Monthly Archives: September 2017

Meet Ruveda Salam – a doctor and Kashmir’s first woman IPS officer

September 15, 2017Community Involvement / Social Issues, LeadersDr.Ruveda Salam, Kashmir's First IPS Officer, Ruveda Salammpositiveone@gmail.com

Kupwara, JAMMU & KASHMIR :

In 2015, Dr Ruveda Salam became the very first woman IPS officer from Jammu & Kashmir. When Ruveda was growing up, her father often used to say that he wanted his daughter to become an IPS (Indian Administrative Service) officer. That’s when she first thought of becoming one. It inspired her and she decided to aim for it.

“As I have cleared the UPSC (Union Public Services Commission) exam for the second time, I will have to go for training again depending on the cadre. I think I will be posted as a sub-collector. Last year, I was selected to the Indian Police Service cadre. I went for training to Hyderabad. The training was very strenuous. Physically it was very hard. I joined the IPS cadre in Tamil Nadu and was posted as an Assistant Commissioner of Police in Chennai,” Ruveda said in a report in Rediff.com .

Before Ruveda cleared the UPSC (for the first time), she got into medical college, but even while studying medicine she used to read a lot. Ruveda found time to clear the Kashmir State Administrative Service exam. Instead of doing a post graduation in medicine, Ruveda started preparing for the UPSC.

As a young ACP, Ruveda has given motivational speeches to the youth, particularly girls. She encourages them to appear for the IPS exams in Jammu and Kashmir. Ruveda’s role is challenging. It carries a lot of responsibility. “I am in a state where people respect the police. I like it here (Tamil Nadu). When girls see me in uniform they look at me with admiration. I had conducted a workshop for girls in Hyderabad. The girls who attended said they wanted to join the IPS, but were apprehensive about whether their parents will support them,” Ruveda shared.

According to Ruveda, development will lead to peace in Jammu and Kashmir. “Peace and development go together. We should look to the future. Living outside has helped me understand the situation better,” said Ruveda.

source: http://www.yourstory.com / Your Story / Home> Her Story> Think Change India / May 11th, 2016

23-year-old Indian-origin woman wins local election in US

September 15, 2017Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, NRI's / PIO's, World OpinionRaaheela Ahmed, Raheela Ahmed - Indian American Muslim, Shukoor Ahmed, Shukoor Ahmed - Maryland - USAmpositiveone@gmail.com

Maryland, USA :

Raaheela Ahmed / Images Twitter - Raaheela Ahmed) — Raaheela Ahmed / Images Twitter – Raaheela Ahmed)

Highlights

Raaheela Ahmed won the school board race in Prince George’s county of Maryland
Her father is from India and mother from Pakistan
Her victory gains significance as her district has 80 per cent of African-American population

Washington :

A Muslim-American woman, whose parents are from India and Pakistan, has won a key local election in the US state of Maryland which was dominated by anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric.

Raaheela Ahmed, 23, won the school board race in Prince George’s county of Maryland by defeating a long-time system administrator by an impressive 15 per cent vote difference.

She had unsuccessfully run for this position four years ago in 2012. Her father is from India and mother from Pakistan. Her victory gains significance as her district has 80 per cent of African-American population.

She was endorsed by the former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steel.

“It’s interesting that on the same day Donald Trump was elected as president of the US, I as a hijabi Muslim young woman was also elected to serve in a public office. I think that speaks volumes about the diversity of American opinion, and that American dream is still well and alive,” Ahmed said.

“I’d like to act as a form of inspiration for other minorities that they can achieve what they will, given prayer, circumstance and hard work. This win would not have been possible without the support and belief that other people had in me,” she said.

