When Mahatma Gandhi said “Assamese women are born weavers, they can weave fairy tales in their cloth”, he wasn’t exaggerating. The words of the Father of the Nation are well reflected in Jajori, an Indigenous Assamese Muslim-dominated village in central Assam’s Nagaon and Morigaon districts. The only source of livelihood for the villagers is the handwoven clothes made by the Muslim women. These clothes are sold in Assam and rest of India.
There were three Burmese invasions of Assam between 1817 and 1826, during which time the Kingdom of Assam (then ruled by the Ahoms) came under the control of Burma from 1821 to 1825. It is believed that the ancestors of Jajori started settling in the village during the Burmese invasion.
Even though weaving was the only source of income for villagers in Jajori since the Ahom Empire it gathered momentum when Mahatma Gandhi gave the call of boycotting all foreign goods during India’s freedom struggle in 1905. Now the entire village is dependent upon weaving.
A weaver at work in the Jajori village of Assam
Cotton, Muga, Pat (mulberry silk), and Eri (endi) are the main fabrics that are woven in Jajori village. Textiles like shawls, saris, furnishings, and bedspreads are usually woven from pure Assamese cotton. Chadars and Mekhalas – which is the traditional dress worn by indigenous Assamese women – are also made from this cotton.
The Muslim women in Jajori also weave out the traditional Gamosha (white towel with red patterns on both ends) which is given to elders and dear ones as a mark of respect and love on different occasions.
Initially, the Muslim artisans of the Jajori village were personally involved in weaving. In 1960-61, some local elders tried to organize these artisans and the late Jamiat Uddin, and Majlul Haque formed the Jajori Muslim Village Weaving and Cutting Cooperative Society..
A weaver diaplaying handloom cloth
The cooperative society has been run by Nechima Begum alias Mary Begum since 1980.
Gulnaha Begum, a craftswoman, said she has provided education to her two sons and arranged marriage for her daughter by weaving and selling clothes. The women of the village including Chimim Sultana, Nazima Begum, Runu Begum, Maria Nesa, Alea Begum, and Punang Begum have been involved in the weaving industry for a long time.
The state government has not provided any major financial assistance to the weavers except one-time assistance under the Din Dayal scheme.
Abdul Khayer Ahmed, a prominent social worker in Jajori village, said that when Mahatma Gandhi called for a boycott of foreign textiles in 1905, the artisans of the village cut their yarn and wove clothes for themselves and others.
The fairytale designs woven in cotton
The women of this area weave saris, gamochas, rihas, chadars-mekhelas, tablecloths, etc.
Even though there is an office of the Handloom and Textiles Department at Dalang Ghat near Jajori. However, the response of the department is not as expected. But the weavers are not looking towards the government.
Even though there is an office of the Handloom and Textiles Department at Dalang Ghat near Jajori. However, the response of the department is not as expected. But the weavers are not looking towards the government.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Daulat Rahman, Guwahati / December 06th, 2023
Syed Bismah and Syed Sabiya, twin daughters of an Imam from Damhal Hanjipora in Kulgam district, south Kashmir, have achieved success by qualifying the Undergraduate National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) in their first attempt.
The NEET results for 2023 were recently announced, and Bismah and Sabiya secured impressive marks of 625 and 570, respectively.
When asked about their achievement, the siblings expressed their gratitude towards their parents, highlighting their unwavering support throughout their journey to qualify for this prestigious examination. Their parents played a vital role in encouraging and guiding them, making it possible for Bismah and Sabiya to achieve this notable milestone.
“They provided us with whatever we needed to study from childhood. They made a big sacrifice for our future”, Sabiya told local media.
Twin sisters, Daughters of local Masjid Imam from Watto Kulgam Qualified NEET 2023 in their first attempt with flying colors.#NEETUG2023pic.twitter.com/X5ZLjkJGvU
— Meer Irfan ( میر عرفان ) (@JournoIrfan) June 14, 2023
She emphasized the importance of focus in order to qualify for the NEET examination.
