Do not miss this exhibition that extols the contribution of 20th-century Indian Muslim women
An interesting travelling exhibition is set for a re-run in New Delhi once the pandemic containment rules are eased further. Titled ‘Pathbreakers: The 20th Century Muslim Women of India’, it showcases 21 Indian Muslim women who broke the proverbial glass ceiling and refused to be stereotyped. The exhibition was earlier held in the national capital in 2018.
Speaking to the media in 2018, Syeda Hameed, chairperson of Muslim Women’s Forum (MVF), the organisation which assembled the exhibition, had said that the main idea was to bring to the forefront a galaxy of Indian Muslim women who contributed to nation building in various ways but largely remained unrecognised and unsung.
The women featured in the earlier exhibition include Anis Kidwai, Atiya Fyzee, Attia Hosain, Aziza Fatima Imam, Fathema Ismail, Hamida Habibullah, Hajrah Begum, Masuma Hosain Ali Khan, Mofida Ahmed, Mumtaz Jahan Haider, Qudsia Zaidi, Qudsia Aizaz Rasul, Razia Sajjad Zaheer, Saeeda Khurshid, Safia Jan Nisar Akhtar, Saliha Abid Hussain, Sharifa Hamid Ali, Siddiqa Kidwai, Surayya Tayabji, Tyeba Khedive Jung, and Zehra Ali Yavar Jung. Most of them left their marks in fields as diverse as politics, literature and social work.
Muslim Women’s Forum / 5 months ago / facebook.com
Tyeba Khedive Jung, the first Indian Muslim woman to receive a university degree in 1894, wrote a feminist novel ‘Anwari Begum’ way back in 1905 that spoke about women’s emancipation, and also chaired an annual conference of Brahmo Samaj, a Hindu reformist organisation. Sharifa Hamid Ali was a member of the Constituent Assembly. Although the jury is still out about who designed the Indian National Flag, according to many it was Surayya Tayabji who was responsible for the inclusion of the Ashok Chakra. Qudsia Zaidi, among other things, is famous as the founder of the Hindustani Theatre in 1955, said to be Delhi’s first post-independence professional theatre troupe. Fathema Ismail was instrumental in opening rehab clinics for children suffering from polio.
The exhibition was visiting Bengaluru just before the COVID-19 related lockdown was implemented.
source: http://www.outlookindia.com / Outlook Traveller / Home> Explore > Story / by Uttara Gangopadhyay /August 14th, 2020
At a time when people are turning on their old parents or sick family members, a 48-year-old auto driver, Mohammed Khalid , has become a hero of sorts for those who are dealing with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike most others who would think twice before ferrying across patients, Khalid has been providing service to COVID-19 patients those who require transportation.
Mohammed, since July 13 has been only providing transportation to people from Gandhi Hospital to private and government hospitals as and when required. Moreover, he also privodes service to COVID-19 patients to others from any part of Hyderabad as well. “This is the time to help people in need, irrespective of cast and culture I have been regularly ferrying COVID-19 patients from Gandhi Hospital to Osmania, King Koti, and Fever Hospital,” stated Khalid.
Mohammed Khalid ensures safety measures for his passengers.
Even after the Centre relaxed lockdown rules a few months (post May) ago, there has been a dearth in passengers, recalled Khalid. “So on July 13 I went near Gandhi Hospital in Musheerabad, the main treatment centre for COVID-19 patients, and noticed that emergency patients were unable to get ambulance services as there were many cases. Then I decided to start service for them at affordable rates,” said Khalid.
The 48-year-old believes that in these difficult times, we must help each other irrespective of any religion, caste or creed. “Sab jane dare to kaisa jo log bimaar hai unlo ku kaun lekar jainga dawakhano ku (If everyone is scared, then how will people travel to the hospital)” Khalid rhetorically questioned? He has a point however, as several citizens have been complaining of slow or lack of ambulance services.
Mohammed Khalid provides service to COVID-19 patients at Gandhi Hospital in Musheerabad.
