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Dr Tausif Malik: Entrepreneur, maverick, evangelist and artist

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Pune, MAHARASHTRA / Chicago,  U.S.A :

The new treasurer for Democrats Abroad India, Dr Tausif Malik is the founder of America’s largest community-based Spelling Bee competition (muslimspellingbee.com). The Indian-American social entrepreneur brings a tremendous amount of experience and knowledge to the job; he is the pioneer in creating branding through recruitment advertisement of IT clients in the mid-90s. Connected to India engaged with him to know about his journey from Pune to Chicago and back to Pune again. Here are the excerpts:

Dr Tausif Malik - treasurer for Democrats Abroad India.
Dr Tausif Malik – treasurer for Democrats Abroad India.

CtoI: Your LinkedIn profile says you are an entrepreneur, maverick, evangelist and an artist. How do you manage to be good at so many things?

Tausif Malik: According to me, all my personality attributes are interrelated; for example, one has to be a maverick to take the risk to be an entrepreneur, you need to be an artist to create an image about your work and evangelist to promote your work and business.

CtoI: What is your vision as the new Treasurer for Democrats Abroad India?

Tausif Malik: My vision as an elected board member for Democrats Abroad India (Democratic Party USA’s International chapter) is to create awareness amongst Americans living abroad that they can register and vote for city, state and federal elections through a vote by mail option. America is one of the few countries which offers this option to its citizens, so Americans living in any part of the world can participate in elections. Many Americans living abroad are not aware of these rights.

Currently, America is getting affected on a daily basis due to incompetent leadership. My hope is more Americans living abroad get registered and vote by mail and elect competent candidates.

CtoI: Please tell us in detail about your recent ventures; Muslim Spelling Bee, Muslim Science Bee, Muslim Math Bee, Muslim Geography Bee and Muslim History Bee.

Tausif Malik: The Muslim Spelling Bee was started in 2012 with the intention of being the first-ever spelling competition specifically meant for Muslim students. The competition is open to students of all ethnicities and religious denominations. The main impetus for creating the bee was to provide an opportunity for Muslim students between the ages of 8 and 14 to have such a contest.

All other major minority groups in the US have their own spelling bees, but Muslims did not, hence, I decided to go ahead and start one. It was during the month of Ramadan in 2011 that the idea for the spelling bee occurred to me. I started getting the word out with local friends and community leaders in the Chicago area, but soon found that I was being inundated with requests for more information from organisers around the country. This was surprising as I had only sent the information out to a few people in the local area. I really did not anticipate the kind of level and support this idea got from all over the US.

In 2012, the first iteration of the Muslim Spelling Bee was held, with 460 students participating from cities all over the nation. The bee currently takes place in 11 different cities, with some 55 community organisations coordinating their own regional competitions. These competitions are divided into four different groups, labelled A through D, and each one has several winners who rank from 1-3. Each of the groups is of a different age level: 0-7, 8-9, 10-11, and 12-14 years of age. The winners then advance to the championship round in Chicago.

Two contestants in 2013 were even Hindu students from India, a great sign of how widespread the reach and power of the spelling bee really is.

Dr Tausif Malik: Entrepreneur, maverick, evangelist and artist
Photo courtesy: Dr Tausif Malik

CtoI: You had your initial education from Pune, India and then you moved to Chicago, US, and now you are back to Pune. What brought you back to your roots? Please tell us about your journey and experiences.

Tausif Malik: I was born and raised in Pune (Maharashtra) and now I’m based out of Chicago. I did my schooling from Bishop’s School Pune, studied at Poona College (11th to M.Com) and Institute of Management Education, Pune (PGDBA). I did my Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) from Argosy University, Chicago.

I emigrated to Chicago in 2007 to fulfil the dream of my late father Ata-ur-Rehman Malik, who believed that I can have a great future in the US. I returned to India in 2015 to take care of my ailing mother, during that time I launched various startup festivals, including the All India Muslim Business Startup Network (AIMBSN.com), GCC Startup Fest (GCCStartupFest.com), India Startup Fest (IndiaStartupFest.com), GCCStartup.News (GCCStartup.News) and Schoolpreneur.biz, in an effort to empower individuals to achieve economic liberation and benefit from India’s government initiatives Make in India, Digital India, Skill India, Standup India and Startup India.

CtoI: In a sentence describe your life as an Indian-American.

Tausif Malik: It’s actually a great combo, being part of India, the largest democracy, and America, the oldest democracy. I love both countries because they gave me a great platform to excel personally and professionally. Life is exciting as I am living as an American expat in India and in US, I was living as an Indian expat.

CtoI: Do you think that the xenophobia which has engulfed America, which started during the elections and continues post the election of President Trump, will settle down? Or is this the new America?

Tausif Malik: I don’t know how far this will go and how it will impact in the long term. But it has truly rallied Americans under one banner, and everyone is standing shoulder to shoulder with their fellow Americans. After the Muslim ban, Americans stood with their fellow American-Muslims across US. I have never seen this happening anywhere in the world. This xenophobia, in fact, has pushed many American-Muslims to contest city, state and federal elections and they have got a lot of support from fellow Americans. I also contested for the same reason.

CtoI: You did your doctorate in Chicago. Please share your achievements and experience as an Indian-American.