“For my young minority women, please know that at the end of the day, you are worthy of your highest inspirations. You have to believe that you are able to achieve them, even if societal structures do not yet allow for that. Because one day, those glass ceilings will break. And who knows?” Ahmed said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> NRI> US & Canada / PTI / November 22nd, 2016

Gen. Bipin Rawat unveils bust of 1965 war hero Abdul Hamid

September 15, 2017Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, LeadersAbdul Hamid - War Hero, AbdulHamid, Company Quartermaster Havildar Abdul Hamid, Havildar Abdul Hamid, Memorial Abdul Hamid, Param Veer Chakra Abdul Hamid, Param Veer Chakra Havildar Abdul Hamid, Param Vir Chakra - Abdul Hamid, Rasoolan Bibimpositiveone@gmail.com

Dhamupur (Ghazipur District) , UTTAR PRADESH :

Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat unveiled a memorial during the anniversary of Param Veer Chakra Havildar Abdul Hamid, in Bhamupur village of Ghazipur on Sunday. | Photo Credit: PTI

Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat on Sunday unveiled a bust of the 1965 Indo-Pak war hero Abdul Hamid here in Ghazipur district and felicitated the widow of the soldier who was awarded Param Vir Chakra, the highest wartime gallantry medal.

On the occasion of the 52nd anniversary of his sacrifice, Gen. Rawat and his wife Madhulika met Rasoolan Bibi, wife of Havildar Hamid, and several other war widows and felicitated them. The Army chief also unveiled a memorial in Hamid’s honour in Dhamupur.

Lauding the contribution made by the people of the district to the armed forces, Gen. Rawat said a recruitment drive will be held soon in Ghazipur to encourage the youth to join the Army and contribute to the country’s security.

Hamid had destroyed several tanks of the Pakistan Army during the 1965 war in the Lahore sector.

“Jahan Hindustan ki sena khadi hai, wahan khatra kisi aur se nahi hai [where the Indian Army is present, there is no threat from anyone],” the Army Chief said.

“Hamid is an inspiration for the youth and his extraordinary bravery made the country proud,” he said.

On the Dokalam issue, Gen. Rawat said India and China have held talks and the situation there is under control.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home>New> National / PTI / Dhamupur (U.P) / September 10, 2017

Nationalist Congress Party’s Hasina Faras elected Kolhapur mayor

September 15, 2017Community Involvement / Social Issues, LeadersAdil Faras, Babu Faras -Mayor-Kolhapur Municipal Corporation, Hasan Mushrif, Hasina Faras, Hasina Faras-First Muslim Woman Mayor of Kolhapur, Hasina Faras-Mayor of Kolhapurmpositiveone@gmail.com

Kolhapur, MAHARASHTRA :

Kolhapur :

The general body of the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC) on Thursday elected Nationalist Congress Party’s Hasina Faras as the next mayor and Congress nominee Arjun Mane as the deputy mayor.

Kunal Khemnar, the chief executive officer of the zilla parishad, presided over the meet to elect mayor and deputy mayor.

The posts were vacant for the past few weeks after mayor Ashwini Ramane and deputy mayor Shama Mulla resigned.

Faras and Mane defeated Bharatiya Janata Party-Tararani Aghadi alliance candidates Smita Mane and Vijay Khade. Despite having less numbers in the house, the opposition alliance had decided to contest the election. Four Shiv Sena corporators abstained from voting, giving as easy win to the ruling alliance.

In the 81-member house, Faras and Mane secured 44 votes each, while the opposition candidates got 33. The opposition was banking on the support of four Sena corporators and was also aiming to get a few more corporators from either Congress or NCP. However, the ruling alliance had issued a whip to their members to vote for the official nominees. To avoid any unfavourable results, all 44 corporators of the ruling alliance were taken to an undisclosed location for two days and were brought directly to the meeting. The voting by raising hands made it easy for the floor leaders to keep a watch on the corporators and to avoid any defection.

Faras is wife of former mayor Babu Faras and mother of former standing committee chairman Adil Faras. She is the first Muslim woman to hold the mayor’s post in the KMC. Faras is close to NCP leader Hasan Mushrif but she may get just a six-month term before stepping down to pave way for other corporators from NCP to become mayor.

Faras said, “I will push the Mahalakshmi temple development plan and also ensure that the Wi-Fi project for the city is initiated. The second phase work of renovation of Keshavrao Bhosale Natyagruha is pending; I will try to get funds from the state government for it.”

The project of Wi-Fi hot spots at various places in the city was proposed by her son Adil when he was chairman of the standing committee. After the new body came into place last year, the project has been on the back burner.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Kolhapur News / TNN / December 09th, 2016

Umrao Jaan lyricist no more

September 7, 2017Arts, Culture & Entertainment, EducationAkhlaq Mohammed Khan, Akhlaq Mohammed Khan (aka) Shahryar, Shahryar, Shahryar-Jnanapith Awardee, Shahryar-Lyricistmpositiveone@gmail.com

Aligarh, UTTAR PRADESH :

Acclaimed lyricist Shahryar of Umraao Jaan fame, 75, died of lung cancer last night at Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh.

