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

First UPSC coaching centre for poor Muslim girls in Mumbai

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Education - Gold Medallists, Toppers, Merits, Achievers (wef. June 12th, 2023), Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA:

First UPSC coaching centre for poor Muslim girls in Mumbai
The free coaching centre on Mohammed Ali Road boasts residential facilities for out-of-town girls

Muslim girl aspirants of civil services have just got a reason to rejoice. The Fatimabai Musa Patel Competitive Examination Training Centre for Women (residential and non-residential) at Mohammed Ali Road, opening this week, fulfils an old need of the community.

Initially accommodating 20 residential and around 30 non-residential candidates, the Centre helps give wings to many girls who aspire to become civil servants and want to give the tough IAS and provincial services exams a shot.

“The need for a proper place exclusive for the girls who want to prepare for UPSC and MPSC exams has been felt for a long. Some like-minded people have joined hands to prepare this facility,” said former MLA Bashir Musa Patel who owns this place and has dedicated it to the memory of his mother Fatimabai.

Though Patel and a few other good Samaritans came forward to create this Centre, the motivating force is former CEO of Haj Committee of India and ex-registrar, Mumbai University, Dr Maqsood Ahmed Khan. With experience of mentoring civil services aspirants at the Haj House’s coaching centre, Khan was suited to show the path here too.  “They roped me in to do honourary mentorship here. We have already selected candidates. Initially most of the candidates are those who previously appeared for the UPSC entrance examinations but didn’t succeed and wanted to prepare again,” said Khan.

On Friday, the Centre’s director Zubia Shaikh, through a power-point presentation, explained the abysmal low representation of Muslims in the civil services. According to the Sachar Commission Report, the representation of Muslims in the civil services is only 3%.

“This Centre will propel girls to reach their goals. Even if some don’t succeed in these tough examinations, the very dream and preparations will equip them to face challenges in life,” said Shaikh.

Two candidates who cracked UPSC exams last year and were allotted IPS cadre-Mavis Tak and Tahseen Banu Dawadi-too addressed the small gathering virtually. Both are preparing again to upgrade their UPSC ranks.

“The facility created here for the girls is very important. It is not possible to prepare for this examination at home as you need the right environment, guidance, mentorship and company of fellow aspirants,” said Tak who graduated from Mira Road-based Royal College.

Soon after Tak, daughter of a freelance translator cracked the UPSC exams, several organisations and individuals, including Mira Road based ex-MLC Muzaffar Hussain and Royal College, felicitated her and her parents. In her interview to TOI, she had said that her father was the main motivating force as he had dreams of becoming an IAS. “He wanted me to achieve what he could not,” Tak had told TOI.

Hijab-wearing Dawadi comes from Karnataka and said that hijab was no hindrance to education and qualifying for the UPSC. Ayesha Kazi who is awaiting her UPSC final results this year said a centre like this where girls felt secured, confident and comfortable was needed to encourage others to aim for a career in civil services.

The Centre is getting community’s applause. Philanthropist Kaderbhai Fazlani lauded the amenities.

“The densely populated Muslim pockets in the city do not have enough facilities for students, especially girls, to concentrate and study for UPSC exams. More such centres are needed at different pockets in the city,” said businessman Sabir Nirban.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Mumbai News / by Mohammed Wajihuddin, TNN / February 26th, 2023

Maharashtra: Dawoodi Bohra community launches ‘Mother and Child Health and Nutrition Program’ for underprivileged

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

Nandurbar District, MAHARASHTRA:

Mother and Child Health and Nutrition Program in Nandurbar

Nandurbar:

Project Rise, the Dawoodi Bohra community’s global philanthropic arm, announced the launch of ‘Mother and Child Health and Nutrition Program’ in the Nandurbar district of Maharashtra to support over 600 beneficiaries for the next 3 years.

This program is undertaken in partnership with the Association for Nutrition and Development Action (ANNADA), Nandurbar District Authorities and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) under the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The comprehensive program will provide micronutrient-, fortified energy-dense food to malnourished children below six years and pregnant and lactating mothers across 10 Anganwadi centres. It will also educate pregnant and lactating mothers on breastfeeding and monitoring their health to mitigate physical and cognitive growth in children.

Thanking the Dawoodi Bohra community & ANNADA for initiating the program, Mr. Krishna Rathod, the Deputy CEO (Women and Child Development), Nandurbar Zilla Parishad said, “A health and nutrition initiative like this will go a long way in making a difference in the lives of undernourished children and achieving a hunger-free and healthy nation.

