On Friday morning, author of the famous and most resourceful Madinah Arabic Book, Shaikh Dr. V Abdur Raheem, passed away in Madinah, Saudi Arabia at the age of 90.
A master of the Arabic language, a world renowned Islamic Scholar, multi-linguist, author, teacher and translator he dedicated his life to extraordinary contributions to Arabic literature by helping millions learn the Arabic language in his over 50 years of experience.
Born in 1933 in Vaniyambadi, Tamil Nadu, he obtained his B.A in English from the University of Madras and M.A in Arabic from the Aligarh Muslim University, India in 1962. He also held a M.Phil. and a Ph.D. in Arabic Philology from Al-Azhar University, Egypt.
A recipient of the National Award from the President of India in 1997 for his services in teaching, he was a self made man who learnt Arabic from the scarcest resources available to him in his little town. His three-volume series, Madinah Arabic Book, a one of a kind in its field, is the official curriculum of the Madinah University, Saudi Arabia, and is also used widely in schools and universities across the world to teach students the Arabic language.
Former Professor of Arabic Language for 30 years at the International Islamic University of Madinah, he has taught Arabic Language at Islamic Universities around the world including at Omdurman in Sudan, Germany, Washington D.C and British Guyana. An expert on European Languages and their etymology, phonetic change and semantic development he was a former Director of the ‘Institute of Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language’, at the Islamic University of Madinah.
A close associate of the Islamic Foundation Trust (IFT), Chennai, majority of his books have been published by IFT.
Along with the Madinah Arabic Book series he has to his credit a host of other books too including ‘Let’s Begin to Read Arabic: A Beginners Guide to Learning the Arabic Language and the Qur’aan’, ‘AL-TIBYAAN – Easy way to Qur’aanic Reading’, ‘Arabic Course for Non-Native Speakers of Arabic: Originally Devised and Taught at Islaamic University, Madinah’, ‘From Esfahan To Madinah In Search of Truth: Salmaan al-Faarisi’s Hadiith’,‘Both These Lights Emanate from the Same Niche’ – Hadiith of Umm Salamah (raDiyAllaahu “anhaa).’ ‘Suurah al-Hujuraat – With Lexical and Grammatical Notes and DVDs’.
His passing is indeed a great loss to both the Muslim world and to Islamic literature.
source: http://www.thecognate.com / The Cognate / Home> News / by The Cognate News Desk / October 21st, 2023
Several girls from the Bakarwal community, a nomadic ethnic minority in India’s Jammu and Kashmir area, recently cleared the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test, also known as NEET, for admission to undergraduate medical courses in all Indian medical institutions.
Aasiya Choudry, 20, of Jasrota village in Jammu’s Kathua district, is one of the Bakarwal girls who cleared the NEET exam on her second attempt, securing 430 points.
Education Remains A Distant Dream For Kashmir’s Tribal
“It was not a cakewalk for a student like me who belongs from a community where students did not have much resources and guidance,” Aasiya stated to Two Circles.
She said that no one in her community was aware of the NEET exam. This is not surprising given that schooling remains a faraway dream for Kashmiri tribal youth.
According to the 2011 census, just 17.8 percent of the people of the twin tribal settlements of Gujjar and Bakarwal can read and write.
Aasiya completed her basic education at a government school in her village before attending Jawahar Nagar Vidyala Basoli in Kathua.
Cleared NEET Without Coaching
“I didn’t always have enough money to buy textbooks, pens, and other supplies. I had to overcome hardships in order to achieve and qualify for NEET, but it was a dream that came true,” said Aasiya, who did not register in coaching to clear the entrance since her family could not afford the expenses.
Aasiya’s father Mubashir Hussain Khatana is a shepherd who tends to his livestock and provides a living for his family.
Aasiya says she was fortunate to have a supportive home environment that allowed her to prepare for this national-level competitive exam in a neighbourhood where options for education are limited, particularly for girls. “They [parents] motivated me to overcome my challenges and work towards achieving my goal,” she said.
