Tag Archives: Dr APJ Abdul Kalam

Hyderabad’s Sughra Humayun Mirza has set an example via dedicated work

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Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

  Sughra Humayun Mirza; Photo courtesy: Safdaria school

Today, we honour the legacy of Sughra Humayun Mirza Begum, whose courage and vision paved the way for future generations.

Sughra Humayun Mirza was born in December 1882 in Hyderabad. Her father, Dr. Safdar Ali Mirza, was a Captain-Surgeon in the Nizam’s Army and a pious man of Sufi leanings. He had migrated to Hyderabad during the reign of Mir Nizam Ali Khan, Asaf Jah Il.

Growing up Begum Sughra was home tutored in Persian and Urdu. As a young woman, she was inspired by nationalist and reformist ideals. She was married to Barrister Syed Humayun Mirza, after whom the Humayun Nagar area in Hyderabad is named.

Edited magazines

After her marriage, she travelled widely and read extensively and became a person of wide knowledge. Sughra Mirza served as the editor of many journals related to women. They include Al-Nisa (The Woman), and Zaib-un-Nisa (Women’s Adornment). Al-Nisa focused on social issues like cleanliness, health, nursing, and critiqued outdated customs like child marriage and polygamy. The readers of the magazine extended beyond the Deccan region. It spread throughout the mainland of British India, which included Lahore, Delhi, Lucknow and Aligarh.

By 1913, Begum Sughra became the secretary of the Anjuman-e-Khawatin-e-Islam (Association for Muslim Women), contributing to the organization’s efforts toward improving the status of women. Soon after, she joined the Anjuman-e-Khawateen-e-Dakkan (Deccan Ladies’ Association).

She spread her work

She started similar organisations in Madras, Delhi and Aurangabad. They became platforms for discussing issues related to girls’ education, teaching trades and crafts, fundraising for educational initiatives, vocational training and arranging sports activities for women.

Begum Sughra contributed articles to various newspapers and magazines advocating for social reforms. Being a prominent Urdu language writer of her time she authored several books on women’s education, ‘Safarnamas’ or travelogues, novels, short stories, poetry, and essays.

Wrote books

Some of her well known literary works include – Sarguzisht-e-Hajra (1926), Mohini (1929), Musheer-e-Niswan ya Zohra (1930), Raaz-o-Niyaaz (1933), Bibi Toori ka Khwaab (Toori’s Dream–1952), Awaz-e-Ghaib (Voice of the Unknown).

Begum Sughra wrote her thoughts and authored most of her books by the pen name ‘Haya’.

Writing about Hindu-Muslim unity, encouraging the use of swadeshi goods, working towards setting up national universities and promoting education in the mother tongue, Begum Sughra’s achievements set her apart as a pioneer of her era.

She extensively traveled in India as well as many countries in Europe meeting people of repute and broadening her horizons. She met prominent figures like Mahatma Gandhi, Kasturba Gandhi, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Shah and Queen of Iran, Dr. Ravindranath Tagore, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, Sarojini Naidu and many others.

She expressed through her poems, books and letters. Begum Sughra wrote letters to Jawaharlal Nehru, and even to Adolf Hitler asking him to end the war.

She kept an autograph book which was filled with messages from her esteemed friends and acquaintances. On 11th April 1944, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit penned a message in Sughra’s book–“India will progress in proportion to the progress of its women. Let us realize this and march forward boldly with faith in the future.”

Royal Asiatic Society, London

In 1923, she was made a member of the Royal Asiatic Society of London. Begum Sughra wrote five travelogues, three of which document her travels within India between 1914 and 1918, while two feature her journeys to Iraq in 1915 and through Europe in 1924.

Her domestic travel books focus more on social engagement and reformist ideas. Her international travels explore more her personal observations of the countries she visited, while discussing social issues.