“If you want to appear in NEET, you should first check your level and identify your weaknesses. You should discuss your weaknesses with your teachers and also take help from internet to overcome them,” she said.
The father of Bismah and Sabiya, an Imam from Damhal Hanjipora, expressed his immense pride in his daughters’ accomplishment. He acknowledged that he had faced struggles and worked tirelessly to provide support to his daughters throughout their journey. His dedication and hard work were aimed at ensuring that his daughters had the necessary resources, guidance, and encouragement to pursue their dreams of qualifying for the NEET examination. The father’s commitment and efforts played a significant role in enabling Bismah and Sabiya to achieve their goals, and he takes great pride in their success.
“My advice to every parent is that you should provide the best opportunities to your wards for their better future,” he said.
source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Education> Indian Muslim> Positive Story / by Muslim Mirror Staff / June 14th, 2023
A peek into a precious wardrobe of strange outfits that are fast becoming invisible from Delhi evenings.
Ghararas, too, are fast becoming invisible from Delhi evenings, although Rakhshanda Jalil is often spotted wearing it in literary gatherings.(Mayank Austen Soofi / HT Photo)
The other day, we spot a strange outfit. It is neither a skirt, nor a gown, and definitely not a sari. It is also not a pajama.
What is it, we ask.
“It is gharara,” says author Rakhshanda Jalil, pronouncing the ‘gh’ from the base of the throat.
We are at Ms Jalil’s home in central Delhi. Her most precious wardrobe is a treasure-house of about two dozen ghararas. Most have been passed on to her from her mother and mother’s mother; a few are even older.
Indeed, Ms Jalil has a fascination for souvenirs of the past. One of her many books is titled Invisible City: The Hidden Monuments of Delhi. Ghararas, too, are fast becoming invisible from Delhi evenings, although Ms Jalil is often spotted wearing it in literary gatherings.
Years ago, she had worn a pink gharara for her wedding. Her two young daughters also wear it on during special occasions such as… well, weddings, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, where more people are likely to be similarly attired.
It is not unusual in Delhi weddings to see women in gharara’s sister dresses, such as the lehenga and the sharara — which is like flared pants. The gharara is more complicated. Each leg is comprised of two parts. The first goes down from the waist to the knee, and the second, which is much wider, begins from the knee and goes down to the foot.
Truth be told, Ms Jalil prefers saris and trousers for ordinary outings. But the gharara was the daily costume of her maternal grandmother, Zahida Suroor, who lived in the university town of Aligarh. “In my grandmother’s time, it was common for women to wear cotton ghararas made of chintz (called chheent by Urdu speakers) at home,” says, Ms Jalil. “Silk or satin ghararas were worn on formal occasions. And the heavy brocade, called kamkhaab, was worn at weddings.”
Each gharara should have its own kameez and dupatta, though these days one has more liberty to mix and match. Ms Jalil says that back in the day an entire gharara was sewn in four or five days. Each piece was stitched by hands. The entire hem was turned in with tiny invisible stitches. Sparkling bits of gold lace were tagged to camouflage the joints at the knees.
Ms Jalil’s mother, Mehjabeen, recently hand-stitched a red gharara for her. The happy daughter gave it a trial run at a dinner in her own home. There was much applause. The gharara came with a short white shirt. The red dupatta was lined with gold frills.
In the old days, women of a family gathered together to sew a gharara if it had to be made for a bride’s trousseau. Neighbours and friends also chipped in. Opinions were eagerly sought on the design, and the leftover cloth was never thrown away — it was used to make an accompanying batua (wallet), or jootis (sandals).
There was a time when a few cities were known to make special types of ghararas, says Ms Jalil. Benares was famous for its brocade ghararas, with master-weavers painstakingly transporting the design to lighter gauzier material for the accompanying dupatta. Lucknow favoured a patchwork design called chatapati. Delhi specialized in something called ‘farshi’, with a long train that women were supposed to hold delicately in their arms.