Tausif Malik: I was the pioneer in creating branding through recruitment advertisement of IT clients in mid-90s. I had developed and executed branded recruitment advertisement campaigns for Infosys, Geometric Software Services, Scala Mindworks, ITB India, Veritas Software India and others. I had co-founded Crossover Software with India’s no #1 pop star Lucky Ali and later moved to Sultanate of Oman and established Oman’s first PR agency SIMPA PR and Press Club of Oman. I was invited to co-author a book Doing Business with Oman, which has been selling since 2002. I headed major advertising agency networks in the Middle East and India. I teach at major MBA and MassComm Institutes, and a speaker at major startup events and mentors startups.

My Achievements:
1.Nominated and shortlisted for prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor, USA 2016.
2. Past Nominated for Sheikh Muhammad Al Makhtoum ruler of Dubai, UAE promoted Prestigious Global Islamic Economy Award – Dubai Government in association with Thompson Reuters.
3. Panellist with The Guardian Newspaper UK.
4. Community Member on Illinois Muslim Council by Governor Pat Quinn.
5. External Review committee member University of Wisconsin School of Architecture.

CtoI: You are inclined towards start-ups. Can you share your ideas on marginal groups (Dalits and Muslims) still lagging behind?

Tausif Malik: Yes, startups help the youth and individuals through empowerment, as it provides employment and a source of income. But nowadays, the way they are established and operated is highIy unprofessional as many are there for the quick money. But consolidation will happen before long and they will change from boys to men.

As per the Indian census, Muslims constitute 13-15 % of the population and they best way to connect them to the mainstream is through the Prime Minister Narendra Modiji’s policies such as Make in India, Digital India, Skill India, Standup India and Startup India.

These programmes can help Muslims in India to earn income, create income and create economic growth. I have hosted two different events in 2016 and we have generated a large business amongst the attendees. Our next event, All India Muslim Business Startup Network (AIMBSN.com), will be hosted in July 2017 in Jaipur. We are also setting up incubators and innovation at minority institutions, so we can inform people about the startup ecosystem, Make in India, Digital India, Skill India, Standup India and Startup India and enrol more Muslim entrepreneurs.

Also, we will be hosting All India Muslim Business Startup Network (AIMBSN.com) at global locations where are sizeable Indian Muslims, such as London, Dubai, New York, Chicago, Singapore and Australia. As many Non-resident Indians (NRIs) Muslims want to establish businesses in India, invest in India and support Indian Startup Ecosystem. Hence, our All India Muslim Business Startup Network (AIMBSN.com) connects the Indian Muslims diaspora with entrepreneurship & Indian Startup Ecosystem.

source: http://www.connectedtoindia.com / Connected To India / Home> News> USA / by Garjma Kapil / April 20th, 2017

Hyderabad cricketer, Chicago pitch!

NRI's / PIO's, Sports, World Opinion, , , , , , , , , , ,

Hyderabad, TELANGANA  / Chicago, U.S.A :

A couple of days back, the ICC Americas has named an 18-member squad for the ICC World Cricket League Division Three, and, quite surprisingly, the list features the wicketkeeper-batsman from Hyderabad — Ibrahim Khaleel !

“It is just the first step. I am not absolutely sure whether I will make it to the final 14. It would be cleared once the ICC Americas approves my citizenship process,” says Ibrahim Khaleel. - SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
“It is just the first step. I am not absolutely sure whether I will make it to the final 14. It would be cleared once the ICC Americas approves my citizenship process,” says Ibrahim Khaleel. – SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

For the last four years, neither his friends in Hyderabad nor his team-mates, who played with him in the Ranji Trophy, knew anything about Ibrahim Khaleel’s whereabouts. All they knew was, he had shifted base to the U.S., to try something new.

But now, his friends and colleagues would be in for a surprise.

A couple of days back, the ICC Americas has named an 18-member squad for the ICC World Cricket League Division Three, and, quite surprisingly, the list features the wicketkeeper-batsman from Hyderabad — Ibrahim Khaleel!

On Monday evening as Khaleel spoke to Sportstar from Chicago, he sounded emotional. “It is just the first step. I am not absolutely sure whether I will make it to the final 14. It would be cleared once the ICC approves my citizenship process,” he said.

Khaleel sounded happy to be back in the groove. A couple of weeks ago, he was called for a trial in Houston. The selectors and the team’s chief coach Pubudu Dassanayake, took trials of all the players and shortlisted 18. “It was a rigorous training programme. It went on well, and I was quite confident of making the cut,” he said.

But then, Khaleel, who has played 57 first-class matches for Hyderabad, was a bit cautious. And that’s because of his citizenship.

Even though he shifted base to Chicago four years ago, he is yet to acquire a full-term U.S. citizenship. “My papers have been processed, and I am waiting for a final clearance. It should not be a problem, but then…” the 34-year-old paused.

It was only last month that the U.S. President, Donald Trump, had revised the policies, blocking immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries. But that isn’t bothering Khaleel, who moved to Chicago to be with his wife — a doctor by profession and a U.S. citizen. “I don’t have much idea about the recent immigration order. I had applied a long time back. Hopefully, things will go my way,” he said.

After moving to the U.S., Khaleel initially played for a local club in Chicago. “There was a friend from Hyderabad, who would play for the club. He only asked me to play there.”

That’s how, Khaleel started making his mark in the U.S. Last year, there was a Regional combined camp organised by the ICC Americas, where eight overseas players were asked to be present. And, from the group, Khaleel was chosen for the final trials. “When they called me, I was not too sure about the prospect. But I just wanted to be associated with cricket,” he said.

