Eight minarets of Hamid Manzil, a magnificent building that houses the world’s famous Rampur Raza Library located some 200 kilometers from New Delhi, is a great symbol of pluralism in India.
The first part of the library minaret at the bottom is built in the shape of a Mosque; the part just above this resembles a Church, the third part reflects the architectural design of a Sikh Gurudwara, and the top-most part is built in the shape of a Hindu temple.
The religious symbols
This spirit of inclusiveness promoted in the princely State early on continues to inspire the people of this Uttar Pradesh district to live in harmony.
Rampur also famous for the Rampuri Chaku (knife), is one of the few princely states in India where no major communal riots or disturbances ever took place during the British colonial era or in the years afterward.
What makes the symbolism of the building remarkable is that it was constructed between 1902-05 much before India got its Independence and the nawabs were in the power of the 15-gun salute Princely State. They consciously chose to keep the sequence of symbolism with a secular spirit.
The unique architecture of the library building tells a long story about the nature and politics of the erstwhile Rampur Princely state. The interior of the building is also inspired by European architecture. The architect of the building was French architect W.C. Wright, who made the structure on the instructions given by Nawab Hamid Ali Khan.
The interiors of the library
The Nawabs of Rampur were Rohilas, who had their origin in Roh, Afghanistan, and were renowned for their secular and liberal outlook. They patronized the arts, culture, and education, and were known for their love of music, poetry, and architecture. They also promoted social and religious harmony by patronizing scholars and religious leaders from all faiths, including Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs. Raza library continues to be one of the most important cultural institutions in India and houses a vast collection of rare manuscripts, books, and other artifacts.
The library is now managed by the Government of Uttar Pradesh but remains closely associated with the Nawab family. Its minarets capture the true soul of the syncretic traditions of India. The Rampur Raza Library collection was started by Nawab Faizullah Khan in 1774. But the building came up much later.
The library initially had the personal book collection of Nawabs of Rampur who were patrons of the arts and avid collectors of books and manuscripts. Over the decades, the library has grown to become one of the largest collections of rare books and manuscripts in the country.
The library houses a vast collection of 17,000 manuscripts, including 150 illustrated ones with 4413 illustrations and about 83,000 printed books besides 5,000 miniature paintings in albums, 3000 specimens of calligraphy, and 205 palm leaves. Many rare and valuable texts are in Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Hindi, and other languages. The collection includes works on a wide range of subjects, including history, philosophy, science, literature, and religion.
The Raza Library is also home to several rare artifacts, including miniature paintings, coins, and other objects of historical and cultural significance. The library has a conservation lab that works to preserve these artifacts and ensure that they are protected for future generations. Nawab Murad Ali Khan, the son of the last nawab Murtaza Ali Khan has been on the board of the library management. His brother Nawab Kazim Ali Khan was also involved.
He has been MLA for five straight terms from the Suar constituency. He has twice been a Minister in Samajwadi as well as the Bahujan Samaj Party Government of Uttar Pradesh. He has continued the legacy of his ancestors in furthering a tolerant and secular culture in his region. Maulana Azad was the first MP from Rampur, who also became the first education minister of independent India. The Nawabs of Rampur were particularly famous for their patronage of Urdu poetry and music.
The general view of the library
Nawab Yousuf Ali Khan learnt poetry from Mirza Ghalib, who had been employed by his court. The nawabs were avid collectors of musical instruments, and many famous musicians and singers, including Ustad Allauddin Khan and Ustad Faiyaz Khan, were associated with the Rampur court.
The Rampur-Sahaswan gharana of classical music is named after the princely state and continues to be popular among music enthusiasts in India. Even though Rampur was a predominantly Muslim state, the Nawabs encouraged the development of Hindu temples and other places of worship for non-Muslims.
They also supported interfaith marriages and were known for their efforts to bridge the gap between different communities in their state. Rampur Raza Library is today one of the biggest symbols of India’s syncretic heritage and continues to attract visitors from across the world.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by ATV / Posted by Shaista Fatima / February 22nd, 2023
Sahebaan Business and Professionals Group (SBPG) and Sahebaan UAE conducted a Business and Professionals Meet at Al Jumairah Ballroom of Crowne Plaza Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, on 5th February 2023 from 2.00 PM onwards.
The event, sponsored by the Sahebaan Business Community UAE, was a success, with Sahebaan Community delegates from UAE, GCC, and India in attendance.
The event commenced with a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran. The convenor of SBPG, Althaf M.S., welcomed the gathering and explained the purpose of this maiden initiative.
The Program thereafter commenced with a panel discussion moderated by Althaf M.S., an EPC Oil and Gas Professional. The panel consisted of Dr. Abdul Rahiman Beig, a Professor at Khalifa University Abu Dhabi; Mrs. Ambreen Sheik, a Businesswomen and also an Honorary President of the Indian Ladies Association, Abu Dhabi; Mr. Mumtaz Hussain, an established Businessman from Qatar; Dr. Waleed Ahmed, Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (UK) and a well- known consultant and Mr. Syed Siraj Ahmed, Ex banker & Risk Management Consultant.
While speaking during the event, Mr. Imran Hidayath, CEO of Hidayath Group, Dubai, dwelt on his entrepreneurial journey to success.
Mr. Suhail Kudroli, Chartered Accountant, urged all to participate in such gatherings.
While speaking at the sidelines of the meeting, UAE Sahebaan Convenor Mr. Afroz Assadi and Mr. Siraj Ahmed appreciated the initiative and urged all to lend their support.
Business presentations were made subsequently by Mohd Salman on his startup business “The Stepup Ventures,” followed by Sahebaan ladies, Sahara Asif on “Life Skills Education” and Waseem Shaikh & Thanziya Khan on “Tru Choco & Nuts.”
The event’s highlight was Speed Networking, which evidenced active participation by delegates and interaction on a one-to-one basis with every delegate.
The Program was managed by Althaf M.S, Mohd. Samiulla, Mohd Sufiyan, and Faizaan Khateeb and anchored by Mohd. Sufiyan.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Gulf / by Vartha Bharati / February 13th, 2023
A total of 946 Police personnel have been awarded Medals on the occasion of the Republic Day, 2021.
The break-up is as under:-
Gallantry Medals
Name of the Medal
Number of Medals Awarded
President’s Police Medal for Gallantry (PPMG)
02
Police Medal for Gallantry (PMG)
205
Service Medals
Name of the Medal
Number of Medals Awarded
President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service (PPM)
89
Police Medal for Meritorious Service (PM)
650
Among the majority of the 207 Gallantry Awards, 01 PPMG to Jharkhand (Posthumous) & 01 PPMG to CRPF (Posthumous) is being awarded, 137 personnel are being awarded for their gallant action in Jammu & Kashmir, 24 personnel for their gallant action in Left Wing Extremism affected areas and 01 personnel for their gallant action in North-East Region. Among the personnel receiving Gallantry Awards, 68 are from CRPF, 52 are from J&K Police, 20 are from BSF and 17 are from Delhi Police, 13 are from Maharashtra and 08 are from Chhattisgarh and 08 are from Uttar Pradesh and the remaining from the other States/UTs and CAPFs.
