Monthly Archives: September 2017

Hasan Mushrif, Abdus Sattar win in Maharashtra state elections

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

MAHARASHTRA :

Mumbai:

Hasan Mushrif and Abdus Sattar, both ministers in the last Cong-NCP alliance government, have won the assembly elections from their respective constituencies, officials announced Sunday after counting of the votes.

Hasan Mushrif, a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate, has won the election from Kagal assembly seat.
Hasan Mushrif, a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate, has won the election from Kagal assembly seat.

While Hasan Mushrif, a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate, has won the election from Kagal assembly seat, Abdus Sattar of the Congress Party has won from Sillod.

Both the Muslim leaders have won from these seats second time in a row.

Elsewhere in Maharashtra, Abu Asim Azmi defeated his nearest rival of BJP by over 10,000 votes. This is the second time Azmi has won this seat. In the 2009 state elections Azmi had won from two seats – Mankhurd and the other Bhiwandi.

His son Farhan Azmi who contested the elction from Bhiwandi lost the seat to Shiv Sena’s Rupesh Matre.

Farhan Azmi had contested this seat in the 2010 by-election ater his father Abu Asim Azmi resigned from this seat. He had however lost the election then also.

Arif Naseem Khan, former Minister of Minority Development Department, Awkaf and Textiles, won the Chandiwali assembly seat for the fourth time in a row.

Amin Patel, Chairman of Maulana Azad Corporation, won from Mumbadevi assembly seat for second time in a row.

The Mumbadevi assembly constituency saw a swing of Muslim votes in favour of the MIM, and it was feared that Amin Patel would lose the election becuase of the division of secualr votes. However, a sensible voting by the Muslim community helped him to win the election.

Imtiyaz Jaleel and Dr Gaffar Qadri of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) who contested the 2014 Maharashtra elections from Aurangabad (Central) and Aurangabad (East) assembly seats respectively have won the elections, it is officially announced here after the vote count.

In Aurangabad (Central) AMIM’s Imtiyaz Jaleel, a NDTV reporter, has won the election by over 18,000 votes whereas in Aurangabad (East) constituency Dr Gaffar Qadri won by a huge margin.

It is a historic win for the Hyderabad based party which had fielded a total of 24 candidates in this elections.

Waris Pathan has defetaed his nearest rival Madhu Chavan of BJP by over 1,200 votes. Congress candidate Madhu Chavan came a distant third.

Byculla and Madanpura aeas in this constituency had earleir seen a mssive swing of Muslim votes in favour of the AIMIM.

Maharashtra president Syed Moeen is leading by a comfortable margin, officials announced after 11 rounds of voting in this important city in the Marathwada region.

Syed Moeen had led the AIMIM to victory in 2013 when the Hyderabad party won 13 seats in the civic elections.

In Malegaon (Central) assembly seat where 11 rounds of counting have been completed, MIM’s Abdul Malik has secured 11,965 votes. Asif Shaikh of Congress is leading here with 56,868 votes. Sitting MLA Mufti Ismael of NCP is trailing on the second position with 40,839 votes.

Sabir Seth of the Congress party is trailing in Dhule (Central) assembly seat. He is on the fourth position in the seat where the BJP candidate is leading. Raju Kadam Bande of the NCP is trailing on the second position.

In Dhule (Outer) assembly seat, Anil Gote of the BJP is leading by over 10,000 votes.

Rasheed Tahir Momin of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Farhan Azmi of the Samajwadi Party (SP) are trailing behind their rivals in their respective constituencies in Bhiwandi.

While Rashid Tahir Momin is trailing behind the BJP candidate by about 07,000 votes, Farhan Azmi, son of SP Chief Abu Asim Azmi is trailing behind the Shiv Sena candidate by about 04,500 votes.

Asif Shaikh Rasheed, President of Malegaon Congress party, is leading in Malegaon – Central assembly seat.

After the fourth round of vote count, Asif has bagged 25,783 votes whereas his nearest rival and sitting MLA Mufti Ismael of NCP could get just 10,123 votes.

The MIM and Janata Dal candidates were on the third and fourth position with 3,744 and 1,468 votes respectively.

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and former Home Minister RR Patil are trailing in their respective constituencies, trends available at 09:00 a.m. in the orning showed.

