions that were happening beyond the curtain that separated her from gatherings where her sisters and other women who did not observe pardah, listened and spoke 4. Such gatherings offered her the opportunity to gradually emerge out of pardah.

The Telangana people’s armed struggle. (Photo: People’s Democracy)

The Progressive writers and the Telangana People’s Struggle

Between 1946 and 1951, the rural districts of Telangana had risen against the feudal structure of the Hyderabad state and the oppression it had wreaked on peasants and agricultural labourers for generations. The struggle began organically, with a tenant cultivator named Chityala Ailamma refusing to hand over her harvest to the landlord’s men. Within a few months, however, the Communist Party entered the fray and began to operate under the aegis of the Andhra Mahasabha, which had been formed in 1930 to champion the cultural and social rights of Telugu-speaking people. At its height, the Telangana People’s Struggle involved three million people from 3,000 villages 5. The struggle also made its way to the cities, as factory workers and students protested and went on strike. Many Progressive writers also identified as communists and were active members of the CPI. As the people’s struggle intensified in Telangana, the CPI was banned in Hyderabad and many PWA members had to go underground. So,

PWA meetings began to take place at Baji’s house at night, which was less conspicuous than the Golden Threshold, Sarojini Naidu’s house, and offered better cover to the likes of Makhdoom, who was well-known and easily recognised.

Baji formally discarded the pardah during the All-India Progressive Writers’ Conference in 1945, which was held in Hyderabad. She, her sisters, and one other woman were the only women to sit in the open with the men 6. What enabled the participation of a large number of Hyderabadis, especially women, in the Progressive movement was the PWA’s approach right from the start to not limit their membership to committed socialists 7. To be sure, there was always a core group of socialist writers at its centre, but the only expectation from all member writers—irrespective of ideological persuasions—consisted of them sharing the basic agenda of the manifesto, i.e. to build a sturdy organisation of writers who opposed reactionary social tendencies and stood for a literature rooted in reality. Indeed, so successful was this broadly defined manifesto that there were many writers who would not fall easily into this category if it had been ideologically restricted, but who nonetheless identified as Progressive and were closely connected with the PWM.

Dr. Zeenath Sajida on the cover of Poonam, Urdu monthly magazine in Hyderabad. (Photo: archive.org)

Zeenath Sajida (1924-2009) and a thriving culture of women writers

Zeenath Sajida was one such figure who dominated the literary and cultural circles of Hyderabad. She is a good example of a Progressive writer who not only wrote works criticising social injustices and exposing the hollowness of middle-class values, but also those that were less political and consisted of humorous essays as well as classic, romantic short stories. Sajida was most prolific in the decades spanning the 1940s to the 1960s, publishing an anthology of short stories in 1947 and several academic manuscripts on literatures of the Deccan. But the most fascinating literary writings she produced consisted of her essays in the genres of tanz-o-mizah (humour and satire) and khaake (pen-portraits), which were published in different newspapers and literary magazines and compiled only after her death in 2009. They cover subjects as varied as the gendered perspectives and lived experiences of women from different walks of life, critiques of social manners and everyday human folly, and nuanced documentation of the history and heritage of her beloved Hyderabad.

In the most political and radical of these texts, Sajida artfully and rigorously debates provocative social questions and taboos while disguising them in the genre of inshaiye or light sketches.

In these, she shows herself to be far ahead of her time, writing about things that we know today as gender fluidity, gender privilege, the mental load of women in relation to household management, the invisibility of domestic labour, and the unfair and unrealistic demands made of middle-class women professionals.

These essays also reveal the narrator’s most disarmingly vulnerable thoughts, feelings, and frailties; in the process, Sajida emerges as a writer who knows how to use emotion to extract both empathy as well as laughs from her readers.

There was a thriving culture of women writers of humour, satire and pen-portraits in Hyderabad right from the 1940s, which both received individual and institutional support from male writers and scholars and was also subjected to ridicule by them 8. Sajida’s work marks the best of this tradition of women’s non-fiction and is important to read and know also because non-fiction is generally neglected in favour of fiction and poetry, which have greater cultural capital; have come to form well-defined and durable stereotypes of Urdu literature; and, thus, capture the attention of translators, scholars and publishers alike.

Among Sajida’s younger contemporaries were Jeelani Bano (b. 1936), Najma Nikhat (1936–1997), and Wajida Tabassum (1935–2011). Nikhat was a writer of short stories whose loyalty and commitment to the PWM exceeded the heyday of this organisation. Like Sajida, although Nikhat produced a relatively modest number of short stories, her oeuvre demonstrates skill and is important for its sustained engagement with her lifelong preoccupations and concerns. Her stories about life in the feudal deodis of Hyderabad are insightful and instructive in establishing how women of both working as well as upper classes lived and negotiated feudal patriarchy and the conservative social world of princely Hyderabad. She also wrote hopeful stories about the revolution and depicted the lives of the poor in the rural districts of Telangana and Andhra, where she lived for many years.

A rare picture of R-L Qurratulain Hyder, Ismat Chughtai and Wajida Tabassum – known names in Urdu Literature. Twitter- FaseehBariKhan

Wajida Tabassum is understood today to be more of a feminist than an avowed Progressive. This is because she writes defiantly and unselfconsciously about female sexuality, caste patriarchy and sexual violence against women in feudal homes.

Although her many novels and short stories were successful and popular and the latter, in particular, are enjoying a resurgence of interest among youth after the Me Too movement, many Hyderabadis, including scholars, look down on her work as “obscene” and “unjust” towards the feudal aristocracy 9.

The “shock value” of Tabassum’s approach often belies her profound and nuanced understanding of the precise workings of culture and society towards concentrating and maintaining power in a few hands. Until recently, only a couple of Tabassum’s stories were available in English translation.

Other continuities

Over time, the PWM—its ideology and aesthetic—acquired a hegemony that ensured the marginalisation of writers who did not consider themselves Progressives. This became a big problem when in the tension between the “creative section” and the “political section” of the PWA (Progressive Writers’ Association), the latter prevailed, and this often resulted in didactic writing dominated by socialist themes and motivations 10. The ambivalence and even disenchantment of writers in other places towards the PWA, which increasingly adopted a rigid, even conservative stance towards the choice and treatment of themes employed by its members, is well known 11. But given that it had such a compelling social message, an influential platform, and an overarching visibility and influence, it is understandable that many women writers would continue to operate under the aegis of the PWA and utilise its many resources.

