Four more judges have been appointed to the Kerala High Court.
The Union Law Ministry on Monday issued a notification on the appointment of Dr Kauser Edappagath, K Babu, Murali Purushothaman and A A Ziyad Rahman, as per the recommendations of the Supreme Court Collegium.
Dr Kauser Edappagath is the Ernakulam Principal District judge and K Babu is the Thiruvananthapuram Principal District judge. Murali Purushothaman and Ziyad Rahman are High Court lawyers..
Apart from the Kerala High Court judges, the central government also approved the recommendations of the SC Collegium to appoint two judges to the Delhi HC. A total of 16 recommendations were made to the government.
Recent appointments to Kerala High Court: Dr Kauser Edappagath, K Babu, Murali Purushothaman and A A Ziyad Rahman
The new judges in the Kerala HC are:
Dr Kauser Edappagath: A Kannur native, Dr Kauser is the son of PK Mehmood and Roula Edappagath. He began practising law in 1991. After practice at the Kerala High Court, he directly became the District Judge in 2009. Currently, the Ernakulam Principal District Judge.
K Babu: A native of Kottarakkara, Babu is the son of (late) K Karunakaran and K Bhavani. He enrolled as an advocate in 1994. After 15 years of practising law, he served as the Additional District Judge, CBI Court Special Judge, High Court Subordinate Judiciary Registrar, Supreme Court Registrar (Officer on Special Duty) and Sabarimala Special Commissioner. Currently, he is the Thiruvananthapuram Principal District Judge and the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple administrative committee chairman.
Murali Purushothaman: An Aluva native, Murali is the son of (late) PM Purushothaman and Saraswathi. He began practising law in 1991. Currently, a High Court lawyer. Also, he is the standing counsel of the Central & State Election Commissions, and the Delimitation Commission.
AA Ziyad Rahman: A native of Thrikkakara in Ernakulam, Ziyad is the son of (late) advocate A A Abdul Rahman and Latheefa. Currently, a High Court lawyer. Expert in electricity, insurance and banking laws.
source: http://www.onmanorama.com / On Manorama / Home> Kerala / by OnManorama Correspondent / February 23rd, 2021
“The working committee of AIMPLB passed a resolution to start a Sharia awareness webseries. It also decided to start a legal journal in the Urdu and English languages,” read a tweet from AIMPLB’s handle.
AIMPLB general secretary Syed Mohammad Wali Rahmani. (File)
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Monday announced that it would soon launch a legal journal in Urdu and English, and a webseries to spread awareness about Sharia and Indian laws, and explain court judgments to Muslims.
The decision was taken during a board meeting led by its president Mohd Rabey Hasani Nadvi.
“The working committee of AIMPLB passed a resolution to start a Sharia awareness webseries. It also decided to start a legal journal in the Urdu and English languages,” read a tweet from AIMPLB’s handle.
Speaking to The Indian Express , AIMPLB general secretary Syed Mohammad Wali Rahmani said the idea behind the web series was to spread awareness on legal issues for Muslims. “The series will be done in an interview-discussion format… The series will analyse high court and supreme court judgments so that common people can understand them. Not just Sharia, we will also focus on the country’s laws and judgments,” said Rahmani.
According to a statement issued by the Board, board member Asma Zehra has been tasked with preparing a blueprint for the webseries. Lawyer members like Yusuf Hatim Muchhala, Zafaryab Jilani and M R Shamshad “endorsed this suggestion, and said they will give it their time”.
Advocate M R Shamshad has been asked to prepare a plan for the legal journal in English and Urdu and “present it to the general secretary”.
In the meeting, the issue of safeguarding Waqf properties was also discussed and a campaign in this regard will be launched across the country.
“…The Waqf Act was prepared and approved after a lot of hard work. It has provisions to safeguard Waqf properties from being sold. But efforts are being made from several quarters to make changes to these provisions, which can threaten the safeguarding of Waqf properties. So, it was decided that for the safety of Waqf properties, a campaign should be launched across the country,” read the statement issued in Urdu.