Perhaps the most ideal way to study this old-world costume is to ask the wearer to sit still. On request, Ms Jalil settles down beside a window with an Eric Segal novel. While the book belongs to her elder daughter, Aaliya, the gharara belongs to her great grandmother. Made of atlas (no relation to the book of maps), the fabric is so fragile that it can tear at the slightest tug. It has a blue background with yellow, orange and pink flowers. At one point, Ms Jalil looks out of the window. Her gharara ceases to be a dying tradition, and seems very much a part of the present.
source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> News> Cities>Delhi News / by Hindustan Times / by Mayank Austin Soofi / October 09th, 2017
Nasreen Anshad’s brand SAWB makes beautiful garments specially created for Namaz with dreamy designs.
Nasreen Anshad
Picture this. The next time you offer Namaz, you are in a single, free-flowing, comfortable garment adorned with flowers or stars and sometimes even polka prints. The prayer dresses or Jilbabs may not be that familiar to people in Kerala . However, 28-year-old Nasreen Anshad is bringing Jilbab into vogue among the women here through her venture SAWB.
The whole idea is to offer dresses for Muslim women that they could wear with elegance during prayers. An MCA graduate, Nasreen’s foray into garment designing happened by chance. It all started last year when Nasreen was just searching for modest wear on the web. “I came across the prayer dresses on my search. But these weren’t available here. So I thought of making one for myself. I designed a Jilbab and my mother stitched it. After a few trials, we eventually got the attire right,” says Nasreen.
Nasreen started getting some customers for this specially designed prayer garment. And soon it turned into a huge business with over 1,000 pieces of Jilbabs getting sold every two weeks. Usually, women wear an Abaya and a Makhana while praying. The Jilbab comes as a single piece, making it a convenient garment for the prayers. It is also easy to carry as well. “A lot of people prefer buying Jilbab because it is comfortable and convenient. It is also beautiful and elegant to wear and is travel friendly,” says Nasreen.
The prayer dresses that Nasreen makes are modelled after the kinds available in Dubai. Nasreen says the style of these dresses changes according to the country. “The prayer dresses made in London or Indonesia are completely different. The reason Jilbab isn’t available here is since it is very pricey to even import. I wanted to make them and offer them to everyone at an affordable price,” says Nasreen.
The main challenge the novice designer faced was to convince people of the faith that wearing a colourful dress while praying was okay. “There is a misconception that you should wear only white. But this is nowhere mentioned in the Quran. What the Quran says is that one should wear the best dress while offering prayers,” says Nasreen.
So, Nasreen’s Jilbabs come in a grand array of colours and patterns, all designed by her. When she started out, it was her mother who used to stitch the garments. Now she has employed a women’s collective to stitch the garments. The Jilbabs are available in three sizes — for kids, teens and adults. The garment is made out of soft crepe and will last for three to four years, she says. “I feel so happy and proud now. This is a venture that happened by chance and people have embraced it. I want to incorporate more styles into the Jilbab, like the different versions available in various countries,” Nasreen says.
source: http://www.indulgexpress.com / The Indian Express – INDULGE / Home> Fashion / by Aathira Haridas / April 13th, 2022
My Life in Indian Politics is co-authored by Mohsina and journalist Rasheed Kidwai.
Mohsina Kidwai
Mohsina Kidwai calls herself a reluctant writer. Despite that, the 90-year-old politician, who has been one of the leading figures of the Indian National Congress (INC), felt it was time to pen her memoir after observing certain shifts in the political climate of the country. “Everyone has a book in them and perhaps I am no exception. I was a reluctant writer, often wondering, weighing over a range of political, ethical, and personal issues. But as I became less active in public life and saw various trends and shades in our country’s polity, I firmed up my mind to write my memoir.