As the vote count begins in Maharashtra today morning, the leads show that the BJP is set to emrge as the single largest party whereas the Congress is set to face its worst defeat in Maharashtra.

Chavan contested from Karad in Western Maharashtra – a seat held by him and his father in the past.

source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home> Politics / Staff Reporter / Sunday – October 19th, 2014

Bollywood actress Shakila passes away

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, , , ,

Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA :

Actress Shakila passed away on Wednesday evening after a heart attack at the age of 82. The funeral was held on Thursday morning at the Mahim cemetery in Mumbai.

Actress Shakila passes away at the age of 82. (Photo: Express Archive)
Actress Shakila passes away at the age of 82. (Photo: Express Archive)

Yesteryear Bollywood actress Shakila, best known for her roles in ‘Aar Par’ and ‘CID’, passed away on Wednesday evening after a massive heart attack. She was 82.

Shakila’s nephew Nasirr Khan took to Facebook to share the sad news. He wrote, “With a heavy heart I have to inform you all that my maternal aunt (my moms older sister) Shakila Aunty has passed away. She was a star in her own right in the 50s and 60s. Babuji dheere chalna, pyaar mein zara samhalna. Please keep her in your prayers. May Allah grant her Jannat. Aameen.”

Talking to indianexpress.com, Nasirr, who is veteran actor Johnny Walker’s son, said, “Because of her age, she had kidney problems. She was diabetic. Recently, she had some cardiac problems also. All these things led to her demise. She passed away last night. As we can’t wait too long for funeral in Islam, the burial happened today early in the morning.”

He also added, “She was a very jovial person, and because she and my dad worked together in Aar Par, they would talk a lot about cinema. On the film’s set my dad met her younger sister Noorjahan, and the two got married. Shakila aunty was very happy with the work she did, and was a content person. We will miss her much.”

The funeral was held on Thursday morning at the Mahim cemetery in Mumbai.

Some of Shakila’s other popular films include ‘Shriman Satyawadi’, ‘China Town’, ‘Post Box 999’, ‘Dastaan’, ‘Sindbad the Sailor’, ‘Rajrani Damyanti’, ‘Aagosh’, ‘Shahenshah’, ‘Raj Mahal’, ‘Armaan’, ‘Alibaba Aur Chaalis Chor’, ‘Lalpari’, ‘Roop Kumari’, ‘Hatim Tai’ and ‘Al-Hilal’.

She was last seen in 1963 film ‘Ustadon Ke Ustad’.

She is also fondly remembered for performance in hit songs like “Babuji Dheere Chalna”, “Neend Na Mujhko Aaye” and “Ae Mere Dil Hai Nadaan”.

source:  http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Entertainment> Bollywood / by Express Web Desk / New Delhi / September 21st, 2017

Prince of Arcot elected prez of MEASI

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

Chennai, TAMIL NADU :

Chennai:

The Prince of Arcot, Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali, has been elected unopposed as president of Muslim Educational Association of Southern India (MEASI), the parent body of New College (autonomous), Royapettah.

The Prince, who was elected during the 115th annual general body meeting of MEASI, will serve as president for three years.

Abdul Ali succeeded U M Khalilullah, a senior chartered accountant who served MEASI as its honorary secretary and president for two terms.

Apart from New College, MEASI also administers MEASI Academy of Architecture, Institute of Management, Institute of Information Technology and College of Education and Chartered Accountant Academy among others. MEASI, a pioneer educational Institution in Tamil Nadu, has a strength of 6,000 members on its roll.

T Rafeeq Ahmed, an educationist and a businessman, and Elias Sait, a chartered accountant, were elected honorary secretary and treasurer respectively, along with other office-bearers and executive committee members. tnn

source:  http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News / TNN / September 20th, 2017

Remembering Sir Syed Muhammad Saadulla, the first Premier of Assam

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

Kolkata, WEST BENGAL / ASSAM :

Sir Syed Muhammad Saadulla was one of the foremost political leaders of modern Assam and the first Premier (also referred to as Prime Minister or Chief Minister) of the Assam province, one of the major eight provinces of British India.

