Category Archives: Amazing Feats

Counting sheep, literally

December 14, 2014Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Green Products, Leadersmpositiveone@gmail.com

A farmer tending to the ‘Nari-Suvarna’ breed of sheep at Veerapura in Tumakuru district of Karnataka.

Sheep farmers in Tumakuru have agri-scientists in Maharashtra to thank for a breed that has, quite literally, doubled their profits.

The new breed, developed by scientists at Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute, Phaltan, called ‘Nari-Suvarna’ has turned out to be a boon for farmers. While the local breed of sheep gives birth to one lamb at a time, the new breed gives birth to two or three.

Cost of the sheep

The State government is trying to promote the Nari-Suvarna breed. It plans to offer subsidy to purchase the sheep, which costs Rs. 8,000 each, in the future. The local breed in Tumakuru —both Hassan and Bellary breeds — cost Rs. 6,000 per sheep.

With the guidance of the Karnataka Sheep and Wool Development Corporation (KSWDC), a farmer in Sira taluk in Tumakuru district has bought 10 sheep and they have given birth to 23 lambs. Farmers at Sidlaghatta in Chickballapur district and Chitradurga district are now eager to follow suit.

The new breed, according to the Agriculture Department, is a combination of three Indian breeds – Deccani and Madgyal breeds of Karnataka and Garole of West Bengal.

Doddaraju of Veerapura in Sira taluk, who bought the 10 sheep, told The Hindu that people in his village were making advance payments for Nari-Suvarna sheep. He said the sheep had adjusted to the climate and environment of his village and could be reared along with the local breed.

Mirza Basheer, Assistant Director, KSWDC, Tumakuru, said the new breed would help meet the demand for meat and would be beneficial to farmers. Nagaraja G.M., Assistant Director, Special Livestock Breeding Programme, Tumakuru, said the government would identify farmers in Belagavi, Vijayapura and Kolar districts and would introduce them to the new breed.

Scientists have developed a new breed of sheep, Nari-Suvarna, that gives birth to two or three lambs at a time

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by S. Bhuvaneshwari / Tumakuru – December 14th, 2014

National Bird Watching Day attracts large crowds in Ramnagar

November 11, 2014Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Green Products, Leaders, Travel & Tourismmpositiveone@gmail.com

Ramnagar (Uttrakhand) :

Nature enthusiasts and students gathered at a barrage on the river Kosi in north India, observing migratory birds on the occasion of National Bird Watching Day, celebrated to mark the 116th birth anniversary of renowned biologist Salim Ali.

Armed with binoculars, notebooks, field guides and cameras, they stood at the edge of the reservoir, making a note of the resident and migratory species present at the site.

The bird watchers said that it was important to educate people about the importance of conserving the country’s diverse fauna.

“We brought a few children who study in a local school, so that they can make themselves aware of bird life. The message for the people of the country and people in the world is that we must keep (these birds) alive, so that we learn about them and protect them,” said a birder, Rohit Sati.

The waters of the reservoir had large numbers of Ruddy Shelducks and cormorants swimming, feeding and sunning themselves.

The reservoir at Ramnagar is close to India’s iconic Jim Corbett National Park, which is home to over 500 species of birds, a sizeable chunk of more than 1200 species found all over the country.

Winter sees many species of birds migrate from north and central Asia and other, colder parts of the world, as the birds breed and live in the more temperate climate of the Indian subcontinent.

The Director of the Rainbow Wildlife Awareness organisation, Rajesh Bhatt said that the reservoir itself played host to over 200 species of resident and migratory birds.

“The important birds here are the Ruddy Shelduck, the Ibisbill, wallcreeper, cormorant, garganey, pintail, Bar-headed Goose, which can be seen easily,” Bhatt said.

Born in 1896, Salim Ali, known as ‘the Bird Man of India’, made his name as one of the first Indian naturalists to conduct systematic surveys on birds. His field guides are used by many birdwatchers when they set out in pursuit of the hobby.

Ali, who died in 1987, is also credited with the creation and recognition of such biodiversity hubs as the Keoladeo National park in Rajasthan and the Silent Valley National park in Kerala. (ANI)

source: http://www.aninews.in / ANI News / Home> National / November 12th, 2014

Standing tall in the face of adversity

November 7, 2014Amazing Feats, Sportsmpositiveone@gmail.com

J. Shahjahan, captain of the Kerala University Blind Cricket team. / The Hindu

Visually challenged student bags Young Achiever Award.

