The store originally goes back to about a century ago, when it was situated at Dabeerpura in the Old City of Hyderabad.
Vintage radio sets at Mahboob Radio Service. (Image: Siasat.com/Yunus Lasania)
Hyderabad:
Monuments are often built to last forever, or at least are built with the intention to last. These edifices are the more obvious markers of our heritage in cities. However, we often overlook the importance of everyday places that also are an equally important part of our culture and heritage. And oftentimes, without anyone doing anything, fate puts such places at the crossroads of extinction.
When I first visited Mahboob Radio Service, it was very nonchalant. It was in fact during a heritage walk early on a Saturday morning about seven or eight years ago and I never really thought much of it. However, I eventually went back, and kept returning as many times as I could because of the immensely important significance it holds for Hyderabad and the legacy of its heritage.
As I began peeling back layers of its history, I understood one thing: that Mahboob Radio Service is special. It became that by just existing and its owners doing what they do with dedication – fixing vintage radios. And of course, as any other typical old establishment, it had one owner who was a tough nut to crack. That would be Mr Moinuddin.
His elder brother Mujeebuddin (below) who I met several times in the past unfortunately passed away a few years ago. In fact, when he was no more, I suddenly realised that Mahboob Radio Servie may not be there anymore when Mr Moinuddin is gone in the future. That sinking feeling has hit me harder after I learnt in recent times that Mr Moinuddin, who is 74 years old, suffered a stroke in recent times.
Thankfully, he recovered and is back in the store fixing old radios as he always did. When we mourn the loss of our heritage in Hyderabad, it is usually when monuments are destroyed. And in the case of Mahboob Radio Service, it also may not survive and carry forward its legacy if there is no one to carry it forward.
By simply continuing to fix vintage radios regardless of how much technology advanced over decades, the place has managed to remain permanently locked in time. Mahboob Radio Service needs to survive. Establishments like these are part of the city’s soul, and the death of such places is in fact a great loss to our cultural heritage.
Nothing except a collective effort can save such places. In this case, I am not sure how that would work, but perhaps this is the time for the city and its lovers to think about what can be done.
How it began
The store originally goes back to about a century ago, when it was situated at Dabeerpura in the Old City of Hyderabad.
Shaik Mahboob, the original proprietor, was selling other things which he would bring from Bombay, until he one day brought back a radio unit to sell. Thus was born Mahboob Radio Service. Soon he along with another person began repairing and selling radio sets. The shop eventually shifted to its current location at Chatta Bazar in 1948.
“I was in fact a motor repairman earlier. I started running Mahboob Radio Service after my father passed away in 1996,” Mr Moinuddin (above) told me during one of our several conversations over the years. Oftentimes he’d laugh and tell me how he refused to entertain ‘pesky’ people. But I came to this stage of comfort with him also after years of spending time with him. As of now, his nephew Mr Majeeduddin is also helping out to fix the old radios. So perhaps there is hope.
I think more people from Hyderabad should spend time loitering at legacy places like these so that it creates a bond. There is no point in writing obituaries and having only memories remaining of such places, because the more important job we have is to save our heritage instead of mourning it. Here’s to hoping that Mahboob Radio survives and thrives.
source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> News> Hyderabad / by Yunus Lasania X / July 31st, 2024
IMPROF President Raja Mohamad (right) and the Chief Executive of Centre for Singapore Tamil Culture Arun Mahizhnan presenting Dr Maliki Osman a token of appreciation.Photo: IMPROF
A newly launched microsite aims to serve as a comprehensive repository of the Singapore Indian Muslim community’s rich history and contributions.
The digital platform, developed by IMPROF, a network of Indian Muslim professionals, in collaboration with the Centre for Singapore Tamil Culture (CSTC), centralises information on important individuals, organisations, institutions and publications in the Singapore Indian Muslim community.
Launched on July 28 at the National Library Building, the microsite serves as a gateway into the insights of the Singaporean Indian Muslim community, said Dr Maliki Osman, Second Minister for Education and Foreign Affairs, who was the guest of honour at the launch event.
