A young Muslim girl from a poor family in Badaun district of Uttar Pradesh has created history with a remarkable display of talent and determination. Noor Jahan painted portraits of 15 Indian freedom fighters simultaneously, holding multiple pens in her mouth at one time, and completed all 15 portraits in a single frame.
The feat left many stunned, including industrialist Anand Mahindra, who called it nothing short of a miracle. Mahindra was so moved by Noor Jahan’s extraordinary skill that he announced a scholarship to support her education in painting and the arts.
Noor Jahan grew up in a poor household in Badaun, a district in western Uttar Pradesh. Despite limited resources, she developed a rare artistic ability. Her technique of holding multiple pens simultaneously in her mouth to draw detailed portraits of historical figures is entirely her own.
The portraits she painted feature 15 freedom fighters who played a role in India’s independence movement. Completing all 15 in a single frame, using only her mouth, drew wide attention across the country.
Anand Mahindra, who regularly highlights exceptional talent on social media, described Noor Jahan’s work as astonishing and pledged to fund her further studies in the field. His support has brought significant national attention to the young artist from Badaun.
Noor Jahan’s achievement carries a clear message: poverty places obstacles in a person’s path, but hard work and genuine skill remove those obstacles. Her story also challenges stereotypes about Muslim communities in India, proving that talent and ambition exist across every background and economic condition.
She has shown that a Muslim girl from a struggling family in rural Uttar Pradesh can write history through skill and effort alone.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Arts & Culture> Latest News> Markers of Excellence> Report / by Radiance News Bureau / September 07th, 2026
Dr Afla Rafeeq of KS Hegde Medical Academy has secured the 21st All India Rank in the NEET-PG 2026 examination, scoring 614 marks out of 720.
According to data released by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), 2,73,096 candidates registered for the examination, while 2,65,980 candidates appeared for the test.
Dr Afla is currently pursuing her MBBS internship at KS Hegde Hospital. During her MBBS course, she secured 13 gold medals. She now aims to pursue postgraduate studies in Radiology.
Originally from Bajpe, Afla completed her schooling up to Class 8 at Ansar School in Bajpe. She later completed her SSLC at St. Mary’s High School, Mangaluru, securing 97% marks.
She subsequently studied at Sri Chaitanya PU College, Mangaluru, where she secured 96% marks and achieved a top rank.
Dr Afla Rafeeq is the daughter of Mohammed Rafeeq and Fathima Rafeeq.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavali / by Vartha Bharati / September 25th, 2026
Salman Khan used to drive a cab in New Delhi, now he has a medal at the Asian Games. Alongside Satnam Singh, Salman won India’s first ever bronze medal in the men’s double sculls on Thursday, September 24.
Salman Khan (left) and Satnam Singh (right) win India’s first ever bronze medal in double sculls at the Asian Games. (PTI Photo)
Indian rowers Satnam Singh and Salman Khan won bronze in the men’s double sculls at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya on Thursday, September 24, securing India’s first-ever medal in the event. The Indian pair clocked 6:13.25 in the final to finish behind China’s Yi Xudi and Yide Nie, who won gold, and Uzbekistan’s Pavel Sorin and Mekhrojbek Mamatkulov, who took silver.
Satnam and Salman were firmly in medal contention for much of the race, staying second at the 500m, 1000m and 1500m marks. They were eventually overtaken in the closing stages, slipping to third in the final 500m, but held on to secure the bronze.
For Salman, the medal marks his first podium finish at the Asian Games and another major step in a rowing career that began only after he joined the Indian Army. Before he found his way into the sport, Salman was driving an Uber in Delhi to support his family.
WHO IS SALMAN KHAN?
Salman Khan was born in Pure Dhingai in Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi district and grew up as the eldest of four brothers and two sisters. His father, Mohd Kasim Khan, worked in truck-body construction in Tauru, Haryana, where Salman completed his schooling.
His life changed when his father died of dengue when Salman was 18.
With the responsibility of supporting his younger siblings falling on him, his plans of joining the Indian Army were put on hold. Salman instead moved towards earning a living, driving an Uber cab in Delhi and working day and night to help support his family.
His Army dream eventually returned.
A friend pointed out that Salman’s height and physical build could make him suitable for the armed forces. He handed the cab over to another driver and spent four months preparing for recruitment before clearing the recruitment rally, medical and written examinations.
Salman joined the Bombay Engineer Group in Pune on September 25, 2018.
It was after joining the Army that he was introduced to rowing.
