Monthly Archives: January 2017

Renowned freedom fighter and veteran journalist M Rasheed passes away

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

KERALA :

Kozhikode :

Renowned freedom fighter, writer and veteran journalist M Rasheed passed away in Salem on Friday. He had his last breath following a cardiac arrest at his daughter’s residence in Salem on Friday morning. An active participant in the Quit India Movement in 1942, he was also jailed during the freedom struggle.

Son of eminent freedom fighter E Moidu Moulavi, Rasheed was taken to the custody while he was high school student. He was one of the founding members of the Revolutionary Socialist Party and the editor of the party’s mouthpiece Sakhav.

The veteran journalist was a regular column writer in Malayalam dailies and was author of some books.

He will be laid to rest at Ponnani on Saturday morning.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Nation / by Express News Service / January 06th, 2017

Istafa Husain Ansari brought handloom industry to forefront

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, , , , , , , , , ,

Gorakhpur, UTTAR PRADESH :

There is no denying to the fact that 1970-1980 was the best decade for a Bunkar (weaver) of Uttar Pradesh. This period can be identified as the golden era for the handloom industry and the person responsible for this was no other than late Istafa Husain Ansari of Gorakhpur. I am fortunate to be one of his grandsons.

Istafa Husain Ansari (1914-1987) was the third child of Sheikh Murtaza Husain- a Zamindar and a successful businessman, along with a prominent political leader of Gorakhpur. From the very beginning he had nationalist leaning. His initial education was in Gorakhpur and for the higher education he attended Lucknow University, from where he completed his M.Sc. and LLB. During those days the political environment in Lucknow was stirring, and there he worked along with stalwarts Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma and K Raghurammaiyya, who were prominent student leaders of that time. At an early age he got married to Amina Khatoon, daughter of a prominent businessman of Gorakhpur, Mian Rahmatullah. One of his brothers-in-law, Niamatullah Ansari participated in the freedom struggle, and was later elected as a MLA from Gorakhpur.

IstafaHusainMPOsJan052017

After completing his education in Lucknow, he went back to Gorakhpur to practice law in Gorakhpur Civil Court. He was interested in the issues related to small farmers, peasants and the marginalized sections of the society. His contact with Professor Shibban Lal Saxena, who was an influential Congress leader of that time, brought him closer to Maharajganj and Pharenda, from where he started his formal political career by getting elected as the Gram Pradhan of Bhelumpur, which was also known as Karmaura. In 1952, for the first assembly election after independence, he won the Gorakhpur seat on a Congress ticket. He won by a big majority and then again by a bigger majority in 1957.

He was elevated to the position of Parliamentary Secretary for Education, Home and Information, when Sampoorna Nand became the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. Then in 1966 and in 1972, he was elected as a Member of the Legislative Council in Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Parishad. In November 1973, when Chief Minister Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna, formed his eleven member’s cabinet, he was assigned as a Cabinet Minister in-charge of the small scale industries. He saw the deterioration in the politics climate and declined to be a part of that. His refusal to subscribe to the kind of politics brought in by Sanjay Gandhi curtailed his political career, because he could not do the Jee-Hazoori (sycophancy) that became the norm for success those days.

The success story of his life can be gauged by his contribution to the handloom as well as other cottage industries. He battled tirelessly for uplifting the weaker sections of the society. He fought relentlessly for the cause of the weavers and led an agitation against the ruling congress party, of which he was an active member, without fearing for the consequences and his own political future. As a result of the struggle, all his demands were met, and for the first time the woes of the handloom industry caught the attention of the policy makers. As a result, in 1970s when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi formulated her twenty point development program, challenges facing the handloom industry were also included in it. Then came the golden period of the handloom industry where infra-structure was developed to provide the raw material as well as avenues were opened to find markets for the finished product.

Apart from political appointments, he was also a member of the Aligarh Muslim University and Agra University courts. Locally in Gorakhpur, he was in the Executive Committee of Gorakhpur University, and was the founder member of Madan Mohan Malviya Engineering College. For life, he was the President of the school named after his father, Sheikh Murtaza Husain Memorial Higher Secondary School. During the time of his death in 1987, he was the member of Uttar Pradesh Minorities Commission.

It is not out of place to mention that in spite of being in public life for about five decades he maintained an unblemished record. His eldest son, Ashfaq Husain ventured into politics, and was elected to the Lok Sabha from Maharajganj. It is not out of place to mention that he was a great advocate for education and encouraged his descendants for quality education. As a result, today all twenty-two of his grandchildren are either engineers or have achieved post graduate degrees.

