Monthly Archives: April 2014

Irrfan Khan scores over ‘The Grandmaster’

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, World Opinion, , ,

Irrfan Khan has just returned from Macau with the best actor and best screenplay trophies for The Lunchbox at the Asian Film Awards. 

Irrfan Khan
Irrfan Khan

What makes this award precious is that he beat Toni Chiu Wai Leung who was nominated in the best actor category for the Wong Kar Wai film, The Grandmaster.

“I’ve loved Toni’s work—Hero, In the Mood for Love, Chunking Express, Infernal Affairs and The Grandmaster. Even Ang Lee was impressed with The Grandmaster, which picked up the best film and best costume awards. Just being nominated with Toni was an honour,” he exults.

“What’s more encouraging is that The Lunchbox is growing everyday. It has released in around six countries, will open in 63 more. It’s just released in the UK, is growing bigger in the US, and has made a million in Hong Kong. This has never happened for an Indian film. It’s not patronised by only NRIs but the foreign market too.”

Still disappointed about missing out on the Oscar glory? “I was, for a day or two. Now, I’m happy the film is getting its due all over the world,” he asserts.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Entertainment> Bollywood / by Roshmila Bhattacharya, Mumbai Mirror / March 29th, 2014

Shazia baaji an icon

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues

Aruti Naya traces the journey of Shazia Ilmi from a middle class Muslim home to the electronic media

For Shazia Ilmi, Senior Anchor, Star TV, Chandigarh was a pleasant surprise, coming as she was after almost a decade. As she puts it, “The city compares favourably with any metro, it is amazing.”

In the city for the programme Match ke mujrim, for Star, which had to be hurriedly refocused because there were no mujrims! The audience was the students on the PU campus at Gandhi Bhavan, who went berserk after the cricket team’s win as Shazia talked to them after the match. “Each of them wanted the name of their department mentioned. Syed Kirmani and Bishan Singh Bedi who were on the live show could barely get a word in, says she.

Thirty-three-year-old Shazia has very good memories of the city because for this student of St. Bede’s, the city was a frequent stopover during the journey to the college in Shimla after the vacations. Shazia’s journey from a girl from a conservative Muslim family of Kanpur to a profession in the electronic media with a high visibility quotient was not easy. She had to persist and doggedly keep doing what she wanted to because no woman in her entire clan had ever worked. In fact, her mother still wears a burqa.

It was her father, the founder-editor of the oldest and largest-selling Urdu daily from Kanpur, Siyasat Jadid, who was her role model and Shazia always wanted to be a journalist. After schooling from St. Mary’s in Kanpur and Nainital and college from St. Bede’s, Shimla, it was mass communication from Jamia Millia Islamia and finally a diploma in broadcast journalism from University of Wales, Cardiff.

The youngest in a family of four brothers and two sisters, she was expected to marry comfortably and settle down or at best (since she was academically bright) become an IAS officer. But as she puts it, “When you have so many problems with the system, how can you become a part of it? Freedom is not economic alone, it is the freedom to make a choice and do what you want to from your heart.”

Five years hence Shazia sees herself in politics. Covering politics was very stimulating for her, especially elections in Bihar and Maharashtra. She travelled through the length and breadth of the states to get the views of people especially at the grassroots for the programme Maratha Express. She is also into programming, writing and production.

Shazia does not believe that “it is not a natural progression for an idealist to become a cynic. In fact, you can retain your idealism.” And she did not view marriage as a passport to a better life and even to happiness.

Icons who she looks up to, Kalpana Chawla and Kiran Bedi because, “They won respect for being action-oriented and decisive.”

Shazia is upbeat about the changes being wrought by the electronic media, it is changing the way the young are looking at themselves. The resonance of this changed perception echoes even in the bylanes of Chamnganj, Kanpur, when Rabia, who has never stepped out, tells her “Shazia baaji, please find out about Frankfinn, I want to become an airhostess,” At least, girls are thinking and dreaming.

In Kanpur Shazia baaji is an icon. Married to investment banker Sajid Mallik, half-Gujarati Muslim and half-Tamil Iyer, Shazia is emotionally dependent upon her extremely supportive husband. Shazia is not overtly religious but is into spirituality and meditation, still seeking answers. How does she distress, “I do not distress. Stress suits me fine and brings out the best in me.”

source: http://www.tribuneindia.com / The Tribune / Home> Lifestyle / Chandigarh – Sunday October 30th, 2005 

The Biography of Sazia Ilmi, a prominent Team Anna Member

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

Sazia Ilmi is a prominent member of Team Anna and one of the beautiful faces in the Indian Media. A Former Anchor in Star TV and  a noted  Journalist, she is now the urbane, Muslim, media-savvy face of Team Anna.