Other writers who did not subscribe to Progressive writing often represented literary and cultural continuities that were desirable and significant in other ways. After 1948, Urdu had been relegated to a secondary place in Hyderabad, and its resources and institutions were severely undermined by the minoritisation imposed by the new regime. Despite this, nuha, marsiya, azadari and salaam, traditional poetic genres that belong to the Shia practice of Muharram, continued to be regularly published in magazines and newspapers and also performed in ashurkhanas. Other religious or mystical genres, such as hamd and naat, and ghazals, nazms, and qasidas that did not represent Progressive thought or aesthetics persisted too. Many women poets wrote and published in these genres. Additionally, nazms for children were very popular in Hyderabad, and women were enthusiastic proponents of this genre as well 12. Often, these engagements revealed completely different ways of engaging with social and political discourses from Progressive writing, as can be seen in the way the poet Syeda Bano “Hijab”/Hijab Bilgrami juxtaposed the battle of Karbala with the struggle for freedom from colonial rule 13.

New woman, new writing

The next major shift in Urdu literature came with jadeediyat or modernism in the 1960s, which turned the subject of literature inwards and focused on the psyche of the individual, allowing for much experimentation in genre, mode and language. Some of the short stories and novels of Jeelani Bano and Rafia Manzoor ul-Ameen are good examples of jadeediyat from Hyderabad. Both wrote short stories and novels about contemporary protagonists struggling with the human condition as well as a variety of issues associated with the modern state and society. They also produced scripts and screenplays for successful TV serials, documentaries and films.

Jeelani Bano

Rafia Manzoor ul-Ameen

Rafia Manzoor ul-Ameen is best known today for her novels, especially Alam Panaah (Refuge of the World; 1983) and Yeh Raaste (These Paths; 1995), and the immensely popular TV series that was based on the former text and whose screenplay she wrote too. Both novels fall in the genre of romantic fiction and testify to her craft with language, narration, plot, and pace. The most attractive feature of this writer’s work is her psychologically and emotionally complex heroines, who represent a new world after the transfer of power in Hyderabad, in which young women were stepping out of the ostensible “protection” of the zenana, seeking education, professional employment and financial independence, and negotiating a society that did not appear to be prepared for their entry and often openly expressed its disapproval. These novels also offer multifaceted commentary on the social culture and ethnography of groups associated with Hyderabad and the Nilgiris respectively.

The significance of Jeelani Bano’s modernist writing can be appreciated from PWA co-founder Sajjad Zaheer’s comment in a letter to Sulaiman Areeb, editor of Saba (Hyderabad), that as long as Jeelani Bano is in Hyderabad, they need not worry about the Naya Afsana (New Short Story), a genre that had picked up pace in Urdu-Hindi literature in the 1950s and focused more on the inner state of the individual subject than on the external world or its ideological preoccupations 14. Over more than 50 years of writing, Bano’s nationally and internationally acclaimed short stories span three identifiable schools of Urdu literature: taraqqi-pasand adab (Progressive writing), jadeediyat (modernism), and tajreediyat (abstractism), although she has consistently refused to declare her affiliation or identification with any of these schools, explaining that there are many influences in her work and that she seeks only to represent the world around her and does not adhere to any particular ideological position.

Although some of Bano’s work has been admirably translated into English by Zakia Mashhadi, her two novels have not been given their due by English-language readers and scholars. Aiwan-e-Ghazal and Baarish-e-Sang represent the most serious and rigorous engagement with the history of princely and post-princely Hyderabad in creative writing. While the former narrates the lives of four generations of an aristocratic family against the backdrop of transformative change during and after the transfer of power, the latter represents the lives of landless tillers and labourers tottering under the weight of crushing debts in the rural districts of Telangana. Both texts offer rich and sombre insight into urgent questions of class and gender and offer a remarkable degree of depth where class, in particular, is concerned.

Radio continued to be an important medium for women’s voices in Hyderabad after the transfer of power, and the work of most Progressive writers in Hyderabad (and elsewhere) as well as those who did not subscribe to this category remained in demand. Among the many women who wrote for All India Radio (AIR) and read out their stories and essays were Zeenath Sajida, Najma Nikhat, Fatima Alam Ali and Badrunnisa Begum. Another vital development for women’s literary culture was the establishment of the Mehfil-e-Khawateen (Women’s Gathering) in 1971 at Urdu Hall (f. 1955), which became a flourishing platform for Hyderabadi women writers. Women poets of Progressive and other persuasions, such as Azmat Abdul Qayyum, Azizunnisa Saba, Ashraf Rafi and Muzaffarunnisa Naz, were instrumental in founding and running the Mehfil over the years. Monthly meetings and annual events are conducted and are well attended. The association also publishes an annual magazine.

Life-writing and auto/biography

Another important feature of Hyderabadi women’s writing in Urdu is an enduring affinity for different forms of life-writing. While Jamalunnisa Baji’s autobiography is the richest example, meaningful deployments of auto/biography emerge also in other genres that demonstrate a strong element of self-construction and self-performance, usually through first-person narration. The travelogues of Sughra Humayun Mirza and the humorous essays and pen-portraits of Fatima Alam Ali (1923-2020) are a good example of this trend. Fatima Begum grew up in an environment suffused with literary, political and intellectual discussions in the 1930s and 1940s, for her father was Qazi Abdul Ghaffar (1889-1956), the immensely popular and admired Progressive editor of Payaam. Her humorous essays were published in Siasat from the 1960s to the 2000s and also read on AIR. Some of them were compiled into a book called Yaadash Bakhaer (May God Preserve Them; 1989), which also furnishes a selection of her pen-portraits of the poets and scholars she knew. These portraits animate in words the rich and potent milieu of the mid-20th century and vividly perform and re-create the development of Fatima Begum’s own subjectivity.

Fatima Alam Ali (Photo: Scroll.in)

Finally, scholar and translator Oudesh Rani Bawa (b. 1941) writes a weekly column, titled Mujhe Yaad Hai Sab Zara Zara Sa (My Blurred Memories of Yesteryear), in the Urdu daily Munsif, where she engages with popular and historiographical narratives of the past, filtered usually through her memories and research on the material and linguistic heritage of Hyderabad. She also uses this column as a platform for her political and social critique, and has, most recently, begun to actively criticise local and national events, with respect to government policies, heritage and development, and growing right-wing intolerance and violence.

Hyderabad continues to have a thriving culture of humorous writing among women in both prose and poetry, besides other modes of writing, such as the short story, novel, novelette, plays and ghazals.

