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

Tales Of The Dead: Chronicling History Through Patna’s Cemeteries

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Patna, BIHAR :

Cemeteries representing Patna’s chronicle of history and heritage are dying a slow death

Unkept Legacy: The grave of Shahzada Karim Shah, the great-grandson of Tipu Sultan.

Like every other city, Patna also owes, to an extent, its cultural and literary existence to the courtesans who blended with the local society and provided it with a new dimension. One among them was Allah Jilai, who had settled in Patna from Allahabad. She was considered a gorgeous woman and sported a honey-dipped voice which had an arresting power. While visiting Calcutta, she developed a terminal illness. She was barely 24 when she died in 1918 and was buried in the Pakki Dargah Muslim graveyard. Her tombstone with 12 lines of Urdu couplets helped in figuring out her biographical information. Had there been no tombstone one would have never known her existence in Patna and the services that she rendered to the city.

Patna, other than being the capital of Bihar, served as a home to multiple cultures, identities, art forms and families. Today, the city has almost lost the reminders of its glorious past. But a few graves still stand as reminiscent of a bygone era. These tombs, or time capsules, where hundreds of stories remain buried, are largely deserted, ignored and unknown.

Bihar is home to more than 9,272 graveyards, according to the government’s estimate. The Bihar government planned to fence these cemeteries, and in 2022-2023, a total of Rs 93.74 crore was approved for this purpose, while an additional amount of Rs 1.25 crore was set aside for the same. According to Bihar Finance Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, the fencing of about 7,647 graveyards has been completed, and the remaining will be done shortly.

In addition to the 9,272 cemeteries, Bihar also has a sizable number of privately-owned graveyards maintained by the families of former nobles, aristocrats, zamindars, jagirdars and nawabs. Thus, the overall number of burial grounds in Bihar would be close to 10,000. Moreover, several Christian cemeteries are located in Patna.

Further east on Ashok Rajpath, one can find the Gurhatta cemetery which chronicles the gruesome massacre of the British prisoners at the house of Haji Ahmad Ali in 1763 at the command of Mir Qasim, the nawab of Bengal.

The tomb of Mir Mohammad Naseer, the father of the first Nawab of Awadh Photo: Ali Fraz Rezvi

Padri Ki Haveli is the final resting place of people from Armenia, Portugal, France, Persia, Italy and the UK. In a sense, this place is a symbol of international harmony. Here, one can find a Jewish grave next to a Chinese, and a Greenlander adjacent to a Mozambican.

Near Patna Ghat Railway Station is the Danish Kothi—established in 1775—signifying the presence of Denmark in Patna in the past. It was the house of Jorgen Hendrich Berner (1735-1790), Chief of the Danish Factory in Patna, who was buried on the premises as demonstrated by his tombstone. There are at least three more tombs here which are bereft of inscriptions. Later, the Kothi became the residence of the station master of Patna Ghat, and is at present, the office of the store in-charge of railway electrification.

The Lost Glamour

While Zohra Bai, the queen of thumri, remains buried within the campus of Rauza Masjid at Maharaj Ganj, Haider Jaan, Najban, Ramzu, and Chhottan were also the tawaifs (courtesans) whose presence had made Patna a lively place.

These courtesans participated in religious activities as well, and the existence of the Imambara at Chowk is a living example of their dedication towards such pious endeavours.

As we move towards the eastern corner of the city, another story lies buried in the deadlands of Begumpur.

Father of a Persecuted Son

Popularly known as Nawab Shaheed Ka Maqbara among the locals, is the tomb of Ihteram-ud-Daula Nawab Zain-ud-Deen Ahmad Khan Bahadur Haibat Jung, the father of Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula of Bengal. Nawab Haibat Jung successfully defended Patna during the Maratha attacks but was later murdered by the Afghan rebels. His wife and children were imprisoned when he was killed.

The tomb of this martyr lies deserted in Begumpur, guarded by Dashrath Gope Yadav who comes at dawn and leaves by dusk. “The tomb, mosque and the several acres of land belong to the State Waqf Board which is least interested in the property unless there’s a chance to sell,” says Dashrath, as he cleans the interiors of the tomb. The place also had an Imambara which used to host majlises during the month of Muharram in the presence of Raja Ram Narain, the then deputy governor of Bihar.

Padri Ki Haveli is the final resting place of people from Armenia, Portugal, France, Persia, italy and the UK. it is a symbol of international harmony.