Force Wise/State Wise list of Medal awardees to the Police Personnel are as follows:
Sl.No.
Name of States/ UTsOrganization
President’s Police Medal for Gallantry (PPMG)
Police Medal for Gallantry(PMG)
President’s Police Medal (PPM) for Distinguished Service
Police Medal (PM) for Meritorious Service
1
Andhra Pradesh
0
2
1
15
2
Arunachal Pradesh
0
0
0
2
3
Assam
0
0
1
13
4
Bihar
0
5
2
11
5
Chhattisgarh
0
8
1
10
6
Delhi
0
17
3
18
7
Goa
0
0
0
2
8
Gujarat
0
0
2
17
9
Haryana
0
0
2
12
10
Himachal Pradesh
0
0
1
4
11
Jammu & Kashmir
0
52
2
17
12
Jharkhand
1
2
1
8
13
Karnataka
0
0
0
19
14
Kerala
0
0
1
9
15
Madhya Pradesh
0
2
4
17
16
Maharashtra
0
13
4
40
17
Meghalaya
0
0
1
3
18
Mizoram
0
0
1
3
19
Nagaland
0
0
0
2
20
Odisha
0
0
2
11
21
Punjab
0
3
2
16
22
Rajasthan
0
0
1
13
23
Sikkim
0
0
0
1
24
Tamil Nadu
0
0
3
17
25
Telangana
0
0
2
12
26
Tripura
0
0
0
6
27
Uttar Pradesh
0
8
7
72
28
Uttarakhand
0
0
1
5
29
West Bengal
0
0
2
20
UTs
30
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
0
0
1
1
31
Chandigarh
0
0
0
1
32
Puducherry
0
0
0
1
CAPFs/Other Organizations
33
Assam Rifles
0
1
1
13
34
BSF
0
20
5
46
35
CISF
0
0
2
24
36
CRPF
1
68
6
57
37
ITBP
0
2
3
12
38
NSG
0
0
0
4
39
SSB
0
2
2
12
40
IB (MHA)
0
0
8
26
41
CBI
0
0
7
24
42
SPG
0
0
1
4
43
BPR&D
0
0
1
2
44
NCRB
0
0
1
1
45
NIA
0
0
1
5
46
SPV NPA
0
0
0
1
47
NDRF
0
0
0
4
48
NEPA
0
0
0
1
49
NHRC
0
0
1
1
50
M/O Social Justice
0
0
1
0
51
UIDAI
0
0
1
0
52
M/o Railways (RPF)
0
0
1
15
Total
2
205
89
650
Detailed lists of Awardees are as below:
PRESIDENT’S POLICE MEDAL FOR GALLANTRY (PPMG):
Jharkhand
Sl No
Name S/Shri
Rank
Medal Awarded
1
Late Banua Oraon
ASI
PPMG (Posthumous)
CRPF
2
Late Mohan Lal
ASI
PPMG(Posthumous)
POLICE MEDAL FOR GALLANTRY (PMG)
Andhra Pradesh
Sl No
Name S/Shri
Rank
Medal Awarded
1
Gongati Girish Kumar
AAC
PMG
2
Kudupudi Hari Krishna
JC
1st BAR TO PMG
Bihar
3
Birendra Kumar Medhavi
Insp.
PMG
4
Pradeep Kumar
Insp.
PMG
5
Dhanraj Kumar
SI
1st BAR TO PMG
6
Uttam Kumar
CT
PMG
7
Dharmendra Kumar
CT
PMG
Chhattisgarh
8
Santosh Hemla
SI
1st BAR TO PMG
9
T. P Dilip
HC
PMG
10
Ajay Sonkar
Insp.
PMG
11
Abdul Sameer Khan
Insp.
3rd BAR TO PMG
12
Omprakash Sen
Company Commander
1st BAR TO PMG
13
Raman Usendi
Insp.
2nd BAR TO PMG
14
Ramesh Kumar Sori
ASI
2nd BAR TO PMG
15
Leeladhar Rathore
Insp.
PMG
Delhi
16
Sanjeev Kumar Yadav
DCP
8th BAR TO PMG
17
Prabhat Kumar Pankaj
Insp.
PMG
18
Pankaj Kumar
Insp.
PMG
19
Krishan Kumar
SI
PMG
20
Neeraj Kumar Sharma
SI
PMG
21
Girdhar Singh Gurjer
HC
PMG
22
Gurdeep Singh
CT
PMG
23
Pramod Singh Kushwah
DCP
2nd BAR TO PMG
24
Hridaya Bhushan
ACP
PMG
25
Sandesh. K
SI
PMG
26
Bhupender Kumar
ASI
PMG
27
Pramod Singh Kushwah
DCP
1st BAR TO PMG
28
Vinod Kumar
Insp.
1st BAR TO PMG
29
Dr. G.Ram Gopal Naik
DCP
PMG
30
Rajesh Kumar
ACP
PMG
31
Vinay Tyagi
Insp.
PMG
32
Kuldeep Singh
CT
PMG
Jammu & Kashmir
33
Abdul Waheed Shah
SSP
1st BAR TO PMG
34
Farooq Ahmad Malla
Follower
PMG
35
Ashish Kumar Mishra, IPS
SP
2nd BAR TO PMG
36
Farooq Ahmad Bhat
DySP
PMG
37
Sarjan Ahmad Dar
SI
PMG
38
Fayaz Ahmad Lone
ASI
1st BAR TO PMG
39
Arshid Rasool Tantray
CT
PMG
40
Tariq Mahmood
DySP
1st BAR TO PMG
41
Reyaz Ahmad Mir
SI
1st BAR TO PMG
42
Jagdish Singh
ASI
1st BAR TO PMG
43
Mohd Hussain Mir
HC
PMG
44
Sahil Sharma
DySP
PMG
45
Sageer Ahmad Pathan
ASI
1st BAR TO PMG
46
Tahair Ashraf
SP
1st BAR TO PMG
47
Javeed Ahmad Yatoo
Insp.
1st BAR TO PMG
48
Mohamad Irfan Malik
Insp.
PMG
49
Tariq Ahmad Rather
HC
PMG
50
Vidhi Kumar Birdi, IPS
DIG
2nd BAR TO PMG
51
G V Sundeep Chakravarthy, IPS
SP
1st BAR TO PMG
52
Shahjhan Choudhary
DySP
1st BAR TO PMG
53
Mohd Rafi Malik
ASI
1st BAR TO PMG
54
Mohd Suleman Choudhary, IPS
DIG
PMG
55
Reyaz Ahmad Baba
SgCT
PMG
56
Sandeep, IPS
SSP
1st BAR TO PMG
57
Firdous Ahmad Ganie
SgCT
PMG
58
Reyaz Ahmad Khan
CT
PMG
59
Arvind Kumar Badgal
DySP
PMG
60
Javid Ahmad Mir
CT
PMG
61
Mashkoor Ahmed
DySP
2nd BAR TO PMG
62
Yousuf-Ul-Umer
SI
1st BAR TO PMG
63
Ferooz Ahmad Lone
HC
2nd BAR TO PMG
64
Tahir Saleem Khan
SSP
1st BAR TO PMG
65
Zahoor Ahmad Wani
SI
1st BAR TO PMG
66
Shabir Ahmad Dar
HC
PMG
67
Rakesh Akram
DySP
1st BAR TO PMG
68
Madasar Nasser
Insp.
