Monthly Archives: February 2019

Surayya Abrar new head of Kodagu Women’s Congress

Kodagu, KARNATAKA :

Surayya Abrar
Surayya Abrar

Surayya Abrar has been elected as the president of Kodagu Women’s Congress unit.

Surayya had served as the chairperson of Madikeri Urban Development Authority in the past.

Pushpalatha was serving as the president of Kodagu Women’s Congress unit in the past.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by Adithya K A / DH News Service, Madikeri / February 04th, 2019

Talent fest in Ullal Dargah

Ullal, KARNATAKA :

Hazrat Syed Madani Darga in Ullal will organise a talent fest for madrasa students on February 23, said Central Juma Masjid and Syed Madani Dargah Committee, Ullal vice president Bava Muhammed.

He told reporters at Patrika Bhavan here recently, that a ‘Kirat’ competition will be held for the madrasa students on February 24 (at 8.30 am).

A free medical camp will be organised in association with Kanachur Hospital. The newly elected members of urban local bodies will be felicitated on the occasion.

An information centre directed to provide necessary information to the visitors at Ullal Dargah will be inaugurated.

The valedictory programme will be attended by Ullal Syed Madani Arabic College principal Shaikhuna Faizi Thodar, District In-charge Minister U T Khader, chief minister’s parliamentary secretary Ivan D’Souza among others.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by Ashwani Kumar N K R / DH News Service, Mangaluru / February 15th, 2019

Dr Najma Heptulla inaugurates National Unani Conference

NEW DELHI :

The National Unani awards were presented on the first day of the two day conference

The National Conference on Unani Medicine kicked off on Monday with much fanfare in the presence of a galaxy of dignitaries.

“Unani Medicine can offer the right solution for many health challenges we are facing due to lack of treatment of many diseases and paucity of resources”, said Dr. Najma Heptulla, Governor of Manipur, inaugurating the two-day conference organized by the Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM). It is a part of the 3rd Unani Day celebrations.  Dr. Heptulla urged the Unani fraternity to progress and evolve with the changing times, adapt to new techniques of health research and contribute new approaches to health management. She said that Manipur has the treasure of over 500 medicinal plants and invited scientists to visit the state for research. 

Addressing the conference themed on ‘Unani Medicine for Public Health’, Minister of State (IC) for AYUSH, Shripad Yesso Naik enlightened the audience on concrete steps taken by the Ministry of AYUSH to promote Unani Medicine.

The Lifetime Achievement Awards were conferred on Prof. Naeem Ahmad Khan, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh and Prof. M A Jafri, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi for Best Academician and Best Researcher in Unani Medicine respectively

“Our efforts are focused to tap the real potential of AYUSH systems in imparting preventive, promotive and holistic healthcare to the people,” he said. Paying tributes to Hakim Ajmal Khan, whose birth anniversary is celebrated as Unani Day on 11thFebruary every year, he described him as a versatile genius.

Highlighting the strengths of Unani Medicine and other AYUSH systems in his address, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that the AYUSH systems are golden key to health and wellbeing. India is the strongest hub of Traditional Medicine which is one of the reasons medical tourism is flourishing in the country. He stressed on Integration of Unani Medicine in Mainstream Healthcare in line with the government policies and initiatives for mainstreaming of AYUSH in national healthcare.

On this occasion, AYUSH Awards for Unani Medicine were conferred on various Unani scientists and experts in recognition of their contributions for research, teaching and practice of Unani Medicine.

The Best Research Paper Awards were presented to Dr. Arshiya Sultana, Associate Professor, National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bangalore for Clinical Research and Dr. Noman Anwar, Research Officer (Unani), Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine, Chennai for Drug Research in Unani Medicine. The Young Scientist Awards were conferred on Dr. Jamal Akhtar, Research Officer (Unani) Scientist – III, CCRUM for Clinical Research and Dr. Nasreen Jahan, Associate Professor, National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bangalore for Drug Research in Unani Medicine.

The Best Teacher Awards were presented to Prof. Tanzeel Ahmad, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh for Clinical Research, Prof. Mohd Aslam, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi for Drug Research and Prof. Khalid Zaman Khan, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh for Literary Research in Unani Medicine. The Lifetime Achievement Awards were conferred on Prof. Naeem Ahmad Khan, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh and Prof. M A Jafri, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi for Best Academician and Best Researcher in Unani Medicine respectively.

source: http://www.medibulletin.com / MediBulletin / Home> Alt Medicene / by MediBulletin Bureau / February 11th, 2019

Meet Bilal Ahmad Dar, The Big-dreaming Kashmiri Cycling Sensation

CHAK KAWOOSA (on Srinagar – Gulmarg Highway) JAMMU & KASHMIR / NEW DELHI  :

Four years back, his hunger strike had forced his mother to sell off a piece of land and some poplars to buy a very ‘costly’ cycle.