As far as fielding positions in cricket are concerned, J. Shahjahan prefers standing at ‘short.’ “You know, where Gautam Gambhir normally stands,” he said, a comparison he often draws to help those not so well-versed with cricket parlance. This is a place uncomfortably close to the batsman, one that even the fittest of players would not be too thrilled to serve. But this 26-year-old captain of the Kerala University Blind Cricket team is.

Mr. Shahjahan, whose indomitable spirit for the game has also found him a place in the State-level team for the visually challenged, is one of the five recipients in the country of this year’s Young Achiever Award instituted by the Amway Opportunity Foundation. The award was introduced in 2013 by the Corporate Social Responsibility wing of Amway India with the objective of identifying and supporting efforts of youth who are differently abled and belong to financially underprivileged backgrounds. He will receive the award at a function to be held in Chandigarh on November 8.

The National Association for the Blind in Kerala nominated his name for the award.

Born partially sighted, his condition worsened with age. But it has not been a deterrent to Mr. Shahjahan’s efforts to succeed. It is not just the joy of playing that gets this ‘all-rounder’ out on the cricket pitch at the university hostel here, but the fact that it has proven really uplifting for everyone in his team, nearly all of whom have had to deal with condescending, discriminatory treatment all their lives.

Even if they get to seriously practice only once a month, it is something they excel in. “If we could, we would get out on to the pitch everyday but any tournament we participate in or any practice we arrange has to be carried out using our own money. We have never had sponsors to support us,” said Mr. Shahjahan.

“It is not our physical capabilities that have frustrated us, it is the system,” he said. Mr. Shahjahan’s two role-models in the game are barely recognisable names — A. Manish and M.T. Manoj, who excelled in the national team for the Blind Cricket World Cup held in Islamabad in 2006.

Mr. Shahjahan is currently pursuing MA Malayalam at University College here.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Kaavya Pradeep Kumar / Thursday – November 05th, 2014

First Muslim to be awarded Victoria Cross needs recognition, say former Army chiefs

October 31, 2014Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, World Opinionmpositiveone@gmail.com

Khudadad Khan, the first Muslim soldier to be awarded the Victoria Cross, should be more widely recognised, say two former heads of the Army

Sepoy Khudadad Khan was awarded the Victoria Cross during World War One Photo: GETTY

by Edward Malnick

Two former heads of the Army have called for greater recognition of the first Muslim soldier to be awarded the Victoria Cross, in a move intended as a “riposte” to the “sickening extremism” of Isil militants.

General Lord Dannatt and General Lord Richards lead a group of peers, MPs, historians and religious leaders who say children should be told about the role played by Muslim troops in the First World War.

In a letter to The Telegraph they say that the actions of Sepoy Khudadad Khan in a battle at Ypres 100 years ago on Friday“exemplified the courage” of many who served in the war.

The knowledge of his role, together with that of the other 400,000 Muslims who fought alongside British troops, is vital to “fully understand the multi-ethnic Britain that we are today”, they add.

British Future, the think tank behind the letter, believes that the commemoration of Sepoy Khan and the other Muslim soldiers will act as a rebuttal to Isil extremists. It has been claimed that more than twice as many British Muslims have travelled to Syria to fight alongside jihadists than are serving in the Armed Forces.

Dilwar Hussain, a Muslim academic and one of the signatories of the letter, said: “The quiet dignity of our commemoration of Khudadad Khan’s bravery and service is perhaps the most powerful riposte we could possibly send to the sickening extremism of Isil.”

Other signatories include Lord Ashdown, the formal Liberal Democrats leader, Sir Hew Strachan, the military historian, Baroness Warsi, the former Coalition minister and Sughra Ahmed, president of the Islamic Society of Britain.

“We wish today to highlight one man whose service exemplified the courage of many who served in the First World War,” they write.

They describe how on October 31 1914 Sepoy Khan, who was later promoted to the rank of subedar, fought off a German advance at Ypres, helping to protect two vital ports used to supply British troops with food and ammunition from England. He was one of 1.2 million men from the Indian Army who fought for the Allies in the war.