Alvin D’souza, Program Head at ANNADA, said, “Child undernutrition can lead to severe developmental issues, diseases, infections and even death. It is at the root of all the social problems and severely impacts national socio-economic development. Our program will use simple, community-relevant, ready-to-eat meals that provide almost 1/3rd of a child’s recommended dietary requirement of micronutrients. Most of these meals are millet-based and rich in protein. We are glad to have partnered with the Dawoodi Bohra community to be able to impact the lives of children in Nandurbar.”

In his address at the launch event, Kutubkhan Badri, representative of His Holiness in the nearby town of Shahada said,  ” Our community leader His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin guides us to show empathy and compassion, and look after the well-being of people, particularly those in need.”

“Our community collaborated with ANNADA around five years ago to fight against malnutrition in Govandi near Mumbai and Roha near Raigad District of Maharashtra, where we saw significant change in the health of our beneficiaries. This project in Nandurbar is an extension of our nutrition and zero-hunger objective of Project Rise.”

The program in Nandurbar was launched in September to support the Government of India’s “Rashtriya Poshan Maah”, or National Nutrition Month, which promotes nationwide awareness of nutrition and hunger, especially for mothers and children.

India is home to the largest population of hungry people and almost 1/3rd of the world’s malnourished children. Almost every third child under 5 years suffers from stunting and about 20% suffer from wasting as per the National Family Health Survey 2019-21.

Maharashtra has a significant burden of child malnutrition, with less than 10% of children under 2 having access to an adequate diet. The situation is incredibly complex in rural and tribal areas. Working hand in hand with local communities, partners and Anganwadi centres can yield positive outcomes and raise the level of nutrition, health, and overall well-being of families.

About Project Rise

Established in 2018, Project Rise is the Dawoodi Bohra community’s social welfare endeavour working in partnership with local community volunteers and government bodies to alleviate hunger and malnutrition, provide access to education, address water insecurity issues, raise health and hygiene levels among children & families, and preserve and protect the environment.

About ANNADA

ANNADA is a seven-year-old not-for-profit organisation with a vision to realise a Hunger-free and nourished India. ANNADA has provided over 16 million safe, hygienic, micronutrient-fortified meals while supporting more than 1.6 lakh beneficiaries, reducing malnutrition cases by 50-60% across various interventions implemented in rural tribal areas.

source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Indian Muslim> Positive Story / by Muslim Mirror Network / September 12th, 2023

Winners of 3rd National NGO Awards . 86 NGOs & 100 Changemakers honoured with 3rd AMP National Awards for Social Excellence 2023!

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Events, Exhibitions, Conferences (wef. Nov 18th, 2021), Inventions, Innovations (wef. Nov 30th, 2021), Leaders, Science & Technology, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

NEW DELHI :

Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Late Zaheeruddin Ali Khan, renowned Managing Editor, The Siasat Daily, for his immense contribution in the welfare of the people of the country, especially, States of A.P. & Telangana.

Winners of 3rd AMP National Awards for Social Excellence (NASE) 2023 were announced, on the evening of Independence Day, 15th August 2023, in an eagerly awaited function graced by honourable guests and a large gathering of participants from across India. 

A memorable event to announce the awards and felicitate a few awardees present, was held at Hakeem Abdul Hameed Auditorium, Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi. 

86 National & State level NGOs were awarded with Best NGO Awards. 100 inspiring individuals were given Changemaker Awards. 

Following are the NGOs (in alphabetical order) who were given the Best NGO Award;

  1. Ajmal Foundation, Assam
  2. All India Educational Movement (AIEM), Delhi
  3. All India Payam E Insaniyat Forum, Uttar Pradesh
  4. Daya Rehabilitation Trust Thanal, Kerala
  5. Miles2Smile Foundation, Delhi
  6. Manappat Foundation, Kerala
  7. M S Education Academy, Telangana

Apart from NGOs, 100 individuals were honoured with the AMP NASE Change Maker Awards.

These are the individuals who went beyond their personal and social limitations and made a difference in the lives of the underprivileged. Some of the notable Change Makers who have been honoured are;

  1. Shams Ur Rehman Alavi
  2. Firdouse Qutb Wani
  3. Aqueel Khan
  4. Dr. Faruk G Patel
  5. Asad Ashraf
  6. Dr Sana Ali Khan
  7. Faiqa Saulat Khan
  8. Mohammad Anas

The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Late Zaheeruddin Ali Khan, renowned Managing Editor, The Siasat Daily, for his immense contribution in the welfare of the people of the country, especially, States of A.P. & Telangana. 