Four years back, his hunger strike had forced his mother to sell off a piece of land and some poplars to buy a very 'costly' cycle.
Four years back, his hunger strike had forced his mother to sell off a piece of land and some poplars to buy a very ‘costly’ cycle.

Four years back, his hunger strike had forced his mother to sell off a piece of land and some poplars to buy a very ‘costly’ cycle.

On February 12th 2019, as he turned 18, Bilal Ahmad Dar, India’s medal hope for 2022 Asian games, vowed to slog harder for the Olympics and Commonwealth events, the biggest sporting stages on the planet.
The Kashmiri cyclist has won 18 medals – three silver and one bronze in the Asian championship – and four consecutive golds in junior nationals.

“I am 18 today and will now be eligible to compete at a senior level. I am aiming not only to get a medal at the Asian games but in Olympics and Commonwealth too,” Dar, who trains in Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Stadium and is on a ten day vacation in Kashmir, told News 18.

“It was a fight which I had to win. It was a promotion from a 2500 rupee cycle to a one which cost one lakh plus,” he chuckles.

“One lakh rupees was a hell lot of money for us. Villagers and relatives wondered what I was upto,” said Dar, who lost his father to an accident eight years back.

The family lives hand to mouth by cultivating paddy, fruit and vegetables. Dar’s grandfather takes care of his two siblings and mother at their home in Chak Kawoosa, a roadside village on the scenic Srinagar-Gulmarg highway.

For the last three years, Dar has been training hard at the IG stadium where coaches have set him a punishing schedule. Here, Dar is exposed to world class coaching, hectic training and world class equipment.

The training has paid off but now he wants to take it to the next level. He has won medals at national and international level in both Pursuit and Velodrome events.

His performance won him accolades not from fellow cyclists but former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman and politician Omar Abdullah.

The journey from Kashmir to IG stadium

Dar was spotted by former Indian cyclist and Arjuna Award winner Amar Singh at a talent hunt drive in Srinagar.

“It was raining that day and 200 local athletes were told to compete in multi disciplines at Bakshi Stadium. I stood first,” recalls Dar.

In the next few days, Singh persuaded Dar to come to Delhi and train under him. He asked his mentor and guide Rifat Abdullah – a popular journalist and social activist – to convince his family of his potential in sport.

“The rest is known. I shifted to Delhi where I am training hard under the watchful eyes of best coaches,” he said.

The little success he has achieved as of today has not come through a shortcut.

“Every morning I cycle between 80 to 120 km for around 4 to 5 hours. Sometimes in stadium and some times I do road cycling,” he says.

“In the evening after school, I train for another three hours at the gym. This is a regimen I have been following since last three years,” he added.

Dar says now that he will get to complete at a senior level, he needs to double the effort.

“In the next six years, I will be competing with the best in the world and God willing play major championships,” he says.

“I have played Asian championship on four occasions. If picked for the team, I will play Asian games, Commonwealth and Olympics,” he said.

His schooling, lodging, board, food, travel and leisure has been taken care of by Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Cyclist Federation of India.

“I have no complaints. Today I use Calvero – world’s topmost cycle brand – for practice and the best facilities. The cycle costs 10 lakh rupees. I hope to repay the country by winning medals,” he stated.

While SAI and CFI have given him top class facilites, the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council have not spent a penny on him. Head coach Amar Singh had recently written to the Council to raise Rs 10 lakh for him, but one secretary level officer said he has no money even though huge grants have come to the state under different sports programmes.

“I had to raise ten thousands rupees for his tickets and travel when Singh sir told me to send him to Delhi,” rues Abdullah. “But tough times are over for him. I think it is payback time,” he said.

Amar Singh, Dar’s chief coach told News 18 from Canada that “he is a medal material for India”.

“We are training him and he has all the talent to go to next level. I wish state buys him the best equipment. So far they haven’t,” he said.

