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AMU team win ‘Judges Choice Award’, NASA Space App Challenge

Education, Science & Technology, World Opinion, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Aligarh, UTTAR PRADESH :

Aligarh :

‘Team blaze’ comprising Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) students, Umair Shahajhani (Z H College of Engineering and Technology) and Omja (Senior Secondary school Girls) won the ‘Judges Choice Award’ of the international NASA Space App Challenge 2020.

The AMU team had participated in the global hackathon from their home computers to tackle one of the most pressing worldwide issues: The Covid-19 pandemic, said Tazeen Siddiqui, Lead, NASA space App Challenge. The event was judged by two ISRO scientists, Mr Uzair Mujeeb and Syed Shadab.

The ‘Team blaze’ is one of the two teams from AMU to have won the award. The other team, ALTAIR lead by AMU students Ayesha Samdani (MBBS), Mohd Zakir Husain (MBBS), Aman Ahmad Khan (MBBS), Abdullah Samdani (BA LLB) and Faisal Jamil, a BTech student from the Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh also won the ‘Judges Choice Award’ for presenting a solution in response to the NASA’s Challenge ‘A One Health Approach’.

ALTAIR members through their presentation shed light on how improved air quality has been an unintended but welcome consequence of the lockdown to contain the coronavirus. They gave an analysis of the air quality of the pre and post lockdown periods in the Indo Gangetic region of Northern India. Their study gave details about how an improvement in the air quality benefited the health of people.

The team members also coded an Air Quality Index (AQI) Calculator to measure AQI of a certain region, which is helpful in giving health and cautionary statements and providing guidance to common people on pollution related health issues.

source: http://www.amu.ac.in / Aligarh Muslim University / Home> AMU News / by Public Relations Office, AMU / October 09th, 2020

Baramulla tales: Twin sons of private security guard from Tangmarg shine in NEET 2020

Education, , , ,

Batpora Village of Kunzar (Baramulla District), JAMMU & KASHMIR :

Finally my dream has come true: Father of twin brothers

Baramulla :

Twin brothers from Tangmarg area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district have not just made their family proud but the Kashmir valley as well by qualifying the coveted National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2020 with flying colours.

Twin brothers, Gowhar Bashir and Shakir Bashir, hailing from Batpora village of Kunzar in have scored 651 and 657 points respectively out of the total 720 points.

While talking with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Gowhar said this is the moment of joy and pride for them as they have qualified the much anticipated and covet entrance exams with excellence.

He said in 2019 they both had cracked JEE Mains exams and were enrolled in NIT Srinagar in B.Tech course. “This year it was our second attempt to go for the NEET exams and this time we made it with excellence. We took full advantage of the COVID-19 lockdown by dedicating our time toward our studies,” he said.

Bashir Ahmad, father of the twin brother told KNO that he is working as a private security guard at a fair price shop. “I was not able to help them much but I tried my best. Today I feel so proud that my sons have qualified the NEET exam.”

He said that his long-awaited dream has come true and they have not just him proud but the whole Kashmir as well.

source: http://www.fastkashmir.com / Fast Kashmir / Home> Featured / by KNO / October 18th, 2020

Kerala students do well in NEET 2020

Education, , , , , , ,

KERALA :

11 from Kerala figure in first 100 in all-India rankings

Aspirants from Kerala figured top in the rank list of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2020 for admission to undergraduate medical and dental courses, the results of which were declared on Friday.


Aysha S. from Koyilandy secured all-India rank 12  

Eleven students from the State figured among the first 100 in the all-India rankings. Aysha. S of Koyilandy in Kozhikode secured all-India rank 12 and emerged the State topper with 710 marks. She secured second rank in the OBC category at the national level.

“It was my second attempt. I was confident of scoring good marks, but never expected to become the State topper. I had devoted around 15 hours daily for my preparations,” she said. Aysha is hopeful of joining the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi.

Lulu A. was on cloud nine after coming 22nd in the all-India rank list. A native of Nenmara in Palakkad, this was her second attempt. Lulu won 706 marks. “I was placed 448th in the all-India rank list in my first attempt. I started my preparations in the repeat attempt by concentrating on Physics in the first phase and focusing on Biology in the last phase,” she said. Lulu, who completed her Plus Two from Government HSS, Nenmara, would like to join AIIMS. She was placed second among the Keralites who wrote the test.

Sanish Ahammed, a native of Vellimadukunnu in Kozhikode, bagged the 25th position in the all-India ranking. “This was my second attempt. I had referred to the NCERT textbooks for my preparation. The online sessions provided by my coaching institute also helped a lot,” he said. Sanish was hopeful that he could join the AIIMS.

