Tag Archives: Muslim Women of India

Sajda Ahmed and Iqra Hassan among 24 Muslim elected to Lok Sabha

WEST BENGAL / Kairana, UTTAR PRADESH / INDIA :

Iqra Munawwar Hasan Chaudhary and Sajda Ahmed

New Delhi :

Sajda Ahmed of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Iqra Munawwar Hasan Chaudhary of the Samajwadi Party are among the 24 Muslim members who have been elected to the 18th Lok Sabha in the just concluded election.

The entry of 24 Muslims in the Lok Sabha is seen as a positive move towards the participation of India’s second-largest religious community in Parliamentary democracy.

While the 27-year-old year Iqra is a law graduate who won from the Kairana constituency in Western Uttar Pradesh on the ticket of the Samajwadi party Sajda Ahmed is a veteran leader who has won for Lok Sabha election a third time.

Sajda Ahmed has been re-elected from the Uluberia constituency where she secured 694,945 votes and defeated her nearest rival of the BJP Arun Uday Pal Chaudhary.

Iqra, a debutant defeated her nearest rival BJP’s Pradeep Kumar by 69,116 votes in a closely contested election.

Iqra, an alumnus of the Lady Sri Ram College of New Delhi – she also graduated in law from the UK – hails from a political family of Shamli.

The number of Muslims elected to Lok Sabha doesn’t look as low as was feared by the Community. Muslims have been complaining about their diminishing presence in India’s political spectrum.

However, this time political parties had fielded only 78 candidates from the Muslim community as against 115 in the 2019 election.

The most well-known Muslim who successfully contested elections is cricketer Yusuf Pathan. He not only won his maiden political battle as the candidate of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) from the Baharampur constituency of West Bengal, he also turned out to be a giant killer as he defeated Congress veteran Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary.

Muslim leaders like the two former Chief Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir – Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah – were defeated in their respective constituencies. Omar was defeated by an independent candidate Abdul Rashid Sheikh who is known by his nickname of Engineer Rashid, whose campaign was run in absentia by his two sons.

Engineer Rashid, whose real name is Abdul Rashid Sheikh won the Baramulla seat by securing 4.7 lakh votes against his main rival Omar Abdullah, former Chief Minister and vice-president of the National Conference. He too is a giant killer in this election.

Interestingly, Engineer Rashid’s campaign was carried on by his two sons as he has been in Delhi’s Tihar Jail for five years facing trial for his alleged involvement in supporting terrorists in Kashmir.

In Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag-Rajouri seat, National Conference’s Mian Altaf Ahmed defeated Mehbooba Mufti by 2,81,794 votes, and in the Srinagar constituency, NC candidate Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehndi got 3,56,866 votes against PDP’s Wahid Para.

From Ladakh, Independent candidate Mohammad Hanifa won by a margin of 27,862 votes.

In Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party’s Maulana Mohibullah fought the election for the first time and he won on the ticket of the Samajwadi Party from the Rampur seat by securing 4,81,503 votes.

Ziaur Rahman of the Samajwadi Party from Uttar Pradesh has been elected from the Sambhal constituency.

Afzal Ansari has won from the Ghazipur on the ticket of the Samajwadi party. He is the brother of the gangster Mukhtar Ansari who died while serving a sentence for murder in the jail.

Imran Masood of Congress won against his BJP rival Raghav Lakhanpal from Saharanpur.

From Hyderabad (Telangana) Asaduddin Owaisi of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen(AIMIM) won against BJP’s K. Madhavi Latha. He has won the Lok Sabha election for the fifth time.

In the 16th Lok Sabha, there were only 22 Muslim Members while the highest number of Muslims elected to the lower house – 49 – was in 1980 and most of them were from Congress. In the last General election 115 Muslim contested while only 22 won.

As against this, in the 2024 elections, only 78 Muslim candidates were fielded and 24 of them won.

West Bengal has elected the highest number of Muslim MPs in the just concluded elections. They are: Khalilur Rahaman,  Jangipur, Yusuf Pathan,  Baharampur, Abu Taher Khan, Murshidabad, S K Nurul, (Basirhat), Sajda Ahmed, (Uluberia), Isha Khan Choudhary, (Maldaha Dakshin).

Bihar: Muhammad Javed Kishanganj and Tariq Anwar Katihar (Congress)

Assam: Raqib Hussain Dhubri

Kerala: Shafi Parambil (Vadakara), ET Muhammad Basheer (Malappuram) and Dr. MP Abdul Samad Samdani (Ponnani)

Lakshdeep: Muhammad Hamdullah Saeed

Tamil Nadu: Nivas Kinis Ramanathapuram

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / posted by Aasha Kosa / June 05th, 2024

Sofia Firdous of Congress, becomes first ever Muslim woman MLA in Odisha

Cuttack, ODISHA :

Following her victory from the Cuttack seat, Congress candidate Sofia Firdous has become the first Muslim woman MLA in the history of Odisha since Independence.

Sofia Firdous won the Barabati-Cuttack seat with a margin of 8001 after a neck-to-neck contest with BJP’s Purna Chandra Mahapatra. Firdous replaced her father and sitting MLA Mohammed Moquim from the seat.

In the Lok Sabha elections across the country, at least 15 Muslim candidates successfully secured seats in the lower house. The list includes TMC nominee and former India cricketer Yusuf Pathan who secured a comfortable victory over Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in the Congress veteran’s Baharampur bastion. ( With Agencies Inputs )

source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Indian Muslim> Politics> Women / by Muslim Mirror Staff / June 06th, 2024

Jamia Middle School’s Headmistress Nusrat Jahan Awarded ‘Best District Principal for Promoting STEM Excellence’ by Academic Council of the Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF)

NEW DELHI :

Nusrat Jahan, the headmistress of Jamia Middle School at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), has been honored with the Best District Principal Award for the academic session 2023-24 by the Academic Council of the Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF).

