Tag Archives: Positive News of Indian Muslims

City Muslim girl Sarah Rizvi takes Urdu route to IAS

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Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA :

Mumbai:

Sarah Rizvi has done her bit to issue a blow to the stereotype of the Muslim woman, moderately educated and socially subjugated, ensconced in hijab. She has cleared the IAS exam, ranking 86th among 734 successful candidates. More remarkably perhaps, she has achieved the feat with Urdu literature as one of her optional subjects.
 

“Urdu is my mothertongue. I learnt Urdu and Persian from my late grandfather, Khalid Hussain Khan, who was a lawyer in Uttar Pradesh. I have read Urdu poems and novels since childhood. My Urdu writing speed was bad but I wrote a page a day and that improved my pace of writing,’’ Sarah said. Mohammed Iqbal was, for her, the most difficult poet to understand. “But his shayeri is fabulous,’’ she said of the Kashmiri poet who wrote Sare Jahan se achchha, Hindustan hamara.
 

After finishing BCom from MMK College in 2003, Sarah attended a lecture on competitive exams by K M Arif, educationist and chairman of Alliance Foundation. That inspired her to go for the IAS. “I tried twice but could not clear even the preliminary stage. This was my third attempt and, masha Allah, I passed,’’ the 25-year-old said, adding that her success was the outcome of 10-12 hours of study a day.
 

While doing her BCom, Sarah also completed her foundation course in chartered accountancy. “I wanted to become a CA but Dr Arif suggested I study for the IAS exam instead. I was clueless about the exam procedure and the requisite study material but my family supported me,’’ she said. Sarah was also awarded a scholarship by MESCO, an NGO.
 

Sarah is now posted as section officer in the Haryana Accountant-General’s office.
 

Sarah’s father, Afzal Ahmed, a science graduate, and mother Nigar, an arts graduate from Aligarh Muslim University, run a small garments business.

Her elder brother, Wasif, a civil engineer, is working for a company in Dubai and Sarah’s twin sister, Sameera, a graduate in computer applications, from National College, is married and lives in Bahrain. “I feel more Mulims, especially women, should go for the competitive exams. Many women don’t even know what these exams are about but awareness is spreading,’’ Sarah said.
 

“This subject gives us an inside knowledge of government administration. And the topics are similar to the business administration course matter I read in college,” Sarah said, explaining why she chose public administration over accountancy as one of the optionals.
 

Sarah did her schooling from Canossa Convent School and St. Louis Convent High School in Andheri. She later joined CWC College for Commerce and Economics and eventually graduated from MMK College with 75.7 per cent marks.

(Courtesy Times of India)

source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home / by Mateen Hafeez, TNN (headline edited)

Girl Student Tops, The list of Muslim UPSC Candidates

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INDIA :

31 Muslims figure in the list of 791 recommended candidates.

New Delhi: 

A girl student topped the list of the successful Muslim UPSC candidates when the results were announced yesterday. Of the total 791 candidates recommended by the commission in its list for various government posts, 31 are Muslims and the girl student topping them in the list is among the top 100 Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) successful candidates.

According to the press release issued by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Sufiyah Faruqui ranking 20 in the list of 791 candidates is among the list of 100 toppers for which the results were announced by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) yesterday. Sufiyah is on top in the list of 31 Muslim candidates who figure in the list released by the commission that includes three other Muslim girls besides her.

While Sarfaraz Ahmad ranking 26, Shaid Iqbal ranking 51,Tamboli Ayyaz ranking 75 and Sadre Alam ranking 90 are other Muslims who are in the top 100 list, Koya Praveen ranking 120, Ayesha Rania ranking 139 and Sabiha Rizvi ranking 303 are the other three Muslim girls who stand in the list of 791 successful candidates.

The results were announced yesterday based on the written part of Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2008 held by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in October-November, 2008 and the interviews for Personality Test held in March-April, 2009.

A total of 791 candidates have been recommended by the commission for appointment including 364 General (including 13 Physically Challenged candidates), 236 Other Backward Classes (including 07 Physically Challenged candidates), 130 Scheduled Castes and 61 Scheduled Tribes candidates.