SirSaadulla01MPOsSept2017

The family of Saadulla hails from Sibsagar and claims to be the descendant of the famous Muslim preacher Azan Pir, who came to Assam in the early 17th century to spread the message of Islam. Syed Md. Tayebbullah, the father of Saadulla, moved to Gauhati where he served as a teacher of Arabic and Persian in Cotton Collegiate High School at Gauhati town. Saadulla was born in Gauhati on May 21, 1885. He got his early school education at Sonaram High School at Gauhati. He then joined the Cotton College, Gauhati, and took his Post-Graduation degree in Chemistry from the Presidency College, Calcutta, in 1906. Subsequently he took the Bachelor’s Degree in Law from the Earle Law College at Gauhati in 1907. Besides Assamese and Bengali he was also fluent in Arabic, Persian and Urdu.

Before Saadulla started his legal profession at Gauhati Bar, he served for a short stint as Assistant Lecturer in Chemistry at the Cotton College in 1908. He practiced at the Calcutta High Court. Within a short time, he became an eminent lawyer.

Then he joined politics and became the member of the first Legislative Council in 1913. He was re-elected in 1923. Under the system of Diarchy, he served as Minister of Education and Agriculture from 1924-29. In recognition of his public services, the British government knighted Saadulla in 1928. He, as a member of the Executive Council of the Governor of Assam, also became Minister for Law and Order and PWD from 1929-30, and again served as Minister for Finance and Law and Order from 1930-1934. He was also the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee from 1933 to 1934.

The Government of India Act, 1935 was adopted by the British Parliament on 2nd August, 1935 and was implemented in 1937. The Government of India Act 1935 made provisions for a Legislative Assembly in each province. In 1937 Assam Legislative Assembly election was held. In the same year Saadulla formally joined the Muslim League in response to MA Jinnah’s appeal.

Saadaulla was elected to the Assam Legislative Assembly from Kamrup South and served as Premier of a coalition government from April 1, 1937 to Sept. 19, 1938. A Congress government led by Gopinath Bordoloi succeeded from Sept. 19, 1938 to Nov. 17, 1939. Saadulla was again re-elected as Premier from Nov. 17, 1939 to Dec. 24, 1941. He, for the third time, became the Premier from Aug. 25, 1942 to Feb. 11, 1946. From 1937-1946 there were 34 Muslim members in the Assam Legislative Assembly, out of the total 108 members (For the list of names see Appendix I).

Saadulla, 6th from left (standing) and his daughter Betty (extreme left, sitting) attending a wedding at Shillong in the 1930s.[Photo courtesy: www.motijan-hazarika-rahman.com]
Saadulla, 6th from left (standing) and his daughter Betty (extreme left, sitting) attending a wedding at Shillong in the 1930s.[Photo courtesy: www.motijan-hazarika-rahman.com]
In 1946, he was re-elected to the Legislative Assembly from Kamrup South constituency and became leader of the Muslim League in the house (See Appendix-II for the list of Muslim members of Assam Legislative Assembly). He became a member of the Constituent Drafting Committee. As a member of the committee he helped in giving special financial assistance for Assam. He also took keen interest in protecting the rights of the minority communities. After the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly or the Provincial Parliament, he retired from public life and settled down in Gauhati. Later, the family of Saadulla moved to Kacharihat and established the Syedbari tea estate that is still run by his descendants.

Saadulla died on Jan. 8, 1955 at the age of 70.

In his later political life, Saadulla was closely associated with the All India Muslim League. He attended the 10th session of the League at Calcutta in Dec. 1917, and served as a member of the Committee which negotiated the Lucknow Accord between the Muslim League and the Congress. In 1946, he attended demand for Pakistan and favoured Assam’s inclusion in Pakistan. He renounced the knighthood in response to the call of the All-India Muslim League in connection with the “Direct Action” call to achieve Pakistan. However, on partition, when Assam opted out of Pakistan, he stayed in Assam and did not migrate to Pakistan.

In spite of his impressive political accomplishments Saadulla today remains the least remembered political figure of the state as he was associated with Jinnah’s All India Muslim League and supported two-nation theory. He was and still today often charged with deliberate settlement of Bengali Muslims in Assam through the scheme, introduced by him, known as the Line System. Thereby, the contributions that he had made in building a modern Assam in his capacity as Premier of Assam is today not acknowledged by the Assamese.