The auto rickshaw driver is also not scared of the pandemic. Furthermore, going and waiting for passengers in front of Gandhi makes him proud of what he is doing. “Carrying a patient itself is a matter of pride for me, and sharing the happiness with those who have recovered is amazing,” Khalid added. He also felt that the Telangana government should provide some monetary relief or schemes for autorickshaw drivers, as they have also been hit hard due to the lockdown.
source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> News> Hyderabad News / by Mohammed Hussain / August 24th, 2020
Triben generally refers to the confluence of the three rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the illusive Saraswati near Allahabad.
But the Hooghly district of West Bengal also houses another Tribeni, where the Bhagarati or Hooghly River disintegrates into three branches. The three branches are Hooghly, Sarswati and Jamuna (Kanchrapara Khal).
Zafar Khan Gazi Masjid, Tribeni, Hooghly
So like the Prayag near Allabahad, the Tribeni of Hooghly has also attracted pilgrims for centuries and is mentioned in ancient Bengali literature like the Mansamangal and Chandimangal .
Today Tribeni is located about 70 km north of Kolkata on the Bendel – Katwa rail line and is approachable both from Howrah and Sealdah by train.
Dargah of Zafar Khan, with a grave outside it, Tribeni
Today the prime attraction of Tribeni is the Dargah of Zafar Khan Gazi. The dargah is located on a small mound over looking the Hooghly river.
It is housed inside a walled complex which also contains a mosque and several other scattered tomb. It remains an active religious site.
The mosque is not only the oldest Mosque in West Bengal but also happens to be the oldest Islamic structure in the whole of undivided Bengal.
Zafar Khan was a general of Delhi Sultan Feroze Shah, who invaded Hooghly in the late 13th century, he defeated the local Hindu king and established the Turkish rule in Bengal.
Zafar Khan settled in Tribeni as he was mesmerized by the beauty of the Hooghly River. The locals started considering him as a learned man and he came to be know as Zafar Khan Gazi. But soon after Zafar Khan was killed in a battle with another Hindu king of the region.
Inside the Zafar Khan Gazi Dargah. L: Eastern Chamber, R: Western Chamber with Zafar Khan’s grave at the extreme right
The Dargah was constructed in 1315 and is located on the eastern end of the walled complex. It has two chambers and the roof has long collapsed. The western chamber contains the grave of Zafar Khan along with the graves of his two sons Ain Khan Ghazi and Ghain Khan Ghazi. The fourth grave in the complex and the wife of Ughwan Khan, another son of Zafar Khan Gazi.
The eastern complex houses the grave of Zafar Khan’s third son Barkhan Ghazi. He is buried along with and his two sons Rahim Khan Ghazi and Karim Khan Ghazi. The identity of one tomb remains unknown but it shape suggests it belongs to a woman.
The Dargah is located on a high plinth and both the chambers are approached by flight of stairs. Both the chambers are provided with Jali screens allowing sunlight to filter into the chambers.
Both the mosque and the dargah are built with a combination of stone and bricks, some thing quiet unusual in the land famous for terracotta.
Both the most unique feature of the Dargah and the Mosque is the presence of several Hindu motifs and symbols in its walls.
Hindu ornamentation from the outer walls of the Dargah of Zafar Khan Gazi, Tribeni, Hooghly
Both the structure contains stone panels of Hindu deities but most of them have been chiseled off leaving an faint imprint. It is quiet likely these motifs were removed from abandoned or demolished Hindu Temple and were used in the construction of the Mosque and Dargah.
Mosque of Zafar Khan Gazi, Tribeni
The rectangular Mosque measures 76 feet by 36 feet and dates back to 1292. It has five arched entrance in the front and two aisles create 10 squares, each of which is topped by a dome. Sadly only 6 of the 10 domes can be seen to this day.
The Zafar Khan Mosque, Tribeni. L: Central Mihrab, C: An Arabic Inscription and R: Arched aisle
There are five mihrabs on the western wall, out of which three are more or less intact. The central mihrab is ornamental and is made of stone. The two miharab flanking the central mihrab is made of bricks with beautiful terracotta ornamentation. Like the Dargah the Mosque also contains ornamentation from temples.
