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Id gift for buddy trio’s business idea

Business & Economy, , , ,

Kolkata, WEST BENGAL :

(From left) Md Wasim Ali Ansari, Azhar Rabbani and Ayush Singh at The Kidopreneur Summit at Novotel on Saturday. Picture by Biswajit Kundu
(From left) Md Wasim Ali Ansari, Azhar Rabbani and Ayush Singh at The Kidopreneur Summit at Novotel on Saturday. Picture by Biswajit Kundu

Calcutta:

They gave Id celebrations at home a miss to pitch their business module before a roomful of entrepreneurs. Azhar Rabbani and Mohammad Wasim Ali Ansari, along with Ayush Singh, have devised a plan to provide easy accommodation to outstation students through an app.

The three friends beat six other teams to bag the first prize at The Kidoprenuer Summit, in association with The Telegraph, at Novotel on Saturday. Co-hosted by Sonali’s Cubo, Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce and Srei Infrastructure Finance, the one-of-its-kind conclave gave young entrepreneurs a chance to showcase their innovative business ideas.

The OFY (Only For You) Homes project hopes to address the accommodation problems that students of other cities face when they come to Calcutta to study. “More than 60 colleges in and around the city don’t offer hostel facilities and at any time around 30,000 students are looking for a place to stay,” said Ayush, 17, a student of Shree Jain Vidyalaya.

The boys plan to offer standardised paying guest accommodation and flats on rent through an app. “Students can rent a home for any period of time and also share it with a maximum of four roommates. We will offer packages. They can get food, Internet, electricity and other amenities at Rs 6,000 to Rs 12,000 a month,” said Azhar, 18, of Seth Anandram Jaipuria College.

College mate Wasim, 18, said the trio have been working out the logistics for the past three months. “We hope to launch the app by the year end. We are tying up with people who rent out rooms,” he said.

Yubasana Kapas, 14, of Gokhale Memorial Girls’ School won the third prize for her plan to showcase Bengal’s art and culture before foreign patrons.

Three students – Kaushik Sardar, Shane Romel Kujur and Gaurav Bordoloi – from National Institute of Technology, Durgapur, bagged the second prize for Pedals Go, an app-based rental plan for bicycles.

“The event has brought three generations of entrepreneurs on one platform,” said Vayjayanti Pugalia, who curated the event.

The summit saw young entrepreneurs from across the country exchange notes with business stalwarts from the city and share their stories and challenges.

source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph,Calcutta,India / Home> Calcutta / by Chandreyee  Ghose (additional reporting by Samabrita Sen) / June 17th, 2018

8 months into politics, AMU alumnus wrests sole zilla parishad seat for Left in Bengal

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

Goalpokhar (North Dinajpur District) , WEST BENGAL :

The Urdu teacher at Dharmapur High School at Goalpokhar in Bengal’s North Dinajpur district won from Belon in Goalpokhar 2 block.

Md Shahid Siddiquee joined politics eight months ago after he was inspired by Forward Bloc MLA from Chakulia in North Dinajpur district, Ali Imran Ramz.(HT Photo)
Md Shahid Siddiquee joined politics eight months ago after he was inspired by Forward Bloc MLA from Chakulia in North Dinajpur district, Ali Imran Ramz.(HT Photo)

Eight months ago, Md Shahid Siddiquee,32, a former student of Aligarh Muslim University, was a newcomer in All India Forward Bloc, a partner in Bengal’s Left coalition.

When results to the polls in the state’s three-tier panchayats were released, Siddiquee emerged as winner of the sole zilla parishad (district council) seat for the Marxists who were facing rout.

The Urdu teacher at Dharmapur High School at Goalpokhar in Bengal’s North Dinajpur district won from Belon in Goalpokhar 2 block. This is the Left’s only zilla parishad seat out of 825 (only 622 saw contest) in Bengal. Siddiquee defeated veteran Trinamool Congress leader Abdul Ghani by 1,156 votes.

Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India and Revolutionary Socialist Party, the three other big constituents of the 10-party Left Front, could not win any seat in the highest tier of the panchayats.

Interestingly, Siddiquee is not even known to many of the top Left leaders in these parties. He will be introduced to them at a meeting of the Left Front leaders on May 26.

Siddiquee joined politics eight months ago after he was inspired by Ali Imran Ramz, Forward Bloc MLA from Chakulia in North Dinajpur district. Ramz is the second youngest MLA in the Bengal assembly.