Coaches Satywan, Satish Siraat and Prabhat Mishra noticed his physical attributes and encouraged him to try the sport. Salman was initially reluctant, as rowing was not something he had planned to pursue. But his coaches persisted and eventually put him into the boat.
His first inter-centre regatta brought a silver medal, giving him confidence to continue. He went on to win medals at battalion and inter-centre competitions before clearing the ergometer benchmarks in 2021 and earning selection for the Army Rowing Node at CME Pune.
Training alongside some of India’s leading rowers helped Salman see rowing as more than something he had been encouraged to try.
He twice came close to quitting the sport, but his coaches convinced him to continue. Senior coach Kudrat Ali and Training Officer Major Nagendra Hooda were among those who guided the next stage of his development.
The results soon began to reflect that progress.
Salman won gold at the 36th National Games in Gujarat in 2022 and also claimed gold at the 5th Indoor National Championship that year. In 2023, he won silver at the Senior National Championships and gold at the Open Sprint National Championships.
He also represented India at the World Rowing Cup III in Lucerne in 2023.
Salman was inducted into the Target Olympic Podium Scheme in 2023, receiving Rs 4,09,100 in support under TOPS. He also received Rs 12,16,589 under the Annual Calendar for Training and Competition programme.
He won gold at the 37th National Games in Goa later that year before claiming gold at the Asian Rowing Cup in 2024. The result also earned him a promotion to the rank of Naib Subedar in the Indian Army.
His international record continued to grow, with silver medals at the Australian Rowing Championships in Tasmania and the Asian Rowing Championships in Vietnam in 2025. He also won gold at the 38th National Games in Uttarakhand and the 42nd Senior National Rowing Championships in Bhopal that year.
The Asian Games medal was the next significant addition to that record.
India’s bronze winning team in men’s double sculls at the Asian Games 2026. (PTI Photo)
WHO IS SATNAM SINGH?
Salman’s partner in the historic bronze, Satnam Singh, also arrived at rowing after starting out in another sport.
Satnam was a national-level handball player before switching to rowing in 2018. Olympian Swarn Singh Virk recognised his physical potential and encouraged him to take up the sport.
The move quickly developed into a career.
Hailing from Punjab’s Mansa district, Satnam represented India at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, where he finished eighth in the men’s pair. He later established himself among India’s leading rowers and won the men’s single sculls title at the 40th Senior National Rowing Championships, becoming the first Indian Navy rower to win the event.
Satnam’s first Asian Games medal came at Hangzhou in 2023, when he was part of India’s men’s quadruple sculls crew that won bronze.
He added more international success in 2025, winning gold in the men’s quadruple sculls at the Asian Rowing Championships in Vietnam. He also won silver in the indoor Asian Championships in the men’s double sculls.
The pairing with Salman at Aichi-Nagoya came after India’s rowing team underwent a late reshuffle.
Satnam and Salman had initially been part of the men’s quadruple sculls crew but were moved into the double sculls, while other rowers were shifted between events. The changes came just days before the rowing competition and led to frustration among members of the Indian team.
The two adapted quickly to their new combination.
On Thursday, they stayed in the medal positions throughout most of the final before securing bronze in 6:13.25. For Satnam, it was another Asian Games medal. For Salman, it was the first. And for Indian rowing, it was a historic first in the men’s double sculls.
source: http://www.indiatody.in / India Today / Home> Sports> Asian Games / by India Today Sports Desk – Kingshuk Kusari / September 24th, 2026
Veteran shooter Mairaj Ahmad Khan said India’s three skeet bronze medals at the Asian Games 2026 are a big boost for the LA Olympics, but felt the men’s team could have won gold.
Indian shooter Mairaj Ahmad Khan said India’s three skeet medals at the Asian Games 2026 are a good step towards the Los Angeles Olympics, but the team could have done better. India won bronze in all three skeet team events at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. It was a historic first for Indian skeet.
Historic bronze for the men’s team
Mairaj Ahmad Khan won his first Asian Games medal, a bronze, as part of the men’s skeet team with Anantjeet Singh Naruka and Bhavtegh Singh Gill. The team defeated Kazakhstan in a shoot-off with a score of 346 points. Mairaj returned to the Games in 2026 after competing in 2006, 2010 and 2014.