An article in Muslim India (Jan. 1987) sums up the contributions of Saadulla thus: “He was an able parliamentarian, an eloquent speaker, an experienced administrator, moderate and liberal in his approach. Saadulla is regarded as one of the makers of modern Assam. As head of the Assam Government, he took particular interest in planning and development, in rural uplift, in eradication of unemployment, in land reform and in promotion of cottage industries. For the development of the low-lying regions of the Brahmaputra and Barak valleys, he favoured and encouraged immigration of peasants from Bengal and should be given credit for the agricultural development of Assam, particularly the introduction of jute in the Assam valley. His critics charge him with deliberate settlement of Bengali Muslims in Assam.”

In another write-up in The Milli Gazette (16-30 Sept. 2002) Saadulla was described thus: “Saadulla was well-known for his generosity, honesty and ability. He was a matured, widely respected and accepted political leader of his time. He was a friend and guide of the tribal people of North-east India. In his first cabinet itself, he included a tribal leader, J.J.M. Nichols Roy as one of his ministers. He was regarded as an outstanding personality both on account of his experience, ability and honesty… he was in a class different from any other politician in Assam.”

Appendix-I

Muslim members of Assam Legislative Assembly – 1937-46

No.

Name of Member

Constituency
1. Sir Syed Muhammad Saadulla Kamrup (South)
2. Shams-ul-Ulama Maulana Abu Nasr Muhammad Waheed Sylhet Sadr (Central)
3 Abdul Aziz South Syhlet (Central)
4. Abdul Bari Chaudhury Sunamganj(Smlth) Muhammadan
5 Abdul Hamid Khan Dhubri (South)
6 Khan Bahadur Hazi Abdul Majid Chaudhury Karimganj (Central)Muhammadan.
7 Abdul Matin Choudhury Sylhet Sadar (East)
8 Abdur Rahman Habiganj (South-East)
9 Sayed Abdul Rouf Barpeta, Muhammadan
10 Md. Abdus Salam Sylhet Sadar (North)
11 Dewan Muhammad Ahbab Choudhury Sunamganj (East)
12 Dawan Ali Raja Habiganj (North-West)
13. Mohammad Amjad Ali Goalpara (East)
14 Mohammad Amiruddin Nowgong Mohhemedan (East)
15. Ashrafuddin Md. Choudhury Habiganj (South East)
16 Badaruddin Ahmed Darrang Muhammedan
17. Khan Bahadur Dewan Eclimur Roza Choudhury Sylhet Sadar (West)
18 Fakaruddin Ali Ahmed Kamrup North
19 Ghyasuddin Ahmed Dhubri (West)
20 Jhanuddin Ahmed Dhubri (North Muhammadan)
21 Khan Bahadur Keramet Ali Sibsagar, Muhammadan
22 Matior Rahman Mia Goalpara (West)
23. Muhammad Maqbul Hussain Choudhury Sunamganj (West)
24. Khan Bahadur Maulavi Mahamud Ali Sibsagar Muhammadan
25 Mabarak Ali Karimganj (West) Muhammadan
26 Mudabbir Hussain Choudhury. Habiganj (North East)
27 Khan Bahadur Maulavi Mafizur Rahman Sylhet Sadar (South)
28 Munawwar Ali Sunamganj (Central) Muhammadan
29 Muzarrof Ali Laskar Hailakandi Muhammadan
30 Aanwar Ali Barbhuiya Silchar Muhammadan
31 Naziruddin Ahmed South Sylhet (West)
32 Sheik Osman Ali Sadagar Sadagor Muhammadan Constituency. Nowgong.
33 Khan Sahib Maulavi Sayidur Rahman Lakhipur Muhammadan.
34 Muhammad Ali Haidar Khan South-Sylhet (east)

Source: assamassembly.gov.in/mla-1937-46.html

Appendix-II

Muslim Members of Assam Legislative Assembly – 1946-1952

No.