“The story of Indian Muslims in Singapore is one of resilience, cultural preservation and contribution to our nation’s multicultural identity.
“I hope this microsite can serve as a reminder, not just for the Indian Muslim community, but also for the broader Singaporean audience on the importance of preserving and documenting our stories,” he said.
He also encouraged the younger generation to take up the mantle and uphold these traditions.
Mr Raja Mohamad, president of IMPROF, said that Indian Muslims are often misunderstood even in today’s society.
“This microsite aims to address misconceptions and promote accurate information about our community. It is not merely a directory but a well-organised collection of existing information that has been gathered from various sources across the internet,” Mr Raja said.
For example, one can find information about a teacher who is also a community leader, an author, and a sports enthusiast, all in one place, he said.
The microsite documents key developments and notable figures in the Singapore Indian Muslim community, including publications and resources by Indian Muslims as well as those written by others about Indian Muslims.
With 111 subjects, 58 personalities, 30 institutions and 705 links featured, Mr Raja said the site’s content is non-exhaustive and will be continually updated.
The criteria for selection include having an independent mention on authoritative third-party websites, such as government or official institutions, and being recognised through national awards or respected institutions. Additionally, individuals must have excelled in their professional fields or served the community in significant capacities within government or influential agencies.
Mr Raja said he hopes it will be a valuable resource for scholars, community leaders, students and anyone who wants to know more about their community.
The idea for the microsite was conceived four years ago when he gave Mr Raja a call on Hari Raya morning, said Mr Arun Mahizhnan, the chief executive of CSTC.
“The world of the Indian Muslims in Singapore is a continuation of what existed more than 2,000 years ago in this region. They are a small but significant community that helped build Singapore.
“CSTC believes social history is essential for a fuller understanding of our community life. We hope to act as a catalyst in several more of such initiatives,” he said.
In a convocation ceremony held at Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Shekhawati University in Sikar, Rajasthan, Nigar Chaudhary, a student of Islamia PG College, was awarded gold medal by Governor Kalraj Mishra. Nigar Chaudhary achieved the top position in PG Home Science at Shekhawati University for the year 2022, marking a significant milestone in her academic journey.
Governor Kalraj Mishra, serving as the Chancellor of the university, awarded gold medals to a total of 72 outstanding students during the event. The convocation witnessed the conferral of degrees upon a vast number of graduates across various faculties, emphasizing the institution’s commitment to academic excellence and holistic education.
Among the dignitaries present were Haji Anwar Ahmed Qureshi, Chairman of Islamia Management Committee, and numerous well-wishers who congratulated Nigar Chaudhary, recognizing her dedication and academic prowess. The ceremony underscored the university’s role in nurturing talent and preparing students to contribute meaningfully to society and the nation at large.
The event also featured Governor’s address, highlighting the pivotal role of education in shaping a progressive society and urging students to pursue excellence with dedication and determination.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Pride of the Nation> Awards / by Radiance News Bureau / July 07th, 2024
The students and teachers of the German Section, Department of Foreign Languages, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) contributed significantly to the Translation Project conducted by Goethe-Institut, Max Mueller Bhavan, Mumbai.
The South Asian regional translation project, “Diamantenschliff: The Digital Translation Academy” focused on the translations of German literary works into the South Asian languages with special emphasis on the translation of selected works of Franz Kafka from German into various South Asian languages, including Bangla, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Sinhala, Tamil and Urdu.
Syed Salman Abbas, Assistant Professor, German Language and Literature, Department of Foreign Languages, who was the mentor for Urdu translations, moderated a lecture session on translation delivered by Dr Almuth Degener, a retired professor from the Indology Department, University of Mainz, Germany.
The current and former students of the German Section, including Mohammad Uzair, Mohammad Khalid, Sadique Khan, Mohammad Intizar, Muhammad Fahad and Syeda Alina Ali translated different works of Kafka from German into Urdu, while Mr Syed Salman Abbas contributed to and edited the Urdu translations for the website.
Dr Subair PM, Assistant Professor, made contributions as one of the translators of German texts into Malayalam.