He has won three World Cup gold medals in New Delhi (2021), Changwon (2022) and Cairo (2023), along with a silver in Rio (2016) and a bronze in Cairo (2021). At the Asian Championships, he has one gold, two silver and three bronze medals. Speaking about the bronze, Mairaj told TimesofIndia.com from Japan, “Aur achha ho sakta tha. We could have won a gold medal. The stage was set, but no problem, next time.” He also spoke about his individual event. He said he felt tired. “In the individual event, hunger was not there. I think I was a little tired. I was relaxed, mentally tired, overworked. Maybe the calendar is so busy,” he said.
Women’s and mixed teams also won bronze
India’s women’s skeet team, comprising Raiza Dhillon, Parinaaz Dhaliwal and Maheshwari Chauhan, won a bronze medal, marking the country’s first-ever Asian Games medal in this category. Additionally, Anantjeet and Parinaaz secured another bronze in the mixed team event, achieving medals in all three skeet team events within two days.
Focus on LA Olympics
Mairaj said he is proud of Anantjeet and Parinaaz. “I am really proud of the way Anant and Parinaaz have performed. We are building a team together for the LA Olympics,” he said. Mairaj said his journey is not over. “I will not stop. Ever since I picked up the gun, I have felt that I could have done better. I have made some mistakes. The fight is on for the LA Olympics. Gold was the dream and it will remain the dream,” he said.
source: http://www.dnaindia.com / DNA / Home> Latest News>Sports / by Anishka Pandey / September 24th, 2026
Madhaipur Village (Pratapganj District), UTTAR PRADESH :
Shahnavaz Khan is now the first Indian man to win a long jump medal at the World Athletics U-20 Championships; Shaili Singh had won silver in women’s long jump in 2021.
File – Shahnavaz Khan in action during qualification at the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
Shahnavaz Khan bagged the bronze medal in the men’s long jump event in the World Athletics U-20 Championships 2026 in Oregon on Saturday.
Shahnavaz Khan bagged the bronze medal in the men’s long jump event in the World Athletics U-20 Championships 2026 in Oregon on Saturday.
This is now India’s third medal of the championships, following silvers from Ashish Yadav (javelin) and Basant Kumar Meghwal (high jump).
Shahnavaz is also the first Indian man to win a long jump medal at the World Athletics U-20 Championships; Shaili Singh had won silver in women’s long jump in 2021.
The bronze, though, might feel like a missed opportunity for Shahnavaz, whose best leap on Saturday (7.84m) was significantly shorter than his personal best (8.30m).
Similarly, R.C. Jithin Arjunan, the other Indian finalist in Oregon, too failed to get close to his personal best (8.12m), as he finished eighth with a best jump of 7.59m
Daniele Leonardo Inzoli of Italy won gold with a 7.97m leap. Silver medallist Australia’s Mason McGroder came agonisingly close to winning the championship, when he touched 7.96m (personal best) with his last jump.
source: http://www.sportstar.thehindu.com / Sportstar / Home> Athletics / by Team Sportstar / August 09th, 2026
The Academy has formed a committee comprising academicians and researchers, and they will be publishing a book on the lives of the freedom-fighters from Karnataka titled ‘Yaaroo Ariyada Veeraru’.
“59 persons from Karnataka, who were part of the 1857 rebellion, were imprisoned in the Cellular Jail in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. We don’t want their names to be erased from the chronicles of India’s freedom struggle,” says L.N. Mukundraj, president of the Karnataka Sahitya Academy.
Aiming to study the lives of these incarcerated people, the Academy has formed a committee comprising academicians and researchers. Soon, they will be publishing a book on their lives titled ‘Yaaroo Ariyada Veeraru’.
The Cellular Jail in Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands was used by the British to exile freedom fighters and political prisoners who had to endure brutal and inhumane conditions.
Committee set up
Mr. Mukundraj explained, “We formed a committee led by writers and historians K.P. Suresh and Vijay Poonacha to study those from Karnataka who died in ‘Kala Pani’, as the punishment was called.” In the State Budget 2026-27, former chief minister Siddaramaiah had announced the publication of such a book.
The committee comprises 15 persons, of which eight will collect documents, and seven will do the fieldwork. The documentation team will search for documents in places that were earlier part of the Bombay Presidency. “Dharwad district is one place where we might find the details of many of these freedom fighters in government archives and libraries. The majority of them hailed from Nargund town in Gadag district.”
South Indians forgotten
Mr. Suresh added that those from southern India rarely figure in the annals of the freedom struggle. “These 59 persons incarcerated in Cellular Jail were mostly from north Karnataka and Uttara Kannada district,” he said, adding that often only big names like Hindutva ideologue V.D. Savarkar are highlighted while talking of those who suffered in Cellular Jail.