__________________________________________________________________________

  1. Ali Husain Mir and Raza Mir, Anthems of Resistance: A Celebration of Progressive Urdu Poetry. New Delhi: Roli, 2006, 4-6.
  2. Rakhshanda Jalil, A Rebel and Her Cause: The Life and Work of Rashid Jahan. New Delhi: Women Unlimited, 2014, 289-90.
  3. Amena Tahseen, Hyderabad mein Urdu ka Nisai Adab: Tahqeeq wa Tarteeb, Delhi: Educational Publishing House, 2017, 2017: 9.
  4. Jamalunnisa (Baji), Bikhri Yaadein, Hyderabad: Idara-e-Fikr-o-Fan, 2008: 85.
  5. Stree Shakti Sanghatana, We Were Making History: Life Stories of Women in the Telangana People’s Struggle, New Delhi: Kali for Women, 1989, 3.
  6. Jamalunnisa 2008: 103. Op. cit.
  7. Ordinary Hyderabadis were suspicious of communists because they were all thought to be atheists. Ibid. 121).
  8. Habeeb Ziya, who is a humourist herself and has compiled and edited a collection of Hyderabadi women’s humorous writings, reveals that Mujtaba Hussain, the most prominent and celebrated humourist from Hyderabad, had criticised her article on Hyderabadi women’s humour in the Siasat newspaper. He had wondered if men are supposed to sweep and mop, while women write humour in large numbers. Ziya Hyderabad ki Tanz-o-Mizah Nigar Khawateen. Hyderabad: Shagoofa Publications, 2005, 7.
  9. See e.g. Ashraf Rafi, “Hyderabad ki Afsana-Nigar Khawateen,” in Tahseen 2017: 173.
  10. Mir and Mir 2006: 28. Op. cit.
  11. See Ayesha Jalal, The Pity of Partition: Manto’s Life, Times and Work across the India-Pakistan Divide, Noida: Harper Collins, 2013, 162–72; Jalil 2014: chapter 7; Mir and Mir 2006: 33.
  12. Tahseen 2017: 136. Op. cit.
  13. Riyaz Fatima Tashhir, “Hyderabad mein Khawateen ki Rasaai Shayari,” in Tahseen 2017: 219.
  14. Mosharraf Ali, Jeelani Bano ki Novel Nigari ka Tanqeedi Mutala, Delhi: Educational Publishing House, 2003, 21.

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Read in Hindi

Nazia Akhtar is an Assistant Professor (Human Sciences Research Group) at the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Hyderabad (India). In 2017, she was awarded a New India Foundation fellowship to write a book on Urdu prose by Hyderabadi women. Bibi’s Room: Hyderabadi Women and Twentieth-Century Urdu Prose went into print in July 2022.

source: http://www.thethirdeyeportal.in / The Third Eye / Home> Praxis / by Nazia Akhtar / January 19th, 2023

A Compelling Narrative of 1948 Police Action in Hyderabad

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Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

Hyderabad, known for its grandeur and the unique confluence of Hindu-Muslim culture, found itself at a crossroads of political and religious tensions. Afsar Mohammad sheds light on the brutal military campaign, where the ordinary citizens of Hyderabad became casualties in a political power play between the Nizam and the Indian government. The book emphasizes that…

Book: Remaking History: 1948 Police Action and the Muslims of Hyderabad

Author: Afsar Mohammad / Publisher: Cambridge University Press / Published:June 2023 /Hardcover‏:‎ 320 pages

Afsar Mohammad, a renowned poet, scholar, and expert on South Asian literary cultures, brings forth a deeply researched and compelling narrative in his book Remaking History: 1948 Police Action and the Muslims of Hyderabad. As a professor of South Asian Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, Afsar has extensively studied the intersection of politics, religion, and literature in the Indian subcontinent. His previous works have explored themes of religious identity and cultural expression in the context of Hyderabad. With Remaking History, he delves into one of the most tragic and often overlooked episodes in India’s postcolonial history – the 1948 police action in Hyderabad.

The book addresses the military operation launched by the Indian government from September 14 to 18, 1948, to forcibly integrate the princely state of Hyderabad into the Indian Union. As India was celebrating its newfound independence, the state of Hyderabad was caught in a violent struggle. The operation, commonly referred to as the “police action,” resulted in immense bloodshed, with the Muslim population of Hyderabad suffering disproportionately.

Hyderabad, known for its grandeur and the unique confluence of Hindu-Muslim culture, found itself at a crossroads of political and religious tensions. Afsar Mohammad sheds light on the brutal military campaign, where the ordinary citizens of Hyderabad became casualties in a political power play between the Nizam and the Indian government. The book emphasizes that while the Razakars, a military group loyal to the Nizam, escaped across borders, it was the common Muslims of Hyderabad who bore the brunt of the violence that followed the military intervention. Thousands of lives were lost, and many more were displaced during the five days of turmoil.

One of the pivotal aspects of the book is its reliance on the Sunderlal Committee Report, an investigation commissioned by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in the immediate aftermath of the operation. This committee traveled across Hyderabad and the Deccan region, gathering firsthand testimonies from survivors. The report revealed shocking truths: thousands of Muslims were massacred during the police action, and the violence forced many others to flee to Pakistan and other countries. However, the report was suppressed for decades under the guise of “national security,” only surfacing in recent years thanks to the persistent efforts of historians. This suppression of critical historical evidence is a central theme of the book, as Afsar Mohammad argues that official narratives have long ignored or downplayed the extent of the violence.

In addition to exposing the atrocities committed, Remaking History explores how this dark period shaped the literary and cultural landscapes of postcolonial Hyderabad. The traumatic events of 1948 found their way into novels, poems, memoirs, and personal narratives written by survivors and their descendants. Afsar Mohammad highlights how literature became a means for the people of Hyderabad to process their grief, remember their dead, and make sense of the immense suffering they endured. The book documents the ways in which Hyderabad’s writers and poets used their work to preserve the memory of the police action, even as the official narrative sought to erase or obscure these painful truths.

Afsar Mohammad also critically examines the political reframing of the police action in later years. In 1998, L.K. Advani, a key figure in India’s Hindutva movement, proclaimed the police action as a “liberation” of Hyderabad, casting it as a moment of triumph rather than tragedy. This reinterpretation of history, the book argues, was part of a larger effort to further a communal agenda, obscuring the fact that the violence was largely directed at Muslims. Afsar Mohammad challenges readers to question whether the police action was truly a moment of liberation, or if it was a tool used to suppress the region’s Muslim population and further political interests.

