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

Meet Mubeena Ramzan, the trailblazer in imparting women’s education and property rights

Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, FREE : Food, Leaders, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sopore (Baramulla District) , JAMMU & KASHMIR:

“In today’s world, if something goes wrong in our household, women are held responsible,” said Mubeena Ramzan, an iconic figure for women’s rights and upliftment in Kashmir. Featured in “The World’s 500 Most Influential Muslims of 2019” and born in the ‘apple town of Kashmir’, Sopore, she had always been a “sensitive” child who always looked around for people who were not so privileged. She had a strong desire to help the underprivileged but financial constraints made her helpless. Growing up, she aimed to change this and be instrumental in helping the lesser fortunate women around her.

“When I initially started, we were just a few people but the recognition of our Kashmiri people who stood with me and joined our cause made me happier,” she shared about being among the most influential Muslims of 2019. Mubeena completed her studies in her native town and joined a private college run by Anjuman Moin-ul-Islam which was the only college for women at Sopore then. “Whenever things are wrong at home, a woman is asked to do a job and support the family,” she recalled. Speaking about her immediate surroundings, she detailed how women were still suppressed “in the garb of religion as interpreted by the village elders and religious leaders.” Disturbed by such wrong interpretations of the status of women in Islam, she was motivated to get educated and work towards improvisation concerning women rights.

“There is an ayah in the Quran which talks about women to remain inside four walls of their homes but we have forgotten that every ayah had its own context,” Mubeena stated while defining her motivation to pursue Islamic Studies. “Our so-called maulvis used Islam as a tool to suppress women while Islam is the only religion which empowers women in every aspect of her life,” she added. Driven by this zeal, she went to the University of Kashmir for pursuing Masters in Islamic Studies. Her choice of studying the interpretation of Islamic teachings was aimed “to look inside the teaching which catered to women.”

“In Islam, women have been given property rights but whenever a daughter asks for her share she is abandoned and fought off,” says Mubeena. Her harrowing experiences of witnessing abandoned women with limited access to clothes, food or water motivated her to enrol for a B.Ed., M.Phil and PhD in Islamic Law. Her vision remained to challenge the deliberately flawed interpretations of Islamic teaching that caused Muslim women untold misery. After her studies, she initially started working as a research associate, looking for opportunities to educate, help and empower women through Islamic teaching. She feels that when people “want to truly empower a woman they should give her the share from the property.”

“In Islam, women don’t have any economic liabilities, men were created as the protector and guardian of women so it’s his responsibility to look after her,” Mubeena explained. She completed two theses on Islamic Law and Social Evils as well as on Shah-e-Hamdan and Orientalism. Her education has taught her that “there needs to be more resources for women’s empowerment and education.” To contribute to the cause, she continued working in various educational institutions as a contractual lecturer and research associate and went on to open her own institution for women, Jamia Islamia Mahdul Muslimaat.

“The vocational training in activities like cutting, tailoring, and computer skills here empower and helps us to support ourselves financially,” says Nahila Wani, a senior student at Jamia Islamia Mahdul Muslimaat. The school provides shelter, food, clothes, and education free of cost to all needy students. “Many students who have received an education from this institution have gone on to open their own schools, benefiting our society,” shares Nahila who added that the well-balanced curriculum “fosters independence and awareness among women, making them conscious of their duties and rights.”

“There were so-called preachers who said that I can’t run this institution as I am a woman,” she said while recounting the initial three years of starting the institution. She explained that initially the establishment faced many problems but over time they installed networks with professional teams including top doctors in the valley. The emphasis here lies in educating women in Quranic exegesis, science of Hadith, Jurisprudence, and History, while also training them in languages like Arabic, English, Urdu, and computer skills. “Our goal is to equip them with the necessary skills to become self-reliant and competent individuals,” said Mubeena.

In 2014, Mubeena also started Ansar-ul-Nisa, a socio-religious organization that provides special support to needy orphans, would-be-brides, and widows. Through the organization, she came across several cases of suicidal cases of women, especially among married women. According to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report, there was a 15.62% increase in crimes against women in 2021 compared to the year 2020. Over 7,000 arrests were made in cases of women harassment in the union territory in 2021. In the 2011 Census, among 64 lakh women in the valley, the crime rate per lakh population in stood at 61.6% as of 2021. 315 cases of rape, 1,414 incidents of attempt to rape, and 14 dowry deaths were reported in 2021 wherein 91.4% of cases showed that the accused were known to the victims. Around 1,851 cases of physical assault on women with the intention to outrage their modesty was also caused. The figures clashed with the lockdown in COVID-19 when suicidal tendencies among Kashmiri women grew rapidly, the same time around Mubeena’s team was expanding women counselling activities.

The counseling cell works 24×7 hours to help Kashmiri women in such events wherein one of the cases she dealt with was involving a girl who was abandoned by both her parents who had separated and remarried and registered her as an orphan. Her organization fought on the social front against her father ultimately convincing the local elders to rightly grant some portion of the property in her name. The girl was married off soon after and is currently living happily with her husband and a daughter. Two more orphan sisters studying in Jamia Islamia Mahdul Muslimat received legal help to secure property share from their grandfather and are now living with their mother in their own house. Stories like this abound in Mubeena’s organizations.

“We believe in providing a safe space where newly married women, divorcees, and those suffering from mental health disorders can come to share their stories and find relief,” shares Mubeena. Through her institution’s counseling team of highly qualified professionals including top doctors and professors, they divert efforts to support them financially and emotionally. “As we look to the future, we aim to establish a helpline number to further expand our reach and continue to provide crucial support for those in need,” she said. At present, 600 girls are studying in the institutions and about 500 widows also receive financial assistance. Due to lack of funds, her plans of opening a college for skills-oriented courses are delayed.

Speaking about her future plans, she detailed that she aims to build an institution where all modern subjects are taught at par with Islamic education, alongside martial arts and vocational skills like cutting, designing, oratory, etc. “Our whole motive is to make women empowered through education,” Mubeena iterated her future plans.