Some of these individuals were part of the rebellion of Halagali Bedas in 1857-58, from the village of Halagali near Mudhol. Writer Latha Guthi has published a book on the theme, called Kari Neeru. “This book is a source for us. Our field team and documentation team will head to different places in Karnataka to find such sources. We have decided to put up banners in the villages of these freedom fighters urging people to come forward, and tell us if they know anything, or have documents,” said Mr. Suresh.
Some names…
Among the 59 persons from Karnataka imprisoned in Cellular Jail were Balakrishna from Bidar, Gopal Bhandari from Karwar, Faras Khan from Nargund, Bikaji Ganesh Gokhale from Nargund, Vitu Gawli from Karwar, and Abdulla Moiuddin from Nargund.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by Rashmi Patil / June 30th, 2026
Nahida Manzoor, Kashmir’s first woman to scale Mountain Everest at the age of 23, says that she does not see many women in India interesting in mountaineering and she wants to change that.
Speaking to Awaz-the voice, Srinagar-based Nahida, says that women don’t have to necessarily scale major peaks like Everest. “Mountaineering is meant to give one the experience, test one’s mental and physical stamina and discover their own capabilities.”
Nahida taking a troop on a trek
“Adventure is not primarily about profit”, Nahida said.
“I believe India needs more trained mountaineers who are take encouraging people to experience the mountains as a personal responsibility. I regularly lead expeditions and longer treks involving groups of varying experience levels. Such trips can be challenging because participants differ considerably in speed, endurance and confidence”, Nahida shared.
Nahida heads Pampori and Daughters Adventure, a company through which she organises trekking, expeditions and outdoor activities.
Nahida Manzoor at Mt. Mahadev
“My approach is simple: nobody gets left behind”, Nahida believes. While leading a trek, she deliberately stays at the back of the group so that she can keep an eye on the slowest participants.
For her, the people accompanying her are her responsibility, and safety takes precedence over speed or reaching a destination quickly.
For Nahida Manzoor, mountains are not merely destinations to be conquered. They are spaces where courage is tested, limits are pushed and possibilities are expanded. A trained mountaineer from Srinagar, Nahida has transformed her childhood fascination with the hills into a career dedicated to adventure, trekking and encouraging more young people, particularly women, to enter mountaineering.
Her own journey demonstrates what becomes possible when training, family support and determination come together. From trekking around her Srinagar neighbourhood as a child to becoming the first Kashmiri woman to stand on Mount Everest, Nahida has often entered spaces where women remain underrepresented.
Nahida Manzoor at Mt. Sunset Peak
Her work has also extended to promoting adventure tourism in Kashmir. In 2024, she launched a paragliding venture in Barsoo village in Pulwama’s
Awantipora area, with the stated aim of creating employment opportunities for local residents.
Recently, she has climbed Sunset Peak, (4,745 metres), Shyn Mann Peak (4,300 metres) and Mount Harmukh, one of Kashmir’s most prominent mountains.
Nahida Mazoor at Mt. Sheen Myean Peak
In October 2025, Nahida recorded a scaled Mount Harmukh. A mountaineering summit registry records her ascent on October 17, 2025, at an elevation of about 5,142 metres.
Then came Mount Everest. In 2019, Nahida became the first woman from the Kashmir
Valley to summit Mount Everest. She reached the 8,848-metre peak with Sherpa guide Nima Kancha during her maiden Everest attempt. The expedition was not simply a physical challenge. Funding the climb itself was a major obstacle.
With the expedition estimated to cost around Rs 30 lakh, Nahida launched an online crowdfunding campaign after struggling to find sufficient sponsorship. Contributions from several supporters, government officials and organisations eventually helped make the expedition possible.
Nahida Manzoor at Mt. Friendship Peak
Her Everest achievement turned her into a symbol of determination for young women in Kashmir. But Nahida did not regard the summit as the end of her journey. Instead, it became the beginning of a larger mission.
Before it, she had already climbed peaks including Mount Deo Tibba in Himachal Pradesh, Friendship Peak, Mount Mahadev and Tatakooti Peak in Jammu and Kashmir.
Nahida’s journey as a mountaineer began when she joined the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhans to get trained in mountain climbing. She completed an advanced training, along with courses in skiing and rock climbing.
Her training taught her that climbing is as much about mental endurance and discipline as physical strength. This way Nahida, the girls amid Kashmir’s mountains turned her fascination for peaks into a profession.