Born at Aonla Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, he belonged to a Muslim Rajput family. Shahryar retired as chairman of the Urdu Department at the Aligarh Muslim University. Later, he used to co-edit the literary magazine Sher-o-Hikmat.

Originally christened Akhlaq Mohammed Khan, he was recognised for his lyrics in Muzaffar Ali’s films like Gaman (1978), Umrao Jaan (1981) and Anjuman (1986).

His last lyrics were for Mira Nair’s critically acclaimed The Namesake (2006). In 1987, he was rewarded with the Sahitya Akademi Award in Urdu for Khwab Ka Dar Band Hai (1987). He was the fourth Urdu writer to win the Jnanpith Award in 2008.
In memoriam
I knew him since 1966. He was family to me. The news of his death came as a great shock to me. He was one of the greatest modern poets. He was my inspiration. I used his poetry in all my films. I met him last when he received the Jnanpith Award. It was two and a half months back. He was undergoing chemotherapy at that time. Actually, I was planning to go to Aligarh to meet him. However, it never materialised.

Shahryar’s death is not only a loss to me but to the world of poetry. He was an extremely well mannered person, particularly sensitive to social issues. As for his work, his maximum contribution was in Umraao Jaan. But you cannot rule out the value that he added to Anjuman and Gaman. It’s an irreparable loss. I will miss him.

I was shocked at the news. Shahryar had done some great work and wrote some outstanding songs in his film career, especially in Umrao Jaan. The songs were immortal. He understood the soul of the movies. Ek se ek gaane likhe the. He received an honorary doctorate, few years back. He also got the Jnanpith award and he deserved these awards. Bahut bade shayar hai hamare mulukh ke.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> Entertainment> Hindu> Bollywood News / Mumbai Mirror / February 14th, 2012

Table Tennis: Sai Tejesh, Nikhat emerge champions

September 7, 2017SportsAmaan-Ur-Rehman (Stag Academy), Mohd Ibrahim Khan (SBI), Nikhat Banu, Nikhat Banu - Gujarati Seva Mandal, Nikhat Banu - Hyderabad - Telangana, Nikhat Banu - Paddler, Nikhat Banu - Reserve Bank of India, Nikhat Banu - Table Tennis, Nikhat Banu - Telanganampositiveone@gmail.com

Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

In the men’s title clash, Sai Tejesh rallied defeat Anandnagar Welfare Association player Aravind 4-3 for the top honours.

In the Women’s event, Nikhat faced a stiff challenge from GSM’s M Monica but the experienced campaigner managed to brush aside the resistance to win 4-3

Hyderabad:

Gujarati Seva Mandal’s Sai Tejesh and Reserve Bank of India’s Nikhat Banu had to dig in deep to emerge champions in the men and women’s categories of the 31st St Paul’s Annual Telangana State Ranking and Inter-School table tennis championship at the St Paul’s High School on Monday.

In the men’s title clash, Sai Tejesh rallied to defeat Anandnagar Welfare Association player Arvind 4-3 for the top honours. In the women’s event, Nikhat faced a stiff challenge from GSM’s M Monica but the experienced campaigner managed to brush aside the resistance to win 4-3.
In the inter-school team championship, St Paul’s High School ‘B’ team defeated Prakasam Vidya Nikethan 3-1 to win the boys’ title while Rosary Convent ‘A’ team thrashed Gitanjali Devashray 3-1 for the title in girls category.