____________________________

‘I can only keep my fingers crossed. My cricketing days in India have taught me not to 

expect too much’

_____________________________

Coming from a family of cricketers (his father, M. A. Khaleel, played for Railways in the Ranji Trophy in the early 1980s), Khaleel started his career under the watchful eyes of Arshad Ayub. “It all started in Hyderabad. Slowly, I made it to the State team and left my mark in the domestic tournaments. But then, I had to take the tough call of leaving the country. The scopes were less there,” a rather dejected Khaleel said.

Even after moving to the U.S. in 2013, Khaleel continued playing for Hyderabad in the 2014-15 season. “But after that, it was not possible to hop between India and the U.S… I had to set my priorities right,” he said.

Was it just the priorities that made him move to the U.S., or was it something else?

Khaleel smiled and politely answered: “I have no regrets. I have thoroughly enjoyed my game.”

Not the best of choices

While Khaleel said he had no regrets in life, some of his former team-mates in Hyderabad indicated that the stumper had taken a couple of wrong decisions, which affected his career. In 2007, he left the Hyderabad Ranji Trophy side and joined the Hyderabad Heroes side in the Indian Cricket League (ICL). That affected his career.

Later, when the BCCI brought back the ICL players in the mainstream, Khaleel was bought by the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, he had to warm the benches. “I was looking for an opportunity, but that never came my way,” he said.

In 2011, Khaleel created a world record in wicket-keeping for any first-class game with a tally of 14 victims in a Ranji Trophy Plate Group B match against Assam.

But even after that his career never really took off, and that prompted him to move overseas. “I was not too happy with a few things in Hyderabad cricket. And then I decided to move out,” he said, adding: “I have lost touch with most of my team-mates.”

Reserved person

Ever since leaving Hyderabad, Khaleel seems to have gone incommunicado. While he doesn’t have a social media account, the cricketer did not even use WhatsApp till a year ago. “I am a reserved person, and don’t enjoy talking to too many people. I had to install WhatsApp only after my parents and my sister persuaded,” he said with a smile.

Perhaps, that’s why most of his old friends and team-mates can’t even reach him despite repeated attempts. “That’s how I am,” he laughed.

With the USA side set to begin its campaign at the World Cricket League on May 23, Khaleel hopes to be in the final team. “I can only keep my fingers crossed. My cricketing days in India have taught me not to expect too much,” a rather cautious Khaleel said.

After all, there is many a slip, between the cup and the lip!

source: http://www.sportstar.thehindu.com / Sportstar / Home> International / by Sharan Acharya / March 27th, 2017

NRIF felicitates Mrs. Zeenat Jafri, Abdulrahman Saleem for awards

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

Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA :

NRIF felicitates (Left) Mrs. Zeenat Jafri, (Right) Abdulrahman Saleem for awards
NRIF felicitates (Left)
Mrs. Zeenat Jafri, (Right) Abdulrahman Saleem for awards

Riyadh :

The NRI Forum (NRIF) Riyadh celebrated the 68th Republic Day of India with fanfare here. Patriotic songs and popular Bollywood numbers by eminent singers and the felicitation of Pravasi Bharatiya Sammam and Pravasi Excellence Award winners marked the celebration.

Mrs. Zeenat Jafri was felicitated by NRIF for her latest accomplishment of receiving the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award by Indian President Pranab Mukharjee in India. Terming her as the torch-bearer of knowledge and education in the Kingdom, Vice President NRI Forum Dr. Sayeed Mohiuddin said, “Selfless service and utmost dedication are the words that truly describe her.”

“At the time when expatriate community in the capital did not have any educational facility for children of Indian expatriates, Mrs. Jafri ventured into this field by making a small beginning. An educationist herself, she started a school for Indian children at her home. The school, which was established with the blessings and permission of Mrs. Indira Gandhi, groomed by Mrs. Jafri is now known as International Indian School Riyadh (IISR) and is one of the prominent Indian community schools in Saudi Arabia. She was the principal of the girls section of IISR from Aug 1982 to May 2014,” Mohiuddin said.

After receiving the memento of appreciation from eminent community leaders Mohammed Abdulrahman Saleem, Mohammed Quaiser and Syed Akram Mohiuddin, Mrs. Jafri thanked NRIF for the honor and Indian Embassy officials for recommending her name to the Indian government for the prestigious award. She highlighted the importance of education and stressed on the necessity for all to gain knowledge and education. She appreciated the activities of NRIF and assured her support in all possible ways.

Chief Guest Mohammed Abdulrahman Saleem, president Hindustani Bazm-e-Urdu Riyadh, was felicitated by NRIF for receiving the Pravasi Excellence Award by the Confederation of Telangana Associations (COTA) in Hyderabad. A memento of appreciation and floral garland was presented to him. COTA conferred on him this award in recognition of his continuous services spread over four decades.

He founded different professional and cultural organizations and worked for the promotion of Urdu language and literature. An ardent lover of Urdu language and literature, his passion is to keep Deccani Tahzeeb alive and see it flourish.

Saleem thanked the NRIF and highlighted his activities and accomplishments during his long stay in the Kingdom.

Guest of Honor, President Tanzeem Hum Hindustani Mohammed Quaiser congratulated Mrs. Zeenat Jafri and Abdulrahman Saleem for achieving eminent awards.

President NRIF Syed Akram Mohiuddin highlighted the activities of NRIF and said the forum is involved in various activities since its inception, including educational, sports, cultural, religious and other social activities. The memorable ghazal nite by Zulfiqar Ali Khan was a grand success and was very much applauded by the expatriates in the Kingdom.