In her travel book ‘Safarnama-yi Yurap’ published in 1926, she detailed her travels through England, Germany, France and Switzerland, and mentions about her time as a guest in Geneva of Sultan Abdulmejid II of Turkey, the last Ottoman caliph.

Madarasa-e-Safdaria

One of Sughra Begum’s most extensive educational projects was the Madarasa-e-Safdaria, which she founded in 1934, it has flourished since and is a beacon of education. Located in Humayun nagar

Safdaria school’s objective is to provide free of cost education to the girl child born in Hyderabad’s lowest socio-economic class families. Several dignitaries and luminaries have visited the school since its founding. They include Dr. C Rangarajan, former governor of A.P., Air Chief Marshal Idris Latif, former MP Denzil B. Atkinson, Kumudben Joshi, former governor of AP, Dr. Syed Abid Hussain, and very recently in 2025 U.S. Consul General of the US in Hyderabad, Jennifer Larson.

A few years back, the students of Safdaria school had the opportunity to visit Delhi to meet Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Screenshot

Over the years, Safdaria School made rapid progress, achieving high standards of girls’ education at both Urdu and English medium levels.

When Begum Sughra founded the school, she had to donate her property for its maintenance to meet the expenses and give scholarships to orphans and girls from destitute families.

Her acts of kindness and service include directing her efforts in raising funds for Aligarh Muslim University, providing relief for those affected during the Musi floods of 1908, and even for the victims of an earthquake in Persia.

Standing firm

As one of the first woman activists in Hyderabad, Begum Sughra faced a great deal of challenges yet she stood firm in her resolve to work for women’s rights and their education. Her impact resonates far beyond her time, reminding us of the strength and resilience that women embody in every field and every corner of the world.

She’s a prominent figure in the history of Hyderabad who needs to be celebrated and recognised on a global platform.

Ameera Aaiza is based in Washington, DC, with her roots in Hyderabad, India. Her work explores history, culture, art, and architecture. She contributes columns and blogs and is currently in the process of writing/authoring a book.

source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> News> Hyderabad / by Ameera Aaiza / March 12th, 2025

Assam: Elias Hossen Ansari’s journey from Madrassa to London law firm

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Chakla Village (Bongaigaon District) ASSAM / London, U.K :

Elias Hossen Ansari in London

A madrassa student has smashed the myth about education in Islamic seminaries. Elias Hossen Ansari of village Chakla in the Bongaigaon district has secured his dream job; he has been appointed a paralegal officer at an Oyini firm in London, United Kingdom.

Elias Hossen Ansari comes from a financially poor family. His parents sent him to a small madrasa in the nearby Bajali district from where he completed his Hifz (Quranic study) course followed by the Maulana course.

As luck would have it, the Ajmal Foundation picked him up in Hojai for regular academic studies. He obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), Meghalaya close to Guwahati, and later a Master of Laws degree from Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi. Elias excelled in all the examinations he wrote.

Elias Hossen Ansari (Center) with classmates at the USTM

However, Elias did not end his higher education with Jamia Milia. He explored chances of securing a legal job in London, the city of his dreams. To raise money for his education, Elias taught religious prayers (Tarawih) at the Station Mosque in Rangia near Guwahati every year during the month of Ramazan. This also helped him revise his leaning at Madrassa.

“Besides, I believe that the Almighty has always guided me to the right path in pursuing my dreams because I have always served Him the way He has commanded,” Ansari told Awaz – The Voice joining in from London on an internet conversation.

Ansari shifted to London nearly two years ago to pursue higher studies in international law and has since been also performing as an imam leading the Friday congregation and other prayers in local mosques along with his studies.

On January 23, he joined as a paralegal officer at Barristers and Solicitors Legal Firm and AA Homes and Housing Ltd in London on a salary that his peers back home can only dream of. His annual emolument comes to around ₹37 lakh Indian Rupees.

