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Amit, Nikhat strike gold at Strandja Memorial Boxing

Sports, World Opinion, , , , , , , ,

Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

Nikhat Zareen and Meena Kumari Devi became the first set of Indian women boxers to notch up gold medals at the Strandja Memorial Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Nikhat Zareen claimed a 5-0 win in the 51kg category finals against Filipino Irish Magno. - PHOTO: JSW SPORTS
Nikhat Zareen claimed a 5-0 win in the 51kg category finals against Filipino Irish Magno. – PHOTO: JSW SPORTS

Asian Games gold-medallist Amit Panghal (49kg) on Tuesday claimed a second successive gold at the Strandja Memorial Tournament, in which India’s women boxers also scripted history with a couple of maiden top finishes in Sofia, Bulgaria.

The Armyman from Haryana pulled off a dominating 5-0 triumph over Kazakhstan’s Temirtas Zhussupov, who was left with a bleeding forehead at the end of the final bout.

Former junior world champion Nikhat Zareen and Meena Kumari  Devi  became the first set of Indian women boxers to notch up gold medals at the prestigious tournament, which is into its 70th edition.

In all, India signed off with three gold, a silver, and three bronze medals in this edition of the event, which marks the beginning of the European boxing calendar.

Zareen, a multiple-time national medallist, claimed a 5-0 win in the 51kg category finals against Filipino Irish Magno, while Devi got the better of Aira Villegas 3-2, also from the Philippines, in the bantamweight (54kg) summit clash.

The previous best by an Indian woman boxer at the event was the silver won by the legendary M.C. Mary Kom last year.

“I dedicate this medal to the martyrs of the Pulwama terror attack. It was a very sad day for us as a country,” Zareen told PTI over the phone from Sofia referring to last week’s terror attack that killed 40 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir.

However, Manju Rani (48kg) settled for a silver after going down to another Filipino in Josie Gabuco in a split 2-3 verdict.

In a commanding performance, Zareen out-maneuvered Magno with a rock solid defence. Although the bout seemed closer than the final score-line, Zareen pulled it off by denying her rival a clear shot.

“My entire thought process in the bout was to never give up. My opponent had beaten Pinki Jangra in the first round and I just wanted to prove that I could get the better of her,” Zareen said.

“This win is also my response to all those who doubt my ability. I am just emotionally overwhelmed right now,” added the 22-year-old, who was denied a trial before the Asian Games last year despite being fit.

Devi, who won a bronze medal in the previous edition of the prestigious tournament, bettered her podium performance with a gritty show against Villegas.

The Indian battled hard against her aggressive opponent and did well on the counter-attack to edge past the Filipino for a top finish.

On Monday, Pwilao Basumatari (64kg), Neeraj (60kg) and Lovlina Borgohain (69kg) had settled for bronze medals after losing their semi-final bouts.

“The key to this success has been stress management. It has been a conscious decision to keep the pressure off them and constantly remind them of their strengths,” said India’s chief coach for women, Mohammed Ali Qamar, who took over the top position only last month.

The country had won 11 medals at the 2018 edition, two of them gold, which was also the country’s best ever performance.

source: http://www.sportstar.thehindu.com / SportsStar / Home> Boxing / by PTI / New Delhi – February 19th, 2019

When Nizam came to rescue of Rabindranath Tagore

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Leaders, World Opinion,

HYDERABAD :

The correspondences between Tagore and Nizam date back 1927 when Tagore first wrote to the Nizam saying that he was sending his representative Kalimohan Ghose, to interview.

Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. (File photo|EPS)
Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. (File photo|EPS)

Hyderabad :

Nizam VII Osman Ali Khan Bahadur, who became the Rajpramukh on January 26, 68 years ago, was known not just for his riches but also for his philanthropy in the fields of education, science and development. What is less known is his contribution to the establishment of Rabindranath Tagore’s Shantinektan in West Bengal. Khan’s administration for  several years funded the construction of hostels, library and the setting up of Urdu department in Shantiniketan.

The correspondences between Tagore and Nizam date back 1927 when Tagore first wrote to the Nizam saying that he was sending his representative Kalimohan Ghose, to interview.

A few months later in July, Tagore wrote another letter to the him, asking for a donation to collection of books and manuscripts at Visva Bharati University, which is a public central university located in Shantiniketan.