(The author is a Nuclear Engineer and was in the United States for long, but presently is in India. Can be contacted at www.tanvirsalim.com.)

source: http://www.twocircles.net / TwoCircles.net / Home / by Tanvir Salim / October 26th, 2013

Kiosk on wheels helps persons with disabilities turn entrepreneurs

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Green Products, Science & Technology, Transport, ,

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA :

The battery-operated kiosk, Sunny Splendor, is a boon to persons with disabilities. —Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P. | Photo Credit: G_P_Sampath Kumar
The battery-operated kiosk, Sunny Splendor, is a boon to persons with disabilities. —Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P. | Photo Credit: G_P_Sampath Kumar

Three years ago, Umesh, a lorry driver, lost his legs in a road accident. To make ends meet, he decided to sell tea on a two-wheeler, but the new venture threw up many challenges.

Dejected but not defeated, he approached an automobile firm for help. The firm, along with a wheelchair manufacturer, came up with a design for a disabled-friendly mobile kiosk to help people with disabilities earn a livelihood as part of a CSR initiative. The company approached the Association of People with Disabilities (APD), which funded the project. By 2015-end, Umesh had a prototype of the mobile kiosk.

APD rolled out three such mobile kiosks in the city in December last year to enable people with locomotive impairment and cerebral palsy start a business. The kiosk or electric vehicle named Sunny Splendor can also be charged on solar power.

Calling it ‘office on wheels’, C.N. Gopinath, executive board member of APD, said: “It plays a pivotal role in creating a perfect livelihood option for the physically challenged, who at times are constrained by financial circumstances and lack of qualification.”

Mansoor Ahmed, one of the fund raisers of the project, said the kiosk is environment and disabled-friendly. “We replaced the steering wheel with a joystick and the tires have increased brake efficiency”.

“I want to start a cosmetics and beverages business and my target audience comprises those working in tech parks. With this vehicle, I can commute to different tech parks,” said Basheer Ahmed, who is affected by polio. For Mahesh, who has been repairing mobile phones from home, the vehicle will help him broaden his customer base. “I want to run the business outside a government office. I am also planning to buy a typewriter, so I can help officials in their work”.

Four kiosks in Bengaluru

There are four such kiosks in Bengaluru. Beneficiaries can approach APD if they wish to become entrepreneurs, and have to go through a selection process before they can get their own mobile kiosk.

APD charges 10 per cent of the ₹1 lakh that costs to make a unit. “We believe they have the right to stake a claim in our ventures. This would not be possible if we operated on a charity model, which is is why we accept 10 per cent monetary contribution from them, though we do not insist this from those who cannot afford,” Mr. Mansoor Ahmed added.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Shilpa Ramaswamy / Bengaluru – January 03rd, 2016

An intrinsic crafter of bidriware

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

Bidar, KARNATAKA :

bidriwarempos03jan2016

From a one-room house in Bidar old city to the Republic Day parade on Rajpath in New Delhi, it has been a long journey for bidri artisan Shah Rashid Ahmed Quadri.

The artisan, who was part of the bidriware tableau at the parade, was once advised by his father to quit the profession as there was no money in it. However, he did not quit because he liked hitting metals with chisels and a hammer.

Born on June 5, 1955, Shah Rashid Ahmed Quadri hails from a family of bidri artisans. As a result, Quadri got exposed to this craft from a young age and was trained under his father, Shah Mustafa Quadri. “I was forced to get involved in this craft to support my father, who was the only earning member in our family,” says Quadri. Initially, his father was not keen on him joining the shop as he felt the profession was not remunerative. He received a lot of encouragement when he began doing the craft and improved upon his father’s traditional designs. After a long period of training, he started working independently in 1970 and introduced various unique patterns.

Quadri has experimented with various bidriware techniques and patterns in his work. He introduced phooljhadi design and reintroduced sheet-work, an old technique that was used by court artists in the Bahmani Empire. Additionally, he is also an expert in wire and sheet-work inlaying.

Quadri has also trained several people in bidriware. Around 80 youngsters and many women have benefited by the training. Shaheda Begum, who has been working under him for the past two decades, is one such woman and has become an expert in sheet technique. He has also hosted various training programmes, where he taught bidri art. Some of the programmes he taught are organised as an apprenticeship training scheme.

Ample recognition
Quadri received several awards for his work including the Karnataka State award in 1984, a national award in 1988, district Rajyotsava award in 1996, Great Indian Achievers Award in 2004, and the Swarna Karnataka Rajyaotsava Award in 2006. Recently, he was honoured with Shilpa Guru award. The award is given in recognition of excellent craftsmanship, product excellence and for being instrumental in the continuance of crafts as a vital part of traditional heritage.