The Omar Khatani Special Award was given to Business & Employment Bureau (BEB), Jamia Hamdard.

For more details of award list and certificate
www.ampindia.org/AMP_National_NGO_Award_2023

Shri Tariq Anwar, Former Minister of State, Agriculture & Food Processing, Govt. of India, was the Chief Guest at the event. He said “It should be appreciated that AMP has been working in areas of Education and Empowerment of those who have been left behind in comparison to other sections of the Society. In conjunction with politicians, the NGOs can help to bring a positive and significant change in the Society.”

Guest of Honor, Prof. Akhtarul Wasey, Former President, Maulana Azad University, Jodhpur, congratulated AMP for organising the event at Jamia Hamdard which has been at the forefront of Social Development and Education. He said, “Within 15 years AMP has done significant work for the development of the Community and has managed to successfully changed the taali & gaali culture to that of serving the Society.”

Aamir Edresy, President, AMP, presented the Keynote address, wherein he mentioned that AMP believes in Collaboration and since its inception has been working with multiple organisations. He mentioned that through its NGO Connect project, AMP is connected with social organisations in each District of India, through which it implements its social welfare projects and also helps in their capacity building. He further said that these Awards are a small way of appreciating their efforts and helping to motivate them to do better.

Dr. Shahid Akhtar, Professor, Jamia Millia Islamia & Member, National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI), Govt. of India, said “AMP deserves the appreciation for rewarding & motivating various organisation & individuals for their work. We will work together with AMP for guiding Minority Institutions to register with NCMEI so that they get the benefits of Government’s education policies.”
 
Farooq Siddiqui, AMP NGO Connect Project Head, hosted the event very successfully and announced the awards for various categories at the National & State level. While addressing the gathering he said “We have successfully reached out to 6000+ NGOs in a short span of  3 years and associated with them on multiple AMP projects. These include Job Fairs & Job Drives, National Talent Search (NTS), Career Guidance Seminars (CGS), IndiaZakat.com and others.”

Prof. Mohammad Afshar Alam, Vice Chancellor, Jamia Hamdard welcomed the Guests and the participants.  Shaukat Mufti, Executive Secretary, Business & Employment Bureau (BEB), Jamia Hamdard, presented the vote of thanks.

The 9-member jury which selected the winners were led by A. R. Khan, Retd. IAS Officer & President A. R. Welfare Foundation and U. Nisar Ahmed, Retd. IPS Officer & Chairman National Centre for Research & Development. Mirza Mobin Beg, Sr. AMP Member was In-charge & Jury Co-ordinator for AMP NASE Awards 2023.

source: http://www.ampindia.org / Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP) /Home / August 15th, 2023

‘Muslim women fly planes, serve in police and armed forces, write books and create art’

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Inventions, Innovations (wef. Nov 30th, 2021), Leaders, Sports, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , , , , , , , , ,

Lucknow, UTTAR PRADESH:

Lucknow :

Muslim women are not a monolith, says Dr Farah Usmani, the founder and honorary editor of the “Rising Beyond The Ceiling” (RBTC), an initiative born out of frustration with the stereotypical narrative surrounding Muslim women in India. RBTC is preparing a directory of Muslim women who have excelled in different fields.

However, millions of Indian women, who identify themselves as Muslim, reach across spectra of ethnicities and languages, states and union territories, do not look the same or sound the same and contribute towards nation building in a variety of ways, says Dr Usmani adding that the compendium is under finalisation.

Member, UP Sunni Central Waqf Board, Sabiha Ahmad, who is busy preparing the list of prominent Muslim women in Uttar Pradesh, said, “The organisation is in the process of preparing a directory of such Muslim women who hold certain positions in social, corporate and professional workspace.”

She says the women spotlighted here from Uttar Pradesh do many things—they fly planes, serve in police and armed forces, they are skeet shooters and bike riders, write books and poetry, create art, play snooker and tennis, administer and govern, espouse social issues, serve as lawyers, scientists and doctors, are entrepreneurs and corporate professionals and are substantive contributors to the progress of the country.

Recently an online international meeting was organised in which the issue was discussed at length.