Owing to the poor representation of Muslims in the Union Public Service sector, the Muslim Institutions like Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Jamia Hamdard, Delhi and Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi are running special coaching classes for UPSC students since past three years.

“The result shows that Muslim representation for this year’s UPSC exams stands at 3.92%, a better progress compared to 3.6% in 2006 and 3.1% in 2007”, Omair Anas of Center for West Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University said to ummid.com adding, “However the achievement is still not at par and the institutions engaged in coaching the Muslim students for UPSC exams should pay special attention to contribute substantially in administrative services.”

The recommended candidates would be eligible for various coveted government posts including Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Central Services-Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’.

Appointment to the various services will be made according to the number of vacancies available with due consideration to the provisions contained in Rules 2 and 19 of the Rules of the Examination and subject to the final decision of the Supreme Court / High Court / C.A.Ts. on the S.L.Ps. / R.As/ W.Ps. O.As. pending therein.

The number of vacancies reported by the Government for the Indian Administrative Service is 120 (60 General, 33 Other Backward Classes, 17 Scheduled Castes and 10  Scheduled Tribes); for the Indian Foreign Service is 26 (13 General, 08 Other Backward Classes, 04 Scheduled Castes and 01 Scheduled Tribe); for the Indian Police Service is 130 (65 General, 36 Other Backward Classes, 20 Scheduled Castes and 09 Scheduled Tribes); for the Central Services Group ‘A’ is 546  (282 General, 146 Other Backward Classes, 81 Scheduled Castes and 37 Scheduled Tribes) and for Central Services Group ‘B’ is 59 ( 34 General, 13 Other Backward Classes, 08 Scheduled Castes and 04 Scheduled Tribes). This includes 20 vacancies for Physically Challenged candidates.

List of the 31 Muslim Candidates with their Ranks:

20: 002666: SUFIYAH FARUQUI

26: 010669: SARFARAZ AHMAD

51: 192126: SHAID IQBAL

75: 079564: TAMBOLI AYYAJ FAKIRBHAI

90: 001339: SADRE ALAM

120 003004 KOYA PRAVEEN

128: 024509: MASOOM ALI SARWAR

134: 003602: IMTIAZ ISMAIL PARRAY

139: 131443: AYESHA RANI A

169: 056251: ZIAUL HAQUE

244: 114573: ASHIQUZZAMAN

257: 043392: BASIR AHMED

303: 004357: SABIHA RIZVI

304: 010883: ANEES AHMAD ANSARI

353:008606 PATTAN IMTIYAZ KHAN

382: 010383: MASHHOOD UR REHMAN FAROOQUI

393: 104282: SHAHNAWAZ UL RAHMAN

398: 039145:0020: CHAN BASHA M

460: 102384: KAZI SUHAIL ANEESAHMED

472: 147935: T K SHIBU

499: 102579: TARIQ MABOOD

502: 051643: GEELANI BASHA K S M

523: 290928: R GULZAR BEGUM

540: 056907: MOHD SHAHID ALAM

546: 108290: MOHD FAIZAN NAYYAR

582: 303331: MAHFOOZUR REHMAN

595: 004523: MD SADIQUE ALAM

603: 002722: MD SALIK PARWAIZ

606: 018478: MD FAIZUL HAQUE

619: 079717: MOHAMMED YUSUF QURESHI

664: 055051: ABDUL HAKEEM M

source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home / by Staff Reporter / May 05th, 2009

Numismatist Ab Razzaque of Malegaon passes away

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Malegaon (Nashik District), MAHARASHTRA :

Ab Razzaque, a numismatist based in Malegaon, died due to brain hemorrhage Saturday September 7, 2024

Malegaon: 

Ab Razzaque, a numismatist based in Malegaon, died due to brain hemorrhage Saturday September 7, 2024, family sources said.

Ab Razzaque was a ‘hobby numismatist’ fond of collecting old currency notes, coins and postal stamps.

However, Ab Razzque had another distinction of collecting photographs, wedding cards and other such things of local residents, especially renowned personalities and historical figures, of Malegaon.

Another distinguishing feature of Ab Razzaque, was the background and historical accounts of the photographs of the people he had collected.

