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Double Amputee Swimmer Masudur Rahman Baidya Passes Away

Amazing Feats, Sports, World Opinion, , , , ,

Kolkata, WEST BENGAL :

India swimmer Masudur Rahman Baidya, the only man with amputated legs to cross the English Channel in 1997, died on Sunday morning after a heart attack, according to family sources

Masudur Rahman Baidya
Masudur Rahman Baidya

Kolkata:

India swimmer Masudur Rahman Baidya, the only man with amputated legs to cross the English Channel in 1997, died on Sunday morning after a heart attack, according to family sources.

The 46-year-old was not keeping well for a couple of days. His family in Topsia rushed him to a nearby hospital.

“He had a major heart attack and doctors put him in ventilator. Doctors tried their best but he passed away within one hour,” said his sister Monira Rahman.

Masudur is survived by his mother, wife, and two daughters.

source: http://www.mid-day.com / mid-day.com / Home> Sports News> Other Sports News / pTI / April 27th, 2015

The Calligrapher’s Den

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

Amritsar, PUNJAB :SaraiAmanatKhanMPOs24may2018

His was the hand behind the Arabic inscriptions on the Taj Mahal, which have captivated tourists from across the world.

But today, the mausoleum and the dwelling of Amanat Khan, the calligrapher of the Taj Mahal, lies in decay, neglect and encroachment.

Sarai Amanat Khan, about 29 kilometres south-east of Amritsar on Tarn Taran Attari road, was built by Khan in 1640, where he lived a reclusive life following the death of his elder brother Afzal Khan, the prime minister of Shah Jahan.

But here too, Khan, who came to India from Iran in 1609 and whose real name was Abdul Haq before being conferred the title of “Amanat Khan” by Shah Jahan for his impressive calligraphy, has left the imprint of his craft — the sarai has beautiful Islamic calligraphy inscribed on its fading blue and yellow tiles.

Sarai Amanat Khan was also a guest house, where travellers on the Lahore-Agra route on the Grand Trunk Road would stop for rest in the middle of a long strenuous journey. They would live in the small rooms inside the sarai, and pray in the adjacent mosque and large courtyard.

Today, Sarai Amanat Khan is dilapidated — the Nanakshahi bricks are falling off, and the eastern gate is in disarray; some 800 feet below it is Khan’s ruined tomb.

The sarai is in the middle of a densely populated village, also named after Amanat Khan.

With several shops in its immediate vicinity, the Archaeological Survey of India-protected monument is a site of rampant encroachment. Several families live inside the rooms of the sarai illegally, and claim to have been doing so since Partition. “I was born here,” says 50-year-old Ranjit Singh. “People have been living here since 1947. There had been talks about giving us alternative land and compensation, but those have not materialised,” he adds.

source: http://www.archive.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Archive / by Navjeevan Gopal, New Delhi / July 29th, 2012

Subedar Abdul Sattar attains martyrdom in the holy month of Ramzan

Community Involvement / Social Issues, , , ,

Mawa Village, Nagaur District, RAJASTHAN :

Subedar Abdul Sattar
Subedar Abdul Sattar

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India]

A Subedar in the Indian Army took his last breath on Sunday, attaining martyrdom during the holy month of Ramzan, after he had sustained burn injuries to around 50 percent of his body while trying to prevent a weapons cache from getting razed by a fire in Jammu and Kashmir’s Gurez.
Subedar Abdul Sattar belonged to 13th Batallion of the Grenadier Regiment.
On May 12 the fire started in the camp of the unit where Sattar, was posted. Within minutes, the whole store of the unit was engulfed in fire, and once he saw it, there was no second choice but to fight.
He plunged into the inferno and managed to pull out the ammunition and weapons, but in the process sustained burn injuries, and was immediately rushed for medical treatment.
Major General Dilawar Singh (Retd), while speaking to ANI said that the training and ethos of the Armed Forces motivates a soldier to accomplish extraordinary feats and to rise above the boundaries of religion and caste.
“A soldier serves the country and the tricolour. Brave hearts like Subedar Sattar is the glowing example of how a soldier can do extraordinary when the testing times come and they can sacrifice even their lives,” he said.
The injured soldier was later taken by a helicopter to Srinagar, where he was admitted to the Army Hospital (Research & Referral). He fought for his life for eight days and passed away on May 20.
The soldier hailed from the village Mawa near Didwana in Nagaur District of Rajasthan. His mortal remains were taken to his village for burial with state honour. A total of 5000 people, including villagers and Army officials congregated to pay their homage to the martyr.
Minister Yunus Khan and MLA Thakur Manwar Singh of Ladnun attended the funeral. The soldiers from the nearby areas were also present to pay their tribute.
More than 300 serving and ex-servicemen of the Grenadiers attended the last rights.
Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje spoke with the father of the soldier.
The commanding officer of the unit, Colonel Ghosh said, “The loss of Subedar Abdul Sattar is irreparable. His memory will always be etched in our hearts. I wish to assure all elders and fellow officers that from here on, his family is the battalion’s responsibility and we shall look after them for the rest of their lives.”
He is survived by his wife Muni Banu, five daughters and one son. Sub Abdul Sattar’s youngest child, son Danish (six-year-old) laid the wreath. It is widely believed in Islam that death during the holy month of Ramzan is doubly blessed, Subedar Sattar will, no doubt, rest in peace. (ANI)