Sadaf Shabir is an independent journalist. She tweets @sadafreports 

source: http://www.twocircles.net / TwoCircles.net / Home> India News /by Sadaf Shabir / May 24th, 2023

‘History’s Angel’: Past and present collide to tell uncomfortable truths about Muslim lives in India

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

New Delhi / Shillong, MEGHALAYA / Bengaluru, KARNATAKA:

Anjum Hasan’s novel considers what it is like to live in troubling times.

History’s Angel, Anjum Hasan, Bloomsbury India.

Living in an ancient city is like living in two time periods – the present (when you are alive) and the past (when the city was alive and you were not). It’s a strange conundrum. In a city like Delhi, where Alif from History’s Angel lives, the past creeps into the present in ordinary, mundane ways. There’s Humayun Tomb to visit, the Red Fort that you see on your way to work, the ruins of Tughlakabad where people reside…the city of Delhi is effortlessly ancient and ever-expanding. And what about the intangible past – the memories of what Delhi used to be, the violence that ravaged it and the unexpected friendships that were born in dire times, the natural seat of power that stood strong even as the city exchanged hands between emperors and regimes? History is a double-edged sword – there’s pride in continuing the legacy and there’s a burden of living with its failures.

Author Anjum Hasan. | Lekha Naidu

Anjum Hasan’s latest offering, History’s Angel considers what it is like living in Delhi in troubling times (something the city always seems to be in). Alif teaches history to students aged between nine and 14 at a private school. He believes in history – its nuances, nonlinear existence, and its ability to make its students upright, empathetic people. But Indian school education system does not care for holistic scholarship. As long as the students successfully mug up facts and figures and hurl them onto the answer sheets, the teacher’s job is done. But Alif has bigger aspirations – he wants the children to understand and appreciate history in all its complexity. And in striving for this noble goal is where the trouble begins.

Humayun, Hanuman, Hindustan

Hell breaks loose when nine-year-old (upper caste Hindu student) Ankit Kumar disappears from his sight on an excursion to Humayun’s Tomb. Alif imagines the worst, but after a brief period of great anxiety, Ankit is finally found. Overcome with relief, Alif is only too happy to indulge the child when he seeks permission to ask a question. Only it is not what Alif was expecting.

Ankit asks his teacher, “Are you a dirty Mulla?” Perhaps before Alif could even make sense of the child’s question, he reaches for the boy’s ear and twists it. Corporal punishment is a punishable offence – as it should be – but in this case, it is something of a reflex action. Alif is stunned and he feels helpless.

Always keeping himself out of the way of trouble, and with his faith dialled down to the minimum, Alif does everything he can to be a “good Muslim”. However, the India he lives in is not so kind. The story, as it moves from one tongue to another and one imagination to another, takes a grotesque form. The final version is this: Ankit disappeared after Alif insulted his god Hanuman and threatened to throw him out of the rickshaw. In the absence of any reliable eyewitnesses, it is Alif’s words versus the majority’s hostility which is ever ready to exaggerate the failings of Muslim citizens.

The school where Alif teaches is a mini India. There are people of all faiths and cultures but one seems to be quickly taking precedence over the others. Alif wonders why the children stopped singing Muhammad Iqbal’s Saare Jahan Se Achcha in the assembly, why the principal was conducting a havan on the school premises, or why history lessons on Muslim emperors were no longer essential. The principal clearly instructed him to not bring religion into the school – visits to Humayun’s Tomb etcetera – while Hindu traditions were proudly being paraded as the culture of the country. Alif can see the gradual shift from Iqbal’s Hindustan to the narrow-minded, saffron-tinted Bharat. And so can we.

The state of any minority in our country has never been worth much and now, even more so. The hostility and open call for violence is not just encouraged but rewarded. The news cycle works on repeat – lynchings of Muslims, the murder of an untouchable, a Kashmiri’s freedoms curbed, a journalist attacked or jailed, a farmer dead from suicide. And screaming news reporters who are oblivious to it all. An endless, vicious cycle that sucks the common man dry. And it is in this soul-sucking, gut-wrenching India that people like Alif and his wife Tahira strive to be perfect (Muslim) citizens.

Horrors, hounding, humiliation

Simple things like renting a house become an impossible dream as brokers ask the couple if they slaughter goats at home and tell them – feigning kindness – that there are no mosques or madrasas nearby. Tahira and Alif are made to participate in humiliating interrogation – they are not only questioned about their faith and eating habits but made to answer for Muslim invaders and also those who stayed back. The fact that these events happened many centuries ago and the “invaders” had long since integrated with the Indian peoples is immaterial.

The indignity that Muslims are subjected to in India is one-of-its-kind. Disparaging remarks are always at hand and fingers are quick to point to Muslims when something goes wrong in the nation-state. Alif’s mother says stoically, “Things are bad…but if that is what’s bothering you then forget it. Because it is not new.” It is not new. Through the elderly lady’s voice, Anjum Hasan tells us that this has always been the reality of being a Muslim in India. It always has been humiliating. Of course, things have become alarmingly bad in the last decade, but none of us should think even for a moment that India was a secular haven before.

Alif’s is an interesting characterisation – his history teacher persona makes him acceptable as an upright citizen. In India, a teacher exists beyond the classroom – they are considered quite literally a “guru”. In the same way, Alif exists beyond the textbook. He contemplates the Sufi way of life, sorrowfully remembers the demolition of the Babri Masjid and the violence that followed, and imagines the horrors of the Partition.

Not just the past, Alif must also answer for the loud azaan and “land jihaad” of the present. It’s a life of questions and interrogations and like most of us – any of us – Alif does not always have an answer. He is no more responsible for the actions of Muhammad Ghori than Hindus are for the pillaging and killing that many kings of their religion were known for. But only one of them is allowed to cut the cord from the notorious past.