Eminent Singers of “NRI Melody Makers” — Rahmat Ali Khan, Abdul Qadeer Ali Alvi, Syed Riyaz, Muneer Ahmed and Miss Shreeja Janardhan presented melodious songs to make the evening memorable.

A young student of Al Yara International School Aswin Siva Prasad addressed the gathering on the Republic Day of India and its importance.

General Secretary Nooruddin Jahangeer and Vice President Cultural Affairs Shakeel Mah handled the overall arrangements.

source:  http://www.saudigazette.com.sa / Saudi Gazette / Home / February 14th, 2017

Fazi and Friends: Muslim Woman biker from Kerala lives her Raid dream with help from pals

Sports, , , , ,

KERALA :

Fazeela Uppilathodi from Kerala is accompanied by Jose Sebastian and Vishnu in realizing her racing dream to take part in the Raid de Himalaya.

Fazeela (centre) had to sell her Tempo Traveller in order to arrange flight tickets for the Raid de Himalaya. - SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Fazeela (centre) had to sell her Tempo Traveller in order to arrange flight tickets for the Raid de Himalaya. – SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

A Muslim woman biker from Kerala, Fazeela Uppilathodi ,  passionate about competing at the Raid de Himalaya  – the highest motorsport event in the world. A Christian workshop owner at Cochin, Jose Sebastian. His Hindu mechanic-cum-partner, Vishnu V Vinyan. And a Tempo Traveller used extensively in the devastating Kerala flood in August for rescue, transportation and food distribution.

These four came together to make possible Fazeela’s Raid adventure this year. The Tempo Traveller was purchased by Fazeela, Jose and Vishnu in May 2018. The transport vehicle is part of the story because in a distress sale in September end, Fazeela and her pals sold it. They needed the money to finance her flight tickets, entry fee and other expenses at the Raid de Himalaya.

Raid de Himalaya will be organized from October 8 to October 14. It will begin from Leh. Fazeela, called Fazi by friends, is currently in Leh. The 28-year-old is training for competing at the Raid by riding long distance in high altitudes.

Fazeela has been in competitive motorsport racing for close to two years now. In this short period, she was second among women bikers at the Indian National Rally Championship (INRC), 2017.

This year, Fazeela has participated in five rounds of INRC. She is eagerly waiting for the last round of the championship, to be held in October end.

Fazeela’s Raid dream has been made possible by her friends Jose Sebastian and Vishnu. Sebastian is owner of Cog Racing, a workshop in Cochin. He recalls that in November 2016, Fazeela came to his workshop to get some work done on her motorbike.

“She was practicing stunts on her bike. She asked us how she could do good stunts. I told her I didn’t know stunts, but could train her for racing,” says Sebastian. His workshop prepares bikes for motorsport racing events.

With just four days of practice, Fazeela stood first in women’s category at a bike race held in Cochin in November 2016. Jose says Fazeela is not a biker with loads of practice in how to ride. “She has natural talent. She can focus completely on the track, and knows how to take risks. When she is at a race, she gives it her best,” says Jose.

Fazeela, Jose and Vishnu managed to go for all INRC rounds last year in trains and buses. This year, the trio purchased the Tempo Traveller so that going for motorsport races would be convenient.

During an INRC round last year, Fazeela had met Sarah Kashyap, the biker from Chandigarh. Kashyap has carved a niche for herself in the largely exclusive male world of competitive motorsport racing on bikes.

“Sarah urged me to come for Raid de Himalaya, and consistently gave me courage. But arranging money to come for the Raid was a huge problem,” she says.

In a stroke of good luck, TVS Racing offered Fazeela the use of their bike, TVS Apache RTR 200 for competing at Raid de Himalaya. For her travel and other expenses, Fazeela and her friends sold the Tempo Traveller.

The videos of the flood rescue work, taken by Jose’s friends in August, show the group going around in about two feet of water in a shiny white Tempo Traveller, with posters on its windows. ‘Kerala Flood Rescue Mission’.

Fazeela has been competing in the INRC rounds in a Hero Impulse given to her by Vishnu. “If TVS Racing had not offered Fazi the bike, we would have arranged a racing bike for her somehow,” says Jose.

Fazeela works as a fitness trainer, and is also skilled in yoga and meditation techniques. She has a five-year-old daughter, Isha Finha, who has staying with Fazeela’s foster parents at Calicut while Fazeela is at the Raid.

Raid de Himalaya is the flagship rally of the country’s premier motorsport club, Shimla-based Himalayan Motorsport. The Raid began in 1999, and will witness its 20th edition this year.

President Himalayan Motorsport Vijay Parmar said that over the last two decades, he has witnessed how competing at the Raid is a dream for motorsport enthusiasts.

“It torments their sleep for six months of the year. They go the last mile to try and put everything together. Some of these competitors have been out on the first day. It is amazing to see that whoever fails at the Raid is among the first batch of competitors to mark their entry the next year,” said Parmar.

The Raid will run from October 8 to October 14, on some of the highest roads of Ladakh, Kargil and Zanskar sectors.

source: http://www.sportstar.thehindu.com / Sportstar / Home> Motorsport / by Vijay Lokpally / Shimla – October 05th, 2018

‘Diversity in Portrait’ a delight for art connoisseurs

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, NRI's / PIO's, , , , , ,

Kurnool, ANDHRA PRADESH  / Sharjah, U.A.E :

Artwork by Indian artist Afshan Quraishi displayed in Dubai. Photographer: Kamal Kassim/ Gulf Today
Artwork by Indian artist Afshan Quraishi displayed in Dubai. Photographer: Kamal Kassim/ Gulf Today

Dubai :

While walking at the Z Lounge of Four Points by Sheraton, Dubai, visitors gravitate towards the art works gracing the walls of the lounge. Each and every artwork mesmerises you and makes your stay pleasant. As you watch, adore, and pass by these paintings and artworks, curiosity to know more about the artist grows very strong and you get a desire to meet the mind behind these wonderful works to appreciate the artist and her artworks.