This prestigious award recognizes her exemplary leadership, commitment to academic excellence, and innovative initiatives that have significantly enhanced scientific and mathematical aptitude among her students.

Under Jahan’s leadership, Jamia Middle School saw remarkable achievements, with 72 students earning Gold medals in the Olympiad during the 2023-2024 academic year.

The Science Olympiad Foundation, known for its dedication to promoting STEM education globally, acknowledged Jahan’s transformative initiatives and their positive impact on both students and faculty.

The award comes after a rigorous selection process, considering 79,400 schools from over 1,400 cities across 70 countries that participated in this year’s Olympiad examination. Jahan attributed this success to the collaborative efforts of the school’s dedicated teaching staff and the hard work of the students.

Prof Mohammad Shakeel, the officiating vice-chancellor of JMI, congratulated Jahan on her outstanding achievement and praised her relentless dedication to student success and school improvement. Jahan’s deep knowledge, leadership skills, and pleasant personality have been pivotal in driving the school’s achievements and earning this distinguished award.

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Pride of the Nation / by Radiance News Bureau (headline edited) / June 08th, 2024

Hardik Singh, Salima Tete conferred with Hockey India Player of the Year awards

JHARKHAND :

Hockey legend Ashok Kumar was accorded the Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the sport.

Delhi:

Hardik Singh and Salima Tete were named men’s and women’s players of the year at the 6th Hockey India Annual Awards in New Delhi on Sunday.

This year, the total award prize pool was INR 7.56 crores.

Surprisingly, the 2016 Junior World Cup gold medal-winning Indian men’s team was felicitated, with each player earning a cash prize of INR 5 Lakh along with a trophy.

The 2023 Junior Asia Cup gold medal-winning Indian men’s and women’s teams were also honoured, with each player earning a cash prize of INR 2 Lakh and all the members of the support staff earning a cash prize of INR 1 Lakh each.

Other gold medal-winning teams of men’s Hockey 5s Asia Cup, women’s Hockey 5s Asia Cup, men’s Asian Champions Trophy, and women’s Asian Champions Trophy were also felicitated along with the men’s team that won gold at the Asian Games and women’s team that won bronze.

Meanwhile, Hockey Haryana won the Best Member Unit of the Year Award 2023, earning a prize of INR 2.5 Lakh.

The award ceremony saw PR Sreejesh winning the prestigious Hockey India Baljit Singh Award for Goalkeeper of the Year, earning a cash prize of INR 5 Lakh along with a trophy.

For his consistent performances throughout the year, Harmanpreet Singh won the Hockey India Pargat Singh Award for Defender of the Year, earning himself a cash prize of INR 5 Lakh along with a trophy.

Hockey India Ajit Pal Singh Award for Midfielder of the Year was won by Hardik Singh, while Abhishek won the prestigious Hockey India Dhanraj Pillay Award for Forward of the Year, both earning themselves INR 5 Lakh and a trophy each.

The next generation was also honoured with youngster Deepika Soreng winning the Hockey India Asunta Lakra Award for Upcoming Player of the Year (Women – Under 21) earning a cash prize of INR 10 Lakh and a trophy.

Araijeet Singh Hundal was named the Hockey India Jugraj Singh Award for Upcoming Player of the Year (Men – Under 21), winning a cash prize of INR 10 Lakh and a trophy.

Hardik Singh, and Salima Tete, won the Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of The Year Awards for men and women respectively, each earning a cash prize of INR 25 Lakh along with a trophy.

“It is a matter of great pride for me to win the prestigious award. This is truly reflective of the hard work and the commitment that our team displayed over the past year. I am thankful to everyone for their support and I will continue to work even harder in the coming year to justify the honour,” said Hardik Singh after winning the award.

Meanwhile, Salima Tete, on her win, said, “I wish to thank my teammates, coaches, and the support staff for showcasing their faith in me. It is a matter of great pride for me every time I get to wear the Indian jersey and step out on the field to represent the nation. This award will further motivate me to continue to do even better each day so I can continue to make the country proud.”

The ceremony closed with Hockey India celebrating the achievements of Ashok Kumar, honouring the Indian legend with the prestigious Hockey India Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award with a cash prize of INR 30 Lakh and a trophy.

Award winners at 6th Hockey India Annual Awards

Rs 5 Lakh each: PR Sreejesh (Goalkeeper of the Year), Harmanpreet Singh (Defender of the Year), Hardik Singh (Midfielder of the Year), Abhishek (Forward of the Year)

Rs 10 lakh each: Deepika Soreng (Women Under-21 Player of the Year), Araijeet Singh Hundal (Men Under-21 Player of the Year) Rs. 25 lakh each:

Salima Tete (Player of The Year Women), Hardik Singh ( Player of The Year Men) Rs 30 lakh: Ashok Kumar (Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award).

source: http://www.thebridge.in / The Bridge / Home> Hockey / by The Bridge Bureau / April 02nd, 2024

Lok Sabha 2024 to have 23 Muslim MPs, Check full list

INDIA :

Despite the impressive show by the secular parties in the 2024 Parliamentary Elections, number of Muslim MPs in the new Lok Sabha has gone down by 04 as compared to their tally in the last house.