“I’m happy that my prayers have been answered! My job here will be to assist the barristers, and solicitors, and other seniors in drafting and pursuing various legal matters, including those of immigration, visa, and a lot of other things … Migrating to England is not so easy for someone like me who hails from a middle-class family, because the cost of living here is exceptionally high. I’ve never left any stone unturned to find sponsorship for my stay in the UK which is very essential, and finally, I’ve got a permanent sponsorship by the grace of God,” a beaming Ansari said.

Elias Hossen Ansari being felicitated on Independence Day at USTM

Asked if his initial madrasa education posed any hurdle in chasing his dream, Ansari said: “Not at all. Nowhere, neither in my own country India, nor abroad. I’ve travelled to around 20 countries on study tours, and I’ve never come across anything as such … I am grateful to the makers of our Constitution where Articles 29 and 30 guarantee freedom of education of one’s own choice even for minorities. Here, in London also, I face no hurdle in offering five times Salah a day reciting the Holy Quran, or following my religious commandments. What I’ve seen in my life is that everyone is free to follow his/her faith. In this respect, India is the greatest country as far as peaceful coexistence is concerned.”

He also said that he does not believe in the narrative that madrassas are breeding grounds for fundamentalism or radicalism. “Religious educational institutions are no different from modern educational institutions, except that there are few extra subjects in religious studies which help in holistic development of students. And, no religion teaches hatred or violence. Religion always teaches love and compassion. So, I don’t believe in such negative narratives,” Ansari said, adding that there happen to be moles in every beautiful thing, but that should not be generalized.

Elias Hossen Ansari during his Madrassa days

About his life’s struggles to pursue such higher education, Ansari said: “I am grateful to many people, including (chairman of Ajmal Foundation Badruddin) Ajmal Saheb, (USTM Chancellor) Mahbubul Hoque Sir, (USTM academician) Baharul Islam Sir and many others whom I can’t name because they don’t want me to name them in public, but have helped me a lot. It would not have been possible for me to dream so high without their benevolence. I’m always grateful to all who have helped me so selflessly. Besides, I believe in the philosophy of greats like Napoleon Bonaparte and Dr APJ Abdul Kalam that everything can be achieved through hard work and perseverance, which helped me a lot.”

This is not the end of Ansari’s dream though. He has even higher dreams – to serve the people among whom he grew up. “Everybody asks me the same question; will you ever return to India or Assam? I’ll return and I nurture a hope to serve my people back home. I want education to spread in our country. I want to set up accessible and affordable schools and colleges in my country. I want colleges and universities in every town and district of our country. I’ll certainly go back and work for the people of my land,” he said.

Asked what he would like to suggest to the younger generation to pursue difficult dreams like himself, Ansari said: “The only way to success is hard work and burning midnight’s oil. Read the biographies and autobiographies of great people, you can draw all the inspiration. All the great people, including Mahatma Gandhi, Pt Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, and others have worked exceptionally hard to be such great leaders. Everything is possible if you persevere to achieve it and keep focus.”

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Imtiaz Ahmed, Guwahati / January 27th, 2025

Eminent Academician KM Arifuddin No More

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Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

The philanthropist transformed neglected Wakf properties into exemplary educational institutions

Hyderabad :

Khaja Mohammed Arifuddin, celebrated academician, dynamic educationist and one of the founding members of the 1969 Telangana agitation movement, popularly known as KM Arifuddin, breathed his last on Monday. He was 77.

Arifuddin is irrefutably regarded as one of the most powerful educationists in the history of Hyderabad who helped thousands of families fight darkness by illuminating their minds and homes with education, in the process pioneering ‘modern and Islamic education’, a concept that has now promoted by many institutions largely for commercial merits.

The institutions he founded continue to benefit scores of students, including those from society’s weaker sections at different educational strata.