In the letter, Tagore, said that the ‘wonderful collection of books and manuscripts that belong to Visva Bharati awaits a suitable and permanent home”. He referred to the Nizam as a ‘patron of learning’ and requested him to come to Tagore’s ‘rescue’ by donating Rs 75,000 for the library building.

Fast forward to 1933. A more desperate and worn-out Tagore wrote to the Nizam again. He described how he was facing ‘large deficits’ and how his resources were completely exhausted. He proceeded to ask for a `1 lakh-donation for establishing a hostel in Shantiniketan. Both the requests of donations were accepted.
It was six years after Tagore’s death in 1941 that Visva Bharati officials again wrote to the Nizam asking for a donation. Anil Kumar Chanda, the then principal requested Rs 85,000 for  setting up a Urdu Department. Sarojini Naidu was the Chancellor of the university at that time. It is unclear whether the donation was granted or not.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express  / Home> States> Telangana / by Aihik Sur / Express New Service / February 18th, 2019

A cop croons for patients

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, , , , ,

Kochi, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM :

Healing through songs: Sali Basheer, an assistant sub inspector with the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (Central Range), Ernakulam, singing at the General Hospital on Wednesday, as part of a Kochi Biennale Foundation programme . | Photo Credit: s anandan
Healing through songs: Sali Basheer, an assistant sub inspector with the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (Central Range), Ernakulam, singing at the General Hospital on Wednesday, as part of a Kochi Biennale Foundation programme . | Photo Credit: s anandan

‘Arts and medicine’ event held at General Hospital

An aged patient, with a tube attached to his nose, was among the several patients in rapt attention as the weekly ‘arts and medicine’ programme of the Kochi Biennale Foundation and the Mehboob Memorial Orchestra was under way at the Government General Hospital here on Wednesday. The singer on stage was Sali Basheer, an assistant sub inspector with the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (Central Range) in Ernakulam. Mr. Basheer is an active participant in events related to palliative care.

He opened the musical session with Kuri varachalum kurishu varachalum…, a secular devotional piece, and went on to sing several evergreen Malayalam and Hindi songs solo and together with philanthropist-engineer Mony T.K., who sings in the street to mobilise funds for charity; law student Sahala Shamsu, and her father Shamsudheen Sahib, a social worker.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by Special Correspondent / Kochi – February 14th, 2019

Good old radios

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Videos, , ,

Coimbatore, TAMIL NADU :

Abuthahir M A with his collection of vintage radios | Photo Credit: M.Periasamy
Abuthahir M A with his collection of vintage radios | Photo Credit: M.Periasamy

Abuthahir MA wants to share his love for vintage radios with the public and dreams of having them displayed in a museum

“Vintage products are all about the history that they have. I am glad that I can preserve some of it through my collection,” says Abuthahir M.A. He has recently exhibited his radios in the city as a part of the World Radio Day. The event was in association with The Rotary Club of  Coimbatore,  Cotton City. There were 100 or so familiar radio brands such as Murphy, Radiolla, Regentone, Zenith, Tata and Philips that he had collected in the last 28 years.

“Radios always fascinated me. As a child, I listened to movie songs on my neighbour’s radio.  My first job was in a radio servicing centre in Coimbatore. It was there that I learnt about its different parts and how it works.” He bought his first radio for ₹35 from a scrap dealer in 1990 . “It is a Jennith Ham Radio from the 1924-1936 period. It has a wooden body and vacuum tubes inside. The parts are made in America and England and it is the oldest in my collection.”

Scenes from the exhibition | Photo Credit: S.SIVA SARAVANAN
Scenes from the exhibition | Photo Credit: S.SIVA SARAVANAN

The 42-year- old has collected the radios from Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and West Bengal. “Earlier I used to ask the older people about the history of these radios. Now the information is easily available from the internet.” His most expensive acquisition is a Gerard’s Philips Radio (1956 model). “It weighs 70 kg and was for sale at a house in Namakkal in 1999. Just as I reached there, I found another man carrying it away in an auto! I was sad but my search for a similar radio continued and, nearly a year later, I found one at Thoothukudi. I bought it for ₹16000,” recalls Abuthahir.

His collection has radios from the 1930s to the 1990s. “I own 160 radios of which 50 work. I have rented a house to keep them. The radios are treated with pesticides once in a month and I make sure they are kept away from moisture.”