Iqra Hasan and Afzal Ansari – both have won from Uttar Pradesh

LS Election Result 2024: 

Lok Sabha 2024 to have 23 Muslim MPs New Delhi: Despite the impressive show by the secular parties in the 2024 Parliamentary Elections, number of Muslim MPs in the new Lok Sabha has gone down by 04 as compared to their tally in the last house.

According to the final result released by the Election Commission of India (ECI), the 18th Lok Sabha will have a total of 23 Muslim MPs from different states of the country.

Of them a maximum 07 are from the Congress Party followed by 05 of the Trinamool Congress Party (TMC), 04 are of the Samajwadi Party (SP), 02 of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), 02 of the Jammu Kashmir National Conference, 01 of the All India Majlis e Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and 02 Independents.

List of Muslims in 18th Lok Sabha

Congress

  1. Rakibul Hussain Congress Dhubri, Assam
  2. Mohammad Jawed Congress Kishanganj, Bihar
  3. Tariq Anwar Congress Kathiar Bihar
  4. Shafi Parambil Congress Vadakara, Kerala
  5. Imran Masood Cngr Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh
  6. Isha Khan Choudhury Maldaha Dakshin, West Bengal
  7. Muhammed Hamdullah Sayeed Lakshadweep

Samajwadi Party (SP)

  1. Iqra Choudhary Kairna, Uttar Pradesh
  2. Mohibbullah Rampur, Uttar Pradesh
  3. Zia Ur Rehman Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh
  4. Afzal Ansari Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh

Trinamool Congress Party (TMC)

  1. Khalilur Rahaman Jangipur, West Bengal
  2. Yusuf Pathan Baharampu, West Bengal
  3. Abu Taher Khan Murshidabad, West Bengal
  4. Sk Nurul Islam Basirhat, West Bengal
  5. Sajda Ahmed Uluberia, West Bengal

Indian Union Muslim League (IUML)

  1. E.T. Mohammed Basheer Malappuram, Kerala
  2. Dr. M.P Abdussamad Samadani, Ponnani, Kerala

Jammu Kashmir National Conference (JKNC)

  1. Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi Srinagar, Jammu Kashmir
  2. Mian Altaf Ahmad Anantnag-Rajouri. Jammu Kashmir

All India Majlis e Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM)

  1. Asaduddin Owaisi Hyderabad, Telangana

Independent

  1. Abdul Rashid Sheikh Baramulla, Kashmir
  2. Mohmad Haneefa Ladakh

Prominent losers

  1. Kanwar Danish Ali Amroha, Uttar Pradesh
  2. Badruddin Ajmal Qasmi, Dhubri, Assam
  3. Omar Abdullah, Jammu Kashmir
  4. Mehbooba Mufti, Jammu Kashmir
  5. Imtiaz Jaleel, Aurangabad Maharashtra
  6. Hena Shahab, Siwan, Bihar
  7. Mohd Salim CPI(M) West Bengal

None of the Muslim MPs are from the ruling BJP. The party had fielded Dr Abdul Salam from Malappuram Parliamentary seat in Kerala. He however lost the election to the IUML candidate.

Rakibul Hussain of the Congress won the 2024 Lok Sabha elections by more than 10 lakh votes which is the highest victory margin in India.

The number of Muslim MPs in 2014 was 23. However, Muslims improved their tally in 2019 by 04 despite a huge Modi wave.

LS Election 2024 Final Result

The Election Commission of India announced the final result late in the night Tuesday. According to which, the BJP led NDA alliance has won a total of 292 seats which include a total of 240 seats won by the BJP.

According to the ECI final data, the Congress led INDIA alliance has won a total of 234 seats which include 99 seats won by the Congress, 37 won by SP, 29 won by TMC and 22 won by DMK Tamil Nadu.

source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home / by Ummid.com News Network / June 05th, 2024

Rummana Hussain and the ghost of female Muslim heroes

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA / New York, U.S.A / Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA :

Rummana Hussain’s conceptual artistic imprint on the state of India is relevant now more than ever. Dealing in the currency of feminist expression, postcolonial thought and perennial ideas, Rummana’s India is both doubly colourful and doubly dark.

In an inaugural show in its new West Village location, New York’s Institute of Arab and Islamic Art presents The Tomb of Begum Hazrat Mahal an exhibition encapsulating Rummana Hussain’s artistic ruminations about the space our bodies occupy in present and past through one of India’s most prominent Muslim woman.

Bangalore-born Rummana Hussain (1952-1999) was a pioneer in conceptual and performance-based political art in India during the 1980s and 1990s.

She was part of the Sahmat collective, a platform for liberal, secular engagés multidisciplinary artists including Safdar Hashmi, Bharti Kher, and Manjeet Bawa among others.

In this recreation of The Tomb of Begum Hazrat Mahal (1997), the respectful visitor enters a one-room shrine.

“In seeing The Tomb of Begum Hazrat Mahal today, I remembered Hussain’s bold feminist reclamation of her Muslim body through the reincarnated aura of Begum Hazrat Mahal to question monolithic identity, national narratives, and systemic marginalisation”

Various objects signify a site of lamentation, pride, and remembrance.

On the floor, occupying a central location, 12 votive-like papaya halves sit atop a mattress of uncooked rice, evoking both an altar to womanhood and fertility, and a symbolic funerary pyre.

In front of them stands an installation of offerings comprising amulets, dried roses, shells, and incense sticks, tied in a rope.  

Against the three other walls is a calligraphic sculpture from rusty metal that reminds of a sacred spell and the embodiment of time, and an image frieze of detailed black and white triumphant photographs showing a woman’s arms, wrists, and hands.

