Category Archives: Amazing Feats

Meet Pandit Gulam Dastagir- A Muslim scholar with passion for Sanskrit

January 30, 2019Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, LeadersBadiujjama, Badiujjama - Sanskrit Scholar, Gulam Dastagir, Gulam Dastagir - Rastriya Sanskrit Pracharak, Gyasunissa Shaik, Gyasunissa Shaikh - Sanskrit Research Centre - Sholapur, Kamrunnissa Patil, Pandit Gulam Dastagir, Pandit Gulam Dastagir - Rashtriya Sanskrit Pracharak, Pandit Gulam Dastagir - Sanskirt Scholar, Pandit Gulam Dastagir - Worli High School - Mumbai, Vahida, Vahida Gulam Dastagirmpositiveone@gmail.com

Chikhala Village (Solapur District) / Mumbai , MAHARASHTRA :

Mumbai :

In downtown Worli, it is common to hear the strange greeting of ‘Assalamu-Alaykum, Guruji’ whenever an 80-year-old Muslim man steps out of his modest home.

He is none other than renowned Sanskrit scholar Pandit Gulam Dastagir, who over six decades has impressed the Shankaracharyas, late prime minister Indira Gandhi, RSS leaders and Islamic scholars, all with equal elan.

Armed with a deep knowledge of both Islam and Sanskrit, Pandit Dastagir can speak with authority on any religious topic — and earn their unabashed admiration.

Born in Chikhali village in Solapur district, Pandit Dastagir completed his schooling before joining a government Sanskrit institution.

“I was the only Muslim student in a class of around four dozen Brahmins. My Brahmin Guruji developed a special liking for me and encouraged me. I acquired my entire Sanskrit knowledge of the scriptures, Vedas and other texts there,” Pandit Dastagir told IANS.

Around mid-1950s, he shifted to Mumbai and joined the Maratha Mandir Sansthan’s Marathi-medium Worli High School as a Sanskrit teacher for all classes.

Two decades later, to comply with professional requirements, he appeared directly for a Master’s degree in Sanskrit from Mysore University. After the Emergency, when the Janata Party ruled India, Pandit Dastagir was suddenly targeted. “They suspected I was a namesake Muslim propagating the RSS and Jana Sangh ideology through Sanskrit. It was only after a long investigation that they were proved wrong,” the man chuckled.

When Indira Gandhi returned to power in 1980, she summoned him and was surprised to discover that Pandit Dastagir was actually a ‘Syedvanshi’, or belonging to a clan considered the direct descendents of Prophet Mohammed.

“She met me several times and appreciated my knowledge and love for Sanskrit. In 1982, she told the education ministry to appoint me as a ‘Rashtriya Sanskrit Pracharak’,” Pandit Dastagir said.

When baffled officials asked Gandhi how should his duties be classified, she reportedly shot back: “He will teach us what needs to be done. Let him function independently.”

For two years, he toured India extensively and propagated Sanskrit in government and private institutions. He quit the post after Gandhi’s assassination in 1984.

“I acquired MA in Sanskrit only in 1987 when I was around 50 years old although I was proficient in the language long before.”

Since his retirement, Pandit Dastagir lectures on the similarities between Islam and Hinduism with reference to various aspects of one of the world’s oldest and richest languages, Sanskrit.

“Sanskrit is not only for Brahmins. But this perception made the masses reluctant to study it. I create awareness about Sanskrit all over India among different castes and religions,” he said.

Pandit Dastagir explained that Hinduism does not recognize ‘conversions’ or the caste system. “The current craze for ‘conversions’ has no basis in Hindu scriptures. It is not recognized. At best, you can change a person’s name, not his soul from the religion of his/her birth,” he said.

An old darling of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), Pandit Dastagir credits the group with giving him full encouragement to pursue his vocation without having to change his religion.

He feels the RSS was not against any religion. “But if anybody threatens Hinduism, they will hit back, irrespective of the opponent’s religious beliefs,” Pandit Dastagir said.

He has also never encountered objections from fellow Muslims over his passion for Sanskrit. “Comparative study of different religions makes you more reasonable. I am not a fanatic, just an ordinary Muslim.”

His love for Sanskrit has not made him lose Islamic identity. He prays daily at the mosque. “I have built up a huge library of thousands of books on Sanskrit and Islam which I study and propagate,” Pandit Dastagir said.