ShaziaIlmiMPos01apr2014

Born in 1970 to a middle class Muslim Family in Kanpur, she did her schooling from St. Mary’s in Kanpur and Nainital and college from St. Bede’s, Shimla.

Her Father was  the founder-editor of the oldest and largest-selling Urdu daily from Kanpur, Siyasat Jadid.

The youngest in a family of four brothers and two sisters, she was expected to marry comfortably and settle down or at best (since she was academically bright) become an IAS officer. But as she puts it, “When you have so many problems with the system, how can you become a part of it? Freedom is not economic alone, it is the freedom to make a choice and do what you want to from your heart.”

She is married to an investment banker Sajid Mallik, half-Gujarati Muslim and half-Tamil Iyer, Shazia is emotionally dependent upon her extremely supportive husband.  For her famous women like Kalpana Chawla and Kiran Bedi are source of Inspiration and possibly this is the reason she joined Team Anna.

ShaziaMPos01apr2014

She is the Media Face for Team Anna. Whether it is Press Briefing or Television Debates it is Sazia who plays a prominent role.  Being on TV is Ilmi’s core competence. She has done it for 15 years, as political correspondent and news anchor. Sometime in 2010, she contracted a condition prevalent among working journalists of a certain vintage—a crisis of purpose. “I was done with mouthing inanities night after night,” Ilmi says.

She also plays her familiarity with Delhi’s media and political class to Team Anna’s advantage. Many decision makers in TV newsrooms are friends, former colleagues, or were fellow beat reporters. “I understand how the system works. And I know the media well. I have seen all the power broking and the wheeling-dealing,” she says.

Recently she was  nominated to be part of a media contingent travelling with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Mexico and Brazil but the proposal was withdrawn amid opposition from her brother.

source: http://www.news.biharprabha.com / Bihar Prabha / Home> Nation / by BP Staff / August 02nd, 2012

Capturing beauty of historical monuments

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Travel & Tourism, , , , ,

Private collectors across the world possess Mohammed Ayaz-ud-Din’s photographs

Mohammed Ayaz-ud-Din
Mohammed Ayaz-ud-Din

Gulbarga, Karnataka : 

The story of lensman Mohammed Ayaz-ud-Din hailing from a remote village in Gulbarga district is an example of how dogged perseverance can take a person to the pinnacle in his profession.

Mr. Ayaz-ud-Din, who was born in a middle class family in Gadikeshwar village of Chincholi taluk, is making waves in the world of photography. Many of his works are owned by private collectors across the world.

Mr. Ayaz-ud-Din completed his post-graduation in photography from the College of Visual Arts, Gulbarga. He has a passion for historical monuments, and his photographs of Khajuraho Temple, Bodhgaya, and Ajmer, and the monuments in North Karnataka have won him laurels not only in India, but also in countries such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The prizes he has received include the All India Exhibition Best Photography Award in 1990; award in the PAC Salon Photography Competition: Best Photography Award during Mysore Dasara in 2000; Tasmiya Art House Best Photography Award; Best Photography Award in the Awantika Art Exhibition in New Delhi. Mr. Ayaz-ud-Din’s love for photography took him from the expansive deserts of Rajasthan to the Khajuraho Temple and fashion shows in Sharjah. Al Sayegh Graphic Company appointed him graphic designer and still photographer in Sharjah for a period of three years from 1991.

Mr. Ayaz-ud-Din helped Mexican researcher Nora Fisher for during her research work on the lives of Lambada women.

His private gallery, “Ayaz Art Gallery,” which will be the second of its kind in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region, is scheduled to be inaugurated next week. Mr. Ayaz-ud-Din has made documentaries on artists, including former Minister Ghorpade, J.S. Khanderao, and Mr. Patil, and also on the Khaja Bande Nawaz Darga and Sharanabasaveshwar Temple in Gulbarga city. He is the founder president of the National Graduate Art and Photography Association.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Karnataka – Gulbarga / by Special Correspondent / Wednesday – May 03rd, 2006

Historical monuments to receive a facelift

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Travel & Tourism

The works will be taken up under NKUSIP

Majestic: The tomb of Allaudin Hasan Gangu Bahamani, founder of the Bahamani dynasty, in Gulbarga will be one of the monuments to get a facelift.
Majestic: The tomb of Allaudin Hasan Gangu Bahamani, founder of the Bahamani dynasty, in Gulbarga will be one of the monuments to get a facelift.