This book is a story of my life but in many ways, it is also a journey of our post-Independence beloved country. As a political worker, it is clear to me that challenges have always been multiple and intricate but not unsurmountable,” says the former politician.
My Life in Indian Politics, the book in question, is co-authored by Mohsina and journalist Rasheed Kidwai. Rasheed took up the project to co-write the memoir because he felt Mohsina’s story is an interesting one to share. “Normally there are various ways that books of eminent political personalities are written. I have authored a few independent autobiographies of political figures. This was the first time I was dabbling in a joint venture. Mohsina spoke to me at length about her life and her career. Essentially, the book is the narration of her life carved by a wordsmith, which was my role. She has been a participant in Indian politics for over six decades, I felt this was a fascinating project to be a part of,” says Rasheed, who ensured that Mohsina approved every word in the book.
Throughout her career, she always believed that Muslims can live harmoniously in a multicultural, independent, and secular Indian society. During Rasheed’s days spent in close proximity with Mohsina, he noticed her being disturbed at the present political and social situation our country finds itself in. “She has greatly exercised her critique of the current political identity because this is not the idea of India that she cherishes. In her career in Uttar Pradesh (UP), she won elections from Azamgarh (Eastern UP) and Meerut (Western UP).
Anyone remotely connected with the socio-economic condition of UP and the caste matrix would vouch that finding acceptability in these two diverse regions is a rather insurmountable task. But today, it is difficult for a Muslim politician to do that. We can see that the number of Muslim candidates has been on a steady decline and you don’t see such examples anymore. Mohsina was never looked at as a Muslim candidate even though she is an ardent practitioner of Islam,” Rasheed says, adding that she had always preferred being judged as an Indian, and her core electoral team always had a mix of people from different communities.
Mohsina is known for her assessment of the INC. Rasheed believes that if at certain times the political leadership had heard her out, then perhaps the history of the party might have been different. “She had opposed former PM PV Narasimha Rao’s politics, not just about his handling of the Babri Masjid case but several other things. She also had a different view on the Shah Bano case. She stood firm with what she thought was right even if her party didn’t agree,” says Rasheed.
Hailing from a conservative, aristocratic Muslim family of Awadh, Mohsina holds the distinction of winning Lok Sabha thrice — in 1978, 1980, and 1984. According to noted French scholar Christophe Jaffrelot, Muslim women face discrimination in a double bind: for their religion as well as their gender.
Data suggests that barely 20 Muslim women have made it to the Lok Sabha among nearly 9,000 MPs voted since 1951. The grounds for discriminating Muslim women are still a prevalent reality. Rasheed feels Mohsina’s memoir can come as a comforting account of hope for fellow Muslim women thinking about venturing into politics.
“The representation of Muslim women in politics is still marginal. Even though some might argue against it, democracy is all about numbers. With the meagre numbers at hand, how can you justify the representation? Her story is about courage, conviction, and integrity. For example, when she retired from politics in 2016, she did not have a house in Delhi. There are so many examples of people with much shorter duration in politics having houses everywhere. She never did despite being the Housing Minister for the country. That’s how a political leader should be,” concludes Rasheed.
source: http://www.indulgexpress.com / The New Indian Express – INDULGE / Home> Society / by Tunir Biswas / November 08th, 2022
Shahina was one of the first Indian journalists to be charged under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for her work in Tehelka magazine.
Indian journalist and senior editor of Outlook magazine Shahina K.K. is one of the journalists honoured in this year’s International Press Freedom Awards given by the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Shahina, the CPJ points out, was one of the first Indian journalists to be charged under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for her work in Tehelka magazine. The CPJ note continues:
“She has continued her reporting in various posts despite awaiting trial for a case opened in 2010, when local government officials in Karnataka state sought to criminalize her reporting published in Tehelka, a prominent investigative magazine where she worked at the time. Her report cast doubt on a police investigation into 2008 bomb blasts in Bengaluru, alleging that the police had fabricated witness statements to arrest a local Muslim cleric.