On Friday Lord Ahmad, the communities minister, will unveil a commemorative stone which will be laid at the National Memorial Arboretum in his honour.

He said: “In honouring the courage of Khudadad Khan we not only remember our shared history, we are also cherish the long tradition of Muslims fighting bravely alongside British soldiers, for a just cause in the service of this country.”

source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk / The Telegraph / Home> History> World War One / by Edward Malnick / October 31st, 2014

For this blind student, PhD is another feat

October 17, 2014Amazing Feats, Educationmpositiveone@gmail.com

Coimbatore :

When Anjum Khan received her PhD on Monday, it meant more than it does to most doctoral candidates-the 27-year-old lost her vision at the age of five after an attack of measles and has studied entirely in Braille.

Anjum is an assistant professor of English at Avinashilingam University. Her family moved from Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh to Coimbatore in 1993 for her treatment but doctors said she would never regain her vision.

“While my parents were thinking what next, the doctors told us about Avinashilingam school for girls,” says Anjum. She began learning Braille and use audio technology to help her read, write and study.

Her father, Mehmood Khan got a job at a private cement company in Madukkarai, 27km from Coimbatore. If Anjum had to continue her studies, Avinashilingam was among the few options as it had facilities and faculty to help her.

“I decided I would live in hostel and study. It is then that I realised that to gain something, one has to sacrifice something,” Anjum says. She lived in the hostel for 12 years from Class 6 till she finished her postgraduate degree.

After finishing school, Anjum joined the Avinashilingam University for Women to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. “She finished her masters’ degree and applied for her doctoral studies in 2009,” says S Kalamani, Anjum’s guide and an associate professor in the department of English, Avinashilingam University. “Anjum had to leave thehostel after her MA, but, regularly visited me every Friday and told me how her research was progressing,” she says.

Anjum’s younger brother Abid Ali died in a road accident eight years ago while she was doing her masters’ degree. “My father had bought him a bike to make his commute between college and home easier,” says Anjum.

“It was a difficult time for the family. But, I have faced so much that I treat happiness and sorrow equally,” she says. Anjum has dedicated her PhD to her brother.

Anjum did her research on ‘Ethnic Silhouettes: An Interpretation Of The Community In Select Works Of M G Vassanji In The Light Of New Historicism’. She became an assistant professor in January 2013 in the university in which she studied.

Besides teaching at the university, Anjum also teaches blind children Braille and computer operations. “I consider teaching a means to reach people,” she says.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore / by Adarsh Jain, TNN / October 14th, 2014

For Malala, this West Bengal teenager is a true hero

October 16, 2014Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Education, World Opinionmpositiveone@gmail.com

Anoyara Khatun.— Photo: Sushanta Patronobish / The Hindu

As the world celebrates Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai winning the Nobel Peace Prize, Malala herself is celebrating the courage of a little known young girl from West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali area who has been quietly working against the trafficking of young girls from the region.

Anoyara Khatun, 18, from North 24 Parganas, has, with the support of other children and non-governmental organisations, built a strong network to resist trafficking of young girls and prevent child marriages in the region.

“Malala and the Malala Fund celebrate Anoyara’s exemplary courage and leadership. She has helped reunite more than 180 trafficked children with their families, prevented 35 child marriages, rescued 85 children from the clutches of child labour and registered 200 out-of-schools (drop-outs) into schools,” says a Facebook post by the Malalafund, an initiative by Malala.

The post made on October 13, International Day of the Girl, only a few days after Ms. Malala was awarded the Nobel Prize, has described Anoyara as “a true girl hero.”

When The Hindu met Anoyara at Sandeshkhali on Wednesday, she was aware of the Facebook post and could not stop talking about Malala. The first year student of a local college has also collected a number of vernacular newspapers that published news of Ms. Malala’s award and shared it with her friends.

“Though I have not met Malala, I did meet her father Ziauddin Yousafzai at Brussels in June 2012,” she said. She made the trip to Belgium when she was nominated for The International Children’s Peace Prize.

“Trafficking of young girls and child marriages were rampant in the villages here. Poverty and lack of awareness and education provided the ideal conditions for traffickers to operate here,” Ms. Anoyara said.

