“I wondered if there is something I can do. My vehicles have been lying in the garage for months now, why not use them, I thought,” said Najeeb.
Najeeb in front of his tempo traveller that was recently converted into a Covid care ambulance by attaching first-aid kits and stretchers
Kochi :
At a time when the state is grappling with the second wave of Covid, a Kochiite who owns a fleet of tempo travellers has decided to convert his vehicles into Covid-care ambulances, given the shortage of facilities in the district.
Recently, Najeeb Vellakal who hails from Thrikkakara himself faced a crisis when he couldn’t get a vehicle to drop his Covid positive staff to his hometown in Palakkad. He converted one of his 20 tempo travellers under Zainul Travels into a Covid ambulance to drop his staff. “I removed all the seats except the long one in the back.
I bought a PPE kit for the driver and separated the driver’s cabin using a plastic sheet and dropped the Covid positive person in Palakkad,” said Najeeb, who has been in the vehicle rental business for over 20 years. The incident, however, left him pondering over the struggles of common people during the pandemic. “I wondered if there is something I can do. My vehicles have been lying in the garage for months now, why not use them, I thought,” said Najeeb.
“It costs around Rs 10,000 to convert a traveller into an ambulance by adding stretchers, fixing oxygen cylinders and first aid kits,” he added. On a trial basis, the Ernakulam mayor suggested converting one vehicle into a Covid ambulance.
“I am willing to convert the rest of my 15 vehicles into Covid ambulances if they agree,” Najeeb said. He also said that the ambulance will only charge an affordable rent from people, enough to pay the driver and get fuel. The 43-year-old has been working at Kakkanad Infopark arranging transportation for its employees. His business has been dull since work-from-home became the new norm.
You may contact Najeeb on 7907034416
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by Aishwarya Prabhakaran, Express News Service / April 28th, 2021
Malegaon (Nashik District), MAHARASHTRA / NEW DELHI :
Dr Shafeeque Ahmed Ansari of Jamia Millia Islamia
Dr Shafeeq Ansari had died while working for Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi at around 12:45 pm Friday.
Malegaon:
With tearful eyes, Dr Shafeeque Ahmed Ansari was laid to rest at Bada Qabaristan in Malegaon a little before sunset on Saturday April 24, 2021. He was 54.
Dr Shafeeq Ansari had died while working for Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi at around 12:45 pm Friday after cardiac arrest. He is survived by ailing mother, wife and two adopted children.
Professor Shafeeq Ansari was originally from Malegaon and had to fight acute poverty to reach to the position he held when he breathed his last.
“Educational Journey”
Dr Shafeeque did his schooling from Malegaon before graduating from MSG College, Malegaon. Later he moved to Pune University Physics Department where he did his MSc, Mphil and PhD.
He completed his PhD in 1998-99 on Semiconductor thin films. He joined post-doctoral position at Chonbuk National University Jeonju South Korea. After that he moved to JAIST Khanazawa in Japan as JSPS fellow.
Four years later, he moved back to Chonbuk as “Brain Pool Scientist” – one of the Falgship Korean national program on Science at that time. He spent another three years as scientist then moved to Najran University in Saudi Arabia.
After a brief stay at Najran University, Dr Shafeeque Ansari moved to Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi as Associate Professor in 2008-2009 where his wife Prof. Zubaida was also a Senior Faculty in the same discipline.
At Jamia Millia Islamia, Dr Shafeeq played a key role is shaping the “Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences (CIRBSc)”. He later became its Director, working on this post from November 2016 to November 2019.
“A Brilliant Scientist”
Prof. Shafeeque was a brilliant scientist, great administrator and man of principles. He trained tens of researchers during his career from 2002-2021.
He played a key and instrumental role in elevating the ranking of Jamia Millia Islamia from 72 to 12 as Director of Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) where he invested a huge effort to put data into prospective.
Dr Shafeeque Ansari also worked as Coordinator Institute of Eminence and Promotion of University Research and Scientific Excellence(PURSE) run by Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt of India at Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi. He was also In-charge of the Central Instrumentation Facility of the Jamia.
Prof. Shafeeq was humble, affectionate human being, great mentor, great character, and a great and amazing personality. He was a great mentor for young students in Korea and Japan, and remained close to their heart till his death. He played crucial role in shaping his students as young researcher.
The contribution of Dr Shafeeq in Science and bringing motivation, especially among Indian Muslims, will be remembered forever.
May Almighty enlighten his grave and grant him Jannatul Firdous. Amen
[The co-writer of this obituary, Dr. Ahsanulhaq Qureshi, hails from Kashmir and is a student of Dr Shafeeque. Dr Qureshi is currently working as Sr. Professor in Abu Dhabi.]
source: http://www.ummid.com /Ummid.com / Home> Obituray / by Dr Ahsanulhaq Qureshi and Zohair M Safwan, ummid.com / April 25th, 2021
Syed Hussain and Robert Rodriguez have packed the bodies of all 93 COVID victims in Kodagu and continue to work day and night without any leave since March last year.