She faces three charges under the penal code, including criminal intimidation, intent to commit a criminal act, and criminal conspiracy, and one count under UAPA pertaining to threatening witnesses. As of June 2023, Shahina is out on bail pending trial. If convicted, she faces a maximum of three years in prison and a fine.
A Muslim by birth, Shahina has also been subjected to extensive harassment by Indian right-wing groups seeking to silence her reporting on religious minorities and vulnerable caste groups. She has faced persistent online harassment and lewd threats, and in 2020, several right-wing publications falsely implicated her in that Bengaluru bombing.
Based in Kochi, in the southern state of Kerala, Shahina has worked as a reporter, production associate, and news anchor with well-known news outlets including Asianet News, Janayugom, Open, and The Federal. She also has contributed to The Washington Post.”
The CPJ has said in its note announcing Shahina’s win that this also highlights “India’s increasingly repressive environment for press freedom, with the targeting of journalists under draconian security laws, and toxic online campaigns particularly aimed at vilifying women journalists and ethnic or religious minorities.”
Other awardees for this year include Nika Gvaramia from Georgia (founder and director of independent broadcaster, Mtavari Arkhi), María Teresa Montaño from Mexico (investigative reporter and founder and editor of The Observer, a fact-checking and investigative website) and Ferdinand Ayité from Togo (head of L’Alternative, one of Togo’s top investigative outlets).
This year’s Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award from CPJ, which goes to “an individual who has shown extraordinary and sustained achievement in the cause of press freedom”, has been awarded to Alberto Ibargüen, who recently announced he is stepping down as president of the Knight Foundation after 18 years at its helm. “Under his leadership, the foundation invested over $2.3 billion in journalism, arts, economic development, and research. Ibargüen is the former publisher of the Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald. During his tenure, the Miami Herald won three Pulitzer Prizes and El Nuevo Herald won Spain’s Ortega y Gasset Prize for excellence in journalism. He served on the board of CPJ from 1993 to 2005,” CPJ has said.
source: http://www.thewire.in / The Wire / Home> Media / by The Wire Staff / November 20th, 2023
Lucknow topper Alisha Ansari has remained distant from social media sites to score 94% in board exams.
Class 10 student Alisha Ansari has secured the first rank in Lucknow and ninth in Uttar Pradesh with a score of 94 per cent. Apart from sheer hard work and support from parents, Alisha has had remained distant from social media websites, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to attain this position.
Alisha, who comes from a middle-class family, has a younger brother and an elder sister. Her father, Mohammad Rizwan Fazli, is a teacher in a private engineering college and her mother, Shabana Ansari, is a housewife.
Kanti Mishra, Principal, Bal Nikunj Inter College, said, “Alisha has been a hardworking student. Also whenever she had a doubt in the subject, she would immediately ask school teachers.”
Appreciating her hard work and talent, her mother, Shabana Ansair, told, “We have always given our daughters equal opportunities to study.”
Moreover, she shared that she would want her daughter to become a doctor and it is just the beginning of her journey of success.
Also, her father, Mohd. Rizwan Fazli, expressed his happiness, saying that he is extremely proud of her daughter.
source: http://www.indiatoday.in / India Today / Home> News> Education Today> News / by Ashish Srivastava, Lucknow (UP) / June 27th, 2020
A total of 33 students from various districts of Uttar Pradesh have found their place in the Class Xth 2020 list of top ten.
Uttar Pradesh 10th Result 2020:
Three Muslim students – Alisha Ansari, Arshad Iqbal and Arshima Sheikh, have cracked the 2020 UP Matric High School Class 10 exam 2020 and have been included in the list of Top Ten.
A total of 33 students have found their place in the 2020 list of top ten. While Alisha Ansari secured 9th rank, Arshad Iqbal and Arshima Sheikh have bagged the 10th rank in Uttar Pradesh Class 10 Merit List 2020.