Name of Member

Constituency
1 Muhammad Abdullah Habiganj(South-East)
2 Khan Bahadur Abdul Majid Ziaosh Shams Dhubri (West)
3 Muhammad Abdul Kasham Dhubri (South)
4 Abdul Bari Choudhury Sunamganj (South)
5 Dewan Abdul Basith South Sylhet (Central)
6 Abdul Hai Kamrup (North)
7 Abdul Hamid Sylhet Sadar (Central)
8 Abdul Khaleque Ahmed Sunamganj (West)
9 Abdul Kuddus Khan Goalpara (East)
10 Md. Abdul Latif Karimganj (Central)
11 Abdul Matin Chaudhuri Darrang
12 Abdul Matlib Mazumdar Halakandi
13 Abdur Rasheed Sylhet Sadar (East)
14 Dewan Abdur Rob Choudhury Sylhet Sadar (South)
15 Syed Abdur Rouf Barpeta
16 Afazuddin Ahmed Nowgong (East)
17 Md. Ali Haidar Khan South Sylhet (East)
18 Emran Hussain Chaudhury Sibsagar
19 Maulana Ibrahim Ali Sylhet, Sadar (North)
20 M. Idris Ali Karimganj (West)
21 Md. Mafiz Choudhury Sunamganj (West)
22 Makabbir Ali Mazumdar Silchar
23 Mayeenud Din Ahamed Choudhury South Sylhet (East)
24 Md. Mased Ali Dhubri (North)
25 Khan Sahib Maulavi Mudabbir Hussain Choudhuri Habiganj, (South- West)
26 Mumtazul Muhaddisin Moulana Md. Mufazzal Hussain Karimganj (South)
27 Munawwar Ali Sunamganj (Central)
28 Nasir-ud-Din Ahmed Habiganj (South-West)
29 Md. Nazmal Haque Goalpara (West)
30 Khan Sahib Nurul Hussain Khan Habiganj (South-West)
31 Khan Bahadur Muhammad Roufique. Nowgong (West).
32 Sir Syed Muhammad Saadulla Kamrup (South)
33 Khan Bahadur Sayidur Rahman Lakhimpur
34 Dewan Taimur Raza Choudhury Sylhet Sadar (West)

Source: assamassembly.gov.in/mla-1946-52.html

source: http://www.twocircles.net / TwoCircles.net / Home> Articles> Indian Muslim / by Dr. Syed Ahmed for TwoCircles.net / October 10th, 2011

A man who represented Kalaburgi six times in State assembly

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

Kalaburagi, KARNATAKA :

A file photo of Quamar Ul Islam with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
A file photo of Quamar Ul Islam with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Quamar Ul Islam, senior Muslim Congress leader from Hyderabad-Karnataka, passed away in Bengaluru on Monday

Quamar Ul Islam, a young engineer, started his political career in the 1970s as a leader of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) in Kalaburagi. He won the assembly polls, defeating veteran Congress leader Mohammad Ali in 1978. He continued in IUML and won again in 1989. Later, he joined the Congress and won in 1994.

In 1996, he resigned and join the Janata Dal for a short time to enter the Lok Sabha on a Janata Dal ticket. He quit his Parliament membership to contest the assembly polls again and became a minister for housing in S.M. Krishna’s cabinet.

Considered the senior-most Muslim leader from Hyderabad-Karnataka, he represented Kalaburgi six times in the State assembly. He is the only Muslim leader after Aziz Sait from Karnataka to be continuously elected.

He held the municipal administration and Waqf portfolio for three years in the Siddharamaiah cabinet, and was the first chairman of the Hyderabad-Karnataka Regional Development Board, and has served as chairman of Karnataka Housing Board, Karnataka Minority Commission and Karnataka Slum Board in the past.

He had long lasting relationships with senior leaders such as Ghulam Nabi Azad, N. Dharam Singh and Mallikarjun Kharge.

He founded the Al-Quamar Educational and Charitable Trust, that runs the KCT engineering college, pharmacy and diploma colleges in Kalaburg.

source:  http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> State> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Belagavi – September 18th, 2017

Qamarul Islam, prominent Muslim leader from Hyderabad-Karnataka region, passes away

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

Kalaburagi, KARNATAKA :

Qamarul Islam was a former Congress minister and prominent Muslim leader from the Hyderabad-Karnataka region. | Photo Credit: File Photo
Qamarul Islam was a former Congress minister and prominent Muslim leader from the Hyderabad-Karnataka region. | Photo Credit: File Photo

Qamarul Islam, former Congress minister and prominent Muslim leader from the Hyderabad-Karnataka region, passed away following a brief illness in the city on Monday. He was 69.