Dashrath has devoted 45 years of his life to this tomb of Nawab Shaheed. “This place had a dense jungle and I cleared it all on my own. No one from the Waqf Board or the caretakers helped me. There was no roof at this tomb, so I went around begging in the streets of Patna so that there could be a roof at the grave,” he says.

Affectionately, he calls Nawab Haibat Jung as Data Sahib—a term usually used for Sufis. Dashrath believes that he is at peace and his children are married because of the blessings of Nawab Haibat Jung.

This is not the only case of a burial place turning into a mazar. While he is aware of Nawab Haibat Jung and the history, another tomb in the city’s centre has been converted into a Sufi shrine by the people unaware of the person buried inside.

Nawab Munir-ud-Daula Raza Quli Khan Bahadur Nadir Jung, a minister of Mughal emperor Shah Alam, was the founder of the Patna Bhiknapahari and Bhagalpuri families. He was instrumental in obtaining a grant from the emperor for the East India Company and assisting the reappointment of Shuja-ud-Daula to the Vizarat. He remained in charge of Korah and Allahabad until a little before his death in Benares on October 11, 1773. Later, his corpse was transported to Patna, where he was laid to rest.

His tomb, embracing a Persian inscription of eight lines, is located west of the Government Hospital in Patna. The vicinity is collectively known as Bawli. The grave is located on a raised platform of about four feet from the ground level and enclosed by intricate lattice designs of stone.

Surprisingly, his grave has lately attained the status of a Sufi shrine where devotees of all faiths converge to venerate him. His followers used to organise a majlis (a religious discourse to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussan, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad) at his shrine during Muharram. It is imperative to observe how the mausoleum of an astute politician is providing spiritual respite to everyone and is acting as a melting pot of different cultural, religious and ethnic affiliations, thereby bridging the communal and sectarian divides.

The Awadh Connection

Mir Mohammad Naseer Nishapuri was the father of the first Nawab of Awadh, Mir Mohammad Amin. Being a descendant of the Seventh Shiite Imam, Musa Kazim—a progeny of Prophet Mohammad—he was considered among the nobles. He along with his eldest son, Mir Mohammad Baqar, reached India in the reign of Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah and settled in Patna, where he was provided with subsistence allowance by Murshid Quli Khan, the governor of Bengal, at the recommendation of his son-in-law, Shuja Khan, who also had his roots in Persia.

When his son, also named Mir Mohammad Amin (Saadat Khan Burhan-ul-Mulk), came to Patna in 1708-09, his father had already passed away and was buried in a cemetery. Subsequently, both brothers, Mir Mohammad Amin and Mohammad Baqar, in search of employment, set out for Delhi in the beginning of 1709.

The tomb of Nishapuri is located to the north of Patna City Railway Station. It borders the Kachchhi Bagh Cemetery and the nearest landmark is the now-defunct Pradeep Lamp Factory. It lies in a roofless rectangular enclosure, supported by ornamental arches and turrets of small heights. There are remains of flower motifs on the walls. The intricate stone lattice work on the arches has disappeared and the horizontal beams supporting the enclosure have also fallen at places due to the absence of proper maintenance. There is a garage in the vicinity which is using the site as its dumping ground, thereby causing further damage to it. Moreover, the overgrowth of trees and shrubs is also playing its notorious role to damage the place. This neglected heritage, which should have been a symbol of Patna’s glorious past and its royal association with Awadh, is counting its final days.

Several tombs are scattered across the city of Patna; some are fortunate to bear a name or a tombstone while the others remain deserted and ignored.

When Safdar Jung visited Patna in 1742 to support Ali Vardi Khan to push the Marathas out, he paid a visit to the grave of his maternal ancestor and recited the Quranic verses or Fatiha to his soul. It was at his instance the walled enclosure and latched screen (carved jaalis) were built around the burial place.

The aforesaid site had an attached Imambara where Muharram majlis were held, but nothing remains now. The disappearance of such heritage is swiftly obliterating the past of the city and disconnecting the cultural thread which joins several eras.

The Prince of Mysore

Among all the legendary personalities buried in the city, there exists a chapter of Mysore’s history in an unimaginable grave at Meetanghat, Patna. In the compound of Khanqah Bargah-e-Ishq Takiya Shareef—where rests the great Sufi mystic and poet of the 18th century, Shah Rukn-ud-Din Ishq Azimabadi—exists the burial place of Shahzada Karim Shah, the great-grandson of Tipu Sultan.

He was a man of mystic inclination and was thus affiliated to the Khanqah of Hazrat Ishq Azimabadi, through his pir, Syed Shah Khwaja Amjad Hussain Saheb. He died in Patna in 1915, and Shamshad, a poet, composed a Persian inscription of 10 lines for his tombstone.