Studied for NEET On YouTube
Aasiya had to care for her three younger sisters and a sixth-grade brother when her elder sister married two years ago, and she also had to help her mother with chores at home. Choudhry kept her studies going by watching free NEET videos on the online video sharing and social media platform YouTube.
Due to bad network connectivity and a limited data plan, she found it difficult to study for NEET on YouTube. To overcome these obstacles, Aasiya had to walk at least two kilometers every day to a location with WiFi in order to download videos.
Aasiya studied for approximately 10 hours each day. “Our village did not always have electricity. I used to watch saved videos on my phone at night under candlelight,” she explained.
Wishes To Become a Gynaecologist To Help Bakarwal Women
Aasiya aspires to be a gynaecologist — a physician who specialises in treating diseases of the female reproductive system — in order to help her community, which treks to green pastures with their animals for six months of the year. “During the seasonal migration, the Bakarwal people suffer [due] to the absence of basic health care facilities, especially pregnant women,” Aasiya stated to Two Circles.
Another Bakarwal Girl Cleared NEET
Ulfat Ismail, from the border village of Kandi Jarda in the Tehsil Karnah of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district, cleared the NEET exam on her second attempt, scoring 417 points.
Ulfat received her basic education at the village’s government middle school. She was accepted to the Government Medical College in Baramulla for a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS).
Ulfat used to study for almost 8 hours a day to clear NEET.
Mohammad Ismail, father of Ulfat stated that his dream is for his daughter to become a doctor since her accomplishments have the ability to positively impact their tribal community in the future.
“It was a proud moment for our family that our daughter had qualified the NEET exam and is going to become a doctor,” Ismail added.
Tauseef Ahmad is an independent reporter based in Kashmir.
source: http://www.twocircles.net / TwoCircles.net / Home> Education / by Tauseef Ahmad, TwoCircles.net / September 26th, 2023
Erstwhile Reuters photojournalist, Farah Bashir’s memoir is a timely and crucial intervention in South-Asian studies. As the title of the book suggests, it is the true story of a girlhood spent in the midst of military occupation and militancy. Launched almost two years after the abrogation of Article 370 by the Indian state, which gave Kashmir a special status in terms of autonomy, followed by an undemocratic lockdown of the state along with house arrest of eminent Kashmiri politicians and communications blackout.
This coming-of-age memoir uncovers the truth about the everyday struggles of Kashmiris in the aftermath of the 1980s, in the land of curfews, gunfights and surveillance.
This memoir also offers a peek into the lives after the abrogation of Kashmir’s special status, which has often been compared to the 1980s Kashmir (Rafiq, 2019). Amidst all the information and knowledge available about Kashmir, Bashir’s novel stands out as one of a kind that puts forth the complexities of a girlhood spent in a conflict zone.
As a memoir, the style of the novel is compelling, to say the least. Although written primarily in English, the book through its usage of Kashmiri language in various interactions between the characters is rooted in the Kashmiri culture, language and traditions. The title of the book is also attributed to famous Kashmiri poet Agha Shahid Ali’s poetry, which she acknowledges as “a place of refuge for years”. (Bashir, 2021)
The book begins with Bashir, as an eighteen-year-old girl, preparing for her beloved Bobeh’s (grandmother’s) funeral procession as she is remembering the previous night she spent with her Bobeh and how she would have been “more polite” (Bashir, 2021) to her had she known it was their “last one together.” (Bashir, 2021) The present, throughout the novel, mingles with the past as Bashir reminisces both poignant and cheerful times of her adolescence spent amidst conflict.