“I was always a Forward Bloc supporter but it was Ramz who inspired me to join active politics. He also inspired me to contest. The credit for my victory goes to him,” said Siddiquee.

“Had Trinamool supporters not resorted to violence at eight booths our margin would have been higher. But I am sure many Trinamool supporters also voted for me,” he added.

Ramz claimed that Siddiquee’s victory has proved that Left Front can put up a fight against Trinamool if it keeps in touch with people at the grassroots. “From the very beginning I was against seat adjustment with any party outside the Left Front. In North Dinajpur, Forward Bloc contested on its own. I am grateful to our voters,” said Ramz.

CPI(M) Politburo member and MP from Raigunj in North Dinajpur, MP Salim, said the Left would have done much better in the north Bengal region had Trinamool not resorted to violence.

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> Cities> Kolkata / by HT Correspondent / May 22nd, 2018

Madras Inherited to unravel city’s architectural treasures

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Travel & Tourism, World Opinion, , , , ,

Chennai, TAMIL NADU :

One of the projects taken up by the Triple O Studio
One of the projects taken up by the Triple O Studio

Any mention of Chennai’s architectural marvels instantly brings to mind large, red public structures built in the Indo-Saracenic architectural style. But, there is more to the city’s architectural history in its residential areas.

Madras Inherited, an initiative of a group of architects and volunteers, aims to unravel these hidden architectural gems through heritage walks and document the fast disappearing residential structures in the city.

Spearheaded by Triple O Studio, an architectural firm, Madras Inherited will focus on small residential buildings across the city that have gone unnoticed unlike public heritage structures. While Chennai has some of the finest Indo-Saracenic structures, it is also a confluence of many intriguing architectural styles that the group will research and map through a series of walks.

Tahaer Zoyab, architect and co-founder of Madras Inherited, said a project to document the old houses of Mylapore came as an eye-opener to the vanishing heritage in the city. “The character of the interior lanes is fast changing and we wanted to share the stories with people before residential buildings disappear and also document the rich legacy,” he said.

The team has so far documented architectural designs of about 50 houses in Mylapore. “We have traces of Neoclassical, Gothic and Art Deco styles in structures across the city. We can still find traditional vernacular architecture in some of the Agraharam houses of Mylapore, Tiruvanmiyur and Triplicane,” he said.

Classic example

George Town, one of the older settlements in the city, presents a classic example of a confluence of different styles. Dare House in Parrys Corner, for instance, is designed in the Art Deco style in which there is an emphasis on vertical lines and the distinct design of a ‘sunburst jaali’ for ventilation, Mr. Zoyab pointed out.

Such intricate details imbibed in residential and private building architecture will be documented and shared with heritage enthusiasts in the city. Madras Inherited will focus on cultural tourism and heritage education and management through a series of interactive events like photo walks in historical areas. The initiative will be launched on June 16 with a walk through the lanes of Royapettah, where participants will get to decode the architectural history of the area. The walk that starts at 6.30 a.m. will cost adults Rs. 700 and students Rs. 450. Participants get to take home a bag of custom-made souvenirs, ranging from coasters to bookmarks.

The locality has a range of styles from Agraharam houses, traces of Gothic design and Islamic-style houses. The proceeds from these walks will be used to fund the mapping and documentation of city’s heritage structures. There are plans to expand to areas like Periamet, Vepery and George Town after September.

For details on the walk, send an e-mail to mail@madrasinherited.in or contact +91-8939135048.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Tamil Nadu / by K. Lakshmi / Chennai – June 15th, 2018

Madin grounds witness mega prayer meet

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

Malappuram, KERALA :

Sunni believers from different parts of the State attend an annual mega prayer gathering organised by the Madin Academy in Malappuram on Monday.
Sunni believers from different parts of the State attend an annual mega prayer gathering organised by the Madin Academy in Malappuram on Monday.

Thousands of Sunni believers from different parts of the State attended an annual mega prayer gathering organised by the Madin Academy here on Monday night.

Although the organisers had cut down the size of the programme by shifting the stage into the Madin Grand Mosque and reducing the publicity for the event in view of the Nipah virus scare, there was no decrease in the turnout of the orthodox Sunnis who reached the Swalat Nagar for the blessings of Lailathul Qadr. Lailathul Qadr or “the night of decree” is the holiest night of the year for Muslims across the world.