While Hasan easily incorporates the past in her portrayal of the contemporary Indian Muslim, the figures and events of this past can sometimes be distracting. The nine-year-old child who gets the wheel turning on Alif’s ruination fades into the shadows – how did the child become so hateful, what made him falsely accuse his teacher, and why did he not fear being punished? I wanted to know more.

Ahmad, a minor character in the novel, is a devout Muslim. And being devout often means enforcing one’s personal beliefs on others. He complains that Alif’s family “shirks shirks shirks” their faith –photos of human faces adorn the walls at home, Alif’s mother does not cover her head, the men do not always attend prayers at the mosque, the women go out to work, and the children are not being educated in madrasas. Hindus have alienated and hounded Muslims, and so have Muslim fanatics. The common Muslim who just wants to go about their day without getting into trouble is on the losing side of a lost war. Hasan’s attack on Muslim orthodoxy is subtle yet impressive.

History’s Angel ends on a predictive note. You can see it coming however it does not dampen the reading experience – surely you were not expecting justice to be delivered to a wronged Muslim history teacher?

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source: http://www.scroll.in / Scroll.in / Home> Book Review / by Sayari Debnath / July 30th, 2023

Contribution Of Muslims To India’s Freedom Struggle

Amazing Feats, Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Community Involvement / Social Issues, First War of Independence 1857 / Naval Mutiny 1946 / Others PreIndependece (wef. July 27th, 2022), Freedom Fighters (under research project), Indian Muslims in World War I and II (wef. July 09th, 2022), Leaders, Martyrs of the Nation, Royal Families, PreIndependence -Descendants (wef. Jan 02nd,2022), Women/Girls(since May26-2021), World Opinion, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

INDIA:

The famous writer Kushwant Singh, once wrote: “Indian Freedom is written in Muslim blood, since their participation in the freedom struggle was much more, in proportion to their small percentage of the population.”

The story and history of India’s independence are written with the blood of Muslims. According to historical references, 65% of those who stood, fought and sacrificed against the British for India’s independence were Muslim freedom fighters, the hams live reported.

A large number of people from all religions and castes took part in the freedom struggle, undoubtedly. However, the struggles of many Muslim prominent personalities who also contributed to India’s freedom and even sacrificed everything including their lives are little known. Muslims have been at the forefront to oppose the British and stood shoulder to shoulder with people from other communities while fighting against them. Getting freedom was not easy, our ancestors had to go face a lot of struggles and difficulties to get us the freedom that we are enjoying now.

The First Call To Oppose British

In the 1750s, Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah was the first awakened Indian ruler, who stood his ground against the British. He lost the Battle of Plassey in 1757 due to the betrayal of Mir Jafar (Commander of Nawab’s army). With this, Siraj-ud-Daulah’s reign marks the end of the last independent rule in India and the beginning of the East India company’s rule that was unabated for the next two hundred years.

First Freedom Struggle By Muslim Rulers

The first freedom struggle against the British was started by the rulers of Mysore Hyder Ali and his son, Tipu Sultan, during the 1780s and 90s. Both used the first iron-cased rockets and cannons effectively against the British invaders.

Tipu Sultan is considered to be one of India’s first freedom fighters for his fierce fight and brave against the East India Company. He resisted the conquest of the British in southern India and was reluctant to welcome them on his soil. He was the only Indian ruler who understood the dangers that the British posed to India, and fought four wars to oust them from the country.

The Unsung Heroines Of India’s Freedom Struggle

Begum Hazrat Mahal, the unsung heroin, played a very important role in India’s war of Independence. Being a woman, she led a rebellion against the British East India Company in 1857. She shot the British ruler, Sir Henry Lawrence and defeated the British army in a conclusive Battle at Chinhat in 1857.

In the great revolt of 1857, as many as 225 Muslim women sacrificed their lives in the uprising. These unsung Muslim women freedom fighters who have sloganeered, shed blood and given their lives for the country’s independence have now been forgotten to due biases.

A majority of freedom fighters did a nameless service to the nation and one such lesser-known name was Abadi Bano Begum (Bi Amma). Bi Amma was the first woman to address a political rally wearing an abaya. She took part in National freedom struggles, Khilafat Movement and propagated Hindu-Muslim unity. Following Mahatma Gandhi’s advice, Bi Amma played an. An important role in encouraging women to take part in the freedom movement. Further, she played a pivotal role in the Swadeshi movements.

In the book, Gandhi and the Ali Brothers: Biography of a Friendship by Rakhahari Chatterji, Maulana Mohammad Jouhar says, “Suffice it to say that, although she was practically illiterate, I have, in all experience, of men of all sorts of types, come across none that I could call wiser and certainly that was more truly godly and spiritual than our mother.”

Bi Amma was also the mother of Muhammad Ali Jauhar and Shaukat Ali popularly known as the Ali Brothers whom she raised on her own after her husband died when she was young.

Amjadi Begum, the wife of Muhammad Ali Jauhar and daughter-in-law of Bi Amma, is yet another Muslim women freedom fighter. Mahatma Gandhi also dedicated an article on her titled ‘A Brave Woman‘ where he admired her as a courageous wife of a courageous man. 

At the age of 45, Asghari Begum, another forgotten Muslim woman, has also taken part in the 1857 revolt and challenged British rule in the present-day Uttar Pradesh. However, she was captured by the British in 1858 and burnt alive.

Habiba, a Muslim woman’s fought many battles against the British in Muzaffarnagar in 1857. However, she was captured and hanged along with 11 other female warriors at the age of 25.

The Great Revolt of 1857

During the Great Revolt of 1857, Hindus and Muslims under the leadership of the last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar tried to oust the British from India. A majority of Hindu sepoys requested Zafar to lead them in the war of Independence. Although the Revolt failed due of several reasons, Muslims have always stood on the front line to oppose the British.