Veteran politician Mohsina Kidwai; vice chancellor, Era University, Lucknow, prof Farzana Mahdi; writer Sabeeha Anwar; artist Dr Farzana Shahabuddin and Samreen Ahmad were prominent among those who attended the virtual event.

Ahmad further says there is a myth surrounding Muslim women in India that they are highly conservative, prefer to stay home, not at par in education with women of other communities.

“Rising Beyond the Ceiling (RBTC), a non-profit organisation focused on supporting and promoting Indian Muslim women and their leadership and contributions in their respective fields, is working to bust this myth,” says Ahmad, who is also incharge, RBTC UP 100 .

RBTC UP 100 is a congregation of 100 women representing 22 million (2.2 crore) Muslim women from UP.

It is working under the leadership of Dr Farah Usmani, the founder and honorary editor of RBTC initiative who is also serving at United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) headquarters in New York as director-1 level.

“The stories of these Indian Muslim women are for all women and girls to draw inspiration, role model them and thus become mentors in their own districts and neighbourhoods thereby become inspirations themselves for future generations,” Ahmad adds.

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home / by HT Correspondent, Lucknow / September 22nd, 2021

EDUCATION : Educators Of Empathy: Lubna And Azeem’s Mission For Madrasa Students

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

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA:

Azeem Azeez and Lubna Afza at a madrasa

In the heart of Bangalore, where diversity thrives and stories of perseverance resonate, two remarkable individuals, Lubna Afza and Azeem Azeez, are rewriting the narrative of education and hope through their initiative, “Our English School.”

This inspiring journey began with two distinct backgrounds converging in a shared mission to make a difference. Lubna Afza, an advocate, and Azeem Azeez, a social activist, embarked on a remarkable endeavor to provide education to madrasa students and differently-abled children.

In 2015, Lubna Afza endured a heart-wrenching series of tragedies that would break anyone’s spirit. She lost her father, mother, niece, and brother-in-law in a tragic road accident in Saudi Arabia. The same day, her husband divorced her, leaving her in a state of emotional despair. Struggling with the loss of her family and her marriage, Lubna spiraled into severe depression. Her sole source of strength was her 8-year-old son, who sometimes had to step into the role of caregiver during her darkest moments.

Azeem Azeez, a seasoned community activist, had spent years volunteering at government schools and organizing scholarship camps for disadvantaged children. It was during the COVID-19 pandemic that fate brought Azeem and Lubna together as they volunteered at an NGO. This serendipitous encounter led to a shared dream of making a positive impact on society.

Their journey took a significant turn when Azeem introduced Lubna to the world of madrasas. Together, they embarked on a mission to provide quality education to madrasa students, starting with their work at a madrasa in Varthur. The bond they formed with these students ignited a fire within them to do more.

Their vision took a leap forward when they stumbled upon “Our English School,” a historic institution in Jayanagar established in 1965. The school had fallen on hard times due to the pandemic, and its owners were considering selling it. Azeem and Lubna made a bold decision to purchase the school’s license, envisioning a brighter future for it.

However, challenges remained. The pandemic forced them to adapt, and “Our English School” became a mobile school, reaching students across three madrasas in Bangalore. Under Lubna and Azeem’s leadership, the school began offering English, Hindi, Kannada, Maths, and Science courses to students pursuing Hifz or Aalim programs, impacting the lives of over 200 madrasa students.

For Lubna, this endeavor became her lifeline, giving her a renewed sense of purpose after enduring immense personal hardships. However, a crucial hurdle looms ahead. To maintain their school license, they must establish a physical school, a financial burden they are unable to bear alone.

Lubna, Azeem, and the dedicated teachers they have assembled are passionate about their transformative work but need support to secure a permanent space. They have exhausted their life savings and are now reaching out to the community for assistance, appealing for funds or space to establish a proper school.

The need for their services is evident as this year, over a thousand students are eagerly waiting to enroll in “Our English School.” These aspiring students are a testament to the impact Lubna and Azeem’s initiative has had on the community.

“Our English School” has become a beacon of hope for many madrasa students seeking a well-rounded education. It symbolizes the resilience of individuals like Lubna and Azeem, who are determined to make a difference despite facing adversity.