An advocate by profession in his early career, he employed his legal acumen to prevent the misuse and illegal occupancy of Wakf properties in Hyderabad. As a young activist, Arifuddin raised slogans, protested against exploitation and encroachment of Wakf lands, and pioneered an educational movement nearly 40 years ago that continues its momentum in the form of the Madina Group of Institutions and Global Group of Institutions, where thousands of Muslim and even non-Muslim students had the privilege to access modern education in an institution built on Muslim values and Islamic teachings.

He successfully led the movement in freeing the Wakf properties from illegal occupancy in 1977, and was instrumental in transforming them into educational centres with academic and disciplinary standards unprecedented for any minority institution of the time.

By fighting for winning the case and transforming the Wakf land into an educational centre, he set a prime example on how Wakf properties can be rightly used for the benefit of the community. In his own words, social success can be achieved by “conventional reimbursement of the Waqf properties and education”.

On August 15, 1982, former Governor of Orissa Padmabhushan Mir Akbar Ali Khan laid the foundation stone of the Madina Public School. He set up Madina Public School under the aegis of Madina Education and Welfare Society (MEWS), followed by Madina Degree College for Girls in 1983. Promoting education of girls, and making them self-reliant was his dream. In 1984, Prince Muffakham Jah Bahadur inaugurated the new block of Madina Public School.

His uncompromising academic standards and meticulous discipline helped his altruistic yet relentless educational pursuits in establishing 14 educational institutions from K.G. to P.G., including Madina Public Schools, Global College of Pharmacy, Global College of Business Management, and Global College of Engineering and Technology.

These educational power houses over the years have become the pride of the community under his tenure as the Secretary of Madina Group of Institutions. Several notable leaders of national repute, including former Prime Minister of India Chandrashekhar, former President of India Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma, Farooq Abdullah, Indian’s Union Law Minister Ram Jethmalani  were among several others who visited the Madina Public School in the past and appreciated its standards of education.

His patriotic fervour reflected in the several initiatives he pioneered with nationalist sentiment. He conceptualised and granted monthly pensions for freedom fighters of Hyderabad, instituted an educational scholarship of Rs 1 lakh in the name of his deceased son K.M. Razi (IRS) Memorial scholarship for helping aspiring civil service aspirants qualifying the preliminary exams. The Madina IAS Hostel was built for this purpose.

MEWS, as part of its philanthropic initiatives, also provides pensions to widows, funds Muslim and non-Muslim welfare organisations.

In 1989, he constituted the Madina Gold Medal to recognise the talents and achievements of outstanding students at regional and state levels. The first medal was awarded to Dr Ausaf Sayeed in 1989, who is currently the Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. The tradition still continues even after more than 30 years.

He was the co-founder and Editor of Awam, an Urdu daily in the late 90s. His weekly column titled Zara Ghaur Kijiye published in Urdu newspapers in Telangana inculcated social activism among the masses by throwing light on the pressing social and economic issues.

Arifuddin, born to Mohammed Qamaruddin in August of 1944, hopped different government Urdu medium schools to complete his schooling, and post-graduated in Law from the Osmania University in 1974. He was the first Muslim graduate to be elected as the Vice President of Students Union of the Osmania University, and was one of the founding members of the Telangana Separation movement in 1969, for which he served a brief time in jail.

Even until a few weeks before his demise, he kept discussing empowering Muslims and the weaker sections with education, knowledge and by securing berths in Indian Civil Services. Arifuddin is survived by two sons K.M. Fasihuddin, K.M. Minhajuddin and daughter Maria Tabassum who must shoulder the burden of great responsibility Arifuddin left behind in his legacy, while living the life of an ascetic despite all the talents and many intellectual virtues.