But you will be really surprised and amazed to know that these artworks are created by an Indian artist, Afshan Quraishi, whose journey is also very appealing and inspiring. She started her professional journey only after her kids grew up and settled in their lives.

Afshan can be considered a born artist. Without having any formal education in the subject, she does magic with her hands. When did she realise that she has an art in her?

She said, “It was my dad who noticed that I was a good artist. I was doing one of my science projects during my college days and he looked at my finished work and appreciated that. That time only my dad decided to get a coach for the art.

“My father, who himself comes from a royal family of Kurnool, Hyderabad, India, was very much into the art himself.”

Afshan Quraishi with one of her artworks
Afshan Quraishi with one of her artworks

My father introduced me to a very famous artist, Azeez Azmi Saheb, who was my mentor for fine arts. Azeez Azmi was the founder of The Fine Arts Society in Kurnool, my hometown, she added.

Afshan feels privileged to be mentored by him. She said, “He was a harsh critic and encouraged us to be self-critical of our work. He was a master in portraits in oil.”

Recalling her master’s words, she said, “He would always tell, ‘Everyone can paint but you need a lot of patience and don’t expect instant gratification. Be your own judge and critic’.”

He would come every day to her house to coach her sister and her until she graduated and married.

A postgraduate in science, Afshan’s training under the able master ended soon after her marriage.

Soon after her marriage she landed in the UAE leaving her passion for the arts behind to begin a new journey of life.

Sharing her experience of arriving in the UAE in the early 80s, she said, “I have been here for four decades and kept on travelling back and forth to India.”

Meanwhile, Afshan dedicated herself completely to her family. She got busy into making her house a beautiful place. She considered her house a canvas where she wanted to see her son and daughter’s dream painted and fulfilled. And she succeeded in doing so.

Afshan can be considered a born artist
Afshan can be considered a born artist

She was so occupied with her two kids that she did not even look back at the brush and paints which she had left long ago.

When did she embrace the canvas and brush to paint a beautiful journey of an artist which was unattended in pursuit of looking after her family?

She said, “My kids went abroad to study leaving me alone. So it was a very lonely time for me. It looked like my children grew up very fast. So I started sketching my children in order to get connected with them. Then I started oil portraits and acrylic and that was the beginning of my new innings.”

Sharing her experience of starting her journey of rediscovering she said. “I met a beautiful lady in Dubai who was organising group shows at an Italian café. She saw my artworks and encouraged me take part in a group show. Though I was not confident but to my surprise two of my paintings got sold the same evening and that was a big inspiration for me.”

I participated in World Art Dubai with the same group three years ago and I moved ahead, she said.

Talking about her solo show “Diversity in Portraits by Afshan Quraishi,” at Z Lounge at Four Points by Sheraton, Dubai, she said, “This is my second solo exhibition which started on March 17 and will continue till May 31. I want to thank Anu Van Der Sande and Nakul Ankolikar for their wonderful opportunity they have provided me.”

Frida Kahlo and Rembrandt are her all-time favourite artists. “I copied a lot of Rembrandt’s work while I was learning the ropes of art.”

When asked to look at her journey, she said, “People around me love my work. They always say you have talents, so keep doing the work and never give up.”

A resident of Sharjah herself, while praising the art scene in Sharjah, she said, “Sharjah has lots of beautiful places, like Sharjah Art Foundation and Maraya Art Centre. Both the destinations are fantastic for artists. It is a great place for emerging artists like me.”

Sharing her daily routine, she said, “I have a discipline. I spend 2-3 hours every day in my studio. I do something every day. I make sure I dedicate some time for art.”

Calling herself a passionate traveller, she said, “I have travelled all over the world. Travelling is something like an art which gives your mind an opportunity to think more.”

Praising the artworks, Anu Van Der Sande, Public Relations and Marketing Manager of the hotel said, “These are great pieces of work. People who come here always appreciate these paintings. Lots of people ask about these artworks.”

source: http://www.gulftoday.ae / Gulf Today / Home> Culture / by Raghib Hassan, Staff Reporter / April 03rd, 2019

Tenpin Bowling: Akaash and Sabeena crowned national champions in Bengaluru

Sports, , ,

TAMIL NADU :

SabeenaMPOs30jun2019

HIGHLIGHTS

Akaash Ashok Kumar finished at the top position after 32 games, followed by Dhruv Sarda, Prathyek Satya and Kishan in second, third and fourth positions respectively and qualified for the stepladder round at the National Tenpin Bowling Championships in Bengaluru..

Bengaluru:

Akaash Ashok Kumar of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu’s Sabeena Athica won the titles at the Uniply 29th National Tenpin Bowling Championships, which concluded at Amoeba, Church Street, in Bengaluru on Saturday evening (February 9).

In the men’s category, Akaash won his maiden national title defeating the second seed Dhruv Sarda of Delhi (413 – 372) by 41 pins. In the women’s section, the top seed Sabeena won her 10th national title defeating Sumathi Nallabantu of Telangana (378 –266) by 112 pins.

