Tag Archives: Muslims of Assam

Assam’s Dr Rubul Ahmed’s mission is to treat the needy all his life

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Scientists (wef. August 27th,m 2023), Useful / HEALTHCARE, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bongaigaon (Bongaigaon District), ASSAM :

Dr. Rubul Ahmed with a patient at his no-fees clinic

At a time when doctors are charging exorbitant fees in the name of treatment and the skyrocketing prices of medicines have cut big holes in patients’ pockets, a young doctor in Assam has become a messiah for many patients.     

Dr Rubul Ahmed from Assam’s Bongaigaon district has started a free health camp every Thursday for a week to treat poor and needy patients. Dr Ahmed is a doctor working in Bongaigaon Civil Hospital in lower Assam.

Dr. Ahmed has been providing free health services to patients at Assam Medicine Centre, a private pharmacy located in Dhantula Bazar, Bangagaon every Thursday. His great work is being encouraged and supported by a voluntary organization called ‘Drishti’ About 50 to 80 patients, both male and female, are receiving free medical services from Dr. Rubul Ahmed in each health camp.

Dr. Rubul Ahmed

In an interview with Awaz-The Voice, Dr. Ahmed said; “I grew up in an underdeveloped area of Bongaigaon district with a mixed population. The love and blessings of the people of our area have motivated me to become a doctor. I will always be grateful to them. Most people in my area cannot afford costly advanced treatment. So, I have decided to help them by organizing a free health camp every Thursday for a week.”

Dr. Ahmed lost his father when he was a child. His mother worked very hard to educate him. Till the time he got admission to pursue an MBBS course to become a doctor, there was no electricity at his home. “So, I understand the plight of the poor people,” he said.

“After passing my MBBS examination from Gauhati Medical College in 2014, I worked as Chief Emergency Medical Officer at Nemecare Hospital in Guwahati. Then I worked as a doctor in a state hospital in Dhubri district under the National Health Mission. In January 2021, I joined Bangagaon Civil Hospital,” said Dr. Rubul Ahmed.

  Patients waiting for their turn at the free camp organised by Dr Rubul Ahmed 

“If we run after money every moment of our lives. So when will we work for people? I try to help people with the medical knowledge I have learned. After receiving free medical care from me, they can buy two good medicines with the money that ordinary people in this area normally use to pay doctor fees. If a very poor person comes to me for treatment, I will buy medicine for them with my own money,” Dr Ahmed said.

Dr. Rubul Ahmed has undertaken this great work in tribute to his late father Rahmanuddin Ahmed and his late mother Rupjan Begum. Dr. Rubul Ahmed’s great efforts will benefit many poor people in the Dhantula area in Bongaigaon district. He is committed and determined to continue his free treatment of patients till his last breath.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Ariful Islam, Guwahati / December 11th, 2024

Actor Adil Hussain Honoured with 2024 Anandaram Dhekial Phukan Award

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Guwahati, ASSAM:

Acclaimed actor Adil Hussain

Guwahati :

Acclaimed actor Adil Hussain, known for his significant contributions to Indian and international cinema, has been awarded the prestigious Anandaram Dhekial Phukan Award for 2024. The award recognises Hussain’s achievements in the film industry and his continued efforts to bring Assamese culture and stories to a global audience, reported India Today.

Expressing his gratitude, Hussain took to social media, writing, “Thank you so much for choosing me for the Anandaram Dhekial Phukan Award. I am honoured and humbled.” The actor, who hails from Goalpara in Assam, has long been celebrated for his versatile performances in independent films and his work in international cinema.

The Anandaram Dhekial Phukan Award is named after one of Assam’s literary pioneers, who played a vital role in promoting the Assamese language during the Orunodoi era. The award commemorates Phukan’s contributions to Assamese literature and culture, and it is given to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in their respective fields.

Hussain’s recognition with this award highlights his deep connection to his Assamese roots and his dedication to representing his culture on a global stage.

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Pride of the Nation> Awards> Latest News / by Radiance News Bureau / September 01st, 2024

Assam highway tomb of freedom fighter Baga Maulvi is shrine of harmony

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Freedom Fighters (under research project), Travel & Tourism, Uncategorized, Uniquely Indian - Inter Faith (wef. February 08th, 2023), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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

Muslim Runners-up in Parliamentary Elections 2024

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

INDIA :

Around 20 Muslim candidates were runners-up in the 18th Lok Sabha elections. Of them 7 lost to other Muslim candidates and the rest to other candidates.

