Category Archives: Amazing Feats

Kerala Taxi Driver Provides Wedding Dresses to Needy Brides for Free

Thootha Village (Malappuram District), KERALA :

Dress Bank: Started in April 2020 and so far Nasar Thootha has gifted free wedding costumes to around 300 underprivileged brides.

Nasar Thootha runs the charity called “dress bank” in which he collects used dresses from the rich and passes on the same to those in need.

New Delhi :

A Taxi driver from Kerala’s Malappuram is running a charity of providing expensive wedding dresses to the brides unable to afford them for free.

Nasar Thootha, who hails from Thootha village of Malappuram District, runs the charity programme called “dress bank” in which he collects used dresses from the rich and passes on the same to those in need. He took the initiative in April 2020 and so far gifted free wedding costumes to around 300 underprivileged brides.

Last year, Nasar, who returned from Saudi Arabia where he employed in a supermarket, invited the people through the social media to pass on their idle used wedding dresses to him for the cause. As his request spread far and wide, dresses started landing on his doors.

“Wedding attires are all about vanity. They are worn for a few hours and then never come out of the cupboards. Realising this, many families came forward to support our cause,” Nasar was quoted by Al-Jazeera as saying.

He receives all these donated dresses from across the state with the help of friends and charity organisations. He cleans and packs them to keep them into distribution racks.

“With God’s grace,” said Nasar, I personally don’t have to invest any money on the dress bank. I am just a channel through which women who need them the most receive them from kind donors”.

His initiative has met with massive success as he has around a thousand dresses in stock, which range in prices from Rs 3000 to 50000 rupees. Not just Kerala, people from neighboring states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka also started donating dresses.

“The bride and her parents can directly visit the Dress Bank and select the dress item that she needs irrespective of its cost. We never ask them to return the dress after use,” he told The News Minute.

Talking about the inspiration behind the initiative, Nasar said, “After returning from Saudi Arabia, I was helping state agencies rehabilitate the poor and homeless. During that period, I met many families who were struggling to arrange wedding dresses for their daughters, which are usually expensive. So I decided to help them”.

Nasar, who has four children, parents, and a handicapped sister, was helped by the family members in his work. Initially, he started the work from home. Later, a friend gave him a shop to carry on with his charity work.

Apart from the dress bank, he runs an ambulance for patients. He does not charge those who are unable to rent an ambulance.

source: http://www.clarionindia.net / Clarion India / Home> Features> India / by Team Clarion / January 24th, 2022

Eight Muslims Among 119 Honoured with Padma Awards

INDIA :

Winners at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.

Winners receive awards from President Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan

New Delhi :

President Ramnath Kovind on Monday presented civilian awards or Padma awards to 119 personalities at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan New Delhi. The list includes foreigners, artists, sportspersons, people from film industry, public servants, activists. The awardees also include eight Muslims from different walks of life.

Eminent Islamic scholar Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, who passed away in April 2021 of Covid-19 complications, was awarded Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award after Bharat Ratna. Prominent Shia leader and scholar Maulana Kalbe Sadiq, who passed away last year, got Padhma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award.

The Padma Shri list of 102 includes six Muslims. These are Ali Manikfan, Gulfam Ahmed, Lakha Khan and Ghulam Rasool Khan and two from Bangladesh Sanjida Khatun and Col Quazi Sajjad Ali Zahir.

Ali Manikfan has been awarded for hiscontribution at grassroots level innovations in Lakshadweep. He was born in 1938 into an aristocratic family on Minicoy Island of Lakshadweep. Manikfan is multi-talented — marine researcher, ecologist, shipbuilder, agriculturist, and a polyglot.

Gulfam Ahmed hails from Uttar Pradesh and has made contributions in the field of Art. He is a Sarod and Afghani Rabab player and is known for promoting Indo-Afghan cultural relations.

Lakha Khan, 80, who has been conferred with Padma Shri for his contribution in art is a Rajasthan-based musician who plays Sindhi sarangi and sings folk songs. He comes from the Manganiar community among Muslims that is traditionally associated with begging. He was born into the family of musicians and was trained from childhood.