He laments that there are many other Muslim Sanskrit scholars in the country but financial constraints prevent them from propagating the ancient Indian language.

Pandit Dastagir’s wife Vahida is a supporting housewife. Their son Badiujjama is a Sanskrit scholar but runs a shop, elder daughter Gyasunissa Shaikh runs a Sanskrit research centre in Solapur, and their other daughter Kamrunnisa Patil never pursued her father’s passion.

IANS

source: http://www.oneindia.com / One India / Home> News> Feature / by IANS / December 27th, 2014

Tumakuru armyman who gunned down seven militants gets Sena Medal for gallantry

January 30, 2019Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social IssuesMohammed Sadik, Mohammed Sadik - 1st Rashtriya Rifles, Mohammed Sadik - Awarded - Sena Medal for Gallantry, Mohammed Sadik - Indian Army Naik, Mohammed Sadik - Sena Medal for Gallantry - 1st Rashtriya Rifles, Mohammed Sadik - Tumakuru - Karnatakampositiveone@gmail.com

Tumakuru , KARNATAKA :

He was involved in a major operation at Arwani in 2017 where he came face to face with a terrorist and had gunned him down.

Tumakuru :

An Indian Army Naik hailing from Tumakuru, who has gunned down seven militants in his 15-year service, most of it in Jammu and Kashmir region, has won the Sena Medal for gallantry this year. Mohammed Sadik (34) of the 1st Rashtriya Rifles, the army’s elite counter-insurgency unit, had eliminated three terrorists in a fierce gunbattle at Kulgam in July 2018. He was involved in a major operation at Arwani in 2017 where he came face to face with a terrorist and had gunned him down.

“I joined the army with a great passion. ‘Desh seva is Esha seva’ (serving the country is serving the god) for me”, said a proud Sadik when contacted over phone. Sadik’s mother Shirajunnisa, wife Rahamath Unnisa and two-and-half-year-old son Ayman were beaming with pride and joy at the Mahatma Gandhi stadium here on Saturday. They had been invited for a felicitation by the district administration on the occasion of the 70th Republic Day celebrations. Flexes with his pictures were put up at many places in the city to inspire youths.

“His father late Mohamed Salim used to hawk popsicles in different villages besides doing small seasonal businesses. Their’s was an economically backward family”, recalled Dandina Thimme Gowda, a local resident.

SADIK joined the army as a jawan on January 21, 2004, and served in J&K region for eight years, in Sudan as part of the UN peacekeeping force for a year, and for two years with the elite NSG in New Delhi.
He dreamed of joining the army even while he was studying in Class 3 at a government school at Bhovi Colony in Tiptur town.

After his primary education, Sadik completed his middle-schooling at the government school at Dandinashivara village and three years of higher secondary education at Digvijaya High School at Ammasandra in Turuvekere taluk of the district. After completing his SSLC board examination in his first attempt, he got selected for the army in at a recruitment rally held at Madras Engineering Group (MEG) at Bengaluru. He later did his Bachelors of Arts (BA) through distance education.

Impressed by PM Modi’s ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padao’ slogan, Sadik brought his adopted sister’s daughter Shifa Annum to his household so that she can pursue her education. He also dreams of her becoming an army officer. His mother Shirajunnisa, wife Rahamath Unnisa and two-and-half-year-old son Ayman live in a small rented house at the Poor House Colony area in Tumakuru.

“We knew the risk involved in the army, that too in J&K. We are proud of him as he has been serving the motherland,” said the proud mother and wife. He is the only son of his parents.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Devaraj B. Hirehalli / Express News Service / January 27th, 2019

Every step Mishal Mohammed takes helps save 74 lives

January 12, 2019Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Useful / HEALTHCAREMishal Mohammed, Mishal Mohammed - Hashtag #thenewyearrevolution, Mishal Mohammed - Imprints Fund Raiser, Mishal Mohammed - Kozhikode - Keralampositiveone@gmail.com

Kozhikode, KERALA :

The effort taken by the second-year MBBS student has now garnered attention on social media platforms, under the hashtag #newyearrevolution.

Kochi :

Save more money, travel to new places, wake up early, eat healthy – while New Year resolutions for the majority of us were about making our own lives better, for Mishal Mohammed, it was about saving the lives of 74 children. So, carrying a collection bucket and a poster with the message ‘Save 74 Lives’, this 19-year-old student of Government Medical College, Kozhikode, walked around 15 km on the second day of the New Year to support children suffering from Thalassemia, Diabetes and Wilson’s disease. The effort taken by the second-year MBBS student has now garnered attention on social media platforms, under the hashtag #newyearrevolution.