Gulbaraga, Karnataka :

Some of the monuments in Gulbarga, which date back to the 14th century, are all set for a facelift under the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-assisted North Karnataka Urban Sector Investment Programme (NKUSIP).

Deputy Project Director of NKUSIP, G.M. Chowdhary, told The Hindu here on Thursday that it had been proposed to give a facelift to the three tombs of the founder of the Bahamani dynasty Allaudin Hasan Gangu Bahamani; Jamia Masjid, constructed on the model of the great mosque of Cordova in Spain inside the Gulbarga Fort; another masjid Sheikh Roza Minar; and Chor Gumbuz, an imposing vacant tomb on the outskirts of Gulbarga city. Also, a heritage track from the government museum to Hafth Gumbuz covering a distance of 1.8 km has been proposed.

Mr. Chowdhary said the total cost was estimated at Rs. 2.01 crore. The work would begin in July.

Proposals

As per the proposals, the approach road to tomb no. 1 of Allaudin Hasan Gangu Bahamani would be improved at a cost of Rs. 7.15 lakh along with restoration of the entrance and walkway from the main gate to tomb at a cost of Rs. 1.91 lakh; illumination and beautification of the outside of the tomb by providing solar lamps would cost Rs. 2.88 lakh. Besides, landscaping and drinking water facilities would be provided at a cost of Rs. 2.92 lakh.

Mr. Chowdhary said that at tomb no. 2, Rs. 6.15 lakh would be spent for improving the area around the tomb and illumination and beautification of the place. At tomb no. 3, Rs. 8.42 lakh would be spent on improving the approach road, entrance to the tomb, construction of compound wall, providing flooring in the tomb and seating arrangements around the tomb for visitors and illumination of the tomb. A sum of Rs. 12.35 lakh would be spent for improving facilities at the Jamia Masjid inside the fort. This included development of landscaping with walkways and seating arrangements at a cost of Rs. 7.37 lakh; providing drinking water facility at a cost of Rs. 2.1 lakh and illumination and beautification outside the masjid at a cost of Rs. 2.88 lakh. A sum of Rs. 1.3 crore would be spent on laying a heritage track of 1.8 km.

Besides, Rs. 3.64 lakh would be spent for improving facilities at Sheikh Roza Minar and Rs. 20.43 lakh on the Chor Gumbuz, one of the important landmarks in Gulbarga city. Also, Rs. 5.38 lakh would be spent for improving facilities at the government museum.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Karnataka – Gulbarga / by Special Correspondent / Saturday – June 04th, 2011

Lensman pays pictorial tribute to monuments

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Travel & Tourism, , , ,
Many layers to it:The interiors of the Jama Masjid captured by photographer Mohammed Ayazuddin Patel and published in his book, ‘Monuments of Gulbarga: Treasure of Islamic Architecture'.
Many layers to it:The interiors of the Jama Masjid captured by photographer Mohammed Ayazuddin Patel and published in his book, ‘Monuments of Gulbarga: Treasure of Islamic Architecture’.

Gulbarga , Karnataka :

Mohammed Ayzuddin Patel, an eminent photographer, has come out with a pictorial tribute to the monuments in Gulbarga district in a book titled ‘Monuments of Gulbarga: Treasure of Islamic Architecture’.

The 96-page book has some rare photographs of the historic monuments in Gulbarga district. This is for the first time that a serious attempt had been made to bring out the breathtaking beauty of these heritage structures in the form of a book. This private initiative is supported by Qamarul Islam, Gulbarga North MLA.

The book was released by Union Minister for Tourism Subodh Kant Sahay during the Gulbarga Utsav on April 15.

One of the features of this book, printed on glossy paper, is the brief historic background of the monuments on each page. The book contains photographs of the crumbling yet imposing tomb of the founder of the Bahamani dynasty, Allauddin Hassan Gangu Bahamani, tucked away in a remote corner in Gulbarga city. This monument, under the control of the State Department of Archaeology and Museums, was a picture of neglect till Mr. Patel took it up with the authorities and the Archaeology Department started conservation work.