He was a man of mystic inclination and was thus affiliated to the Khanqah of Hazrat Ishq Azimabadi, through his pir, Syed Shah Khwaja Amjad Hussain Saheb. He died in Patna in 1915, and Shamshad, a poet, composed a Persian inscription of 10 lines for his tombstone.

There exists as a cemetery of history in Bihar—the grave of Shahzada Mirza Zubair-ud-Deen Bahadur Gorgani, the grandson of the last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, at Darbhanga or the tomb of Yusuf Shah Chak, the Sultan of Kashmir who reigned from 1578 to 1586, and was exiled by the Mughal Emp­e­ror Akbar. He along with his family members now rest in Biswak, Nalanda. Furthermore, Mahmud Shah, the fourth king of the Hussain Shahi dynasty of Bengal, died in 1538 AD in Kahalgaon (previously spelled Colgong), Bhagalpur, and was buried there. Similarly, Hussain Shah, the last king of the Sharqi dynasty of Jaunpur, took refuge at Kahalgaon and died there, and Sher Shah Suri, the foun­der of the Sur dynasty, lies buried in Sasaram. Sadly, Bihar’s Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is busy presenting a model of development upon the ruins of Patna’s heritage, while these graves representing the chronicle of history are dying a slow death.

Syed Faizan Raza is the area representative of the British Association For Cemeteries In South Asia

Ali Fraz Rezvi is an independent journalist, theatre artist and a student of preventive conservation

source: http://www.outlookindia.com / Outlook / Home> National / by Syed Faizan Raza and Ali Fraz Rizvi / Novmber 04th, 2023

Memory as rebellion

Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), NRI's / PIO's, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), ,

Chennai, TAMIL NADU / Madison (WI) , U.S. A. :

In ‘The Lucky Ones’, Zara Chowdhary, who survived the 2002 Gujarat riots, recasts her memories into a bold assertion of identity beyond trauma.

the 2002 riots. | Photo Credit: JANAK PATEL

Most of us suck at telling the truth. We would rather dress up facts into stories, tie them up with a neat disclaimer: this is a work of fiction. A memoirist is a person so caught in the nuclear fallout of overpowering, unspeakable facts that she must set aside the pretense of fiction and simply assert, this happened. Saying “I lived through this” becomes a way to unpin the self from the yoke of a toxic and restrictive past. Calling things by their name frees the soul.

But writing a memoir is a tricky terrain to navigate. Why should the world be concerned with what happened to someone? How is anyone to know if the person is telling the truth? They may simply be begging for cheap pity by recounting some traumatic truth. Even when a memoir is truthful, trauma tends to constitute a totalising identity, says the literary critic Parul Sehgal of The New Yorker, by making a singular event the whole story, the definitive story. From this point of view, the very claim of truth a trauma narrative makes is suspect.

Most of us suck at telling the truth. We would rather dress up facts into stories, tie them up with a neat disclaimer: this is a work of fiction. A memoirist is a person so caught in the nuclear fallout of overpowering, unspeakable facts that she must set aside the pretense of fiction and simply assert, this happened. Saying “I lived through this” becomes a way to unpin the self from the yoke of a toxic and restrictive past. Calling things by their name frees the soul.

But writing a memoir is a tricky terrain to navigate. Why should the world be concerned with what happened to someone? How is anyone to know if the person is telling the truth? They may simply be begging for cheap pity by recounting some traumatic truth. Even when a memoir is truthful, trauma tends to constitute a totalising identity, says the literary critic Parul Sehgal of The New Yorker, by making a singular event the whole story, the definitive story. From this point of view, the very claim of truth a trauma narrative makes is suspect.

The Lucky Ones: A Memoir / By Zara Chowdhary
Context / Pages: 342 / Price: Rs.699 

Zara Chowdhary’s memoir of coming of age in 2002 Ahmedabad incinerates all such reservations in the first few pages. The title sets the tone by making the point that it was her family’s great fortune to have survived “those days” physically unscathed. The narrative begins with the terrible feeling of being a marked people, of living holed up in a flat “waiting for the mob to find us” in a city where laws and rules have ceased to exist, closeted with a dysfunctional family. Around them, headlines spew hate, rumours fly, and black smoke fills up the sky and the television screen. The narrative moves inward and holds to light multiple threads of identity that bind her people in one family, her family to the city and its society, and the citizens to a nation. This brings a deep awareness of how violence within the family or outside unravels the most essential, joyful aspects of any identity whether one is a victim or the perpetrator.