Ornamentation inside the Zafar Khan Gazi Mosque, Tribeni, Hooghly
A trip to Tribeni is never complete without the visit to nearby Bansberia Bansberia famous for its Haneswari Temple and Ananta Basudev Temple.
source: http://www.rangandatta.wordpress.com / Rangan Datta / Home> Bengal Archaeology, Bengal History, General / by Rangan Datta / photographs : www.rangan-datta.info / December 01st, 2016
Arbaz Ahmed is 9th rank holder in the KCET 2020 Merit List containing the names of 1,55,552 successful candidates.
Karnataka CET Result 2020:
Mohammad Arbaaz Ahmed is among the Top 10 of Karnataka CET 2020 result of which was declared by the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) Friday.
Accordingt to KCET 2020 result announced by KEA on Friday, Mohammad Arbaaz Ahmed secured the 9th position in the Merit List led by 10 toppers in Pharma course.
As many as 1,75,349 students out of the total 1,94,419 candidates who registered for KCET 2020 appeared for the test held on July 30 and 31, 2020. Of them, 1,53,470 students have qualified for Engineering admission.
The students qualified in other courses include – Agriculture (1,27,627), Veterinary Sciences (1,29,666), AYUSH (1,29,611) and Pharma (1,55,552).
A total of 80 students scored cent per cent marks – 60 out of 60 in Biology, 03 students scored 100% marks in Chemistry.
Rakshith M secured the 1st Rank, Shubhan R secured the 2nd spot, and M Shashank Balaji hold the 3rd position in Engineering.
In Pharma, Sai Vivek P has secured the 1st rank, Sandeepan Naskar hold the 2nd position and Pawan S Gowda bagged the 3rd rank. Arbaz Ahmed is 9th rank holder in the KCET 2020 Merit List containing the names of 1,55,552 successful candidates.
Karnataka Common Entrance Test Cell (CET) was established in the year 1994 for conducting entrance tests to determine the merit of the candidates for admission to professional courses such as Medical, Dental, Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy, Engineering / Technology and Architecture courses, Farm science, B-Pharm, Pharm-D courses.
source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home> Education & Careers / by ummid.com news network / August 22nd, 2020
Hyder Ali, who is famously known as ‘the Nepoleon of South India’ for his relentless fighting against the conspiracies of the East India Company and its henchmen and for checkmating the British ambitions of expansion in South India, was born in 1722 at Devanahalli village, Karnataka state. His father was Fateh Mohammad Ali and mother Mujidan Begum.
Though he did not have any formal learning, he received training in martial arts. Hyder Ali was sharp in intellect, strong in will, capable of handling multiple tasks simultaneously and was brave at heart.
He had participated in Devanahalli war in 1749 as a young soldier of Mysore State. Recognizing his gallantry, Nanjaraj, the Minister of Mysore kingdom, honoured Hyder Ali with the title of ‘Khan’ and promoted him as the Chief of a battalion in the Mysore army.
They attacked Mysore several times with the help of the East India Company.
Though Hyder Ali suffered initial losses, he resisted them successfully and proved a virtual nightmare to East India Company. Even then, the British rulers provoked Hyder Ali again which led to the second Mysore war in July 1780. He went to the battlefield along with his son, Tipu Sultan.
While Hyder Ali captured the Arcot, his son Tipu defeated the East India Company troops and captured Kanjeevaram, which was about 50 miles from Madras. This sent shivers to Warren Hastings, the Governor General of East India Company.
He immediately sent additional troops from Culcutta, Madras with abundant funds under the control of his Commander General, Sir Eyre Coote. While fighting against the foreign enemy on one side, Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan taught a befitting lesson to Malabar Nayars and chieftains, who revolted against him with the active support of Nizam of Hyderbad.
Hyder Ali, while leading his troops towards successive victories, fell ill and died in the battlefield on 7 December, 1782, near Narasingarayuni Peta village, which is now in Chitoor district of Andhra Pradesh.
source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> Featured News / by Nihad Amani / August 22nd, 2020
Indian businessman honoured for his philanthropic work by UAE government
The excellence certificate and citation was handed over to Merchant by Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. Image Credit: Supplied
Dubai:
The UAE Ministry of Interior on August 19 honoured Indian businessman Firoz Goulam Merchant for his exemplary community services.