According to Mishal, the ‘revolution’ has been launched as part of the Imprints project of the College Union Society under which medical aid and treatment are provided throughout the year to 74 children suffering from the disease. “Nearly a year ago, I had conducted a solo trip to the Western and Northern parts of the country. I was stranded in the Himalayas without cash for a couple of days and had to walk several kilometres for help. However, the experience gave me an impetus to explore my own city on foot, “ said Mishal.

Once back in Kozhikode, Mishal decided to put his walking experiment for a better cause. “The entire cost of medical aid for children under the Imprints project comes up to nearly Rs one lakh per month. Since many are unaware of the initiative, I wondered why not use a novel method, walk around the city and raise funds for these children,” he said.

Over the past one week, Mishal has gained supporters from his college and on online platforms. He has been able to cover a total distance of 38 km on foot to JDT Islam College, Focus Mall and Kozhikode Beach and has raised a sum of Rs 30,000 for the project. “So far I have received only positive responses from people. Around Rs 5,000 was collected from online supporters,” said the Kozhikode-native.

In the previous year, the ‘Walk to the Beach’ Challenge started by Mishal had received a huge response with around 200 college students covering the 10 km distance from Government Medical College to Kozhikode beach, on foot. The student is also planning to visit a couple more localities and spread awareness on the Imprints project, on hartal days.Those interested in contributing towards the Imprints project can contact 9567992028 or 9745414085 for further details.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Kochi / by Express News Service / January 12th, 2019

Four policemen killed in militant attack in Kashmir’s Shopian

December 12, 2018Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social IssuesAbdul Majeed Ganaie, Abdul Majeed Ganaie - Indian Martyr, Abdul Majeed Ganaie - Martyr, Anees Ahmed Mir, Anees Ahmed Mir - Indian Martyr, Asaduddin Owaisi, Constable - Abdul Majeed Ganaie, Hameed Ul Lah Ganie, Hameed Ul Lah Ganie - Indian Martyr, Imtiyaz Jaleel, Imtiyaz Jaleel - MLA - Aurangabad, Mehbooba Mufti, Mehraj Ud Din Dar - Indian Martyr, Mehraj-Ud-Din Dar, Omar Abdullah, Policeman Anees Ahmed Mir, Policeman Hameed Ul Lah Ganie, Policeman Mehraj Ud Din Darmpositiveone@gmail.com

Shopian District, South Kashmir, JAMMU & KASHMIR :

Police officers said that the policemen who were killed were guarding a minority picket, meant for security of a few Kashmiri pandit families in Zainapora area of Shopian.

Three policemen were killed by militants in Shopian on Tuesday. (File photo)

Four Jammu and Kashmir policemen were killed in a militant attack on a police picket in South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Tuesday. The attack was the first one by militants in the Valley after they suffered several blows in multiple encounters over the last one month in South Kashmir.

Police officers said that the policemen who were killed were guarding a minority picket, meant for security of a few Kashmiri pandit families in Zainapora area of Shopian. Four weapons belonging to the policemen were also taken by the militants after the attack, officials said. The four policemen have been identified as Abdul Majeed, Mehraj-ud-din, Anees and Hameed-ul-lah.

Majeed was a selection grade constable and a resident of Gandebal district, Mehraj-ud-din was a resident of Bandipora district in North Kashmir, while as Anees and Hameed-ul-lah were residents of Kulgam and Anantnag districts of South Kashmir respectively, officials said.

“We pay rich tributes to our colleagues Abdul Majeed, Mehraj-ud-din, Anees and Hameed-ul-lah who were #martyred in a #terror attack at #Shopian today. Our thoughts and prayers are with the grieving families at this juncture. RIP,” the state police tweeted.

Shopian district has witnessed a spurt in violence in the last one month. Apart from multiple encounters between security forces and militants, over a dozen civilians were abducted from South Kashmir villages by militants and two of them were killed on suspicion of being informers. The state police has recently claimed that they eliminated the top militant leadership in South Kashmir.

About the militant attack on Tuesday, police sources told The Indian Express that a group of militants entered the guard post of the minority picket. The militants fired indiscriminately, killing three policemen on the spot and injuring one. The injured policeman succumbed on way to the hospital, a senior police officer said.