In one of these frames, a woman raises her fist up as if calling others to join in. In another, she holds an ominous knife. Images of flames are interjected between the simulacra of archives.

Rummana Hussain, Tomb of Begum Hazrat Mahal (Detail) 1997 © Estate of Rummana Hussain. Image Courtesy Talwar Gallery

The room is devoted to a woman, an invisible physical body which radiates from each of the static objects. Begum Hazrat Mahal (1820-1879), née Muhammadi Khanum, was born into a poor family.

She was sold and entered the royal harem of art-loving Wajid Ali Shah, the last king of Awadh, a kingdom that occupied the area of the present-day northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Trained as a harem attendant, she would eventually rise to become the king’s concubine – one of his favourites. Beyond her charms, Begum Hazrat Mahal owes her entrance on the historical stage foremost to her political prowess and courage.

The British-owned East India Company operated in Awadh since the early 19th century. The Company increased its grip in 1856, when it directly seized control of Awadh, citing poor governance and the need to uphold the rule of law to justify their annexation (an excuse known as the “Doctrine of Lapse”).

A Chief Commissioner was rapidly appointed. This caused the king to leave Lucknow and seek refuge in Calcutta. The Queen Mother of Awadh petitioned Queen Victoria in person for her son’s rights, in vain. Wives, including Begum Hazrat Mahal were left behind in occupied Lucknow.

Rummana Hussain, Tomb of Begum Hazrat Mahal (Detail) 1997 © Estate of Rummana Hussain. Image Courtesy Talwar Gallery

After this brutal annexation, discontent grew in several parts of India against the British and the interference of the Company, culminating in a mutiny and revolt in May 1857. Rebels looked to Awadh’s Crown Prince as a successor to his absent father when they captured Lucknow.

But Birjis Qadr, the son of Begum Hazrat Mahal and Wajid Ali Shah, was still a child then, too young to assume power. In his stead, Begum Hazrat Mahal took over Awadh’s revolutionary affairs, actively leading the armed revolt during her regency, towards the reinstatement of Indian rule over Awadh in July 1857.

She continued resisting British rule well after the retaking of Awadh by the occupying troops in 1858, as she refused various offers of collaboration. She died in exile in Kathmandu, Nepal, as an unwavering freedom fighter. Today, a humble stele near Kathmandu’s Jama Masjid marks her tomb.

Rummana Hussain, Living on the Margins, 1995, performance at the National Centre for Performing Arts, Mumbai

When Rummana Hussain first showed The Tomb of Begum Hazrat Mahal to the public in 1997, it was during a period marked by the tragic aftermath of inter-communal violence.

During the 1980s, radical Hindu nationalists campaigned to build a temple on the site believed to be the birthplace of Rama, where a mosque had been erected since the 16th century.

They took to the streets of Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, en masse in 1992. Security lost control of the crowd which eventually stormed into the site, demolishing the mosque.

This ignited weeks of violent clashes between Hindu and Muslim communities, causing the deaths of thousands. A later investigation on the destruction of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya pointed out the responsibility of leaders and supporters of the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the political party of India’s incumbent Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.

Babri Masjid launched a turning point in Hussain’s artistic journey towards a more intimate, politically-conscious form of expression. In Dissected Projection (1993), she explored the multilayered meaning of ruins and dislocation through an allegorical work that exposes a fracture, a shattered piece of terracotta.

In her show Multiples and Fragments (1994), Hussain engaged with historical and domestic oppression in an installation of pigmented pieces of fabric on a clothesline, to denounce the colonial extraction of indigo in India and unpaid housework traditionally performed by women and girls. Labour is always physical and violence first hurts the most vulnerable.

In her 1995 performance Living on the Margins, Hussain screamed while holding papaya halves, shapes that represent a universal vessel and the female anatomy.

Her works have been exhibited in the India Pavilion of the Venice Biennale in 2019, and in multiple institutions across India, Canada, Australia, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States during her lifetime and posthumously.

In seeing The Tomb of Begum Hazrat Mahal today, I remembered Hussain’s bold feminist reclamation of her Muslim body through the reincarnated aura of Begum Hazrat Mahal to question monolithic identity, national narratives, and systemic marginalisation. She wanted to say, we can turn the hate in love, we can turn the oppressed, the victims, into heroes they will one day celebrate. We can tell our own stories. They matter.

Outside, scores of brunch-goers live, love, laugh. If it’s dissonance we are meant to acknowledge, I acknowledge it. I closed my eyes in the silent white cube of the Institute of Arab and Islamic Art and saw images of the relentless violence and bullying Muslim women continue to face in Narendra Modi’s India.

In this reconstituted tomb, it’s hard to feel alone. Around me swarmed many other ghosts, of ordinary Muslim women – from Afghanistan to Iran and beyond – crushed and slain in their contemporary defence of freedom and justice against oppressors. Many have been killed in their fight.

A shrine calls for a quiet prayer, I realised.

Farah Abdessamad is a New York City-based essayist/critic, from France and Tunisia.

Follow her on Twitter: @farahstlouis

source: http://www.newarab.com / The New Arab / Home> Features>Culture / by Farah Abdessamad / December 08th, 2022

Azra Nalatwad on her weaver-turned-doctor father’s inspirational life

Kurnool, ANDHRA PRADESH / Bengaluru, KARNATAKA:

Dr. Azra Nalatwad’s forefathers were from a tiny town named Karnul in Andhra pradesh and had migrated to Karnataka. Behind her success of becoming a doctor is an incredible story of hard work and grit that lifted a poor family of weavers to a family of doctors. Dr Azra Nalatwad shared her and her parents’ inspirational story with Awaz-the Voice.

