Published by the Popular Front of India, “The Unsung Heroes of Indian Freedom Struggle” features the heroes and heroines who gave their blood and sweat for the country’s freedom, in brief but comprehensive illustrated biographies.
The book “The Unsung Heroes of Indian Freedom Struggle”, being released at a function in Kerala.
A book on lesser-known freedom fighters was released on August 15 in Kozhikode, Kerala.
The book features 75 heroes and heroines from the history of the Indian anti-colonial struggle, who gave their blood and sweat for the country’s freedom, in brief but comprehensive illustrated biographies.
Named “The Unsung Heroes of Indian Freedom Struggle”, the book, a befitting tribute to the 75th anniversary of India’s independence, was published by the Popular Front of India national committee as part of the organisation’s celebration of the 75 years of Independence.
Releasing the book at a function at IOS Hall, Meenchantha, Kozhikode, Popular Front of India Chairman O M A Salam said that the celebration of Independence Day should be about commemorating the legendary history of our forefathers who achieved freedom with their life and blood.
“It is not just a ritual to be performed. Celebration of the Independence Day should convey a message to society,” he contended.
Pointing out the attempts being made to distort the freedom struggle are rampant, he said, “Even the freedom fighters are being deliberately forgotten and erased from history through discrimination. At this stage, people must unite to reclaim the true freedom that we have lost.”
Expressing his deep anguish at the state of the nation, he said, “Even as India is growing, there is concern about the path the country is taking. The Sangh Parivar is trying to commemorate the partition of India as the entire country is celebrating Independence. The RSS says that Gandhi was behind the partition of India, and the BJP says that Mohammad Jinnah and Jawaharlal Nehru were behind the partition.”
He called on society should be vigilant against such sinister moves that spoil the spirit of the Independence Day celebrations.
Salam concluded his speech by extending Independence Day greetings to all countrymen.
Kerala state leaders Abdul Hameed, A Abdul Sathar, S Nizar, P K Abdul Latheef and K K Kabeer also addressed the gathering.
source: http://www.clarionindia.net / Clarion India / Home> India> Spotlight / by Clarion India / August 20th, 2022
Barkath, who has already secured a hazardous driving license, is currently waiting for the clearance of a pass from the Chalissery police station.
Barkath Nisha in a Taurus lorry
Palakkad :
Outdated gender roles notwithstanding, it was her passion for motor vehicles that propelled 25-year-old Barkath Nisha to lay her hands on the steering wheels of heavy vehicles. Soon, she will be only the second woman in Kerala to drive around tanker lorries transporting petroleum products, following in the footsteps of Thrissur Kandassankadavu native Delisha Davis.
Barkath, who has already secured a hazardous driving license, is currently waiting for the clearance of a pass from the Chalissery police station.
“I have to send this pass to an OMC (oil marketing company) in Kochi to get permission to load and transport petroleum products,” said Barkath, who hails from Kilivalankunnu of Nagalassery panchayat.
“I began riding my elder brother’s motorcycle at the age of 14. Even when I was a kid, I would randomly put the vehicle on the stand and try to kickstart it. I never let go of an opportunity to drive, be it a bike, autorickshaw, car or lorry. Finally, on November 10 this year, my younger brother Nishad and I secured the license to transport hazardous materials after completing our training in Ernakulam,” she told TNIE.
Currently, Barkath drives Taurus lorries for short distances along with Nishad. “But my aim is to drive tanker lorries. With the help of an official at the OMC, I will soon be a regular on the national highway,” said a confident Barkath.
The 25-year-old’s father, the late Abdul Hameed, was a daily wager. After his demise, her mother Hafzath struggled a lot to raise their four children, said Barkath, who is the couple’s third child.
“It was with the assistance of the local panchayat that we built a house for Rs 35,000. My mother, Nishad, and my five-year-old daughter, Aysha Nassar, stay with me there. My elder brother and sister are now married and living separately,” she said.
As expected, Barkath had to initially face resistance from her family against pursuing driving as a profession.
“We are a conservative household, but I was able to win them over gradually,” said Barkath, who has separated from her husband.
“Now my mother takes care of my child when I go out for duty,” she said.
There were many people who helped Barkath on the way to realizing her dreams.
“It was Ashraf, the owner of Myna constructions, and driver Randheep who handed me a Taurus for the first time. Shaji of Lallalam Travels also trusted me with his vehicles. Similarly, understanding my difficulty to make ends meet, Calicut Driving School proprietor Dhananjayan and Ever Safe Training Centre’s Nandagopal gave me huge discounts. I will always be indebted to these people,” she added.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by A Satish, Express News Service / December 05th, 2021
Kochannoor (Thrissur District), KERALA / Doha, QATAR :
K P Abdul Hameed
Doha :
Long-time Doha resident and prominent Indian entrepreneur K P Abdul Hameed (76) passed away at a hospital in Bengaluru in southern India on Monday.
He was a managing director of Al Muftah Rent A Car, set up in 1970 as the first vehicle rental firm in Qatar.
Hameed will be buried at his native place, Kochannoor, in Kerala’s Thrissur district on Tuesday. He leaves behind his wife Aminu and two sons, Dr K P Najeeb (Hamad Medical Corporation) and Fazil Hameed (Al Muftah Rent A Car). A K Usman, who is also a managing director of Al Muftah Rent A Car, is his brother-in-law.
Hameed had suffered a stroke more than a month ago in Doha and was taken to India for treatment. Hameed, who arrived in Qatar in 1965, was a regular presence at a number of community events over the last four decades.
The veteran businessman was among the founders of MES Indian School, which was the first Indian expatriate institution of the country. The school was established in 1974.