Earlier in the day, in the stepladder round, played based on cumulative pinfall of two games, in Match 1 of the men’s category, third placed Prathyek Satya (Karnataka) lost to the fourth placed Kishan R (Karnataka) (426 – 377) by 49 pins.

In Match 2, Dhurv Sarda (Delhi) beat Kishan (438 – 406) by 32 pins. Dhruv was leading by a narrow margin of six pins (210 – 204) at the end of Game 1 and he scored to 228 in game 2 as against 202 of Kishan to gain a lead of 36 pins and moved into the final.

In Match 1 of the stepladder round of the women’s category, the second placed Sumathi comfortably beat defending champion Anukriti Bishnoi of Haryana (355 – 317) by 38 pins to enter the title round against Sabeena.

Akaash (6608 pinfall and 206.50 average) finished at the top position after 32 games, followed by Dhruv (6554 pinfall and 204.81 average), Prathyek Satya of Karnataka (6547 pinfall and 204.59 average) and Kishan (6479 pinfall and 202.47 average) in second, third and fourth positions respectively and qualified for the stepladder round.

Defending champion Shabbir Dhankot (Tamil Nadu) missed the cut by four pins and finished in fifth position.

Sabeena finished at the top spot (3842 pins at 192.10 average) after 20 games after Round 2, followed by Sumathi (3503 pinfall and 175.15 average) and Anukriti (3442 pinfall and 172.10 average) at second and third spots respectively.

The highlight of the day was two perfect games (300) on the same day by Kishan and Dhruv. Kishan is the first bowler to score perfect game in the history of this Championships and he was then followed by Dhruv.

source: http://www.newsable.asianet.com / AsiaNet Newsable / Home> English News> Sports / by Team Newsable / February 10th, 2019

Indian artist Haafiza Sayed’s ‘Towards Abstraction’ is a visual treat for art lovers

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, NRI's / PIO's, , ,

Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA / Dubai, U.A.E.  :

Haafiza Sayed poses next to her artwork in Dubai. Photographer: Kamal Kassim/ Gulf Today
Haafiza Sayed poses next to her artwork in Dubai. Photographer: Kamal Kassim/ Gulf Today

While walking through the Studio Seven Art Gallery, you are forced to pause, click, and appreciate the artworks, which explains a glorious journey of an Indian artist, Haafiza Sayed, who has the distinction of having studied at the JJ School of Art, Mumbai, India. The JJ School of Art, Mumbai, India is one of the finest institutions in the country and is widely respected for its illustrious alumni. World-renowned painters like M F Husain and Jatin Das, Bollywood actors Amol Palekar, Nana Patekar and many more luminaries have been associated with it. If you look at the works of Haafiza, you will instantly understand that she too carries the signature of that institution.

Born and raised in Mumbai, India, she belongs to an illustrious family of writers and artists. She is also a trained interior designer and has worked extensively in this field in the early days of her career. Having a passion for art since childhood, she started painting professionally only a decade ago, after arriving in Dubai. Talking about that she said, “Had I not come to Dubai, I would not have taken up my painting. I got into serious painting only after coming to Dubai. Earlier I only had one exhibition, while I was in another country. This exhibition is the my journey in Dubai and of my art.”

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“Dubai has opportunities for all levels of artists. You get to participate in group shows and exhibitions. You also get lots of encouragement.     Haafiza Sayed

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Dubai is considered a paradise for artists and art lovers. Praising the Dubai art scene, she said, “Dubai gave me opportunities. I participated in lots of group works and exhibitions. Once I also worked with the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation and that was a very long exhibition. It was a year-long exhibition and was well received by the people here.”

She added, “Dubai has opportunities for all levels of artists. You get to participate in group shows and exhibitions. You also get lots of encouragement.”

So armed with full-on encouragement, she decided to go ahead with her childhood passion.

Haafiza’s solo art exhibition, “Towards Abstraction,” at Studio Seven, Business Bay, Dubai, opened on April 10 and will continue till April 24. The exhibition reveals close to 30 paintings that represent the journey of an artist in different phases. She received lots of appreciation on the very first day of the exhibition.

While sharing her journey, she said, “I took up art very late in my life. I was pursuing an interior designing job because that was my family business. My father was also an artist but he had stopped painting and started the business of interior designing. So I did the same for a very long time until I landed in Dubai.

“Despite being away from serious painting for a very long period of time, the art in me and training which I had from JJ School of Art stayed with me like a shadow and never went away from me, though I would paint and sketch at home in my free time.”

Haafiza Sayed's artwork is on display at a gallery in Dubai
Haafiza Sayed’s artwork is on display at a gallery in Dubai

A well respected artist, she is a very familiar face in the UAE art circuit. Recalling her childhood, she said, “As a child, I was born into the family of an artist. I picked up the brush at the age of 3 or 4. My dad was there to guide me. I received education at home as well as in the university.”

Haafiza comes from a family of artists and laureates. Talking about that, she said, “My father was a writer himself. All my aunts from my father’s side were writers. So, art and culture, literature, were in the family.”

When asked how she sees herself as an artist, she said, “I was actually a surrealist, that was my style from the beginning. JJ School of Art teaches you to follow realism. You get realistic elements inculcated during your stay at the college. But gradually along the way I moved away from realism to landscape art. Though you can still find reality in my works, I am also enjoying landscape art.

“I travel a lot. I love to travel. I love capturing the landscape. I can sit at a place and observe for hours and hours and this helps me in drawing landscape art,” she added.