Two of these were knocked out by Muslim candidates which made a cakewalk for BJP. In Amroha, UP, Danish Ali of INC secured 447836 votes against BJP’s Kanwar Singh Tanwar who got 476506, just 29670 more votes. Whereas BSP’s Mujahid Husain secured 164099 votes and finished third. Another four Muslims were also in the fray as independent candidates who together poled only 4503 votes.

Hafiz Rashid Ahmed Choudhry of INC from Karimganj, Assam lost to BJP’s Kripanath Mallh by just 18360 votes. Whereas the third in row was a Muslim from United Front, Shahbul Islam Choudhry who secured no less than 29205 votes. There were another 10 Muslims in the fray as independent candidates who secured 20162 votes combined. This invites the apolitical Muslim influential individuals’ and organizations’ role in making one strong Muslim candidate winnability bleak.

Shahnawaz of Rashtriya Janata Dal, in Araria, Bihar lost to BJP candidate by 20094 votes. There were five Muslim independent candidates totally scoring 39992 votes.

Mohammad Badruddin Ajmal, AUDF, in Dhubri Assam lost by 1012476 votes. He secured 459409 against the winning candidate Rakibul Hasan’s 14,71,885 votes. There were other eight Muslim candidates from seven different outfits and one independent. All of them put together pooled 486319 votes. Zabed Islam of Asom Gana Parishad who stood third alone secured 438594 votes.

The former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti lost to National Conference candidate Mian Altaf in Anantnag-Rajouri by a margin of 2,81,794. Another 18 candidates were there to fish in the troubled waters.

Omar Abdulla, National Conference, Baramula lost to Engineer Rasheed, an independent who got 268339, lost by 204142. There were another 19 candidates in the fray.

Waheed ur Rehman Para, Peoples Democratic Party, Srinagar finished second 168450, lost by 188416 votes to Aga Syed Ruhulla of National Conference. Another 19 candidates tried their luck.

Mujahid Alam, Janata Dal (United), Kishanganj, Bihar, ranked second position against Tariq Anwar of INC who secured 343158 votes, lost by 59692 votes. There were another five Muslim candidates who together could not score beyond 45000 votes.

Md Ali Ashraf Fatmi, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Madhubani, Bihar, 2nd position. Lost to BJP. Secured 41483 votes and lost by a margin of 151945 (other Muslim candidates – Md. Waquar Siddiqi of AIMM and Sarfaraz Alam of Akhil Bhartiiya Parivar Party).

Hena Shahab was the only Muslim candidate among the 16 in the fray in Siwan, Bihar. An independent candidate, she scored an impressive figure of 296351 votes but lost to JD(U)’s Vijaylakshmi Devi by 92857 votes.

Mansoor Ali Khan, Indian National Congress, Bangaluru Central, Karnataka finished second, lost to BJP, secured 626208 votes still lost by 32707 votes. It was a straight fight and laser finish despite there were around 21 candidates who together could not cross 45000. In his first attempt, Mansoor has made a tremendous dent in the citadel of three-time BJP MP, Mohan.

AM Ariff of CPI(M) from Alappuzah, Kerala gave a tough fight to one of the general secretaries of Congress, KC Venugopal and secured 341047 votes only to lose by a margin of 63513.

Elamaram Kareem, CPI(M), Kozhikode, Kerala finished second against INC, got 374245 but lost by 146176 votes.

  1. Vaseef and KS Hamza of CPI(M), from Malappuram and Ponnani in Kerala respectively lost to IUML candidates.

Mohammed Faizal PP from Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar in Lakshadweep fought against Hamdulla Sayeed of INC and lost by 2647 votes.

Imtiaz Jaleel Syed, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, lost to Shiv Sena, by 134650 votes.

Mohammed Mubarak from All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Dindugal, Tamil Nadu stood second against CPI(M) candidate.

Md Salim, CPI(M), Murshidabad West Bengal, lost to Abu Taher Khan of TMC by 164215.

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News> Report / by Mohammed Atherulla Shariff (headline edited) / June 10th, 2024

Assam cop Moinul Islam pens poetry, essays on humanism

Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Leaders, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

ASSAM:

DIG Moinul Islam Mandal on duty
DIG Moinul Islam Mandal on duty

For a cop toughened by years of dealing with criminals, writing soft stories may seem an oxymoron of sorts. But for Moinul Islam Mandal, Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Dergaon Police Training College, there is no antithesis as his writings stem from the core belief that the “Truth will always prevail” and the perception that all religions are in harmony.