Bashir’s memories take the readers to the Eid of 1989 when she was stuck in a market because of a sudden announcement of curfew. She ends the chapter by disclosing a habit she developed after the incident – pulling out her own hair, which is later reviled to be a consequence of PTSD. Bashir’s memoir reveals many such incidents that not only discuss the violent sounds of gunfire, the cruel silence of curfew or the horrifying cordon searches, but also the perpetual talks of death and murder that form a part of everyday realities in Kashmir.
While Kashmir is largely seen through a political, military or diplomatic angle, what Bashir does through her novel is, she portrays how even simple daily life activities in Kashmir are laden with terror. The chapter titled, The Country with a Burnt Post Office, talks about the heart-wrenching love story that tragically burns along with the only possible way of communication- the Post Office. She plaintively calls her break-up with her lover “neither painful nor acrimonious” (Bashir, 2021) but “a romance that was cut by fire” (Bashir, 2021).
Young girl’s school life also faces upheavals that not only torment her everyday life at school but also her dreams. Bashir dreams about absent girls in school which “sometimes presented the reality as it were” (Bashir, 2021).
Familial relationships are explored with utmost honesty in this 228-paged memoir. Bashir’s keen eye even as a young girl never missed the perturbing face of her mother as she makes little knots in her scarf, awaiting the unusually late father, the lecherous gaze of troops stationed in every nook and corner, her bobeh’s deteriorating wheezing, or her father’s ever worrisome face.
Bashir writes the memoir in the way memoirs are supposed to be honest. She further mentions her love for music as a young girl and her quest to save the music system from frustrated troops as they cordoned their house. Bashir’s memoir is a reminder that things as fundamental as music are under scrutiny in military occupation, that listening to music in itself forms a part of everyday resistance in war-torn zones.
Rumours of Spring takes us through the games that she sees her neighbours play- in the chapter titled “Games our children play” Bashir very smoothly walks us through one of the most harrowing effects of occupation – the echoes of brutal realities in children’s games, Bashir delineates the incident with Omar and Ahmad – where Omar along with his friends pretends to be a kidnapper and abducts studious Ahmad while he is on his way back home and later mocks him for his delayed reaction by calling Ahmad a “Proper Coward” (Bashir, 2021, p. 198).
As young Bashir watches and listens to Omar’s recital, she can’t help but imagine what must Ahmad have thought to have such a delayed reaction to his brother’s prank – “vice-chancellor Mushir-ul-Haq’s kidnapping and killing?” (Bashir, 2021, p. 199). She further looks back on the games they used to play before 1989 and how they disappeared with imposed evening curfews.
Bashir’s memoir is, thus, not just her own, it is the memoir of her people, a whole generation of Kashmiris and another generation of Kashmiris too, who have faced communications blackout, curfew and surveillance as long as they can remember. In many ways, the memoir transcends the space and time it is set in, it’s also crucial to note that Bashir’s memoir is in no way implying a universal experience, but through its individuality, it maintains the essence of humanity. Through her painful yet simplistic descriptions of PTSD and anxiety, Bashir gives us a glimpse into one of the most ignored, yet most prevalent issues among children in a conflict zone.
Bashir’s honest tackling of such a sensitive issue is bound to make readers take a look at the rising number of mental health issues, widespread in children as well as adults of conflict zones.
In this 228-paged memoir, Bashir is able to write her own story, while also representing her fellow Kashmiris. The ubiquitous simplicity, the sincere descriptions, the bitter-sweet moments and the familial relationships in this memoir, is what makes it stand out.
The cobwebs of lies perpetrated by State machinery about Kashmiri women being mere victims at the hands of militants and State- security forces being their saviours, is coherently and comprehensively shut down. This memoir is a resistance in itself, it is a crucial read for anyone interested in South Asian politics and also for those interested in the myriad vastness of human experiences.
Bashir’s memoir is a reminder to humankind, its timely release is a strong plea to the world to take a look at the ever-worsening situation of Kashmir. Rumours of Spring makes its place amidst countless memoirs, fiction and non-fiction that form a part of Kashmiri literature and show the truth against the barefaced lies produced by those in power. Farah Bashir’s memoir is an epistemic resistance to the epistemic violence perpetrated by the State-backed, Machiavellian and megalomaniac modus-operandi of the modes of knowledge productions on Kashmir.