Justy Joseph, a faculty member of a coaching institute, said the students in Kerala have come up with a good performance compared to the previous year. “The questions were relatively easy this time and based on the NCERT syllabus,” he said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Kerala / by Special Correspondent / Kochi – October 16th, 2020

Number of Students Clearing NEET Exam After Coaching From Ajmal Foundation’s Increases from 11 to 80

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Leaders, , , , , , , ,

ASSAM :

Ajmal Foundation’s Super 40 program started with a science topper in board exams (2018) and later prepared students for medical and engineering exams.

Representative image.
Representative image.

New Delhi: 

All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) President Badruddin Ajmal’s integrated educational program with a special focus on students from underprivileged background has fought against all odds to deliver great results in competitive exams such as NEET/ JEE(Main)/(Advance).

On Saturday the MP tweeted: “More than 100 students from our 2-years Integrated Coaching Programme have cleared NEET this year, of which 80+ students likely to get admission in MBBS. My heartfelt thanks to the faculty and other staff members associated with Ajmal Super 40 programme and Ajmal Group of Colleges (sic).”

Badruddin Ajmal was referring to the Ajmal Foundation’s Super 40 program that started with a science topper in board exams (2018) and later prepared students for medical and engineering exams. Eleven students cleared NEET (2019), and more than 100 students cleared NEET in 2020 with 80-plus getting admissions in MBBS.

According to the director of Ajmal Foundation, Khasrul Islam, from 11 students clearing the exam in 2019 to over 80 likely to get admission in MBBS this time, “the result over the year is speaking for itself on how commitment and dedication of teachers and students can make all the difference.”

This year in JEE (Advanced) and (Mains) there were 7 and 18 students clearing the exams, respectively.

The students’ response to Super 40 has been overwhelming over the years. “After seeing the keenness among them to study for medical and engineering, the Foundation increased the sponsored participants from 40 to 160 (80 girls and 80 boys),” he said.

Islam said the key feature of the integrated program is its teachers with most of them being non-Muslims. “About 75% of the teachers are non-Muslims and their dedication is the life of the program. They are committed and available to clear all doubts of the students, who are majorly Muslims, almost 75%”, said Islam.

The Ajmal Foundation is a registered public charitable trust, established in the year 2005 at Hojai, Assam, India. It has 25 educational institutions all over the state of Assam. “The organisation has been working in the fields of modern education, skill development and employment generation, women empowerment, poverty alleviation, relief and rehabilitation, and environmental awareness and health aid programs,” states its official website.

The trustees of the foundation are committed to undertake multifarious schemes and projects in various parts of the country to “serve the downtrodden section of the society.”

source: http://www.news18.com / News18 / Home> News18> India / by Eram Agha / October 18th, 2020

NEET 2020 | J&K topper Basit Bilal Khan is from trouble-torn area

Education, , , , , , ,

Pulwana / Srinagar : JAMMU & KASHMIR :

Basit Bilal Khan.   | Photo Credit: NISSAR AHMAD

Amid conflict, Basit Khan was forced to leave Pulwama to pursue his studies.

The Kashmir Valley’s most troubled and militancy-affected Pulwama district has earned a new distinction — that of being home to J&K’s National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) topper, Basit Bilal Khan. The 18-year-old Khan scored 695 marks out of 720.

“My parents had shifted me from Pulwama three years ago to Srinagar. I was insulated from what was happening in my district, whether favourable or unfavourable. It did contribute to my success,” Mr. Khan told The Hindu.

On the Internet ban and slow connectivity in J&K, Mr. Khan said students in Kashmir need to find new ways and means to achieve their goals.

“If your goal is important to you, find ways rather than excuses. We are not having favourable conditions for many many years now. We should be prepared to face the tough conditions, as we may face more hardships,” he said.

Advisor to the Lieutenant-Governor, Farooq Khan, felicitated Mr. Khan for his “historic feat of securing 99.98 percentile in the NEET-2020 exam”.

“I hope he (Khan) would inspire many other youth from the region to crack other prestigious exams in order to serve the society in the best possible way so that their energy would be utilized for the development of the nation,” the official said.

National Conference president Dr. Farooq Abdullah and vice-president Omar Abdullah also congratulated the topper.

“The-18-year-old boy has proved the youth of Kashmir are second to none in academic excellence and chasing dreams for a better tomorrow. If students like Bilal can do it despite all challenges due to the prevailing situation, other students can do it as well,” Dr. Abdullah said.

Bidar boy is Karnataka’s NEET topper

Education, Karnataka (under research project), , ,

Bidar, KARNATAKA :

Karthik Reddy, who bagged 710 out of 720 marks, was the State topper.   | Photo Credit: special arrangement

He is a student of Shaheen Pre-University College

Of the 89,359 candidates who appeared for the UG National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2020 from Karnataka, 61.56% have qualified. This is a 1.69% drop from the previous year where 63.25% of 1.02 lakh candidates had qualified.