Nahida Manzoor at Mt. Harmukh (5070 Mts.)
In an earlier interview, Nahida recalled deliberately carrying heavier loads during training to build stamina. The demanding preparation eventually helped her take on some of the most challenging mountains in the region and beyond.
Nahida’s latest expedition was Mt. Koh-e-Noor (South-West) which is 5146 mts. “This expedition was not only challenging but also meaningful and unforgetable for all of us. I am deeply honoured to become the first female climber to sucessfully summit Mt. Koh-e-Noor (SW) an add my name to the history of this mountain”, Nahida shared.
Nahida Mazoor at Mt. Koh-e-Noor
Her relationship with the mountains began early. Nahida started trekking when she was around 10 years old, exploring the hills around her home. During her school years, she was an all-rounder and participated in several sports, including badminton, volleyball and table tennis.
She was even selected for a national-level table tennis championship but could not participate. Eventually, it was mountaineering that captured her imagination completely.
The second of three daughters, Nahida grew up in Zewan on the outskirts of Srinagar.
Her belief that “there’s nothing that a girl cannot do” was strengthened by a family that encouraged all three sisters to participate in sports and pursue their ambitions. Her father, Manzoor Ahmad Pampori, played an important role in supporting her sporting interests. Nahida has often credited her parents for giving her the freedom to chase unconventional dreams.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by Vidushi Gaur, New Delhi / September 22nd, 2026
Thikekarwadi Panchayat (Junnar Taluk, Pune District), MAHARASHTRA :
Aslam Shaikh in front of the Gram Panchayat office in Thikekarwadi
In 2021, Aslam Shaikh, a diploma holder in agriculture, took charge of the Thikekarwadi Gram Panchayat as Gram Sevak. His arrival accelerated the village’s development. During his tenure, the village won the first prize of Rs 1 crore across the entire country under the ‘Gram Urja Swaraj Visesh Panchayat Puraskar 2023’.
The award ceremony was organised at the Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. At this grand event, President Droupadi Murmu presented a certificate of honour, a memento, and a cheque of Rs 1 crore to Thikekarwadi’s Sarpanch Santosh Thikekar, Gram Sevak Aslam Shaikh, and Block Development Officer (BDO) Sharadchandra Mali.
When this trio returned to the village with this special honour, a historic victory celebration was held across Thikekarwadi with the sounds of traditional instruments, fireworks, and women’s singing troupes.
Thikekarwadi’s Sarpanch Santosh Thikekar said, “We have worked with Aslam Chacha for many years. He executes his work with absolute honesty. He was highly cooperative. We received excellent support from him.”
President Droupadi Murmu awarding Thikekarwadi’s Sarpanch Santosh Thikekar, Gram Sevak Aslam Shaikh,(Extreme right) and BDO Sharadchandra Mali.
Aslam Hussain Shaikh once cleaned the office of the Gram Panchayat of Thikekarwadi as a peon.
Aslam Hussain Shaikh hails from an ordinary family. He completed his schooling from a Zilla Parishad school in Narayangaon and Guruvarya Rajaram Parshuram Sabnis Vidyamandir.
In 1982, when he was in the eighth standard, his parents suddenly passed away. He was left to fend for himself. However, the villagers did not leave him alone.
The late Bhagubai Shelar, Bhamabai Walke, and their families took care of Aslam.
It was because of their support that Aslam could study up to the tenth standard. Throughout this journey, his sister, Babyjan Inamdar, also played the role of a parent for him.
After passing the tenth standard in 1984, Aslam started his career as a peon in the Warulwadi Gram Panchayat. It was Krushiratna awardee Anil Meher, who gave Aslam his first opportunity to work as a peon.
Even while working, Aslam never gave up his determination to study further. In the next two years, he completed his Agriculture Diploma with distinction from the Agriculture College in Manjari Farm. He also passed his 12th exams as an external student from Manchar College.
His first wife Shamim Shaikh, who passed away, and his second wife Biismillah Shaikh have played great roles in his life. Aslam Hussain Shaikh and Bismillah have a son named Sajid and a daughter named Mumtaz.
Thikekarwadi’s Sarpanch Santosh Thikekar, Gram Sevak Aslam Shaikh, and (BDO) Sharadchandra Mali at Vigyan Bhawan
Aslam Hussain Shaikh faced a rough patch in his life when, due to a freeze on appointments, Aslam could not get a government job.
Finally, in 1989, he was appointed as a clerk in the Narayangaon Gram Panchayat, where he worked till 2006.