1st BAR TO PMG
69
Nazir Ahmad Jatal
SgCT
PMG
70
Mohd Idress Wani
DySP
1st BAR TO PMG
71
Khursheed Ahmad Malla
HC
PMG
72
Ferooz Ahmad Lone
HC
1st BAR TO PMG
73
Bilal Ahmad Shagoo
SgCT
PMG
74
Dawood Ahmad Bhat
SgCT
1st BAR TO PMG
75
Bashir Ahmad Sheikh
Follower
PMG
76
Shamshir Hussain
SSP
1st BAR TO PMG
77
Fayaz Hussain Shah
DySP
1st BAR TO PMG
78
Khushal Hussain Shah
HC
PMG
79
Reyaz Ahmad Mir
CT
PMG
80
Tariq Mahmood
DySP
2nd BAR TO PMG
81
Parveen Kumar
SI
PMG
82
Tariq Ahmad Khoja
SgCT
PMG
83
Sajad Ahmad Malik
DySP
1st BAR TO PMG
84
Ravinder Paul Singh
Insp.
1st BAR TO PMG
Jharkhand
85
Prakash Kumar Rajak
SI
PMG
86
Kunal
Addl.SP
PMG
Maharashtra
87
Raja R, IPS
Addl.SP
PMG
88
Nagnath Gurusiddha Patil
PSI
PMG
89
Mahadev Maroti Madavi
NPC
PMG
90
Kamlesh Ashok Arka
NPC
PMG
91
Hemant Korke Madavi
PC
PMG
92
Amul Shriram Jagtap
PC
PMG
93
Vella Korke Atram
PC
PMG
94
Sudhakar Malayya Mogaliwar
PC
PMG
95
Biyeshwar Vishnu Gedam
PC
PMG
96
Gajanan Dattatray Pawar
Police Insp.
PMG
97
HariBalaji N, IPS
Addl.SP
PMG
98
Girish Maroti Dhekale
NPC
PMG
99
Nilesh Maroti Dhumne
NPC
PMG
Madhya Pradesh
100
Arvind Kumar Saxena,IPS
SP
PMG
101
Dharm Vir Singh
Addl.SP
1st BAR TO PMG
Punjab
102
Bikramjit Singh Brar
DySP
2nd BAR TO PMG
103
Sukhwinder Kumar
ASI
PMG
104
Parwinder Singh
HC
PMG
Uttar Pradesh
105
Sunil Kumar
SI
PMG
106
Vinay Kumar Sharma
SI
PMG
107
Amit Kumar Teotia
CT
PMG
108
Prashant Kumar, IPS
ADG
1st BAR TO PMG
109
Sanjeev Kumar
Insp.
PMG
110
Abhishek Singh, IPS
SSP
PMG
111
Brijesh Kumar Singh
DySP
PMG
112
Rakam Singh
HC
PMG
Assam Rifles
113
Dr Shyam Sunder Shah
2-IC
PMG
BSF
114
Late Gajender Singh
AC
PMG(Posthu)
115
Late Amresh Kumar
CT
PMG(Posthu)
116
Walkunde Shantilal Devidas
SI
PMG
117
Late Abhijit Nandy
CT
PMG(Posthu)
118
Anirban Chatterjee
CT
PMG
119
Mohd Yousaf
HC
PMG
120
Mukesh Yadav
CT
PMG
121
Hari Lal
DIG
PMG
122
Surjeet Singh Guleria
DIG
PMG
123
Prateek Vashisth
AC
PMG
124
Suraj Karan Meena,
SI
PMG
125
Late Braj Kishore Yadav
ASI
PMG(Posthu)
126
Ramesan N
ASI
PMG
127
Rohit Joshi
ASI
PMG
128
Shyam Singh
HC
PMG
129
Mudit Kumar
CT
PMG
130
Rajput Jaydip Bhimsing
CT
PMG
131
Sawant Sachin Sambhaji
CT
PMG
132
Rentu Mollick
CT
PMG
133
Raman Gupta
AC
PMG
CRPF
134
Manoranjan Nath
HC
PMG
135
Reji Kumar K.G
HC
PMG
136
Ibraj Newar
CT
PMG
137
Yogesh Kumar Sharma
Insp.
PMG
138
Madhu Kumar
CT
PMG
139
Bhagat Vinit Shyamrao
CT
PMG
140
Shankar Lal Jat
AC
1st BAR TO PMG
141
Syed Shoaib Ahmad
CT
PMG
142
Keshari Kumar Singh
AC
PMG
143
Shabir Ahmad Dar
CT
PMG
144
Loukrakpam Ibomcha Singh
AC
2nd BAR TO PMG
145
Feda Hussain Dar
CT
PMG
146
Sajad Ahmad Bhat
CT
PMG
147
Prabhat Chandra Jha
DIG
PMG
148
Harinder Kumar
Comdt.
PMG
149
Jitendra KumarGupta
Comdt.
PMG
150
Rabi Narayan Swain
HC
PMG
151
Pawan Kumar
HC
PMG
152
Puncham Singh
CT
PMG
153
Rajesh Kumar
2-IC
PMG
154
Sanjeev Kumar
Insp.
PMG
155
Mahendra Kumar
HC
PMG
156
Nand Kishor
HC
PMG
157
Pankaj Kumar
CT
PMG
158
Durga Prasad Yadav
CT
PMG
159
Komal Singh
DIG
1st BAR TO PMG
160
Ambika Yadav
ASI
PMG
161
Mahesh Pillai R
CT
PMG
162
Gulam Rasool Lone
CT
PMG
163
Md Yousuf Itoo
ASI
1st BAR TO PMG
164
Shaid Hussain
CT
1st BAR TO PMG
165
Brajbhan Singh
Insp.
PMG
166
Akash Kumar Badal
SI
PMG
167
Roomi Kumar
CT
PMG
168
Mohd Shabir
CT
PMG
169
Naraganti Durgapathi
CT
PMG
170
Karthik K
AC
PMG
171
Brijanand Kumar Singh
SI
PMG
172
Sandeep Sharma
CT
PMG
173
Sonu Goutam
CT
PMG
174
Sanjeev Kumar
CT
PMG
175
Sukhjinder Singh
CT
PMG
176
Joni Kumar
CT
PMG
177
Velat Ram Dangi
AC
PMG
178
Shyam Singh Tomar
CT
PMG
179
Sorthiya Kalpesh Kumar Vallabh Bhai
CT
PMG
180
Kailash Pati Bera
CT
PMG
181
Rambol Kumar
SI
PMG
182
Vijay Singh
CT
PMG
183
Susheel Kumar
CT
PMG
184
Surya Prakash
CT
PMG
185
Sonu
CT
PMG
186
Nadeem Ahmad Samdani
Comdt.