To contribute to their mission or learn more about “Our English School,” please visit www.ourenglishschool.org.

source: http://www.thecognate.com / The Cognate / Home> Education / by Shaik Zakeer Hussain / September 04th, 2023

Reviving greeting cards

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Karnataka (under research project), Women/Girls(since May26-2021), ,

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA:

In an era where digital communication has taken center stage, the sentimental value of greeting cards has faded into obscurity.

There was a time when these tangible tokens of affection held immense significance, fostering connections across distances.

Research reveals that receiving a physical card can elevate recipients’ mental well-being, fostering a sense of connection and alleviating feelings of isolation.

The process of meticulously selecting and sending a card communicates thoughtfulness and care, reinforcing the recipient’s sense of self-worth. Contrasting the fleeting nature of digital messages, a greeting card evokes profound emotional responses.

The limbic system, governing behavior, emotions, and emotional memory, plays a pivotal role in triggering these reactions. Research underscores that the emotional impact of a physical card surpasses that of its digital counterparts.

Amidst this evolving landscape, Sharief Ayesha, an entrepreneur from Bengaluru, has embarked on a passionate mission to rekindle the importance of greeting cards.

Through her entrepreneural set up called Yaay Cards, she says she attempts to preserve a cherished tradition by revitalizing the act of conveying emotions through physical cards.

For Sharief Ayesha, sending greeting cards embodies a vessel of emotions, a bridge of connection, and a repository of memories.

She says, “The rewards of sending cards stretch beyond mere nostalgia. It will remain a time-honored practice”.

Sharief Ayesha has made cards for actors like Salman Khan, Nikhil Chinappa, singer Edward Maya. Sonu Sood and Bhaskar Rao (police-turnedpolitian) etc.

source: http://www.newstrail.com / Newstrail / Home / by Afra Afzal Sait / September 01st, 2023

Malappuram native Nida Anjum is India’s 1st female rider who completes Equestrian World Endurance Championship

Amazing Feats, NRI's / PIO's, Sports, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), World Opinion,

Tirur (Malapurram), KERALA / Dubai, U.A.E :

Nida Anjum Chelat, a 21-year-old rider from Kerala’s Malappuram, became the first Indian to complete the gruelling Equestrian World Endurance Championship for juniors and young riders in Castelsagrat, France on Saturday.

Nida, riding atop Epsilonn Salou, accomplished four laps totaling 120 kilometers within a span of seven hours and 29 minutes.


The goal of the championship is to cover the track without any harm coming to the horse.

Nida demonstrated remarkable skill by successfully finishing all four stages, securing the 23rd position in the initial stage (28.6 kilometers), 26th in the second stage (29.2 kilometers), 24th in the third stage (33.8 kilometers), and an impressive 21st place in the final stage (28.6 kilometers). Throughout the competition, Nida maintained a commendable average speed of 16.7 kilometers per hour.

In this championship, 70 competitors representing 25 different countries participated, with 33 of them unable to finish the race.

The UAE claimed both the individual gold and silver medals, while Bahrain and France emerged as the victorious teams in their respective categories.

“To qualify for the World Endurance Championship, a rider and their horse must complete a 120km distance at least twice within a two-year period. Nida has surpassed this requirement by completing the 120 km distance four times with two different combinations,” said a statement on Sunday.

“Nida has achieved the three-star rider status, becoming the first Indian woman to do so by successfully completing the 120km distance ride more than once,” the statement added.

“I am proud to be the first Indian to have achieved the feat and would try to bring more laurels for the country,” said Nida.

Nida whose parents hail from Kerala’s northern Malappuram district and reside in Dubai, gained entry into World Championships by winning the Gold Sword at the Abu Dhabi Endurance Championship. She is being coached by renowned horse trainer and rider Ali Al Muhairi.

source: http://www.maktoobmedia.com / Maktoob / Home> India> Latest> South India> Sports / by Maktoob Staff / September 04th, 2023

Meher Sheikh wins the ‘Emerging Female Influencer in Media Industry’ Award

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Events, Exhibitions, Conferences (wef. Nov 18th, 2021), Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , , , , ,

UTTAR PRADESH:

Tennis player James Blake
Meher Sheikh wins the ‘Emerging Female Influencer in Media Industry’ Award

New Delhi :

The 12th Edition of Entrepreneur Awards, an initiative by Entrepreneur India Magazine took place on September 20, 2022.

The platform recognizes the most influential, path-breaking entrepreneurs who do something out of the box and break stereotypes.