“We are sending him abroad for training and exposure. He is our best bet currently,” he added.

source: http://www.news18.com / News18 / Home> News18> Other Sports / by Mufti Islah , CNN-News18 / February 12th, 2019

Yusuffali M A is fifth highest-ranked Indian philanthropist

KERALA / U.A.E. :

Lulu Group chairman Yusuffali M A is ranked fifth in the list of top 10 philanthropists in the Hurun Indian Philanthropy List 2018 published on Saturday.

Yusuffali M A, CMD, Lulu Group, and A J Pai, Director, Lulu Tech Park, looking at a scale model of Lulu Cyber Tower-2 | Albin Mathew
Yusuffali M A, CMD, Lulu Group, and A J Pai, Director, Lulu Tech Park, looking at a scale model of Lulu Cyber Tower-2 | Albin Mathew

Kochi :

Lulu Group chairman Yusuffali M A is ranked fifth in the list of top 10 philanthropists in the Hurun Indian Philanthropy List 2018 published on Saturday.

Yusuffali is the lone Malayali to figure in the list which ranks benefactors who have donated  `10 crore or more during the October 2017- September 2018 period, said Anas Rahman Junaid, managing director and chief researcher, Hurun Report India.

He had donated more than `50 crore to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund in the aftermath of the flood havoc last year.

He had  donated generously during the devastating temblors at Latur, Maharashtra and Bhuj in Gujarat, the 2004 tsunami tragedy, Uttarakhand deluge and floods in Jammu and Kashmir.

Yusuffali has also assisted several Indians, stranded in the Gulf countries, providing them financial aid and flight tickets.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Express News Service / February 10th, 2019

Athiya Shetty and Sania Mirza come together for a special initiative for Save The Children

Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

Actress Athiya Shetty and Tennis star Sania Mirza are coming together for a special initiative. When two forces join hands, this initiative of Araaish X The Label Bazaar will be able to curate fashion for a greater purpose. Araaish has been the fundraising arm of Save The Children India and by collaborating with The Label Bazaar we will find solid support & reach out to a diverse audience, whereby creating a greater awareness for Save The Children India.

SaniaAthiyaMPOs11feb2019

Speaking about the cause and spreading awareness, Athiya Shetty says, “The proceeds are used to support the vocational training of adolescent girls and young women from the slum communities and education of special children coming from impoverished families have no access to education. We use the platform of Araaish X The Label Bazaar to speak about our cause through our creative’s, social media campaigns and also on-day show collaterals to let all our supporters know that they are the real change-makers.”

Athiya Shetty shot for a campaign with Sania Mirza. The actress revealed how forthcoming Sania was towards this cause. “Sania was extremely forthcoming. She’s not only a fantastic sportsperson but a fantastic human being as well! Not only was she was very excited to be a part of this initiative, but she was also hands-on while shooting with the special children of Save The Children India. Sania is very committed to the cause of education and through this collaboration, she will walk the talk to make this show a significant fund-raiser,” she adds.

Athiya Shetty further adds, “Save the Children India is very close to my heart and was founded by my Nani 30 years ago. This is my way of Contributing and keeping her passion alive through this Collaboration, we aim to be India’s Finest luxury lifestyle exhibition with nearly 11 years of experience, over 2,50,000 shoppers, associating with over 500 brands. This collaboration will cherry-pick designers from the fashion world. Given the fact that it will be attended by a larger audience, we will be able to make a difference for the beneficiaries of Save The Children India.”

On the work front, Athiya Shetty will be next seen in Nawazuddin Siddiqui starrer Motichoor Chaknachoor.

source: http://www.bollywoodhungama.com / Bollywood Hungama / Home / by The Bollywood Hungama News Network / February 09th, 2019

Agra remembers Nazeer Akbarabadi

DELHI / Agra, UTTAR PRADESH :

Agra :

Agra on Sunday remembered Nazeer Akbarabadi, the people’s poet whose birthday falls on Basant Panchmi, the festival of spring.

As bright sunshine dazzled the Taj Mahal, bringing joy and cheer to thousands of tourists, a little distance away spring smiled on the modest tomb of Mian Nazeer Akbarabadi.

People offered floral tributes to the poet who offered a myriad repertoire of common man’s ordeals and preoccupations in the ‘mohallas’ of Agra during the fading glory of the Mughal era.

The local poet sang of love, of natural beauty and the secular traditions of the Taj city.

Hailed as the people’s poet, unlike Meer and Mirza Ghalib who wrote for the classy elite, Nazeer Akbarabadi wrote about ordinary events and characters that touched the hearts of both Muslims and Hindus.