Another striking photograph is that of the historic Jama Masjid inside the Gulbarga Fort.

The imposing structure is shown before and after restoration. The book also contains photographs of the interiors of the masjid from different angles. The book also has photographs of the dargah of Hazrat Shaikh Sirajuddin Junaidi, who had come to Gulbarga even before the Bahamani kingdom was established.

The book contains rare photographs of the “mysterious” fort at Holkonda on the outskirts of Gulbarga city with many tombs inside it. The book has some rare photographs of the Nizams of Hyderabad and also the train used by them to visit Gulbarga in summer.

However, Mr. Patel says that only a few monuments have been printed in the book and hundreds of others hidden away from the public need to be brought to the limelight for conservation.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Karnataka-Gulbarga / by Special Correspondent / Sunday – May 01st, 2011

A story in pictures

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Travel & Tourism, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

BOOK Monuments of Gulbarga is a book that captures ancient art and architecture through photographs.

Gulbarga01-31mar2014

Domes, tombs, minars , forts, moats and off-course masjids . Are you thinking of Delhi? Why travel thousands of kilometres to experience the reminiscences of the sultanate? Prefer going to Gulbarga, a night’s journey from Bangalore. Instead, feel every bit of Gulbarga’s history by just turning the pages of a book. “Monuments of Gulbarga, Treasure House of Islamic Architecture”, a photo-book authored by Mr. Mohammed Ayazuddin Patel gives you this experience.

Gulbarga, now a district headquarters in northern Karnataka, was the capital city of Bahamani Sultanate for two centuries. It was at its zenith in the 15{+t}{+h}century and was home to hundreds of monuments. The Sultanate was founded by Bahaman Shah or Allauddin Hasan Gangu. He shifted the capital from Daulatabad in the present-day Maharashtra to Gulbarga and laid the foundation for a magnificent city. The other great kings of the dynasty were Mohammed Shah and Mujahid Shah.

Resembles Spain`s Mezquita

The book provides a pictorial account of the history of the Bahamani kingdom. Beginning with a nostalgic photo of a tomb of Allauddin Hasan Gangu Bahamani, the founder of the dynasty, the book vividly portrays the beautiful Gulbarga fort, its ramparts, fine arches and abutments. The Jama Masjid, built within the fort, resembles the Great Mosque of Cordova (Mezquita) in Spain with grand corridors and lofty entrance. Various pictures of Shahi Jama masjid in the book unfurl a tableau in front of the onlooker. This masjid located in Shahbazaar was constructed for the members of the royal family. ‘It has a unique architectural style of Mughals and the Persian style’, the book says.

The mausoleums of Mujahid Shah, Daud Shah, Ghiyat-al-din Shah, and Shams-al-din resemble that of Hasan Gangu. Unique is the Tomb of Feroz Shah, with intricate jalis and twin domes. The pictures of 800-year-old Holkonda fort capture the Islamic culture and the simplicity of Tughlaq style aptly. This fort houses an idgah and a Dargah of Hazarath Mohamad Mashaq Sahib, a Sufi saint believed to have come to Gulbarga at the request of Bahamani Sultans.

Gulbarga is famous for the tombs of Sufi saints and Pirs . Noted among them is Dargah of Khaja Bande Nawaz Gesudaraz, built by Mohammad Shah Bahamani. It has a Bijapuri arch built by Afzal Khan, army general of the Ailshahis. Other Sufi tombs being Dargah Khabullah Hussaini with beautiful paintings and calligraphy, Dargah Hazarath Kamal-e-Mujarrad and Dargah Hazarath Shaik Sirajuddin Junaidi.

Majestic, but dilapidated is the Ferozabad fort, built by Feroze Shah Bahamani. He was known for his flair for fine-arts and architecture. This fort, on the banks of Bheema river, encompasses a huge mosque, Tosha khana , and palacial buildings. In spite of its beauty and historical significance, this fort is ill-maintained. Arrays of dung cakes adorn the walls of the sepulchral edifices. Weed-infested mahals are on the verge of collapse due to vagaries of nature. Crumbling structures like Kanchini Mahal, once magnificent and awe-inspiring narrate a story of wanton negligence.

The Chor Gumbad with floral designs, Chand Bibi Gumbad or Kali Gumbad with exquisite Chajjas andJalis , Upli Gumbad – incomplete, yet beautiful, the utterly neglected tomb of Jaccha Bibi, the Siddi Ambar Gumbad with a rectangular porch, are only a few identified among tens of such monuments wailing for attention.