Bollywood actress Shraddha Kapoor graced the occasion and spoke about her debut as an entrepreneur.At the 12th edition of Entrepreneur Awards, a new category was introduced to commemorate emerging media companies. And this year, Meher Sheikh won the award in the category ‘Emerging Female Influencer in Media Industry’. Narain Kartikeyan, India’s 1st Formula One Driver who’s now the Founder and CEO of DriveX, presented the award to the uber-talented Meher Sheikh.

Meher Sheikh is a media entrepreneur and digital creator, she was a Sports Anchor with News 24 and she started her career as a fashion merchandiser. Meher is the Founder and CEO of Nikology a Youtube Channel with a subscriber base of 02 Million.

Nikology is an initiative of Papr Network that runs its operations from Noida Filmcity in Uttar Pradesh.

Meher is successfully hosting 2 shows on Nikology ‘Totally Unapologetic With Meher Sheikh’ and The Aatmanirbhar Bharat Show’. Both the series received a great response from the viewers and preps for a bigger and better season 02 is underway.”I am very happy to be recognized as an influential media entrepreneur. It’s just the beginning of a new era for content creators because the content industry is continuously facing disruption, with the emergence of OTT, mobile and digital penetration across Bharat, India has seen a shift in the way content is consumed today. Every big network is shifting its focus on the digital front by launching their own OTT platforms, podcasts and having a presence on Youtube etc”.

“I have huge plans for my viewers and aspiring entrepreneurs, we at Papr Network aim to be game changers for digital creators and new entrepreneurs”.

Some of the other winners of this prestigious award were Navya Naveli Nanda, Founder, Project Naveli and Co-founder, Aara Health, Aditya Ghosh Co-Founder, Akasa Air, Aman Gupta of Boat, Vineeta Singh of Sugar Cosmetics, Sandeep Nailwal Co-Founder, Polygon.

This story has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content in this article. (ANI/PNN)

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> Content> Press Release ANI/ PNN / September 21st, 2022

Star Chefs: Asma Khan’s all-female kitchen feeds ‘Bridgerton’ star Simone Ashley

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, NRI's / PIO's, Travel & Tourism, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), World Opinion, , ,

Kolkata, WEST BENGAL / London, U.K:

‘Nine women in the Darjeeling Express kitchen made for a powerful visual’, the Kolkata-born British chef and restaurateur tells My Kolkata.

Simone Ashley and Asma Khan at the Darjeeling Express kitchen. (Right) the thali the actress was served
@asmakhanlondon/Instagram

Nine women in the Darjeeling Express kitchen made for a powerful visual when actress Simone Ashley visited the London restaurant, owned by Asma Khan, on August 31.

Ashley, known for her portrayal of Kate Sharma in Netflix’s women-centric hit series Bridgerton, expressed her desire to connect with the all-female kitchen team.

Asma Khan, Kolkata-born British chef and restaurateur, shared her experience with My Kolkata from London, saying, “Simone met the girls with so much affection. They were thrilled to meet her. She’s very sweet, very humble. She also left a generous tip. Recognising and appreciating the women who nourish us holds significance for those of Southeast Asian heritage. Regardless of one’s origins, it’s an integral part of our culture.”

Asma’s mission is to embrace diversity in the hospitality industry

Asma has gained recognition for her unwavering commitment to empowering immigrant women, who form the heart of her kitchen brigade at Darjeeling Express. She articulated her mission to embrace diversity in the hospitality industry in a recent piece for British Vogue , where she wrote: “I have made it my mission to hire individuals from all walks of life, and of varying ages and abilities.”

Simone, who is of Tamil descent, arrived at the restaurant with the film crew of her latest project, including the producer and director. Asma said, “My connection with Simone came through our mutual friend, Charithra Chandran, who plays her half-sister in Bridgerton. We had discussed the possibility of Simone visiting the restaurant before. However, this time, the reservation was arranged by Christine, the wife of David Gelb, the director of Chef’s Table and a personal friend. She inquired about the availability and made the booking.”

‘Bridgerton’ star Simone Ashley is of Tamil descent
@simoneashley/Instagram

“She had our thali at Darjeeling Express and was particularly thrilled about the puri (luchi), because we prepare them fresh for the thali. She watched our girls making it, and I’ve heard she’s a very good cook herself,” added Asma, who was a guest judge on a recent season of Padma Lakshmi’s Top Chef. In fact, the episode helped “demystify the thali” and is one of the reasons why the Sunday thali at the London restaurant is “doing so well” , according to Asma.