The board said it was fighting cases related to Waqf properties “in its full capacity”.
source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> India / by Express News Service, Lucknow / February 23rd, 2021
Hamid Barkzi was part of Nikhil Chinapa’s team. (Photo: PR)
23-year-old Delhi boy Hamid Barkzi is the winner of adventure reality show MTV Roadies Revolution.
Hamid Barkzi was declared the winner of adventure reality show MTV Roadies Revolution on Saturday. Part of Nikhil Chinapa’s team, Barkzi beat Michael Ajay and Jayant Yadav to take home the winner’s title.
Having started his journey as an underdog, the 23-year-old Delhi boy, who was part of Nikhil’s Team ‘Loyalty’, impressed everyone with his performance in tasks and fair play throughout the season. He eventually emerged victorious in the finale task on Saturday.
On winning Roadies Revolution, Hamid Barkzi in a statement said, “This is one of the most special moments of my life. Roadies Revolution has been instrumental in changing my outlook towards some of the important things in life. I have had my own share of ups and downs, but that has only made me stronger to move up the ladder and emerge victorious. I can’t thank Nikhil Sir enough for this win. He has fought for his team, stood by each one of us at every step of the way. This journey wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Rannvijay Sir and other leaders, Neha Ma’am, Prince and Varun Sir, who have been wonderful mentors. This is just the beginning. Looking forward to many more challenges and victories.”
Gang leader Nikhil Chinapa also expressed his excitement. He said, “Reaching the finale for the first time amongst competitors like Prince, Neha and Varun, it’s an important win for me, Hamid and for Team ‘Loyalty’ that I’ve been so lucky to have. Roadies Revolution has been challenging but fulfilling, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have the squad by my side throughout this journey. The game was pretty intense, and everyone performed to the best of his or her ability. Hamid has been an exceptional player, emerging as one of the strongest contenders in the show.”
Launched last year in February, MTV Roadies Revolution was shot in Rishikesh, Rupnagar and Garli village before the coronavirus-induced lockdown in March. Once shoot resumed, the team shot the remaining episodes in the outskirts of Mumbai. This season, the celebrity leaders included Neha Dhupia, Nikhil Chinapa, Varun Sood and Prince Narula, while Rannvijay Singha was back as the host.
source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Entertainment> Television / by Sana Farzeen, Mumbai / January 17th, 2021
Zarin Begum Yusuf Khan has scored 65.86 per cent from old syllabus.
Her father is a mechanic, while her mother is a home maker.
She plans to complete her articleship and then peruse CA final exams.
A24- year old girl, Zarin Begum Yusuf Khan, from Mumbra has topped the country in the charted accountancy (CA) intermediate examination in the old syllabus with 65.86 per cent. The exams were held after many delays due to Covid-19 and 4094 students took the exam. The results were announced on February 08.
Struggle behind CA topper Zarin Khan’s journey
Zarin Khan stays in a modest 300 sqft house with her parents and three younger siblings. She said that she used to study in the kitchen of her house throughout the night. She did an internship with a Thane-based company for a year which helped her to pay for her CA classes.
“I didn’t believe that I have topped. I was not expecting to be a ranker, let alone be the first in the country. I had applied in 2017 and took a two years gap. I interned at a company for one year and used the money for CA classes. With my family’s support, I took the exam last year. I was scared and nervous before appearing. In the lockdown, I got more time to concentrate on my studies as there was less disturbance. I used to study all night to focus better as in the morning as there is too much noise as our house is near a road,” said Khan.
CA topper Zarin Khan’s Plan
Zarin is the first generation of learners to pursue a professional course in her family. While her father, who has studied till class 9, is a mechanic, her mother is a homemaker. Both her brothers took their Class 10 board exams last year. While her younger sister has completed BSc and is working. “No one in my family is well educated. It was in 2017 after I completed my graduation that I decided to apply for CA. I’ll complete my articleship and then peruse CA final exams,” said Khan.
source: http://www.indiatoday.in / India Today / Home> News> Education Today / by Mustafa Sheikh, New Delhi / February 14th, 2021
Nagpur’s Alifya looked in complete control throughout the bout and made the opponent work hard with her swift movement and precise punches.