“My parents were extremely hardworking, poor, and struggled to make ends meet, particularly my father, Abdul Khader Karnu used to manually weave traditional saris through wooden looms, as machines had not yet arrived at that time.  During his early 20s, after a lot of labour, he would make one saree.”

His family was living hand-to-mouth existence. Though Abdul Khader struggled with poverty, he dreamed big – he was determined to become a doctor. Without any prodding or help, he studied by himself while weaving sarees. Back then, there was no societal help, counselors, or family push to improve his lot.  With sheer grit, he started to excel in his studies. He was so brilliant that he was sponsored for his studies in a boarding school.  During holidays, he would return home and help with the business of his father and brothers. 

“With great tenacity, he finally finished his studies to complete his MBBS and achieved his goal of becoming a doctor, specializing as an ENT physician.  He was the first in the family to be so. Our father paved the way to help us all come up as a family.” 

Her mother was a schoolteacher when she married Abdul Khader, who persuaded her to complete her MBBS and she became a gynecologist.  

Dr. Azra who teaches anatomy at Karnataka Medical College says, “On seeing my parent’s hard work and toil, I resolved to study hard as well. Early in my school days, I wanted to become a doctor. So, I focused on getting admission to MBBS, which I managed to get in the area without going to a hostel to my relief.” Dr. Azra says that her life was made smooth due to the hard work of her parents. 

Describing the life around her, she explains, “Around my neighbourhood, most of the girls would do some BST course, and then get married, but my parents spurred me on to do something significant and not hurry to get married.  My parents always had a vision that we as a family should not just study and stay at home to be engrossed and wrapped up only in our lives but use our enlightenment to serve the community.”

Dr Azra Nalatwad during her PG course

Azra’s family is a family of doctors. “My eldest sister is a dentist, her husband is a Pathologist (MD) and younger brother Dr. Adil is a neurosurgeon, his wife is a doctor with MBA and MBBS degrees.”

Interestingly, Azra’s husband is the only non-doctor in the family and it was deliberate. She explains: “When it was time for me to get married, my father told me that since there are many doctors in their family, it was better to find my prospective husband in another field. As a family, our conversations revolved around patients and their cases, so my father felt it would be better to get a non-medical groom.”

She married an engineer who working with one of India’s leading software companies.

To follow their father’s advice to his children that they must pay it back to society, Dr. Azra says, The siblings often organize free health checkup camps at Gulbarga.” (Gulbarga is now known as Kalaburagi and has developed to become a city).

She continued, “After writing my entrance test for the post-graduation, my father encouraged me to take the course wherever I get it. He taught me never to throw away opportunities. I was selected for anatomy and it took me to teaching.  I did a course to learn ultrasound technology, and in the hospital where my mother was working, I was appointed as a sinologist.”

Dr. Azra Nalatwad’s father died during the COVID surge. “He continued to see patients even during the pandemic; never isolated them and eventually caught the virus and succumbed to it while during his duty in Gulbarga.”

Azra worked at different places like Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh, Ernakulam in Kerala and now she is in Bengaluru.  Mother of two growing-up boys, she travels in her car from Bengaluru to Kolar daily for her anatomy teaching classes.

She explains, “I took up the teaching line in anatomy and was interested in ultrasound, so I went towards the clinical side for one and a half years, I also worked in Manipal Hospital as a senior resident doctor. Night duties in the hospital became problematic with my son as my mother-in-law was not there with me, so I quit that job and came back to teaching.” 

She however loves her teaching job, “The new generation of doctors do not talk to their patients because of the long queues of people waiting to see them and they want to see as many patients as possible in a day, so impatiently, they quickly write something out for the patients and push them out to directly go for CT scans, ultrasounds without noting the signs and symptoms in the patient.  There is no personal touch or caring.  Once again, after their illness is diagnosed, they do not convey to the patient properly what was the problem and what steps to take, nor do they serve the patients their options.  The doctors need to show them different modalities of treatment which and required them to communication properly.

“Therefore, I encourage my students to develop doctor-patient communication skills with more empathy and compassion, some emotional attachment is necessary.  A patient needs to feel trust in a doctor to return to them. In the early days, a patient would only go back to their favourite doctor holding him in great esteem. These days it is sad to see patients changing the doctor midway during the treatment while complaining that the previous one was noncommittal and indifferent or even rude.  These days, most of the doctors are cold and detached.

Dr Azra Nalatwad at the hospital (wearing a black Abayya)

She says her students are becoming aware of the bad doctor-patient cases as newspapers report about incidents of people assaulting doctors. “We guide them so that they will not learn through bitter experience but rather as we say, prevention is better than cure, so we teach them that when they are checking female patients, they need to take their consent and explain why they need to touch her body.” 

I tell students, “You suddenly cannot ask her to lift her clothes without her consent, even if one is checking the wrist, the patient needs to be informed what the doctor is doing.”  Thus, we teach our students to inform the patient before doing even a tiny procedure or even checking the pulse or temperature as a form of respect between the doctor and the patient and leave the lines open for good communication.  Just directly touching the patient does not work nowadays.  Teaching is a great responsibility where one does not just teach and go but has to inculcate empathy, sensitivity, communication skills, and other qualities in our students.” 

Brightening up, she said, “One thing I am looking forward to is I am going to open my clinic very soon working as a family physician, serving my residents, and treating small illnesses, which do not require complicated procedures.”