He exhibited his works in several countries and gave live demonstrations as well. These included the Science Festival of India that was held at The Museum of Science in Boston, USA in 1987 and a live demonstration in Holland in 1992. Bidri Art was selected to represent Karnataka at the Rajpath in New Delhi on Republic Day in 2011. Quadri, along with his team, took seat on the tableau with his work and gave a live demonstration. The Karnataka tableau was awarded second prize that year.

Apart from being a professional artisan and inspiring many others to continue the legacy, Quadri has also served as a member of Karnataka State Award selection committee in 1998.

He can be contacted on 9880690669 or at craft@gmail.com

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> Spectrum / by Rehaman Patel / January 03rd, 2017

Dawoodi Bohras initiate community welfare project

Community Involvement / Social Issues, ,

Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA :

dawoodibohrampos02jan2017

Thousands of Dawoodi Bohras are carrying out welfare programmes in more than 200 towns and cities spread across four states as part of a project to improve living condition of the poor members of the community.

The volunteers, drawn from various sections of the religious group and some of them from abroad, have fanned out in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, where they are helping the underprivileged community members in healthcare, housing and other areas.

They are building, repairing or cleaning homes, running vaccination and medical programmes as part of a five- day long project in the four States. The volunteers are working towards providing sustainable opportunities to families that are in need of help, according to a release issued by the community.

An infrastructure and administrative system to manage the organisation and funding of this fostership project was running for some weeks in preparation of the welfare activities that began on December 29 and will end on Monday.

The drive follows two-year-long travels of the community head, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, who visited areas where members of the religious sect reside, it said.

“Some years back, his predecessor had initiated a programme to end food poverty which has now flourished into a common kitchen concept that provides a freshly cooked hot meal every day to every household of Dawoodi Bohras, rich or poor, wherever in the world they happen to live,” a community spokesperson said.

The community has now resolved to improve living conditions of the poor, he said.

“A team of about 4,140 members, including students, intellectuals, administrators, professionals and businessmen, have joined hands to look into every need of the community – from housing and clothing to childrens education and vaccinations, to help to achieve a minimum standard of living,” he said.

source: http://www.afternoonvoice.com / AfternoonVoice / Home> City News> Mumbai / Afternoon Voice – January 02nd, 2017

Noushad proves age is just a number; set to debut for Kerala at 32

Sports, , , ,

KERALA :

Noushad K
Noushad K

Thiruvananthapuram :

When the Kerala team for the 71st Santosh Trophy national football championships was announced on Friday, one player who caught the eye was Noushad K. Of the 11 new faces in the squad, he is in line to finally make his senior state debut soon — at the age of 32!

For ardent followers of the game, it will come as a mystery as to why the astute defender from Naduvattam in Kozhikode has never played for the state team despite him being a time-tested stalwart in India’s domestic football circuit.

Noushad first caught attention as a spirited right-back for Viva Kerala FC in the I-League 2009-10. The following season, the defender made the switch to Kolkata’s Prayag United SC and his stock has been on the rise ever since at the Mecca of Indian football.

In Kolkata, Noushad also represented Chirag United, Mohammedan SC and Bhawanipore FC who he captained ever since the Federation Cup 2014 held in Manjeri before leaving them for Kerala after the conclusion of this year’s Calcutta Football League.

“To be very honest, playing for Kerala was the only thing in my mind when deciding to leave Kolkata this year. I did not think twice when coach Bino George who I know for long asked me to come and play for Baselius College, Kottayam,” Noushad said on Saturday.

Noushad, who now plays at centre back, was once before called up to the Kerala camp in 2013 but did not make the final squad. “I don’t know why I was overlooked, but I feel that I was in the best days of my career, back then,” he said.

“That does not mean I cannot do a job now. I leave it to pundits and fans to judge how good I still am,” he said. Noushad with vice-captain Firos Kalathingal are the seniormost players in the young squad and will be expected to inspire and lead the group.

“All the players are focused on the job. Coach V P Shaji and his staff have done a great job, but it is now our responsibility as players to produce results on the field,” said Noushad, who is known as ‘Bapu’ among friends. He feels that home advantage and spectators can play a role in the team’s fortunes.

“The frenzy of Indian Super League is still fresh. Though we are not Kerala Blasters, we still represent Kerala and I think there will be spectators coming from all over Kerala to cheer us at Kozhikode,” said Noushad. Kerala will open their south zone campaign against Puducherry at the EMS Corporation Stadium on January 5.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Sport> Football / by Adwaidh Rajan / Express News Service / January 02nd, 2017