One of the most striking aspects of Remaking History is the emphasis on the role of personal stories in reconstructing the past. Afsar Mohammad stresses that official documents and reports can only go so far in revealing the full picture. The true history, he argues, is often found in the personal memoirs, oral histories, and forgotten novels of those who lived through these events. Many of the eyewitnesses and survivors of the 1948 police action are no longer alive, their stories lost to time. However, the book insists that these personal accounts are essential to understanding the true scope of the violence and its lasting impact on Hyderabad.

The book also highlights the lasting cultural and social shifts that emerged from the violence. Despite the bloodshed, Hyderabad’s centuries-old legacy of Hindu-Muslim unity endured, and the city’s cultural landscape continued to evolve. In the years following the police action, a wave of literary and artistic movements arose, particularly in the Telangana region, shaping the social and cultural identity of Hyderabad for generations to come.

Afsar Mohammad’s Remaking History is a crucial work that brings much-needed attention to a neglected chapter in India’s postcolonial history. It challenges the sanitized narratives of Indian nationalism and raises important questions about the consequences of political violence. By combining rigorous historical research with a deep understanding of Hyderabad’s literary cultures, Afsar Mohammad presents a nuanced and powerful account of the 1948 police action and its aftermath. The book serves as both a historical investigation and a tribute to the resilience of Hyderabad’s people and culture in the face of adversity.

In conclusion, Remaking History is an essential contribution to the historiography of postcolonial India. It calls on readers to confront the uncomfortable truths of the past and reflects on how history is often manipulated to serve political agendas. Afsar Mohammad’s work is a timely reminder that the trauma of violence and suppression should not be forgotten, but instead, recognized and remembered in its entirety, for the sake of future generations.

source: http://www.radianceweekly.com / Radiance Viewsweekly / Home> Book Review / by Ayesha Sultana / September 24th, 2024

Doctors on board save passenger’s life mid-flight from Bengaluru to Kolkata

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Bengaluru, KARNATAKA / Siliguri, WEST BENGAL :

The flight had three doctors on board and they managed to stabilise him and take him safely up to the Kolkata airport.

Doctor couple Dr MM Samim and his wife, Dr Naznin Parvin

Bengaluru :

High drama unfolded on an IndiGo flight that had taken off from Bengaluru to Kolkata on Saturday when a flyer in his 40s with preexisting health issues developed an emergency. The flight had three doctors on board and they managed to stabilise him and take him safely up to the Kolkata airport.

Dr MM Samim, who was conferred a gold medal just a day earlier during NIMHANS convocation, and his wife Dr Naznin Parvin, a paediatrician, along with a surgeon from MS Ramaiah Hospital saved the flyer’s life.

Man suffered from chronic liver issue

Their timely action also saved a potential diversion of the flight to Bhubaneswar airport and a disruption of weekend travel plans of 200-plus passengers.

The Flight No 6E 503 took off from Terminal 1 of Kempegowda International Airport at 10.42 am, which was late by 20 minutes. It was an hour later that the flyer, who is from West Bengal and works as a labourer in Kerala, developed breathlessness and threw up. He was travelling with his son to get himself admitted to a government hospital in Kolkata for his chronic liver condition.

Harilakshmi Ratan, a retired chartered accountant seated on 1B, told TNSE, “A flyer seated in the middle (Row no. 16) started vomiting blood. One of the cabin staff made an announcement appealing for doctors on board to assist the patient. Three of them stepped forward and saved his life.”  

Dr Parvin, who works at a private hospital in Siliguri, said they rushed to the patient. “He was struggling to breathe and was vomiting blood. His BP was low. We gave him oxygen from the cylinder and also administered drips with normal saline, all of which were available on the flight. The vomiting was brought under control immediately. Soon, the oximeter too showed a stable oxygen level (95),” Dr Parvin said.

Dr Samim, who is the recipient of Best Outgoing Resident in Doctor in Medicine (DM) (Neurology) and who also works at a private hospital in Siliguri, said, “Since the patient was not in a good financial position, I decided it would be better if he reaches his hometown. We had stabilised him too.”

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Karnataka / by S Lalitha / October 06th, 2024

150 Educators honoured with AMP National Award for Excellence in Education in Bhopal

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Bhopal, MADHYA PRADESH :

AMP awardees with guests on the stage.

Bhopal : 

On Teachers’ Day, over 150 educators from around the world were celebrated with the 8th AMP National Award for Excellence in Education 2024 at a distinguished ceremony held at Ravindra Bhawan in Bhopal.

The event was presided over by Bhopal Shahar Qazi Maulana Syed Mushtaq Ali Nadvi, with former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and current Rajya Sabha Member Digvijay Singh serving as the Chief Guest.

The ceremony drew attendees from various educational backgrounds, including award recipients who were present in person, special guests, AMP members and volunteers, and members of the academic community. Many other winners participated virtually, and the event was widely followed on social media.

In his address, Bhopal Shahar Qazi Maulana Syed Mushtaq Ali emphasized the profound role of teachers, citing a saying of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH): “I have been sent only as a teacher to you.” He highlighted the Prophet’s impact through education and quoted Allama Iqbal, who praised the fertile soil of Hindustan for nurturing good deeds. The Qazi reminded attendees of the honor and responsibility of being a teacher, suggesting that a dedicated educator can approach the level of Prophets.

Bhopal Shahar Qazi Syed Mushtaq Ali speaking on the occasion, with senior Congress leader and former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh Digvijay Singh on his right.

Digvijay Singh commended the AMP initiative for uniting Muslim professionals to contribute positively to society. He stressed the importance of prioritizing education and healthcare for national progress. Singh noted the underrepresentation of Muslims in government jobs compared to SC/ST categories and highlighted the need for increased professional education within the Muslim community.

Senior Congress leader and former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh Digvijay Singh speaking on the occasion.

Singh also criticized the state of the education system, pointing to corruption and the prevalence of contract-based teaching positions, which he argued undermine the quality of education. He lamented the shortage of permanent teaching positions and the poor condition of many government schools.

A view of the audience

Prof. Furqan Qamar, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Rajasthan and Central University of Himachal Pradesh, delivered a keynote address advocating for increased participation in higher education and greater public investment to make education more accessible, particularly for rural populations, women, and landless laborers.

Dr. Usha Khare, a National Teacher Awardee and recently retired Principal of Jahangirabad Girls Government School in Bhopal, shared her inspiring journey of advocating for girls’ education in impoverished neighborhoods. She revealed that she donated her prize money from the Kaun Banega Crorepati show to her school and left significant assets upon her retirement.

The awards were presented in seven categories: Primary and Secondary Teachers, College and University Teachers, Principals/Heads of Institutions, Islamic Education (Arabic/Fiqh/Islamic Studies), Educational Institutions, Lifetime Achievement Awards, and the Late Ibrahim Qureshi Memorial Award. Prof. Furqan Qamar was honored with the Ibrahim Qureshi Memorial Award for his exceptional contributions to education.