Alisha Ansari Mohd Rizwan Fazli of Bal Nikunj Inter College Lucknow has got 564 marks (94%) out of the total 600 marks and jointly shared the 9th rank with five other students
Arshad Iqbal Iqbal Hussain of PT RN MHSS Shahjahanpur and Arshima Sheikh Aftab Ahmad of St Xaviers School Kanpur have got 563 marks (93.83%) and secured the 10th rank with 02 other students.
Uttar Pradesh Class 10 result was Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP) Saturday at 12:30 pm by Dy CM and UP Education Minister Dinesh Sharma.
The overall pass percentage of Uttar Pradesh board Class 10 this year is 83.31 percent – an improvement by more than 3% as compared to last year. In 2019, the overall pass percentage was 80.07%.
Riya Jain Bharat Bhushan of Shri Ram SM Inter College Bagpat has topped the Uttar Pradesh board in 2020 High School or Class 10 (UPMSP Class X) exam result of which is declared today.
Ria Jain has secured 96.67 percent marks to secure the 1st position in the 2020 Merit List.
Abhimanyu Verma Ramhut Verma of Shri Sai Inter College Barabanki came 2nd with 95.83% marks and Yogesh Rajendra Pratap Singh of Sadhbhavna Inter College Barabanki came 3rd with 95.33%.
“All toppers will get laptops and cash rewards”, Dy CM Dinesh Sharma and UP Education Minister said while declaring the result.
source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home> Education & Career / by Ummid.com News Network / June 27th, 2023
Long before India became the first country to introduce mid-day meals to children in government schools to supplement their nutritional needs and to encourage poor families to send their children to school, Anjuman-e-Islam, a Muslim institution had started the scheme in Mumbai.
Ajmunan-e-Islam ursu school was established some 150 years ago. It was the brainchild of a group of progressive Muslim intellectuals of Mumbai.
The initiative for this was taken by Badruddin Tyabji, the first Indian barrister of the Bombay High Court, Qamaruddin Tyabji, the third president of the Indian National Congress, his elder brother and lawyer Nakhuda Mohammad, Ali Roge, businessman and social activist, Ghulam Mohammad Munshi, The school came up at Babula Tank near Umarkhadi in the then Bombay province and started as a small place.
An old picture of the Anjuman-e-Islam in Bombay
In 1893, ‘Anjuman-e-Islam’ was shifted to a building opposite Victoria Terminals (presently ‘Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus’) from where it continues to operate.
At that time many facilities were provided to the students coming to study in ‘Anjuman’. The facilities included a mid-day meal comprising boiled eggs, bread, and bananas.
It was established a year before the establishment of ‘Aligarh Muslim University’ (AMU) in Aligarh by Sir Syed Ahmed with the sole motive of providing modern education to Muslims.
‘Anjuman’ school initially ‘only admitted boys and it was much later that it opened the doors to girl students. In 1936, a separate school for girls was also started by the name ‘Saif Tayyabji Girls High School’ on Bellasis Road.
The students of Anjuman e islam taking part in a cultural programme
This school, which started on 21 February 1874 with three teachers and 120 students, has now transformed into 97 institutions. Today more than 1.1 lakh students are studying right from nursery classes to PhD – are enrolled in its educational institutions. Interestingly, 70 percent of students enrolled are the first ones from their families to receive education.
Anjuman-e-Islam played a major role in India’s freedom struggle. Many people including Moinuddin Harris and Mustafa Fakih of ‘Anjuman’ were sentenced to imprisonment during the freedom struggle. Many policy meetings for the freedom struggle were held on its premises.
‘Anjuman’ has a long history in nation-building.
Mumbai police commissioner Dr Sanjay Pandey addressing the students of Anjuman-e-Islam
Today the main administrative office of the organization is located at the same place where the seed of ‘Anjuman’ was sown. Five colleges – two catering colleges, a business-management college, a home science college, and a law college – have been established on the institute’s three-acre campus. In addition, there is a polytechnic, a junior college for women, and two schools in both English and Urdu medium.