She continued, “Why I want to start my clinic in Bengaluru is to ease the burden of the poor in a modest area.  Nowadays, for simple sicknesses, people are going to big hospitals and get embroiled in unnecessary expenses and procedures. The OPD fees will be more than Rs. 500 or Rs. 750, an outrageous amount not required for small illnesses which is ripping the pockets of the poor.  Things like a common upper respiratory tract infection, ear pain, or other little illnesses do not need an OPD visit but rather a small affordable clinic with a small fee such as Rs. 50 or Rs. 100 to make it very light and easy for them.”

She explained, “In big health centers, there is a lot of corruption going on where they hoodwink patients into paying large amounts of money for unnecessary tests, procedures, and treatment.  I feel if I can help the poor in a smaller way such as this evading all the bribing that happens in big clinics and enabling health care at their doorsteps, figuratively.  I want to ensure that they get immediate help and cure for their illness without running to mega hospitals to give large amounts of money which they cannot afford, to get treated.” 

To pay tribute to the man who worked hard and changed his destiny, Dr Azra says she would name her hospital after her father. That she says would take a little time. Right now, besides taking care of her parents-in-law and husband, she has to look after her 12-year-old son and four-and-a-half-year-old daughter. 

Rita Farhat Mukand is an independent writer

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by Rita Farhat Mukund / May 14th, 2024

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Hindu students outnumber Muslim students in higher education in Muslim-run institutions in India: CSR-NOUS Report

INDIA:

New Delhi :

A joint study conducted by a Delhi-based think tank – Centre for Study and Research (CSR) and NOUS Network Private Limited – has busted the myth that Muslim-run institutions cater to Muslims only.

The study titled “A Survey of Muslim-managed Public and Private Institutions of Higher Education in India” reveals that Hindu students outnumber Muslim students in higher education in Muslim-managed institutions across the country.

The percentage of Hindus, according to the report, is about 55 percent in these institutions against 42 percent of Muslim students.

However, the report is silent about the reasons behind Hindu students exceeding their Muslim counterparts in Muslim-run institutions.

But the higher number of Hindu students is an indicator that the Muslim institutions do not discriminate against non-Muslims and are open to all religious communities against the prevailing misconception that Muslim institutions serve only Muslim students.

This is also a proof that the standard of education in Muslim-run institutions are at par with institutions run by other communities. Had the quality of education in Muslim institutions been poor, Hindu students would certainly have avoided it and not enrolled en mass as is happening currently.

The study provides empirical evidence against the prevailing false notion among certain sections of society regarding Muslim-managed educational institutions.

The report reveals a surprising trend: in Muslim-run universities, Hindus constitute the majority of students (52.7%), while Muslims make up 42.1%. This pattern holds true for colleges managed by the Muslim minority as well, where Hindus are the largest student group (55.1%), followed by Muslims (42.1%) and other minority groups (2.8%).

The findings of the report were discussed at a roundtable event attended by educators, policymakers and stakeholders. They applauded the report as a valuable resource for addressing existing challenges faced by the Muslim community in the realm of higher education.

Concerns were also expressed over the grim situation of the community, particularly their meagre share in higher education and their sharp dropout rates.

CSR director Dr. Mohammed Rizwan presented the vision of CSR, which aims to evolve a purposeful, holistic, and value-based knowledge ecosystem. He asserted that the report is a “myth-buster” that provides empirical evidence against the prevailing misinformation among certain sections of society. 

“To our knowledge, no such study has been conducted to date, and there is currently no data available on the number of institutions for higher education affiliated with the Muslim minority group, while this research represents the first attempt of its kind to address this critical gap,” Dr. Rizwan stated.

Elaborating that despite consistent efforts from the community, empirical evidence suggests a need for even more concrete efforts, Dr. Rizwan said that those efforts should particularly focus on areas like gross enrolment in higher education, decreasing the dropout rate, and other aspects of higher education.

Dr. Rizwan believes that this report sheds light on the challenges and opportunities within higher education by meticulously analyzing various facets. These facets include the number and types of educational institutions, the gender ratio within them, their affiliation status, their academic productivity, their NAAC accreditation standing, student demographics, and more.

“The report’s findings underscore the importance of recognizing the unique needs of the Muslim minority in higher education and advocating for targeted interventions to address those needs,” he added.

Speaking at the roundtable, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) Vice President Prof. Salim Engineer commended the CSR and NOUS team for conducting such an important study. However, he cautioned that the findings regarding the community’s education situation are not encouraging.

Prof. Salim highlighted that the study serves as a roadmap for improvement, identifying areas where the community needs to focus its efforts while acknowledging its achievements.

Emphasizing the need to encourage the community, not discourage it, by recognizing its accomplishments and contributions in the past 75 years of independence, he pointed out the community’s resilience in the face of continued communal riots and a challenging post-partition atmosphere.

Criticizing the apathy of successive governments towards the Muslim minority, Prof. Salim lamented that numerous studies, including the noteworthy Sachar Committee report, have been conducted on the community’s socio-economic and educational status. However, these reports have been largely debated without any significant implementation of their recommendations.

Acknowledging the community’s progress in education despite these hurdles and the negative attitudes of some governments, the JIH leader commended, the establishment of numerous educational institutions and the achievements of students in higher education and civil services.

Stressing that the country’s progress hinges on the advancement of the Muslim minority, Prof. Salim urged the community to avoid self-blame and instead celebrate its achievements in the face of adversity.  He concluded by referencing the Quran, stating that the Muslim community is meant to serve others.

Ali Javed, CEO of NOUS Network Pvt. Ltd., a Delhi-based think tank and media house, asserted that this report stands out as a truly unique attempt, as there is currently no existing comprehensive overview providing insights into the status of higher education in institutions catering to Muslims.