In 2006, the Pune Zilla Parishad opened up contractual Gram Sevak recruitments through a 10 per cent quota for Gram Panchayat employees.
Based on his Agriculture Diploma, Aslam wrote the exam and scored the highest marks in Maharashtra. He was appointed as a Gram Sevak.
He left a remarkable imprint of his work in various Gram Panchayats in the Junnar taluka, including Aptale, Nirgude, Ambegavan, Rohokadi, and Thikekarwadi.
Aslam Shaikh and Sarpanch Santosh Thikekar worked together to turn this tiny village into a ‘smart village’. During his tenure, they executed several major developmental projects.
100% Use of Solar Energy: Special subsidies were secured for all families in the village to use solar energy. Today, 100% of the households in the village use solar water heaters for hot water.
Self-Generated Electricity: The village set up solar plants, biogas plants, and windmills to generate up to 10,000 watts of electricity, effectively bringing the village’s electricity bill down to zero.
Complete Measurement of Agricultural Land: Thikekarwadi possibly became the first village in Maharashtra to have all its agricultural land officially measured by the government.
100% Drip Irrigation: With the help of the agriculture department, all farmers in the village were motivated to use drip irrigation methods for 100 percent of their farming.
Soil Health Testing: To understand the deficiency of nutrients in the soil, a special soil testing initiative was launched in the village, the benefits of which farmers are reaping to this day.
Aslam Shaikh with his wife Bismillah Shaikh
Village Honoured with Over 45 Awards
Thanks to the precise planning of the Gram Panchayat, Thikekarwadi has received over 45 big and small awards to date. Under the ‘SantGadgebaba Gram Swachhata Abhiyan‘, the village won the first prize in the state of Maharashtra. Along with this, by winning the highly prestigious national-level ‘Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Spardha Puraskar’, this village became the number one Gram Panchayat in the country.
Aslam is as good a citizen as he is an honest worker. Expressing his concern over the current social climate, Aslam says, “There are very bizarre attempts being made right now to create social polarisation. The situation was not like this before. People used to live in harmony with each other. This harmony is the hallmark of our Narayangaon.”
Aslam further states, “I have been seeing this since childhood; till date, no incident causing religious tension has ever occurred here. We celebrate all festivals together joyfully. I have served as the secretary of the Mahasaroday Ganeshotsav Mandal for 10 years, and as its vice president for another 10 years.”
Summarising his entire journey, he gives one final, invaluable message. He says, “Our country will only progress if we all live united and with one heart. If we all stay united, our future is very bright.”
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Success-Story / by Bhakti Chalak / July 15th, 2026
The software can also locate hospitals and police stations near the last-seen location and provides guidance on what to do if a police complaint hasn’t been filed yet.
Arfath Mohammad / Photo | Express
Bengaluru :
Hyderabad-based Arfath Mohammad was led on the path to develop a software tracking platform when his close friend’s father struggling with dementia went missing from home. Now ReuniteIndia, the software tracking platform developed by Mohammad, has come into news by listing 665 individuals went missing during the Nepal floods and landslide.
It helped in listing those missing, rescued, and safe from official sources like Nepal Police, Nepal’s disaster management authority (NDRRMA), India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and verified family reports.
The platform brings police PDFs, MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) updates, disaster authority bulletins, and scattered social posts, often with different names, dates, and formats together while linking each case back to its original source to help families in trying to find their loved ones.
Mohammad has a Master’s from Wichita State University (USA) and was honoured with a wall dedication at the University’s Rhatigan Student Center for his work in programming and innovation.
The platform not only helps in locating missing persons, but each case page can generate a shareable poster with a real QR code linking back to its live status, so a printed flyer still shows the current status weeks later if someone scans it.
The software can also locate hospitals and police stations near the last-seen location and provides guidance on what to do if a police complaint hasn’t been filed yet.
ReuniteIndia has an AI-assisted layer that helps structure raw information from sources like government bulletins and social posts into clean case records for Arfath to review. Arfath is working on adding an AI chatbot on the resources page to help answer people’s questions directly.
Mohammad says that the ambition is not to be a Nepal flood tracker but to simply be a place any family in India turns to first, for any kind of missing-person case, at any time of year.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Bengaluru / by Express News Service / September 13th, 2026
Kuttippuram (Tirur Taluk , Malappuram District), KERALA :
Author Sajida A Zubair with volunteers and members of the Ila Foundation during a discussion at its centre in Kerala.