Abdul Razzaque was the only son of Dr Ramzan, founder of Maulana Azad School Malegaon.

He is survived by mother, and daughter Sana. Sana is a teacher at Rehnuma School in Malegaon.

Following is an article written by Editor ummid.com Aleem Faizee that was published in The Times of India Nashik on March 29, 2008.

A Frail Persona with a Strong Desire

Collecting the historical accounts for the future generation has always been a daunting task. Read on as Aleem Faizee interacts with a man who has not only collected rare photographs but has also memorized the history associated with them.

“Look. This is Ayesha Hakim, the former MLA of Malegaon sitting with then Chief Minister of the State Yashwantrao Chavan. This is Siddique Haji, the first child of the town who went for Hajj in his childhood. And look this is Sumayya, the first Muslim lady Bus-Conductor from Malegaon”, narrates Ab. Razzaque simultaneously picking up the photographs one by one from his huge collection.

Abdur Razzaq has collected hundreds of photographs of the Malegaonians who have contributed in any sort to the town in making what it is today.

Apart from having photographs depicting few of the historical events associated with the town, he also has under his possession some snaps of the people the world just doesn’t know they belong to the town.

More influencing than the unique collection is the way the young chap describes the historical accounts behind every photograph he collected after years of hard work and the quickness with which he recognizes them.

Ask him about any photograph and he immediately starts as if he is reading from a book. Displaying a photograph in which a musician is playing on a fluid, Razzak says:

“This is Zawwar Husain of Malegaon who played on the flute for Mohe Panghat Pe …, the famous song from Mughal-e-Azam.”

He picks up another photograph and goes on.

“This is yet another rare photograph showing Shahnawaz Bhutto, the grandfather of slain Former Premier of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto, sitting in the lawns of Malegaon Municipal Council with then Councilors.”

And then he rummages around into his collection for a while before ending with two photographs. Displaying the first, he says:

“This is the original snapshot showing the gravity of the flood that had stormed Malegaon in 1969.”

This is not the end. His commentary goes on.

“This was taken at 03:30 in the afternoon from the stairs of Sardar Talkies, which has recently been converted into a shopping complex.”

As soon as he ends with this annotation, he picks up the other snaps and continues:

“This is a pre-1863 photograph of Malegaon Municipal Council against the backdrop of the historic fort which was then carrying its activities in a small shack.”

Physically very frail and a stammer who stumbles while speaking, Razzaque is financially also like his physical self. But the desire for this unique habit keeps him going.

“My father was sitting with his friends. With some newspapers in front of them, they were discussing the importance of collecting the historical accounts for the future generation”, Razzaque who is planning to publish a book recalls.

“This prompted me to collecting these photographs and the stories behind them”, he said.

source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home> Life & Style> by Ummid.com Staff Reporter / September 07th, 2024

Remembering Maulana who hoisted Tricolour in front of 300 British cops

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Ludhiana, PUNJAB:

Prayers being offered at Jama Masjid in memory of Maulana Habib-ur-Rehman Ludhianvi. Tribune photo: Himanshu Mahajan

Ludhiana :

A prayer was organised at the local Jama Masjid in remembrance of Maulana Habib-ur-Rehman Ludhianvi, the man who stood up and raised his voice against the Divide and Rule policy of the British. Today, was his 68th death anniversary.

Maulana Habib-ur-Rehman Ludhianvi

Ludhianvi was one of the founders of Majlis-e-Ahrar-e-Islam and was the direct descendant of Shah Abdul Qadir Ludhianvi, who fought against the British colonial rule during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. In British records, he has been described as a fiery speaker who exercised considerable influence on people in the region.

In 1929, to oppose the idea of partition, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru hoisted the Tricolour on the banks of Ravi for the first time and at the same time, Ludhianvi hoisted the same flag at Jama Masjid in Ludhiana in the presence of over 300 British policemen and was arrested.

“When the entire nation was suffering under the Divide and Rule policy of the British, it was he who stood up and raised his voice,” said Mohammad Usman Rehmani Ludhianvi, the Shahi Imam of Punjab, remembering his great grandfather.