PMG
187
Lallu Singh
CT
PMG
188
Ahsan Ahmad
CT
PMG
189
Ranjit Machahary
CT
PMG
190
Santosh Kumar
HC
PMG
191
Asim Das
CT
PMG
192
Mudasir Ahmad Shan
CT
PMG
193
Shalinder Kumar
CT
PMG
194
Krishan Kumar Yadav
AC
PMG
195
Sudhakar Kumar Gupta
SI
PMG
196
Bijay Tirkey
CT
PMG
197
Henzang
Comdt.
PMG
198
Jony Kumar
AC
PMG
199
Rameshwar
CT
PMG
200
Patil Rajendra Bhavalal
CT
PMG
201
Dod Sagar Gajanan
CT
PMG
ITBP
202
Anurag Kumar Singh
AC
1st BAR TO PMG
203
Rajesh Kumar Luthra
AC
PMG
SSB
204
Ajay Kumar
Comdt.
PMG
205
Naseer Ahmed
CT
PMG
PRESIDENT’S POLICE MEDAL FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE (PPM)
DR. ARCHANA SHIVAHARE, INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, COMPUTER CUM STATE CR, OFFICE OF THE IGP, SCRB, GUJARAT, 382010
SHRI JASHVANTKUMAR RAMJIBHAI MOTHALIYA, INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, BORDER RANGE, BHUJ, OFFICE OF THE IGP, BORDERRANGE, BHUJ. DISTRICT-KUTCH, GUJARAT, 370001
SHRI SANKAR GHOSH DASTIDAR, SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE, BIDHANNAGAR POLICE COMMISSIONERATE, STADIUM GATE NO 3, SECTOR-III, SALT LAKE, WEST BENGAL, 700106
SHRI BABAR ALI, SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE, ENFORCEMENT BRANCH, BHABANI BHAWAN, ALIPORE, KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, 700027
SHRI SANTANU BISWAS, SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE, DIGHA POLICE STATION, PURBA MEDINIPUR, WEST BENGAL, WEST BENGAL, 721428
SHRI TARAK MONDAL, SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE (ARMED BRANCH), DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE (ARMED POLICE) CELL, BARRACKPORE, NORTH 24 PGS, WEST BENGAL, 700120
SHRI TAPASH KUMAR MANDAL, POLICE DRIVER, SWAMI VIVEKANANDA STATE POLICE ACADEMY, BARRACKPORE, WEST BENGAL, 700120
SHRI SUBRATA KUMAR BERA, ASSISTANT SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE, TITAGARH POLICE STATION, BARRACKPORE POLICE COMMISSIONERATE, WEST BENGAL, 700119
SHRI ASIT CHAKRABORTY, ASSISTANT SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE, GOALPOKHER POLICE STATION, UTTAR DINAJPUR DISTRICT, WEST BENGAL, 733210
When we think of the empowerment of women, we usually think about Western culture. Nevertheless, the East has had its fair share of female role models. While Islam has historically given men the role of providing security, women were not restricted from doing the same. During the Mughal Empire, a special class of female soldiers known as the Urdubegis appeared on the scene with the sole purpose of protecting the Mughal emperor and his harem.
In point of fact, over time many Muslim women were famed for their fighting skills, including Nusaybah Bint Ka’ab, the first female warrior of Islam. The Mughal Empire sprang up in India in 1526, when Babur, the first Mughal emperor defeated Ibrahim Lodi. Accompanying Babur was his harem, and to ensure their protection he created the Urdubegis made up of women who belonged to Kashmiri, Turk, Habshi and Tartar tribes.
A strong threat to the king’s enemies, the Urdubegis were feared by both men and princes alike. Trained female warriors, the Urdubegis have been remembered for their incredible loyalty to the king. Time has been harsh to their legacy and nowadays they are no more than footnotes in the annals of Mughal history. In this article, we will try to do their story some justice.
Emperor celebrating with ladies in the harem ( Public domain ).
The Varied Role of Women in the Mughal Harem
Thoughts of a pleasure garden tend to come to mind when thinking of a harem, but that is far from the truth. Most of the women that lived there were female employees and relatives of the emperor. Only five percent of the women served for the sexual pleasure of the emperor; they were his queens and concubines. The residents of the harem practiced the parda, in front of all men, except the emperor. The literal meaning of the word parda is a veil, in the Mughal period women would cover themselves from head to toe to cover their face and skin, as well as concealing their form from men.
In an article published in South Asian Studies, Gull-i-Hina describes how the Mughal women were expected to behave. “The public lives of women of nobility were governed by the laws of seclusion. The practice of parda, or the sequestering of women behind the veil or wall, had already been known in ancient and medieval India and had been used throughout history by many of the upper classes. By the time of the Mughals, seclusion was an accepted way of life for aristocratic families.”
A vast majority of women inhabited the harem, also known as the zanana or zenana. They each had a specific role to play, and the Urdubegis were responsible for security. “The palaces in which the zanana women lived were self-sufficient cities with a full range of castes, occupations, and administrators, and were as cosmopolitan a mix of religions, nationalities, and artistic talents as to be found in any metropolis of the time,” explains Ellison Banks when discussing the harem in her book Nur Jahan: Empress of Mughal India .
Due to the number of inhabitants, there was a need for female employees that would help maintain the smooth functioning of the harem. Thus, apart from eunuchs, there were lady officials like the Angas (foster-mother), the Daroghas (matrons), Mahaldars (superintendents), and Urdubegis (armed women guards). These women were married and served in the harem during their hours of duty, otherwise, they lived in their own homes away from the harem.
Three things helped sustain the Mughal emperor’s power: his army, his treasury, and his women. The first two were not directly linked to the king, but the Harem, on the other hand, was closest in proximity to him. The king spent a lot of time there, thus there was a need for trustworthy and capable guards. Since only eunuchs and women were allowed in the harem, a few among them were selected and trained as proper warriors, capable of guarding the women without the need for male guards.
Women in the harem practiced parda, or the veil, in front of all men except the emperor. ( Public domain )
The Urdubegis –Female Warriors of the Mughal Harem
The Urdubegis were trained female warriors, who served as guards in the proximity of the harem. For them to become guards, they had to belong to tribes that did not practice parda. A guard would have had to be visible to men on certain occasions, including times when they were traveling. Therefore, to ensure the protection of their charges, the Urdubegis had to be willing to sacrifice the veil so that they could guard the hidden queens and princesses. These women usually came from Habshi, Tartar, Turk, and Kashmiri tribes.
The Urdubegis have been mentioned during the times of Emperor Babur and Humayun. Therefore, it can be said that they came into being with the coming of the Mughals as there is no mention of Urdubegis before that. There may have been female guards with different names, but no mention of the Urdubegis specifically has been discovered to date.
The guards were trained in the use of bows and arrows, and spears. Along with long-range weapons, they were taught to use short daggers and swords. Taught the art of fighting, these women had to be trustworthy because they would not only be guarding the queen and the rest of the harem but the king as well. The Mughal emperor spent the most time in the harem, which is why why the guards had to be trusted not to betray the emperor in the one place where he would be the most vulnerable.
“The Urdubegis of the Mughal court was so skillful in warfare, that during the war of succession, Aurangzeb rejected to visit Shah Jahan because he feared the female armed guard would murder him,” wrote Kishori Saran Lal in his book The Mughal Harem when discussion the ferocity and strength of the Urdubegis.