According to the Koran, Lailathul Qadr is “better than a thousand months”. In his special message to the people, Madin Academy chairman Sayed Ibrahim Khaleel Bukhari Thangal exhorted the mahals and the community to give extra stress on cleanliness and hygiene.

All India Jamiyyathul Ulama general secretary Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliar inaugurated the function. Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama president E. Sulaiman Musliar presided. Mr. Bukhari led various prayers such as Thouba, Tahleel and Swalat.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Kerala / by Staff Reporter / Malappuram – June 12th, 2018

‘Rising Kashmir’ editor Shujaat Bukhari shot dead by gunmen in Srinagar: Police

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, , , ,

Srinagar, JAMMU & KASHMIR :

Shujaat Bukhari was leaving his office in Press Enclave in Srinagar’s Lal Chowk when he was shot at. He is in a critical condition, police said.

Shujaat Bukhaari is the editor of newspaper Rising Kashmir. (Picture courtesy: Twitter/Shujaat Bukhari)
Shujaat Bukhaari is the editor of newspaper Rising Kashmir. (Picture courtesy: Twitter/Shujaat Bukhari)

Veteran journalist and Rising Kashmir editor Shujaat Bukhari was shot dead by unidentified gunmen outside his office in the heart of this Jammu and Kashmir capital, police officials said on Thursday.

Bukhari, who was leaving his office in Press Enclave in the city centre Lal Chowk for an iftar party when he was shot, officials said.

The two policemen who were guarding him are also injured, they added.

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> India / by PTI, Srinagar / June 14th, 2018

Iconic mosque welcomes women for iftar

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

Kolkata, WEST BENGAL :

Women have lunch at Tipu Sultan Mosque.
Women have lunch at Tipu Sultan Mosque.

Kolkata  :

The iconic Tipu Sultan Mosque has, for the first time in its 184-year history, opened its doors for women this Ramzan.

The Esplanade landmark has arranged for iftar and evening prayers for women under a temporary shamiana inside its premises, lending a crucial support system that lets them leave home for shopping in the city’s famed central commercial area without worrying about how and where to break their fast and get some shelter from the sun and, right now, the rains.

The shamiana, with adequate lighting, fans and water, has proved to be a huge relief for women working in offices in the central business district, with the masjid authorities providing the iftari comprising fruits, chhola, sweets and sherbet.

“You do not even have to get your own iftari. We will provide it. Just reach the mosque minutes before iftar and take your seat,” Prince Anwar Ali Shah, the mosque’s mutwali (caretaker) and great-grandson of Prince Gholam Mohammad, Tipu Sultan’s eldest son, said.

The Esplanade landmark has arranged for iftar and evening prayers for women under a temporary shamiana inside its premises, lending a crucial support system ...
The Esplanade landmark has arranged for iftar and evening prayers for women under a temporary shamiana inside its premises, lending a crucial support system …

The mosque was built in 1834 by Prince Gholam Mohammad, when was in exile in Kolkata.

“A lot of women come to Esplanade from far-flung areas for shopping during Ramzan and do not have any proper place to go to when it is time for iftar. Many are forced to break their fast on the road and forgo their evening prayers,” Shah said, explaining the rationale behind the decision.

Women devotees have welcomed the change. Park Circus resident Asma Momin had come to Esplanade to buy essentials on Tuesday. “I was not carrying any food at all,” she said. “The shamiana and the iftari were a godsend,” she added.

Sabrina Yasmin had come to Dharamtala from nearby Wellesley but was caught in the rain; for her, the shamiana provided the much-needed shelter. “It is a great decision and shows the mosque authorities’ inclination to change with the times,” she said. Around 150 women partake of iftar at the Tipu Sultan Mosque daily.

Fasting during Ramzan is one of the five obligatory pillars of Islam, along with the declaration of faith, the namaz, the Haj pilgrimage and giving zakat (an Islamic levy). The conclusion of Ramzan heralds the arrival of Eid, the biggest Muslim festival.

source: http:///www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Kolkata News / by Zeeshan Javed / TNN / June 13th, 2018

Vintage Car Collector In Kodagu Dies As Tree Branch Falls On Him

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Karnataka (under research project), Sports, Travel & Tourism, World Opinion, , , , , ,

Nellihudikeri Village, Siddapur (Kodagu Distrct), KARNATAKA :

AhmedKuttiMPOs12jun2018

Madikeri:

A farmer and a vintage car collector died after a tree branch fell on him at Nellihudikeri village near Siddapura in Kodagu district yesterday.