The percentage of students who have qualified for the test in the State is higher than the national average of 56.44%.

The success of two students from Shaheen Pre-University College in Bidar is significant. Karthik Reddy, who bagged 710 out of 720 marks, was the State topper. He secured the ninth All India Rank, and is the only person in Karnataka in the top 50.

“So many doctors are COVID-19 warriors who are putting their lives at risk. Their dedication is commendable,” he said.

Karthik decided he wanted to become a doctor when he was in class 10, and wants to study in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. “I prepared for eight to 10 hours every day from class 11 onwards, and used the lockdown period to solve mock test papers every day,” he said.

Humble background

Arbaz Ahmed, who is also from Shaheen PU College, secured 700 marks. He is the son of a lorry driver who had lost his limbs in a mishap.

NEET was postponed due to the pandemic and was conducted to September 13. A re-exam was conducted on October 14 for candidates who had missed the test due to the pandemic. As many as 1,005 candidates in the State had registered for the test in Kannada medium.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Karnataka Bureau / October 16th, 2020

NEET 2020: Abbas and Rizia, the two pillars of Soyeb Aftab’s success

Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, , , , , , ,

Kolkata, WEST BENGAL / ODISHA :

Sheikh Mohammed Abbas candidly admits that his in-laws at Kolkata supported him financially during the tough times

Sheikh Mohammed Abbas and his wife Rizia with their children. (Photo | EPS)

Rourkela :

Soyeb Aftab has wowed the entire country with his phenomenal performance in the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET)-2020  scoring a perfect 720 out of 720. 

However, behind his extraordinary feat lies the struggle and resolve of his parents Sheikh Mohammed Abbas and Sultana Rizia who despite their limited means ensured their children got the best education. 

Abbas and his wife Rizia made all the compromises and sacrifices for their children, Soyeb and his 10-year-old sister Alisha, who studies in Class V. Alisha is also a brilliant student. 

Abbas, a graduate said he and his wife laid the foundation for a bright future for their children 20 years back when on his insistence, Rizia, with Soyeb in her womb completed her graduation.

“My orthodox family was adamant on not allowing Rizia to study further after marriage. We moved away from my family and stayed separately for eight-and-a-half years. In the meanwhile, Rizia gave birth to Soyeb and completed her graduation from Burdwan University by travelling frequently from Rourkela to West Bengal,” he said. Since then the couple has left no stones unturned to provide an ideal environment to their children for their studies. 

As a businessman, Abbas often saw many ups and downs but he did not let adversities come in the way of his children’s future. He recently switched to construction work from loose tea leaf trade.

During lockdown, there was no work and then the earning started dipping drastically.

Abbas candidly admits that his in-laws at Kolkata supported him financially during the tough times. 

Rizia said her struggle to complete graduation inspired her to give the best of education to her children. She along with Soyeb and Alisha had moved to Kota, Rajasthan in 2018 where the siblings took admission at Sarvodaya School.

Soyeb also pursued medical coaching at Allen Career Institute in the town. Abbas’ childhood friend Afroz Ahmed said the businessman’s resolve and determination helped him stay all alone in the city for two years.S

Karnataka: Items from bygone era enthrall people

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Karnataka (under research project), Travel & Tourism, ,
Visitors look at the vast range of antique utensils and other items exhibited from the collection of Ponnacchana Madhu in Madikeri on Friday.

Madikeri, KARNATAKA :

She was speaking after inaugurating the exhibition of antique items from the collection of Ponnacchana Madhu at Coffee Krupa building near Raja Seat in Madikeri on Friday. The exhibition a part of Janapada Dasara, was organised by Taluk Janapada Parishat.

“The items that were used by our ancestors had scientific applications. Some utensils in the older days were designed to improve the health of people. Unfortunately, the young generation is forgetting the significance of the livelihood of their ancestors,” she added.

Zilla Janapada Parishat president B G Anantashayana said that the folklore was close to nature. Folklore is a form of knowledge. But, the modernity has been taking us away from this knowledge, he added.

Taluk Janapada Parishat president Anil H T said that Ponnacchana Madhu, the exhibitor, had collected rare items in the last three years.

These items will be on display till October 26. The work by Madhu and Preethu couple is laudable, he added.

Collector and Exhibitor Ponnacchana Madhu said that he purchased old items in the households, after convincing the elders in the houses. Many tourists have been willing to purchase them from me. However, they are not for sale. The collection began with an old lamp contributed by an old lady called Arifa Munavar, a scrap dealer in Madikeri.

Taluk Janapada Parishat Treasurer Ambekal Navin Kushalappa, Parishat Directors Savita Rakesh and Veenakshi were present.