Having authored 18 essays that were compiled in a book, Aapun Jibonor Ortho Bisari (Finding the meaning of life). Mandal said that his essays are experiences and ideas that he garnered during his career as a policeman.

“These experiences molded my thought processes. The ideas germinated during my time as a policeman,” he said.

Moinul Islam Mandal during a book release function

Mandal said that most of his essays are based on the premise that the truth would always prevail –and he had attempted to offer both a scientific and philosophical reason behind this in his essays.

Citing an example he said that he had drawn a parallel of the human being with a computer. – “the organs are the hardware, what is imprinted in the brain is the software and our soul is the driver.”

His first essay was on the coronavirus, written during the lockdowns after the pandemic was declared in 2020 and there was plenty of time to write at the Dergaon PTC.

DIG Moinul Islam Mandal during a security operation

Mandal defines the Coronavirus in relation to nature and humans.

“It is about how the universe is run by natural law and that humans are also ruled by this same law. It also depicts how religion cannot be a separate entity from nature but is only an extended part of nature,” he said. This essay received a lot of feedback after it was published in the Asomiya Pratidin, an Assamese language newspaper.

“It encouraged me to write more and he wrote 17 more essays which were published in the newspaper,” Mandal said. And thus from a man who used to dabble in poetry, Mandal evolved into writing in-depth on soul-stirring topics.

Mandal said that he compiled the essays in a book after former IPS officer Pallab Bhattacharyya called him from Delhi to tell him how much he liked one of the essays, The Afghan Snow…   “I thought that over time, these essays would get lost, so I decided to preserve them in a book,” he said.

Explaining the title of the book, he said, “I had my perception of what life is. Likewise, everyone has his or her definition of life, and there are similarities of the thought process, a universality which everyone can relate to that I try to bring out in my writings, ” he said. Six of his essays in the book deal with the oneness of Hinduism and Islam.

Former deputy commissioner Ajit Kumar Bordoloi who released the book along with former Asam Sahitya Sabha president Dr Basanta Goswami said that these essays explore the relationship of religion with man, the Hindu Muslim divide, and the 19th essay in the book, Mussalman ne Muslim Manaxikota, needs the courage to write.

DIG Moinul Islam Mandal saluting the National Flag 

“People are now so involved in the religious rituals and this has polluted religion to such an extent that humanity which forms the basis of all religions has been suppressed to near extinction,” he said.

There is nothing different between Hindus and Muslims. With my knowledge of Islam and on the reading of the Gita I did not find anything that was against humanity. We are all humane and equal human beings. It is only after we divide ourselves into castes, religions, or languages that we become polluted,” he added.

Tracing his journey as a writer, he said that it all began during his college days in the Assam Agricultural University when he used to write poems and put them up on the wall of his hostel room. The other students encouraged me to write in the college magazine.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by Smita Bhattacharyya, Jorhat / February 2022

3rd Foundation Day of Manipuri Muslim Meira Paibis at Cachar – Bhaga, 5th October 2023 : All Manipuri Muslims Meira Paibi Sanstha, Cachar –

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Cachar District, ASSAM :

3rd Foundation Day of Manipuri Muslim Meira Paibis at Cachar
3rd Foundation Day of Manipuri Muslim Meira Paibis at Cacha

The Cabinet Minister of Transport, Excise & Fisheries, Government of Assam, Primal Suklabaidya has donated a sum of Rs. 5 Lakhs from his local area development fund for the welfare of the Manipuri Muslim Meira Paibis (Manipuri Muslim Torch bearing Mothers) operating in Cachar District of Assam.

The Minister has handed over the amount to the President of All Manipuri Muslims Meira Paibi Sanstha, Cachar, Assam Moinam Jubeda Begum on the occasion of the 3rd Foundation Day Celebration of the Sanstha held on the 5th October 2023 at Bhaga, Islamabad, Cachar District, Assam.

The Minister also announced a special package including development of the office complex of the Sanstha, construction of a public community hall and development of approach roads. Attending as the Chief Guest in the 3rd Foundation Day of the All-Manipuri Muslims Meira Paibi Sanstha, the Minister also took note of the acute shortages faced by the Meitei Pangal Communities in the District and assured the package in a very quick response to a memorandum submitted by the Meira Paibi Womenfolk during the occasion.