The women would accompany the emperor everywhere he went. In 1527, Babur conquered India and set about laying the foundations of the Mughal Empire, however, both Babur and Humayun ruled from their encampments. The first two Mughal kings were unable to lay down a solid foundation, which meant they kept wandering. As they traveled, their wives and other female companions accompanied them, and to keep them protected but hidden, female guards were assigned to the mobile harem.
These female guards were vital especially when the haram accompanied the emperor on his travels or battle excursions. Their presence outside the women’s tents ensured exclusivity and regulation. The guards, both male and female, were swapped every twenty-four hours to guarantee that they were alert and to prevent internal conspiracies from forming.
Akbar came to power in 1556, the third emperor of the Mughal Empire. At the time of his ascension, the empire did not have a solid foundation. However, in his 49-year reign, the Mughal Empire had gained permanence. Grand palaces were constructed, and, usually, the harem would be located close to the emperor’s lodgings. However, the male guards that protected the emperor could not venture into the harem, so the female guards, the Urdubegis, gained a more significant role.
Not all Urdubegis were originally warriors. Some moved up in the ranks over time. For example, the only known Urdubegis once served as the nurse for Emperor Humayun, the father of Akbar and the second Mughal emperor. When Humayun died in 1556, his nurse was promoted to the chief of the Urdubegis during his son’s reign.
Only one of the Urdubegis has been remembered by name. Representational image. (Cleveland Museum of Art / CC0)
Bibi Fatima – The Only Known Urdubegis
Unfortunately, there is very little information regarding the numerous women who protected the harem. Only one name appears in written records, that of Bibi Fatima, chief of the Urdubegis. Serving during the life of Emperor Humayun, her name is mentioned in the Humayun-Nama, written by Gulbadan Begum, his half-sister. Perhaps Bibi Fatima was mentioned because a woman wrote the biography and found the contributions of the female guard worthy of remembrance.
Originally Bibi Fatima had served Emperor Humayun as his wet nurse or Anka. She took care of Humayun when he fell gravely ill, nursing him back to health, and continued to care for him until his death in 1556. She continued to serve under Emperor Akbar, who rewarded her for her loyalty and dedication to his father, promoting her to the chief of the Urdubegis. Although she was probably not as trained as a warrior, like the women under her, Bibi Fatima earned her place, proving to the emperor that she would be loyal to the king, no matter the circumstances.
The Humayun-Nama claims that she had a daughter called Zuhra. In appreciation for her work, Zuhra was later married off to Hamida’s (Humayun’s wife) brother, who would go on to murder her, despite her mother’s best efforts to rescue her daughter. The sad incident is mentioned in the Humayun Nama:
“In 1564, Bibi Fatima lamented to Akbar that Khwaja Mu’azzam had threatened to kill his wife Zuhra, who was her daughter. The emperor consequently sent the Khwaja word that he was coming to his house and followed the message closely. As he entered, the Khwaja stabbed Zuhra and then flung his knife, like a challenge, amongst the loyal followers.”
It seems that Bibi Fatima continued to serve her king, because there is no mention that she left her post after the incident. However, one can imagine the heartache a mother who lost her child must have gone through. She deserves respect for all her service, regardless of the circumstances. Luckily, we know the name of at least one Urdubegis.
Nur Jahan entertaining the Mughal emperor. ( Public domain )
Why Have the Urdubegis Been Forgotten?
With the coming of the British in the 18th century, the Mughal Empire fell into decline. However, it wasn’t until 1858 that the last king was removed from his throne and replaced by British rule. When Bahadar Shah Zafar lost his crown, the Mughal harem ceased to be, thus there was no longer a need for the Urdubegis. Their main task of protecting the king and the harem had ended.
Political decay lowered the status of women and female guards became extinct. In this new context, women were seen as weak and therefore rules were applied that subjected women to incarceration within their own homes. However, the strength and dedication of the Urdubegis ensured that they have been remembered to some extent.
We know more about the Urdubegis as a whole, rather than individually, which is a shame because the stories of these female warriors must have been fascinating. They were privy to the emperor’s most inner moments, and had they had recorded their stories, we would know a lot more about the life of the Mughal kings. Despite the scarce information, they have left an imprint upon history, albeit minute.
Top image: The Urdubegis were female warriors tasked with protecting the Mughal emperor and his harem. Representational image. Source: Public domain
By Khadija Tauseef
Khadija Tauseef, has always had a passion for ancient history. She completed a BA(Hons) and MPhil in History along with historical programs online. Egyptian and Greek are of particular interest but she likes to study all she can. She is currently mid-way through two courses that are about the ancient Greeks and their myths and wants to share her learning with others.
source: http://www.ancient-origins.net / Ancient Origins / Home> News / by Khadija Tauseef / June 20th, 2022
Delhi-based author Syed Ubaidur Rahman’s latest book is making waves among academics and history buffs these days. His book, ‘Forgotten Muslim Empires of South India: Bahmani Empire, Madurai, Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Golconda and Mysore Sultanates’ that was released earlier this month has caught the imagination of a large number of people.
While the Muslim history in north India is well documented, the history of Muslims in the Deccan hasn’t caught the same attention. This is the reason that while hundreds of books have been penned on the Mughals and the Delhi Sultanate’s rule in different languages, if you try to lay your hands on the Muslim rule elsewhere, there is very little available on the ruling dynasties and their rule in other regions including South India.
Syed Ubaidur Rahman’s latest book tries to correct this mistake and bring back the Muslim sultanates of the Deccan and south India into focus. The voluminous book of 664 pages, it contains a more than three hundred fifty page chapter on the Bahmani Empire alone.
When asked as to why he wrote so much on the Bahmani Sultanate, the author says, “Bahmani Sultanate, towards the end of the 14th century was the pre-eminent power not just in South India, but across the Indian subcontinent. However, despite its resplendent and great past, there is not much literature available on the Bahmani Sultanate that was the most powerful empire from mid fourteenth century till the end of the fifteenth century. It has been relegated to the margins of history in our school syllabus and even in our history books. In this book, I have made an effort to bring it back to common imagination and make it a talking point”.
The author goes on to add that “The Bahmanis and the latter day sultanates in the region had a transformative impact over the populace, both Muslims and Hindus. Not much is written about how the Bahmani sultans spread education across the region and established schools and colleges in every major towns of their realm that not just provided free education to the pupils but took care of all their needs including food and lodging. Muhammad Shah II, during his peaceful reign of close to two decades, ensured that schools and colleges were established in almost every part of the sultanate with hostel facilities. The building of Mahmud Gawan’s university is still standing tall in Bidar, the second capital of the Bahmani empire”.
Chapters on Bijapur’s Adil Shahi Sultanate, Ahmadnagar’s Nizam Shahi Sultanate, Golconda’s Qutb Shahi Sultanate, besides Madurai and Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan’s Mysore Sultanates are also thoroughly engaging, detailed and informative.
The book is a must read for history buffs, especially the ones who are concerned with preserving Indian Muslim history in the country.