Voices calling out “Hindu paani lelo, Muslim paani lelo” were common at the railway stations as there were separate pitchers of water for the Hindus and the Muslims. But in 1929, Maulana Habib-ur-Rehman Ludhianvi raised his voice against this and protested at Ghaas Mandi Chowk, Ludhiana and, with the help of his volunteers, broke earthen pots.

As a result, the British government was forced to install one common pitcher at all railway stations across the country giving the message “sabka paani ek hai”. In this activity, nearly 50 volunteers were arrested and sent to jail, he shared.

“My great grandfather decided to stay back in this part of Punjab although many of their relatives migrated to Pakistan. He was deeply pained by the Partition and later in order to help women to get back to their respective families, he had set up a ‘Phir Basau’ committee. Thousands of women returned to their parents under this exchange programme,” he said. Maulana, though not a poet, was well-versed in poetry and used to host poetic evening once a month, he shared.

Subhash Chandra Bose took refuge for three days at his home while on his way to Japan. Similarly, Bhagat Singh’s mother, brother and sister also stayed at his place during the freedom struggle.

Habib-ur-Rehman had to spend 14 years in prison in various places including Shimla, Mianwali, Multan, Ludhiana and Dharamsala.

He was confined in cold places during winters and hot ones in summer. He contracted a serious infection in jail due to which he died on September 2, 1956.

source: http://www.tribuneindia.com / The Tribune / Home> Ludhiana / by Manav Mander / Tribune News Service / September 03rd, 2024

Actor Adil Hussain Honoured with 2024 Anandaram Dhekial Phukan Award

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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

Wins Viswakarma Award

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Mysuru, KARNATAKA :

City-based Rose Wood Inlay artiste Luqman Khan was presented with the Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay Viswakarma Award during an event organised by the Crafts Council of Karnataka at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath in Bengaluru recently.

Crafts Council of Karnataka Chairperson Mangala Narasimhan, former Additional Chief Secretary Chiranjeev Singh and Crafts Council of Karnataka Treasurer Mir Shafi Farooq were present on the occasion.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Gallery>Photo News / August 31st, 2024

The birth of a bank

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Chennai, TAMIL NADU:

A view of the Indian Bank headquarters on Rajaji Salai / Photo : R. RAGU

The Indian Bank recently launched its commemoration of its 100th year of business. But this month’s centenary is that of the collapse of Arbuthnot & Co., out of whose ruins there arose the Indian Bank.

The story of Arbuthnot’s and the bank that it ran has been narrated in this column before. Late last year, as the centenary year began, one part of it – the legal proceedings that followed – were narrated in detail in “the first full-length book on this spectacular financial catastrophe”, The Fall of Arbuthnot & Co., by Dr. Rangaswamy Srinivasan (EastWest Books). Today, I recall some of the key dates involved in the death of one bank and the birth of a new one.

It was on October 20, 1906, that P. Macfadyen, Arbuthnot’s correspondent and associate in Britain, committed suicide. On October 22, Arbuthnot’s petitioned the court to be declared insolvent and The Hindu reported that “a regular panic had taken hold of (the disappointed Creditors) and a rush was made to the High Court… “

V. Krishnaswami Aiyer, a young vakil at the time, taking his cue from a letter that had appeared in The Hindu, got together eight other like-minded persons and on November 2, 1906, they sent out a circular inviting the public’s views on the possibility of starting “a Native Bank in Madras”. Encouraged by the response they got, they called a public meeting on December 2 that was attended by 28 of the leading citizens of Madras. Out of these and subsequent deliberations emerged The Indian Bank Limited, registered on March 5, 1907 and opening its doors in Parry’s building on August 15th that year.

That Indian Bank was the second Indian bank to be established in Madras.

The first, the Madras Central Urban Cooperative Bank, was established on September 16, 1905. Other Indian banks, however, had been founded in the Madras Presidency before these two. They included the Tanjore Permanent Fund, now the Thanjavur Bank, started in 1901; the South Indian Bank, started in Tirunelveli in 1903; and the predecessor of the present City Union Bank, Kumbakonam, in 1904. Also predating the Indian Bank were the Canara Banking Corporation, Udipi, now the Corporation Bank, and the Canara Hindu Permanent Fund, now the Canara Bank, both started in 1906.