The excellence certificate and citation was handed over to Merchant by Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, in the presence of senior police officers and government officials.
Since 2008, Merchant, the proprietor of Pure Gold Jewellers, launched a philanthropic movement called the Forgotten Society. Spearheading this initiative, Merchant worked tirelessly with several correctional institutions in the country to identify debt-ridden prisoners and assisted them in repaying debts to the tune of millions, thereby securing their release and providing free air passage to their respective countries.
A deeply humbled Merchant told Gulf News: “It was a very proud moment for me to be acknowledged by the government of the land. I would like to express my gratitude to the UAE Government for this honourable recognition for my humble efforts to support the community.”
source: http://www.gulfnews.com / Gulf News / Home> UAE / by Staff Report / August 20th, 2020
Mohammad Yasin passed away peacefully on August 19. He was a versatile artist calligrapher, print maker and pioneered the technique of Lithography in Department of Graphics, Jamia Millia Islamia.
Mohammad Yasin
“laa.ī hayāt aae qazā le chalī chale apnī ḳhushī na aae na apnī ḳhushī chale” (I came as life had brought me, as death takes me, I go. I came not of my own accord / nor of my own I go.) -Sheikh Ibrahim Zauq
This was one of the customary couplets that Yasinn Sahab loved to recite whenever I visited him. It seems that he was always ready for his heavenly abode and wanted to cheer his remaining life with enthusiasm.
Mohammad Yasin at the age of 92, passed away peacefully on August 19, 2020 at his residence in Shaheen Bagh, New Delhi. He was born on January 4th, 1928 at Mugalgidda village, Hyderabad (Andra Pradesh). Under the aegis of Aseem Asha Foundation, I understood him while making an hour-long documentary film on his work and life in association with Dagar Family i.e. Pictorial Calligrapher Qamar Dagar, Dhrupad Singer Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar etc. Later I consociated with him.
He was a versatile person, calligrapher, print maker and pioneered the technique of Lithography in Department of Graphics (Print Making), Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. It was great endeavor in meeting with veteran artist Mohd. Yasin for the first time. This was the first full length documentary on Art & Artist by me which I enjoyed making a lot. I learned many new things on each and every step that enriched me to understand the variety, depth and details of his work.
I took Yasin ji’s interviews in many schedules. Every time I found a new and very interesting story from him. He himself was a great storyteller. His stories are detailed and very informative, a learning experience for everyone. I learned a sense of perfection, purity, innocence, humanity, selflessness and foremost devotion for the arts from him.
His film was appreciated and screened at various places such as The Attic, Delhi, India International Center (IIC), Delhi, Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur etc.
He painted till his last breath. The integration of OM and Allah in his paintings were mesmerizing. Throughout his life, he conveyed the message of Peace and Harmony that are in line with the principles of Aseem Asha Foundation as well. He was a poetry enthusiast too, and used to recite Urdu couplets while sharing anecdotes with an amused face. In 2017 Aseem Asha Foundation was honored to confer a life time achievement award on him at IC’s hotel, Okhla.
He was also selected for several important scholarship and fellowship programs. During his scholarship at east-west center, Honolulu, Hawaii, he studied at the department of Art, University of Hawaii and at Pratts graphic Art center, New York.
Yasin had about 37 solo exhibitions including one in Paris in 1991, among others, one titled, “A decade in Retrospect 1974-84” was held at the Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi in 1984, another one titled, “Retrospective of Paintings, Drawings and Graphics” spanning 1958-2005 was held at Castelo Branco, Portugal in 2005.
The remarkable work of Yasinn Sahab has inspired many students of Aseem Asha Foundation to take apprenticeship in arts and now they are doing extraordinary work in this field. To commemorate his work, we renamed our project as “M Yasin Community Visual Art Project”. He is not with us physically but spiritually his soul will always remain with us and pour the blessing on every work that we do.
He would invite me in each birthday since 2013 and I was the only outside person in his birthday celebrations. He was loquacious with me when I used to visit with my students, he used to give them blessing as well and hold the conversations very affectionately. He always advised us to make the Art as a part of the life in order to become good person. Art connoisseur Laurence Bastit who deceased recently played a very significant role in promoting him as a painter at national and international level.