The campus also has a large library and a research center.
Sir Karimbhoy Ibrahim, Haji Yusuf Haji Ismail Sobani, Justice A. M. Qazi, Justice Faiz B. Tayyabji, Sardar Sir Suleman Kulsoom Mitha, Hussain B. Tayyabji, Usman Sobani, Mohammad Haji Ahmed, A. I. Maskati, Hadi C. Tayyabji, Saif F. B. Tayyabji, Akbar A. Pirbhoy, A. K. Hafeez, A. R. Persons like Antulay, Moinuddin Harris, Dr. M. Ishaq Jamkhanwala, Sami Khatib made special efforts. Presently Dr. Zaheer Kazi is its President.
`Anjuman’ has two main objectives, first – ‘to provide quality education at minimum cost’ and second – ‘to prevent any student from being deprived of education due to lack of funds’
More than 50 percent of the students in ‘Anjuman’ come from economically weaker sections. Anjuman has created a ‘Special Zakat Fund’ to enable these students to complete their education. The economically weaker students are given a 50 to 100 percent discount in education fees.
Vice Chancellor of the Amjuman-e-islam Dr Sahir Qazi and Governor of Maharashtra
The Anjuman is inspired by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad’s message that ‘Education given from the heart can bring revolution in the society’, the organization has been doing this work. The ‘Anjuman’ has more than 40 percent girls on roll.
Today the institution offers courses like Engineering, Medicine, Architecture, Pharmacy, Hospitality, Catering and Hotel Management, Law, Business Administration, Home Science, and Teacher’s Training.
Some, 3000 employees work in the Anjuman institutions. In the year 2000, `Anjuman’ was awarded the ‘Best Educational and Social Institution in Maharashtra’ by the State government. Recently the institution has been awarded the ‘Sir Syed Award of Excellence’ of AMU, Aligarh University.
The alumni of `Anjuman’ are today working in high positions in various fields like business, technology, arts, sports, media, medical science, and politics in many countries. Former Chairman of Fortune Company and Indian Oil Corporation, M.A. Pathan, former Chief Minister of Maharashtra A. R. Antulay, famous actor Dilip Kumar, Ismail Merchant of `Merchant of Merchant Ivory Productions’, former Deputy Editor of `Illustrated Weekly’ Fatima Zakaria, former editor of `Mumbai Mirror’ and `Sunday Times’ Farida Naik and famous cricketer Salim Durrani. Celebrities have been alumni of ‘Anjuman’.
Students at the Convocation of Anjuman-e-Islam
Dr. Zaheer Kazi, current president of ‘Anjuman’, says, “We are constructing a state-of-the-art building in the Sabu Siddiqui College campus in Byculla. There will be an incubation center as well as post-graduation and PhD courses taught there. “Besides, there will also be an integrated center.”
Apart from this, a health education campus will be built in Kalyan-Bhiwandi or Panchgani, in which MBBS courses, Dental College, College of Nursing, Physiotherapy, and Homeopathy will be started. Pharmacy, law college, degree college, and high school for girls will be started in the Solapur campus. Also, land acquisition for catering, pharmacy, and high school-cum-college in Panaji, Goa is in the final stages.
He said, “’Anjuman-e-Islam’ has partnered with MIT University in Cambridge, England, and its five Faculties of Engineering, Master of Business Administration (MBA), Pharmacy and Elementary Education. In addition, ‘The Kalsekar School of Pharmacy’ (Panvel), and The Maryland School of Pharmacy’, Baltimore, (Washington DC) have been approached for collaboration with Anjuman-e-Islam. Philadelphia’s ‘Temple University’ asked ‘A. of Anjuman-e-Islam’ for cooperation. R. Antulay College of Law has also been contacted.”