He also has a collection of coins, stamps and clocks, watches and wooden dolls. He has conducted 53 exhibitions of his collections in Tamil Nadu and in Puducherry. “I hope to conduct more such shows and spread awareness. My biggest dream is to build a public museum with my collection on display in Coimbatore.”

source: http://www.youtube.com

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Life & Style / by Susan Joe Philip / February 14th, 2019

News museum draws crowds

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, , , , , ,

KERALA :

Students taking a look at the radios, phones and other mass communication tools on display at Government Higher Secondary School, Peruvalloor, on Wednesday
Students taking a look at the radios, phones and other mass communication tools on display at Government Higher Secondary School, Peruvalloor, on Wednesday

Malappuram  :

Like many organisations across the globe, a village school in the district too celebrated World Radio Day on Wednesday, but with a difference.

An exhibition titled Newseum made the celebration unique by having a solid array of mass media related objectives, particularly radios, on display at Government Higher Secondary School, Peruvalloor.

Personal collection

What made the exhibition special was that it was a personal collection of a newspaper journalist: A.P. Noushad from Kannamangalam near Vengara. People who visited the Newseum stood in awe in front of the 50-odd radios, 300-odd cameras, 400-odd mobile phones, 1,000-odd newspapers, 10,000-odd magazines, and a wide variety of television sets, tape recorders, stamps, coins, books and antiques.

When the United Nations encouraged the World Radio Day of 2019 by recognising the power of the radio to promote dialogue, tolerance and peace, Mr. Noushad came forward to do his first mega exhibition of the radios and other articles he has passionately collected over the last two decades.

Curious students

For the curious students, there was a lot to learn from the large valve radios of yesteryear that required a licence to play. “A licence?” asked a curious student.

“Yes, a licence was needed to possess a radio transistor in the initial days,” explained a teacher to the students. Mr. Noushad had a penchant for mass communication and its tools even when he was at school.

“First I started collecting pictures of sports personalities, then stamps and coins, then newspapers, magazines, cameras, radios, mobile phones, typewriters, and so on. It was all for curiosity sake,” said Mr. Noushad. Mr. Noushad’s collection has treasures from imaging history.

So are the mobiles phones from the initial years of mobile telephony.

A journalist with the Madhyamam newspaper at Perinthalmanna, Mr. Noushad was overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response at the exhibition. Many were surprised by the portmanteau word Newseum.

“I chose the word on realising that I had procured enough for a school level news museum,” said Mr. Noushad.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Kerala / by Staff Reporter & Abdul Latheef Naha / Malappuram – February 13th, 2019

Remembering Warriors: Jammu jawan lost his life a day after 46th birthday

Community Involvement / Social Issues, , , , ,

Dodasan Bala Village (Rajouri District)  JAMMU – JAMMU & KASHMIR :

Naseer Ahmed
Naseer Ahmed

Naseer Ahmed, 47, Jammu and Kashmir

Cries and sobs rent the air when the family received the news about the death of Naseer Ahmed of Dodasan Bala village of Thanamandi in Rajouri district of Jammu division.

Naseer was one among the 42 CRPF soldiers who were killed when a Kashmiri suicide bomber rammed his SUV into the CRPF convoy at Lethpora on Thursday.

Born on February 13, 1973, Naseer attained martyrdom a day after his 46th birthday. Hailing from remote Dodasan Bala village, he had joined the CRPF in June 1997. Coming from a family of belt forces, his brother is also in a police department.

An orphan, he was raised by his elder brother Salah-ud-din before he joined the CRPF as constable. Dedicated towards his job, he rose to the rank of the head constable in the CRPF. “My father had died when he was born. I raised him like my child. I was in Jammu and I reached home during night,” said Salah-ud-din as cries rent the air.

Ahmed is survived by his wife and minor son and a daughter.

Locals remember Naseer as affable who always helped people in the locality. “He had no enmity with anyone,” said his uncle.

Pained by the killings, CRPF said they will not forget and forgive this incident. “We will not forget, we will not forgive. We salute our martyrs of Pulwama attack and stand with the families of our martyr brothers. This heinous attack will be avenged”, tweeted CRPF.

source: http://www.dnaindia.com / DNA / Home> India / by Ishfaq-Ul-Hassan / February 16th, 2019

Surayya Abrar new head of Kodagu Women’s Congress

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Karnataka (under research project), Leaders, , ,

Kodagu, KARNATAKA :

Surayya Abrar
Surayya Abrar

Surayya Abrar has been elected as the president of Kodagu Women’s Congress unit.