I still remember an incident when he got the news from All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi about his life time achievement awards and honorarium of rupees 1 lac with a commemoratory lunch. He called and invited me first, I hurried to his home, we were in euphoria, and selected the attire for his awarding ceremony such as Sherwaani, Topi, Jootis etc. His face was as bright as an innocent child. Unfortunately, due to lockdown it could not be conferred upon him in his presence.
I feel, people like Mohd. Yasin don’t require any award or honor, in fact he awarded his life to us, to the young generation. He himself faced lot of physical, financial and mental challenges throughout his life. He was also affected with Tuberculosis and Paresis but never compromised with the quality of his work, he was never bothered about any acknowledgement though his work should get a great recognition from the government. Later in his life he taught at Delhi College of Art and Faculty of Fine Art, Jamia Millia Islamia. His works are in permanent collections of galleries, Art Institutions, museums and in private & individual collection in India & abroad.
I cannot forget the cherished moments with him specifically attending his birthdays, art exhibitions, award ceremonies and personal meetings. His legacy will be a great source of inspiration for the contemporary world and to the generations coming ahead.
source: http://www.nationalheraldindia.com / National Herald / Home> Obituary / by Aseem Asha Usman / August 20th, 2020
A total of 19 police personnel from the state have been conferred with the President’s Police Medal on the occasion of Independence Day.
Bengaluru :
A total of 19 police personnel from the state have been conferred with the President’s Police Medal on the occasion of Independence Day.
V L N Prasanna Kumar, ASI, Criminal Investigation Department, has been honoured with the medal for distinguished service.
The others are:
R Hemanth Kumar, DySP, Special Investigation Team, Lokayukta; Parameshwar Hegde, DySP, CID; R Manjunath, DySP, ACB, Mandya; H M Shailendra, DySP, Kodagu; Arun Nagegowda, DySP, Mandya; H M Satish, ACP; H B Ramesh Kumar, DySP, intelligence, Bengaluru; Umesh, DySP (Armed), Police Training School, Mysuru; C N Diwakar, Circle Police Inspector, Kodagu; G N Rudresh, Special Reserve Police Inspector, KSRP, Bengaluru; B A Lakshminarayan, SI, City Special Branch, Bengaluru; M H Chandekar, special reserve SI, KSRP, Bengaluru; K Jayapra- kash, PSI, Mangaluru; H Nanjundaiah ASI, Chikkaballapur; Atheeq Ur Rahman, ASI, Shivamogga; Ramanjanaiah, ASI, Tumakuru, R N Balikai, ASI, Haveri, and K Honnappa, head constable, Bengaluru Rural.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Express News Service / August 15th, 2020
Decades before the birth of the city of Calcutta, the area that is now Tollygunge was a dense forest land called Russapugla with an abundance of mangrove trees.
The clubhouse on the grounds of Tollygunge Club in Kolkata. The club is preparing for its New Year’s Eve party with stage equipment on its grounds. (Express photo: Neha Banka) ______________________
Most know Tollygunge as a neighbourhood in south Kolkata rather than the long stretch of road by the same name that cuts through a large swathe of the area.
Decades before the birth of the city of Calcutta, the area that is now Tollygunge was a dense forest land called Russapugla with an abundance of mangrove trees. Over the centuries, the land was cleared for settlement and urban planning but some traces of the forest can still be found in the expansive property belonging to Tollygunge Club and the Royal Calcutta Golf Club in the neighbourhood, some of the oldest social clubs in the city.
Tollygunge Club, established in 1895, derives its name from the neighbourhood of Tollygunge, that in turn got its name from William Tolly, a colonel in the British Army in 1767. Calcutta was a city of creeks, although many have been entirely or partially filled up. Today, few of those creeks remain, winding slowly across the city, trying to find their way into the Bay of Bengal, but one would have to search beneath cramped, illegal urban settlements and mounds of garbage to find them.