The one-year-long project concluded with the launch of the translations on the official website of Goethe-Institut, on July 3, marking Franz Kafka’s birthday. The voice recordings of the Urdu translations are also available on the website.
Prof Muhammad Azhar, Dean of the Faculty of International Studies and Chairman of the concerned department appreciated the unique achievement of the students and faculty members of the department and congratulated them for their outreach.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Education> Latest News / by Radiance News Bureau / July 31st, 2024
Marai Village, Siphajr (Darang District) , ASSAM :
Inside the shrine of Baga Baba
As National Highway-15 traverses through the village Marai of the Darang district in northern Assam, travellers see a shrine that commands the devotion and reverence of both Hindus and Muslims.
This is the shrine of Baba Baga which is visited by people of all faiths, and is especially popular among travelers who have taken the NH-15. Trucks and buses that come from far and wide stop here to offer prayers and make donations. All passenger buses and goods trucks stop here as the shrine management has kept drinking water available.
Baga Baba was born as Abdul Khaleque. He came to Assam in 1916 from the then Sylhet district (now in Bangladesh). Initially, he lived in Gog, Satsali, and Badalguri and finally settled down in Marai village of Sipajhar in 1919.
The shrine of Baga Baba in village Marai
From there, he launched his mission of spreading Islam in the greater Darang district. The Sufi cleric also joined the Indian freedom movement; he was also jailed.
Baga Baba died in 1933 and the locals raised a mausoleum (mazar) on his grave.
Speaking with Awaz-The Voice, Hafiz Ali, secretary of Baga Baba Mazar, said: “The cleric lit the torch of Islam here. Along with preaching the religion, he also spread the message of peace, harmony, and brotherhood. Then he sent Maulana Didaruddin Saheb to be educated as a maulana. Everybody believes Baga Baba to be an Auliya (master of some divine power) of Allah. Hindus and Muslims alike come here and pray.
“At present, people from all over Assam and India who travel through this highway donate at this mazar. Today the village has nine mosques. The inflow of people and pilgrims has increased over the years. Hindus and Muslims have equally contributed to it.
Drinking water facility at the shrine for travellers
The construction work of the mazar was initiated by former president Jiban Baruah. There are still many non-Muslims, such as Bhumidhar Saharia, Himanshu Kalita, and others, in the management committee of the Mazar,” he said.
The shrine hosts Milad sharif every Thursday of the week. In addition, a Urs is held every year on 12 of Magh (late January), the death anniversary of Baga Baba. People from different parts of India participate in the Urs. Although the Baga Baba Mazar is located on the northern side of NH 15, there is also a premises of the Mazar on the southern side of the road.
It is worth mentioning that the Baga Baba Mazar has played a significant role in maintaining Hindu-Muslim unity and harmony in the entire Darang district as well as in the greater Marai Bijulibari area.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Ariful Islam, Sipajhar / June 25th, 2024
Prof. Rubi Anjum, Department of Tahaffuzi Wa Samaji Tib, Faculty of Unani Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University has been appointed as the Chairperson of the concerned department, for a period of three years, with effect from July 1, 2024.
Prof Anjum, engaged in teaching and research for over the last 16 years, has authored two books and published more than 70 research papers in journals of national and international repute. Besides this, she has attended more than 70 national and international conferences and seminars and presented papers on myriad topics.
She received an Award of Appreciation at a World Health Day event held at Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi on April 3, 2016, for her role in creating awareness about diabetes.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News> Report / by Radiance News Bureau / June 30th, 2024
Dr. Majid Ahmed Talikoti, a renowned oncosurgeon, announced his candidacy for the presidency of the India Islamic Cultural Centre (IICC) during a press conference at Hotel Riverview in Jamia Nagar, New Delhi.
Dr. Talikoti highlighted his diverse interactions with people from various walks of life as a key factor in his decision to engage with IICC. “As a surgeon, I interacted with people from different walks of life, and I know how to deal and serve people. That’s why I decided to engage myself with IICC,” he stated.