The facts around which the narrative unfolds have been so extensively documented, written about, probed by courts, parliaments, tribunals, and fact-finding missions that they constitute the nation’s subterranean truth. The author intersperses reportage with lived experience, weaves Gujarat’s history with her own family’s past, to provide context to her endeavour of processing the anger at what she experienced and helplessness with her father’s denial and minimising of it, which was the only way he knew to cope.

Curfewed terror

Early on, Zara came to the realisation that no strongman could save them.

“…The madness in our home, like in the rest of this country lay in our search for a strongman. In our home no man is strong enough. Dada is haunted by how he failed. Papa withers under the burden of his own mistakes. The women become dictators….”

In the city that is the only home she knows, Zara is preparing for her board exams in the cramped and dark family home while “history is happening on the streets”. For the next three months as the city burns, the eighth-floor family home, C-8 Jasmine, in a 40-year-old building in a Muslim area, will be their prison. Zara approaches the task of reliving those days by opening the door on the othering and suffocation experienced within the four walls of her own home. Her Gujarati-speaking Dadi considers her south Indian mother an outsider. Proud of her anglicised antecedents, her college-educated Dadi—who came of age in the pre-Independence years when her elite family were people of consequence in the city—holds sway over the household. She grew up playing badminton and dancing at the club and even now wears chiffons and pearls.

Disgruntled with the gradual lowering of their status and circumstances, Dadi kept her Punjabi Muslim “peasant” husband on a tight leash until he passed away and hates her dusky south Indian daughter-in-law. Both her granddaughters are terrified of her. Zara’s father, a pampered, educated-in-the-US son, is now a mid-level employee in the electricity board who faces daily humiliation in the office because he is a Muslim. Unable to either assert himself or to take the microaggressions in his stride, he copes by drinking heavily and bullying his wife, often encouraged in this by his mother. In view of the deteriorating situation, her father’s younger sister phupo, an imperious college professor and a divorcee who lives on “the other (Hindu) side of the city”, also moves into their flat with her daughter, who is a superior and disdainful apa to Zara and Misba.

Struggling to make sense of her family is a part of her struggle to process the curfewed terror of those three months. Why was her father so easily bullied by the world? Why was he so willing to undermine his wife all the time? Why did her intelligent, honey-eyed mother submit so willingly? Zara’s prose carries the weight of every question and reveals that belonging and unbelonging are not givens but manufactured prejudices “that offer security but in return [for] your unquestioning loyalty”. Whether in families or in nations.

Everyone in her family has a past made of things that make them less hateful. Dadi—who loves to spread disinformation about her daughter-in-law, which Zara’s father is only too ready to believe—is at her best when dancing the garba. The only time she is proud of her twinkle-toed granddaughters is when they are doing the bhangra or the garba. Just as flying kites during Uttarayan is her father’s secret superpower.

Denial, diminishment, erasure

To understand why her family is the way they are, Zara gently probes the past of each family member—which is also her past. Thus, she can look at what they do without losing the gifts that her diverse heritage brings. Examining the fault lines within her own house enables her to ask the question of home and belongingness at multiple levels. This question that simmers inside chants and slogans hurled from across the dry riverbed also lurks in the animosities in her own house. The denial, diminishment, erasure practised within the family as on the streets is a game of numbers and power. The excavation of family politics lends great moral clarity to Zara’s examination of other alienations inflicted upon them, and gratitude for the things that sustain them. What sustains the girls is their mother’s love, the hope inspired by the kindnesses of their Hindu friends, and above all their ability to dance to Bollywood numbers even in terrible times, because what is the alternative?

When the curfew is partially let up, it is time for Zara to write the now meaningless examinations in centres located (deliberately) in Hindu localities. Some even inside temples. Her rattled family steps out for the first time, and more than the exams her focus is on trying to look like a non-Muslim. She thanks her mother’s wisdom in giving her a neutral sounding name. Once the exams end, her rich Hindu classmates, who never once called up to check on her all through the terrible months of March and April, blithely propose an outing. Zara declines, citing the situation. Her friend counters by scoffing: “What rubbish yaar, there’s been no curfew for months.”

This heart-wrenching moment stays with the reader. In this moment, the young Zara registers the difference between herself and “them”—whose cushy lives never stopped in the tracks because of unremitting violence. Who never experienced the terror that reduced her family, her building, her Muslim neighbourhood to a bundle of nerves.