In recent times, Darjeeling Express has welcomed several notable personalities, including Malala Yousafzai , whom Asma describes as someone “who embodies the invincible spirit of women from South Asia”, Michael Buble , Spotify’s CEO Daniel Ek, and Paul Rudd as well as Schitt’s Creek creator Dan Levy, among others.

source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph Online / Home> Food> Star Chefs / by Karo Christine Kumar / September 02nd, 2023

For years, India’s top wrestling champions lived in fear of Hamida Bano

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

Mirzapur / Aligarh, UTTAR PRADESH:

When she was about 30 years old, her larger than life persona brought her global fame and she received many proposals for marriage. She would set one condition for aspiring grooms. “If you can beat me in a wrestling bout, I will marry you,” she would say. Many tried to do so but failed.

In the 1940s and 1950s there was a woman wrestler who had become the darling of the media. The sports lovers of India passionately wanted her to succeed and turned up in large numbers to watch her bouts. She hailed from UP and became famous under the nickname of “Amazon of Aligarh.” She was originally from Mirzapur but later lived in Aligarh and she made the city famous with her deeds.

According to an article in the BBC, the woman wrestler whose name was Hamida Bano rose to stardom when the sport was a male bastion. There was very little scope for women but she often fought against male wrestlers and defeated them. This pugnacious attitude was a huge inspiration for wrestling fans and she gained tremendous popularity.

All aspiring grooms failed

When she was about 30 years old, her larger than life persona brought her global fame and she received many proposals for marriage. But she would set one condition for all aspiring grooms. “If you can beat me in a wrestling bout, I will marry you,” she would say. Many tried to do so but failed.

In 1954, through the media, she issued an open challenge to all male wrestlers in India. Two famed wrestling champions, one from Patiala in Punjab and another from Kolkata took up her challenge and tried to get the better of her. Both ended up being soundly beaten. She then went to Baroda for her third bout against a male champion wrestler.

The city was all agog. Huge newspaper reports talked about her amazing feats. Even the international news agency Reuters gave her coverage. A man named Sudhir Parab who was a child at that time, told the BBC that her arrival in Baroda was advertised through banners and posters. Trucks and motorised vehicles went around the streets announcing her victories and her plans to fight against local champions. By that time she had won more than 300 competitions.

Chota Gama Pahelwan withdraws in fear

At that time the Maharaja of Baroda patronised a wrestler known as Chota Gama Pahelwan. So Hamida and Chota Gama were pitted against each other. But the junior Gama perhaps became nervous and withdrew from the bout stating that he did not want to compete against a woman. Hamida’s fans were left disappointed by this cowardly withdrawal by her rival.

But at this time there were some male chauvinists who were not pleased by the fact that she was regularly defeating male champions. Once Hamida had to approach Morarji Desai who was then the Chief Minister of Bombay State, to complain about an unofficial ban against her. No one wanted to compete against her.

Baba Pahelwan beaten in two minutes

The next man who decided to take her on was another famed grappler by the name of Baba Pahelwan. In less than two minutes Hamida Bano flattened Baba Pahelwan and then raised her arms in victory and screamed: “Is there anyone else in this city who will take my challenge?” Needless to say, she got no reply.

For a contest in Bombay, the Bombay Chronicle newspaper reported that more than 20,000 people bought tickets for her fight against Goonga Pahelwan. But when this man saw the huge crowd, he too turned pale at the thought of losing to a woman in front of everyone. What would happen to his reputation if he lost?

He began to make last minute excuses and demanded more money. The haggling with the organisers went on for hours and the scheduled time passed. When the crowd realised that the bout would not take place, they became enraged and vandalised the premises where the event was to have taken place.

Qurratulain Haider mentioned her in a story

Once the famed Urdu author Qurratulain Haider wrote a short story in which she mentioned the name of Hamida Bano. In the mid-1950s Hamida defeated Russian woman wrestler Vera Chistilin in less than two minutes. But soon after, Hamida decided to leave the wrestling ring for good.

Once she stepped away from the spotlight, she disappeared into the background. Some say she went back to her roots in her native village and lived out the rest of her days selling fruits from a small shop catering to the local population. But the memories that she left behind – that of an unconquered woman who could defeat the strongest men – was cherished and celebrated for many years.

source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> Featured News / by Abhijit Sen Gupta / September 01st, 2023