“We human beings have started living in compartments. Muslims go to the masjid, Hindus go to the temple, Christians visit the church, and Sikhs go to the gurudwara. But where are the spaces for human beings, for all of us to visit simply as human beings?” –Ila Foundation’s Mohammed Najeeb.
Kuttipuram (Kerala) :
Travelling to Kuttipuram in Kerala was not merely a journey I had planned. It was a journey that carried with it a deep sense of emotion and transition. When I boarded the flight to Thiruvananthapuram earlier this month, I was setting out to leave my youngest daughter to follow her own choice of college and take the next step towards her higher education. As a parent, it was a moment filled with conflicting emotions: Pride in watching her move towards her dreams, and a quiet ache in letting her take those steps away from home.
After completing all the formalities and spending some cherished time with friends during the Onam holidays, I set out once again, this time by train. It was my first train journey in 22 years. A small journey in distance, perhaps, but one that felt significant in ways I had not anticipated. I finally reached Kuttipuram, carrying with me a sense of gratitude and anticipation, to meet Mohammed Najeeb Kuttipuram and thank him personally for the remarkable work he has been doing.
Though I went straight to their home from Tirur railway station, I met him only the following morning. I was told that Najeebka is a man who is deeply disciplined when it comes to time. There was no exception to that rule.
That morning, I was not simply meeting Najeebka. I was about to be introduced to a dream he had nurtured with conviction and purpose- the Ila Foundation.
The first question I asked him was perhaps the most natural one: “Why Ila?”
Najeebka, as he is fondly called by those around him, paused for a moment before answering.
“Life is a lesson,” he said. “We spend this journey going to school, finding a job, getting married, raising children, and then focusing on their education and building a house. We spend much of our lives fulfilling these responsibilities. But what’s next? What comes after all these responsibilities are fulfilled? That thought gave me the push to do something beyond these responsibilities.”
Here are excerpts from my conversations with the founder and volunteers of the Ila Foundation, recorded during my visit.
Sajida A Zubair (SAZ): What is Ila?
Najeebka: Ila which means leaf, comes from the fable of the ‘Ant & Leaf.’ Ila is a breathing space We human beings celebrate the first breath of life, and we mourn the last. In between those two moments, we breathe every single day, every single moment, yet we rarely pause to think about those breaths. We take them for granted. Ila is a space that allows us to pause- to breathe, to reflect and simply be. We human beings have started living in compartments. Muslims go to the masjid, Hindus go to the temple, Christians visit the church, and Sikhs go to the gurudwara. But where are the spaces for human beings, for all of us simply as human beings? Ila is that space. It belongs to everyone. That is why Ila has no doors. It is open to everyone. There are no compartments at Ila Foundation that differentiate among human beings.
SAZ: How is Ila’s palliative care initiative different from other such center?
Najeebka: I felt that there was very little change or evolution in the way palliative care was being provided in many centres. Many of them remained where they were when they first began. The focus was largely on medicines, injections, catheter changes and other forms of medical support. But Ila was conceived as something beyond medical care. We wanted to provide emotional support as well, to create a space where people could feel heard, cared for and valued.
SAZ: What makes Ila different from other organisations? What does it mean to be a volunteer at Ila?
Every volunteer who comes here is first made to understand one thing: before anything else, we are human beings. Learning how to be a human being is the first lesson we give to anyone who comes here to contribute. Our volunteers come from different religions, castes, races and creeds. But the understanding that we are human beings first is what brings us together and makes us a family. That is also why Ila does not have the usual hierarchy. We don’t have board members, a president or a secretary. We simply have volunteers. We come together because we believe in the same purpose.
We need to realise that the health we have is one of the greatest blessings we receive in life. The moment we truly understand that, we should feel the responsibility to reach out to those who are struggling with their health. At Ila, we try to see ourselves simply as human beings, and to see the people we care for in the same way.
Ila foundation is not just to care for those who are suffering, but to make all of us a little more human in the process.
SAZ: What is Ila doing to prepare the next generation with this same idea?
Najeebka: One of our important initiatives is the CEEP- Capital Exploration and Enhancement Programme, which begins with children from the eighth standard onwards.
We want to encourage these children to ask themselves some fundamental questions: Who am I? What am I capable of? What do I want to achieve in my life? We train them to discover their strengths, develop a sense of purpose and build a mission for their lives. More importantly, we help them understand how to face and overcome the challenges that life will inevitably bring.