Tolly’s Nullah behind the grounds of Tollygunge Club in Kolkata. (Express photo: Neha Banka) ______________________
In the outer peripheries of the property that belongs to Tollygunge Club, a narrow creeks snakes past, as if conjoined to the boundaries of the club’s walls. On both banks of the creek, slums have developed over the years and garbage floats on the water, emanating a foul stench.
According to historian P Thankappan Nair, who has documented the city’s history extensively, this creek was originally called the Govindpur Creek. There is no historical documentation for why the creek was so named, but perhaps it acquired its name from that of the village of Govindapur, one of the three villages that went on to form the city of Calcutta. According to Nair, another name for this creek in Bengali was Adi Ganga or the original River Ganga that flows past the city.
This map is a conjecture map and shows the path of Adi Ganga. Tolly’s Canal is named ‘The Creek’ in this map and runs past Tollygunge when it was still the village of Govindapur. (Map credit: Chattopadhyay 1990/Jenia Mukherjee) ________________________
In 1775, Colonel Tolly wrote to Warren Hastings, the Governor-General of India, with a proposal of leading an excavation to connect the village of Balliaghat, now called the neighbourhood of Beliaghata, in the wetlands of the eastern fringes of the city, to the neighbourhood of Tollygunge through a waterway.
Slums have come up on both banks of Tolly’s Nullah. (Express photo: Neha Banka) ____________________
According to published letters in the Fort William-India House Correspondence Vol.7 (1773-1776), Tolly wrote to Hastings saying he can do the same on a contract with the East Indian Company or lend his services for Rs 80,000, along with a levy on tolls paid by boats passing through the creek for a period of 12 years. This plan was agreeable to the Company, and Tolly was directed to survey the land. This creek, 27 kilometres long, was then renamed Tolly’s Nullah after the colonel and opened for navigation in 1777.
After the opening of the Nullah, the neighbourhood became more developed and came to be known as Tollygunge. After Tolly’s death, his widow was unable to continue collecting the tolls and the maintenance of the waterways. The Company took over the management of the Nullah and auctioned its leasehold rights in March 1794 to an Englishman in the city, John Hooper Wilkinson. In 1804, the Bengal Government took control over the Nullah and the Collector of 24 Parganas was authorised to maintain it.
Passersby stand on a small bridge that connects the banks of Tolly’s Nullah. (Photo: Neha Banka) __________________________
There is no document to independently verify this fact, but according to the Tollygunge Club archives, the premises of the club was originally an indigo plantation home of Richard Johnson, a merchant in the East India Company, set up in 1781.
Around 1806, the British dispatched Tipu Sultan’s family to Calcutta and gave them a living allowance. Tipu Sultan’s son Ghulam Mohammed Shah purchased the plantation grounds from Johnson to be used as a residence and the family spent a considerable amount of time in the neighbourhood.
After the family’s fortunes changed, they sold some portions of the plantation and leased out other sections to William Dixon Cruickshank, a Scottish banker, who was looking to build a sports club for the British that would also allow residential facilities and provide space for the British to socialise.
After the fortunes of Tipu Sultan’s family changed, they sold some portions of the plantation and leased out other sections to William Dixon Cruickshank, who was looking to build a sports club for the British. (Express photo: Neha Banka) ___________________
Over time, Tipu Sultan’s family divested complete control of the estate and the lands came under the direct control of the Tollygunge Club, a name that the institution acquired because of the neighbourhood it was located in and because of the location of the creek that runs just behind its premises.
Over the decades, most of the open spaces in the club were converted into an 18-hole golf course and the forest land was cleared to make space for other structures and facilities inside the club premises.
Today, there are no signboards that indicate the location of the Tolly Nullah in the neighbourhood of Tollygunge. Haphazard modern construction has changed the facade of Tollygunge and to find the nullah, one would have to engage in a self-conducted walking tour using an old map of the city for guidance.
An offshoot of the main road in Tollygunge, a narrow lane, through which only one vehicle can pass at a time, is the only way to access the nullah these days. Slums occupy both banks of the waterway and an overwhelming sense of garbage permeates all around. Tollygunge Club itself has changed over the decades and its history can only be found in pockets.