Bibliography
Bashir, F. (2021). Rumours of Spring. Thomson Press, India.
Rafiq, A. (2019, August 29). In Afghanistan and Kashmir, It’s the 1980s All Over Again. Foreign Policy Insider. Retrieved from https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/08/29/in-afghanistan-and-kashmir-its-the-1980s-all-over-again/
Shambhavi Siddhi completed her master’s degree in French and francophone literature from JNU. She is currently pursuing a PG Diploma in Women’s and Gender Studies from IGNOU.
source: http://www.maktoobmedia.com / Maktoob Media / Home> Bookshelf / by Shambhavi Siddhi / November 25th, 2021
This IAS officer cracked the UPSC exam at the mere age of 21 years in spite of facing multiple problems as a child.
Clearing the UPSC exam takes a lot of dedication and hard work. It is even difficult for those who have fewer amenities and resources. But there are so many people who have cracked the IAS exam with limited resources and came out shining bright.
One such example is IAS Ansar Shaikh. He faced multiple challenges during his days of preparation but did not lose hope and gave it his 100 per cent.
Shaikh hails from the Marathwada district of Maharashtra his father was an autorickshaw driver and his mother worked in the fields. His brother dropped out of school in seventh standard to provide for the family.
Other than financial constraints, he was also exposed to child marriage and domestic violence during his childhood. He was also open to alcoholism. Shaikh’s family was struggling financially, hence, they always pushed both the brothers to take up any job and never prioritise education.
But Shaikh wanted to do something big and started preparing for the UPSC exam. He used to dedicate 12 hours a day to his studies and with his hard work and dedication, he cracked the UPSC exam with the All India Rank (AIR) 361. Not only did he crack the UPSC exams, but he became the youngest IAS officer in 2016 at the age of 21.
source: http://www.dnaindia.com / DNA / Home> Education / by DNA Web Team / October 19th, 2023
In a significant milestone, Prestige International School has clinched the prestigious first position in the Education World India School Rankings 2023-24, under the esteemed ‘Co-ed Day School’ category.
The Education World India School Rankings (EWISR) serve as a global benchmark for evaluating educational establishments, acknowledging institutions that consistently demonstrate outstanding performance and educational standards.
The accolade was officially conferred upon Prestige International School during a grand ceremony held on October 13, 2023, at The JW Marriott, Aerocity, New Delhi. Hyder Ali, the Chairman of Prestige International School, was honored with this prestigious award.
“Securing the top spot in the ‘Co-ed Day School’ category in the EWISR 2023-24 is a testament to the school’s unwavering commitment to academic brilliance and its continuous efforts in nurturing well-rounded individuals,” a statement from the school added.
source: http://www.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> India / by Vartha Bharati / October 20th, 2023
So many lives have been lost due to drivers falling asleep while driving. Rabia Farooqui, a student of Hubballi, has invented life-saving glasses to eliminate this.
The same anti-sleep drowsiness preventer machine warns students if they fall asleep while studying. The night shift workers are also alerted.
The transparent glasses are equipped with a rechargeable battery, an SIB buzzer, and an IR sensor. If the eyes are accidentally closed while driving, the nano Arduino buzzer will ring instantly and alert the driver.
Rabia Farooqui is currently studying in the first year of PUC at Vidyaniketan College. The glasses invented by Rubia have now been selected for the National Best Model Award at the Inspire Awards show held in Delhi.