Syed Hussain and Robert Rodriguez (Photo | Express)
Madikeri :
“I had not observed Ramzan last year and I won’t be able to take part in the festivities this year too. Work occupies a major part of my life now and my job has forced me to stay away from my family and friends,” said Syed Hussain, a forensic department staffer of Madikeri District Hospital, who is involved in packing the bodies of COVID-19 victims.
Syed joined the forensic department staff in the hospital nearly four years ago and there were moments when he questioned his career choice. “There were times when we had to conduct a postmortem of fetuses and it was heart-wrenching to carry out the job. But it was my duty,” he recalled. Syed, however, stuck to his choice and today he has offered exceptional service as a frontline COVID warrior.
Syed and Robert Rodriguez (the only other staffer in the forensic department) have packed all the 93 bodies of COVID-19 victims of Kodagu and continue to work day and night without any leave since March last year. “We have stayed away from our family since last year. It’s painful not to be a part of the festivities. But we do not want to risk others’ lives. I, however, visited my family last week. It was a short visit and I went to collect a few belongings,” said Syed.
He noted how it is stressful to always work wearing PPE kits and added that all healthcare workers including D-Group employees are working under stress to ensure the safety of citizens. “We have to do away with food and sometimes even drinking water as we are always wearing PPE kits,” he explained. He added that the government has not made new appointments to the district hospital and the existing staff is working under stress. “We do not get incentives for working overtime. Yet, we cannot demand things at this time of crisis and we go about doing our job,” he said.
He spoke out against publicity-seekers on social media and said, “We are working 24/7 under stress. Yet, some people shoot videos inside the hospital and make false allegations against healthcare workers. We do not expect anything huge in return for our work. The least we can ask from the public is respect. There might be a few loopholes in the hospital. But the public cannot highlight this illogically across social media for a minute’s fame. My only request to the public of Kodagu is – please respect all the healthcare workers. We too have family. But we are working for the greater good.”
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Prajna G R / Express News Service / April 27th, 2021
Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, Chairman and Managing Director of VPS Healthcare, donated AED1 million to the ‘100 Million Meals’ campaign, the first humanitarian campaign of its kind in the Arab world to provide food parcels for disadvantaged individuals and families across 30 countries in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and South America this Ramadan.
Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil’s contribution is part of the large response from companies, businessmen and community members in the UAE and abroad in support of the campaign, which was announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.
Given the influx of donations, from philanthropist individuals and companies, the ‘100 Million Meals’ campaign fully achieved its goal of 100 million meals within 10 days of its launch.
Dr. Vayalil said, “At VPS Healthcare, we are proud and privileged to be a part of this distinguished programme. It is in line with our motto to giving back to society and helping the needy.”
The 100 Million Meals campaign is managed by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, in cooperation with the UN World Food Programme, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment, Food Banking Regional Network, and local food banks and humanitarian and charity institutions in beneficiary countries.
Donations to the campaign can be made on www.100millionmeals.ae, by contacting the campaign call centre on the toll-free number 8004999, via the designated bank account through Dubai Islamic Bank (AE08 0240 0015 2097 7815 201), and by sending the word “وجبة” in Arabic or “Meal” in English by SMS on specified numbers via the Du or Etisalat networks in the UAE.
source: http://www.wam.ae / Home> Emirates> English / April 24th, 2021
The United Vision Welfare and Charitable Trust, Mysuru, and MESCO has announced that it has initiated free supply of oxygen cylinders to needy COVID-19 patients. It has urged people in need of oxygen cylinders to call on 7975989229 or mobile numbers 9535831973 and 9845319775.
Oxygen cylinders along with technical support will be provided to patients at a refundable deposit of ₹5,000 per cylinder.
The facility was inaugurated by Secretary of MESCO Shabbir Mustafa at MESCO in Subhash Nagar in Mysuru on Friday.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – April 24th, 2021
She has broken the stereotypes and her success has been an inspiration to women across the board. Shabana Shaikh is now the in-charge officer at Dongri Police Station. The 1992 Maharashtra police joinee is the first woman in-charge officer in the history of the station she had joined as a senior police inspector. She was also the first Muslim woman to become a police officer from her district, Ahmednagar. Two of her sisters have followed in her footsteps to join the police force in 1995.
She has served in the SB-I i.e. the special branch of the Mumbai Police as an inspector until now. This mother of two wants her daughters to join the IPS. She recalls that, though her father wasn’t highly educated, he ensured that Shaikh and her siblings went to school.