Haphazard modern construction has changed the facade of Tollygunge and to find the nullah, one would have to engage in a self-conducted walking tour using an old map of the city for guidance. (Express photo: Neha Banka) ______________________
Although most of the dense forest has been cleared away over the years, jackals still roam its greens in the darkness of dusk and late into the night. On any given day, one can spot diverse species of birds on the club grounds, like kingfishers and cattle egret. Few city residents know of how the institution and its neighbourhood got its name and perhaps even fewer know of the existence of the waterway that lies beyond the high walls of the club.
source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Cities> Kolkata / by Neha Banka / Kolkata , December 27th, 2019
Veteran Bollywood actress Padmini Kolhapure with Shoor Veer Awardee Shams Alam at Dr Aneel Kahshi Murarka’s The Shoor Veer Awards 2018 in Mumbai (photo provided)
MUMBAI— Because we all have a hidden hero inside – that was the tag-line of the 4th edition of ShoorVeer awards from Dr. Aneel Kashi Murarka’s foundation AmpleMissiion. The ShoorVeer Awards is a unique initiative that honors common men and women from across the country who achieved uncommon goals.
It honors brave-heart individuals who have known no fear and have performed extraordinary acts of bravery. The event held at the Bombay Stock Exchange Aug.10 was attended by a bevy of celebrities from the corporate world, film and the television industry, and the social field.
Besides, hosts Dr. Aneel Kashi Murarka and Siddhant Murarka, Roop Kumar and Sunali Rathod, Padmini Kolhapure Sharma, Mickey Mehta, BJP members Ashish Shelar, Vinod Shelar and Shaina NC, designer Sangeeta Murarka, Vastu expert and numerologist Basannt R Rasiwasia, Sooraj Thapar, Akashdeep Saigal, audiologist-speech therapist Devangi Dalal, Gurpreet Kaur Chadha, Yogesh Lakhani, Ashok Lokhande, television’s Tenali Rama – Krishna Bharadwaj, comedian VIP and writer-director Anusha Srinivasan Iyer were among the guests or presenters.
The award ceremony was also marked by live performances by singers Meghna Mishra (of “Secret Superstar”) and Aaman Trikha among others. The awards also saw a ramp walk by transgender women, signifying gender equality.
ShoorVeer 2018 awardees
Anoop Khanna
‘Dadi ki Rasoi’ in Noida sector 29 has gained immense popularity over time. Begun by Khanna (social activist), it aims at providing quality food to poor and needy people at just Rs 5. It serves food to more than 500 people per day, and the group also collects old unwanted clothes, cleans and irons them and sells them in a special shop for a nominal price of Rs. 10.
Rekha Mishra:
Railway Protection Force Sub-Inspector Rekha Mishra (32)’s daring exploits to save children, often battling great odds, feature in the Maharashtra State Board’s Class X textbook. She is credited with rescuing hundreds of destitute, missing, kidnapped or runaway children from various railway stations in the past few years. Currently posted at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), the cop has helped 953 children till date. This correspondent was given the honor of being one of her presenters.
Insia Dariwala
Insia Dariwala is an award-winning international filmmaker and one of the founder members of Sahiyo, an organization against Female Genital Mutilation. Dariwala, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, creates awareness to help similar victims through her films and her organization. Her award-winning debut film “The Candy Man,” followed by another hard-hitting film, “Cock-Tale,” delved into topics like child sexual abuse, and sexual violence on women. Insia also started The Hands of Hope Foundation, which diligently focuses on sexual violence on women and children.
Aarefa Johari
Aarefa Johari is a journalist and an anti-FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) activist based in Mumbai. She began her career with a four-year stint as a reporter for the Hindustan Times. For the past three years, she has been working at Scroll.in, an online news publication. Johari is also a co-founder of Sahiyo along with Insia Dariwala, a non-profit organization working to end female genital mutilation among the Dawoodi Bohra and other South-Asian communities.
Saumya Chandra & Nagesh Ahir
While most children their age would panic in the face of an emergency, these two, aged 13 and nine respectively, remained calm. When their friend fell into a deep water-tank, they rushed to help him. Having learned disaster management, they caught onto his collar and saved his life.