The eight who signed the circular Krishnaswami Aiyer drafted were :

H. Mohamed Abdul Azeez Badshah Saheb, Senior Partner of the firm with the same name and Hony. Consul for Turkey; Muraleedoss; T. Seetharama Chetty, Senior Partner of Moses & Co.; M.A. Kuddus Badshah Saheb; M. Jamal Mohideen and Co.; V. Bashyam Iyengar, High Court vakil and a former Judge of the Court; and P.R. Sundara Iyer, High Court vakil.

When the Bank was floated, its first Directors included four of these signatories – Seetharama Chetty, Azeez Badshah, Muraleedoss (Ramdoss) and Krishnaswami Aiyer.

Their fellow Directors were Lodd Govindoss, C.P. Ramaswami Aiyar, a High Court vakil at the time; Dewan Bahadur M. Adinarayanan Iyer, retired Deputy Settlement Commissioner; and two Nattukottai Chettiars, Rm.M.St. Chidambaram Chettiar and Dewan Bahadur S.Rm.M. Ramaswamy Chettiar, representing the community which substantially funded the Bank.

Ramaswamy Chettiar was the elder brother of Annamalai Chettiar who was to receive the title Rajah and who was to play a major role in the bank in his later years.

Of the 74 Directors of Bank up to nationalisation in 1969, thirty were Nattukottai Chettiars.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu – The Metro Plus Chennai, Online edition / October 09th, 2006

Dr. Hafeez Rahman to Receive Prestigious 15th Manappuram Multibillionaire Business Achiever Award

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KERALA :

Dr. Hafeez Rahman, Chairman of Sunrise Hospitals, will be honored with the prestigious 15th Manappuram Multibillionaire Business Achiever (MBA) Award. The award ceremony is set to take place at the Le Meridien Hotel in Kochi on June 9th. With this accolade, Dr. Hafeez Rahman will join the exclusive Federal International Chamber Forum (FICF), the world’s richest club, where members have a minimum asset threshold of 1000 crores (Indian Rupees).

The FICF is a distinguished guild of MBA awardees, celebrating exceptional business minds. It aims to leverage their ideas for societal betterment, standing as an inspiration for entrepreneurs by representing outstanding business achievements and excellence, while actively contributing to social causes.

A globally renowned laparoscopic surgeon, Dr. Hafeez Rahman began his career in 1992. He founded the Sunrise Group of Hospitals in 2005, which now operates branches in both the UAE and India. Sunrise Hospital, a tertiary care multi-speciality hospital and prominent laparoscopic center in Kochi, is well-known for its community outreach programs in schools, villages, and civilian bodies, promoting preventive medicine and healthy lifestyles.

Previous recipients of the MBA Award include notable figures such as Shri V P Nandakumar, Shri Joy Alukkas, M A Yusuf Ali, Shri T S Kalyanaraman, Shri P. N. C. Menon, Mr. Gokulam Gopalan, Dr. Ravi Pillai, Mr. M P Ramachandran, Kochouseph Chittilappilly, Sabu M Jacob, Dr. Viju Jacob, Dr. A V Anoop, Dr. Varghese Kurian, and Adv. Dr. P Krishnadas.

Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright

source: http://www.uniquetimes.org / Unique Times / Home> Business> Featured> Latest News / May 21st, 2024

Business Badshas

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Chennai, TAMIL NADU :

The trade, commerce, politics, and history of south India have been shaped by several powerful individuals and families.

The proprietor of the mica mines examines the accounts at the Kuddusabad camp

Chennai :

The trade, commerce, politics, and history of south India have been shaped by several powerful individuals and families. Among the names that made it to the list, the Badsha family — members of the Urdu Muslim mercantile elite — were one of the leaders in extending business relationships to places like Arabia, Egypt and Japan.

In a tete-a-tete with the fourth-generation descendants, Faiz Badsha Sayeed and Faud Badsha Sayeed, we find out more about perhaps one of the oldest families to establish a strong base in Triplicane, their life in the Madras Presidency and their omnipresence in south Indian history.