New Delhi :
Indian women boxers continued their fine run as Alfiya Pathan (81+kg) claimed the country’s first gold medal even as five others stormed into the finals of the 30th Adriatic Pearl Tournament in Budva, Montenegro.
Babyrojisana Chanu (51kg), Vinka (60kg), Arundhati (69kg) and Sanamacha Chanu (75kg) have made the finals in their respective categories.
An Asian junior girls champion in 2019, Alfiya showed superb form and fitness to notch up an easy 5-0 win against Daria Kozorev of Moldova.
Nagpur’s Alifya looked in complete control throughout the bout and made the opponent work hard with her swift movement and precise punches.
In the 51kg flyweight category, the proceedings began with a fiery encounter between India’s Babyrojisana and Uzbekistan’s Feruza Kazakova.
Both the boxers threw caution to the wind and exchanged mighty blows.
However, Chanu managed to pull off the winning punch in the dying seconds to outclass her opponent in a 3-2 split verdict and sail into the final.
Rohtak’s Vinka (60kg) made easy work of her Finnish opponent Suvi Tujula.
Suvi was no match for the Indian pugilist as she conceded a series of punches, forcing the referee to stop the contest in the second round.
She will face Kristian Kiper of Moldova in the final later on Saturday.
Arundhati (69kg) also continued from where she left in her last bout as she registered another clean sweep with a 5-0 win.
In the 75 kg semi-final, Sanamcha Chanu (75kg) defeated Uzbekistan’s Sokhiba Ruzmetova in an unanimous 5-0 win, setting up a final with compatriot Raj Sahiba.
Unlike other categories, India fielded two boxers in 75 kg and both of them will face each other for the gold medal.
In other matches, Neha (54kg) lost her semi-final bout against Claudie Totova of Czech Republic 0-5.
It turned out to be another tough day for the men as both Akash Gorkha (60kg) and Ankit Narwal (64kg) lost their respective bouts by a narrow 3-2 margin.
Other women boxer playing in the final on Saturday night is Gitika (48kg) who will be competing for the gold medal against Uzbekistan’s Farzona Fozilova while Preeti (57kg) and Lucky Rana (64kg) will play their semi-final bouts.
Two male boxers — Priyanshu Dabas (49kg) and Jugnoo (91+kg) — will also be competing in the semi-final laster in the day.
The Indian contingent has so far assured itself of 12 medals with five women eyeing gold.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Sports> Others / by PTI / February 20th, 2021
Muqtar Ahmed at work. Photo: Special Arrangement/THE HINDU
A 24-year-old with a global presence and her teacher are among a few keeping the art of Arabic calligraphy alive in India
Bee Bee Laisa, a final year Engineering student in Bengaluru, has a dream. The 24-year-old wants to transcribe a copy of the Koran in Arabic. “I have always been interested in art and drawing, but it was only when I started learning English calligraphy that I was introduced to the art form in Arabic, which would help me transcribe the holy book,” says Laisa.
And so began her journey in 2016, as a student of the Institute of Indo-Islamic Art and Culture (IIAC) at Richmond Street, Bengaluru, to learn Arabic calligraphy. Also known as khat, this centuries-old art form is held in high regard by Muslims because of its association with the dissemination of the Koran before the era of printing presses.
In the past five years, Laisa has mastered the decorative script thuluth considered one of the most difficult fonts, and naskh (used to write the Koran). Her talent has been recognised on several international and local platforms: her calligraphic artworks of Koranic verses and Islamic phrases have been exhibited in Japan, UAE, and Jaipur since 2017.
Calligraphy alphabet sampler by Bee Bee Laisa. Photo: Special Arrangement/THE HINDU
It is a huge leap forward for Laisa, whose father works as a banana delivery vehicle driver in Bengaluru. Laisa says calligraphy has helped improve her concentration and also use her drawing skills in her Civil Engineering classes.
“Calligraphers can’t have any dot or line out of place; this has helped me present spotless drawings for my coursework as well,” she says.
The school uses traditional materials to teach the art, including wooden or reed pens (qalam) and inks from plant-based resins. As per tradition, strands of raw silk are placed inside the inkpot (likka), to help regulate the amount of ink on the qalam tip, and also to prevent spills onto the paper.