In the inter-institutional team championship, SBI got the better of Postal 3-1 for the title.
Results: All Finals:

Sub Junior: Boys: Advait (Awa) bt Kesavan Kannan (Mlr) (4-0) 11-07,11-05,12-10,12-10
Girls: Anjali Naineni (Mlr) bt Mercy (Hindu Public School) (4-0) 11-06,11-07,11-08,11-08
Junior: Boys: Saroj Siril (Mlr) bt Amaan-Ur-Rehman (Stag Academy) (4-2) 03-11,11-09,11- 07,09-11,11-08,11-03

Girls: Varuni Jaiswal (Gsm) bt G Pranitha (Hvs) (4-1) 11-06,09-11,12-10,12-10,11-03
Youth: Boys: Harsh V Lahoti (Hvs) bt Saroj Siril (Mlr) (4-0) 11-03,11-08,11-08,11-03
Girls: Naina (Lbs) bt Varuni Jaiswal (Gsm) (4-1) 11-09,11-08,11-08,08-11,11-07
Men: Sai Tejesh (Gsm) bt Arvind (Awa) (4-3) 08-11,08-11,11-07,12-10,10-12,11-09,11-07;
Women: Nikhat Banu (Rbi) bt Monica M (Gsm) (4-3) 09-11,11-04,11-08,07-11,04-11,11-05,11-06

Inter-School Team Championship:

Boys: St Paul’s High School B bt Prakasam Vidya Nikethan (3-1)
Girls: Rosary Convent – A bt Gitanjali Devashray (3-1)
Inter-Institutional Team Championship:
SBI bt Postal (3-1)

Mohd Imbrahim Khan (SBI) bt Deepesh Singh (Postal) (3-1), 11-08,11-07,09-11,11-06; P Nagender Reddy (SBI) bt Sreedhar (Postal) (3-2) 09-11,11-07,11-05,08-11,11-08; Deepesh Singh & Ramesh (Postal) bt Mohd Imbrahim Khan & D Ajay Kumar (SBI) (3-1) 07-11,11-06,11-08,11-05; Mohd Imbrahim Khan (SBI) bt K Sreedhar (Postal)
(3-1), 11-08,11-13,11-07,11-09.

source: http://www.telanganatoday.com / Telangana Today / Home> Sports> Other Sports / by Telangana Today / August 22nd, 2017

5 Things to Know About Lt Col Sophia Qureshi – First Woman to Lead an Army Contingent

September 7, 2017Amazing Feats, Leaders, World OpinionFirst Woman Officer to lead an Indian Army Contingent of multi-national military exercise, Lt. Col. Sophia Qureshi, Sophia Qureshimpositiveone@gmail.com

GUJARAT :

Lieutenant Colonel Sophia Qureshi has become the first woman officer to lead an Indian Army contingent at a multi-national military exercise. Named ‘Exercise Force 18’, this is the largest ever foreign military exercise hosted by India, and Lt Col Sophia Qureshi is the only woman leader amongst the 18 participating contingents. The Field Training Exercise started in Pune on March 2 and will continue till March 8. The Indian contingent, which will play a key role in the training with other troops in Peacekeeping Operations (PKOs) and Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA), has 40 members.

‘ “On these missions, we monitor the ceasefires in those countries and also aid in the humanitarian activities. The job is to ensure peace in the conflict affected areas,” Sophia Qureshi told The Indian Express while talking about the role of peacekeeping missions in conflict areas around the world. ‘

Here are five things to know about her:

1. 35-year-old Sophia Qureshi was selected from a pool of peacekeeping trainers to lead this contingent.

2. Presently, she is an officer from the Corps of Signals of the Indian Army.

3. In 2006, she served in United Nations Peacekeeping Operation in Congo and has been associated with PKOs for the last six years.

4. She hails from Gujarat and holds a post-graduate degree in bio-chemistry.

5. Her grandfather was in the Army and she is married to an Army officer from Mechanised Infantry.

Members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), including India, Japan, Korea, China, Russia, United States, Australia, and New Zealand are participating in the exercise. The opening ceremony was held at Aundh Military Station.

‘ “In the Army, we believe in equal opportunity and equal responsibility. In the Army, there is no difference between male and female officers. She has been picked not because she is a woman but as she has the abilities and leadership qualities to shoulder the responsibility,” said Lt Gen Bipin Rawat, Army Commander of Pune based Southern Command. ‘

source: http://www.thebetterindia.com / The Better India / Home> Quick Bytes / by Tanaya Singh / March 04th, 2016

‘Shahabuddin is best Andhra all-rounder ever’

September 7, 2017SportsKhatib Syed Shahabuddin, KS Shahabuddin, KS Shahabuddin-Andhra Pradesh Cricketer, KS Shahabuddin-Cricketer, Shahubuddin-Cricketermpositiveone@gmail.com

Anantapur, ANDHRA PRADESH :

proud moment:Andhra Ranji cricketer Shahabuddin being felicitated by the Rural Development Trust at Anantapur in Friday.— PHOTO: BY ARRANGEMENT

BCCI senior selection committee member and former India stumper M.S.K. Prasad on Friday said that the flamboyant Andhra Ranji cricketer S.K. Shahabuddin was a best all-rounder ever in Andhra cricket and hailed him as a game changer.