Qamarul Islam was admitted to hospital 11 days ago for cellulitis of the leg and poor cardiac function. Dr. Shivaprasad, Senior Consultant and In-charge of Medical ICU, Department of Critical Care at Narayana Health told The Hindu that he had hypertension, diabetes and was also under treatment for Myasthenia Gravis, a neuromuscular disorder. He died of cardiogenic shock and multi organ failure in the hospital at noon on Monday, the doctor said.

Qamarul Islam had a long political career. He represented Kalaburagi (North) constituency and was Walf Minister in Siddaramaih cabinet. But, he was dropped from the cabinet in last year’s reshuffle.

As a mark of respect to the departed leader, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has cancelled all its scheduled programmes on Monday. A half-day holiday has been declared for all government offices, schools and colleges in Kalaburagi district.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy, KPCC president G. Parameshwara, working president Dinesh Gundu Rao, Water Resource Minister M.B. Patil, BJP State president B.S. Yeddyurappa and several other top politicians have condoled the death.

source:  http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Bengaluru – September 18th, 2017

It’s official, LDF to field Basheer in Vengara

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, , ,

KERALA :

BasheerMPOs18sept2017

IUML’s K.P.A. Majeed not to contest

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has decided to field P.P. Basheer as the Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate for the Vengara Assembly byelections. However, the selection process in the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), which is to contest for the United Democratic Front (UDF), was not as calm as in the CPI(M), with its State general secretary K.P.A. Majeed deciding to keep off the electoral fray.

The CPI(M)’s decision was announced by party State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan here. The CPI(M) leadership chose to stick to a party man contrary to expectations that it might experiment with an independent candidate as it had done in Tanur in the 2016 election.

Mr. Basheer had lost to IUML strongman P.K. Kunhalikutty by over 35,000 votes in Vengara in the 2016 polls. The decision to field Mr. Basheer once again was taken after the Malappuram district committee and Secretariat approved his candidature. Mr. Basheer expressed confidence in securing the seat for the LDF.

Mr. Majeed announced his decision to keep off the electoral fray in an interview to a private television channel. He said he had informed IUML president Panakkad Hyderali Shihab Thangal about his decision not to contest.

The decision appears to have been prompted by strong opposition from the younger elements in the party and the Youth League. But Mr. Majeed maintained that he had take the decision since the party was in the midst of its organisational election process.

With Mr. Majeed deciding to pull out of the fray, the IUML leadership will announce its candidate on Monday itself, instead of the earlier deadline of September 20. It is obvious that had Mr. Majeed decided otherwise, the party leadership would have had a tough time in deciding to exclude an old warhorse.

source:  http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Kerala / by Special Correspondent / Thiruvananthapuram  – September 17th, 2017

Indian inventor who lives in penury

Amazing Feats, Green Products, Science & Technology, , , , ,

Jatwa-Janerwa Village,  Motihari , BIHAR :

Saidullah has won many trophies (Pictures: Prashant Ravi)
Saidullah has won many trophies (Pictures: Prashant Ravi)

Mohammed Saidullah, a resident of Motihari in the Indian state of Bihar, has received many awards and trophies in the last few years for his innovation.

In 1975, when his Jatwa-Janerwa village was swamped under flood waters – an annual monsoon menace – he pleaded with a local boatman to take him to safety.

When the boatman refused to give him space unless he paid for it, the young Saidullah looked for other ways to tackle the floodwater.

Necessity met creativity and in just three days, he made an amphibious bicycle which could easily negotiate the floodwaters.

He modified the conventional bicycle by adding four rectangular air floats to support it while it moved on water. Two fan blades were attached to the spokes of the rear wheel which enabled it to run on both water and land.

The blades were arranged in such a fashion that the cycle could be driven in reverse direction too.

Shining moment

Later, Mr Saidullah demonstrated the prowess of his vehicle before a stunned crowd, which included the then state governor, AR Kidwai, when he crossed the river Ganges in Patna city.