***
Name of the book: ‘Forgotten Muslim Empire of South India’
Photographers Dar Yasin, Mukhtar Khan and Channi Anand captured images of protests, police and paramilitary action and daily life in Kashmir.
Women shout slogans as the police fire teargas and live ammunition in the air to stop a protest march in Srinagar, Aug. 9, 2019. The image was part of a series of photographs by Associated Press photographers which won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography.
The story of India’s crackdown on Kashmir last August was difficult to show to the world. The unprecedented lockdown included a sweeping curfew and shutdowns of phone and internet service.
But Associated Press ( AP ) photographers Dar Yasin, Mukhtar Khan and Channi Anand found ways to let outsiders see what was happening. Now, their work has been honoured with the 2020 Pulitzer Prize in feature photography.
Snaking around roadblocks, sometimes taking cover in strangers’ homes and hiding cameras in vegetable bags, the three photographers captured images of protests, police and paramilitary action and daily life — and then headed to an airport to persuade travellers to carry the photo files out with them and get them to the AP ’s office in New Delhi.
Kashmiri Muslim devotees offer prayer outside the shrine of Sufi saint Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani in Srinagar, Dec. 9, 2019. The image was part of a series of photographs by Associated Press photographers which won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography.
“It was always cat-and-mouse,” Mr. Yasin recalled on Monday. “These things made us more determined than ever to never be silenced.”
Mr. Yasin and Mr. Khan are based in Srinagar, Kashmir’s largest city, while Mr. Anand is based in the neighboring Jammu district.
Mr. Anand said the award left him speechless.
“I was shocked and could not believe it,” he said, calling the prize-winning photos a continuation of the work he’s been doing for 20 years with the AP .
An Indian Border Security Force (BSF) soldier keeps vigil near the India-Pakistan border at Garkhal in Akhnoor, about 35 kilometers (22 miles) west of Jammu, India, Aug. 13, 2019. The image was part of a series of photographs by Associated Press photographers which won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography.
With communications shut down, these journalists had to find out about protests and other news by finding them in person. Mr. Khan and Mr. Yasin took turns roving the streets in and around the regional capital of Srinagar, Mr. Yasin said, facing mistrust from both protesters and troops. The journalists were unable to go home for days or even let their families know they were doing okay.
“It was very hard,” Mr. Khan said, but “we managed to file pictures”.
After spotting luggage-toting people walking toward the airport, he said, the photographers decided to ask travellers to serve as couriers. Mr. Yasin also recalled how a relative of his, who was also a photojournalist, had told him about delivering film rolls to New Delhi in person as the conflict in Kashmir raged in the 1990s.
A masked Kashmiri protester jumps on the bonnet of an armored vehicle of Indian police as he throws stones at it during a protest in Srinagar, May 31, 2019. The image was part of a series of photographs by Associated Press photographers which won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography.
The photographers thus went to the Srinagar airport and sought out strangers willing to carry memory cards and flash drives to New Delhi and call AP after landing in the Indian capital.
Some flyers declined, fearing trouble with the authorities, Mr. Yasin said. But others said yes and followed through. Most of the memory cards and drives arrived.
Mr. Yasin says their prize-winning work has both professional and personal meaning to him.
“It’s not the story of the people I am shooting, only, but it’s my story,” he said. “It’s a great honour to be on the list of Pulitzer winners and to share my story with the world.”
“This honor continues AP ’s great tradition of award-winning photography,” said AP President and CEO Gary Pruitt. “Thanks to the team inside Kashmir, the world was able to witness a dramatic escalation of the long struggle over the region’s independence. Their work was important and superb.”
Pulitzer finalists for breaking-news photography award
In a year when protests arose across the globe, AP photographers Dieu Nalio Chery and Rebecca Blackwell were Pulitzer finalists for the breaking-news photography award for their coverage of violent clashes between police and anti-government demonstrators in Haiti.
Protesters and passersby look at images of people said to have been injured or killed during the month-long protests calling for the resignation of President Jovenel Moise, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Oct. 15, 2019. The image was part of a series of photographs by Associated Press photographers which was named a finalist for the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography.
Bullet fragments hit Mr. Chery in the jaw while he documented the unrest. He kept taking pictures, including images of the fragments that hit him.
A protest against fuel shortages and demanding the resignation of President Jovenel Moise in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Sept. 20, 2019. The image was part of a series of photographs by Associated Press photographers which was named a finalist for the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography.
“All five of these photographers made remarkable, stunning images despite dangerous and challenging conditions, sometimes at great personal risk,” said AP Director of Photography David Ake. “Their dedication to getting up every morning and going out to tell the story is a testament to their tenacity. The result of their work is compelling photojournalism that grabbed the world’s attention.”
AP Executive Editor Sally Buzbee called the Kashmir prize “a testament to the skill, bravery, ingenuity and teamwork of Dar, Mukhtar, Channi and their colleagues” and lauded Mr. Chery’s and Ms. Blackwell’s “brave and arresting work” in Haiti while many journalism outlets were focused elsewhere.
“At a time when AP ’s journalism is of more value than ever to the world, these journalists’ courage and compelling storytelling show the absolute best of what we do,” Ms. Buzbee said.
The honor for the photographers is the AP’s 54th Pulitzer Prize. The news cooperative last won a Pulitzer last year for stories, photos and video on the conflict in Yemen and the ensuing humanitarian crisis.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> World / by Associated Press (AP) / May 05th, 2020
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s name is taken with great pride and respect in Maharashtra. Every year on February 19, Shivaji Jayanti is celebrated with great pomp across the state. The coronation day of Shivaji Maharaj is also celebrated on June 6, 1674. About 350 years ago, Shivaji Maharaj was coronated at Raigad Fort in the presence of thousands of people.
There have been many kings but people remember only those who worked for the good of the people. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is one of them as he established Swaraj based on the values of equality, brotherhood, and justice. During his rule, he worked for public welfare without any discrimination.
These days, Shivaji Maharaj is portrayed as a Hindu ruler by vested interests like political parties and organizations. Is it fair to see a great personality like Shivaji Maharaj only in the frame of religion? To see Shivaji Maharaj only as a protector of religion amounts to diminishing his stature. Shivaji’s life was spent following high ideals.
He respected Saints, Peer Auliyas, and all religions. For this reason, when he established Swaraj, along with the local Marathas, a large number of Muslims also supported him. At that time the Marathas who were in his army were called Mawle of Shivaji. Thousands of Muslims participated in the battles he fought; his administration also had Mawle. That is why even today Muslims of Kolhapur, Satara take part in Shivaji Jayanti processions with great fanfare.
During the rule of Shivaji Maharaj, public welfare, justice, and brotherhood were given priority. That’s why he and his regime are remembered even today.
Shivaji Maharaj’s family respected Sufi saints a lot. His grandfather had named his two sons Shahji and Sharifji after the Muslim Pir Baba Shah Sharif. Shivaji Maharaj had great respect for Sufi Saint Baba Yakut. Before leaving for the war front he visited Baba to seek his blessings. He also had oil lamps lit on various dargahs, the resting place of the Sufis.