Ghulam Rasool Khan is a handicraft artist from Srinagar, Kashmir. He is working to conserving Jamawar Patchwork, the oldest form of Kashmiri shawl technique. Before getting Padma Shri Khan won the National Award for Textile. Khan has a reputation of creating masterpieces and rare artefacts in the Jamawar craft.

Sanjida Khatun, Col Quazi Sajjad Ali Zahir from Bangladesh have been awarded for their contribution in art and public service respectively.

Snajida Khatun, born in 1933, is musicologist and teaches Bengali literature at the University of Dhaka. She was also one of the founders of Mukti Sangrami Shilpi Sangstha that fought Pakistani forces in 1971 Bangladesh war.

Col. Zahir who was a soldier in the Pakistani army rebelled and joined the forces fighting for Bangladesh’s liberation. He defected from the army and moved to India where he became a key person in the rebellion.

source: http://www.clarionindia.net / Clarion / Home> Big Story> India / by Team Clarion / November 08th, 2021

Keralite woman from Chavakkad wins Big Ticket lottery worth Rs 44.75 crore

Anjangadi (Thrissur District) KERALA / Abu Dhabi, UAE :

Leena Jelal

Abu Dhabi:

Leena Jelal, hailing from Anjangadi near Chavakkad in Thrissur district, bagged the Big Ticket lottery worth Rs.44.75 crore (2.2 crore Dirham). The ticket, which she purchased along with her nine colleagues, brought huge luck for her. Jelal has been working as an HR professional at Shoidar Project Electronics Mechanical LLC in Abu Dhabi for the last four years.

“Though my friends were jointly taking tickets for the last one year, this was the first time that the ticket was purchased in my name.

When I was told about it first, I couldn’t believe it. I thought somebody was playing a prank on me. I am not getting words now. I am indebted to God. I have not decided what to do with the money. Anyway, I will continue with my job. The rest of the things will be decided after consulting my family members.” she said.

All other winners Suraif Suru, (10 lakh dirham), Siljohn Yohanan (5 lakh dirham), Ansar Zacharia Mansil (2.5 lakh dirham) and Divya Abraham (1 lakh dirham) are Indians.

Twin brothers win lottery

The Malayali family of two twin brothers and two twin sisters in Kuwait got Rs.50.88 lakh (2.5 lakh Dirham) prize at the weekend Big Ticket draw. The ticket taken in the name of Savitha Nair, a Clinical Staff Nurse working under the Kuwait Health Ministry, fetched the prize.

Savitha’s husband Ramesh Nair, her sister Saritha Nair and Saritha’s husband Rathish Nair jointly purchased the ticket. Savitha and Saritha, hailing from Kuravilangad in Kottayam district, are twin sisters and Ramesh and Rathish, hailing from Nedumudi in Alappuzha district, are twin brothers.

The Malayali family of two twin brothers and two twin sisters

Savitha’s son is Abhinav R Nair (Learners on Academy, Kuwait). Saritha’s children are Niranjan R Nair (Kazhakootam Sainik School) and Nirajith R Nair (Learners on Academy, Kuwait).

source: http://www.onmanorama.com / OnManorama / Home> News>Kerala / by OnManorama Correspondent / February 04th, 2022

Skier Arif Khan leads Indian contingent at Beijing Winter Olympics

Baramulla District, JAMMU & KASHMIR :

Arif Mohd Khan, of India, leads their team in during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Beijing.   | Photo Credit: AP

Arif is the first Indian to secure qualification in two events of the same edition of the Games and his competitions are slated for February 13 and 16

Beijing Skier Arif Khan led a small four-strong Indian contingent during the Winter Olympics opening ceremony here on Friday amid a diplomatic boycott of the event by the country.

The 31-year-old Arif will be the lone Indian competitor at the Games, having qualified in Slalom and Giant Slalom events. India sent a six-member contingent to the Games including a coach, a technician and a team manager.

Arif is the first Indian to secure qualification in two events of the same edition of the Games and his competitions are slated for February 13 and 16.

India was the 23rd contingent to walk in during the grand ceremony at the iconic Bird’s Nest stadium here as China welcomed athletes from 84 countries amid a diplomatic boycott by powerful nations such as the USA and Britain over its alleged human rights violations in the Xinjiang region.