“We use a paper called muqahar for the final version. Though it is commercially available, calligraphers also learn how to prepare their own muqahar sheets,” says Muqtar Ahmed, the principal and tutor at of the IIAC.
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Built to be timeless
The process of making muqahar was perfected in the 17th Century by Turkish calligraphers, and Arabic calligraphy students still learn it today.
Paper is stained with natural dyes (like tea or floral decoctions) and then coated with a tempering mixture of alum crystals dissolved in egg whites. It is then burnished to get a glossy finish.
“Muqahar paper, if made correctly, can last up to 700 years,” says Ahmed.
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Devoted to the art
Ahmed is the man guiding Laisa in her mission. He has the distinction of being the only Indian to have earned his Ijazah (Masters diploma) in Arabic calligraphy from the Turkey-based Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA), under the auspices of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). He has trained over 500 students through the school’s weekly courses, and has started online classes during lockdown.
“Calligraphy takes a long time to learn, and one only gets better with continuous practice,” says Ahmed.
His own encounter with the art form is a tribute to his tenacity. As an Intermediate school graduate in a small village in Telengana, he started learning Urdu and Arabic calligraphy and decided to make his career as a scribe for an Urdu publication in Bengaluru, in 1990.
Arabic calligraphy by Muqtar Ahmed. Photo: Special Arrangement/THE HINDU
“I used to write entire pages of articles in the column style, before the computers came in,” he says.
Most of the commercial calligraphy that was done for Urdu and Arabic journals before automated printing lacked the aesthetic values of the original art form, he says.
“I’d like to revive Arabic calligraphy among young people and show them how this can not only be an art but also a way to remember the divine in our life,” Ahmed says.
When he lost his job in 1994, Ahmed decided to research how other calligraphers, especially those outside India, were sustaining their craft. He set up a small commercial press to keep his home fires burning, and kept looking out for masters in calligraphy.
“I realised that it is not a language transforming tool, but an art that has a different respect globally,” he adds.
Among the people who helped him were Washington-based Syrian font designer and calligrapher Maamoun Sakkal, and Mohamed Zakariya, the first Westerner to earn calligraphy diplomas from IRCICA in Turkey.
In what sounds like an incredible process today, Zakariya, who is based in Virginia and does not use electronic communication, tutored Ahmed over postal correspondence for three-and-a-half years.
“I used to send my completed exercises from Bengaluru, and he would reply with his comments and corrections by post. Mr Zakariya didn’t charge me any fees for the tuition, and I feel very fortunate to have been his student,” says Ahmed.
Zakariya also introduced Ahmed to his own master Hasan Chalabi from IRCICA, who invited him to Turkey in 2008. After several visits to Istanbul to learn the art, Ahmed earned his Masters degree in 2013.
Paying it forward
“My professors advised me to start teaching calligraphy in India after I graduated, so that I could rekindle the old majesty of the art. When Mr Syed Mohamed Beary [a local real estate developer] heard of this, he sponsored the establishment of the institute in Bengaluru, and put me in charge of it. I’m glad to see that though it is a very difficult field to excel in, at least 15 of our students are being recognised for their calligraphy,” says Ahmed.
Ameerul Islam and Abdul Sattar, two of his students, have set up a branch of the institute in Hyderabad. IIAC’s curriculum covers the Arabic scripts riqa (for newcomers), naskh and thuluth and nastaliq in Urdu. Learning any two scripts thoroughly is ideal for a calligrapher, says Ahmed.
Bee Bee Laisa. Photo: Special Arrangement/THE HINDU
Bee Bee Laisa’s aim of transcribing the Koran is shared by her teacher. “In fact it is the ultimate goal of every Arabic calligrapher,” says Ahmed. “But it is a huge project, because there are at least 600 pages to be transcribed. If we do something with our hands, it is priceless,” he says.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Society> History & Culture / by Nahla Nainar / February 19th, 2021
Starting out so early is not surprising given that he belongs to a family that runs a chain of restaurants in Chennai. His father Hashnas Abdulla is from Payyoli and mother is from Feroke.