source: http://www.aninews.in / ANI / Home> News> India / May 24th, 2018

‘Urdu’s Space In Kalina Not Byculla’

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Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA :

In 2014, the Congress-led government had sanctioned Rs 10 crore for the construction of an Urdu Bhavan at Mumbai University’s Kalina campus to promote the language

The state govt’s proposal to set up a centre for the language outside of the university, where it even has an allocated space, has language lovers crying foul

In 2014, the Congress-led government had sanctioned Rs 10 crore for the construction of an Urdu Bhavan at Mumbai University’s Kalina campus to promote the language. Land was allocated and bhoomi poojan was performed. However, the project never saw the light of day.

Cut to present: The state government has proposed building the Urdu Bhavan in Byculla,. “The bhavan will come up on a 10,000 sqft area near the Agripada police station. And, if we get a larger FSI, we will be able to construct a four-storeyed structure with state-of-the-art facilities. We have asked the Centre to provide us with R50 crore for this,” says advocate Waris Pathan, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) legislator from Byculla, who has been at the forefront of getting approvals for this project. As per the proposal, the bhavan will have a library, convention centre, a girls’ hostel and will offer a range of new courses. “The Urdu readership in Byculla is high so it will see a lot of traction,” says Pathan

‘It’s not a Muslim language’
Yet, the news of the bhavan coming up at Byculla has lovers of the language divided. Members of Jai Ho Foundation, a charity organisation in Kurla, have written a letter to the Union Minority Affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, CM Devendra Fadnavis, Governor C Vidyasagar Rao, education minister Vinod Tawde and MU VC Suhas Pednekar, requesting them to reconsider the location. “We want the centre to be built inside the varsity because that will make it more accessible to students. By constructing it in a Byculla bylane, they are propagating the misguided notion that it’s a Muslim language,” says Jai Ho’s president Afroz Malik. Presently, the MU has a bhasha (language) bhavan dedicated to Marathi and Sanskrit.

There have been talks about building a Hindi bhasha bhavan as well. Malik says Kalina is a strategic location which makes it convenient for people commuting from both the suburbs as well as from South Mumbai. Moreover, setting it up in a healthy academic atmosphere will only help promote the language, he adds. “MU has people enrolling from all walks of life. It also has students from overseas. Urdu will get more exposure,” he states.

A matter of space
Meanwhile, the land allocated to the Urdu Bhavan at Kalina remains vacant. This is in stark contrast to the buzzing Urdu department, which has seen a sharp growth in the number of students as well as non-teaching staff. “The increasing curiosity around the language has translated into more people signing up for courses. The MA course sees more enrolments,” Dr Sahab Ali, head of Urdu department, says. Presently, the department has an overall strength of 200 students. While Dr Ali is happy to learn of a bhavan coming up in Byculla, he says it’s not enough. “I would want the centre to be built here because we are running out of space to accommodate students,” he says. The Urdu department at MU was established in 1982.

In 2013, Dr Ali had written to the Department of Minorities Affairs requesting the need for a bhasha bhavan to cater to the growing needs of the language. The request received the green light in 2014. The change in ruling parties resulted in the project languishing for years.

Farid Khan, convenor of Urdu Caravan, an NGO that promotes Urdu language and culture, says he sees merit in NGO Jai Ho’s stand. “I believe a language will thrive in an academic setting.”

source: http://www.mid-day.com / mid-day.com / Home> News> National News / by Anju Maskeri / May13th, 2018

6 skaters for world meet

Sports, World Opinion, , , , ,

Visakhapatnam , ANDHRA PRADESH :

Visakhapatnam:

Six  skaters from Anhdra Pradesh have been selected to represent India in the ensuing Asian and World Skating Championship to be held in China and Italy.