Former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi during his visit to Bahadur Shah’s grave, wrote in the visitor’s book: “Although you (Bahadur Shah) do not have land in India, you have it here; your name is alive… I pay homage to the memory of the symbol and rallying point of India’s First War of Independence….”

Muslims came to India and ruled here for over 800 years but they did not steal anything from here as the British, the Dutch and the French did. By bringing plenty of knowledge in literature, architecture, judiciary, political structure, government body and management structure, which is still used in Indian management strategy, they helped India to progress into a unified and civilized nation.

Lighthouse of Rebellion

How many of us know that the organizer and leader of “First Indian freedom struggle” in 1857 was Moulavi Ahamadullah Shah. Known as the ‘Lighthouse of Rebellion’ in Awadh, he Faizabad free from British rule for almost one year, until his death at the hands of British agents on June 5, 1858.

“With being a practicing Muslim, he was also the epitome of religious unity and Ganga-Jamuna culture of Faizabad. In the revolt of 1857, royalties like Nana Sahib of Kanpur, Kunwar Singh of Arrah fought alongside Maulavi Ahmadullah Shah. Maulavi’s 22nd Infantry Regiment was commanded by Subedar Ghamandi Singh and Subedar Umrao Singh in the famous Battle of Chinhat,” according to researcher and historian Ram Shankar Tripathi.

The important role of Muslims in the uprising is the reason that the British government singled out the community for the worst revenge. From the Nawab, the King of Mysore, the last Mughal King, Princes, the landlords, the Ulemas, intellectuals, Urdu journalists, including common people, all members of the Muslim community have made great sacrifices for the freedom of India.

In the uprising of the 1857 revolt, thousands of ulema were slaughtered and the whole of Delhi was emptied of Muslims, according to excerpts from Syed Ubaidur Rahman’s book Biographical Encyclopedia of Indian Muslim Freedom Fighters. They were not even allowed to return to their homes and reclaim their properties.

First Journalist To Sacrifice His Life During The Great Revolt

Moulvi Muhammad Baqir, a scholar and activist of Indian independence activist was the first journalist to be executed following the rebellion in 1857. The editor of Urdu newspapers, Delhi Urdu Akhbar, was washed dead on 16th September 1857 for writing Nationalist articles, without even a trial.

Although India got independence on 15 August 1947, the foundation of the freedom struggle was laid before 1857. Since the time of the Revolt of 1857, which is considered to be the beginning of India’s freedom struggle, Muslim leadership has spearheaded the cause.

First Muslim To Be Hanged For Conspiring Against East India Company

At the age of 27 years, Shaheed Ashfaqulla Khan was the first Muslim to be hanged for conspiring against the British Raj. Khan was hanged to death on December 19, 1927. With this, he became a martyr and a legend among the people because of his love for the country and his unshakeable spirit.

Reshmi Rumal Tehreek (The Silk Movement)

Muslims not only took the lead in the uprising, but also stood in the front line in all other efforts to topple the British colonial regime in India.

After the revolt of 1857, the Muslim leaders changed their strategy of resistance by setting up educational institutions across the country. Reshmi Rumal Tehreek or The Silk Letter Movement (1913-1920) was an initiative by Deobandi Leaders Maulana Mahmud Hasan and Maulana Ubaidullah Sindhi to topple the British Empire.

However, when British intelligence learned about it, hundreds of sympathizers of the initiative were arrested and put in prison for years without any trial. The top leaders including Maulana Mahmud Hasan and half a dozen of his followers were banished to Malta after a faux trial where they faced the worst hardship.

Role of Muslims in Congress’ anti-colonial struggle

Justice Abbas Tyabji, an Indian freedom fighter from Gujarat and associate of Mahatma Gandhi, was the first Muslim president of the Indian National Congress party. Justice Tyabji is also known for leading Salt Satyagraha following Gandhi’s arrest in 1930.

Another Congress president during the colonialism was Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, who is one of the chief Muslim leaders of the anti-colonial nationalist movement. He became the youngest President of the Indian National Congress in 1923 at the age of 35. He faced multiple imprisonments by the colonial state.

From Justice Tayabji to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, there have been eight Muslim leaders who were in the Indian National Congress’s freedom movement. The other prominent Muslim leaders include, Muhammad Ali Jauhar, Shaukat Ali, Maulana Azad, Dr Mukhtar Ansari, Hakim Ajmal Khan, Maulana Mahmud Hasan and many others. They made every possible sacrifice for the cause of the end the colonial rule.

Frontier Gandhi

Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan was a Pashtun independence activist who campaigned to end the rule of the British Raj in India. He founded the Khudai Khidmatgar resistance movement against British colonial rule in India. He was also known as Frontier Gandhi for his principles of non-violence and friendship with Gandhi. Khan worked towards the formation of a united, independent, secular India. 

Muslim Man Coins “Jai Hind”

The patriotic slogan “Jai Hind” was initially coined by Zain-ul Abideen Hasan, but it was adopted by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. It is now used as a way of salutation throughout India. It means “Victory to India” in English.

The Creation Of the National Flag

For a majority of us, the current national flag was designed by Pingali Venkayya. However, it was a Muslim Lady Surayya Tyabji, who created the flag’s final look today.

Although we have recounted several names of the Muslims who have contributed to India’s freedom struggle, there are several thousands of them who fought on the streets against the British Raj.

source: http://www.thecongnate.com / The Cognate / Home> History / by Rabia Shireen / August 15th, 2022

Karkala’s Ayesha Banu – Ray of hope for many destitute

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

Karkala (Udupi District) , KARNATAKA:

Karkala :

There is no barrier of religion for love, compassion and humanity. Ayesha Banu of the city of Karkala is one such ray of hope for the destitute. She takes care of more than 75 homeless people.

Ayesha not only brings the homeless people to her own ashram but also feeds them and gives them medical treatment. She has people from Maharashtra, Assam and West Bengal residing in her home for the shelterless people. They are given a stomach full to eat, dress to wear and place to sleep.