Ali Javed expressed the hope that this report would be an indispensable resource for academics, policymakers, and anyone interested in educational advancement. He believed it would significantly contribute to our understanding of Muslim-affiliated higher education institutions, paving the way for further discussions and initiatives in this area.

Emphasizing the importance of collective action, NOUS CEO explained that the purpose of convening this roundtable of experts, educators, academics, and stakeholders is to collaborate and find solutions to the community’s problems. He stressed that joint efforts are necessary for progress.

Expressing concern about the “extreme deprivation” faced by the community, not just in education but across various indicators, Javed proposed a multi-pronged approach, including data collection through surveys in Muslim-dominated areas, gathering disaggregated data, and developing the community’s own policy documents for negotiation with policymakers. He also emphasized the need for an evidence-based strategy for societal reform and infrastructure development.

Highlighting the study’s findings, researcher Abid Faheem, who played a key role in compiling the data, pointed out that Muslims constitute over 14% of India’s population. However, their representation in higher education remains low. According to the latest All India Survey of Higher Education (AISHE-2021-22), only 4.8% of students enrolled in higher education are Muslims. This is even lower than the enrolment rates for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), which stand at 15.3% and 6.3% respectively. SCs and STs comprise 16.6% and 8.6% of the total population, respectively.

Faheem used a PPT to show that the gross enrolment ratio for Muslim students in colleges affiliated with Muslim institutions is 1.23. This ratio is significantly lower in universities, at just 0.23. The combined gross enrolment ratio for Muslim students is 1.46. However, the situation is even worse in institutions of national importance like IITs, IIITs, IISERs, NITs, and IIMs, where only 1.72% of students are Muslim.

Faheem expressed concern that despite the Sachar Committee report on the socio-economic and educational status of the Muslim community released 17 years ago, there has not been much progress. He noted that in 2006, when the Sachar report was published, Muslim enrolment in higher education was 3.6%. While efforts have been made to improve this ratio, the first AISHE report in 2012-13 showed only a 0.6% increase after six years. A decade later, the AISHE report indicated another modest increase of 0.6%. In contrast, other disadvantaged groups like SCs and STs have made significant progress. Their enrolment rates have risen from 2.4% in 2006 to 15.3% and 6.3% in 2021-22, respectively.

However, the enrolment rates for SCs and STs have shown a much sharper rise compared to Muslims. Their share in higher education has climbed from a combined 2.4% in 2006 to 15.3% for SCs and 6.3% for STs in 2021-22.

It’s important to note that the Sachar report initially reported a combined enrolment rate of 2.4% for SCs and STs.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Sanghmitra, Chairperson of the Centre for Social Medicine and Community Health at Jawaharlal Nehru University, appreciated the CSR and Nous Networks team. She also appreciated their work in clarifying some widely held misconceptions about the Muslim community.

Prof. Sanghmitra emphasized the importance of inclusivity in policymaking. However, she expressed concern about the gap between policy and reality. She pointed out that the Sachar Committee report had already documented the disadvantaged state of Muslims and provided evidence. She further noted that the Amitabh Kundu Committee report, which followed the Sachar Committee report and received less attention, showed minimal progress in the community’s status despite the evidence and recommendations presented earlier.

Prof. Sanghmitra also recommended collecting data on the Muslim community at the secondary level in addition to the primary level.

Dr. Kamal Farooqi, spokesperson for the AIMPLB and former chairman of the Delhi Minority Commission, emphasized the importance of shifting the Muslim community’s fundamental attitude and mindset towards education.

Prof. Sadia Halima, an economics professor at Jamia Millia Islamia University, asserted for a shift in focus from mere literacy rates, ratio, enrolment figures and the number of students or institutions to prioritizing knowledge and quality education.

Prof. Majid Jameel, an electrical engineering professor at Jamia Millia Islamia University, commended the CSR-NOUS Network for the study. He shared his experiences motivating students in his hometown Saharanpur, UP, to pursue higher education, while also expressing concern about the high dropout rate within the community.

Former civil servant Akhtar Mahboob Syed stressed the importance of data collection and studies to understand the socio-economic state of the Muslim community. He pointed out that while the Sachar Committee report receives much attention, the Amitabh Kundu Committee report and Professor Mattu reports are less discussed.

Having worked with various government departments, he questioned the impact of existing schemes aimed at improving education for minorities, such as pre and post matric scholarships and the Maulana Azad Foundation and Ministry of Minority affairs. He argued that the community itself needs to gather data on the effectiveness of these initiatives, as the government is unlikely to do so. In addition to data collection, he suggested addressing the “fear complex” within the community.

Mr. Nizamuddin Shaikh of the Institute of Objective Studies and the All India Milli Council highlighted three key points: Islamization of knowledge, changing the community’s attitude towards education, and establishing more educational institutions.

The Millat Time editor Shams Tabrez Qasmi also spoke on the occasion. In the open session, various noted participants expressed their views on the study.

The report illuminates the number and growth trajectory of Muslim-affiliated institutions, along with their demographic characteristics. It underscores the pressing need for policymakers to address the under-representation of Muslims in higher education. The report also provides valuable insights into the educational quality, programme offerings, and research output of these institutions.

Other Key Results of the Study:

Universities:

  1. Out of the total 1113 universities in India as per AISHE 2020-21 data, 23 universities belong to Muslim Minority. The share of Muslim managed universities is just 2.1%.

2.         Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of universities, followed by Karnataka.

3.         Of the 23 Muslim universities, the majority (43.5%) are privately managed, followed by public state universities (26.1%), deemed private universities (13%), and central universities (13%).