Lifetime Achievement Awards were given to:

Hazrat Maulana Sayyed Muhammad Aqil, Shaikh-ul-Hadith, Mazahir-ul-Uloom, Saharanpur, UP

Jamaluddin Ahmad Khan, Former Lecturer, Halim Musim Inter College, Kanpur, UP

Sharifa A. Azeez, Correspondent, Crescent Matriculation H.Sec. School, Chennai, TN

Sheila Lawrence, Former Headmistress, Lucknow Christian College, Lucknow, UP

Additionally, 78 educators received Special Jury Awards in various categories, and 50 “My Favourite Teacher” Awards were presented based on votes from students and parents nationwide.

In Bhopal, local awardees included:

*Bushra Parveen, Oakwoods School (Primary & Secondary)

*Dr. Shazia Ali, Campion School (Primary & Secondary)

*Dr. Mohammad Athar, Institute of Excellence (Higher Education)

*Dr. M. M. Malik, MANIT (Higher Education)

*Dr. Sana Khan, Azim Premji University (Higher Education)

*Dr. Siraj Ahmed, MANIT (Higher Education)

*Prof. Dr. Ghayur Alam, National Law University (Higher Education)

*Prof. Asma Rizwan, People’s University (Higher Education)

*Dr. Abid Husain Saify, All Saints’ College of Technology (Higher Education)

*Dr. Faiqa Saulat, Trailblazer International School (Principal/Head)

*Ms. Nikhat Ara, A.U. School (Principal/Head)

The ceremony was also graced by Guests of Honour including MLAs Arif Masood and Atif Arif Aqueel, and Mohammad Wazir Ansari IPS (R), Former DGP – Chhattisgarh. They praised AMP’s significant achievements in education and employment over the past 17 years and commended the thorough selection process and professional execution of the event.

Farooq Siddiqui, Head of the AMP National Coordination Team, hosted the event, reflecting on AMP’s growth from modest beginnings to its present reach across over 200 cities and many countries worldwide.

Kalim Akhtar, Zonal Head – Central India, AMP NGO Connect, presented an English translation of the Holy Qur’an to Digvijay Singh, who accepted it with reverence.

Sajid Qureshi, Acting President of the Ibrahim Qureshi Memorial Study Circle, thanked AMP for their support in organizing the event, and Rafat Iqbal Farooqi, State Head – AMP Madhya Pradesh, offered the vote of thanks to all attendees and the Bhopal Chapter team for their hard work in making the event a success.

source: http://www.indiatomorrow.net / India Tomorrow / Home> Education / by Pervez Bari / September 09th, 2024

Sarah Khan, fighting the odds to shine in bike racing: A profile

Sports, Women/Girls(since May26-2021)

Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA :

  File photo of Sarah Khan. INDIAinF1.com

A series of Special articles and profiles of promising riders and drivers will be published for all fmsci National championship till the season begins. Here is the first…

Bengaluru :

Sarah Khan began the 2023 season with a podium in the TVS One-Make Championship (OMC) ladies class at the Rolon Round, the first round of the MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship for two-wheelers 2023 which concluded at the Kari Motor Speedway in June first week.

Rookie Sarah Khan, who gave a tough fight to celebrated champions in the very first year of her participation in the MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Drag Racing Championship 2022, finally ended up third in the Championship due to lack of exposure and experience, but the determined lady rider worked hard and won many hearts with her perseverance. Amidst all the competition, one rider who silently improved every round as she notched up a podium every time she took part in a race is Sarah Khan. She began with a third place in the first round itself and went on to become the 2nd runner up National Championship and bagged a total of 11 podiums overall in her rookie season itself.

Sarah Khan is a modest, soft-spoken girl in early twenties. She is born on February 19, in the last year of the last millennium, in a traditional Muslim family. Behind the tall athlete’s humble appearance, lies a strong will to achieve and the reason is her passion for speed. A dedicated and hardworking biker, she worked hard to save every penny after acquiring a Bachelor of Business Management degree in Mumbai’s MMK College of Commerce and Economics. Without a single penny in her pocket, she started to fund her motorsports activities on her own by trading stocks, working hard to save every rupee. Striving to be a high-performance motorsports athlete, competing with men on equal footing, she overcame many hardships both at home at the tracks to pursue a career that is not easy for girls.

“The spark for me is the feeling of thrill and speed. And the adrenaline rush that pumps up my blood. Racing gives me a sense of being alive, a genuine happiness. Despite the struggles and hurdles, I cannot quit racing or do something else. I feel like it’s in my blood… intricately woven into my soul. All I think about is racing all day, everyday… That’s just how my brain is wired,” says Sarah, the eternal optimist.

The struggles she went through to make her childhood dream a reality did not deter her. Her perseverance conquered and she finally made her racing debut in 2022, at the Mecca of Racing in India, the Madras International Circuit. Despite coming from a non-motorsport background and having no support, she opted for racing and made it on her own, traditionally considered a man’s world and she is breaking all stereotypes, which the MIC is known for, promoting many a woman from traditional communities.

“I have genuine love for racing. And I could not keep quiet. I did fight hard to get out of the house to race. It made me stronger. And I will continue to race, even when I turn old, as long as I am physically fit. Later, too, I plan on train young riders with a similar dream, who aspire to be great one day. I just want to race at the highest platform possible on earth,” she says. What she does not say is, she threatened her family that she will leave the house, if anyone tries to come in her way of becoming a racing athlete. A reluctant loving mother had no choice but to agree.

Thus began a career, which broke all the stereotypes.“Being stubborn towards my dream was the only way to make it happen,” says Sarah. The struggle behind her journey is one of the reasons for her determination to win.

source: http://www.indiainf1.com / INDIA IN F1 / Home> Non-F1> Domestic> Drag Racing / by IndiainF1 News Desk / January 02nd, 2024

Atiqa Mir only Asian shortlisted for Iron Dames Young Talents programme

Sports, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

JAMMU & KASHMIR :

Winners will benefit from tailored development programmes and mentoring from experienced motorsport professionals at Iron Dames.

Mir will compete in the Iron Dames Young Talents selection round in Italy on July 29-30

Nine-year-old Atiqa Mir, from Kashmir, has been shortlisted for the Iron Dames Young Talents programme. The new initiative has been launched by the same squad that made history last year as the first all-female team to win a race in the World Endurance Championship (at the 2023 8 Hours of Bahrain).