Hand-drawn carts were taken up hills and through jungles to reach the mica mines

 By 1819, Haji Mohammed Badsha Sahib established their family firm — a textile company, Messrs H Mohammed Badsha Sahib & Co.

By the early 20th century, the family also became leading importers of Manchester cotton goods and exported indigo, tamarind, mica and Madras cotton piece goods to Britain. “He was one of the richest businessmen in South…he was also giving and god fearing. If we, his great-grandchildren are doing well in life, I believe it is because of all the good deeds our ancestors did,” he said, adding that his great-grandfather, was also known as ‘Mallikutujar’, the head of merchants.

He hands us a picture of a man clad in a tunic and turban, and says, “That’s our grandfather, MA Khuddus Badsha Sahib, the seventh son of Haji Mohammed Badsha. My grandfather and his brother Abdul Azeez Badsha Sahib, were born in the building located in Vallabha Agraharam Street — the Broadlands lodging house which was previously the Turkish Consulate in Madras. Our great grandfather built it in the 1800s,” shares Faiz with a child-like enthusiasm.

After H Mohammed Badsha Sahib’s retirement in the early 1870s, his sons took over his business. The duo, Abdul Azeez Badsha and Khuddus Badsha, served as the Consul and Vice-Consul at the Turkish Consulate in Madras and were popularly known as the ‘Badsha brothers’ and epitomised leadership. “My grandfather purchased the area constituting Triplicane-Wallajah Road, Khas Mahal – ‘The Old palaces of Nawabs’ while Abdul Azeez Badsha Sahib purchased the entire Gemini complex. Some of the fourth-generation descendants still live in and around the area,” he says.

Faiz shares that Khuddus Badhsa owned a piece of land in Mecca. “Unlike Azeez Badsha, my grandfather never performed the Haj but, he sent my grandmother along with my father to perform the Haj. After they returned, she fell ill and requested my grandfather to build a tap in the zamzam well in Mecca. After a lot of back and forth through telegrams, the tap was finally built and shortly after that, my grandmother passed away. That was probably her last wish,” he says.

He hands us a sheet which reads, ‘No more loyal subject of the King-Emperor or more respected Member of the Mohammadan Community will be the guest of the Madras government at Delhi for the Imperial Coronation Durbar’. “Our grandfather was invited to the Imperial Durbar between the late 19th century and early 20th century. He, along with his brother, actively took part in several organisations and they were philanthropists,” he says. The Government of India even conferred Azeez Badsha Sahib with the title of ‘Khan Bahadur’ in recognition of his public services.

From being the trustee of the Madras Port Trust, vice-president of the South Indian Chamber of Commerce to the vice-president of the South Indian Athletics Association, Khuddus Badsha wore many hats. “He was also one of the founders of the Indian bank,” shares Faud.

Khuddus Badsha bought thousands of acres of land across the south. While some were turned to cultivation lands or passed on to the next generation, most are under court litigation. “After land reforms and the abolition of zamindari system, a huge portion of the land was taken by the government,” he says.


Over the years, the descendants have shown little evidence of their past glory, living a simple and unassuming life. “My father and his siblings took to other professions.

He was a doctor and one of his siblings was a barrister, who was tutored by Dr Radhakrishnan!

We have our daily jobs and live a normal yet happy life. We have learned to work hard and be giving, especially towards those who are less privileged,” shares Faiz.

Mica business
Khuddus Badsha possessed several ‘Shrotriems’, ‘Jaghris’, diamond mines and was a pioneer in the mica industry. He owned mines in Pinnamitta, Chennur and Khuddusabad, a village in Nellore district named after him. “Mica exhibitions were curated, and he also ran a Mica showroom in Triplicane. The Wallajah Mosque compound is where the factory/mica workshop manufactured mica daily basis. We even found bits of Mica in the house’s well,” shares Faiz.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Chennai / by Roshne Balasubramanian / September 27th, 2013

A legacy left behind

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Chennai, TAMIL NADU :

Step into a time capsule as we walk you through the four-generation history of Triplicane’s Broadlands hotel, which was once the Turkish Consulate in Madras.