“I was born into a large joint family in Akole Taluka of Ahmednagar district,” Shaikh said in an interview with national daily, “We were seven sisters and two brothers. Educating girls was almost a taboo in my village.” Her eldest sister joined a college to pursue her graduation, becoming the first girl from the village to enrol into college, despite the family facing much condemnation and resistance. Shaikh herself went to college in Sangamner.
She then went to Pune to do her Masters. That was when she decided to join the police force. While she did not qualify for the direct MPSC examination for the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police, she went on to crack the sub-inspector exam. That too, in her first attempt! And she did not let her higher education take a backseat during the preparations for the exams and during training; she finished her MA during her training for the sub-inspector post and pursued and achieved an LLB after that.
Courtesy: Facebook / www.femina.in
While her father had been hesitant about sending her far away to Pune for further studies, he had helped her on seeing her determination. And she did him proud with her achievements. She recalls, “My father was the proudest man when he saw my photographs in newspapers as the first (Muslim) woman police officer from the district and the many felicitations that followed.” Her and her sisters’ success in becoming a part of the police force helped dispel any idea in their village and district that Muslim girls couldn’t crack government jobs. It also helped change the wrong notions the society in their district held about girls’ education.
Last year, she was felicitated by Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh for investigation and conviction in a case of Nagpada PI WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? where she was previously posted. She was honoured with a Best Officer certificate for the same. At the time she was attached to the M.R.A. Marg Police Station. Her exemplary conduct, performance and outstanding achievements were recognised on the occasion. She has had a significant impact within her area of responsibility on mandated policing tasks.
source: http://www.femina.in / Femina / Home> Trending> Achievers / by Radhika Sathe Patwardhan / January 16th, 2021
Pyare Khan, a Nagpur-based businessperson, has spent 1 crore rupees to buy 32 tonnes of oxygen and supply them to Covid care centres in the city.
Last week, he had sent a tanker carrying 16 tonnes of oxygen to the city from Bhilai, Chhattisgarh. He has again sent another tanker carrying the same amount of oxygen to Nagpur.
Khan is associated with transport business. He is the owner of Amshi Transport.
Several Muslims have been at forefront in the ongoing battle against Covid-19. Several of them have played their role in various ways during the pandemic.
Muslim men in various cities have performed last rites of Hindu Covid victims. Danish Siddiqui and Saddam Qurashi are among them. They have cremated over 60 bodies so far in Bhopal.
India is witnessing an acute shortage of oxygen and other basic medical facilities required for the treatment of Covid-19 patients.
Commenting on the current situation, the Supreme Court on Thursday said that India is facing a ”national emergency-like situation”. The court asked the Centre to put in place a “national plan” on issues including supply of oxygen and essential drugs for the treatment of patients infected, and method of vaccination.
source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Featured / by Muslim Mirror Staff / April 24th, 2021
On Tuesday morning, a resident of Belapu Military Colony, senior author, writer, Mumtaz Begum (72) passed away in a private hospital in Mangaluru.
Mumtaz Begum, who was engaged in the field of literature and writing for five decades has written various works including Avyakta, Paradeshi, Vartula, Bandalike, Chimpi, Sarva Rathugalu Ninagagi, Ankura Sahita Kathe, poetry, novels, and various other books.
For her contributions to the field of literature and writing, she has won various awards and accolades including Attimabbe, Chennashri, Jilla Rajyotsava, Matrashri Ratnamma Heggade Book Prize, Meevundi Mallaari Children’s Story Prize, Kittur Rani Chennamma Award, Kannada Literature Council’s Charitable Award, Senior Citizens Literary Award, and Basava Literary Arts Forum’s Basava Jyoti Award among various others.
He translated Rumi’s 13th century magnum opus Masnavi
Noted Urdu writer and translator Syed Ahmed Esar, 98, known for his translations of classical Persian poetry of Allama Iqbal and Rumi into Urdu, passed away in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
His son Syed Sultan said that he was suffering from age-related ailments and was hospitalised on Tuesday night.
Born in the garrison of Mysore Lancers in Munireddy Palya to a World War I veteran in 1922, Syed Ahmed Esar lived in the narrow Sher Khan Galli off Avenue Road almost all his life. A former Indian Forest Service officer, he worked as the Chief Conservator of Forests, Karnataka, and retired from service in 1980.
Though his interest in classical Persian poetry began at a very young age and he began trying his hand at poetry adopting a pen name “Esar”, which he later added to his name, his first collection of translation was published only in 1997, 17 years after his retirement.
Persian poetry was his constant companion on lonely postings in the forests during his service, Syed Ahmed Esar said to Frontline in April 2020.