“Our loss doesn’t exist. Our pain isn’t real, it never happened. Their malls still brim, their restaurants fill with chatter… while we live hunkered in our own homes…. We live in two different Ahmedabads, two different Gujarats, two different Indias.”

All these experiences sharpen her ability “to distinguish between the oppressed and the oppressor” and bring in her “a refusal to live life as either”. This clarity enables her to wrest back the agency denied to her by her city. Her need to be not defined by trauma shines throughout the book. She has taken her lessons but also come to the realisation that her faith and belongingness as an Indian Muslim are not what others get to define. Her unique identity comes to her through the Punjabi, Gujarati, south Indian Islamic strands of her family, and no one else’s definitions can wrest this away from her. A text of such radical empathy can emerge only when the author has unflinchingly held the sharp blade of memory, of times unspeakable and times happy, in her bare hands and stayed with them until out of the silence emerges her truth, her belongingness story, her way out of the dungeon of erasure.

Varsha Tiwary is a Delhi-based writer and translator. She recently published 1990, Aramganj, a translation of the bestselling Hindi novel Rambhakt Rangbaz.

source: http://www.frontline.thehindu.com / Frontline / Home> Books> Book Review / by Varsha Tiwary / January 14th, 2025

New ground-breaking Book on Gynaecological and Obstetric Care co-authored by Dr Fahmeeda Zeenat of AMU & Hakim Mohd Afsahul Kalam, Research Scientist at RRIUM

Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Education - Gold Medallists, Toppers, Merits, Achievers (wef. June 12th, 2023), Inventions, Innovations (wef. Nov 30th, 2021), Science & Technology, Scientists (wef. August 27th,m 2023), Useful / HEALTHCARE, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), World Opinion, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Aligarh, UTTAR PRADESH :

Aligarh :

The Department of Niswan wa Qabalat, Faculty of Unani Medicine at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), has announced the release of a new book, Mualajat Amrad-i-Niswan-o-Qabalat, authored by Dr. Fahmeeda Zeenat, and Hakim Mohd Afsahul Kalam, Research Scientist at RRIUM, Kashmir.

The book presents comprehensive treatment regimens for various gynaecological disorders and obstetric complications, offering a unique integration of Unani medical principles with modern healthcare approaches. It is poised to be an essential reference for medical practitioners and students specializing in women’s health.

The launch coincided with the National Workshop on Managing Menopause, organized by the Department of Niswan wa Qabalat on February 24.

The event was presided over by Professor Asfar Ali Khan, with Dr. Kausar Usman, a distinguished physician from KGMU, Lucknow, as the Chief Guest. His keynote address provided an in-depth analysis of contemporary challenges in menopause management, blending clinical expertise with evidence-based insights.

Dr. Zeenat’s work represents a significant advancement in the field of Unani medicine, exhibiting AMU’s commitment to research and innovation in healthcare.

source: http://www.amu.ac.in / Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) / Home> News / by Public Relations Office, AMU (headline edited) / February 25th, 2025

Dr Mariyam Fatima receives ‘Young Professional Award’ at CRISEA 2025

Amazing Feats, Education - Gold Medallists, Toppers, Merits, Achievers (wef. June 12th, 2023), Science & Technology, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , ,

Aligarh, UTTAR PRADESH :

Aligarh :

Dr. Mariyam Fatima, Assistant Professor in the Department of Home Science, Aligarh Muslim University, was honored with the Young Professional Award – 2025 for her research on “Nurturing the Future: The Role of Eco-conscious Parenting in Promoting Sustainable Lifestyles” at the International Conference on Cutting-edge Research Innovation in Sustainable Education, Environment, and Agriculture (CRISEA – 2025).

The conference was jointly organized by the Agricultural Technology Development Society and the School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Goa University.

Dr. Fatima emphasized the vital role of eco-conscious parenting in fostering a sustainable future. She highlighted how parental choices shape children’s habits, values, and attitudes toward environmental responsibility.

By integrating simple eco-friendly practices at home—such as reducing waste, conserving energy, and making sustainable purchasing decisions—parents can instil environmental stewardship in future generations.

source: http://www.amu.ac.in / Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) / Home> News / by Public Relations Office, AMU / February 28th, 2025

Prof. Tamkin Khan Represents India at ISA-WHO Parent Roundtable on Stillbirth Bereavement Care in Colombo

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

Aligarh, UTTAR PRADESH :

Prof. Tamkin Khan delivering the lecture at the programme on Roundtable on Stillbirth Bereavement Care at Colombo, Sri Lanka

Aligarh:

Prof. Tamkin Khan, faculty member at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, J.N. Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, and Founder Secretary of the Stillbirth Society of India, attended the Parent Roundtable Session at the 19th Annual Conference of the International Stillbirth Alliance (ISA) in Colombo.

