Tag Archives: Azhar Maqsoosi – Hyderabad – Telangana

Hyderabad’s hunger warrior honoured with UK award

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Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

Azhar says he was poor himself when he started the initiative. He is still working from Hyderabad because he feels that hunger has swelled after the lockdown. 

Azhar Maqsusi, a social activist from the city, whose initiative ‘Hunger Has No Religion’ by Sani Welfare Foundation feeds about 1,500 people every day in five cities across the country was granted the United Kingdoms Commonwealth Points of Light Award recently. The award recognises outstanding individual volunteers – people who are making a change in their community.

“Azhar’s contribution to society is incredible and has meant the difference between a meal or no meal for millions. There are many similar missions of selfless sacrifice and service, some emerging as a result of the pandemic, but the powerful ‘Hunger has no Religion’ has run for eight years, reaching the most vulnerable and delivering a powerful underlying message to all. I cannot be happier for him and members of the Sani Welfare Foundation,” said Dr Andrew Fleming, British Deputy High Commissioner, Hyderabad.

“I am thankful that I have been chosen by the almighty to feed people. I have fed the poor for 10 years now and will continue this until hunger is eradicated,” Maqsusi said. “I am also thankful for the support of my family, friends and others who have recognised my service,” he added. Azhar says he was poor himself when he started the initiative. He is still working from Hyderabad because he feels that hunger has swelled after the lockdown. 

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by Express News Service / July 06th, 2021

Indian Muslims lag behind others in development: Amer Ali Khan

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Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

AmerAliKhanMPOs08aug2018

Hyderabad:

News Editor of Siasat Urdu Daily, Mr. Amer Ali Khan applauded the efforts of EFA Foundation Raichur in fields of Medical and Education. He announced to donate Re. 1 lakh to the foundation.

Addressing the decennial celebrations of EFA Foundation at Raichur, he told that in order to break the concentration of Muslims, former Hyderabad State was divided into three parts. He told that by managing the Zakat amount, the Muslims can come out of the fear and inferiority complex.

On the occasion of decennial celebration of the foundation, he was presenting his key note address at Rangamandir Auditorium, Station Road, Raichur. Mr. Mohammed Shabbir, Chairman of the Foundation presided over the meeting.

Continuing his address, Mr. Amer Ali Khan told that the merger of former Hyderabad State in Indian Union was a painful incident. Under an organized conspiracy, Muslim concentration areas were trifurcated into three States. Muslims took 60 years to come out of this situation. they had 40% representation in government service before independence which has now been reduced to 1%.

Muslims were appeased by glorified statements. Right from Kashmir to Kanya Kumari and Gujarat to Assam, Muslims are downtrodden. For the educational and economic backwardness of the Muslims, community itself is responsible along with the rulers. Various committees have declared that Muslims are backward than the other communities. There is a need to organize the Muslims through careful planning which will certainly yield fruitful results.

Citing the success of EFA foundation, Mr. Amer Ali Khan told that the plant which was planted 10 years back has now grown into a strong tree. Now the time has come for the Muslims to come forward for the development of the community. He pointed out that every major work has a small beginning.

He applauded the yeomen service of EFA foundation in feeding the patients in hospitals. He advised the Muslims of India to follow the example of EFA foundation. He told them to devise a formula for pooling up Zakat amounts and its proper distribution which would be helpful in eradicating poverty.

He lamented on the huge rates of dropouts of Muslim students. He advised the students to select appropriate professional courses and prove their talents.

Referring to the Muslim population in Raichur, he said that if every Muslim contributes Re. 1 per day, a huge amount could be collected in the area which has 40% Muslim concentration.

Citing the budget allocation of TS Govt., he pointed out that for 55 lakh SCs, Govt. allocated Rs. 15000 crore whereas for 50 lakh Muslims only Rs. 2000 crore has been allotted.

He predicted that the General Elections of 2019 will play a major role in the politics of this country. He advised the Muslims not to cast their votes in favour of communal parties. We hope that ‘good days’ are ahead for us.