His work
He translated the entire seven volume corpus of Allama Iqbal’s Persian poetry into Urdu. He next took up the challenge of translating Rumi’s 13th century magnum opus Masnavi of over 27,000 verses into Urdu. The work took up almost two decades of his life and the six-volume poem was published by the National Council for the Promotion of Urdu Language in 2019.
He has also published a collection of his own poems and an autobiography. He was given the Rajyotsava Award in 2017 and was the recipient of several literary awards.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by K.V Aditya Bharadwaj / Bengaluru – April 21st, 2021
Zuhaid Qureshi from Muzaffarnagar who secured 6th rank in IES exams.
Sitting at his home, Zuhaib Qureshi has a look of satisfaction on his face over securing 6th rank in the recently declared Indian Engineering Services (IES) exam results. His parents are elated and unable to contain their happiness amid a festive atmosphere at their home. For Zuhaib’s mother, she says “her Eid has arrived on the very first day of Ramadan.”
Uttar Pradesh:
When one walks from the famous Meenakshi Chowk in Muzaffarnagar Uttar Pradesh towards the Shamli bus stand, about 100 meters ahead of the historic Shaheed Chowk, the second most popular place here is ‘Bashir Tehri’. In front of this particular point of Khalapar, a bright star is shining in another narrow street inside a road lined with a dozen cloth shops. The star is Zuhaib Qureshi – a youth who secured the sixth rank in the recently declared Indian Engineering Services (IES) exam results. The IES is a top all India level engineering services exam.
Sitting at his home, Zuhaib Qureshi has a look of satisfaction on his face. His parents are elated and unable to contain their happiness amid a festive atmosphere at their home.
For Zuhaib’s mother, she told TwoCircles.net that “her Eid has arrived on the very first day of Ramadan.”
Zuhaib’s brother says that their parents have raised them well and credits their upbringing for his brother’s success.
Zuhaib lives in the Khalapar locality of volatile Muzaffarnagar and locals from the area complain of “negative portrayal of the area by mainstream media.”
A perception has been created that the area is packed with criminals, they say.
However, Zuhaib’s story proves otherwise. People of the locality are happy with Zuhaib’s success. Standing in a street, a middle-aged man Rashid Khan is telling his nephew to follow in Zuhaib’s footsteps.
Zuhaib Qureshi’s father is a scrap trader. Most of the Quraishi’s in the area associated with the meat trade and are well off. However, the respect and admiration Zuhaib has earned surpasses all, the locals say.
Abdul Sattar, a local councillor, told TwoCircles.net that he feels pride in Zuhaib’s success. “The boy has become a star. He kept studying quietly but his result has made a noise. A good noise,” he adds.
Zuhaib has secured the sixth rank in the IES exam in which nearly 10 lakh candidates appeared. He is one among 40 selected candidates.
In recent times, youth from Muzaffarnagar and Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh have done well in civil services exams.
In 2018, Shaad Mian Khan of Bijnor scored 25th rank in a civil service exam, while Junaid of Nagina got the third rank in IAS.
Recently, Mohammad Tabish of Muzaffarnagar also emerged successful by getting the third rank in AIIMS and second in PGI Chandigarh. The success of the youth of Bijnor and Muzaffarnagar in recent years in the top exams of the country has been hailed by people here.
Speaking with TwoCircles.net, Zuhaib says he is overjoyed at his success. “I always thought I have a scientific temperament and now I will use it to strengthen and serve my country,” he says.
Zuhaib achieved this success in the first attempt. Having studied in a Hindi medium school, Zuhaib has tried hard to excel at English.
He talks about his study strategy. “I made a plan with myself. I knew that 8 to 10 lakh people sit in this exam and only 41 seats are available. I researched why the participants will not be able to get success even after all the hard work,” he says.
Zuhaib’s mother Shaheen wants Zuhaib to contribute to his country’s progress.
“I have prayed a lot to Allah. He (Zuhaib) was very anxious on the day of the result. He was constantly looking at his phone. When I tried to snatch is a phone, he announced that ‘Ammi I got All India sixth rank.’ I cried on hearing the news. Our world has changed since that day. All people are congratulating us. Zuhaib has passed many big exams before but he dreamt of IES which he has now achieved. May Allah be kind to him,” she told TwoCircles.net.
Zuhaib credits his success to Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), one of India’s premier higher education institutes, where he did his engineering studies.
Gauhar Siddiqui, a social worker from Muzaffarnagar told TwoCircles.net that the area and community from where Zuhaib comes from are not very keen on studies and “obviously his success is very big and this will inspire other youth of the area to study hard and be successful.
source: http://www.twocircles.net / TwoCirlcles.net / Home> Lead Story / by Aas Mohammad Kaif, TwoCircles.net / April 20th, 2021