His big shining moment came in January 2005 when the then Indian President, APJ Abdul Kalam, presented him with the National Innovation Foundation’s (NIF) lifetime achievement award.

In the same year, he was selected as one of the 12 finalists for the prestigious Wall Street Journal Asian Innovation Awards.

Saidullah takes his grandchildren for a joy ride in his cycle-rickshaw
Saidullah takes his grandchildren for a joy ride in his cycle-rickshaw

He was also profiled for the Discovery Channel’s “Beyond Tomorrow” programme.

In fact, he has won so many awards that he has lost count of them all.

An impressed NIF took away his bicycle and offered to get it patented.

But three years later, Mr Saidullah has neither got the patent nor the bicycle.

Today, he lives in penury.

Everyday, he pedals about 30 kms on his bicycle to sell honey so that he can feed his family of 16.

But the work brings him a paltry 1,500 rupees ($37) a month.

Grinding poverty

Unable to make the ends meet, he has now put up his roadside half-thatched, half-concrete house and the small plot of land – in Mathia Dih locality of Motihari in East Champaran district – on sale.

His disillusionment is such that Mr Saidullah wants to return all his awards and trophies.

“If you want to destroy someone, give him an award,” he says.

After the bicycle, Mr Saidullah also invented an amphibious cycle-rickshaw which he demonstrated before the BBC team in a nearby pond.

“On this, I can take my grandchildren for a joy ride in the water,” Mr Saidullah told the BBC.

The workshop is his favourite place
The workshop is his favourite place

“But I feel hurt by what the NIF has done to me. They used us for their promotion,” he says.

“May I know how many innovators like me have been benefited and how many of us have been destroyed by them?” asks Mr Saidullah, with pain creasing his face.

NIF executive chairman, Anil Gupta, is sympathetic to Mr Saidullah’s plight: “We tried a lot, are still trying and will keep trying to explore things being done for Mr Saidullah’s amphibious bicycle. But yes his frustration is completely understandable.

“Despite our best efforts, for some reasons we failed to generate any entrepreneurship for his bicycle. We’ve given him the innovation fellowship of a fixed amount and we are ready to support him in future too,” Mr Gupta said.

There is still a chance that things may look up for him.

A senior official in Bihar state’s science and technology department, Ajay Kumar, told the BBC he would do all he could to help Mohammed Saidullah.

“Though there is no structured schemes for commercialisation of such innovations in my department but we would certainly help him in getting his product patented after talking with the NIF,” Mr Kumar said.

According to Mohammed Saidullah’s son, Mohammed Shakilurrahman, the family was not always poor. Mr Saidullah inherited acres of land, orchards, elephants and a big house from his father.

But, the rural scientist sold all his property to pursue his innovations, his son says.

New things

He blames his father’s “sheer madness” for the family’s poverty.

He too sells honey in the state capital.

However, Mr Saidullah’s bitter past experience has not stopped him from moving on to new things.

After the amphibious bicycle, he developed a key-operated table fan which can run non-stop for two hours, a mini-water pump that needs no fuel and a mini-tractor which can run for two hours on just five litres of diesel.

Saidullah names all his innovations after his wife, Noor
Saidullah names all his innovations after his wife, Noor

Now, he claims he’s making a helicopter which would cost the equivalent of $62,500 and a car that would be powered by air energy.

His dark, dingy workshop is crammed with a hand-made lathe machines and countless corroded nut-bolts littered on long rusty iron racks.

But it’s his favourite place. “I love to be here all the time,” he says.

Where would he go once his house and land is sold off?

“I’ll make a three-storey moving car with folding cots, pack my family in and park it on an open government land by the roadside anywhere,” he says.

The maverick innovator says he draws inspiration for his innovations from his everyday experiences. He has named all his creations after his loving wife, Noor Jahan.

“Noor means light and Inshallah a day would come when there would be light in our life too,” says Saidullah.

source: http://www.bbc.co.uk / BBC News / Home> South Asia / by Amarnath Tewary / Motihari – Bihar / March 03rd, 2008

Visit of M J Akbar, Minister of State for External Affairs to Senegal (September 6-8, 2017)

Business & Economy, Leaders, World Opinion, ,

NEW DELHI :

Minister of State, Shri M.J. Akbar visited Senegal from 6-8 September 2017 as Special Envoy of Prime Minister Modi.