Mir is the only racer from Asia to be shortlisted for the first selection round that will be held at Italy’s Franciacorta karting track on July 29-30.

  1. First selection round in Italy on July 29-30
  2. Mir has top three results in the DAMC and UAE IAME Series

Iron Dames Young Talents programme

Iron Dames says the main goal of its new Young Talents initiative is to “identify and develop young kart racers between the ages of eight and 13”. A total of 20 young female racers have qualified for the selection round at Franciacorta, where they’ll compete in a series of scouting events.

Junior racing giant Prema Racing will help assess the candidates based on their driving skills, work ethic and “ability to embody the spirit and attitude of the Iron Dames”. Those who impress will earn the chance to join the Iron Dames stable and benefit from tailored development programmes, mentoring from experienced motorsport professionals and access to world-class training facilities.

Besides being the only Asian, Mir is also the youngest racer shortlisted in the Mini Category. “I’m truly honoured to be shortlisted for the Iron Dames Young Talent selection process. It motivates me further to perform and improve my skills as a driver. I will work hard and prepare myself better than ever to come out on top in the selections and make India proud,” she said.

Atiqa Mir: Climbing up the karting ladder

Mir has already built an impressive racing resume with outings in India, the UAE and Europe. She started karting at the age of six and made her competitive debut in 2021. Since then, she’s gone on to finish third overall in the 2023-24 DAMC (Dubai Autodrome Motorsports Club) Cup and second overall in the 2023-24 UAE IAME Series Rookie Championship.

Of course, racing runs in Mir’s blood. Her father, Asif Nazir Mir, was India’s first National Karting Champion and also raced in Formula Asia. “[My motorsport journey] started when I was three-four years old, watching my dad race at the Dubai Kartdrome,” Mir told Autocar India. “He gives me a lot of tips on the track, and we practice everything on our home simulator, which I drive on every day.”

Mir had competed in the Indian National Karting Championship in 2022. And she’s back this year, competing in all five rounds in the Micro Max category this time, racing for team MSport. And she’s already made a podium appearance, having finished third in Round 1.

This year, she also had her first taste of racing in Europe as part of the CEK (Campeonato de España de Karting) series. “The drivers are really competitive there,” she shared. “But the tracks there are like my style. That’s why I’m getting better and progressing.”

We’ve seen growing female participation in motorsport recently, further propelled by the new F1 Academy and even the success of Iron Dames. But there’s still a long way to go. “There are only three-four girls [competing in Europe with me], so not many, but they’re more than in Dubai. But that motivates me a lot,” added Mir.

She already has her sights on F1 and highlights Max Verstappen as a racer she looks up to. “I want to race in F1 because it’s the top 20 best drivers of the world, so it’s really rare to compete with them. I want to be the first girl driving in F1, and I want to do what’s never been  done before.”

source: http://www.autocarsindia.com / Autocar / Home> Motorsports News / July 09th, 2024

Ryhana Bee in top form, wins girls race to mount title challenge; Chiranth, Sarthak notch wins

Sports, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , ,

Chennai, TAMIL NADU :

Hard-fought wins for Tasmai Cariappa, Pradeep

Mysuru’s Tasmai Cariappa, winner of the Novice (Stock 165cc) race on 7Sept 2024. Photo by Anand Philar

Chennai :

Chennai’s Ryhana Bee, seeking to regain the National title in the Girls category (Stock 165cc) after three years, scored a lights-to-flag win after topping the practice and qualifying sessions with her new team, Rockers Racing.

Meanwhile, teenagers and TVS Racing team-mates Sarthak Chavan (Pune) and Chiranth Vishwanath (Bengaluru) split the day’s honours with a victory apiece in the two premier Pro-Stock categories on a day of stirring action in the fourth and penultimate round of the MRF MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2024 – Powered by STORM at the Madras International Circuit, here on Saturday.

Sarthak overcame a poor start to post his sixth win in the Pro-Stock 301-400cc Open category ahead of Chiranth and veteran Rajini Krishnan (RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate). 

National Championship Girls (Stock 165cc) race winner Ryhana Bee (centre) flanked by second-placed Jagathee Kumaresan (left) and third-placed Rakshitha Dave at the Madras International Circuit on 7 Sept 2024 / Photos by Anand Philar

The result in the Pro-Stock 165cc Open class race was the reverse with the Chiranth coming through an up-and-down six laps, the last of which saw him and Sarthak coming together, but staying in the saddle to complete the race with KY Ahamed, recovering from a viral fever, made it a 1-2-3 for TVS Racing.

Mysuru’s 22-year-old Tasmai Cariappa (Motul Sparks Racing) kept his nerves in a tense finish to score his maiden win the Novice (Stock 165cc) race while Pradeep C, a private entrant from Bengaluru, wrote his own script in winning the Stock 301-400cc (Novice) race after starting from P4.

TVS India One-Make Championship

Sarthak Chavan celebrating his win in the Pro-Stock 301-400cc Open race (Sept 07)

Coimbatore’s Raj Kumar C upstaged favourites to record his first win of the season in the Open (Apache RR 310) category as he finished well ahead of Manoj Yesuadian (Chennai) and championship leader Senthilkumar C (Coimbatore).

CS Kedarnath from Tirupati held off Bengaluru’s Harshith Bogar and Akarsh Jangam (Hyderabad) in a tight finish as the trio finished the Rookie (Apache RTR 200) race in close formation that also included Tejash BA (Tumakuru) in P4. Less than a second separated the quartet. It was Kedarnath’s second win of the season.

Later, SP Shuria from Trichy won a battle royal against Pune’s Saimah Ajaz Baig with a last lap overtaking to win the Girls (Apache RTR 200) race that was briefly interrupted by a red flag stoppage due to an on-track incident. Finishing third was Aisvariya of Coimbatore, ahead of Bengaluru’s Poojita Anil Kumar.

Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup

Mohsin Paramban from Malappuram extended his hold on the NSF 250R class with fourth win of the season that took him further away from the pack in the championship standings.

Completing the podium were Kolhapur’s Siddesh Sawant and Prakash Kamat (Bengaluru). The outcome of the six-lap race was in suspense until the top three crossed the finish line within a second of each other.

The results (Provisional, all 6 laps unless mentioned):

National Championship:

Pro-Stock 301-400cc Open (Race-1): 1. Sarthak Chavan (Pune, TVS Racing) (11mins, 06.531secs); 2. Chiranth Vishwanath (Bengaluru, TVS Racing) (11:07.005); 3. Rajini Krishnan (Chennai, RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) (11:07.445).