We give special attention to the training of female students as well. So far, 24 training sessions have been conducted. These children will, in another ten years, become part of different sections of society- some may enter politics, some may become professionals, teachers or take up other roles. Wherever they go, Ila hopes they will carry with them the values they have learned here and contribute to a positive and compassionate transformation of society. Our dream is not simply to train children for successful careers. It is to nurture human beings who can make a meaningful difference wherever life takes them.
SAZ: How would you describe your association with the idea behind Ila?
Sulfikhar, Volunteer, Ila Foundation: Najeebka is my childhood friend and an elder brother for me. I have known him for many years. He is a traveller, and during his journeys across North India, particularly through villages, he spent a great deal of time doing social work and reaching out to people in need.
For more than 25 years, these travels became a part of his life. It was through these experiences, and the people he encountered along the way, that the idea of the Ila Foundation gradually took shape.
But Ila is much more than a charity or a place that simply provides assistance. It offers care and compassion to people dealing with health challenges, but its purpose extends beyond those who are unwell.
Ila is also a space for those who are healthy. It’s a place where they can look within themselves and work towards cleansing their inner selves. We all carry our own diseases of the soul- ego, jealousy, anger and many other negative emotions. Ila encourages people to recognise these within themselves and try to overcome them.
That, for me, is what makes Ila different. It is not only about caring for a person’s physical suffering; it is also about helping people become better human beings.
SAZ: What kind of care and support does Ila Foundation provide?
Fasina, who coordinates the palliative care volunteers: Ila provides support to people with a range of health needs. The Drug Bank provides medicines, particularly for psychiatric patients. Those requiring rehabilitation support are registered, and the medicines they need are provided to them. We also have a dialysis unit with 10 machines, operating in two shifts. At present, 34 patients are receiving dialysis care through Ila.
Our palliative care programme extends beyond the walls of the Foundation. We have four home-care units that visit patients at their homes every 15 days. The visits include checking their vital signs, wound dressing and attending to other medical needs.
But medical care is only one part of what we do. Just as important is the time we spend with them, sitting beside them, listening to them and offering emotional and moral support. Sometimes, simply knowing that someone is there for you can make a great difference to a person who is suffering.
During my visit to the Ila Foundation, I had the opportunity to accompany one of its home-care units. We set out at 9 in the morning, travelling from one home to another and meeting families who, despite the immense difficulties they face, continue to hold on to hope and remain remarkably positive about life.
What struck me most was the way many of them spoke about Ila, not merely as a source of medical care, but as an institution that had brought a sense of confidence, dignity and hope back into their lives.
One such story is that of Shabiri Girish, 45, who lives with his wife and two school-going children. A construction worker by profession, his life changed dramatically when he fell from the fourth floor of a building and suffered a serious head injury.
For nearly three years, his family explored every available avenue of treatment, hoping that he would one day regain the ability to walk. But despite their efforts, he eventually lost movement in his legs.
It was then that Shabiri Girish registered for palliative care with the Ila Foundation.
When Ila’s care began, it offered him something that went beyond medical assistance. The emotional and moral support he received gradually helped him regain confidence and look at life with renewed hope. In time, Ila provided him with an electric wheelchair and helped him set up a small shop beside his home.
Today, Shabiri Girish has regained a measure of independence that once seemed almost impossible. His journey is not simply a story of overcoming physical limitations; it is also a story of dignity, resilience and the power of being supported when life seems to have taken everything away.
He and his family now speak of Ila with deep gratitude. More than recipients of its care, they hope to remain connected with the Foundation and contribute as volunteers, sharing their own journey to inspire others who may be going through similar struggles.
I was also given the opportunity to spend some time with a group of specially abled beneficiaries of Ila. We sang, played games and shared moments of laughter. They welcomed me into their circle with such warmth and innocence that, for those few hours, there seemed to be no sense of difference-only the simple joy of being together.
One of the children smiled and told me, “We love coming here every week. We wait eagerly for Tuesdays for these sessions.”
The excitement in those words said more about what Ila means to them than any explanation could. For these children, Tuesday is not just another day of the week. It is a day they look forward to- a day of friendship, play, laughter and belonging.
And that’s when I knew Ila Foundation is indeed a space to breathe freely and perhaps that is the most powerful aspect of Ila’s work-the transformation of those who once needed support into people who themselves want to become a source of strength for others.
If you are in Kerala, Ila Foundation deserves to be on your itinerary.
source: http://www.indiatomorrow.net / India Tomorrow / Home>Health / by Sajida A Zubair /edited in headlines / September 14th, 2026