Surayya had served as the chairperson of Madikeri Urban Development Authority in the past.

Pushpalatha was serving as the president of Kodagu Women’s Congress unit in the past.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by Adithya K A / DH News Service, Madikeri / February 04th, 2019

Talent fest in Ullal Dargah

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, , , , , , , , ,

Ullal, KARNATAKA :

Hazrat Syed Madani Darga in Ullal will organise a talent fest for madrasa students on February 23, said Central Juma Masjid and Syed Madani Dargah Committee, Ullal vice president Bava Muhammed.

He told reporters at Patrika Bhavan here recently, that a ‘Kirat’ competition will be held for the madrasa students on February 24 (at 8.30 am).

A free medical camp will be organised in association with Kanachur Hospital. The newly elected members of urban local bodies will be felicitated on the occasion.

An information centre directed to provide necessary information to the visitors at Ullal Dargah will be inaugurated.

The valedictory programme will be attended by Ullal Syed Madani Arabic College principal Shaikhuna Faizi Thodar, District In-charge Minister U T Khader, chief minister’s parliamentary secretary Ivan D’Souza among others.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by Ashwani Kumar N K R / DH News Service, Mangaluru / February 15th, 2019

Dr Najma Heptulla inaugurates National Unani Conference

Business & Economy, Green Products, Science & Technology, Useful / HEALTHCARE, World Opinion, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

NEW DELHI :

The National Unani awards were presented on the first day of the two day conference

The National Conference on Unani Medicine kicked off on Monday with much fanfare in the presence of a galaxy of dignitaries.

“Unani Medicine can offer the right solution for many health challenges we are facing due to lack of treatment of many diseases and paucity of resources”, said Dr. Najma Heptulla, Governor of Manipur, inaugurating the two-day conference organized by the Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM). It is a part of the 3rd Unani Day celebrations.  Dr. Heptulla urged the Unani fraternity to progress and evolve with the changing times, adapt to new techniques of health research and contribute new approaches to health management. She said that Manipur has the treasure of over 500 medicinal plants and invited scientists to visit the state for research. 

Addressing the conference themed on ‘Unani Medicine for Public Health’, Minister of State (IC) for AYUSH, Shripad Yesso Naik enlightened the audience on concrete steps taken by the Ministry of AYUSH to promote Unani Medicine.

The Lifetime Achievement Awards were conferred on Prof. Naeem Ahmad Khan, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh and Prof. M A Jafri, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi for Best Academician and Best Researcher in Unani Medicine respectively

“Our efforts are focused to tap the real potential of AYUSH systems in imparting preventive, promotive and holistic healthcare to the people,” he said. Paying tributes to Hakim Ajmal Khan, whose birth anniversary is celebrated as Unani Day on 11thFebruary every year, he described him as a versatile genius.

Highlighting the strengths of Unani Medicine and other AYUSH systems in his address, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that the AYUSH systems are golden key to health and wellbeing. India is the strongest hub of Traditional Medicine which is one of the reasons medical tourism is flourishing in the country. He stressed on Integration of Unani Medicine in Mainstream Healthcare in line with the government policies and initiatives for mainstreaming of AYUSH in national healthcare.

On this occasion, AYUSH Awards for Unani Medicine were conferred on various Unani scientists and experts in recognition of their contributions for research, teaching and practice of Unani Medicine.

The Best Research Paper Awards were presented to Dr. Arshiya Sultana, Associate Professor, National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bangalore for Clinical Research and Dr. Noman Anwar, Research Officer (Unani), Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine, Chennai for Drug Research in Unani Medicine. The Young Scientist Awards were conferred on Dr. Jamal Akhtar, Research Officer (Unani) Scientist – III, CCRUM for Clinical Research and Dr. Nasreen Jahan, Associate Professor, National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bangalore for Drug Research in Unani Medicine.

The Best Teacher Awards were presented to Prof. Tanzeel Ahmad, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh for Clinical Research, Prof. Mohd Aslam, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi for Drug Research and Prof. Khalid Zaman Khan, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh for Literary Research in Unani Medicine. The Lifetime Achievement Awards were conferred on Prof. Naeem Ahmad Khan, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh and Prof. M A Jafri, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi for Best Academician and Best Researcher in Unani Medicine respectively.

source: http://www.medibulletin.com / MediBulletin / Home> Alt Medicene / by MediBulletin Bureau / February 11th, 2019

Meet Bilal Ahmad Dar, The Big-dreaming Kashmiri Cycling Sensation

Sports, World Opinion, , ,

CHAK KAWOOSA (on Srinagar – Gulmarg Highway) JAMMU & KASHMIR / NEW DELHI  :

Four years back, his hunger strike had forced his mother to sell off a piece of land and some poplars to buy a very ‘costly’ cycle.