India announced a diplomatic boycott of the Games after China fielded Qi Fabao, the regimental commander of the People’s Liberation Army, who was injured during the 2020 military face-off with Indian soldiers in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh, as a torchbearer for the event’s Torch Relay.

India said China’s move was “regrettable” and it has chosen to “politicise” the Olympics.

Born in Kashmir’s Baramulla district, Arif took up skiing quite early in life, winning his first national slalom championship at the age of just 12.

He later went on to win two gold medals in the Slalom and Giant Slalom events of the South Asian Winter Games in 2011.

He has also participated in both the editions of the Khelo India Winter Games held in Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir.

Arif’s inspiration was his father Yasin Khan, who owns a ski equipment shop in Gulmarg, a popular tourist destination in Jammu and Kashmir.

Previously, India’s Winter Olympics campaigns have been identified with one man — veteran luge athlete Shiva Keshavan, who represented the country in six editions of the mega-event.

The 40-year-old from Manali, Himachal Pradesh has now taken up the role of promoting winter sports in India.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sport / by PTI / February 04th, 2022

Alishan Sharafu feeling ‘blessed’ ahead of UAE’s U19 World Cup campaign

Kerala / UAE :

Captain has high expectations for his side before opener against Canada in St Kitts

UAE captain Alishan Sharafu in action against Pakistan during the Under 19 Asian Cup at the ICC Academy, Dubai, in December. Chris Whiteoak/ The National

The Covid-enforced dearth of international cricket in 2021 was keenly felt by all of UAE’s leading players, but none more so than CP Rizwan.

The Kerala-born batsman must have thought he had finally cracked international cricket when he scored an uplifting century in a one-day international against Ireland a year ago.

Alishan Sharafu says the UAE are capable of achieving “great things” at the U19 World Cup in the Caribbean.

The national team start their campaign on Saturday against Canada in St Kitts. They then face pool matches against England and holders Bangladesh next week.

The competition marks just the third time the UAE have appeared on the global scale at U19 level. They had free admission as hosts in 2014, before qualifying on the field to play in South Africa two years ago.

A return to the event was sealed in absentia this time. The qualifying process was derailed by Covid, and the UAE qualified on the basis of their record in recent years.

Sharafu, the side’s captain, is one of three players who also represented the country in South Africa in 2020.

The middle-order batsman is grateful to be returning for another crack at the event, and the chance to avenge the disappointment of last time.

The UAE missed out on the business phase of the competition back then after a storm ruined their shot at chasing a win against hosts South Africa.

“It really hurt when a chance of a lifetime of going through to a Super Eight of the U19 World Cup was taken away but fortunately we’ve been blessed with another opportunity and been given another shot at it,” Sharafu said.

“I feel we have a very, very talented group of boys and a more balanced with our bowling being our strength, especially our spin attack.

“A few of us were at the last World Cup and it’s great to pass on that experience to the newer boys and make them want to do well at this one because not many are blessed with this opportunity.”

Although the age-group players regularly train with their senior compatriots, Sharafu is the only player in the U19 squad to have sampled full international cricket so far.

The Kerala-born teen has played six T20 internationals and one one-day international for the national team to date. He is hoping to bring some of that experience to bear when the U19 event gets under way.

“Being around the men’s setup for a while just adds a confidence booster because the challenges here were already simulated or experienced there,” Sharafu said. “That obviously helps to figure and work out solutions to problems at the U19 level.

“What I want to pass on to my players is to just enjoy the opportunity and challenges, and be positive and believe that we together can achieve great things.”

UAE v Pakistan, U19 Asia Cup in December

video

As well as the benefit of experience of Sharafu, Kai Smith and Ali Naseer, each of whom played last time, the players will also be able to lean on the wisdom of Mudassar Nazar. The 65-year-old coach played nearly 200 times for Pakistan, including touring West Indies.

“Most of them are already relishing the chance to rub shoulders against the best in the world,” Mudassar said of his young charges. “So far the confidence is high. Having Alishan and Kai amongst us is a real bonus. Their experience is of immense value.”