Water conservation

The photos of Hirapur form an interesting set. Hirapur, a suburb of Gulbarga has Ibrahim Adil Shahi Jama Masjid, built in black stone decorated with immaculate designs.

The town has wells, embedded with finely crafted staircases, jharokas and of all, ingenious technology of water conservation to avoid excessive evaporation in soaring temperatures. The wells are still seen as an evidence of splendour, but grossly uncared for.

Strewn inside the fort and atop the bastions are numerous canons, cast in brass and other alloys, weighing several tons, flaunting an intimidating appearance. Famous among these canons is Baragazi Toop atop the Burj in the fort.

Gulbarga is dotted with tombs and mausoleums lost in history, beckoning the curious eyes with their regality. This book displays a tableau of medieval Islamic culture and gives a splendid account of the forgotten monuments. The author also gives an account of Hindu and Jain monuments and pilgrim centres. Patel dedicates quite a bit to the revered Sharanabasaveshwara Temple, Sannati Chandralamba Temple, Ganagapura Dattatreya Temple, and Mallinatha Basadi at Malkhed, but, there is no reference to the nearly 700 year-old-shrine of the Madhwa saint Jayateertha on the banks of river Kagina at Malkhed, a major pilgrim centre.

BookGulbarga31mar2014

Patel, a national award winner, also records Aiwan-e-shahi, Osmania Intermediate College, MSK Mills established in 1884 by the Nizams. He is President of National Graduate Art and Photographers Association.

TAMRAPARNI R. RAGHAVENDRA

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Friday Review / by Tamraparni S. Raghavendra / March 28th, 2014

Religious history should be subjected to a scientific approach: Irfan Habib

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, ,

Irfan Habib, Professor Emeritus at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), is a doyen of historical research. Speaking with Eram Agha, Habib discussed challenges like religious fundamentalism facing researchers, the Wendy Doniger controversy — plus AAP and BJP in upcoming polls:

What are challenges in writing history, with fundamentalist forces ready to react?

Well, a primary challenge is the information one would like to have about the past is often missing, partly because historians of an earlier time had a different, more restricted view of history — documents regarding poor peoples’ concerns have not survived. Many matters of their interest were not recorded at all. The major problem for historians is how to fill such gaps.

On the other hand, since all kinds of influences are at work in societies, one cannot confine one’s attention to a locality or country alone — we have to relate the history of one country to others. For instance, we need to explore the relation between modern Indian history and the development of capitalism in Western Europe.

We cannot be like Subalterns who simply concentrate on local communities and forget the larger picture.

Can fundamentalist censorship be dismissed?

Well, religion has been a factor in historical change. Historians need to be careful and rational in assessing religious influences in history.

But it’s not possible to agree with Edward Said when he argues that persons outside any religion or culture cannot study that area. On the contrary, religious history should be subjected to a purely scientific approach — indeed, a refreshingly sceptical attitude towards religious texts might be more desirable than blind belief.

Wendy Doniger tried. Her book was pulped by its publishers. Your thoughts?

The publishers should not have surrendered in the manner they did. They should have waited for court orders before taking any such step.

You’re identified with AMU — what role should an identity-based university play today?

AMU is a university in a poor country, running with generous public financing — it’s important for AMU, as for any other university, to ensure that it offers modern scientific and secular teaching. All marks of identity must subordinate themselves to modern, democratic, secular values.

AMU was established to cater to Muslims but not exclusively for them, and not at the cost of proper education. In the 1950s and 60s, AMU was one of India’s advanced universities — today, partly due to the minority status campaign, it’s lost some of that repute. The religious atmosphere too has grown visibly with official support. That must put off others.

Upcoming polls are considered pivotal in India’s political history — your analysis?

Well, 10 years earlier, BJP was rejected — now, it’ll be interesting to see the reverse of the verdict of 2004. That seems to be the main thing this time.

Personally, for me, it’ll be sad if the Left does not recover.

Can AAP generate enthusiasm amongst Muslims?

The reaction of Muslims will not be different from others because AAP is appealing on an anti-corruption cause and thus securing support. Muslims are being addressed the same way as others.

But AAP will be tested on positive programmes — it has to frame an industrial and labour policy, rules on GM crops, land reforms, etc. Questions like these will arise soon.

A clean government is alright — but it should also be a good government.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Opinion> Interview / by Eram Agha / March 31st, 2014