Ayesha was working in a private hospital when she was young. Her family used to provide ambulance service. One day in a rare situation, Ayesha had to take an orphan young girl to her home as there was no one to take care of her. This came to the public’s knowledge and they started calling her to accommodate orphans known to them. Within no time, the house got filled with destitute. Now she has made a centre for orphans called Suraksha on her own land.

Ayesha spends her whole time in the service of these orphans. Some people give her donations. Rest she herself spends from her savings. Many organizations have recognized her service and have felicitated her in the past eight years. Ayesha has two daughters. She says that she will serve the orphans till her last breath.

Ayesha stands tall in today’s world of hate mongering and selfishness.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / DaijiWorld.com / Home> Top Stories / by Daijiworld Media Network – Karkala (MS) / August 12th, 2023

Aslam, Bhai’s three doctor daughters have brought pride to the family, Teli community

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

Safala (Palghar), MAHARASHTRA:

Aslam Bhai, his wife Sabia and their three doctor daughters : Aliya. Ayesha, Saddika

The monsoon session of the Maharashtra State Legislature is underway in Mumbai. The world has accepted the work of great scholar and social reformer Savitribai Jyotirao Phule, who laid the foundation of women’s education in India. The struggle of Savitribai and her husband Mahatma Phule for women’s education is extraordinary. Opposition MLAs in both Houses demanded that a case be registered against those who used indecent language against Savitribai and Mahatma Phule. lam

Aslam Bhai was ecstatic and top of the world.

“She is the second daughter in your family who has become a doctor, isn’t it?” Aslam Bhai said, “Apart from Aaliya, I also have twin daughters Ayesha and Siddika. Saddika has completed her BDS (Bachelor of Dentistry Science degree from Pune and is now working as a dentist.

Aaliya, the youngest of his daughters, he said, completed her MBBS degree with distinction in Gynecology and Obstetrics from Lokmanya Tilak Medical College, Mumbai. She did her post-graduation in psychiatry at KEM Medical College, Mumbai.

Aslam Bhai was speaking with pride and happiness. Alia’s future husband Dr. Imtiaz Kazi is also a doctor by profession and has done MS Ortho from KEM College.

Aliya, Aslam Bhai’s third daughter

This will probably be the first incident of all three daughters of a middle-class family of Teli Muslim (traditional business of oil) community becoming doctors. Aslam Bhai looked very happy with the success of his three daughters. His wife Sabia also has a big contribution to this success.

Aslam Bhai’s dream of becoming a doctor himself could not be fulfilled due to poverty. Despite having a good knowledge of cricket and being proficient in the game, Aslam Bhai could not even become a cricketer due to financial reasons. But Aslam’s parents and Sabia Shaikh’s grandmother were modern-minded. He believed that girls should go for higher education. Due to this vision, all three girls of this Marathi Muslim family have become doctors setting an example for the community.

Education surely is the cure for most of the problems of Indian Muslims. Through quality professional skills and higher education, the family, community, and ultimately the country can be taken on the path of progress and Aslam Bhai and Sabiya have proved this. Of course, Ayesha, Siddika, and Alia have achieved this position after a lot of hard work. 

Aslam Bhai’s parents are small farmers. His father Yunus Mian worked in a small company in Andheri, Mumbai. His mother, Kulsoom, used to sell fish while doing housework and contribute to the household expenses of the large family of four sons, two daughters, and a mother-in-law. On days the couple had to go without food but they never compromised with the education of their daughters. The boys completed their school and college studies, but Aslam could not become a doctor for financial reasons. 

His father felt sorry for this till the end. Aslam Bhai took charge of his family by taking small and big contracts for construction works.

Aslam Bhai was married to Sabia, a girl from a cultured family in Andheri. They had three daughters – twins – Ayesha and Siddika and the youngest Aaliya. Despite the financial constraints, Aslam and Sabia dreamed of providing higher education to their daughters. The daughters also worked hard to fulfill the dreams of their parents.

The Sheikh family is proud of the Marathi soil here, the motherland of Palghar district. Aslam Bhai also got help from friends for the higher education of his three daughters. Aslam Bhai says that Hitendra Thakur, first mayor Rajiv Patil, Ajiv Patil, Milind Bhate, Ramesh Koti, Unmesh Kulkarni, and their family members helped him a lot.

All three girls wanted to become cricketers like their father. All three love cricket very much. He also knew that due to the economic condition, his father’s dream of becoming a doctor has been shattered. Seeing the trend of girls’ intelligence, Aslam Bhai and Sabia worked hard to make them doctors, and they succeeded. Now seven-eight girls in this area are pursuing medical studies and consider these three as their role models.

The girl learned and moved on. It is said that if a girl learns, she can improve her generation. In this context, the three doctor daughters of Aslam Bhai and Sabia Bhabhi have the potential to become role models in the Muslim community. A family from the Marathi Muslim Teli community showed how necessary and important women’s education is. This will be the first instance in the Muslim community of Maharashtra that all three daughters in the same family are doctors. That’s why society should express heartfelt gratitude towards this Sheikh family. Hats off to the entire family for their success!

After joining the Times Group in Mumbai, I came to know for the first time about the Teli Samaj, a part of the Muslim community. Rabad, Shahapur, Bhiwandi, Thane City, Palghar, Jawhar, Dahanu, Safale, Sonawe, Dahisar, Manor, Shirgaon, Tarapur Chinchani, Wada, Mathane, Vedhi, Kore, Edwan, Satpati, Mumbai suburb and city, as well as Vidarbha and Muslim Teli Samaj, is found in some areas of Marathwada. Earlier there was a Balutedari system in the village. This community used to do the business of extracting oil from oilseeds. Due to business, this society had the art of mixing with all the castes and religions of the village. Later, the mechanization of oil production took place. And the traditional oil business of this society was destroyed. As a result, people started looking for jobs in the service sector. Some became drivers of vehicles to transport passengers, many started a chicken and egg business, and some became butchers.