The UAE’s two warm up matches on tour included a hefty win over Papua New Guinea , plus a narrow loss to England. Mudassar believes the UAE have a well-balanced side who are capable of improving on their pool-stage exit two years ago.

“I was not around then but I am fairly confident that this bunch of players will be very competitive,” Mudassar said. “I guess our top order batting is settled but we have plenty of allrounders, which provide us with depth.

“Spin bowling is a real asset with at least five who bowl spin. Pitches in West Indies are helpful to spinners. We should be able to defend any reasonable total.”

source: http://www.thenationalnews.com / The National / Home> Sport> Cricket / by Paul Radley / January 14th, 2022

‘Sensational’ Aayan Afzal Khan inspires UAE to historic win over West Indies

GOA / UAE :

UAE batsman Aayan Khan plays a shot as Rivaldo Clarke of West Indies keeps during the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Plate semi-final 1 at Queen’s Park Oval on January 28, 2022. Photo: ICC

Sixteen-year-old allrounder’s defiant innings sparks remarkable comeback for Covid-hit side in plate semi-final of Under 19 World Cup.

The country’s leading age-group players produced one of the greatest wins in the history of UAE cricket after their Covid-hit side beat West Indies on home soil in the Under 19 World cup.

Aayan Afzal Khan, the prodigiously talented all rounder who only turned 16 in November, played the defining knock in an extraordinary comeback win in Trinidad.

The side from the Caribbean, who have won the World Cup twice at senior level and the age-group version as recently as 2016, were heavy favourites going into the game.

That assessment appeared well founded when the home side reduced UAE to 26 for four within 11 overs.

That brought Aayan to the crease, promoted in the order by a series of events which had deprived the side of senior players. Front-line spinners Nilansh Keswani and Adithya Shetty were among the absentees, as UAE were hit by separate cases of both Covid and food poisoning.

What followed was little short of “sensational,” to use the words of Mudassar Nazar, the UAE coach.

Aayan’s innings of 93, which included a stand worth 103 with Shival Bawa for the seventh wicket, carried the national team to a total of 224 for nine from their 50 overs.

In reply, the West Indies did not get close. While Aayan – whose left-arm spin might have been crucial in the defence – spent much of the innings off the field because of heat exhaustion, his colleagues thrived.

Jash Giyanani took three for 21, and Dhruv Parashar four for 30. Fittingly, after receiving glucose in a pitchside ambulance, Aayan was able to return to the fray, and picked up the wicket which sealed the 82-run win.

“It feels amazing to have beaten a Test nation, especially West Indies on their home soil,” said Alishan Sharafu, the UAE captain.

“I think the boys believed in themselves. We played as a team and grabbed every opportunity to contribute.

“I am really proud of them, and hopefully we can produce another special performance in the final.”

Matthew Nandu of West Indies is bowled by Jash Giyanani of UAE. Photo: ICC

UAE will now take on the winner of Ireland against Zimbabwe in the plate final on Monday. That leaves them two days to recover from the exertions of the game against West Indies.

“Credit to our support staff for helping out with drinks and support,” Sharafu said of his patched up side.

“We had a few setbacks with some Covid cases and some others unfit, but it was a game of 11 of us against 11 of them. I’m glad we put on a performance to remember and cherish for a long, long time.”

Mudassar, the former Pakistan allrounder, labelled the performance “wonderful” given the circumstances.

“It was an incredible win, especially considering three players were not available due to the virus, including our two frontline spinners,” Mudassar said.

“Both of them [Keswani and Shetty] have huge potential and a great career ahead of them in the game. Given the history of Queens Park Oval for being helpful to spinners, we were fairly confident of beating West Indies provided we could put up a decent total on the board.”

Mudassar lavished praise on Aayan, including for his enthusiasm for getting back on the field after his bout of heat exhaustion and cramp.

“Once promoted in the batting order, Aayan was sensational,” the coach said.

“He guided us through a tough time, then blossomed with Shival Bawa and laid the platform for a historic win.

“Jash gave us a head start with three early wickets. While this was taking place, Aayan was lying in the ambulance van receiving glucose.