Speaking at the felicitation organised by Rural Development Trust here on his retirement, he said though Shahabuddin had immense amount of talent he failed to make it to the Indian team.

Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) general secretary Gokaraju Gangaraju recollected the services of the Anantapur all-rounder and exhorted the youngsters to emulate him.

“For 18 years he played cricket with dedication and passion. We will cherish his on-field exploits for years to come”. Anantapur District Cricket Association (ADCA) president Moncho Ferrer said Shahabuddin was a natural athlete and always enjoyed his presence on the field. “Though I am sad he had retired, I am happy that he has taken up the responsibility as the operation head of the RDT cricket team. I wish to see him as a member of the Indian support team”.

Mr. Shahabuddin in his thanks giving speech recollected the roles of ADCA and ACA in providing him the unflinching support. “My exposure in England and at Chennai League helped me to perform well in first class cricket”.

Venkat Siva Reddy, vice president, ACA, Satyaprasad, South Zone Head, ACA, and Vijay Anand, legal advisor, Tamilnadu Cricket Association were present.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Special Correspondent / Anantapur – April 30th, 2016

Muslim to head India’s domestic spy agency in historic first

September 7, 2017Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, World OpinionDirector Intelligence Bureau- Syed Asif Ibrahim, Syed Asif Ibrahim, Syed Asif Ibrahim - Director - IB, Syed Asif Ibrahim - First Muslim to Head IB, Syed Asif Ibrahim - IPS Officermpositiveone@gmail.com

Kanpur, UTTAR PRADESH / Bhopal, MADHYA PRADESH / NEW DELHI :

For the first time in the history of India, a Muslim officer has been selected to head the country’s domestic intelligence agency.

The Intelligence Bureau (IB), one of India’s most powerful intelligence organizations, will be led by Syed Asif Ibrahim, one of relatively few Muslim senior officers serving in the country’s predominantly Hindu security and intelligence apparatus.

It will be the first time that the IB, which was formed in 1877 under British colonial rule, and today operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs, will be led by a Muslim.

Formerly a senior officer in the Indian Police Service, Ibrahim, 59, has served for years in the IB’s Directorate of Operations, and recently served as the Bureau’s Chief of Station at the Indian High Commission in London, United Kingdom.

His supervisory experience includes roles in the IB’s counter-cyberespionage and counterterrorism units. IntelNews hears that Ibrahim is widely seen by Indian intelligence officers as someone with a “crystal-clear understanding” of Islamic-inspired militancy inside the country.

Ibrahim’s appointment was announced late last week by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, a senior government body lead by the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Following the announcement, observers noted that at least four IB officials, who had been tipped for the job of director and were above Ibrahim in terms of seniority, were assigned to positions outside the Bureau, ostensibly to clear the way for Ibrahim’s appointment.

Mumbai-based news portal Rediff spoke to an unnamed Indian intelligence official, who said that, although Ibrahim is widely seen as a “professional and an outstanding officer with the widest range of experience […], there could be a debate on the issue of seniority”. Specifically, some in the IB believe that the criteria for seniority were used “selectively” in Ibrahim’s appointment.

But India’s Muslim community appears to have welcomed the news. Rediff quoted Dr. Zafarul-Islam Khan, president of the All-India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat (the umbrella body of Indian Muslim groups), who sees Ibrahim’s appointment as “a new beginning” and hopes “it will help alter the image f the IB, which is normally seen as a bastion of upper-caste Hindus”.

Ibrahim’s appointment is expected to be officially announced today, Monday. Ibrahim will formally succeed the IB’s outgoing Director, Nehchal Sandhu, on December 31. He is expected to remain on the post for at least two years following his appointment.

source: http://www.intelnews.org / IntelNews.org / by Joseph Fitsanakis / November 26th, 2012