Women were respected during Shivaji’s reign. Even during the war touching a woman was prohibited. It seems that after the governor of Kalyan was defeated at the hands of Shivaji’s forces, his beautiful daughter-in-law was presented to Shivaji. He was ashamed of his General’s act of using a woman as a booty. He apologized to the Muslim woman and told her she is like his mother and returned her to her homeland with full state honour.
Shivaji Maharaj had unwavering faith in his Muslim soldiers. There were more than 60 thousand Muslim soldiers in his army. He had also established a strong Navy and its command was in the hands of Muslim soldiers. Even the management of sea forts was entrusted to experienced Muslim governors like Darya Sarang, Daulat Khan, Ibrahim Khan, Siddi Mistry. Many Muslim warlords like Rustamozman, Hussain Khan, Qasim Khan left the princely state of Bijapur and joined the army of Shivaji Maharaj along with 700 Pathan soldiers. Siddi Hilal was one of the closest Sardars of Shivaji Maharaj. His acts of bravery in the war are famous.
Most of the cannons used in Shivaji’s army were manned by Muslim soldiers. Ibrahim Khan was the chief gunner; Shama Khan and Ibrahim Khan were the head of the Cavalry squad.Siddi Ibrahim was one of Shivaji’s bodyguards. In the encounter with Afzal Khan, Siddi Ibrahim saved Shivaji Maharaj by risking his life. Later, Shivaji Maharaj appointed him as the head of the Fonda fort. All the facts bear testimony to a close bond between Shivaji and his Muslim associates.
When Shivaji was under arrest in Agra Fort, a Muslim man named Madari Mehtar played the most important role in his escape. While Shivaji escaped from the fort, Mehtar masqueraded as him.
With his secular ways, Shivaji Maharaj won the hearts of his colleagues and they were ever ready to make sacrifices for their king.
Qazi Haider, a scholar of the Persian language was Shivaji’s Chief Law officer. He had a major role in the administration’s correspondence and agreements and secret plans. Once a Hindu Sardar expressed doubts about Qazi Haider and advised Shivaji against trusting him. Shivaji told him rather curtly: “Honesty is not tested by looking at someone’s caste (religion), it depends on that person’s deeds”.
The preparations for the coronation of Shivaji Maharaj had started long back. New buildings including temples were being constructed when Shivaji Maharaj reached Raigad to review the work. On his return to his palace, he asked his Sardars while they have built magnificent temples why no mosque for Muslim subjects has been built. Immediately, a mosque was built right in front of the palace and it stands there even today.
Today the rivalry between Shivaji and Afzal Khan is presented as a story of Hindu-Muslim tension. The truth is after Afzal Khan died, Shivaji Maharaj ordered that his body be buried with Islamic rites. A concrete grave was built for Afzal Khan; his sons were pardoned.
Such behaviour of a ruler against his enemy is rarely found in history.
All these incidents of history prove that the war between Shivaji Maharaj and the Mughals was of mutual conflicts between the kings for political interests and not for religious supremacy.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Mukhtar Khan, ATV / posted by Aasha Khosa / February 22nd, 2023
‘Hyderabadi Shaadi Ki Dawat’ is going to be a unique event to experience the food, culture, and hospitality that Hyderabad is known for, all in one place.
Dr Ahmed Ashfaq aka Dr Foodie gears up to host the first ever edition of ‘Hyderabadi Shaadi Ki Dawat’ (Instagram)
If you’ve ever attended a Hyderabadi wedding, you’ll know that it’s a celebration unlike any other. From the colourful outfits, the lip-smacking food to of course the ‘marfa’, it’s a feast for the senses. Agree?
Are you eagerly waiting to attend a Hyderabadi Shaadi and indulge in the rich, flavorful cuisine that our sheher is famous for? If yes, mark your calendars for March 5th, 2023 because a unique event is going to happen in the city that promises to satisfy your craving for Hyderabadi Shaadi ka Khana. But there’s a twist – it’s not an actual wedding!
Idea behind hosting ‘Hyderabadi Shaadi Ki Dawat’
Organized by Hyderabad’s popular food blogger Dr Foodie aka Dr Ahmed Ashfaq, ‘Hyderabadi Shaadi Ki Daawat’ is going to be a unique event to experience the food, culture, and hospitality that Hyderabad is known for, all in one place. And the best part? Nobody gets married here, so you can just enjoy all the festivities without any of the pressure or stress that comes with attending an actual wedding. You will be able to enjoy the shadi without fear of judgement from your ‘phuppu or ‘chachi. The event is powered by Zetch Digital Solutions (Ayesha Sultana & Hasnain Ul Haq).
Speaking to Siasat.com, Dr Foodie spilled beans on the main idea behind the ‘one-of-a-kind’ concept and said, “Whenever I was posting reels about Hyderabadi wedding food, I noticed a lot of interest from people in Hyderabad and across India who were curious about where they could find this cuisine. This got me thinking about how I could provide this delicious food to others.”
He further added, “With the demand for this cuisine being high, I came up with the idea of hosting a shaadi ka event, where people could experience the authentic Hyderabadi wedding food without actually attending a wedding ceremony. It’s a great opportunity for people to savor the flavors and experience the culture of this cuisine.”
Timings: 7pm to 12am Venue: King’s Palace, Gudi Malkapur, Hyderabad.
What’s in the menu?
From the aromatic Biryani (The Star Of The Daawat) to the succulent kebabs, the mouth-watering haleem and many desserts, you’ll have the opportunity to savor a lengthy spread of delicious dishes that will leave your taste buds tingling. Lip-smacking vegetarian food items will also be there.
Bhulo Nakko, Dabake Khao!
Check out the menu below:
Beyond the Food!
Hyderabadi Shaadi Ki Daawat is not just about the food.
The event promises to be a cultural extravaganza, featuring music, interactions with your favourite influencers and the ‘vibe’ that is sure to transport you to the heart of Hyderabad.
Entrepreneur, vlogger, and ace tennis player Sania Mirza‘s sister Anam Mirza, popular YouTubers Amer Bin Ishaq and Shahbaaz Khan are among special guests who will be gracing the event.
“We will be creating a mock setup of a stage where attendees can take pictures or even pose as a bride and groom for a fun and memorable experience. In addition, we will have live mehendi stations, so guests can get their henna designs applied by skilled artists,” Dr Foodie said.
He also added, “We also have other surprise stalls planned, but we’ll keep the details under wraps for now to add an element of excitement and anticipation for our guests”.
So, prepare your best attire to glam up, look your best as you join Dr Foodie and his team for a celebration of all things Hyderabadi, and experience the best of the city’s rich culinary heritage.
Tickets For Hyderabadi Shaadi Ki Dawat
If you want to be a part of this unforgettable evening of food, fun, and cultural immersion, click here to book tickets and block your seats!
source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> Lifestyle / by Rasti Amena / February 21st, 2023
A Mangaluru student, Shaikh Uzayr Mohammed, studying in Qatar has won Bronze Medal at the International Mathematics Championship 2022.
Uzayr is a grade 3 student of MES School, studying in Qatar. He hails from Kankanady in Mangaluru.
The championship was held in December 2022 and the results were announced on Monday, February 20, 2023.