The galaxy of other eminent personalities from Assam and Manipur present in the foundation day include Principal of Moirang College, Manipur Dr Raheijuddin Sheikh, Retired Additional Secretary of Assam Nandababu Singha, Assistant Director of Textiles Lairellakpam Harilal Singha, Assistant Professor of S R College Dr Abul Khair Choudhury, Vice President of Federation of Civil Societies Organisations (FOCS), Manipur B M Yaima Shah and Lakhipur East Zila Parishad Kabrabam Anita Devi as special guests.

A two minutes silence was also observed by the gathering to mark the tribute to the two of the Manipuri Meira Paibi leaders viz Ima Memchoubi Devi who expired very recently and Ima Sitara Begum who passed away last year.

The FOCS also extended financial assistance to the Muslim Meira Paibi Sanstha of Cachar by donating a sum of Rs.10,000/- only which was handed over by the Vice President B M Yaima Shah to the president of the Sanstha – Moinam Jubeda Begum.

3rd Foundation Day of Manipuri Muslim Meira Paibis at Cachar
3rd Foundation Day of Manipuri Muslim Meira Paibis at Cachar

In his short address by the special guest from Manipur, Moirang College Principal Dr Raheijuddin Sheikh emphasised the role of Manipuri women in the social change which became a unique culture of the Manipuri Womenfolk which is not seen in any other parts of the World and dire need for support and preserve the culture for the welfare of the future generations.

The women’s participation in safeguard of the people has a long history which may be dated back to the monarchy system in Manipur which later became more significant after the women agitation broke out in 1904 and 1939 showing discontentment of the womenfolk against the British policy.

Beginning with the safeguard of their male counterparts and children as the informal Nishabandhi groups in the localities during 1970’s, the Meira Paibi has now emerged as one of the biggest forces to move for a social change, an indispensable force to safeguard the integrity, starting from the issues of drug abuse and illicit trafficking to the eradication of antisocial elements and now the Meira Paibis have come up with the strongest force to deal with the present unrest in Manipur.

In her key note address, Lakhipur Zila Parishad Anita Devi has reiterated that the Foundation Day is being observed every year since the year 2021 in various places where the Manipuri Muslims (Pangals) are inhabiting in the Cachar District.

The venue of the 3rd Foundation Day this year has been chosen at Bhaga, Islamabad as the sanstha intended to reach out the importance of services rendered by the torch bearing mothers in various field including eradication of antisocial elements, drug abuse, upliftment of the educational, social and economical status of the people belonging to this area of the district which is being considered as the most backward as compared to the Meitei Pangals of other areas in Cachar District.

3rd Foundation Day of Manipuri Muslim Meira Paibis at Cachar

Sanarei Bibi & Thanin Bibi / Publicity in Charge, 3rd Foundation Day
All Manipuri Muslim Meira Paibi Sangstha, Cachar, Assam

source: http://www.e-pao.net / E-Pao / Home> News section / Press Release 2023 / October 07th, 2023

Assam’s Ahmed Ali, Who Opened 9 Schools, Nominated for News18 Rising India Real Heroes of 2023

Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Khilorband (Patharkandi Village, Karimganj District), ASSAM:

By establishing nine schools with the money collected from driving an autorickshaw, Ali has helped bridge the gap between education and poverty in his community.

Ali started the first school in 1978 in his village Madhurband. (Photo: News18)

Ahmed Ali, from Assam’s Karimganj district, is a true inspiration for many, especially those who are determined to make a positive difference in their communities. Despite facing financial challenges, the 87-year-old decided to take matters into his own hands and established schools in his village to provide education to underprivileged children.

By establishing nine schools with the money collected from driving an autorickshaw, Ali has helped bridge the gap between education and poverty in his community. He understands that education is the key to unlocking opportunities and breaking the cycle of poverty. His schools offer affordable education to students who would otherwise not have access to it.

He is a resident of Khilorband, a marginal village of Patharkandi in the Indian state of Assam, bordering Bangladesh. Ali started the first school in 1978 in his village Madhurband. He sold some of his land and donated a part of the land to the school, on which it was built. Out of his 36 bigha land, he donated 32 bigha land for the construction of the school. Funding of the school is also done from its deposits, daily earnings and donations.

His high School was set up in 1990. In addition to it, he also established three lower secondary schools, five secondary schools and one higher secondary school. He hopes to establish a college in the future.