The session, organised by the International Stillbirth Alliance and supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO), brought together experts from India, Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and the USA to discuss advancements in stillbirth bereavement care.

Moderated by Theresa Shaver (USAID), the discussion focused on the importance of compassionate support for grieving families and the need for collaborative global efforts to improve bereavement care practices. Prof. Khan shared insights on bereavement care and highlighted the role of healthcare providers in offering emotional and psychological support to families coping with stillbirth.

As part of her participation, she also presented two scientific papers on stillbirths, contributing valuable research to the ongoing discourse on maternal and infant health.

Prof. Khan described the opportunity as an honour, emphasising the significance of working alongside global experts to enhance care for families experiencing pregnancy loss.

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Focus> Report / by Radiance News Bureau / March 07th, 2025

Hapur woman Afsana held exhibition of her designer bangles in 19 countries

Business & Economy, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), ,

Salai Village (Hapur District), UTTAR PRADESH :

Afsana, entrepreneur

Designer bangles made by Afsana Choudhary, 42, of village Salai, Hapur district of Uttar Pradesh, are a rage even among people in foreign lands.

Starting her business small, Afsana has displayed her art of bangle-making in 19 countries, so far. Her business has grown so much that she has appointed her nephew to handle sales.

Afsana Chaudhary’s journey from a school dropout to international fame is a saga of focus and hard work. Her father was an inspector in the Agricultural Mandi Committee and he wanted his daughters to study. He sent both his daughters to a school in Hapur. However, back then society followed strict restrictions on girls’ education.

Afsana had to leave her studies even though she did not want it.

In 2000, “Action India Organization”, an NGO based in Delhi, offered training to women in making designer bangles as part of their campaign to empower rural women through self-reliance.

Some 50 women participated in this three-month course, and Afsana mastered this art. She loved it and soon established herself as a skilled handicraftsman.

In 2001, Afsana put up a stall of her handmade bangles.at the Handicrafts Faire at in Delhi Haat. This was for the first time for her to step out of her home for work.

Her handmade bangles received tremendous appreciation and she hit great sales. This boosted her confidence and she decided to take her art as a full-time business.

Afsana continued working hard to take her art to the global level. She participated in a handicraft exhibition in China in 2014. This was for maiden flight and she said her “happiness knew no bounds.”

Afsana’s handmade bangles being sold at Surajkund Mela

The experience of staying in a five-star hotel in China was unforgettable for her. Her art was highly appreciated there.

Her next international exhibition was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2015. Again, her handcrafted bangles were a rage and she made great sales.

Two years later Afsana expanded her business. She also started making designer necklaces, earrings, eyeglass chains, bracelets, anklets, belts, flower sticks, etc.

Her business had increased in volume and sales.

Afsana never borrowed money from family to set up her business. Whenever she needed money for raw materials, she would take a loan from the NGO and repay it in time.

Soon her turnover was in several lakhs.

Afsana Chaudhary got married in 1997 and has two daughters. Her elder daughter finished her MBA and is working in a high position in a company in Gurugram.

After the business grew, he also included his nephew Savage Ali in his work, so that the businesses could be expanded further.

Afsana Chaudhary’s dream is to make every woman self-reliant. She wants to train women in design and help them launch their businesses.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by Dayaram Vashisht, Faridabad, Haryana / February 24th, 2025

Patent for ‘Device for Monitoring Gynaecological Disorders’ published

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Education, Inventions, Innovations (wef. Nov 30th, 2021), Karnataka (under research project), Science & Technology, Scientists (wef. August 27th,m 2023), Women/Girls(since May26-2021), World Opinion, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mangaluru, KARNATAKA :

Developed by KMC Mangalore team led by Dr. Haroon, Dr. Sameena, Dr. Chiranjith

Mangalore: 

A patent application for a groundbreaking medical device, Device for Monitoring Gynaecological Disorders, has been officially published, marking a significant achievement for the team of doctors and student inventors from Kasturba Medical College (KMC) Mangalore.

The device is designed to enhance early detection and diagnosis of gynaecological disorders. It incorporates a flexible probe, a rotational brush for effective sampling, and an enzyme-coated detection system, improving precision and efficiency in clinical examinations.