A total of 2288 students from over 20 countries had participated in the championship organised by Champ Yellow, wherein Uzayr secured a place in top 40%, thereby securing a rank in Bronze Medal category.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavali / by Vartha Bharati / February 20th, 2023
It is not rare to find Muslims doing social work silently, unwilling to promote themselves. One such person is Dr. Sarfarazuddin, a homeopath who lives in sector 105, Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
He has been feeding 100 deprived people every day for the past five years and teaches students free. He brings ill and unknown covid-dead patients home bathes and buries them, all by himself, and even marries off daughters of destitute families.
Dr. Sarfaraz, as he is popularly known, does good work at various levels. He has been feeding one meal (lunch) to 100 deprived daily for the last five years. He made that arrangement in a school he had opened in 2009 for the underprivileged children in a village nearby called Gejha, with his own money.
The school has 20 rooms on two floors. The students, who have lost either of their parents or are orphans, bright and have more siblings, children of domestic helpers, daily wagers, guards, gardeners, sweepers, etc., study free of charge here.
Others pay a nominal fee. Out of a total of 400 students, most are non-Muslims while some 40 of them are from nearby madrasas. He has recently gathered these students of madrasas of Gejha who had no modern education, to his school, taught them the basics of modern education, computer trained them, and brought them to par with students of 8th standard in his MM School (UP Board) so that they can take board exams and choose competitive subjects later; engineering, medicine to administrative.
Dr.Sarfaraz with his patients
Additionally, he has also started coaching students who want to play volleyball. It keeps them fit and if some of them play well, he says, they would be sent to state and national level competitions.
These children are both from the madrasas and nearby government schools which have no space or free coaches. 100 such students take coaching in different sessions, most of them, non-Muslim. Dr Sarfaraz distributes food to the underprivileged A beneficiary and volleyball coach,20-year-old Vishal swears by the good work Sarfaraz does.
He says, “My father is a daily wager and mother, a domestic help. I needed money to keep my studies and training going. So I offered to coach the students at his school and he readily agreed. Now I coach 100 students who don’t pay any fee, but I get a good payment from Sarfaraz Sir. I have played at the state and national levels. I would be sponsored by him separately if I could play more.”
He also says that Sarfaraz never charges him for medicines he takes for his mother, siblings, and extended family quite often. Sarfaraz also treats the disadvantaged of the area free of cost at his clinic in Gejha on alternate Saturdays and Sundays. He also gives them free medicines. Additionally, he has been regularly holding medical camps for underprivileged patients. During the Covid and lockdown period, he used to get some 200 to 250. The camp had to be stopped “for lack of funds for a few months”. It is difficult to make this man of few words speak about himself. But with an assurance that it might inspire more people, he got ready to share why and how he wishes to give his “entire life for khidmat-e-khalq” (serving people).
“I was always interested in social service as I used to observe my father, principal of a government school in UP, doing social work passionately. So it is integrated into my system. I started serving alongside my father by shifting my clinic from Bhangel to Gejha.”
On how he manages funds, he says, “I do it despite being in deficit. We get things on credit and clear the older dues and take new ones on credit again. Apart from spending from my pocket, I have a small circle of friends who support me on a regular or irregular basis. Some help comes from unknown sources at times.” Of late, apart from his homoeopathy clinic, he has also been running a small medical centre which takes care of some of the expenses for the good work.
Sarfaraz shares why he multiplied his charity work after he saw migrant labourers walking home barefoot, hungry and sick from Noida Expressway during the lockdown. “It was painful to see them. I bought whatever I saw on the road – the entire the of bananas, other fruits, biscuits, called some maulanas from nearby madrasas, and other people and we all stood on the road to feed these labourers day and night for several days. This made me think that I was still not doing enough for the underprivileged.”
Rajesh Yadav, a beneficiary, vouches for the help he has had from Sarfaraz. He says, “I live in sector 45 which is far from here. During the entire covenant lockdown period, my whole family could survive because he used to distribute food twice daily. I have seen him running behind buses and trucks full of labourers etc., to distribute food. He also offered me to make food for his beneficiaries because I am a halwai (sweet maker) by profession. During covid period and lockdown for two years, all the shutters were down, and only my work was sustained all thanks to him. He also never stopped my payment and helped me financially whenever I asked. He never treats me differently because I am a non-Muslim. Now I understand how political leaders divide us,” he gets emotionally charged.
After having felt that he was doing too little during covid, he alternatively kept on helping deprived families marry off their daughters. He even brought home several patients who died in covid when their families had either refused to take their bodies, were far off or they had no one left in the family. He gave them ghusl (bathed) and buried them in a nearby graveyard with his own hands without ever asking for their names, or contact details or expecting anything in return.
Mohammad Shahid, a transporter by profession, vouches for the work he does. He shares, “I shifted to Noida in 2008. Since then I am witnessing Sarfarazbhai working relentlessly for the poor. In my view, the two biggest things he has done are, bringing the dead from several societies nearby to his home (in case they have no one to perform the last rituals), getting them ghusl, and having them buried with respect. He did it during covid and is still doing it. Also, this deserted area had no graveyard for the Muslims. This was a great problem as other graveyards wouldn’t let us bury our dead due to overcrowding.
Coach Vishal with his students
Coach Vishal Yadav with students he coaches in Volleyball Dr sahib fought tooth and nail with a known builder who tried capturing the graveyard land for erecting a skyscraper in consonance with some greedy Muslims of the area and finally was able to retain around 2 acres of the graveyard. Dr Sarfaraz has helped the Muslims in and around Noida Expressway a great deal by building the only graveyard. I am also aware of his other charity work and can vouch for the fact that not even established NGOs with tonnes of money, don’t do the kind of work I have seen him doing.”
Sarfaraz’s family, consisting of a spouse and three children, he says, “often get anxious for it keeps him overtly busy, but they keep on supporting. Knowing this will never change, it is becoming a part of their system too,” he smiles. Agrees his wife Shaheen, however, adding that khidmat e khalq has been a part of her upbringing too.
“My father a school teacher who also has a family business of transport would always make sure that at least 20 deprived people ate at our home every day, at AaliGaon near Badapur Delhi, where we lived. I remember all the humble families used to have tea and breakfast at our home daily. After marriage, I found that Dr.Sarfaraz seemed to have gone a step further. Even while we were all suffering from covid, he used to leave home to help those in need in the wee hours of the morning.
She adds laughing, “the excuse he would give us was, I don’t see you guys offering fajr (morning) prayer. It depresses me so I go to the mosque nearby to offer mine.” Shaheen also adds that their children have imbibed this habit naturally.
Her young daughters, Sana and Saba, textile and product designers respectively, have started keeping 2.5 percent separate as zakat from their little earnings or pocket money. She also recalls a recent incident about her son, 14-year-old Asad, who wanted to eat delicious biryani sold every Friday near Gejha mosque.
“He asked for money but he came back empty-handed and hungry. I asked him why he didn’t eat biryani. He replied, as he started from home, two old women asked for some money. He gave them all and came back. He remained hungry to feed them. So, it runs in the family,” she says with a contented smile. Did anyone say, charity begins at home?
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Rana Siddiqui Zaman / posted by Shaista Fatima / February 17th, 2023