They include Arun Kumar, R Farheen Shaik, T Visweswara Rao, Priyam Tated, Riya Saboo and Bharadwaj Sahitha.

National Coach in Skating, Satyam, said that Arun Kumar, Visweswara Rao, Farheen Shaik and Sahitha will participate in Asian Championship while Priyam Tated and Riya Saboo will participate in World Skating Championship and Asian Championship.

source: http://www.thehansindia.com / The Hans India / Home> Andhra Pradesh / by The Hans India / August 02nd, 2016

Alumni association formed at Jamal Mohamed college

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Trichy, TAMIL NADU :

A.K.Hussain of Ahamad Brothers of Tiruchy was unanimously elected as president.

Tiruchy:

Former students of Jamal Mohamed college (JMC) of Tiruchy formed an alumni association recently for which A.K.Hussain of Ahamad Brothers of Tiruchy was unanimously elected as president. In a release at Tiruchy on Tuesday, Hussain said while Abdul Aleem, founder of the Ant-Dowry Association of Koothanallur was elected as secretary, Riyaz of Tiruchy was elected as treasurer.

Basheer Ahamed and Dr. Gobinath of Tiruchy were elected as vice-presidents and Mohammed Ismail and Dhanraj of Tiruchy as joint secretaries. In addition to this, a seven member executive committee has been formed with auditor Murugan, Nazeer Ali, Padmanabhan, Senthilkumar, advocate Madhani, Akbar Ali and B.G. Naidu Balaji, he added.

Hussain said that old students working and settled abroad had already formed and were running the JMC alumni associations in various countries including at Malaysia, Singapore, Kuwait,Saudi Arabia and Chennai in TN and giving scholarships to poor students of JMC. They were also helping to improve infrastructure and construct new buildings for the college. The newly formed Tiruchy based alumni associati-on of the JMC also will follow the footprints of the existing alumni associations, he added. Secretary of the JMC Dr. Khaja Najummudeen, assistant secretary Jamal Mohamad Sahib and others greeted office bearers of the newly formed alumni association.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> In Other News / Deccan Chronicle / July 15th, 2015

IAS officers bag excellence award

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

Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

Several civil servants and other officers have been selected for the Telangana Excellence Awards-2018 for excellence in public administration, innovation, instituting flagship programmes, land records updation, IT initiatives in governance, solid waste management etc. in individual capacity or for working in groups.

They include Commercial Taxes Commissioner V. Anil Kumar and Principal Resident Commissioner of Telangana Bhavan at New Delhi G. Asok Kumar, Nalgonda Collector Gaurav Uppal, Buddhaprakash Jyothi, Adilabad Collector D. Divya and Adilabad DMHO Rajeev Raj, GHMC Commissioner B. Janardhan Reddy, Mancherial Collector R.V. Karnan and HMWSSB MD M. Dana Kishore, Suryapet Collector K. Surendra Mohan, Karimnagar Collector Sarfaraz Ahmed, DMHO Rajesham and Mohammed Aleem, Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare Karuna Vakati, Jagtial Collector A. Sharath, RDO Ganta Narender and Medipally Tahsildar N. Venkatesh and Peddapalli Collector Alagu Varshini, Asifabad Collector Prashanth J. Patil, Sircilla Collector D. Krishna Bhaskar.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – May 19th, 2018

The heartening story of Irfan and Anjum Bagban, the first Muslim couple to clear CA exams after marriage

Amazing Feats, Education, , , ,

Karnad (Satara District) / Pune,  MAHARASHTRA :

Ex-Chief Minister of Maharashtra Prithvi Raj Chavan visiting the couple's home and facilitating them.
Ex-Chief Minister of Maharashtra Prithvi Raj Chavan visiting the couple’s home and facilitating them.

It is no secret that even today, many Muslim girls do not get an opportunity to pursue their dreams due to family responsibilities and unfavourable conditions. And this situation rarely changes after marriage, with many career-oriented women hardly getting an opportunity to build their careers due to the household responsibilities.

Which is why the story of Irfan and Anjum, a couple from Karad, a city in Satara district of Maharashtra, is so encouraging. The two studied for and cracked the CA (Chartered Accountant) examination after getting married and emerged as the first Muslim CA couple of Maharashtra.

Irfan Shabbir Bagban tied the knot with Anjum in 2011 when he was doing his Bachelor ofEngineering (mechanical ). Anjum was also a commerce graduate and a career-oriented woman. She wanted to appear for the CA examinations and her husband extended his full cooperation and started giving her company to make his wife’s dream a reality. During Anjum’s preparations, Irfan also developed an interest in Accountancy and decided to make a career in this field.