The innovation is credited to Dr. Haroon H, Dr. Sameena H, and Dr. Chiranjit Ghosh from MIT, along with student inventors Krisha Janaswamy, Shashank Sanjay, Adithya Harikrishnan Namboothiri, and Shubham Bhusari.

The official Twitter handle of KMC Mangalore also recognized the accomplishment, congratulating the team for their work in medical innovation.

Dr. Haroon is son of M. Hussain and late Akhila Begum from Arehalli village in Hassan while Dr. Sameena Haroon is daughter of KA Sadiq and Maimoona.

https://twitter.com/KMC_Mangalore/status/1896526335897727289/photo/1

source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavali / by Vartha Bharati / March 03rd, 2025

AMU: University Fine Arts Club Hosts ‘Art Utopia 2025’ to Celebrate Creativity

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Women/Girls(since May26-2021)

Aligarh, UTTAR PRADESH :

Mr. Tanmaya Tyagi being honoured by Prof. Mohammed Naved Khan and Prof Badar jahan during the Art Utopia 2025

“Art is not just about skill but also about passion, perseverance, and discipline.”

Aligarh:

The University Fine Arts Club of the Cultural Education Centre, AMU, organised Art Utopia 2025, bringing together students for a celebration of creativity, learning, and artistic expression.

The event opened with Safar-e-Rooh, an impactful live performance by Mr. Haris Raza Ashraf, portraying the global scenario and its impact on individuals, captivating the audience.

The event featured two skill-building workshops – one on Resin Art by Dr. Atiya Parveen and another on the Art of Caricature by Mr. Tanmaya Tyagi. These sessions enriched participants with artistic techniques and perspectives.

Adding to the creative atmosphere, three unique art installations were displayed. A group of students presented Chai, symbolising its significance in campus life. Mr. Salik Tariq, the club’s secretary, crafted a striking 3D image of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, while another group depicted the societal limitations faced by girls in pursuing their dreams through an artistic portrayal using natural elements.

The second day featured competitions in Canvas Painting, Face Painting, and Painting on Decorative Items, drawing enthusiastic student participation. A panel of faculty members judged the competitions, recognising exceptional talent.

The event concluded with a felicitation ceremony honouring the resource persons and awarding winners. First prizes were secured by Mr. Aaryan Pratap Singh (Canvas Painting), Ms. Falak Javed (Face Painting), and Ms. Uzma Ansari (Painting on Decorative Items).

During the closing ceremony, Prof. Mohammed Naved Khan, Coordinator CEC, emphasised that “Art is not just about skill but also about passion, perseverance, and discipline.” Prof. Badar Jahan, President of the Fine Arts Club, praised participants for their creativity and urged them to stay focused on their artistic journey.

Art Utopia 2025 successfully promotes a culture of artistic excellence and innovation on campus.

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News> Report / by Radiance News Bureau / March 03rd, 2025

Bihar’s Taiba Afroz: From Village Dreams to Pilot Wings

Amazing Feats, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , ,

Jalalpur Village (Saran District), BIHAR :

Taiba Afroz, hailing from Jalalpur village in Bihar’s Saran district, has soared above economic and societal challenges to become a commercial pilot.

Her journey from a modest background to the skies is a testament to determination and familial support.

From a young age, Taiba aspired to touch the skies. Recognizing her passion, her father, a small-scale grocer, made significant sacrifices to fund her education, even selling land to support her ambitions. This unwavering support propelled Taiba to achieve her dreams.

In 2020, Taiba completed her training at the Government Aviation Training Institute in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. She fulfilled the mandatory 200 hours of flight training, with 100 hours solo, earning her Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) license.

Today, she stands as the first female commercial pilot from Saran, drawing an impressive monthly salary.

Taiba’s journey wasn’t devoid of societal challenges. Facing criticism for donning the pilot’s uniform, she stood firm, asserting that her attire symbolizes her identity and achievements. Her story serves as an inspiration, illustrating that with determination and support, one can overcome obstacles to realize their dreams.

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Focus / by Radiance News Burear / March 04th, 2025

From Adversity to Prosperity: How Shakeela’s Rug Weaving Initiative Transformed Rural Women’s Lives in UP’s Chandauli

Business & Economy, Women/Girls(since May26-2021)

Chandauli, UTTAR PRADESH :

Shakeela weaving carpet on the loom at home

Chandauli (Uttar Pradesh): 

Shakeela Bano’s journey from a housewife to an entrepreneurial inspiration in her village, Katsil in Sakaldiha Tehsil, is one that exemplifies the power of determination. Faced with the challenges of a sudden job loss of her husband during the COVID-19 pandemic, she decided to turn adversity into opportunity by starting a home-based rug weaving business.