After the attack on Tuesday, militants also posted pictures of the weapons taken by them from the police picket.

Senior state police officers, however, told The Indian Express that they are verifying the pictures that have appeared on social media. A senior police officer in Shopian said that they suspect JeM militants for the attack.

The mainstream political parties in the Valley condemned the killing.

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said, “State has been at the receiving end with deaths, whether of a civilian, a policeman or a militant, becoming order of the day over the past three decades.”

Former CM Mehbooba Mufti tweeted, “Strongly condemn attack on policemen in Shopian claiming 3 precious lives…. Solidarity with families of jawans .Relieved that no harm caused to any civilians in the minority pocket they guarded.”

source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> India / by Adil Akhzer / Srinagar – December 12th, 2018

Saudi in search of benefactor from Bengaluru

December 5, 2018Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, Karnataka (under research project), World OpinionRoshan Baig, Roshan Baig - Chairman - Karnataka State Hajj Committee, Roshan Baig - Minister - Karnataka State Government, Saulath Unnissa, Saulath Unnissa - Bangalore, Saulath Unnissa - Bengaluru, Saulath Unnissa - Philanthropistmpositiveone@gmail.com

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA :

Saudi Arabia Ambassador to India Saud Mohammed Al-sati shared this information when he called on Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, along with Karnataka State Haj Committee Chairman and former Minister Roshan Baig, on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: the hindu

About a 100 years ago, a woman philanthropist from Bengaluru had set up a school for girls in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

On Tuesday, many people in Bengaluru were in for a pleasant surprise when Saudi Arabia Ambassador to India Saud Mohammed Al-sati shared this information during a meeting with Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy. The ambassador informed that they had all the records pertaining to the woman, named Saulath Unnisa, and expressed a desire to honour her family members if they could be located.

Karnataka State Haj Committee Chairman and former Minister Roshan Baig told The Hindu that they would try to trace the family. “These days, we take a five-and-a-half hours flight to Jeddah for Haj or Umra. But back then, pilgrims would have to take a ship from Bombay and sail for a fortnight to reach Mecca. It is a great contribution by the lady at that time,” he said.

Saudi consulate in city

Meanwhile, one of the long-standing demands of pilgrims and the large Kannadiga diaspora in Saudi Arabia for a consulate in Bengaluru could be fructifying shortly.

According to Mr. Baig, around 50,000 pilgrims travel from Karnataka annually for Haj and Umra. This is apart from a large number of people employed in Saudi Arabia.

The ambassador is learnt to have told Mr. Kumaraswamy that work on establishing the consulate is in progress, and it is waiting for approval from the Ministry of External Affairs. The ambassador said that the number of people seeking a visa to Saudi Arabia had doubled, and that it was the reason for opening a consulate. Currently, residents of Karnataka have to travel to Mumbai for the paperwork.

Mr. Kumaraswamy welcomed the move to open a consulate in Bengaluru, and also invited Saudi Arabian businessmen to invest in Bengaluru.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Special Correspondent / December 04th, 2018

Tales from 20th century ‘path-breaking’ Muslim women on view

December 4, 2018Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Books (incl.Biographies - w.e.f.01 jan 2018 ), Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, LeadersAnis Kidwai, Atiya Fyzee, Attia Hosain - member 'Progressive Writers Movement ', Attia Hosain - Writer, Attia Hossain, Aziza Fatima Imam, Aziza Imam, Begum Hamida Habibullah, Begum Qudsia Aizaz Rasul, Exhibition - 'Pathbreakers : The Twentieth Century Muslim Women of India', Fatima Ismael, Fatima Ismail, Hajira Begum, Hajrah Begum, Hajrah Begum - Founder - National Federation of Indian Women, Hamida Abdullah, Masuma Begum, Masuma Hosain Ali Khan, Mofida Ahmed, Mofida Ahmed - First Woman MP of Assam, Mumtaz Jahan Haider, Mumtaz Jahan Haider - Pricipal - Aligarh Women's College, Muslim Women's Forum India, Muslim Womens' Forum, Qudisa Aizaz Rasul - The Only Woman Member of the Constituent Assembly, Qudisia Zaidi, Qudsia Aizaz Rasul, Qudsia Aizaz Rasul - Author - 'From Purah to Parliament : A Muslim Woman in Indian Politics', Razia Sajjad Zaheer, Saeeda Khurshid, Saeeda Khurshid - Founder - Muslim Women's Forum, Safiya Abid Hussain, Safiya Jan Nisar Akhtar, Saleha Abid Hussain, Sharifa Hamid Ali, Siddiqua Kidwai, Surraya Tayabji, Syeda Imam, Syeda Imam - Author, Syeda Imam - Film maker, Tyaba Khedive Jung, Tyaba Khedive Jung - Writer - Educator, Zehra Ali Yawar Jung, Zohra Ali Yawar Jungmpositiveone@gmail.com