The deceased, 67-year-old P.C. Ahmed Kutti Haji, was working in his Mubarak Estate along with his son Ashraf at around 11.30 am. Due to heavy rain and wind, a branch of a banyan tree fell on Ahmed Kutti. He was immediately rushed to a hospital. But he succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. Kodagu Deputy Commissioner P.I. Sreevidya has announced Rs.5 lakh compensation to his family. She sent the cheque through the Tahsildar.

With his death, Kodagu has lost a collector of Vintage ‘beauties
With his death, Kodagu has lost a collector of Vintage ‘beauties

Ahmed Kutti Haji is a coffee planter and also an industrialist. He has a huge collection of vintage cars which he threw open to public. Collecting vintage cars was a hobby for Ahmed who has 86 of them and over 15 vintage petrol jeeps. Not to stop there, he also has 20 old two-wheelers, a 125-year-old bicycle and a 200-year-old bullock cart. The oldest car in the collection is 1925 model.

Normally vintage car collectors eye Bengaluru to add cars to their collection. Changing the trend, Ahmed focussed on old workshops in Kodagu and surrounding areas to hunt vintage ‘beauties.’ After picking them, Ahmed gave old cars a fresh coat of paint and tuned them to working condition.

Almost all foreign cars owned by Ahmed were manufactured between 1925 and 1965. Barring Dharmasthala, no other place in the State has such a wide collection of vintage cars.

With his death, Kodagu has lost a vintage automobile enthusiast.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News /June 10th, 2018

Ensuring iftari for thousands, since 1839

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, Travel & Tourism, , , , , , , , , , ,

Lucknow, UTTAR PRADESH :

Lucknow :

It is 8am on Saturday and big black cauldrons that will slowly simmer dal in them have been put up on burning embers with the help of two strong men. For the past 179 years, the ritual has been repeated every Ramzan in the bawarchikhana (kitchen) within the premises of the Chhota Imambara.

While it is dal and tandoori roti that is cooked for three days, an Awadhi delicacy called ‘taley hue aaloo ka salan’ (fried potato curry) with roti follows for the next three. The cycle continues for the entire month of Ramzan, feeding around 600 poor people as their dinner the the entire month of Ramzan.

In the same kitchen, a different set of snacks is also prepared for the specific purpose of serving rozedars coming to offer prayers in 15 mosques under Husainabad & Allied Trust (HAT).

Around 2,500 people will receive a plate of gujhiya, phulka, chana, suhaal, dates, a fruit (preferably banana) along with bread-butter and cake outsourced from a bakery, thanks to a king’s commitment to the poor.

The third King of Awadh, Muhammad Ali Shah, had created the Husainabad Endowment Deed in 1839 to feed the poor. Since then, the two massive community kitchens within the Chhota Imambara have been following the tradition of sending out iftari to the 15 mosques under its umbrella.

Every Ramzan, by the end of the day, this kitchen would have fed over 3,000 mouths.

“A sum of around Rs 16 lakh is passed for the iftar and dinner services every year. Two separate dedicated teams of chefs and their assistants are engaged for it. Everyday, activity in the kitchens begins at 8am. By 4.30pm, we send out the first batch of iftar food for the mosques,” said Habibul Hasan, an official from HAT.

The 179-year-old Nawabi tradition saw a break only in 2015. During Ramzan that year, a movement against alleged corruption in the UP Shia Central Waqf Board being spearheaded by Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawad  had brought the tradition to a halt. Protesters had locked the entrances to both the Bada Imambara and Chhota Imambara, restricting all entry. Even the kitchens could not function.

However, people from the neighbourhood of the 15 mosques came together to fund the food. HAT had also roped in private bakeries. Even during the mourning months of Muharram, food is served from the traditional kitchens of the Imambara.

source: http:///www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Lucknow News / by Yusra Husain / TNN / May 21st, 2018

Mudeer Aga, JD(S) MLC, passes away

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

Ramanagaram, Bengaluru, KARNATAKA :

Syed Mudeer Aga, Janata Dal (Secular) MLC, died of cardiac arrest in Bengaluru on Saturday.

A prominent minority community leader from Ramanagaram town, Mr. Aga had been staying in Bengaluru for the past several years. He complained of severe chest pain late on Friday and was shifted to a hospital, where he breathed his last in the early hours of Saturday.