Pro-Stock 165cc Open (Race-1): 1. Chiranth Vishwanath (11:36.813); 2. Sarthak Chavan (11:37.144); 3. KY Ahamed (Chennai) (11:39.098) (All from TVS Racing).

Novice (Stock 165cc, Race-1): 1. Tasmai Cariappa (Mysuru, Motul Sparks Racing) (12:54.080); 2. Abdul Basim RS (Chennai, Rockers Racing) (12:54.197); 3. Kamal Niwas (Chennai, Rockers Racing) (13:10.998).

Girls (Stock 165cc, Race-1, 5 laps): 1. Ryhana Bee (Chennai, Rockers Racing) (10:58.147); 2. Jagathishree Kumaresan (Chennai, One Racing) (11:05.691); 3. Rakshita Dave (Chennai, RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) (11:05.793).

Chennai’s Ryhana Bee who won the Girls (Stock 165cc) race by a big margin (Sept 07)

Stock 301-400cc (Novice, Race-1): 1. Pradeep C (Bengaluru, Pvt) (12:18.943); 2. Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan (Chennai, RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) (12:20.582); 3. Aldrin Babu (Chalakudy, RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) (12:22.718).

Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup (NSF 250R, Race-1): 1. Mohsin Paramban (Malappuram) (11:22.639); 2. Siddesh Sawant (Kolhapur) (11:23.163); 3. Prakash Kamat (Bengaluru) (11:23.280).

TVS India One-Make Championship:

Open (Apache RR 310, Race-1): 1. Raj Kumar C (Coimbatore) (11:48.043); 2. Manoj Yesuadiyan (Chennai) (11:48.455); 3. Senthilkumar C (Coimbatore) (11:48.567).

Rookie (Apache RTR 200, Race-1): 1. CS Kedarnath (Tirupati) (13:29.012); 2. Harshith Bogar (Bengaluru) (13:29.760); 3. Akarsh Jangam (Hyderabad) (13:29.811).

Girls (Apache RTR 200, Race-1, 4 laps): 1. SP Shuria (Trichy) (09:04.823); 2. Saimah Ajaz Baig (Pune) (09:04.888); 3. Aisvariya V (Coimbatore) (09:16.913).

source: http://www.indiainf1.com / INDIA in F1 / Home> Non-F1> Domestic> National Championship Info / by INDIA in F1 Desk / September 07th, 2024

Kashmiri Journalist Arjumand Shaheen Wins Laadli Award for Exposing Gender Bias in Local Governance

Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Women/Girls(since May26-2021)

JAMMU & KASHMIR :

Renowned Kashmiri journalist Arjumand Shaheen has received the Laadli Media and Advertising Award for Gender Sensitivity 2024 for her 2022 report on “Kashmir’s Proxy Sarpanches.” She was recognized with the Web Jury Appreciation Citation in the English category.

Published by Article-14.com in 2022, the report exposes the misuse of statutory posts meant to empower women through the practice of “Sarpanch Patis.” She earned recognition for her report “Kashmir’s Proxy Sarpanches: Women Elected to Reserved Seats Have Become Rubber Stamps for Men,” which highlights male dominance and governance issues in Kashmiri local bodies.

Speaking to Radiance, Ms. Shaheen said, “I feel honored that my work has been recognized. Media wields significant power in shaping public opinion and attitudes towards gender. To combat existing stereotypes, we need more stories with a gender perspective. The media often focuses on male-centric narratives, so it’s crucial to also highlight women-centric stories to achieve a balanced portrayal. Such stories can inspire change and help combat gender discrimination over time. My piece addresses how the ‘panch-pati’ misuses power and highlights the lack of genuine political participation by women.”

Ms. Shaheen received the award at a ceremony in Mumbai this week wherein she was honored for her role in promoting gender sensitivity through media.

The Laadli Media and Advertising Awards annually celebrate journalists and media professionals who challenge patriarchal and misogynistic attitudes in society.

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Pride of the Nation> Awards> Latest News / by Radiance News Bureau / September 15th, 2024

Saira Bano Khan Transforms Lives Through Education in Bijapur Slums

Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Karnataka (under research project), Leaders, Women/Girls(since May26-2021),

Bijapur, KARNATAKA :

Fifteen years of dedication, resilience, and hope led to a school that uplifts underprivileged children and their families in Karnataka.

New Delhi:

In the heart of Bijapur in Karnataka, one woman’s belief in the transformative power of education has changed the lives of countless children and their families. Saira Bano Khan, who started the New National High School 15 years ago, remains unwavering in her mission to offer children from slum areas a brighter future through learning.

Bijapur city is well known for its historical monuments of architectural importance built during the rule of the Adil Shahi dynasty.

“It all started when I saw the children around my neighbourhood,” Saira Bano said. “Most of them were school dropouts, working odd jobs like selling flowers or working in garages. It pained me to see them wasting their potential,” Sanmarg Hindi newspaper cited her as saying.

With the support of her husband, Saira Bano began a small school in a room of her own house, with only four students and one teacher. Today, New National High School serves 200 students and offers education up to the 12th grade. The school has become a beacon of hope for children from the local slums, particularly those from marginalised communities.

New Path

When Saira Bano started the school, many of the students had no basic manners or discipline. “The children used foul language and had difficulty sitting still,” she recalls. “It took months of patience and guidance to help them change. But now, they are polite, well-mannered, and eager to learn. It’s our greatest success.”

Parents have also become part of the process. Saira Bano organises regular meetings to educate them on their role in shaping their children’s behaviour. “We tell them that building a good life starts with teaching good values at home,” the report quoted her as saying.

Despite these successes, the school faces numerous challenges, especially when it comes to finances. “We struggle with funding,” Saira Bano said. “I dream of building a proper school with a laboratory, library, and playground, but for now, we make do with what we have.”

Commitment to Community

Beyond the classroom, Saira Bano has committed her resources to support the school. She and her husband donated their old family home, consisting of seven rooms, to be used as classrooms. She has also invested her savings in buying land for future school expansion. “I didn’t save much for my children. Instead, I saved to build a wall around the land, hoping one day to construct a proper school,” she said.

Her involvement doesn’t stop at education. During the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, she and her husband distribute groceries and clothes to the students’ families. “Around 40% of the children in our school are orphans or come from extremely disadvantaged backgrounds. My dream is to open a hostel for them.”

Hope Amid Hardship

The COVID-19 pandemic added extra difficulties, with several boys dropping out of school to support their families. “We found some of them working odd jobs during school hours,” Saira Bano recalled. “Our headmistress spoke to their parents and told them they didn’t have to pay any fees, just send their children back to school.” The boys returned, excelled in their studies, and some even achieved distinctions in their exams.