INDIA :

New Delhi, (IANS) :

Stories of conviction and contribution of Indian Muslim women, who “gave up the purdah” and were at “the forefront of the nationalist and feminist discourse” in the past century are on display here.

The exhibition on 21 “pathbreakers” opened for public view on Saturday.

Organised by Muslim Women’s Forum at the India International Centre (IIC), the show “Pathbreakers: The Twentieth Century Muslim Women of India” features women who remain largely unheard of and unsung in the mainstream narrative.

During and after the freedom movement, a note on the exhibition said, many Muslim women shed the ‘purdah’ and became partners in the project to build a new India.

They went on to become writers, teachers, artists, scientists, lawyers, educators, political workers, trade unions, MPs, and MLAs.

“With a few exceptions, most of them have been forgotten in time.”

The show, inaugurated by author-filmmaker Syeda Imam (granddaughter of early 20th century writer-educator Tyaba Khedive Jung), embodies the spirit of the active contribution of these women, and as Imam said, “were not in the recesses of home and kitchen”.

Far from the commonly-held impression of silenced, cloistered and acquiescent women, ‘Pathbreakers’ narrates the stories of strong, determined and engaged women, the note said.

Some of these women include Qudsia Aizaz Rasul, the only Muslim woman member of the Constituent Assembly and author of “From Purdah to Parliament: A Muslim Woman in Indian Politics”; Assam’s first woman MP Mofida Ahmed, elected from Jorhat in 1957; and Aziza Fatima Imam, who served in the Rajya Sabha for 13 years starting 1973.

Why Muslim women?

The exhibition of photographs, text and video installations, points to their significant contribution towards the building of the nation, along with their sisters of other communities, through its freedom struggle, independence and beyond.

“A multiplicity of stereotypes are constructed by diverse actors regarding Muslim women. But the fact is there is no undifferentiated amass’ of Muslim women. Like women of all socio-cultural groups, they too are a divergent, shifting composition of individuals, often dumped in popular parlance into one single heap. This homogenisation has to be rejected,” the note read.

The show also projects video recordings of readings from writings of some of the featuring women.

The organisers, however, said while the participating women might seem elite, it is only the first step in identifying and recognising pathbreakers from all sections.

Featured are Anis Kidwai, Atiya Fyzee, Atia Hossain, Aziza Imam, Fatima Ishmael, Hamida Habibullah, Hajira Begum, Mofida Ahmed, Masuma Begum, Mumtaz Jahan Haider, Qudsia Aizaz Rasul, Qudsia Zaidi, Razia Sajjad Zaheer, Saleha Abid Hussain, Sharifa Hamid Ali, Saeeda Khurshid, Safia Jan Nisar Akhtar, Siddiqa Kidwai, Surayya Tyabji, Zehra Ali Yavar Jung and Tyaba Khedive Jung.

This exhibition was first held here in May, and was supported by the UN Women. The current show is open till December 8.

source: http://www.twocircles.net / TwoCirlcles.net / Home> Indian News> Indian Muslim / by IANS / December 03rd, 2018

Azim Premji conferred highest French civilian award

November 29, 2018Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Karnataka (under research project), Leaders, Science & Technology, World OpinionAzim Premji, Azim Premji - Awarded - Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur, Azim Premji - Awarded - Highest French Civilian Award 2018 - Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur, Azim Premji - Chairman - Wipro Limited, Azim Premji - Philanthropist, Azim Premji Foundation, Azim Premji University, Azim Premji-Wipro Chief, Wipro-Chief-Azim Premjimpositiveone@gmail.com

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA :

Wipro Limited Chairman Azim Premji receives the highest French civilian distinction, Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour), from Ambassador of France to India Alexandre Ziegler, in Bengaluru on Thursday. — Wipro Limited Chairman Azim Premji receives the highest French civilian distinction, Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour), from Ambassador of France to India Alexandre Ziegler, in Bengaluru on Thursday.