Praising her learning at the JJ School of Art, she said, “I am fortunate enough to be there. I am quite proud of it. What I have learnt over there remained with me, and that was the trademark of teaching.”

A humble Haafiza is enjoying her journey and success in Dubai. And she also believes that being a mother and a wife can’t be a hindrance if you wish to pursue your passion. A great artist, Haafiza loves poetry as well, if you go through her artwork, you will also find lovely couplets gracing the painting.

source: http://www.gulftoday.ae / Gulf Today / Home> Culture / by Raghib Hassan, Staff Reporter / April 12th, 2019

SM Afzal honored with gallantry Medal by President, MSO Express Hapiness

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UTTAR PRADESH :

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New Delhi.

Aligarh Muslim University alumnus and former registrar Syed Muhammad Afzal was honored with the Presidential Police Medal in New Delhi on Republic Day today. These awards were given for their 25 years of devotion and honest service.

At present, Syed Muhammad Afzal is serving as the post of Additional Director General of Police in Bhopal Madhya Pradesh (EOW). Earlier, Syed Muhammad Afzal has been awarded various awards and medals for his services. Syed Afzal has been a student of AMU and a secretary of the University Literary Club.

Dr. Ahmed Mujtaba Siddiqui, Joint Secretary, Albarkat Education Society said that he has been the registrar of Jamia Milia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University.

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MSO National President Shujaat Ali Quadri, also expressing his happiness on giving award to SM Afzal. He has congratulated the SM Afzal and Albarkat family on behalf of the MSO.

source: http://www.timesheadline.com / Times Headline / Home> India> New Delhi> Society / January 26th, 2019

Explained: Who are Tadvi Bhil Muslims?

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

MAHARASHTRA  :

Tadvi Bhil, a tribal community listed under Scheduled Tribes, is found in small pockets of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Payal Tadvi, the medical student who committed suicide in Mumbai belonged to this community.

Explained: Who are Tadvi Bhil Muslims?
Dr Payal Tadvi committed suicide on May 22

Twenty-six-year-old medical student Dr Payal Tadvi committed suicide on May 22 over alleged harassment by three seniors in Mumbai. The gynaecology PG student belonged to the Tadvi Bhil Muslim community and got admission through a reserved category seat in TN Topiwala National Medical College in 2018. A year later, she was found hanging in her hostel room . The community, to which she belonged, is concentrated in four states of India.

Who are Tadvi Bhil Muslims?

Tadvi Bhil, a tribal community listed under Scheduled Tribes, is found in small pockets of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. They are a sub-caste of the larger Bhil community. Those who adopted Islam are known as Tadvi Bhil Muslims.

The Tadvi Bhil Muslims are syncretic and unrigid in their practice of Islam. They also retain many aspects of Hindu culture. “You will find them wearing a sari, or they will fold and join their hands in front of an idol. They offer namaz but their lifestyle remains traditionally and culturally Hindu,” Shekhar Madhukar Sunarkar, a Gandhian social worker said.

According to Sameer Tadvi, a Jalgaon local, there are an estimated 62,000 Tadvi Bhil Muslims in Jalgaon itself – the largest in Maharashtra. Some experts say it is possible the community is over a lakh in Jalgaon in three blocks — Raver, Yawal, and Chopda.

What is the history of Tadvi Bhil Muslims?

Razia Patel, retired head of the minority cell at the centre for educational studies, Indian Institute of Education, Pune, says the Bhil Muslims were a nomadic tribe living in mountains and hills. “Due to the Forest Act, several were displaced. They slowly spread out from North of Maharashtra and took up farm jobs,” Patel said. In Maharashtra, they are spread over Nandurbar, Dhule and Jalgaon.

Shekhar Madhukar Sunarkar said several Tadvi Bhil converted to Islam when Aurangazeb toured Burhanpur, an important Mughal outpost (in modern day Madhya Pradesh).

What is the level of education among Tadvi Bhil Muslims?

Very few in the community are educated. Literacy rates remain low. Experts say they are among the last to gain benefits of government schemes and reservation quotas.

Payal’s family claims that she was the first woman in their community to become a gynaecologist. The community has poor health outreach and Payal wanted to open a hospital in Jalgaon along with her husband. About 30 years ago, Sunarkar says, the community saw another woman who studied to get an MBBS degree. But Payal was the first to pursue a Doctorate in Medicine.

source: http:/www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Explained / by Tabassum Barnagarwala, Mumbai / May 29th, 2019

Modern Muslim Women Are Born With Wings: Daisy Khan

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, NRI's / PIO's, World Opinion, , , , , , ,

JAMMU & KASHMIR / U.S.A :

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Daisy Khan was just 3 when she put on a pair of red boxing gloves and walked to the front yard of her family home in Kashmir. She had been bullied by a bigger child the day before and her father wanted to teach her how to throw a punch in order to stand up for herself. In those gloves, young Daisy saw the need to not physically fight a bully but to become someone else, someone who fights for what she believes in. And ever since that day in the yard, Daisy has never set down her boxing gloves.

As Founder and Executive Director at the Women’s Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality (WISE) – a women-led organisation committed to peacebuilding, equality and justice for Muslims around the globe – she continues to don her gloves and shows up to the world’s arena every single day.

SheThePeople.TV converses with Daisy Khan, author and reformer, about life as an advocate for Muslim women’s rights, as recounted in her memoir Born With Wings: The Spiritual Journey of a Modern Muslim Woman.

“It is a moral imperative for people of all faiths to speak out against injustices committed in the name of their religion, because ‘a crime committed in the name of religion is a crime against religion.”