Besides donating his own land for the schools’ construction, Ali also works hard to keep them running. He drives a rickshaw during the day to earn a living, and at night, he cuts wood to help maintain the school’s finances. His dedication and hard work have made a significant impact on the education of many children in his community.

Ahmed Ali’s work has not gone unnoticed. He was nominated for the News18 Rising India Real Heroes Award in the education category, and he will be conferred with the award at the News18 Rising India Summit at the Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi on March 30.

His story has been shared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat,’ inspiring many others to take action in their own communities. Narendra Modi said, “I have come to know that a rickshaw puller named Ahmed Ali of Assam’s Karimganj district has opened nine schools for the education of poor children. It is a beautiful manifestation of the will of the people of our country.” Ali was also invited to Delhi as a speaker by an NGO Jookto.

source: http://www.news18.com / News 18 / Home> India / by Akhi Das, edited by Jessica Nani / March 29th, 2023

Assam’s lemon may lose its distinctive genetic characteristics: Sofia Banu

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Guwahati, ASSAM:

Prof Sofia Banu and the lemon of assam
Prof Sofia Banu and the lemon of assam

Assam’s lemon represents the core table fruit of every household in North East India. It is a very important part of the food of the region and stands out from the other lemons owing to its distinctive aroma and flavour.

Lemons from Assam are being exported to various parts of India and abroad because of its unique aroma and flavour.

A team of scientific researchers led by Professor of Gauhati University Sofia Banu has, however, sounded an alert that Assam’s lemon may lose its original distinctive genetic characteristics.

Sofia Banu has told Awaz-The Voice that lemon collected from 97 locations reveals that the lemon populations in Assam could be genetically diverse. She said that in-depth genetic diversity analysis of 510 samples from 97 locations has revealed some very intriguing findings for Assam lemon populations.

Lemon of Assam

“There is a high possibility that the samples studied may not be exact clones of the parent plant but may have arisen independently as other chance propagates. We have suggested that each existing population must be conserved as part of a comprehensive management strategy to maintain the lemon’s unique qualities and characteristics as hybridization is a natural tendency of citrus species,” Sofia Banu said.

According to Sofia Begum when it comes to Assam lemon conservation focus should be primarily on in-situ conservation techniques. The present study can act as a base for future efforts in breeding and conservation of this valuable cultivar of lemon, by assisting farmers and breeders in selecting genetically diverse plants for breeding programmes, thus promoting sustainable utilization, Begum said.

The lemon story in Assam began in 1956, when a chance seedling emerged from the progeny of the variety ‘Chi-na-kaghi’, collected from the village of Hahchora in eastern Assam’s Sivasagar district. This fortuitous event led to the birth of the Assam lemon, a lemon like no other, exuding an extraordinary aroma and flavour that set it apart from its counterparts.

The work carried out by Sofia Banu and her research scholars Raja Ahmed and Suraiya Akhtar of the Department of Bioengineering and Technology, Gauhati University, has been published in ‘Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution’ and has been highlighted by Nature India.

As a part of the export consignment, about 600 kg of lemons have been exported to London, UK from Assam. Taking to Twitter, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed happiness about the first consignment of the export plan.

“Happy to share that the first consignment of Assam lemon for export to the UK has been dispatched from Baksa. About 600 kg of lemons have been sent as part of an export commitment by the producer at the rate of Rs 30 per kg for about 80 tonnes over the next 2 months from Gati, Salbari”, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted. Earlier, a consignment of “Kazi Nemu” (Assam lemon) was exported from Guwahati to London.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Ariful Islam, Guwahati / November 06th, 2023

Waheeda Rahman revived traditional Assamese jewellery and started a venture

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

ASSAM:

Jewellery designer and enterpreneur Waheeda Rahman

National award-winning Waheeda Rahman not only sells traditional Assamese jewellery she also extricated the traditional jewelry from the brink of extinction by designing the same. 

Today Waheeda is a brand of traditional jewellery and her creations glitter in national and international markets.     

Traditional jewellery is the pride of Assamese culture as it has its unique features and values. Unfortunately, many traditional pieces were about to be lost to posterity – some have already vanished – when Waheeda intervened.

awaz
One of the jewellery pieces designed by Waheeda Rahman

Made of gold and lac, many traditional jewellery items were somewhat heavier and lacked resale value, so people reduced their use. Instead, they resorted to imported jewellery. 