Apart from this, the glasses invented by Rubia have also been selected for international-level science exhibitions.
source: http://www.thehindustangazette.com / The Hindustan Gazette / Home> News> Education / by Shifa / October 19th, 2023
Traveling is a major part of human life and it creates a major impact on the working class of society, especially working women’s face so many difficulties in travelling. Being independent is a point of pride for most people. The freedom to travel anywhere we want, regardless of access to public transit or close friends and family, is something that many of us take for granted. However, for those who are unable to drive, this independence can be limited, especially for women.
The founder and CEO of “Unicorn for women by women” Arma Sahar, who is a final year data science student, informed us about the story of the establishment and achievements of his startup.
the challenges that women can face when it comes to transportation. When she moved from Adilabad to Hyderabad, Arma found herself reliant on her brothers for rides, which could be frustrating for both her and them due to their busy schedules. She also didn’t feel comfortable traveling alone, especially in autos which can be expensive. To address these issues, Arma founded Unicorn, a bike ride service run entirely by women. The service allows women to feel safe and comfortable while traveling and also gives them the independence and confidence to get around on their own. But after validating in the market Arma realised that more than 80% of the Women population didn’t know how to ride so they picked up the job opportunities offered by Unicorn and later they asked the girls if you are okay to learn and then drive later at Unicorn.
That’s when they thought to start and focus on training and many other girls started showing interest in the training program as it was offered by women instructors and that’s when we realised that this is the need of the hour. But Arma’s vision for Unicorn goes beyond just providing a transportation service. She also wants to empower women by teaching them how to ride two-wheelers. To this end, Unicorn offers training programs to teach women how to ride, with the goal of giving them more freedom and mobility. “After completing our first batch, we discovered that women are very eager to learn how to ride a vehicle, and as a result of this eagerness, they were able to pick it up within a few days,” Arma said. “This made us the fastest training option in India, where we started teaching women only in 5 Days, without any prerequisites.”
Unicorn has already conducted several training batches in Mehdipatnam, Santosh Nagar, and Yakutpura and is now expanding to the Old City to reach more women in need of safe transportation. The company’s innovative solution is filling a crucial gap in the market and helping to make travel safer and more accessible for women in Hyderabad. But what sets Unicorn apart from other driving schools? Arma explains that the company is focused on empowering women, not just training them for their own benefit. This unique approach has already gained praise from many women in the city, and the company plans to continue growing and helping more women gain independence and confidence through transportation. “We strive to empower women, not just train them for their own benefit,” Arma said. To participate in the Unicorn training program, interested individuals must first register on the company’s website (www.myunicorn.in) and await confirmation. The company currently operates through its website and WhatsApp and assigns each participant to a cohort with a confirmation letter. With its innovative transportation solution and commitment to empowering women, Unicorn is changing the way women in Hyderabad travel and helping them achieve greater independence. But Unicorn’s support for women doesn’t stop there.
Arma explained that the company’s website also creates connections between women who are capable drivers and those who are seeking transportation services. This allows women to make money while driving, Unicorn offers them the opportunity to find work and earn more than 25,000 per month. “We offer total support to women at every stage of their lives, from learning to drive to becoming a lady partner at our firm and partners,” Arma said. “We provide them with the choice of flexible driving hours so they can combine this career with their daily activities. Simply put, we act as their pillars of support.” Unicorn’s commitment to supporting women at every stage of their lives sets it apart from other driving schools and transportation services. By providing training, work opportunities, and flexible schedules, the company is helping women to achieve independence and empowering them to take control of their own lives.
Arma’s initiative is really appreciable for making women self-reliable in driving that creates a major impact on women’s independence over driving bikes. Moreover it also makes them financially strengthened, The advantages of having women as a part of the workforce are manifold. On a micro level, working women become financially independent and will have greater control over their own lives. This encourages women to stand against physical and emotional abuse, enabling them to handle social issues and pressures on their own. The families of working women are also able to enjoy a higher quality of living due to additional income. At the macro level, greater participation of women in the workforce is good for the overall economy.
source: http://www.thehindustangazette.com / The Hindustan Gazette / Home> News> Education / by Abdul Sami / October 14th, 2023
Maktoob Media has won the 2023 Human Rights Religious Freedom Journalism Award in the category of Best Media Organization for covering human rights and religious freedom.