Exquisite collection

The collection showcases traditional weapons, a 120-year-old mud bowl, an ancient lamp from a temple in Tamilnadu with 84 diyas, puja items, African dolls, bronze items,  utensils, coffee grinding machines and so on.

The agricultural equipment are an added attraction.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State / by DHNS, Madikeri / October 17th, 2020

NEET 2020: 06 Muslims among toppers

Amazing Feats, Education, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Among the Muslims who figured in NEET 2020 Merit List is Shoyeb Aftab who got All India Rank 1 (AIR 1).

NEET 2020: 

In a remarkable display of success against challenging conditions as many as 06 Muslims have figured in the Merit List of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET UG 2020) released today.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) had conducted National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET UG 2020) on September 13 and October 14, 2020. It declared its result today i.e. Friday October 16.

Among the Muslims who figured in NEET 2020 Merit List is Shoyeb Aftab (Soyeb Aftab as mentioned in the NTA list and Shoaib Aftab as normally the name is spelled) who got All India Rank 1 (AIR 1).

Shoyeb is first from Odisha to bag the top position in the important medical entrance exam.

Other Muslims who figured in the NEET 2020 AIR List are:

Aysha S of Kerala (710 Marks, Air 12), Shaik Kothapalli Arfath Khadeer of Andhra Pradesh (710 marks, Air 18), Sanish Ahammed of Kerala (705 marks, Air 25), Farheen K S of Kerala (710 marks, AIR 66), and Mohd Sadiq Ansar of Uttar Pradesh who got 8th rank in the list of (Pwd) Toppers.

Among other toppers, Akanksha Singh has also scored 720 marks and secured AIR 2.

Tummala Snikitha, Vineet Sharma, Amrisha Khaitan and Guthi Chaitanya Sindhu secured 715 out of 720 marks and got AIR 3, AIR 4, AIR 5 and AIR 6 position.

The NEET result was originally scheduled to be declared on Oct 12. NTA however announced that it will declare the result on Friday at 04:00 pm. The result however was delayed by few hours and released late in the evening.

A total of 15,974,35 students had registered for NEET 2020. But, only 13,669,45 (85.57%) appeared for the exam conducted amidst Corona scare.

source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home> Education & Careers / by ummid.com news network / October 16th, 2020

The principal who won freedom for Indian hostages

Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Leaders, NRI's / PIO's, World Opinion, , ,

Gorakhpur, UTTAR PRADESH / Benghazi, LIBYA :

Head of the Indian school in Benghazi, Tabassum Mansoor, led the negotiations with militants in Libya

Tabassum Mansoor  

After almost a month of tense negotiations, the hostage situation involving seven Indians in Libya came to an end with their release on October 11.

In the absence of a resident Ambassador in the country, the delicate task of ensuring the safe release of the Indians workers with Al Shola Al Mudea energy company, fell to Tabassum Mansoor, the Principal of the city’s Indian school and a long-term resident of Bengazhi.

The seven men were abducted by militants at Asshwerif while they were on their way to the airport in Tripoli on September 14. A source with knowledge of the operation said the rescue would not have been possible but for Ms. Mansoor, who carried out negotiations with the militants through the Libyan authorities and tribal elders.

Ms. Mansoor, 59, who was born in Gorakhpur, has been in Benghazi for more than three decades. She has mentored the Indian school in Benghazi and it has emerged as the only Indian-led English-medium educational centre in the city.

Recognition for her long-standing commitment to education amid difficult circumstances came from the Libyan authorities when she was inducted as a member of the National Education Council of Libya. Her work in the larger Indian community first came into the spotlight for her efforts during the 2011 evacuation of nearly 3,000 Indians from Benghazi when the city witnessed intense fighting between pro- and anti-Qadhafi forces.

This time too, Ms. Mansoor swung into action when requested by the Indian authorities.

“I can’t explain the terrible time we have been through. We had initially given up hope of seeing Umed again. But it was at that time that we found strength and support from Tabassumji. The Indian Embassy in Tunis provided excellent diplomatic support, but Tabassum Madam handled the local negotiations to free our people,” said an emotional Firoz, brother-in-law of Umed, one of the seven Indians, in an online interview.

Local recognition helped

The local recognition helped the principal in the talks to ensure the safe release of the Indians. Ms. Mansoor declined to speak about her role when The Hindu reached out to her. But a source familiar with the developments said the negotiation with the militants was extremely risky as they are known to be unpredictable. As the negotiations reached their conclusion, Ms. Mansoor went personally to Brega with Libyan security officials where the captors handed over the Indians.

The Libyan support to the Indian-led initiative were lauded by the External Affairs Ministry which expressed “sincere thanks to the Libyan authorities and the tribal elders from the region”.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National / by Kallol Bhattarcherjee / New Delhi – October 14th, 2020