They shifted to Pune for articleship at the SNJ & Company. After three years of continuous effort, Irfan managed to crack the CA exam in May 2017 and Anjum cleared it in November 2017.

Speaking with TwoCircles.net, Anjum said, “My in-laws supported me a lot. I know well that after marriage life changes suddenly but women should never give up and keep trying to achieve their goal.”

“We belong to the Bagban community which is popularly known for doing business. My father wanted me to become a CA because there was no Muslim CA in the entire Satara District. Alhamdulillah after hard work and with the help of family members, we achieved this feat,” said Irfan.

Irfan Bagban and Anjum Bagban
Irfan Bagban and Anjum Bagban

Confirming the claim of first post-marriage CA couple of India, Irfan said, “Sarvesh Joshi, our central council member, congratulated us by saying this has happened for the first time in the 63 years history of the institute.”

The couple is currently settled in Pune. Irfan is doing independent practice and Anjum is working as an Audit and Account Assistant in the Head office of Bharatiya Vidyapeeth, Pune.

Nadeem Sheikh, an activist of the Bagban Biradari education movement, congratulated the couple for their achievement. “I must appreciate Irfan for motivating his wife to appear for such an important exam. Anjum has also done a fantastic job and set up an inspiring example for all married women.”

source: http://www.twocirlces.net / TwoCirlces.net / Home> Indian Muslims> Lead Story> Women / by Imran Inamdar, TwoCircles.net / May 18th, 2018

Soldier Rafi laid to rest

Community Involvement / Social Issues, , , , ,

Chandole Village, Guntur, ANDHRA PRADESH :

Military honours: Army personnel paying last respects to Havildar Rafi Mohammad at Chandole . | Photo Credit: T_VIJAYA_KUMAR
Military honours: Army personnel paying last respects to Havildar Rafi Mohammad at Chandole . | Photo Credit: T_VIJAYA_KUMAR

He died in a landslip in Kargil-Leh sector on May 15

A pall of gloom descended on the village on Friday as the mortal remains of Havildar Rafi Mohammad, EME corps, were laid to rest with full military honours.

Army personnel, NCC commanding officer G.M Rao, revenue divisional officer, Tenali, Mandal Revenue Officer and MLC Annam Satish Prabhakar, Bapatla, visited the house and offered their condolences.

Rafi, who got married five years ago, was supposed to come to his native village in the first week of June for a month to stay during Ramzan.

But, he died in a landslip that hit Kargil-Leh sector on May 15; he was in a recovery vehicle that got caught in the landslide and plunged into a gorge tumbling into a depth of 3,000 feet.

Rafi’s body was found the same evening while the body of another soldier is yet to be traced.

The youngest of five brothers, Rafi had a passion to serve in the Army following in the footsteps of his elder brother Md. Arif. Soon after completing his Intermediate, Rafi was selected as a sepoy and within five years, rose up in the ranks to become Havildar. Rafi used to help educate children from economically backward families.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by P. Samuel Jonathan / Chandole – May 19th, 2018

Self-Driving Car Wins Plainfield Teen 2nd Place At Science Event

Amazing Feats, Education, Green Products, Karnataka (under research project), NRI's / PIO's, Science & Technology, Transport, World Opinion, , , , ,

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA  / Illinois,  U.S.A ;

Amaan Khan placed at the National Junior Sciences and Humanities Symposium in Maryland.

AmaanKhan02MPOs20may2018

PLAINFIELD, IL :

Plainfield South High School sophomore Amaan Khan won second place in the National Junior Sciences and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) held in Maryland May 2 to May 5, 2018, for creating a self-driving model car.

He advanced to the national competition after winning first place at the regional JSHS competition in March.

Khan’s model car can drive within designated lanes, stop and go at traffic lights, and avoid obstacles.

His second-place finish earned him an $8,000 scholarship in addition to the $2,000 scholarship for winning the regional event. The regional competition is open to ninth through twelfth grade students.

Most of the 97 national competitors were high school juniors and seniors. “Second in national is still really great,” Khan said.

Students compete in several categories including computer science and math, bioengineering, behavioral science, medicine, health, physics, engineering and environmental science.

Khan wants to enter the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair next year, he said.

Photo/article via District 202

source: http://www.patch.com / Plainfield Patch / Home> Kids & Family /  by Shannon Antinori , Patch National Staff / May 17th, 2018