He mocked at the follies and foibles of royalty with disdain but sang lyrically about Krishna Kanhaiyya and on subjects like Muflisi (poverty) and Roti.

— bk/mr

source: http://www.outlookindia.com / Outlook / Home> The News Scrll / February 10th, 2019

The haveli of Mughal fireworks in Chandni Chowk

Chandni Chowk, DELHI :

Delhi did have fire-crackers much more than 200 years ago and Haider Quli, the artillery chief, made good use of them at his haveli, now lying deserted.

The cluttered entrance to Haveli Haider Quli in Chandni Chowk
The cluttered entrance to Haveli Haider Quli in Chandni Chowk

Delhi did have fire-crackers much more than 200 years ago and Haider Quli, the artillery chief, made good use of them at his haveli, now lying deserted. In Chandni Chowk is Haveli Haider Quli, whose inhabitant till February 2016 was the nonagenarian Narain Prasad. The double-story apartment he lived in was only a part of the original mansion, where now houses and shops have mushroomed and the garden that was one of its attractions has disappeared in the ensuing rabbit of a warren locality.

Haider Quli was the chief of the artillery during the reign of Mohammad Shah Rangila (1719-1748) in whose reign Nadir Shah invaded Delhi and took away the Peacock Throne and Kohinoor, along with other fabulous treasure.

Haider Quli got his exalted post because of his patron Hussein Ali, but later turned against his mentor and got him murdered while he was on his way home in Chandni Chowk. A boy related to him fired at one of the assailants, killing him on the spot but the others hacked the boy to pieces with their swords. It is said that Mohd Shah was also involved in the conspiracy, along with his mother as he had become wary of Hussein Ali.

It was Haider Quli who organized the first fireworks in 18th century Delhi some 260 years ago under his supervision as Mir Atish, whose descendants had fireworks shops behind the Jama Masjid.

The Mughal emperors preceding Mohd Shah celebrated Diwali with illuminations but there were no fireworks as such. Possibly the only cracker was a ball of gunpowder exploded by the Mir Atish and a crude kind of Phuljhari (sparkler) for the amusement of the ladies of the harem when the Seths of Chandni Chowk were worshipping Lakshmi in their shops.

It is pertinent to remember that Babur brought guns with him when he invaded India in 1526 and on whose firepower he won the First Battle of Panipat against Ibrahim Lodi-the Sultan’s elephants running amuck at the sound of the blazing cannon and the fireballs they ejected.

Gunpowder was invented or discovered in China in the ninth century and India was practically devoid of it till AD 1250. The Mughals’ ancestor, Changez Khan had made use of gunpowder during his Mongol raids because of which it made its way into parts of Russia. Evidence of this found in the story of Alibaba and the Forty Thieves, in which the chief of the robbers Abu Hassan used gunpowder (Shaitani Rait or Devil’s Sand) to overawe his victims. Then after depositing the loot in his treasure-house Simsim, he retired to the fort, where he resided as the seemingly pious Imam Sahib, to whom people went with their complaints against Abu Hassan. The hypocrite, with his lust for the slave girl Marjina, would then march out with troops in a mock campaign to nab the robber chief.

History shows that before the Mughals some sort of atishbazi was introduced into Delhi during the reign of Nasiruddin Mahmud, Chirag Delhi. But he and other Slave kings are not known to have celebrated Diwali, which was first patronised by Mohmmad bin Tughlak. The succeeding Sayyids and Lodhis may also have willy-nilly followed the custom. Babur and Humayun had their Nauroz celebrations, but Akbar did celebrate Diwali on a grand scale because of his Rajput wives. Jahangir and Shah Jahan had an even more elaborate Diwali, with the latter emperor being bathed in waters collected from seven rivers and pandits chanting mantras while the Maulvis looked askance. However, his daughter Jahanara was not burnt during Diwali celebrations but one evening at the daily lamp-lighting. Aurangzeb, despite his orthodoxy, did observe Diwali with the Rajput chiefs coming to him with sweets and gifts. Gossip would have us believe that his first Diwali was celebrated with his beloved Hira Bai Zainabadi in his arms and offering him a cup of wine to prove his love for her. But when Aurangzeb moved as if to sip it, Zainabadi (appreciating the gesture) took away the cup from his hand. No wonder when she died an early death. Aurangzeb was devastated Jahander Shah, his grandson, celebrated Diwali with concubine Lal Kanwar in Lahore (1712), when he bought all the oil available in the city for illuminations, though fireworks were absent till Mohd Shah took over after the death of Farrukhseyar and some puppet kings.