“He made a big effort to get back on the field. By then we were racing towards victory. Hats off to these youngsters.”

source: http://www.thenationalnews.com / The National / Home> Sport> Cricket / by Paul Radley / January 29th, 2022

Third book of Haqqani Al-Qasmi’s single-theme series Andaz-e-Bayan launched

NEW DELHI :

New Delhi:

Andaz-e-Bayan is the outcome of my passion, a passion which I did not allow to die even during unemployment and the pandemic. These views were expressed by renowned Urdu critic and writer Haqqani Al-Qasmi.

He was speaking at the launch of the third book of his famous single-theme Andaze-e-Bayan series at a cafe in Shaheen Bagh, New Delhi on Sunday, 6 September, 2020.

The present journal, which in fact, is part of a series of books, “discusses about those poets, litterateurs, authors and novelists, who, despite being in the medical profession, are serving Urdu in areas of research and criticism”, said Haqqani.


Speaking on this occasion Maulana Ajaz Urfi Qasmi, president of All India Tanzeem Ulama-e-Haq, who chaired the session, lauded the author for his powerful, creative style of writing which had won him global acclaim.

Haqqani Al-Qasmi is an accomplished and distinguished litterateur and critic serving Urdu with great sincerity and humbleness. There is an unusual amount of literary taste in his works which can be felt by the reader. He further said that Haqqani is not unaware of the social world. “From above the literary firmament, Haqqani surveys the mundane world”, Mualana Urfi said adding that one can see that in his literary journal series Andaz-e-Bayan as well.


Abid Anwar, a senior journalist with UNI remarked that to say anything about Haqqani would amount to explaining the obvious.

Urdu critic and Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Dr Noman Qaisar presented an overview of the author’s literary journey mentioning about some of his well-received and critically acclaimed books like Philisteen Ke Chaar Mumtaz Shu’ara, Tawaaf-e-Dasht-e-Junoon, La Takhaf, Takalluf Bar Taraf, etc which are full of literary aesthetics, creative imagination and academic insights.

It should be noted that the first issue of this book series (Andaz-e-Bayan-1, May-July 2016) was dedicated to literary contributions of women, especially of women from marginalized sections of society, with reference to biographical writings and their analysis.

The second one was dedicated to the creative facets of the police while the latest is an effort to unmasking the unrevealed literary contributions of doctors and medical professionals not just in Urdu literature but in English and Hindi literature as well.


Persons from media and different Urdu literary circles present on this occasion included Shahidul Islam, A N Shibli, Dr Khan Mohammad Asif, Ashraf Bastawi, Zubair Khan Saeedi, Majid Khan, Manzar Imam, Mohammad Alamullah, Nayab Hasan, Maulana Firoz Akhtar Qasmi, Shams Tabrez Qasmi, Ahsan Mehtab, Anwarul Haq, Abdul Bari Qasmi.


The launch programme was coordinated by T M Ziaul Haque. Salam Khan, head of Ibarat Publication which has published the book, presented the vote of thanks.

source: http://www.millattimes.com / Millat Times / Home> Education> National / by Md Irshad Ayub / Manzar Imam / September 11th, 2020

Book Launched on Shamim Ahmed, A Human Rights Activist

BIHAR / Kolkata, WEST BENGAL :

Kolkata:

A book titled ‘A world Divided: Human Rights in an Unequal World’ written on the 25-year struggle of famous social activist Shamim Ahmed was launched on September 25 at a grand ceremony held at the Five Star Ruff Hotel The Park in the West Bengal Capital.

Former minister and congress leader Mani Shankar Iyer paid tributes to Shamim as he said there are very few people in the country who do great service for the restoration of human rights and to put a smile on the face of the people of the country.

He congratulated the author of the book and said that the author has researched the life of Shamim Ahmed and brought a book before us.

The book sheds light on the life of Shamim Ahmed and his work in promotion of Urdu language.

Shankar said that he had the opportunity to read a book, adding that he was very much impressed with his “Food for All” campaign.

“Rights and opportunities have not been found. Even today, people on the streets are longing for food.” Mani Shankar Aiyar said that India is a multi-religious country. “The destiny of this country lies in national unity.”

pix: goodreads.com

Former Member of Parliament and renowned intellectual Mohammad Adib, while acknowledging the services of Shamim Ahmed, said that coming from Bihar to Bengal and launching a movement to make Urdu the second official language is nothing short of a feat.