The jury selected Maktoob from a competitive shortlist of media organizations. Among the contenders were The Wire, The Newslaundry, and Khabar Lahariya.
The award was announced at the IAMC National Convention 2023 in Dallas, Texas, by the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group dedicated to safeguarding India’s pluralist and tolerant ethos.
Extraordinary and in-depth reporting covering the systematic targeting of religious minorities, the Hijab ban, and the weaponization of technology against Muslim women were among the stories that earned top honors at the award ceremony on Saturday, October 14.
“We believe this recognition is a testament to our work and commitment to tell stories that matter. We share the credit of this award with our staff, contributors and all the well-wishers. We dedicate this award to all journalists who speak truth to power no matter the consequences,” Maktoob said in a statement.
Maktoob’s regular contributor Meer Faisal won the title of Best Photo Story on Human Rights and Religious Freedom for his contributions featured in Maktoob and Al Jazeera English. The award committee recognized three photo stories published on Maktoob: “110-year-old madrasa and library set ablaze by Hindutva mob during Ram Navami rally in Bihar,” “Photos: Burnt by Hindutva mob and bulldozed by BJP govt; Muslim lives in Khargone,” and “Photos: Thousands of Muslim women pray during protests against eviction in Uttarakhand.”
Maktoob’s deputy editor, Shaheen Abdulla, jointly received the Best Text Reporting on Human Rights & Religious Freedom award for his report titled “No Country for Religious Converts,” which was published in The Wire.
Sneha Richhariya from IndiaSpend was also honored with the Best Text Reporting on Human Rights & Religious Freedom award.
The Best Video Story on Human Rights and Religious Freedom award was jointly awarded to Fatima Khan from The Quint and Naman Govil from Vice News.
The HRRF Young Journalist of the Year Award for 2023 was presented to Kashmiri journalist Aakash Hassan.
“We established these awards to shine a blazing spotlight on stories that often go unreported or underreported. In a year marked by relentless challenges, where media in India grapples with unprecedented pressures, HRRF’s 14-member international jury has selected winners who dare to speak truth to power. The resilience of these journalists and their unwavering dedication to the values of truth and justice resonate even louder in these turbulent times,” said RasheedAhmed, Executive Director of IAMC.
“Today, we celebrate the unwavering commitment of these exceptional journalists. Through their extraordinary dedication, they have illuminated the path to a more inclusive and harmonious world. These stories have not only won awards but have also won hearts, for they shed light on the issues that matter most to our shared humanity,” Ahmed added.
source: http://www.maktoobmedia.com / Maktoob Media / Home> India / by Maktoob Staff / October 20th,2023
Mohammad Zubair, one of the founding members of fact-checking and news website AltNews, won the 2023 Freedom of Expression Awards – Journalism by Index on Censorship.
“His fight against fake news and disinformation in #India has led to him facing attacks, slander and even jail,” The group said while announcing the award on social media.
Index on Censorship is a nonprofit that campaigns for and defends free expression worldwide. The other nominees for the award were Bilan Media — Somalia’s first women-only media organisation and newsroom— and Afghan journalist Mortaza Behboudi.
Jailed educationalist Matiullah Wesa from Afghanistan won the 2023 Freedom of Expression Awards – Campaigning. Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi won the award in the art category.
Alt News’ approach focuses on political fact-checking to scrutinise claims made by political parties, leaders and other persons in positions of authority; debunking social media rumours; and examining media misinformation and bias.
In June 2022, following a tweet exposing a national spokesperson of the BJP making hateful and Islamophobic utterances on national TV, Mohammed Zubair was arrested by the Delhi and Uttar Pradesh state police.