Dr. Talikoti, who is well-regarded in the medical community, aims to showcase IICC as a beacon of Islamic heritage and culture. He emphasized the peaceful nature of Islam and the importance of promoting this message through IICC. “Given a chance, I will try to showcase IICC as a prominent center of Islamic heritage and culture. Islam is a religion of peace, and I would try my best to send the message of peace through this Centre. We are supposed to welcome our non-Muslim brothers on Eid and join them on Diwali,” Dr. Talikoti said.
Dr. Talikoti outlined his vision for IICC, focusing on maintaining a non-political, brotherly atmosphere during the election and beyond. He stressed the importance of adhering to IICC’s aims and objectives, which include fostering youth empowerment and initiating interfaith dialogues to bridge community gaps. “We will not fight this election as a political battle, but in a brotherly manner in a very congenial atmosphere and try to keep the center away from politics, following the aims and objectives of IICC. We will develop IICC as a center of empowerment for youths and start interfaith dialogues to bridge the gap between communities,” he asserted.
With the support of former IICC president Sirajuddin Quraishi, Dr. Talikoti’s campaign has garnered significant attention. He is also the convener of the Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), an RSS-affiliated organization formed in 2002 to facilitate dialogue with the Muslim community.
Established in 1981, IICC is a premier institution in New Delhi dedicated to promoting and preserving Islamic culture and heritage. It aims to foster cultural exchange, interfaith dialogue, and communal harmony through various educational, social, and cultural programs.
The election campaign for the governing body of IICC has officially commenced, with candidates contesting for posts of president, vice president, and members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) and Executive Committee (EC) promising significant shifts in the center’s functioning. The election is scheduled for August 13th.
Among the other presidential candidates are ex-cabinet minister Salman Khurshid, retired IRS officer Abrar Ahmad, former bureaucrat Afzal Amanullah, businessman and philanthropist Waseem Ghazi, businessman M. Asif Habib, and BJP activist Suhail Hindustani. Each candidate brings unique perspectives and visions, making this election a pivotal moment for IICC’s future.
Interestingly, Dr. Majid Talikoti’s panel includes Kaleemul Hafeez, who is contesting for the post of vice president. Until recently Hafeez has been a sharp critic of Serajuddin Quraishi, the former IICC president, who is also running for membership on the Board of Trustees (BoT)
Md Irshad Ahmad Advocate, Supreme Court of India & Former President, AMUOBA-DELHI is also contesting for BoT from this panel.
source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Indian Muslim / by Special Correspondent / June 25th, 2024
Khaleel ur Rehman, a noted Urdu poet and former Inspector General of Police, Karnataka breathed his last on Friday after a cardiac arrest.
Born here in 1948 and better known by his pen name Mamoon, he won the 2011 Sahitya Academi Award for his poetry collection Aafaaq ki Taraf. In 2004, Mamoon became the first Urdu writer to win the Karnataka Rajyotsava Prashasti.
After working as a staff artist for All India Radio, Delhi and later working as an Assistant editor of Daily Salar, Mamoon joined the Indian Police Service in 1977 and eventually promoted to IPS and retired as IGP in 2008.
Mamoon has published a number of works. Lissan Falsafe Ke Aine Me on the philosophy of language. Unnees Lillahi Nazmen is a translation of poems written in praise of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ by Scherzade Rikhye. Nishaat-e-Gham is a collections of Ghazals. Kannada Adab is a collection of translations of Kannada language poetry and fiction. His poems are published in ‘La Ilah’ and ‘Andherey Ujaley Mein’ – two voluminous poetry collections.
His poetry stands out for its animated use of everyday images, sometimes shocking metaphors and use of wit that lay bare everyday experiences. His poetic sensibilities are steeped into the sufi-mystical traditions of Indo-Persianate culture. He experimented in the genres of both classical ghazal and azad nazam in a collection Saanson ke paar. He was most prolific in the genre of nazm which he thought suited to articulate the changing experiences of contemporary times – Jism-o-Jaan se door, Banbas ka Jhoot, Saraswati ke Kinare.