4.         Around 69.9% of Muslim universities are located in urban areas.

5.         Out of the total 97,928 students enrolled in the academic year 2021-22, 42.1% are Muslims, 52.7% are Hindus, and 5.2% belong to Other Minority groups.

6.         Regarding Muslim students, there were 26,039 (63.09%) male students and 15,236 (36.91%) female students enrolled in Higher Education.

7.         Among the 41,275 Muslim students enrolled, less than 1% represent Scheduled

8.         Tribes, 34% were belong to Other Backward Classes, 42.8% were from the Unreserved Category, and the remaining 16.4% are from the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).

COLLEGES:

1.         Out of the total 43,796 colleges in India as per AISHE 2020-21 data, 1,155 colleges are managed by Muslim minority community. It means that the share of Muslim managed colleges is just 2.6%.

2.         Of these 1,155 colleges, 141 (12.2%) are technical colleges registered with the All India Council for Technical Education.

3.         Despite making up 73.4% of all minority groups, Muslim minority communities only have a 16.6% share in technical colleges. In contrast, other minority groups, comprising 26.6% of the population, hold an 83.4% share in technical colleges.

4.         6.4% of Muslim colleges in India are exclusively for girls.

5.         The top 10 states in terms of the number of colleges in India are Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, and Jammu & Kashmir. These states account for 90.47% of the total colleges in the country.

6.         Of the 1,155 Muslim minority colleges, 85.5% are private (unaided), 10.6% are private (aided), and 3.9% are government colleges.

7.         Kerala has 24.9 colleges per lakh population while UP has 4.9 colleges and West Bengal has a mere 1.8 colleges per lakh population. The national average of colleges per lakh population stands at 6.4%.

8.         Of the 1155 Muslim minority colleges, 85.5% are private (unaided), 10.6% are private (aided), and 3.9% are government colleges.

9.         About 57.8% of Muslim minority colleges are located in rural areas.

10.       The majority of colleges (93.16%) offer Undergraduate level programs, while only 6.32% offer PhD level programs.

11.       Kerala has the highest number of colleges offering PhD programs, followed by Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

12.       Around 51% of colleges only provide undergraduate level programmes.

13.       Out of the total 524,441 students enrolled in the academic year 2021-22, 42.1% are Muslims, 55.1% are Hindus, and 2.8% belong to Other Minority groups.

14.       In terms of Muslim students, there were 104,163 (47.18%) male students and  116,622 (52.82%) female students enrolled in Higher Education.

15.       Among the 220,785 Muslim students enrolled, less than 1% represent Scheduled Tribes, 48.1% belong to Other Backward Classes, 50.7%

16.       come from the Unreserved Category, and the remaining 0.9% are from the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).

17.       96.4% of colleges did not participate in the NIRF ranking of 2023.

18.       None of the colleges secured a position in the top 100 in the NIRF 2023 college rankings.

source: http://www.indiatomorrow.net / India Tomorrow / Home> Education / by Anwarulhaq Baig / May 15th, 2024

Hyderabad Student Hiba Fatima Khan Achieves Top Marks in Cambridge English Exam

Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

Hiba Fatima Khan, a student from Hyderabad, has been awarded the prestigious Outstanding Cambridge Learner Award for achieving the highest marks in India for the Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement) examination.

Cambridge Assessment International Education recognized Hiba’s remarkable performance, formally announcing the award via email and honoring her at a felicitation event with an official certificate and letter of appreciation.

Hiba’s journey from Dubai to India during the Covid-19 pandemic brought significant challenges, including adapting to new languages such as Hindi, Telugu, Sanskrit, and French. Despite these hurdles, she maintained a strong focus on English.

Her father, Shaji Khan, expressed immense pride in her achievement, noting her dedication to English and her academic interests. Initially inclined towards automobile engineering until the 8th grade, Hiba later shifted her focus and excelled in her chosen subjects.

Hiba achieved a perfect score of 100/100 and A+ grades in her Cambridge IGCSE exams, which included subjects such as English, Special English, Economics, and Environmental Management. Reflecting on her success, Hiba emphasized the importance of understanding the marking scheme, practicing past papers, and constant revisions.

She also credited her parents for their unwavering support and encouragement. “My parents have been my biggest support. Their encouragement and belief in my abilities kept me motivated throughout my preparation,” she said in an interview with DC.

Looking forward, Hiba, a student at Solitaire Global School, aspires to further her education in psychology and teaching, with a particular interest in studying in Finland, known for its top-rated education system.

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News> Markers of Excellence / by Radiance News Bureau (headline edited) / May 15th, 2024

Chikmagalur | A Muslim student Fatima Samiha chose first language Sanskrit Scored 590 marks in SSLC

Chikmagalur, KARNATAKA:

The 2023-24 ESL results have been unveiled, showcasing Fatima Samiha’s remarkable achievement. Hailing from Chikkamagalur district, Fatima, a student of Sri Sadguru Vidyamandir in Basarikatte, chose Sanskrit as her primary language and achieved a perfect score of 125 out of 125 marks in the subject.

Her exceptional performance extends across other subjects as well, with scores of 99 in Kannada, 94 in English, 83 in Mathematics, 69 in Science, and 100 in Social Science, resulting in an impressive overall score of 590 out of 625 marks, equivalent to 94.4%.

Fatima is the daughter of Muhammad Rafiq from Chikkamagaluru and Selikhat Begum from Panemangalore.

source: http://www.thehindustangazette.com / The Hindustan Gazette / Home> News> Latest News / by The Hindustan Gazette / May 12th, 2024