Earlier, his body was kept at the Madina Public School he founded in Himayathnagar to allow the public to pay homage. In the evening, Arifuddin’s funeral prayers were offered at the Royal Mosque of Pubic Gardens where a large number of intellectuals, academicians, heads of different educational institutions, former lawmakers, civil servants, alumni of the institution and senior community members were present. He was laid to rest at the Osman Nagar graveyard. The great scholar’s departure is an irreparable loss to the Hyderabadi and the Indian education community.

source: http://www.clarionindia.com / Clarion India / Home> India> Politics / by Syed Khaled Shahbaaz, Clarion India / December 07th, 2020

Vatan Ke Ratan Awards 2023: Watan Samachar recognises contributions of eminent personalities

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NEW DELHI:

The community should set its own welfare agenda, instead of depending on govt schemes and reservations

New Delhi :

Several eminent personalities from various fields were honored with the ‘Vatan Ke Ratan Awards: 2023’ in recognition of their exceptional contributions to society.

The award ceremony was hosted by a Delhi-based media organization, Watan Samachar Group, on Sunday at the Press Club of India here, marking the birth anniversary of former President of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, the ‘Missile Man’ and recipient of Bharat Ratna award. Dr. Abdul Kalam was born on October 15, 1931, in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu.

In a conversation with Radiance, journalist Muhammad Ahmad, founder of Watan Samachar Group, informed that this year’s ‘Vatan Ke Ratan Awards’ were presented to the following individuals:

1-Dr. Meraj Hussain, the national convener of Volunteers Against Hate

2- Advocate Sapna Dixit, a senior Supreme Court lawyer

3- Kamil Azizi Saeedi, founder of Amrit Ved

4- Advocate Ubaidullah

5- Muhammad Fakhr Imam of Sahara Group

6- Mohammad Mustaqeem Khan, Editor of Siyasi Takdeer

7- Ajay Pandey

8- Javed Ashraf

9- Nidhi Opadhyay

10- Chaudhry Aurangzeb

11- Azharuddin

12- Shadab Ahmed

13- Shayan Ishkar

14- Dr. Zubaidur Rehman, also known as Babban Mian

15- Advocate Nitin.

According to Muhammad Ahmad, the Watan Samachar group honors notable persons every year for their outstanding contributions.

According to Muhammad Ahmad, the Watan Samachar group honors notable persons every year for their outstanding contributions.

Prominent figures, such as veteran journalist and defense expert Qamar Agha, Mirza Qamar Hasan Baig, Chairman of the Jamia Cooperative Bank, Dr. Syed Ahmed Khan, Secretary General of the All India Unani Tibbi Congress (AIUTC), as well as social workers and philanthropists, including Dr. Muhammad Tajuddin Ansari, Mahmud Khan, Muhammad Tahir Siddiqi, and Dr. Zubair Rahman (Babban Miyan), attended the ceremony.

Emphasizing Dr. Kalam’s dedication and hard work as the key to his success, Qamar Agha stressed the importance of following Dr. Kalam’s vision and viewpoint to propel the country forward. He pointed out that a community or group that depends solely on the government for its development never truly succeeds, citing examples from the current conditions of Dalits and tribals. According to him, not many have benefited, aside from a few individuals who have gained from reservation and government schemes. Instead of focusing on reservation policies, government schemes, or funds, he suggested that the community members should set their own welfare agenda and drive it forward.

Hailing Dr. Kalam’s remarkable achievements despite his humble background as the son of an imam, Mirza Qamar Hasan expressed concern about the current trend of religious divisions in the country and urged people to embrace humanity, love, and compassion to uplift the nation. Encouraging people to offer support and be beneficial to all, including the country, he said, “We have no value unless we engage in good deeds at the community level.”

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Tajuddin Ansari encouraged the establishment of educational institutions at the grassroots level and better training for the younger generation.

Highlighting the significance of collective efforts for India’s progress and prosperity, Mr. Tahir Siddiqui underscored the need to eliminate social evils, ultimately leading to a prosperous and well-developed nation.

The event, which was attended by a large number of participants, was co-anchored by Mohammad Ahmed and Dr. Vibhu Kumari.

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Pride of the Nation> Awards / by Anwarulhaq Baig / Radiance News Bureau / January 16th, 2023