He served as the President of Karnataka Urdu Academy during 2008-10. During his tenure, he also edited the literary organ of the Karnataka Urdu Academy Azkaar.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Focus / by Mohammed Atherulla Shariff / June 22nd, 2024
Ali Husain Aasim Bihari who was a freedom fighter, big leader, organised workers in Bihar & Bengal, brought out newspapers, formed multiple organisations.
He, led Momin Ansari community, and all his life fought for workers’ rights. Suffered a lot in process and his family also lived in challenging circumstances.
Hailing from Bihar Sharif, Nalanda, he had to shift to Kolkata to earn a living and it was here that he began involved in freedom movement and started an unprecedented political and social journey despite financial constraints.
Aasim Bihari left a huge legacy but led a tough life. His family bore consequences of his immense passion for awakening the masses, at the cost of his own health and finances. He opposed partition of India and worked for uplift of downtrodden. He passed away in independent India and was buried in Allahabad.
I don’t think it is easy to write about his missionary zeal and his sacrifices without getting tears in eyes. He faced personal tragedies, the death of his brother, the lack of money that caused hardships to his daughter, the suffering of his wife and entire family.
He was ailing and couldn’t be treated. He had declined the post of minister, also refused to take a princely sum, luring offer from a major political party, and his integrity for the cause was unquestionable.
In a life of constant struggle. Aasim Bihari formed organisations, led agitations, ran campaign to release nationalist leaders from jails after Jallianwalabagh massacre by sending letters from people of all parts of country to Queen & Viceroy. Brought out journals, weavers were organised amd turned into a political force.
Born in 1889 [1890*], he passed away in 1953. From Jamiatul Momineen, his lifelong fight for rights, awareness, awakening and education among masses, continued.
CM recently released book on him and it has been decided to add a chapter on his life in school textbook.
Book ‘Banda e Momin Ka Hath’ by Prof Ahmad Sajjad , pic: rekhta.org
[There is slight variation in references about his year of birth. However, the date of birth is April 15.]
source: http://www.anindianmuslim.com / Indscribe / Home / by Shams ur Rehman Alavi (image of book cover edited – source: rekhta.org) / June 22nd, 2023
Mohibbullah Nadvi’s nomination by the SP and his road to victory in the general elections were peppered with confusion and drama. He was not the party’s first choice candidate and filed his papers at the last hour on the final day of nomination on March 27.
Mohibbullah ‘Nadvi’. Photo: Omar Rashid
New Delhi:
Mohibbullah ‘Nadvi’ took 19 years – and a detour through his home town, Rampur in Uttar Pradesh – to traverse the roughly 25-30-metre-wide tarmac separating Indian parliament from the mosque where he leads prayers as an imam. Surprising everyone, the Samajwadi Party nominated the 48 year old as its Lok Sabha candidate in Rampur; and, battling several odds, Nadvi came through, defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party by over 87,000 votes.
It is a little past noon and the sun is blazing down on Parliament Street, where the Jama Masjid is located in the capital. Nadvi has been its imam since 2005. With a small group of associates, he is seated in his office, still receiving congratulatory phone calls.
Nadvi was one of the five Muslims who were elected as MPs from UP this time. Six had contested. Nadvi hoped that now that the Opposition had performed better, taking the BJP head-on on issues of livelihood, the question of the worryingly low Muslim representation may be addressed better. But it should not be seen solely through the lens of numbers, he said.
“Our political representation should not be seen in terms of quantity but quality…even if there is one person, who is good, 100% faithful to the community, understands Islamic things and sentiments of Muslims, and raises their questions correctly,” Nadvi told The Wire. Muslims in India were not asking the government for anything beyond the rights the Constitution promises all citizens, he added.
Nadvi’s nomination by the SP and his road to victory in the general elections were peppered with confusion and drama. He was not the party’s first choice candidate and filed his papers at the last hour on the final day of nomination on March 27. Nadvi’s nomination also caught several party leaders by surprise as he did not have a political background. Fielding a Delhi-based maulana from a communally-sensitive constituency marred by internal divisions in the SP did not seem like a clever decision to many.
