Tag Archives: Fouaad Mirza

Tracing Persian link to Chennai’s past

Hyderabad, TELANGANA / Bengaluru, KARNATAKA :

Syeda Mirza pens the legacy of Aly Asker, the man who put the city on India’s horse racing map and built iconic colonial bungalows

Bengaluru : 

Once a quaint lane that housed colonial bungalows, Ali Asker Road (situated between Cunningham Road and Infantry Road) may now be a bustling street with commercial outlets, only retaining some of the old-world charm. But the street comes with a rich history, which Syeda Mirza (Aly Asker was her husband’s great-grandfather) is trying to re-tell through the story of Aly Asker in her first book, Agha Aly Asker. 

Having heard of stories – Aly Asker leaving his homeland, Shiraz, as a 16-year-old to come to India in 1824 to trade Persian and Arab horses, building 100 bungalows around High Grounds, Cantonment, and Richmond Town, at the behest of Sir Mark Cubbon – Mirza felt the need to highlight his contribution to Bengaluru and Mysuru, which she had heard from elders. “A great-uncle of my husband had compiled some history and anecdotes which also came handy,” says Mirza, who is in her 80s. She adds that his legacy lingers in the family to this day among her grandchildren, with her grandson, equestrian Fouaad Mirza, getting prepared for the Tokyo Olympics.   

Her book also mentions the key role that Aly Asker played in saving the then Mysuru state from being annexed by the British, with their policy at that time stating that if there was no direct heir, the state would be annexed.

“Here, Aly Asker played a crucial role in convincing Sir Cubbon and Krishna Raja Wadiyar-III about an adoption, but sadly it’s not remembered. Everyone in the family knows about it though,” says Mirza, who started work on the book 18 years ago, and completed it within 2-3 years. The manuscript, though, was in hibernation ever since.  

While information was aplenty, the challenge lay in authenticating it. “It was like a thread, one thing led to another. But then again, everything was a family legend,” she says.

With Aly Asker being a historical figure, making a mark in the history of the city, they were particular that the information was verified. This meant going through several archives and hours of research, which was done by historians. “We kept getting bits and pieces and had to keep changing it. My three children did a lot of leg work to look up the records,” says Mirza, who got some information from unexpected sources, including the Ooty Library.    

pix: ink-and-feathers.blogspot.com

Mirza, now keen to bring out a cookery book, decided to self- publish the book (printing 500 copies), to ensure that the story was told the way she wanted to. “I didn’t want anything changed. I’ve written it for my grandchildren,” says Mirza, who is currently working on translating the book into Urdu, and getting it translated into Kannada.

With several books having been written on Sir Mirza Ismail, the grandson of Aly Asker, and Diwan of Mysore, Mirza hopes this book on Aly Asker will highlight his history as well. 

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Bengaluru / by Vidya Iyengar / pix added: as above / January 14th, 2020

Equestrian: Fouaad Mirza wins gold at Olympic qualifying event

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA :

Fouaad is currently the highest ranked in Group G for Asia Pacific Zone with 34 points on Fernhill Facetime, 30 points on Touchingwood and at present qualifying his third horse, Dajara.

Fouaad Mirza will next compete at the events in Montelibertti ITY CCI3*S (Italy) and Le Pouget FRA CCI4*S (France). - SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Fouaad Mirza will next compete at the events in Montelibertti ITY CCI3*S (Italy) and Le Pouget FRA CCI4*S (France). – SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

India’s double Asian Games silver medallist Fouaad Mirza  bagged the top honours at the CCI3*S, an Olympic qualifying event, held in Strzegom, Poland.

Fouaad is currently the highest ranked individual in Group G for Asia Pacific Zone with 34 points on one horse Fernhill Facetime, 30 points on the second horse Touchingwood and at present qualifying his third horse, Dajara.

The eight-year-old Dajara, procured by the Embassy Group, is a promising German Holsteiner with an excellent track record of wins including a German National Championship, Bundeschampionat.

“I am very excited about our new horse Dajara, which has immense potential for success at the Olympics. Through the event CCI3*S, we were able to level up the horse rider combination to 4* and building up my points to qualify for the Olympics,” Fouaad said on Sunday.

Fouaad started the week with a solid dressage score of 26.8 which placed him second with a very close score to Germany’s Antonia Baumgart, who was one penalty better at 25.8.

This was followed by the showjumping event where Fouaad maintained the second position with a clear round. He finished the deciding cross-country round in four seconds over time, leading him to the gold in the Strezgom CCI3*S in Poland.

Fouaad has completed Renswoude NED CCI 4*S placed 11th, Jardy FRA CCI4*S, Strzegom POL CCI4*S placed 15th, Sopot POL CCI4*S placed seventh so far for Olympic Qualifying Events.

He will next compete at the events in Montelibertti ITY CCI3*S (Italy) and Le Pouget FRA CCI4*S (France).

source: http://www.sportstar.thehindu.com / SportStar / Home> More Sports / by PTI / Bengaluru – October 14th, 2019

Local boy Fouaad sizzles in Italian Equestrian trials

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA :

FouaadMirzaMPOs18oct2017

Montelibretti, Italy :

The thunder of hooves is equestrian buffs’ delight.

And local boy Fouaad Mirza made the Indian equestrian fraternity proud by galloping to fame in the first two trials at the Asian Games CCI equestrian event held in Montelibretti, Italy.

The top Indian rider produced an exemplary effort to win the event in style and on the strength of this performance is certain to spearhead the Indian challenge in the Asian Games next year.

The in-form Indian saddle artiste, pitted against some of the best Italian riders, produced a series of winning jumps to seize the initiative early on in the big event.

The top score posted by Fouaad in the championship is a couple of points behind the gold medalwinning score registered in the Asian Games last year and considering the fact that Fouaad didn’t really break sweat to register the top mark, he is a big medal hope in Indonesia while staking the Indian claim in the event at the Asian Games.

The first Indian rider to post a victory in Europe, Fouaad, training under German Olympian Bettina Hoy, will compete in Le Pouget, France next month before parading his skills in a couple of championships in Germany. Bettina immensely pleased with Fouaad’s progress made no secret of her opinion that the top Indian rider is peaking right for the big Asian event.

Vice-president of the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) and head honcho of the Embassy Group, Jitu Virwani, said that a couple of other Indian riders, including one from the Army, are training in Germany and are on top of their game. “We have a great chance to win gold at the Asian Games and hopefully our riders will scale new high and put Indian equestrian on the international map,” said jitu Virwani, indicating that the top riders are comfortable partnering the big German warmbloods. “It is simple. We from our end are providing our riders the best horses and the onus is on them to go for gold,” said Jitu Virwani, who has roped in some of the best Show Jumpers on the circuit in Germany.

Silva Storai, the only woman jockey to register two Derby victories in flat racing, said Fouaad is a fine talent and is ready to make a mark on the international scene. “I have followed his progress from the time he successfully competed in many EPL championships at the Embassy International Riding School and he now looks ready to make the big league,” said Silva.

source: http://www.bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com / Bangalore Mirror / Home> Sports> Others / by Ikram Khan / October 18th, 2017