The body was brought to Ramanagaram where it was received by senior officials of the district administration. Later, the mortal remains of Mr. Aga were kept at his residence in the town to allow the public to pay their last respects. The former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and a host of leaders cutting across political and religious affiliations paid their last respects to Mr. Aga.

Mr. Gowda and Mr. Kumaraswamy termed Mr. Aga’s demise a great loss to society.

Minister for Food and Civil Supplies B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan, and MP for Bengaluru Rural D.K. Suresh also paid their respects to the departed leader. According to the sources in the Ramanagaram district administration, Mr. Aga was elected as an MLC in June 2012 and his tenure was due for completion on June 17, 2018.

The final rites of Mr. Aga will be performed at Ramanagaram at 10 p.m. of Saturday, or on Sunday morning as some of his relatives are expected to arrive from Middle East, sources added.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States / by Special Correspondent / Mandya – June 09th, 2018

Steely resolve scores over odds

Education, , , ,

WEST BENGAL :

Students of Bethune Collegiate School all smiles after the Higher Secondary results were announced on Friday. Picture by Bishwarup Dutta
Students of Bethune Collegiate School all smiles after the Higher Secondary results were announced on Friday. Picture by Bishwarup Dutta

Calcutta:

One fought marriage, another gave up on buddy time and a third doesn’t want to burden his father. All three shone in the Higher Secondary results.

Metro tells their spirited stories

RehanaKhatoonKOLKATA11jun2018

Rehana Khatoon, 83 per cent

Namkhana Union High School

Rehana Khatoon would have been married off after her Madhyamik had it not been for her headmaster’s intervention.

She has scored 83 per cent in her Higher Secondary aggregate.

Her father, a tailor and a part-time wood-cutter, has had to spend all his savings on getting his two elder daughters married and could ill afford the education of the youngest.

“We convinced the family that Rehana could get Rs 25,000 as assistance if she completed her Higher Secondary and took admission in a college under the state government’s Kanyashree-2 scheme. They relented,” said Alok Maity, the headmaster of Rehana’s school.

Rehana’s father, Taiyab Ali, spends the week working as a tailor in Howrah and goes to Namkhana on weekends to cut wood. “I earn just about Rs 4,000 a month,” he said.

Rehana herself teaches kids to raise money. “I earn Rs 1,000 a month which I use to pay my fees and buy books,” she said.

Rehana is unsure if she can go to college. “I don’t know if my father can bear the expenses. I want to take up nursing and midwifery,” she said.

SwarupaKOLKATA11jun2018

Swarupa Dhar, 91.6 per cent

Ghoshpara Nischinda Balika Vidyapith

She did not go out with friends for movies and did not own a smart phone till two days ago. But none of it bothered Swarupa Dhar as she did not want to financially burden her father, who works at a sari shop in Burrabazar and earns about Rs 6,000 a month.

Swarupa’s score of 91.6 per cent in the Higher Secondary exams is a reward for her father Subhas Dhar, who had to drop out of college but wants his daughter to study.

“I do not want or expect things to change drastically from here because if I start getting what I am not used to, my focus might shift. All I want is to complete my studies,” said Swarupa who topped her school and wants to pursue accountancy.

The 17-year-old has always had few demands. “It was only recently that she had wanted a smartphone because she will now go to college,” mother Rita said.

SouwikKOLKATA11jun2018

Souvik Ghorai, 69.6 per cent

Krishnachandrapur High School

Souvik Ghorai was busy working on the field with his parents when his friends went to collect their Higher Secondary mark sheets from school.

The boy who scored 69.6 per cent from Krishnachandrapur High School in South 24-Parganas is certain he cannot go to college.

“We barely make enough to eat and live,” said Souvik, who was dropping out of school after Madhyamik before headmaster Chandan Maiti intervened.

“If we can find someone to sponsor or collect some money to fund his education, Souvik will be able to go to college,” Maiti said, headmaster.

Even when in hostel, Souvik would make it a point to travel to his village Samsara in West Midnapore on weekends because he had to go to Kolaghat to sell flowers at dawn.

“It took me about six hours to travel home by train and bus. Around 3am on Sundays, I would collect flowers and got to Kolaghat to sell them. I would make Rs 300 to 400 in a day,” Souvik said.

source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph,Calcutta,India / Home> Calcutta / by Subhankar Chowdhury and Jhinuk Mazumdar / June 09th, 2018