‘Anjuman’ has 97 educational institutions including schools and colleges. These include pre-primary schools (15), primary schools (15), secondary schools (20), junior colleges (10), polytechnics (4), degree colleges (15), other institutions (10), proposed institutions (2), Consists of hostels, auditorium (3), support units (2) and orphanage (2).
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Chaya Kavire, Pune / November 22nd, 2023
Meet Shahana Parveen, a homemaker-turned entrepreneur, who was able to improve her financial condition significantly by simply taking the first step towards freedom.
Hyderabad :
Shahana Parveen, a dedicated wife and mother of three, had never envisioned herself as a businesswoman. For two decades, her life revolved around her family, raising her children and maintaining her household. However, unforeseen financial struggles and a strong determination to secure a better future for her children led her down a path she had never imagined.
Shahana’s life took an unexpected turn six years ago when her family moved to a rented house owing to deteriorating financial condition. Her father, a retired army officer, encouraged her to open a general store. She had never received any business training before as she got married immediately after finishing her class 10 from Kendriya Vidyalaya. It was during this time that she connected with SAFA, an organisation working in the Old City area for the socio-economic empowerment of women.
SAFA, led by Rubina Nafeez Fatima, has been able to reach out to around 3,741 women in the area through its Micro Enterprise Development Program (MEDP) and other projects that help women entrepreneurs formalise their businesses. SAFA aims to help around 250 women through its project Ujaagar. It provided business training to about 50 women, out of which 36 finished their course in the first cohort. The Department of Minority Welfare, Government of Telangana later provided Rs 1lakh as loans to each of these women to encourage other women in the community as well. The project is being supported by WE Hub, led by Deepthi Ravula.
Shahana began attending business classes with SAFA, which eventually led her to explore opportunities for personal and financial growth. Even though she was managing a small grocery shop, she did not know the basics of handling the business. “Women in my community do not have the freedom to go out and work on such initiatives. For me, my children and SAFA became the driving force. During those six weeks of training, I would go and attend classes and my children would manage the shop meanwhile,” Shahana Parveen said.
After immediately joining SAFA, Shahana was made part of a Self-Help Group (SHG) consisting of ten women. Collectively, they learned some basics of business including profit margins, savings, and the intricacies of running a business. This enabled Shahana to navigate the complexities of business paperwork, including licensing and identity proofs. She became aware of credit schemes offered by banks and could secure a loan worth Rs 1 lakh.
She also received a personal loan from SAFA, amounting to Rs 20,000. She committed herself to repaying these loans to the best of her ability, steadily improving her family’s finances.
Challenges and Triumphs Shahana Parveen’s journey was not without its challenges. Her husband initially did not support her business endeavours. Over time, her husband could see the progress she was making which somewhat made her entrepreneurial efforts more sustainable. However, she never got a clear green signal from him.
Shahana and other women who finished the training through project Ujaagar had the opportunity to meet with KT Rama Rao, the Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Government of Telangana. “That was the best thing that happened to me. KTR sir recognised the resilience of Muslim women and encouraged us to share our challenges and support one another,” she said. This meeting boosted Shahana’s confidence and determination to continue her journey. It is to be noted that due to upcoming elections in the state, the loan transactions have not been completed due to the code of conduct being enforced. The cheques these women received from the government can now only be cashed in after the elections are over.
Since embarking on her entrepreneurial path, Shahana Parveen’s profits have seen a 50% increase, allowing for greater savings. “I can repay my loans and also fulfil all my children’s needs,” she said. “I want to ensure the best future for my children. I want to support their educational dreams,” she added.
Shahana’s aspirations do not end here. She envisions starting a wholesale business, sourcing goods in bulk and empowering others to join her entrepreneurial journey. She plans to stock products such as oil cartons, which can yield a significant profit margin. Additionally, she utilises her tailoring skills, ensuring that she remains proactive in her business endeavours. She has motivated and involved ten to fifteen more women to take training with SAFA, empowering others in her community. Shahana Parveen’s journey from a homemaker to a businesswoman is a testament to her resilience and determination.
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