No person from the Muslim Teli community could reach the top of politics. That’s why the value of this society in politics is zero. According to OBC movement leader Shabbir Ansari, the Muslim Teli community is now entering higher education. Circumstances teach everything. The son of a rickshaw puller from the same community in Jalna district has become the youngest IAS in the Indian Administrative Service. So Mirza Abdul Karim Naqvi’s daughter Maryam has started 32 libraries for children through the Reading Culture Movement in Aurangabad. Ayesha, Siddika, and Aliya have taken this trend forward. 

Islam is probably the first religion to recognize the independent existence of women and their identity. Islam gave many rights and privileges to women. But the self-styled protectors of patriarchal culture in the name of religion have denied these rights and created a different tradition. Muslim women have been given the right by religion to do business to earn money and maintain the family.

Prophet Hazrat Muhammad’s first wife Hazrat Khadija had her own business. She was one of the richest women in Mecca. After the establishment of Islam, she became the first female follower. And even after accepting Islam, his business continued. Other women of the society also followed this tradition. The first book on the Prophet descended in the Cave of Diamonds in Mecca on the 26th day of Ramazan. It only talked about reading and gaining knowledge. Allah gave the message to get knowledge. And this message applies to both men and women.

The author is a senior Journalist. The article was transcribed from Marathi by Sameer Skeikh

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Awaz The Voice / by Sameer Maniar, Mumbai / August 09th, 2023

Seeni and Shameina’s journey of love and change continues in Alice Springs

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Madurai, TAMIL NADU / Alice Springs (Arrernte, Northern Territory), AUSTRALIA:

Seeni and Shameina's journey of love and change continues in Alice Springs - ABC News
Shameina Ibrahim and Seeni Mohammed are excited about their future in Alice Springs.(Supplied)

Growing up in Madurai in South India, Seeni Mohammed had always aspired to call Australia home.

“Australia looks after me really well … and I’m happy here with my family and wife, and good culture. And everyone is welcoming,” he said.

Mr Mohammed, 27, believes that “everything is awesome” now that he has obtained his citizenship.

Seeni Mohammed sits excitedly waiting to receive his citizenship.
Mr Mohammed is delighted to be an Australian citizen.(ABC Alice Springs: Evan Wallace)

His wife Shameina Ebrahim, 28, has a firsthand understanding of how significant the transition is for her husband.

“Citizenship might not seem a huge deal for some people but living in that position … as a family, and witnessing the struggle, I can personally say we’re so happy and proud of this moment,” she said.

Ms Ebrahim was born in Darwin to a migrant family from Southern India.

In 2018, the pair met through a mutual friend, and married the year after.

As a married couple, Ms Ebrahim has revisited some of the challenges that her own family experienced in navigating the shift to Australian life.

Mayor Matt Paterson stands with Seeni and Shameina in front of national flags.
Mr Mohammed had his citizenship conferred by Alice Springs Mayor Matt Paterson.(ABC Alice Springs: Evan Wallace)

“I’ve always been grateful for my parents making that hard choice and leaving their friends and family to get a better life for their kids,” she said.

“So seeing that growing up and also then going through it with my partner as well … it’s insightful.

“But you know, at the same time, it is rewarding because it keeps me humble.”

Making the transition

After marrying in 2019 at a wedding in India attended by over 1,000 people, the couple have prioritised respect and commitment in navigating married life.

Mr Mohammed has appreciated how a shift in values between India and Australia has shaped their relationship.

“Here everyone is equal, everyone has to have the same rights, everyone has the same part in everything. So that’s quite different,” he said.”Give value for men’s and women’s [rights], give respect to them. And give the words value so the life will be smooth.”

Seeni and Shameina stare lovingly with anticipation into one another's eyes at their wedding
Ms Ebrahim and Mr Mohammed married in India at a ceremony attended by 1,000 people.(Supplied)

For Ms Ebrahim, the transition hasn’t been without its “struggles”.

“Every life has its challenges, whether it be adapting to a new lifestyle, or transitioning from single life to being married … it really depends who you’re doing it with, your personalities need to be compatible,” she said.

“I can’t say that it was easy … we argue all the time, we’re not perfect or anything, but in that we’ve just learned to be supportive of each other.

“In sickness or in health, he’s kept his vows.”

Moving to the red centre

After living in Melbourne together for three years, the couple made the switch to Alice Springs when an exciting career opportunity emerged for Ms Ebrahim to work at the Central Australian Women’s Legal Service.

With the majority of Ms Ebrahim’s cases focusing on domestic violence, family law and housing insecurity, the young lawyer describes her daily life as “chaotic”.

At the same time, she has relished the opportunity to connect with the community.

Seeni and Shameina sit relaxing in Melbourne with a drink.
Ms Ebrahim says respect and commitment has been crucial in navigating married life.(Supplied)

Ms Ebrahim’s commitment to women’s rights has been reaffirmed by her positive experiences as a Muslim in Australia.

Growing up in Darwin, Ms Ebrahim started wearing a headscarf when she was 16 and has welcomed the response.

“I haven’t faced that much backlash in the community,” she said.

“I’ve been accepted and as a legal professional, I’m always out and about. I might be the odd one out, but you know, everyone’s been so loving and accepting.”

Seeni and Shameina stand playfully in front of house
Mr Mohammed and Ms Ebrahim lived in Melbourne together after marrying in 2019.(Supplied)

The inclusive and welcoming approach she experienced has extended to the couple’s time in Alice Springs.

“The community really supports you here,” Mr Mohammed said.

“It doesn’t matter about their background, or what ethnicity they’re from — they’re really supportive people, lovely people here.”

A future in Alice Springs

With Mr Mohammed’s goal of citizenship complete, they are now considering starting a family of their own on Arrernte country.

“We have fallen in love with Alice Springs,” Ms Ebrahim said.