Azim Premji, philanthropist and Chairman of Wipro Limited, on Wednesday received the highest French civilian distinction, Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour) from Ambassador of France to India Alexandre Ziegler.

Speaking on the occasion at the Wipro campus, Ziegler said the award was bestowed on Azim Premji for his outstanding contribution to developing the information technology industry in India.

“Also, for his economic outreach in France, and his laudable contribution to society as a philanthropist through the Azim Premji Foundation and Azim Premji University,” he said.

TheLegion d’Honneur , instituted in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, is the highest civilian award given by the French Republic for outstanding service to France, regardless of the nationality of the recipients.

The President of the French Republic is the Grand Master of the Order of the Legion of Honour.

In his acceptance speech, Premji said he is extremely honoured by the award bestowed on me. “The vibrancy of the French democracy and its diversity is an inspiration to all across the world,” he said.

Wipro’s association with France spans over 15 years and the company enjoys a close relationship with several French organizations. Nearly 65% of Wipro’s employees in France are locals.

France is a key market for Wipro and the company is committed to continues investments there. Large French digital companies already have a strong footprint in India, employing over 1.3 lakh people at their R&D centres and facilities.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Business> Business News / by N.V. Vijayakumar / DH News Service, Bengaluru / November 28th, 2018

‘Diversity is our strength’

November 29, 2018Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, NRI's / PIO's, World OpinionAmeenah Gurib-Fakim, Ameenah Gurib-Fakim - First Woman President of Mauritius, Ameenah Gurib-Fakim - President of Mauritius, First Woman President of Mauritius - Ameenah Gurib-Fakimmpositiveone@gmail.com

UTTAR PRADESH / MAURITIUS :

Former President of Mauritius Ameenah Gurib-Fakim tells Asmita Sarkar that there are no two ways forward than making women and minorities part of the progress

She holds many mantles — politician, the first woman President of Mauritius and a biodiversity scientist. Not only that, she is also a proponent of cultural diversity and creating entrepreneurial opportunities for women in Africa. Social media- savvy and with a clear voice, she pushes for saving the planet and its biodiversity.

What is the way forward in Asia and Africa to empower women and other minority sections?

No team can win a football match by leaving 52 per cent of the team on the bench. Women, minorities must all come together with their talents and change their way of doing things. Our diversity is our strength. When it comes to minorities, I am reminded of the words of a great statesman Pierre Trudeau. He stated and I quote, “A just society will be one in which the rights of minorities will be safe from the whims of intolerant majorities”. Countries that have valued immigrants, like the United States, are a classic example. Most of the big brands in the US have emerged from the contribution of immigrants.

As a scientist and politician, how did you envision your expertise in changing the world around you?

Countries need to be technically-driven and this is where scientists have a key role to play in shaping the destiny of their respective countries provided the leadership takes heed. Again those countries that have recognised this technical vision have emerged strong.

Countries need strong institutions and strong leadership to emerge and science and technology are powerful tools. For the first time in 2015, even institutions like the United Nations (UN) have recognised this in the crafting of the UN Sustainable Development Goal’s.

Can you tell us about your link to India?

I am a fourth generation Indian from the diaspora. My forebears came from Ghazipur area in Uttar Pradesh. They left in 1862 to come to Mauritius to work the land and never returned.

Going forward, do you think that conversations around biodiversity have become confined to conservation alone?

May be the conversation has been skewed towards conservation but it is an equally laudable exercise, and one that we cannot shy away from.

What personal struggles did you face while growing up which you wish girls in your country don’t have to anymore?

When I was growing up, I had a set of challenges like girls were forever being denied education. That is no longer the case in my country although I am aware that this still happens in many other countries.

Girls in science were a rarity but is now becoming more common. So hopefully with more role models, it will ease the way for many more to join the efforts for encouraging girls and women in both leadership and power.

What is the way forward for Asia to transition from emerging economies to developed ones without damaging the environment?

Asia is fast emerging but the leadership will have to acknowledge that development must rhyme with sustainability. It is in their interest for their survival, for the prosperity of its people and long term future of their countries.