During the visit, he met President Mr. Macky Sall and handed over a Letter of Thanks from PM Modi for Senegal’s support for the re-election of India’s candidate Justice Dr. Dalveer Bhandari to the International Court of Justice for the term 2018-27, elections for which will be held in New York in November 2017. In this meeting, the newly appointed Prime Minister of Senegal Mr. Mouhamed Boun Abdallah Dionne was also present. Both MOS (MJA) and President Macky Sall discussed various aspects of India-Senegal bilateral relations.

MOS (MJA) handed over a cheque of Euro 50,000/- to the Secretary General of Foreign Ministry of Senegal Ambassador Mame Baba Cisse as India’s contribution to the Dakar International Forum for Peace and Security in Africa, to be held in November 2017. It is to be noted that India supported the Dakar International Forum for Peace and Security in Africa last year as well with a contribution of Euro 50,000/-.

MOS (MJA) gave a talk to Senegalese intelligentsia, academicians, ambassadors accredited to Senegal, and media personalities on “India’s Synergies with Africa” at the West African Research Center (WARC), a think-tank of Senegal.

He also gave a talk on “New India’s Transformation” to the Senegalese businessmen at the Dakar Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (CCIAD).

MOS (MJA) visited the ongoing Gandhi Exhibition at the Renaissance Monument where he distributed Mahatma Gandhi souvenirs to young Senegalese Gandhians. He also signed the Visitors Book at the Exhibition.

He also addressed the Indian Community in Senegal during a Reception held in his honour.

He visited Goree Island, an important slave trade point and UNESCO World Heritage site, and signed the Visitors Book at the Slave House at the island.

source: http://www.mea.gov.in / Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India / Home> Media Centre>  Press Releases / New Delhi – September 14th, 2017

NCP’s Adil Faras is new standing panel chairman

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, ,

Kohlapur , MAHARASHTRA :

Kohlapur :

Adil Faras, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) corporator from Barai Mam ward, was on Friday elected as the new chairman of the civic body’s standing committee. Faras defeated Jan Surajya Shakti Party’s (JSSP) Mrudula Purekar by 11 votes.

Of the 16 members in the committee, 15 cast their votes by raising hands while one member — BJP’s Prabha Tipugade — remained absent citing health reasons. Faras got 13 votes while Purekar bagged just two.

At present, Congress and NCP are the ruling parties in the KMC with the support of JSSP and independent corporators. The elections to the civic body are scheduled in October-November this year. Hence, the NCP did not want to give up the chance to head the committee which has significant financial powers.

The run-up to the election turned interesting after the JSSP openly criticised NCP leader and former minister Hasan Mushrif and fielded its candidate against Faras.

Various speculations such as rift between the Congress and NCP came to the fore after Purekar decided to contest the election. The Congress has a majority in the committee with 7 members and votes of the party were decisive. Besides, it was also anticipated that some of the NCP corporators were hoping for a career in the BJP by supporting the JSSP corporator. The JSSP had helped BJP candidate Amal Mahadik in defeating former minister of state and Congress leader Satej Patil in the state assembly elections.

A Congress corporator said on the condition of anonymity, “Though there were speculations about rift between the Congress and NCP, both Patil and Mushrif had an understanding to continue the alliance till the next elections. Besides, the party leaders in the House issued a whip to the corporators to cross-vote which led to the win of Faras.”

For the last two days, both the Congress and NCP took the committee members to unknown place and brought them back to the city only on Friday morning to avoid any horse-trading. Sources said Pureker received her own vote along with that of Sambhaji Jadhav of Shiv Sena.

The election to the post of chairman of the transport committee was stayed by district collector and election monitoring officer Rajaram Mane after independent candidate Prakash Naiknaware opposed the nomination of Congress nominee Ajit Powar. Naiknaware said that Powar cannot contest the election since the corporator proposing his name is co-opted and claimed that the nomination of Powar is illegal.

Since Naiknaware has already moved the district sessions court over the issue, Mane stayed the election till the court issues further orders. The election has been stayed till January 9. Being close to Satej Patil, Powar had an upper hand over Naiknaware.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Kolhapur / TNN / January 03rd, 2015