As a result, the popularity of Assamese jewellery gradually declined.

Nearly three decades ago Waheeda Rahman started her journey of looking for the lost and extinct ornament designs of Assam. 

She travelled across Assam and collected the designs from Satras, manuscripts/ Sanchipaat, and Tai-Phake museum. 

She was shocked to find that most of them had become extinct from the market. Only 12 designs were still prevalent which included Motalukaporia, Kornoxingho, and Nogortul.

Waheeda Rahman with eminent personalities of Assam

“Since my childhood, I had a fascination for designs. I used to draw patterns on my Mathematics copy and later got caught by my teacher. Even though Mathematics was never my favourite subject, the teacher was my favorite. I used to admire the designs that I saw on the saris that my teacher wore. Then, I wasn’t quite sure that I would step into designing. But I was confident of doing something big for my Assam. Such confidence and determination have made me what I am today,” Waheeda Rahman told Awaz-The Voice.

Waheeda did in-depth research on Assamese traditional ornaments, their preparative techniques, and the causes that led to their disappearance. 

She later brought all the traditional jewellery pieces to the market. Waheeda applied a new technique for quality and yet never compromised with the original design.

“The processing makes a lot of difference. Diverting from the conventional technique of using gold or silver over lac, I make ornaments of pure gold or silver because lac degrades the quality of the minerals. My jewellery with innovative designs might be a little expensive, but it is an investment for a lifetime,” Waheeda said.

Waheeda not only revived traditional Assamese jewelry but also created more than 500 new designs. Some of her original designs include the Nangol, Jakoi, and Khaloi, designs made out of motifs of different tribes, buds of tea leaves, the mist in Sohra (Cherapunjee), and the Kopou Ful among many others.

Waheeda now runs a boutique “Waheeda Lifestyle Studio” where she not only sells traditional Assamese jewellery but also traditional dresses. 

She exports her jewellery to all major cities in India as well as New York, London, Australia, Germany, and several other European and Southeast Asian countries. She has created employment for many young boys and girls in the field of jewellery business.

Jewellery crafted by Waheeda Rahman

Waheeda’s journey from being a rescuer of Assamese jewellery, designer, and entrepreneur was not easy but full of challenges. 

“Initially the people did not accept my jewellery saying that it are not traditional. For the initial years, I had no buyers and faced severe financial difficulties to pay my craftsmen. Moreover, many people have a prejudiced mindset that girls cannot be in the jewellery business. It is a male bastion,” the President’s medal winner Waheeda said. 

But Waheeda’s work was appreciated and she was able to bring a revolution in the market of traditional Assamese jewellery.

“Jewellery designing is like miniature sculpture. It is not only about making one look good. It should bring forth the personality of a particular individual,” Waheeda said. “And for doing that, a lot of creativity goes into the metals.”

Waheeda is now planning to set up a school to train the younger generation to design and preserve traditional Assamese jewellery for the future.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Daulat Rahman & Munni Begum, Guwahati / October 28th, 2023

City-based Assamese poet Shaheen Akhtar wins literary award

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , , , , , , , , ,

Guwahati, ASSAM:

City-based Assamese poet Shaheen Akhtar has been awarded the ‘Independence Day Literary Honour’.

Shaheen Akhtar

Guwahati :

City-based Assamese poet Shaheen Akhtar has been awarded the ‘Independence Day Literary Honour’ by “Motivational Strips – World’s Most Active Writers Forum” in collaboration with the Gujarat Sahitya Academy (Under the Government of Gujarat).

Shaheen was declared as a recipient of the award “owing to her brilliance in poetry which is considered to be at par with world standards”.

The Independence Day Honour’ is conferred annually to the best poets worldwide jointly by the ‘Motivational Strips’ and the ‘Gujarat Sahitya Academy’ . The literary awards are given as a tribute to India’s Independence Day and the honor is considered as the most valued in the global poetic circle. Shaheen was accorded the honour on August 15, 2021.

The awarding procedure undergoes an exhaustive evaluation process, where the poet’s literary acumen, behaviour, global interactions and inclusions are taken into consideration before the recipient is conferred with the honour. A total of 440 poets from 82 countries were selected for this award.

‘Motivational Strips’ includes writers from more than 160 countries. The average visitors to this forum are beyond 7.2 million every month.

source: http://www.sentinelassam.com / The Sentinel / Home> Cities> Guwahati / by Sentinel Digital Desk / August 27th, 2021