(The leader will be at the 10th edition of TEDxGateway on December 2 at the DOME @ NSCI Mumbai)

source: http://www.dailypioneer.com / The Pioneer / Home> Vivacity / by Asmita Sarkar / November 27th, 2018

Anti-dowry drive: Thousands of Indian Muslims return millions to bride families

November 24, 2018Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, LeadersHaji Mumtaz Ali, Haji Mumtaz Ali - Anti Dowry Campaigner, Haji Mumtaz Ali - AntiDowry Activist, Haji Mumtaz Ali - Jharkhand, Nizamuddin Ansarimpositiveone@gmail.com

JHARKHAND :

A man in India has launched a massive campaign against dowry, one of the biggest social evils claiming hundreds of lives every year in the country. Such is the impact of the campaign that close to 1,000 Muslim families have now returned dowry to the bride families, expressing regret over their conduct in public and vowing not to repeat it in future.

The credit to this unique campaign straightway goes to Haji Mumtaz Ali who has launched the campaign in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand. The success of the campaign is underlined from the fact that villages after villages are joining it every day, openly taking an oath not to accept dowry in future.

Initially, the campaign was started in Palamu district but now it has gone beyond its boundary and spread to several others districts as well. But what’s further fascinating about it is that the campaign is not limited to any particular community only as the Hindus too have lent a wholehearted support to this campaign, joining the anti-dowry rallies in large numbers.

“I am happy to inform you that what started as a silent campaign against this social evil two years back has now turned out to be the mass movement. Now it’s not limited to any particular area or the community only but Hindus too are joining us in large numbers,” said Ali who happens to be the brainchild of the campaign.

The peak of the campaign was when the Muslim villagers began returning dowries years after they had taken them at the time of their son’s wedding. (Supplied)

Rs 60 million returned

The peak of the campaign was when the Muslim villagers began returning dowries years after they had taken them at the time of their son’s wedding. According to Ali, close to 1,000 Muslim families have returned dowries worth Rs 60 million to the brides’ families so far, impressed by his appeals to give up dowry.

One of them was Nizamuddin Ansari who returned Rs 40,000 to the bride families. “I regret about taking dowry from my daughter-in-law’s families but feel proud to return it now,” Ansari told an anti-dowry meeting held in Palamu recently.

However, the campaign didn’t reach at this level all of a sudden. Ali had to work hard, day and nights for months during which he held more than 100 such meetings and rallies in entire Palamu division to convince his community members not to take dowry, braving sweltering heat and chilling winter.

But what compelled him to launch the campaign? “I saw many families getting destroyed under the impact of dowry although it was not initially prevalent in Muslim families. I came across many poor families selling their ancestral properties or taking loans on high interest to arrange money to solemnize wedding of their daughters”.

“What was terrible this money was being wasted on arranging decoration, DJ, orchestra and various types of dishes; it was not being used for important works! So I decided to launch a campaign in the society, sooner the better,” Ali said, in a telephonic interview on Thursday.

“I was aware of the economic status of my co-villagers. I knew their financial background just wouldn’t permit them for lavish wedding. They were doing so just because they had taken dowry from the brides’ families. So it was necessary to alert them,” he said.

Haji Mumtaz Ali being honoured by Jharkahnd Chief Minister Raghubar Das. (Supplied)

Crowds of villagers

Eventually, Ali launched the campaign in April 2016 but got encouraged to focus on it after seeing huge crowds of villagers attending his each rally and meeting.

“I told the Muslim villagers to fear from the almighty and swear in the name of Allah not to take dowry in future and this ultimately clicked,” Ali revealed, describing his campaign as a “huge success”. Recently, Ali was honored by Jharkhand chief minister Raghubar Das for his campaign against dowry.

Ali is happy to tell that villagers are now opting for “dowry-less” marriages. “Now, the general masses have taken over my campaign. This indicates the success of my campaign, Ali remarked, with his voice exhibiting satisfaction and delight.

Dowry has been claimed hundreds of lives every year in India. As per an official report, a total of 24,771 dowry deaths were reported in India in between 2012 and 2014 with Uttar Pradesh taking the lead with a maximum of 7,048 deaths. This information was given to the Lok Sabha in a written reply by federal minister for Women and Child Development Ministry Maneka Gandhi in April 2016.

The minister further told the House that India recorded 348,000 cases of cruelty by husband or his relatives during this period with the West Bengal topping the chart with 61,259 such cases, followed by Rajasthan (44,3111) and Andhra Pradesh (34,835), as per the National Crime Records Bureau data.

source: http://www.english.alarabiya.net / Al Arabiya – English / Home> Features / by Manoj Chaurasian / Special To Al Arabiya English / November 08th, 2018