“We came for better weather … and after falling in love with the town, we do see a future here and potentially raising a family as well as developing our own careers.

Seeni and Shameina stand positively after the citizenship ceremony
Ms Ebrahim and Mr Mohammed are considering starting a family in Alice Springs.(ABC Alice Springs: Evan Wallace)

Regardless of how long the couple stay in the Northern Territory, Ms Ebrahim is excited to continue building a future with a man who she loves “wholeheartedly”.

For Mr Mohammed, the feeling is very much mutual.

“I love her so much,” he said.

“I should say thanks to the god.”

source: http://www.abc.net.au / ABC News / Home> ABC Alice Springs / by Evan Wallace / March 25th, 2023

Patturumal completes 100 episodes

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KERALA:

Patturumal completes 100 episodes - Times of India

Popular reality show ‘Patturumal’ completes 100 episodes.

The Mappilappattu reality show is gaining attention with the exceptional performances of its 15 contestants.

Judged by popular singers Anwar Sadath, Shabnam Riyas, and Sajala Salim, the show is hosted by Rameeja Mansoor.

Kickstarted by Kerala Minister Muhammed Riyas, the show has managed to keep up the spirit without any elimination to date.

Popular Mappilappattu reality show, ”Patturumal’ has successfully completed the 100 episodes milestone. Hosted by Rameeja Mansoor, the twelfth season of the reality show features 15 singers from different walks of life.

Celebrating the 100 episodes victory, the team had a cake cutting on the floor. In the special episode, the team was seen having a blast too.

Patturumal completes 100 episodes - Times of India

‘Patturumal’ is one of the much-loved shows on Malayalam TV. ..

After the successful 11 seasons, the show premiered its 12th season in March. Despite being a reality show, ‘Patturumal’ is widely accepted for being a platform for Mappilappattu talents. For the unversed, Mappilappattu is a genre of Muslim folklore music which is predominant in the Malabar region of Kerala.

Over the years, ‘Patturumal’ has contributed many talents to the music industry. Singers Rehna, Sajila Salim, Kannur Shafi, and others gained popularity with this reality show. Interestingly, the show also marked the TV debut of Star Magic host Lakshmi Nakshathra.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> TV> Malayalam / by etimes.in / July 25th, 2023

NEET UG 2023 Result: Twins from Kashmir village fulfill mother’s dream

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Wattoo Village (Kulgam District, South Kashmir), JAMMU & KASHMIR:

Hailing from Watoo village, some 20km from main Kulgam town, the twin sisters have also realised the dream of their mother, a school teacher.

NEET UG 2023 Result: 

Syed Sabiya had dreamt of becoming an IAS officer until her twin sister, Syed Bisma’s passion for MBBS influenced her to follow the same path. A year later, both sisters have successfully cleared the NEET examination.

The twin sisters, who reside in a remote village in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, are the daughters of a religious cleric who leads prayers in a local mosque.

“Bisma had aspired to be a doctor since her early childhood,” says their father Syed Sajad. “But Sabiya had initially wanted to pursue a career in the Indian Administrative Service. However, she later decided to follow Bisma’s chosen path.”

Originating from Watoo village, situated approximately 20 kilometers away from the main town of Kulgam in south Kashmir, the twin sisters have also fulfilled their mother’s dream, who works as a school teacher.

“While my father always expressed his contentment with whatever decision I made, my mother consistently desired for both of us to become doctors,” says 19-year-old Sabiya. “Numerous factors motivated me to prepare for the NEET, including my mother, my teachers, and a society that holds doctors in high regard.”

Sabiya commenced her education at New Era Private School in their village, while her sister studied at Kids Care Private School in Kapran village, located in the neighbouring Shopian district, where their aunt resided.

After their initial schooling, both sisters enrolled in separate government higher secondary schools in different villages.

Upon completing their 12th grade, the sisters relocated approximately 75 kilometers away to Srinagar for NEET coaching.

Despite hailing from a remote area, Sabiya believes that being from a village is no longer a disadvantage. “The internet has revolutionised everything,” she asserts. “It is as accessible to us as it is to boys and girls in Srinagar.”

Sabiya explains that both sisters prepared for the competitive exams together. “We maintained a regular study schedule of eight hours per day, but it required serious effort,” she shares. “In the days leading up to the exams, we extended our study hours to up to 16 hours a day.”

This year, three candidates, including one boy, from Watoo village, which comprises around 450 families, successfully qualified the NEET exams.

Twenty kilometers away from Watoo, Sumera Mehraj’s father, Mehrajudin Rangrez, finds it difficult to believe that his 21-year-old daughter has cleared the exams.

“Only God knows how challenging it is for a girl from a humble family to qualify for such an exam,” says Mehraj, who works as a driver for the Deputy Commissioner of Kulgam. “I can’t believe that she has actually made it.”

Sumera studied at GNV Ashmuqam for the past six years and narrowly missed selection last year. Mehraj explains that he was encouraged by his superior to send her for coaching this year, which turned her fortune around.

“Last year, she had secured 475 marks. For us, it seemed like the end of the dream,” he recalls. “But the sahib (DC) motivated and helped me to enroll her in coaching.”

source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> News> Education / by Bashaarat Masood / Srinagar, June 16th, 2023

Three Sisters From Jammu And Kashmir Crack NEET UG In First Attempt

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

Noushera (Srinagar), JAMMU & KASHMIR:

Three cousin sisters from Jammu And Kashmir have cracked the NEET UG exam on their first attempt.

Three Sisters From Jammu And Kashmir Crack NEET UG In First Attempt Three Sisters From Jammu And Kashmir Crack NEET UG In First Attempt

Three cousin sisters, Tuba Bashir, Rutba Bashir and Arbish from Nowshera in Srinagar cracked the NEET UG Exam. Their achievement has sparked great celebration within their family. “I feel great that all three of us have cleared NEET together because we went to school and coaching together and we thought we would clear MBBS and become a doctor. I am very happy because I worked hard and got the result,” Tuba Basheer told news agency ANI.