Saira Bano’s work has touched many lives, including a student named Misbah, who was diagnosed with a serious health condition. With no money for surgery, Saira Bano and her headmistress paid for the procedure. “Now, she’s doing well and studying in college,” Saira Bano said with pride.

Instilling Values

Saira Bano’s vision for her students extends beyond academics. She emphasises respect for all religions and cultures. “I teach them about the Gita, Quran, Bible, and other holy books,” she said. “We encourage them to participate in each other’s festivals and to spread love and tolerance. This is how we build a harmonious society.”

The school also focuses on life skills. “We teach boys to respect women, and girls to maintain their dignity,” Saira Bano noted. Her influence on the students’ moral development is reflected in the way older students now correct younger ones when they use inappropriate language. “When I see that, I feel like my work is bearing fruit,” she said.

Looking to the Future

Despite all the challenges, Saira Bano remains hopeful for the future of her school and her students. “I want at least four students from this school to become IAS officers,” she said with a smile. “In sha Allah (God willing), my daughter might also become an IAS officer soon, as she has cleared her CSE exams.”

For Saira Bano Khan, the journey has been one of sacrifice, perseverance, and a deep belief in the power of education. “Our work is rewarding. I love my students, and they love me. Watching them grow into disciplined, responsible individuals is the greatest joy of my life.”

As she continues to nurture the school and its students, Saira Bano’s dream remains clear: to see the children she’s helped grow into adults who will change not only their destinies but that of their entire community.

source: http://www.clarionindia.net / Clarion India / Home> Editor’s Pick> Indian Muslims / by Mohammad Alamullah, Clarion India / September 19th, 2024

The Angel of Dharavi and Doyen of Aristocracy

Amazing Feats, Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri Award (since January 01st, 2024), Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , ,

HYDERABAD / MUMBAI :

There once lived a woman who epitomised the saying, ‘courage lies in compassion.’ Though born into the creamy tier of society, Bilkees Latif exemplified ‘living life large’ with regal grace, compassion, humility, and service to the downtrodden.

Bilkees Latif – The Enigma of Versatility | Source: You & I

Born to Nawab Ali Yawar Jung of Hyderabad and Alys Iffring from France, Bilkees grew up with a silver spoon that never got to her head or turned her into another conceited, snobbish socialite of the affluent society. Instead, she carved the path for her own legacy, decking it with added laurels for an already illustrious family that graced the halls of fame in professional careers and philanthropy alike.

The happily married couple whom even death could not keep apart for more than a few months | Source: You & I

Bilkees was married off in her early teens, as per norms of those times, to the son of another Nawabi family, the former Air Chief Marshall Idris Hasan Latif. Fortunately, she embarked on a happy marriage where the couple reached new heights of their family legacy, giving back to society with sophistication and empathy. He was one of the rare commissioned Air Force officers under the British Raj when she married him. Down the lane, Bilkees captured his illustrious life in her words, in a book titled The Ladder of His Life, an apt title, because he was the perfect stairwell through which she reached amazing feats*.*

They say greatness is not in lending help; it is in giving the downtrodden the best chance to lift themselves out of their howls. Tapping into the networking skills inherited from her family and her role in the Raj Bhavan as the wife of an Air Chief Marshall and the Governor of Maharashtra, she initiated her most lauded mission of improvising the largest slum of Asia, the Dharavi region in Bombay (now Mumbai). Among the many charitable and rehabilitator organisations she founded, The Society of Human Environmental Development (SHED), was the first. Embedded amongst the Godrej, Wadias, along with personalities like Sarojini Naidu, and Mahalaqa Bai Chanda of the society, she channelled their resources to the best purpose of giving hope of self-reliance to the helpless and discriminated.

A smile that never wavered along the slum dwellers or through the dignitaries | Source: You & I

Her life was a slide ranging from a diplomatic hostess for the likes of President Mitter as the wife of the Indian Ambassador in Paris or when Queen Elizabeth visited Hyderabad, with dexterous flair and culinary delights, to squatting with the slum children during her drive for hygiene or to understand the core issues of almost nil literacy rate, unemployment, drug addiction, etc. She has journaled her experience, which not only involved persistence to gain the dwellers’ trust but also a consistent tussle with the mafia and other powerlords, in her book O Dharavi.

Receiving Padma Shri from the President | Source: You & I

Today, the tourists who throng Dharavi do not go to witness the squalor of the slums. They visit to admire the very source of the largest economy of Maharashtra, generated from the 99 per cent of the hygienic houses that own some kind of home industry, may it be food, crafts, or hundreds of other options in the legitimate market. Her selfless strife to accomplish her solutions to the innate problems of the slums and not just hear them and forget once out of sight won her the much-deserving Padma Shri in 2008.

Cover pages of two of her books | Source: Penguin, Amazon

Mere words fail to encompass the versatility of Bilkees, as a seamstress of her enigmatic chiffon sarees with Banarasi borders. She was an exceptional artist, attested through one of her works, which was an 8-foot mural exhibited in Osaka, at the Japan Aero Exposition. Her elegance mirrored in her words as an author to her culinary skills and deep insight into the Deccan culture capsuled into “Essential of Andhra cookbook” apart from her other books like The Fragrance of Forgotten Years. She was the Founder member, Board member, President, and Trustee of many organisations like INTACT, the Indian Council for Child Welfare, Anjuman-e-Khawateen, the Board of Air India, and many others. She was the lamp of the literacy drive for children and had helped open 107 Bal Bhavans affiliated with the National Bal Bhavan as the Chairperson and Children’s Museum that organised creative activities for children all over India.

Just like her active life, she faced cancer in her painful last years with equal courage, poise, and humility, before she passed away in October 2017. Some people achieve so much and touch so many hearts that it becomes impossible to encapsulate their lives in just a few lines. Bilkees was one of them, her lifespan must have ended at eighty-six, but her legacy will be carried on, in each breath of Dharavi who are reaping the valorous efforts of her compassion, and in the memories of each of those whose lives she touched, one way or the other. She left behind two sons and a daughter.

Her lovely family of ‘hum do hamare teen’ | Source: You & I

Bilkees Latif was a woman who amalgamated an unaffected natural charm, grit, down-to-earth versatility, and kindness, into such a perfect blend, that it is seldom found in aristocracy. The words from her own pen in her book seem to resonate with the prayers of all those hearts she had touched with her kindness – “Keep her happy wherever she is, please.”

source: http://www.thisday.app / Home / by Waheeda Bi Khan