Historians, however, fix the date when Diwali crackers became popular as 200 years from now, though the British were enjoying fireworks on Guy Fawkes Night in observance of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 (the year Akbar died). Mirza Ghalib was one of those who were present at the Diwali celebrations of Bahadur Shah Zafar, who released the bluejay or Neelkanth bird as a sign that Durga was on her way home after Dussehra. But Prof Ram Nath observes that it was actually Shah Jahan who first did so. For the later Mughals fireworks were also the main observance during Shabhe-Barat, heralding the approach of Ramzan.

This display of crackers was extended to Diwali. As a matter of fact, during Mohd Shah Rangila’s reign it was a cracker thrown at the palanquin of the emperor’s jeweller, Sukh Karan that led to the March 8, 1729, shoesellers’ riot in which Rangila Piya’s favourite concubine Nur Bai, on her way back home in Chawri Bazar from the Red Fort, lost a tooth when she was hit by a stone thrown by the rioters. So Delhi did have crackers much more than 200 years ago and Haider Quli, the artillery chief, made good use of them at his haveli-now lying deserted as even the last occupant, Narain Prasad’s 94-year-old sister has left it after her brother’s death. But whenever you see the place you instinctively think of fireworks as happened during Guru Nanak’s birthday celebrations amid a crescendo of crackers despite the ban on them.

source: http://www.thestatesman.com / The Statesman / Home> Supplements> Section 2 / The Statesman News Service / New Delhi – February 09th, 2019

Old wives’ tales

Chaat01MPOs09feb2019

Theories abound about the origin of chaat

There are those who say the word chaat originated from its literal meaning ‘to lick’. It was so delicious that people licked their fingers and the bowl made of peepal leaves, called donas, in which it is often served. Others think it originated from the term chatpati (tangy). However, no one truly knows the origin.

One story goes thus: During the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan, in the 16th Century, there was an outbreak of cholera. Desperate attempts were made to control it by physicians and sorcerers. One remedy suggested was to make food with loads of spices so that it would kill the bacteria within. Thus was born the spicy tangy chaat, which the entire populace of Delhi is believed to have consumed. A slight variant attributes it to the court physician called Hakim Ali, who realised that the foul water in a defunct local canal could result in serious water-borne diseases and thought the only way to prevent it was to add a liberal dose of spices — tamarind, red chillies, coriander, mint etc to the food. Hence, the food came to be called chatpati (tangy).

However, no one knows the veracity of these stories.

The grandmaster of history of our cuisine and food, KT Achaya, gives plenty of references to various ingredients and dishes which make up the repertoire of chaats. In his book, A Historical Dictionary of Indian Food, Achaya’s description of dahi vadas is interesting. He says the vadas were first mentioned in the Sutra literature of 500 BC. The Mânasollasa of the 12th Century talks of soaking vadasin milk, rice water or curd. Curd is also mentioned in the Vedas, and curd in Tamil literature is said to have been spiced up using pepper, cinnamon and ginger. Therefore, it may be conjectured that adding curd to the dahi vada and spicing it up with various chutneys and pomegranate seeds could be an ancient habit.

Chaat02MPOs09feb2019

Achaya further writes of how papdi finds a mention in Mânasollasa in the 12th Century as purika. The description fits the present-day papdi which is fried crisp with the addition of cumin seeds and ajwain, using chickpea flour, maidaor wheat flour and not puris.

The use of rock salt or sendha namak and black salt with chaat is common. Alooor potato cubes, fried in oil, is spiced up using a combination of salts, which also have ancient origins. According to Achaya, Mahabharata refers to the use of rock salt or sendha namak and black salt. It is also mentioned in the Buddhist Vinaya Pitaka and by Charaka.

The tale of paani puri can be linked to chappatis. Achaya talks of how cave paintings show balls of dough being made, and how, in Harappan sites, flat metal and clay plates have been seen, which look like the modern-day tava. Hence, chappatis may have a long history, and so do puris.

The Sanskrit word pura, meaning blown up, could be the genesis of the name puris. He further describes puris and paani puris as, “tiny gol guppas, globular puris eaten during festivals or as a roadside snack in North India with a cold, fiery, pepper-mustard liquid concoction”.

Tamarind, whose water-soaked version is the mainstay of panipuris today, was grown in India in prehistoric times. Tamar-ul-Hindi — fruit of India — is how it was referred to by the Arabs and Marco Polo refers to it in 1298 AD as tamarindi.