Chennai :

On an evening rush hour, I am standing amid the choked Triplicane high road — a concrete jungle with nothing but chaos, that’s often romanticised as ‘glorious traffic’. Trying to find my way to a famous heritage hotel, a haven for weary travellers from across the globe, I walk across the ‘burqa’ shops and hotels and a few minutes later, I reach ‘Broadlands’ lodging house, located in the quaint Vallabha Agraharam street. Standing in front of the facade of the unassuming building erected in the 19th century, we are welcomed by a board mounted on the wall right above the sit out, which reads: ‘Welcome, Namaste! Traveller!’.

As soon as we enter the building, it seems like we have stepped inside a time capsule — multiple courtyards, shutter windows and doors, stained glasses from a bygone era, antique furniture, crumbling lime plaster walls and a comforting blue, green and pink paint give us a welcoming taste of its old world charm. An enthusiastic staff member welcomes us and while we wait to meet its owner, the friendly banter of the guests keeps us engaged.

Clad in a red t-shirt and jeans, Krishna Rao, the third generation owner of the lodge welcomes us in. “My grandfather was from Andhra but had strong business ties here,” he says. According to Krishna, the building came into the family’s possession as part of a business deal or a bank auction. “Unfortunately, most Indian families have neglected to educate the next generations about their origins and history. So, what I know of this building’s history is very limited,” he explains.

Krishna Rao’s family came into possession of the building in 1951 from the ‘Badsha’ family, post which it was converted into a hostel and later into a lodge. “Law college students used to stay here when it was a hostel. Many even went on to become Supreme Court judges in the 90s and 2000s. This building is now a part of our family’s legacy and we haven’t changed anything here. Everything is intact, just like how we got it. With occasional maintenance and renovation work, the building is in great condition,” he beams as he walks us through the building.

Paintings and photographs from travellers are mounted on walls and as we progress from one courtyard to another (of a total three), it’s evident that the house gets bigger as we go further. “The current entrance of the building used to be the back or servant entrance before we took over the building. The main entrance opens to the big mosque but, we have always kept that closed. That’s why this part of the building is bigger,” he explains as we go up the labyrinth staircase.

“We really don’t know what the original history of the building is. Perhaps the previous owners could shed light on that,” he says, as we stand on the terrace of the building, watching the sunset, with a view of the big mosque, LIC building, Secretariat and Raheja Towers.

As questions of the larger part of the origin of the building shroud us, Krishna Rao offers us the number of a 66-year-old Faiz Badsha Sayeed, a fourth generation descendant of the Badsha family.A couple of phone calls later, along with Krishna, we land at the house of Faiz, in Triplicane.

Seated in the hall with a stack of old photographs, a trade book about the family’s Mica business, Faiz along with his elder brother Faud walk us through the history of the building, which once was a link between Madras and Turkey. The now Broadlands was once the ‘Le Consulat de Turquie a Madras’ or the Turkish Consulate in Madras! Faiz narrates, “Our great grandfather Haji Mohammed Badsha Sahib is where the family root began. He was a very ‘normal man’ but, he got lucky when a piece of cloth, possibly indigo dyed, fetched him a fortune from Britain.”

The history of the building which once opened its gates to foreign dignitaries is lost somewhere in time. “We are old and there’s only so much we can recollect about its history. We hope that the next generation takes it up and tries to document more about the heritage of the building and the family,” says Faiz, as he shows us a vintage picture of the consulate in all its glory, taken from the main entrance. “It’s funny that we have never been inside the building. We would like to visit Broadlands someday,” smiles Faiz looking at Krishna as he gives an affirming nod.

Trivia

Haji Mohammed Badsha went on to become one the richest businessman in South India and founded the Messrs H Mohammed Badsha Sahib & Co, a leading textile firm. “He was the one who built this building back in the 1800s. It was also his personal residence and my grandfather MA Khuddus Badsha Sahib and his brother Abdul Azeez Badsha Sahib were born in that building,” shares Faiz about his grandfather Khuddus, who was the seventh son of Mohammed Badsha. “He was also one of the founders of the Indian Bank and served as the Vice-Consul at the Turkish Consulate in Madras. This is just the tip of the iceberg Berg, he wore several hats,” beams Faiz.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Travel / by Roshne Balasubramanian / March 24th, 2018