Hameed was also one of the founding members and chief patrons of the Indian Cultural and Arts Society (Incas Qatar).
Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF) and expatriate forums Incas Qatar and Indian Medical Association (Qatar chapter) and Pravasi Malayali Federation have mourned the death of Hameed.
source: http://www.gulf-times.com / Gulf Times / June 19th, 2017
Aysha Mahmood, alumnus of St Joseph’s HSS, is campaigning for safe keep of 150-year old building.
Children at St Joseph’s Anglo Indian Girl’s Higher Secondar School, the first school for girls in Malabar, built in 1862. (Photo: Venugopal)
Thiruvananthapuram:
It was a chance meeting. Aysha Mahmood had come to her hometown, Kozhikode, to take part in the Offir Food Fest. She has been settled in Taiwan for a while, but couldn’t stop reacting to stories from home that shocked her.
Two years ago, she heard her beloved alma mater – St. Joseph’s Anglo Indian Girls’ Higher Secondary School – will have its oldest building demolished. A few of the alumni had then got together, spoke to the school and the idea had slowly died down. Now, after a chance meeting with someone she knew, Aysha heard the plan was back on.
Frantically, she gathered together some of the old girls who studied there, tried talking to the school, and finally had to start a petition online to save the old, old school – 155 years old.
“Some time back they celebrated the 155th anniversary of the building, now they are planning to pull it down, and in its place, build a glass and steel structure,” she says, remembering another old building that is no longer there. It was the boarding house where Aysha had spent many happy days. The building had a library in the centre which had a lot of really old Reader’s Digest magazines.
It was not accessible to the girls. But like in Enid Blyton novels, the girls found an old door from their dressing area that led to the library. Aysha’d sneak in, after opening the rusty hinge, and stay there with her torch or a candle, reading those old, old Reader’s Digest magazines.But that building and the library had got pulled down. Now there is only the original convent and this building they are planning to demolish, left of the first school for girls in Malabar, built in 1862. “We have very few 100 plus year old buildings left in Kozhikode. One reason they give for demolishing the building is space constraints. That they cannot have smart classrooms there. But there are architects interested in conserving it, who say, it can be done. We could add modern amenities, restore the building. A group from the NIT had gone there, to do a scientific study. But they were not allowed to. The school says they have done a study but they are not ready to share the report.”
The school has been giving the reason that it concerns the safety of the students. “But we feel that is an excuse,” says Abdul Hameed, an electrical engineer who runs an architectural consultancy. He got involved only because of his love for his hometown.
“We suggest we can get the best structural engineers from NIT, to ascertain the safety of the building. And then do a programme to restore it. The funding – can be thought out later. These kind of colonial buildings – were before concrete, so it is totally made with bricks and masonry. The main structure can last for centuries like the old churches and other buildings across the world. But maintenance should be done.”Abdul, with the collector, the new building’s architect, and a few others are planning to meet the headmistress on Monday. “Lots of people are calling. Venu IAS, former tourism secretary, K.K. Muhammed, former ASI director, have all shown their interest,” Aysha says.
Her petition has collected 2574 signatures as this is written. But she adds, “There is no question that the safety of the children is primary. Our request is to do a proper study and if there is no way out, let’s demolish the building.”There might be a way out. Architect and another alumnus of the school Lakshmi Manohar has just come back from a visit to the school on Saturday evening.
“We just wanted to meet the old teachers and find out what the issue is. According to us, the structure is weak. But there are provisions. They showed us the old classrooms. There are more students now, so the space is less, to take class. It is all congested. Their requirements need one or two floors more to the building. The question is whether the structure has the strength to withstand the extra floors. That’s what we should evaluate. The problems they cite are about the plaster wearing off, the laterite blocks becoming visible, foundation troubles, and so on – all of which can be fixed. But I am not a conservation architect. We should bring a technical expert to study the condition and tell what the situation is,” she says.
‘A collective memory which shaped Kozhikode society’
The St. Joseph’s building, since 1862, has played an undeniable role in making education attainable and accessible to girl children from all walks of life- par caste and creed. It contains the collective memory of thousands of women and girls, panning almost six generations. It has played alma mater to a large section of Calicut society- ensuring quality education. Keeping that heritage alive is of high importance.
Those interested in the demolishing of the building may be of the opinion that it affects the modern outlook of the management or that it is a threat to the safety. Both concerns can be addressed if the right people are involved.
There is a large Architects Guild active in Calicut that specialises in the restoration and strengthening of historical and heritage buildings. We must be prepared to give them a chance to present their expert opinion and help in this matter. The professors of NIT Architecture Department have made known their availability and deep interest in studying the building and presenting their proposal for the same.
While it does need some work, respected architects who have assessed it generally opine that the building is structurally sound. They feel that it could be refurbished at a cost lesser than that required for demolishing and rebuilding.The restoration will only add to the historical value and character of the school. A building that is 150 years old must be considered an asset to the city. In a world where characterless and soulless skyscrapers and steel-glass embodiments are dime a dozen, buildings like these serve as a place of solace for the soul and soothing to the sight. They embody our past and our culture. Caretakers of our colonial architecture and history must know that the St. Joseph’s School and its many buildings are rich and heavy with these values.To conclude, I think preserving buildings like these is essential because of the collective memories, Calicut and its people attach to it.
Generations are emotionally attached to this school building in which they have spend a big part of their childhood. It has had a formative and a positive role to play in all our lives and it will be the saddest day in our lives to see it being pulled down. (Excerpts from the online petition of Aysha Mahmood)
source: http://www.asianage.com / The Asian Age / Home> India> All India / CRIS / February 23rd, 2018