What began as a way to support her family has now evolved into a flourishing self-help group that is helping many women in her village achieve financial independence and self-reliance.

Shakeela’s Journey

“My husband used to work on a power loom in Varanasi, but during the pandemic-induced lockdown, he became unemployed. The challenges of running the family became significant. I was already running the ‘Hariom Self-Help Group’ in the village. I held meetings with the women in the group and got their consent to start rug weaving. After 20-22 days, we made our first income. After deducting expenses, each person received Rs 2,000,” Shakeela, the president of the group, told TwoCircles.net.

Young girls and women weaving carpet in Shakeela Bano’s house

From then on, they worked with even more enthusiasm. Now, each woman member earns Rs 4,000-5,000 per month. The raw material for making one rug costs Rs 400. It involves labor costs another Rs 400. “We make 60-70 rugs and 150-170 mats per month, and each rug sells for Rs 1,100 rupees,” she said.

In a region where unemployment and lack of opportunity have been longstanding issues, Shakeela’s determination to succeed sparked a change. Her initiative not only transformed her own life but also empowered others around her, especially women, by providing them with meaningful work that helped them earn an income, gain confidence, and become self-reliant.

Today, Shakeela’s business is a model of success, and her group has expanded to include men as well, offering them a chance to work alongside women in the rug weaving business.

Hand products – carpets and rugs, on display in the Kastil village exhibition

New Opportunities for Local Women, Youth

With timely payments, local women and unemployed young men started flocking to Shakeela’s center. Initially, she had set up only two machines, but now, with two sets of 10 machines each, rug weaving work is progressing rapidly. She said she has recently purchased land and plans to install rug weaving machines there as well after arranging funds for the same.

Shakeela, a graduate and also a BC Sakhi or Bank Sakhi, further said, “Just 10 days ago, a district-level village industry exhibition was organised in the Niyamatabad development block by the district administration, where mats worth Rs 5,000 were sold. There is a high demand for small hand-woven mats that are sold for Rs 100-120 in local markets and district-level exhibitions. In addition to making mats here, women from half a dozen nearby villages are taking raw material and weaving mats at home to become self-reliant.”

Chameli Devi, who is associated with the Nai Bazar Chameli Devi Self-Help Group and works in rug weaving, first learned weaving at Shakeela’s workshop. After learning there, she set up three machines at home to weave mats. “I get raw materials from Shakeela didi (sister). After delivering the finished products to the traders, payment is made immediately. The better income from rug weaving is opening doors to prosperity,” she said.

Shakeela depositing the money of the women of the group in the bank branch located in Nai Bazar.

Support Systems, Market Integration

The availability of banking facilities and having a savings account for village dwellers is considered an essential indicator of development in rural economy. The women involved in the group deposit the income and savings from rug weaving in a newly established bank in the local market.

Shakeela also provides them with loans at low interest rates for their self-employment and necessary expenses.

Shakeela’s husband, Raju Ansari, said they procure raw materials from Saiyadraja town, 10 kilometers from the Katsil village, without paying any sum in advance. “Anyone interested in making rugs can get raw materials and receive payment after delivering the finished products. From here, the rugs are sent to Bhadohi. They are then exported from Bhadohi to Gulf countries, Turkey, the United States, Russia and Europe,” he said. The easy sale of products has boosted the pace of work and increased the enthusiasm of the workers. Due to rug weaving, the unemployment rate among the youth in his village has reduced.

Chandauli District Magistrate Nikhil T Funde buying doormat from Shakeela Bano’s stall in the exhibition

Traders from the carpet city of Bhadohi send raw materials to be woven into carpets (rugs) by village workers. This not only increases employment opportunities in the villages but also reduces the time required to complete the goods. The finished rugs are brought to Bhadohi, where they are given a final touch in factories before being prepared for the international market, where they are called carpets.

At the district-level village industry exhibition, Chandauli District Magistrate Nikhil Tikaram Funde appreciated Shakeela’s home-based industry initiative and appealed to people, “The women, men and youth of the district can also earn a better income through self-employment and small industries and provide employment to others. The Government of Uttar Pradesh and the district administration are ready to offer all possible support.”

(Pavan Kumar Maurya is an independent journalist. He tweets at @pavanmaurya17)

source: http://www.twocircles.net / TwoCircles.net / Home> Art-Culture> India News>India Politics> Indian Muslim / by Pavan Kumar Maurya, TwoCircles.net / February 22nd, 2025