Daisy Khan founded WISE in 2005 to address the propagation of gender inequality in the name of Islam. “Every religion has seen the oppression as well as the emancipation of women. It is a moral imperative for people of all faiths to speak out against injustices committed in the name of their religion, because ‘a crime committed in the name of religion is a crime against religion.’ ” asserts Khan. Among its many successful programmes and actions, WISE partnered with an Afghani WISE woman to conduct the Imam Training Programme to End Violence Against Women (ITP) in 2010 in Afghanistan.

Communities in Afghanistan deeply trust and respect Imams – even the Taliban. With the aim to clarify distorted patriarchal misinterpretations of the Quran, WISE spread the message about girls’ education through 50 of the most respected Imams in Jalalabad and Kabul. Wary at first, the Imams soon embraced the programme as it spoke of women’s rights within an Islamic framework with no ulterior agenda. Daisy emphasises this role of Muslim men who can wield power openly or behind the scenes – whether they reside in conservative, traditional or secular societies – to restore the God-given rights of women. This is reflected in Prophet Muhammed, who honoured his wife Khadijah, gave property rights to women, abolished the pre-Islamic practice of female infanticide, scrupulously helped with chores, respected his daughters and sought his wife’s advice on community affairs. The Prophet, in his last sermon, even emphasised this point by saying “treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers.”

Daisy Khan believes that “an essential part of women’s struggle is the demand that their voices be at the forefront of the debates about their roles, responsibilities and status.”

Daisy Khan believes that “an essential part of women’s struggle is the demand that their voices be at the forefront of the debates about their roles, responsibilities and status.” The author and reformer maintains that women advocates who recognise and appreciate the importance of religion in the day to day lives of Muslim women , and who speak with a humane voice – the Islamic voice – are effectively challenging the religious legitimacy of people who use Islam to disadvantage women and girls. “Muslim women activists who tend to avoid Islam altogether suffer from an absence of religious legitimacy which in turn fails to speak to most Muslims,” explains Khan.

Image Credit: Penguin Random House India
Image Credit: Penguin Random House India

WISE established the first Global Muslim Women’s Shura Council to examine issues that Muslim women of all sects were facing worldwide. Its 30 members included women from different nationalities with divergent views and comprised of scholars who were well versed in Islamic law, as well as activists with comprehensive knowledge of contemporary issues faced by Muslim women. The Council has mitigated any criticism because its position papers on FGM, child marriage, domestic violence, adoption and women’s leadership are thoroughly researched, evidence-based and grounded in scripture. The Council discussed how, wherever obstructions have been encountered by women, it has not been by Islam the faith, but by local traditions and customs and interpretations mandated by men in the name of faith. With the support of this council, women would no longer have to rely on the interpretation of male scholars with outdated attitudes toward women.

One woman challenged Daisy Khan. She asked the author – who gave you the authority to create a Muslim women’s shura council? Daisy’s answer was to point to the sky.

However, everyone did not agree. One woman challenged Daisy Khan. She asked the author – who gave you the authority to create a Muslim women’s shura council? Daisy’s answer was to point to the sky. She cited the Quran 42:38–39: “Those who respond to their Lord, and establish regular prayer, whose affairs are conducted by mutual consultation [shura] among themselves, and from what we have provided them, they spend, and who, whenever tyranny afflicts them, defend themselves.”

Khan also shared that there were shura councils dominated by men all over the world and that there were no barriers to women creating one for themselves. It took a number of years to create an effective working structure for the shura council. “I attribute the success of the Council to one key factor – by bringing a religious dimension to Muslim women’s advocacy, we were able to prove that Muslim women’s rights are embedded in Islam,” states Daisy.

Daisy Khan believes that it is important to engage in serious dialogue with people of other faiths, distinctly when religious and ethnic differences become powerful tools that tear the social fabric of society

Daisy Khan believes that it is important to engage in serious dialogue with people of other faiths, distinctly when religious and ethnic differences become powerful tools that tear the social fabric of society. Prior to setting up WISE, Khan co-founded the American Society for Muslim Advancement (now the Cordoba House), with her husband Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, where she led interfaith collaborative events such as the theatre productions Same Difference and the Cordoba Bread Fest Banquet which saw Christians, Jews and Muslims come together on stage. “If we look at things with human eyes, we see a multitude of perspectives; but with sincere interfaith dialogue, we can step into a space where we see one another as God’s creatures, bound by one compact, by one set of ethical and moral values. In that space, we see with God’s eyes, we see with no astigmatism,” expresses Khan.

The author observes that a vast majority of Muslims reject violence as they continually struggle to divorce themselves from extremism. American Muslims are peaceful and patriotic members of their communities who proactively condemn terrorism – yet, one terrorist attack is used to condemn an entire faith community. “The branding of all Muslims as a national security threat may be popular today, but in reality, it is offensive and counter-productive; it burns bridges, brings in a rhetoric of ignorance on the world stage and allows extremists on both sides to divide us by playing on our worst fears. Now, more than ever, is the time for unity – unity of purpose and unity of achievement. This is a practical unity – one that we can use to build a better future,” emphasises Daisy Khan.

Feature Image Credit: Penguin Random House India

Born With Wings: The Spiritual Journey of a Modern Muslim Woman, by Daisy Khan, has been published in Viking by Penguin Random House India. It is priced at Rs. 599, and is available online and in bookstores.

source: http://www.shethepeople.com / She The People / Home / by Jessica Xalxo / June 19th, 2019