At the beginning of the function, Mr. Haris Siddiqui introduced Mr. Amer Ali Khan to the audience and said that he has inherited journalistic talents. In the young age, he is shouldering important responsibilities of the largest Urdu Daily of the country.

Mr. Syed Minhaj-ul-Hasan highlighted the welfare activities of the foundation. He said that for the past 900 days, poor and orphan people are being fed. 300 poor Muslims were helped for surgical operations. Orphans are being adopted by the foundation. Ramadan kits are distributed to the poor persons.

Mr. Aslam Pasha told that he joined the foundation impressed by its welfare activities. Mr. Tajamul Husain appealed to the people to extend their cooperation. Mr. Mazhar Husain and others addressed the gathering.

Mr. Azhar Makhsoosi who feeds poor persons in Hyderabad was felicitated in the function. Mr. Ashraf Ali, Asian Power Lifting Champion. Mr. Mohammed Kaif Mullah, SSLC State Topper of Karnataka, Mr. Rafat Taskeen, 7 year old multi vehicle rider, Mohammed Abdul Wasif, founder of Fatima Old Age Home, Hyderabad were felicitated in the function.

–Siasat News

source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> Hyderabad / by Siasat News / July 16th, 2018

Here, none sleeps on an empty stomach

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Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

Hunger has no religion: Azhar Maqsoosi serving food to homeless under Dabeerpura flyover in Old City on Saturday.
Hunger has no religion: Azhar Maqsoosi serving food to homeless under Dabeerpura flyover in Old City on Saturday.

Azhar Maqsoosi feeds the poor and homeless under Dabeerpura flyover every day

For nearly six years under Dabeerpura flyover, in the eponymous locality of Hyderabad’s Old City, a red carpet is laid out every day for the hungry and homeless. Plates are arranged and food from a makeshift kitchen is brought here. It is then that Azhar Maqsoosi, the man behind the ‘Hunger Has No Religion’ campaign begins to serve food to them as if they were his own.

On Saturday, the campaign entered 2,163rd day. Sitting in his modest one-room shop, the pensive 38 year old recounts the genesis of the campaign. “My father passed away when I was four years old. My mother raised me and my five siblings with much difficulty and there were days when we went hungry. Soon I realised what hunger was and that’s when I decided to fight it,” he says.

While the campaign had its humble beginning in the city, Mr. Maqsoosi says it has now spread to other States such as Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and now, Assam. His Facebook page keeps his followers informed of the daily developments.

Speaking in the straightforward Dakhni idiom, Mr. Maqsoosi says the campaign was built on goodwill. The support of volunteers and collaboration from other organisations has taken it forward. “The dastarkhwaan at Dabeerpura and at Gandhi Hospital – which has entered the 896th day – is a daily affair. In Assam, it is weekly which is in its 30th week now. We have also partnered with an NGO in Bengaluru which is seeing its 505th day near Siddipura police station,” he says. Dastarkhwaan in Urdu means a table cloth or great spread – apt for Maqsoosi’s generosity. The typical meal is a simple fare of plain rice and Hyderabadi khatti daal. Sometimes, there’s zeera rice and occasionally bottle gourd gets added to the daal, just enough to satiate a person’s hunger. About 60 kilos of rice goes into feeding the hungry souls every day.

Mr. Maqsoosi’s work has attracted even the attention of Bollywood star Salman Khan. Last month, he was invited for an interaction with the actor. “The Being Human Clothing representatives informed me that I have been nominated to meet the actor. When I met Salman Khan, I told him how my wife and I began serving home-cooked food to the homeless in 2012 and today we serve food to around 300 people in Hyderabad alone. He appreciated our work,” he says.

Fund-raising has not been a problem for Mr. Maqsoosi except in the initial days. When people realised his genuine work, kindred spirits flocked to help. “My friends on social media have helped me a lot. They have always come forward for the cause. It’s only about the cause and nothing else. They understand that irrespective of faith, hunger is real. No person should sleep on an empty stomach,” he says.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Syed Mahamood / Hyderabad – March 17th, 2018