Image
pix: ANI

Rutaba Basheer, who also successfully cleared the NEET, expressed her heartfelt gratitude towards her parents for her achievement.

“We are very happy. We started preparing for the NEET exam from the 11th standard itself. We practiced a lot. The credit for our success goes to our parents; they have supported us since childhood,” Rutaba Basheer.

Urbish also expressed her immense joy. While talking about her journey She said, “I am feeling very happy. There was no doctor in our family, it was my own decision to become a doctor. Our parents supported us completely from the beginning. While preparing, we had to keep in mind that this was the first and last attempt, we had to walk with this determination and keep studying.”

Notably, the National Testing Agency (NTA) declared the NEET UG Result 2023 on Tuesday. This year, in the merit list of the top 50 candidates of NEET UG 2023, forty are male candidates and ten are female candidates. Meanwhile, two candidates – Prabhanjan J of Tamil Nadu and Bora Varun Chakravarthi of Andhra Pradesh have secured the first position in the medical entrance exam with a perfect score of 720 out of 720.

source: http://www.news.abplive.com / ABP Live / Home> Education / by ABP News / ANI / June 16th, 2023

Although I was qualified for NIT, my parents were unable to pay for the hostel; as a result, I enrolled in BSc -UPSC Achiever Taskeen Khan

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Dehradun, UTTARAKHAND:

In a special interview with Akhlaque Sk, Taskeen said UPSC is a test of hard work and patience; one has to struggle every day to achieve it. I have cracked the exam on my fourth attempt.”


Taskeen Khan, a 25-year-old from Uttarakhand, has always wanted to be Miss India. But then, in view of the circumstances, she changed her mind, and on her parents’ advice, she turned towards the civil service and finally secured the 736th rank in the UPSC 2022 exam.


Before entering UPSC preparation, she was selected as Miss Dehradun and Miss Uttarakhand in 2016 and 2017, respectively. At that time, Taskeen’s next goal was to become Miss India.

Taskeen had studied 1st to 12th science at Kendriya Vidyalaya Ordinance Factory, Dehradun. In 2013, she passed 10th grade with 92% and 12th-grade science in 2015 with 93%. Taskeen had qualified for NIT, but her father was a Group D employee in the Ordinance Factory, so due to his meagre salary, it was very difficult to manage the hostel fees. Later, she completed her BSc in 2018 from Dayanand Brijendra Swarup College, Dehradun, with 75% marks.


Taskeen reveals that she was so weak in math till the 8th grade that her teacher, Ansari Sir, counselled and said, “You should come to me to learn arithmetic every day. When the father came to know about the math weakness and tuition, he met the sir and asked about the fees in a subdued language. On understanding the inner state of the father, the sir promised to give tuition without fees. The attachment to math gradually increased. Despite excellence in studies, Taskeen said about extracurriculars and active participation in sports that I was a basketball champion in college, played up to the state level, and was also part of NSS. Head of scouting in college and represented India in two international events. Due to my command of the language, I was a national debater and won many prizes in various elocution competitions. I also used to act and joined the theatre during my studies. Later on, I started acting and modelling along with theatre at a professional level, which helped me to bear my educational needs and expenses.


Regarding the preparation for UPSC, Taskeen said that “My journey through UPSC is quite different from others.” After my father retired from service, he asked me to focus on my studies, and I decided to change career paths. In those days, many people used to get in touch through social media because of modelling. I learned about UPSC preparation from a follower during a chat on Instagram. After reading his profile, I came to know that he is UPSC-qualified and is now taking IAS training at LBSNA. Somehow, I tried, got UPSC-related information from him, and googled. I felt that if I worked hard, this could be a very good career option for me. When I discussed the same at home, both my father and Mother encouraged me a lot.

I came to know about Hajj House in Mumbai and Jamia RCA in Delhi. I thoroughly reviewed the NCERT syllabus and previous years’ question papers, cracked the Mumbai entrance exam, and came to Mumbai. The facilities and study environment in Hajj House were quite conducive for me. Then I came back to Meerut due to the lockdown. Appeared in the Jamia entrance exam, came to Delhi in 2020, and joined Jamia coaching. Apart from UPSC Prelims, I wrote Haryana, UP, and Uttrakhand state service exams. My performance was good in all three. But in the prelims of 2021, I failed again, and hence I had to leave Jamia.

Thank God, I got admission to Atiya Foundation Civil Services Coaching in April 2022 due to my good performance in the UP-PCS interview. However, during the prelims and mains of 2022, my father suddenly had to be hospitalised for nearly four months because he suffered from neurological problems. Every two days, I had to travel from Delhi to Meerut. Household expenses, including his modest pension, his sister’s educational expenses, and Abbu’s illness, had created a financial crunch. I was finding everything very difficult, so Sahil sir and his mother, Atiya Aunty, helped me in every way, which I cannot forget for a lifetime.

50 children are selected based on the entrance exam at the Atiya Foundation. No fees are charged for children. I put in a lot of effort and was able to pass the prelims and mains from here, so I went to the SERVOKON Foundation in Rajinder Nagar, Delhi, to prepare for the interview. I tried my best here and cracked the UPSC exam. In response to a question, Taskeen said, My name means “satisfaction,” and I am satisfied with my result. My main goal is to join the service that will be allotted and help my family. We must also consider how we can serve our people and the country with what we have. Taskeen said in the message to the students, I have reached this place because of my parents. Difficulties and struggles are part of human life. While I was giving the prelims and mains, my father was in the ICU. UPSC was a herculean task that required hard work. I cleared this test on my fourth attempt.

Interviewer Akhlaque Sk can be reached at sakhlaque@ymail.com.

source: http://www.thehindustangazette.com / The Hindustan Gazette / Home> News> Education / by Shaikh Akhlaque / June 03rd, 2023