Hayan Abdulla with certificates and medals of Asia Book of Records and India Book of Records
Kozhikode :
9-year-old Hayan Abdulla of Feroke has entered the Asia Book of Records and the India Book of Records by cooking 172 dishes, including biryanis, juices, pancakes, dosas, salads, milk shakes and chocolates, in one hour.Cooking became his hobby when he was just four. “He showed interest in cooking and began helping me in kitchen,” said Rasha Abdulla, Hayan’s mother.
Starting out so early is not surprising given that he belongs to a family that runs a chain of restaurants in Chennai. His father Hashnas Abdulla is from Payyoli and mother is from Feroke. “My family noticed that I cook fast. Then I thought why not work on it and be different. For the past one week, I have been recording the time of my cooking. There were no special preparations for the competition,” said Hayan, who is a Class III student of Sherwood Hall Senior Secondary School in Chennai.
Because of Covid-19 regulations, the competition took place online. He owns a YouTube channel called Hayan Delicacies which explains the making of various dishes in detail in three languages — English, Malayalam and Tamil. While he is passionate about cooking, Hayan aspires to become a pilot. His dream culinary venture is to set up a pasta bar.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by Express News Service / February 19th, 2021
The first batch of women commandos undergoes training for Garuda, Karnataka’s anti-terror force. (Photo | EPS)
What will emerge is a lean, mean team — the first batch of the all-woman Garuda commandos of the Karnataka Police.
Bengaluru :
Seventeen young women, mostly from villages across Karnataka, are training to shoot, handle explosives, rappel, rope walk, handle terror, as they build grit and endurance, for 12 hours a day. What will emerge is a lean, mean team — the first batch of the all-woman Garuda commandos of the Karnataka Police.
The special operational team Garuda, Karnataka’s own anti-terror force, was formed in 2010, and for the first time this year, the department will be training 50 women to join the force. Pre-induction training is on at Bengaluru’s Centre for Counter Terrorism for these 17 women, under the Deputy Director, Lt Col Rohit Nayak and his team led by Superintendent of Police M L Madhura Veena.
“They will form the first all-woman commando team and are undergoing training to handle any kind of terror attack or save victims of such attacks,” said Madhura Veena, the only woman SP in the Centre for Counter Terrorism, of the Internal Security Division (ISD). The Response Counter Terrorism Team will be based in Bengaluru, and can reach any part of the city in 30 minutes. The commandos will be deployed in areas with high concentration of IT-BT companies, besides sensitive areas, including coastal Karnataka.
ADGP of ISD Bhaskar Rao has been appreciative of these youngsters coming from humble backgrounds but with enough grit to be trained into commandos with special counter-terrorism skills such as handling weapons, Improvised Explosive Devices, explosives, rope work and communication, CAD (computer aided design) and navigation, medical first aid and PIN (planning, intelligence and negotiation) etc.
“First batch of Women Garuda Commandos with 17 girls have started.
Few are enthusiastic, few want to go back. But a very strong willed SP, Madhur Veena is spending full time. The girls are amazing quick learners,” Bhaskar Rao tweeted on Saturday. However, when the girls were asked why some of them want to go back, Uma Devi, from a village in Bidar, said, “It is difficult initially. During basic training, after we clear constable post, it’s not so rigorous. Here we are trained in handling weapons, ropes, besides tackling obstacle course,” she told TNIE.
Umashree, 26, a constable with Karnataka State Industrial Security Force, added, “I was among the first two women who began training two months ago with men for the same force. In an emergency, it doesn’t matter if you are a man or woman. You have to have grit, focus and physical strength to bear all this. We motivate women who come for training.”
Rizwana agrees, saying that though her parents work in the fields in a village in Kalaburagi, she had always dreamt of joining the police force and is fascinated by the stars on the uniform. “I will make it big here, I know. I will continue with training,” she says.
After two months of training, they will have to write an examination, after which they will be inducted into the team.R
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by Chetana Belagere, Express News Service / February 07th, 2021
Saleha Jabeen said she was grateful for the opportunity and aware of the responsibility that she has to set an example and show that there is a place in the military for anyone who wants to serve.