Though he had met SP president Akhilesh Yadav once when the latter was chief minister in 2012, the breakthrough came when they spoke in Lucknow in January this year. According to a source, Nadvi, who harboured electoral ambitions, had gone to Lucknow to invite Yadav to an event of Muslim leaders in Delhi. In Lucknow, Nadvi came in touch with Uday Pratap Singh, former MP and a close associate of Akhilesh’s and his late father Mulayam Singh Yadav’s, and also met Shafiqur Rehman Barq, former MP, with whom he already shared a good connection. Barq, a Turki Muslim like Nadvi, pitched for the maulana. That would be Barq’s last visit to the SP office as he died a month later, aged 93.
Mohibbullah ‘Nadvi’. Photo: Omar Rashid
Akhilesh did not promise Nadvi the ticket right away, but kept him on stand-by as an alternative, if needed. As nomination day approached, the SP was caught in a mini-crisis as it failed to zero down on candidates in two important and winnable seats, Rampur and Moradabad, both with a record of electing Muslims. Much of this had to do with the stubbornness of senior leader Azam Khan in having his say in candidate selection in his bastion.
On March 22, Akhilesh visited the Sitapur jail to meet Khan, who is incarcerated there, to discuss the candidates in Rampur and adjoining seats. Khan, who has faced the endless wrath of the Yogi Adityanath government, apparently proposed that either Akhilesh contest himself from Rampur or nominate one of his family members. This did not sound feasible to the party.
According to sources, the party asked several leaders to contest from Rampur but Saleem Shervani (ex-MP from Budaun), Kamal Akhtar (former minister) and S.T. Hasan (elected Moradabad MP in 2019) all rejected the proposal. Nobody wanted to encroach on Khan’s territory.
The SP’s top leadership wondered if it would be feasible to field Tez Pratap Singh Yadav, Akhilesh’s nephew and former MP, from Rampur but apparently the idea was turned down by Akhilesh’s uncle Ramgopal Yadav, the party’s national general secretary.
Only a day was left for the nomination and the SP was without an official candidate. A disaster was on the cards.
A similar situation prevailed in neighbouring Moradabad, where two candidates of the SP, sitting MP Hasan and former MLA Ruchi Veera, a close associate of Khan’s, both filed nominations, confusing the rank and file of the party. To Hasan’s dismay, Veera even received the party’s authorisation letter as its official candidate. He was obviously not happy.
In Rampur, too, the matter got out of hand after Asim Raja, an aide of Khan’s, filed his nomination while claiming to be the SP’s candidate. Raja, who had lost the Rampur seat in a by-poll in 2022, even led the Khan camp to declare a boycott of the 2024 election as Akhilesh had not paid heed to their request of contesting himself.
It was around 5 pm on March 26 that Nadvi received a call from the SP informing him that he would be the official candidate in Rampur. Along with his aides, he left for Rampur overnight. With the clock ticking, SP state president (and now MP) Naresh Uttam Patel along with a trusted lawyer boarded a chartered flight to deliver the Form AB to Nadvi, and in a change of tack, nominate the disgruntled Hasan as the official candidate in Moradabad by handing him the party’s authorisation letter. The flight landed on an airstrip in Mundha Pande, midway between Rampur and Moradabad, at around 11 am, sources said. Nadvi managed to file his nomination on time but Hasan could not receive the authorisation letter within the stipulated period. Their first priority was Rampur.
“It was a difficult time. We didn’t even have a back-up candidate. Time was running out,” Nadvi told The Wire, recalling the tense moments before his first-ever nomination. Later, Hasan in an interview to PTI alleged that some leaders had “conspired” to ensure that the party’s authorisation letter did not reach him on time.
After his nomination, Nadvi battled the ‘outsider’ tag, the internal opposition of the Khan camp, BJP’s communally-driven campaign and hostility from the administration. He brushed aside the outsider tag, underlining that he was born in a village, Razanagar, in Suar tehsil of Rampur. His uncle was a former pradhan. Nadvi, who owns 7.44 acres of inherited land in his village, completed his Quranic education or Hifz from Rampur city before spending time in a madrasa in Sambhal.