It has been reported that whenever Zubair was granted bail on one case another FIR would be lodged against him. This led to six FIRs being lodged against Zubair, resulting in him being caught in a 24-day cycle of arrest, bail and re-arrest.
The following month, the Indian Supreme Court granted Zubair bail and ordered his release, as there was no justification for keeping him in custody.
source: http://www.maktoobmedia.com / Maktoob Media / Home> India / by Maktoob Staff / October 20th,2023
Younus believes that clouds have strong messages related to nature, possible dangers, future developments, and love
Kohinoor diamond shaped cloud captured between minarets of Charminar
Clouds carry divine messages for humanity, believes Younus, a 27-year-old, photographer from Hyderabad who spends most of his time clicking the clouds in the sky and deciphering the messages therein.
Describing himself as a passionate nature lover, Younus has so far captured over 8,000 images of clouds, which hint at awareness messages related to nature, possible dangers, future developments, and love.
Coexistence
One such picture, he feels, narrates a tale of peaceful coexistence between humans and nature. When skygazers look at the picture, they immediately fall in love with it.
Fauna Fantasia: Peaceful coexistence between humans and nature
Mother bird and chick
Another image of clouds featuring a mother bird feeding her chick calls for the protection of birds and their safety. These birds, he said, largely contribute to the stability of the environment.
Mother bird and a chick
“Affection between a mother and child is displayed by clouds, giving a message to the world that nature must be protected the same way like mother protects a child,” said the photographer Younus.
Mother and child shaped among clouds
Kohinoor on Charminar
His another click, Kohinoor diamond-shaped cloud between the minarets of the historic Charminar, makes citizens recall the priced jewel that no longer belongs to Hyderabad. Today, it is a part of the crown jewels on display at the Tower of London.
Cloud in shape of Kohinoor Diamond
Global warming
A spaceship-like cloud reminds us of the existence of aliens in the universe
His another picture, shows an ape and a dragon formed by the clouds. “The flames coming out of the dragon’s mouth are relevant to the rising global warming,” lamented Younus.
Clouds shaping an ape and a howling dragon
“Crab and Bear are looking over the humans and motivating them to succeed,” explained the photographer.
Clouds in the shape of Crab and Bear
“Pterosaur, an extinct species of flying Dinosaur was captured above the fort of Bhongir, said Younus, adding that the sun, mountains and trees are permanent. However, many animals have become extinct and new animals have evolved.
“It reminds us that someday, the human race is also going to be extinct,” said Younus.
Huge cloud shaping the extinct pterosaurs, captured above the Bhongir fortClods depicting a lion, cat and a crocodile in discussion
Telangana shaped cloud
27-year-old Younus Farhaan started capturing cloud pictures in 2008. His hobby soon turned into a passion in 2013, when he captured a cloud in the shape of a Telangana geographic map. The state was formed the next year.
World cup victory
In 2011, he captured a cloud that formed the shape of the coveted Cricket World Cup trophy. Soon after, India won its second World Cup under the captainship of Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Since then, cloud pictures by Younus have been displayed at multiple locations, within and outside Telangana.
Clouds call out for ‘protection of nature’
Younus believes that clouds have strong messages for humans. People must take time from their busy schedule and glance at nature for a few minutes.
Recently, his cloud pictures were displayed to 500 girl students at Safdaria Girls High School in the city.
The motive behind the exhibition was to link the students with nature. “Though the girls were aware that clouds make shapes, they were surprised to find out the messages they wave,” said the delighted photographer.
“Nature keeps evolving and keen observation can reveal the messages hidden in the clouds related to the changing environmental trends,” said Younus.
“People must be made aware that protecting nature is the duty of every human,” he said.
A few of his photos are currently on display at the cloud exhibition at Ravindra Bahrati. ‘Fauna Fantasia’, the exhibition was inaugurated on October 4.
source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> News> Hyderabad / by Masrath Fatima / October 12th, 2023
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