Washington:
Saleha Jabeen, US military’s first India-born female Muslim chaplain, has graduated from Air Force Basic Chaplain Course, vowing to take her duty as a spiritual mentor very seriously.
The historic graduation ceremony was held on February 5, an official statement said on Wednesday.
Ms Jabeen said she was grateful for the opportunity and aware of the responsibility that she has to set an example and show that there is a place in the military for anyone who wants to serve.
“I did not have to compromise on any of my religious beliefs or convictions. I am surrounded with people who respect me and are willing to receive what I bring to the table as a woman, a faith leader, and an immigrant,” she said.
“I am provided with numerous opportunities to learn and develop skills that best equip me to be a successful officer and a chaplain in a pluralistic environment,” Ms Jabeen said.
Ms Jabeen was commissioned in December as a Second Lieutenant at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, becoming the first female Muslim chaplain in the Department of Defense. She came to the United States 14 years ago as an international student.
“I get to provide spiritual care to all service members, guardians and families and advise the commanders on religious and moral matters regardless of my faith, ethnicity or gender. Like our boss says, it has never been a better time to serve as a chaplain in the US Air Force Chaplain Corps,” she said.
Capt. John Richardson, Air Force Chaplain Corps College staff chaplain, said that his goal is to create chaplains who are ready to provide front-line ministry upon graduation.
“They are trained to lead the units they serve spiritually. The bottom line is to care for Airmen – every single Airman. When they care for Airmen in a professional way, every other aspect of our calling falls into place: advising leaders and providing for the religious needs of our force,” Captain Richardson said.
Capt. Mara Title, Air Force Chaplain Corps College staff chaplain, said Ms Jabeen’s addition to the chaplain corps will be of great benefit to everyone.
“The Air Force Chaplain Corps endeavours to promote diversity in all respects,” Title said.
“Chaplain Saleha Jabeen’s presence enables an even broader scope of spiritual care for our Airmen, and for this we are very grateful. She is as determined to take on the role of chaplain as she is kind, caring and compassionate. We are thrilled to have had the opportunity for her to graduate with the class of BCC 21A,” she said.
Ms Jabeen said she was passionate about her role as a chaplain, and takes her duty as a spiritual mentor very seriously.
“We all have a purpose that is specifically meant for us to fulfill,” she said.
“We must listen to our heart and follow our conviction. It is important to have people in our lives who model that for us. Choose that kind of mentorship and choose good companionship. I just want people to remember that God, or higher power or the values that people uphold, remind us that we all are created with a plan: to become the best versions of ourselves,” she said.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Ms Jabeen completed her BA in Business and Economics at North Park University, followed by an MA in Theology-Interreligious Dialogue from Catholic Theological Union and course in counselling psychology from Trinity Christian College.
source: http://www.ndtv.com / NDTV / Home> Indians Abroad / by Press Trust of India / February 18th, 2021
Keep Calm and Ride On! Well, take a cue from this in life. And that’s what Lt Colonel Faiz Siddiqui’s book is also all about — horses.
Keep Calm & Ride On’: Meet Lt Colonel Faiz Siddiqui, and delve deeper into the art of horse riding
In times when we keep on telling ourselves how dogs are man’s best friend, we must not forget horses. Oh wait, hold your horses…quite literally.
Lt Colonel Faiz Siddiqui, an internationally certified coach, has come out with his book: ‘Keep Calm and Ride On’. The book delves deeper into the art of horse riding, especially at a time when parents are struggling hard to move out their children from mobile screen and experience real life.
Keep Calm & Ride On!
The book emphasises the importance of horses and horse riding. Infact, it is quite a part of every institute where future leaders are trained, be it Army, IAS or IPS.
This book gives an easy and interesting insight into the world of horses and induces a desire to experience them in real life. It covers all the important aspects which a non-rider or a beginner needs to know without overwhelming him/her with avoidable and boring details.
source: http://www.indiatvnews.com / IndiaTV / Home> English News / by India TV News Desk, New Delhi / September 27th, 2019