Following that, he went to Lucknow to pursue his higher education in Islamic studies from the renowned seminary Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama, from where he got his title. Nadvi then went to Aligarh for further education but as he did not appreciate the heated political climate on campus, he instead enrolled in Jamia Millia Islamia University in Delhi and graduated from there in Arabic Honours. He went on to complete his MA in Islamic Studies and got a BEd from Al-Falah University. In 2005, he was appointed as an imam at the Parliament Street Mosque after clearing an interview. “I didn’t have much inclination towards politics earlier. But I did develop some interest as the people who offered namaz behind me included some very important political people,” said Nadvi, on being asked why he suddenly jumped from the pulpit to politics.
Given the mosque’s location, top Muslim politicians and officials come there to pray. Even the likes of Liaquat Ali Khan, Maulana Azad and Zakir Hussain, former president of India, prayed at the mosque or used to visit it, said Nadvi. Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi too have visited the mosque, whose compound houses an elegant white tomb of former president Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed. Nadvi, who took over prayers at the mosque at 29 years of age, was delighted to share that even former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam had prayed behind him.
The maulana feels that Akhilesh took a “strong decision” by nominating him in Rampur, where he initially faced opposition from a section of party workers loyal to Khan.
“I faced some problems from our party friends who were unhappy. But I managed to tackle them beautifully. Credit to them, they also did not hype it so much, maybe due to public pressure or my acceptance in public,” said Nadvi. He feels his identity as an Islamic scholar and imam may have helped him win acceptance in his native land. “I have roots in Rampur. I want to take everyone forward and work on education and health,” he said.
While his nomination process was controversial, following his victory, too, Nadvi has garnered the headlines. He was trolled by supporters of Khan after he met the divisional commissioner of Moradabad, Aunjaneya Kumar Singh, who while serving as the district magistrate of Rampur had initiated a wave of action against Khan and his family members. Nadvi downplays the meeting. “I am a mazhabi alim. I don’t have negativity towards anyone,” he said, adding that he had met the official to discuss plans for the betterment of his constituency.
He also landed in a soup for his comments on the jailed Khan. When asked by reporters if he would visit the leader in jail, Nadvi said, “People are sent to jail for correction. Jail is a correctional facility and I can only pray for Azam Khan.”
Azam’s wife and former MP Tazeen Fatima lashed out at Nadvi for the comments. “He said that jail is a correction home. It seems like he had a deep experience of going to jail and he has been to jail,” she said.
Nadvi said his comments were misrepresented and exaggerated by the media. “I said that the jail is not heaven, that we would like to go there. We have our empathy for Azam sahab. What else can we do for him? The media gave it unnecessary hype,” said Nadvi. When I asked him if his relationship with Khan was fine, he took a long pause and before he could answer, an aide of his cried from the other end of the small room, “Abhi tak toh theek hai (So far, it’s fine)!”
Ruchi Veera, the newly elected Moradabad MP, visited Khan’s family following her win. She criticised Nadvi for his comments on Khan. “He should not forget that he won because of the party and Azam Khan sahab has made a lot of sacrifices for the party,” Veera said. She called him out for his “political immaturity”. “He’s not a political person. I don’t know how he got the ticket for the election and won.”
In Rampur, Nadvi not only saw off the challenge from the BJP but also ensured that the Muslim candidate of the Bahujan Samaj Party did not spoil his chances. The BSP candidate received 79,000-odd votes while he beat the BJP by over 87,000 votes. Had the election been conducted in a “fairer” manner, the margin would have been over one lakh to 1.5 lakh, said Nadvi, alleging that voting had been disturbed on 12 to 15 booths where the SP had a strong voter base.
Despite the BJP’s shrill anti-Muslim campaign, Nadvi says even Hindus voted for him, as he went to people with a “positive message”. “I spoke about education, health and employment. Who would the people choose? Someone who is abusing others or one who is asking them about their needs?” he asked. In an election where the BJP lost the election in the land of the Ram Mandir, a maulana scripted a successful political debut in a district bearing the name of the Hindu deity.
source: http://www.thewire.in / The Wire / Home> Reportage> Politics / by Omar Rashid / June 15th, 2024