Four years back, his hunger strike had forced his mother to sell off a piece of land and some poplars to buy a very 'costly' cycle.
Four years back, his hunger strike had forced his mother to sell off a piece of land and some poplars to buy a very ‘costly’ cycle.

Four years back, his hunger strike had forced his mother to sell off a piece of land and some poplars to buy a very ‘costly’ cycle.

On February 12th 2019, as he turned 18, Bilal Ahmad Dar, India’s medal hope for 2022 Asian games, vowed to slog harder for the Olympics and Commonwealth events, the biggest sporting stages on the planet.
The Kashmiri cyclist has won 18 medals – three silver and one bronze in the Asian championship – and four consecutive golds in junior nationals.

“I am 18 today and will now be eligible to compete at a senior level. I am aiming not only to get a medal at the Asian games but in Olympics and Commonwealth too,” Dar, who trains in Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Stadium and is on a ten day vacation in Kashmir, told News 18.

“It was a fight which I had to win. It was a promotion from a 2500 rupee cycle to a one which cost one lakh plus,” he chuckles.

“One lakh rupees was a hell lot of money for us. Villagers and relatives wondered what I was upto,” said Dar, who lost his father to an accident eight years back.

The family lives hand to mouth by cultivating paddy, fruit and vegetables. Dar’s grandfather takes care of his two siblings and mother at their home in Chak Kawoosa, a roadside village on the scenic Srinagar-Gulmarg highway.

For the last three years, Dar has been training hard at the IG stadium where coaches have set him a punishing schedule. Here, Dar is exposed to world class coaching, hectic training and world class equipment.

The training has paid off but now he wants to take it to the next level. He has won medals at national and international level in both Pursuit and Velodrome events.

His performance won him accolades not from fellow cyclists but former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman and politician Omar Abdullah.

The journey from Kashmir to IG stadium

Dar was spotted by former Indian cyclist and Arjuna Award winner Amar Singh at a talent hunt drive in Srinagar.

“It was raining that day and 200 local athletes were told to compete in multi disciplines at Bakshi Stadium. I stood first,” recalls Dar.

In the next few days, Singh persuaded Dar to come to Delhi and train under him. He asked his mentor and guide Rifat Abdullah – a popular journalist and social activist – to convince his family of his potential in sport.

“The rest is known. I shifted to Delhi where I am training hard under the watchful eyes of best coaches,” he said.

The little success he has achieved as of today has not come through a shortcut.

“Every morning I cycle between 80 to 120 km for around 4 to 5 hours. Sometimes in stadium and some times I do road cycling,” he says.

“In the evening after school, I train for another three hours at the gym. This is a regimen I have been following since last three years,” he added.

Dar says now that he will get to complete at a senior level, he needs to double the effort.

“In the next six years, I will be competing with the best in the world and God willing play major championships,” he says.

“I have played Asian championship on four occasions. If picked for the team, I will play Asian games, Commonwealth and Olympics,” he said.

His schooling, lodging, board, food, travel and leisure has been taken care of by Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Cyclist Federation of India.

“I have no complaints. Today I use Calvero – world’s topmost cycle brand – for practice and the best facilities. The cycle costs 10 lakh rupees. I hope to repay the country by winning medals,” he stated.

While SAI and CFI have given him top class facilites, the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council have not spent a penny on him. Head coach Amar Singh had recently written to the Council to raise Rs 10 lakh for him, but one secretary level officer said he has no money even though huge grants have come to the state under different sports programmes.

“I had to raise ten thousands rupees for his tickets and travel when Singh sir told me to send him to Delhi,” rues Abdullah. “But tough times are over for him. I think it is payback time,” he said.

Amar Singh, Dar’s chief coach told News 18 from Canada that “he is a medal material for India”.

“We are training him and he has all the talent to go to next level. I wish state buys him the best equipment. So far they haven’t,” he said.

“We are sending him abroad for training and exposure. He is our best bet currently,” he added.

source: http://www.news18.com / News18 / Home> News18> Other Sports / by Mufti Islah , CNN-News18 / February 12th, 2019