He said, “it is unfortunate that after India’s independence Later, Urdu was treated leniently. There was injustice with Urdu in Bengal as well. Shamim Ahmed raised his voice against this injustice.

Expressing his views on the occasion, Adib said that the 25-year journey of Shamim was full of difficulties, trials and tribulations.


On the occasion, renowned international artist and Bengali intellectual Shubha Parsna said that Shamim Ahmed is the pride of Bengal. “We are happy that there are people in Bengal who speak of humanity and deal with people on humanitarian grounds. That I have known Shamim Ahmed for the last many years. He had compassion for humanity in his heart.

Prasana urged books should be written on such personalities so that the new generation is aware of him. The event was attended by important personalities from different sections of the society.

source: http://www.millattimes.com / Millat Times / Home> National / by Millat Times Staff / October 05th, 2021

7-yr-old receives mention in the India Book of Records for being the youngest one to create 100 paintings in 3 years

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA :

Mohamed went for it and most of the paintings were drawn during the pandemic. Out of the 100 paintings, 67 have already been sold.

Farhan Mohamed. (File photo)

Bengaluru : 

As a seven-year-ol d artist, we assume that Farhan Mohamed needs his parents’ help to explain his art work, but Fiza Taj, his mother, assures us that Mohamed will be more than happy to do it himself.

The young artist from the city has received a mention in the India Book of Records 2021 which is recognised by the Government of India, for being the youngest one to create 100 paintings in three years.

The art works were exhibited at the Bangalore International Centre, Domlur. “100 is just a number for the record, but Farhan has painted more than that. He puts up many of his paintings for sale and the proceeds go towards charity,” say Taj, who was told by the team of the India Book of Records 2021 that Mohamed needs to have 100 paintings in hand for the record.

Mohamed went for it and most of the paintings were drawn during the pandemic. Out of the 100 paintings, 67 have already been sold. “We collected around Rs 28,000 from the sale of the paintings. Out of which, a certain amount went towards charity and a token amount has been kept for Farhan,” says Taj , who is a physiotherapist.

Mohamed, who showed inclination towards art when he was merely three months old, was introduced to Tempera paints when he was six months old. “He began dabbling with myriad hues and by the time he was three-anda- half, he had already completed his first art work titled ‘Sunset In Africa’, inspired by a trip to Africa,” says Taj.

Mohamed, who is in Class 2 at Neev Academy, Yemalur, is quite inspired by the works of Van Gogh and Monet.

“Painting relaxes me and makes me happy. Whenever I have a hard day or feel unwell, sad or angry, I just paint. It helps calm me down. As soon as I see a range of colours, my day becomes bright and colourful and I feel better,” says Mohamed, who wants to visit the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and wishes to recreate the famed artist’s series, Sunflower.

Mohamed loves drawing landscapes. “Last year I visited Kashmir with my grandparents. When I returned, I used to pick a picture that I clicked and would paint it,” says the prodigy.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Express News Service / January 31st, 2022

Maharashtra: Facing poverty, national bravery awardee works as banana loader

Nanded District, MAHARASHTRA :

However hard Ajaj Nadaf (20) may try to couch it, disappointment lurks on his face as he displays his 2017 National Bravery Award as well as numerous mementoes, certificates and letters of appreciation for his heroic courage in saving two people from drowning.

Today, Ajaj works as a loader at a banana farm to sustain his family, earning Rs 300 a day.

Ajaj lives with his parents and older brother. They work as labourers and live in extreme poverty.

As a 16-year-old, Ajaj had risked his own life while pulling out a woman and a 12-year-old girl who had fallen into the river in his remote village in Nanded district.

For his bravery, he was bestowed with the National Bravery Award by President Ramnath Kovind and a cash prize of Rs 20,000.

Four years since his derring-do, promises by the authorities of a job and a house, among others, have fallen by the wayside.

When contacted, the Nanded district collector promised all the help he can extend and also initiated the process to fulfil the promises made to the National Bravery awardee.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> Videos> City> Mumbai / August 11th, 2021