In Indian Food: A Historical Companion, KT Achaya mentions Sādava from the Buddhist era, which connotes either a spiced fruit dish or a spiced fruit drink. Ginger, cumin and cloves make their way in the Buddhist era. The Aryan era talks of black pepper (maricha) and asafoetida (hing). Spicing up water including tamarind, and fruits was prevalent.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Life & Style> Food / by Chitra Balasubramaniam  / February 07th, 2019

Frozen in time

Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA :

AamirIcecreamwala01MPOs19feb2019

Mumbai’s bustling Bhendi Bazaar has an age-old little shop, which has been famous for its hand-churned ice creams since 1887

Taj Ice Cream, situated in the bylanes of Mohammed Ali Road, Mumbai, is a century-old joint known for its hand-churned ice creams.

It dates back to 1887, when Valilji Jalaji from Kutch arrived in Bombay and started selling fruits and milk mixed in an earthen pot. The man, was totally unaware that he was inadvertently laying the foundation for a rock-solid business — Taj Ice Cream would go steady for over a century.

Today, the same place in Bhendi Bazaar, albeit small, still draws a huge crowd on a daily basis. The man at the counter is 29-year-old, soft-spoken, Aamir Hatim Icecreamwala, the sixth generation at the helm of affairs. He says his father Hatim Sharifali Icecreamwala still visits the shop daily.

“The brand got its name from my grandfather’s best friend Tajuddin, who used to come from Kutch to eat our ice creams. My grandfather thought it was to befitting to name the shop after a loyal customer like him,” reveals Aamir. “Even our surname — Icecreamwala — is something conferred upon Valilji, as people referred to him as that.”

The journey

What started off as a means to eke out a living, soon became a passion. Valilji scouted for ice and started making hand-churned ice creams with fresh fruits, full-cream milk and sugar. The response to his dessert was phenomenal, and gradually, his chilled treats grew in popularity.

Aamir shares, “Although the shop was started in 1887, it was only later that ice creams were made. When Valilji started the place, procuring ice was not possible because it was a luxury item and was expensive.”

It runs in the family

For years, the business has been run successfully by family members. In 2016, Hatim Sharifali and his brothers parted ways, leaving Hatim and his son Aamir now solely in charge of Taj Ice Cream.

AamirIcecreamwala02MPOs19feb2019

From just six flavours that were always available, the menu today boasts of 16 varieties, including the popular sitaphal (custard apple), mango, strawberry, litchi and guava. Furthermore, the brand, which was previously low-key, now has an active social media presence. The credit for these changes goes to Aamir, who returned from Dubai after giving up his job to take the family business to the next level in 2016. “Changing with times is important. Hence, I created a logo, brand identity and ensured we are on delivery platforms and active on social media too, as that is the need of the hour,” explains Aamir candidly.

Besides branding and a bit of marketing, Aamir admits they have changed nothing.

“Valilji was a visionary and had everything chalked out meticulously. Even the copper canister or sanchas, in which we churn the ice cream, are from his time. All we have to do is maintain them every year,” says the man with a smile. He adds, “Our staff too is third-generation and are familiar with the quality requirements. The business is almost on an auto-pilot mode.”

The other plus is they use fruits and the ice creams are said to have no softeners, colours, preservatives or additives.

“That is the first thing I learnt from my father. We never compromised on quality. The fruits are purchased personally by one of us and the milk has been coming from the same place for years now, as we are sure of the quality and hygiene,” informs Aamir, who assures us that every batch of ice cream is tasted by him or his father for quality and consistency.

Famous customers

From actors like Madhubala, Suraiya and Johnny Walker to the popular director-duo Abbas-Mustan and politician Farooq Abdullah, Taj Ice Creams has hosted many celebrities over the years.

“Once upon a time, we used to even cater to the prestigious Radio Club during the British era. But my father tells me that the moment the Shah of Iran, when he visited Mumbai, stayed at Taj Mahal Hotel and asked for our ice creams, was the high point in his life,” shares Aamir.

Apart from working on new flavours like jackfruit and tender coconut, Aamir is keen to get an organic and natural certification for his brand. He has also opened a new outlet in Bandra East and hopes to expand further.

For now, it is just another day, when he is busy tasting the next batch of ice creams, before they go out to customers.

In this fortnightly column, we take a peek at some of the country’s most iconic restaurants

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Life & Style> Food – Iconic Restaurants / by Mini Ribeiro / February 07th, 2019