Major D.P. Singh
Major D.P. Singh is India’s first Blade Runner, who was severely injured on the Kargil battlefield! The army surgeon declared him dead on arrival after being blown by a mortar bomb and sent his wrecked body to a makeshift mortuary. But he won over death and, today at 39, has run close to 20 marathons. He is also a motivational speaker, inspiring over 1700 amputees across India. He manages a support group called The Challenging Ones.
Aaman Trikha
For someone qualified in engineering, Aaman Trikha is the voice behind the popular BJP anthem “Acche Din Aane Wale Hain” in the run-up to the Lok Sabha Elections of 2014. He is a known playback singer.
Rajan Kumar
Rajan Kumar is an Indian actor, born and brought up in Munger in Bihar. He is the first Indian actor who has been portraying comedian Charlie Chaplin for as many as 12000 hours in 4000 shows in India and abroad. For this, he won many awards and accolades and entries into the Guinness and Limca Books.
Dr. Habib Z. Shaikh
Dr. Habib Z Shaikh has been serving the poor patients without charging them any fee since 20 yrs. The doors of his Kamili Clinic are always open to the sick and needy slum-dwellers of Hari Nagar in the western suburbs of Mumbai. He is a household name there, and his patients get the best treatment possible. He is an unsung hero who shies away from any media glare, leading by example and being true to his profession.
Salma Memon
Salma Memon’s journey motivated her to take up education of underprivileged children as a cause. Her passion and hard-work took roots two years ago when she launched her dream initiative, Project UMEED, which supports education of underprivileged and orphan children.
Annasaheb Jadhav
Annasaheb Jadhav is a young Deputy Superintendent of Police, who was posted a few years back in the Naxalite-prone area of Gadchiroli, Maharashtra. During his tenure, he set up a library for the poor and underprivileged students, a counseling center for educational guidance and various other activities to help their economic growth. This year, they have come together again to help 250 students of Gadchiroli with school stationary. He has also been selected for the President’s Medal this Independence Day.
Subarna Ghosh
Delivering a baby through a C-section without any medical need is a norm these days. Still, nobody raises any questions. Today we have a voice questioning this practice, reflecting the collective agony of so many women tricked into undergoing unnecessary surgery. This is the voice of Subarna Ghosh, who has filed a petition through change.org (which received 1.5 lakh signatures till date) to urge hospitals to declare the number of C-sections conducted. Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi has supported this petition, urging the health ministry to make necessary policy changes to curb C-sections in the country.
Dr. Satendra Singh
Dr. Satendra Singh is a doctor at the University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital, Delhi. A physiologist by profession, he contracted poliomyelitis at the age of 9 months but went on to complete MBBS and MD (post-graduation) in Physiology. He is the first Indian to win the prestigious Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards, given to extraordinary leaders in the global disability community. He is a noted disability activist, especially for his sustained efforts in making public places accessible for disabled persons.
Meghna Mishra
Singing sensation Meghna Mishra has achieved huge success at 16 and is a star already.
Shams Alam
Mohammad Shams Alam Shaikh, a mechanical engineer by profession, was also a passionate Black Belt Karate player. But life had different plans for him. After getting diagnosed with spine tumor and undergoing multiple operations in 2010, Shaikh was left paraplegic. But he took to swimming and won the bronze in the 12th Para-Swimming Championship in Chennai. Shaikh won four gold medals at the championship that was held in Indore and was also awarded a trophy for best swimmer. He is the first Indian to have successfully finished 6 kilometers of open sea swimming organized by the Indian Navy.
Nagraj Gowda
Nagraj Gowda always dreamed of setting an example for others, and wondered how to do it. Since he had a passion for cycling, he hit upon the idea to go on a solo cycling expedition across India with a social message for people. There were many issues he strongly believed in, and he wanted to advocate to his countrymen. Gowda, a resident of Mumbai, started his all-India Cycle Yatra on Dec.3, 2017 to spread the messages of World Peace, Communal Harmony, National Integration, Save Water, et al. So far he had peddled over 6000 kilometers.
source: http://www.indiawest.com / India West / Home / by R.M. Vijaykar , Special to India West / August 18th, 2018