In 2008, Save the Children, an international non-governmental organisation working for child rights, helped establish a number of multi activity centres in the Sandeshkhali area. These centres help create awareness among the children of the region about the dangers of trafficking and similar crimes. Anoyara recalls stories of how she and others chased away traffickers who came offering jobs and marriage to young girls in the region.

Jatin Mondar, the State Programme Manager of Save the Children, West Bengal said that through these centres, the organisation had managed to put in place a “committee-based child protection model” in Sandeshkhali since 2004.

“Now, if someone approaches the villagers with the proposal to take a girl to Delhi or anywhere else for work, that person is sure to be handed over to the police by us,” Anoyara said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home / by Shiv Sahay Singh / Sandeshkhali (North 24 Parganas) / October 16th, 2014

Thankful for His Teachers

October 14, 2014Amazing Feats, Leaders, Science & Technology, World Opinionmpositiveone@gmail.com

A volley ball enthusiast, ever-learning photographer, avid reader of science-related articles, ardent blogger and a passionate father would be too few words to describe Syed Maqbool Ahmed, who is presently heading the Central Instrumentation Laboratory of the University of Hyderabad, where he oversees the day-to-day functionings.

Perhaps the description that instantly draws eyeballs to him would be of his association with India’s successful Mars Orbiter Mission, Mangalyaan. Ahmed is the person who developed a quadrupole-based mass spectrometer, CHACE (Chandra’s Altitudinal Composition Explorer), which was used in India’s mission to the moon, Chandrayaan-1, which discovered water there. An upgraded variant of CHACE, named MENCA (Mars Enospheric Neutral Composition Analyser), is aboard Mangalyaan.

The 53-year old Principal Scientific Officer is known for his passion for science. Having worked at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the US earlier (1994-96) and with ISRO’s Chandrayaan-1 project, Ahmed is a content and accomplished scientist who acknowledges the role of destiny and his teachers in his success.

Ahmed was the project manager of the team of scientists who, as part of the Moon Impact Probe (MIP) mission, developed an indigenous science payload called CHACE, which detected the presence of water on the Moon in November 2008.

Hailing from a middle class family in the remote village Alampur in Mahabubnagar district of Telangana, Ahmed went to Hyderabad for higher studies after completing his schooling in the Telugu medium. “My family, comprising five brothers and three sisters, wanted me to become an Engineer due to obvious reasons of poverty. I gave the EAMCET entrance test thrice and failed each time. That was a big jolt in life, but my aspirations were alive,” says Ahmed.

Back then, he had no passion for Science. After BSc Honours from New Science College in the city, the biggest turnaround happened in his life when he gave the interview for MSc Physics at University of Hyderabad in 1982. “Out of the 30 faculty members in the Physics department, 28 were US returned. In the interview, I could barely understand the questions due to the complex language,” recalls Ahmed.

“AK Kapur sir in the panel understood my difficulty and started asking me questions in Hindi and translated others’ questions too. The panel was happy and I got through. Had he not done that, I would neither have got through nor have realised my passion for Science. Such teachers of exceptionally high standards are hard to find,” says Ahmed.

Soon after his postgraduation, while his parents wanted him to go to the Gulf to earn a living, he decided to join Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad for a PhD in 1985. “I had to literally fight with my siblings to pursue my PhD and I had to choose PRL over two IITs because of a few hundred rupees extra I would receive towards fellowship,” quips the scientist.

He went on to complete his PhD in Simulation of Planetary Atmosphere or Laboratory Astrophysics in 1990 and joined the Institute for Plasma Research (IPR), Gandhinagar, in 1992 and continued to work as Associate Professor, till 2004. During a sabbatical in 2001-02, he was engaged with the Swiss Federal Institute in Switzerland.

Ahmed joined ISRO’s Chandrayaan project in 2005 and developed a quadrupole-based mass spectrometer, CHACE, which worked successfully in India’s Moon mission. He left ISRO at the age of 46 when he found about a mysterious disease that had infected his daughter. The same year, he joined Central Instruments Laboratory of University of Hyderabad as Principal Scientific Officer.

For him, life has been driven by serendipity. “ISRO happened to me by chance. It was a coincidence when I met Prof R Sridharan, Director of Space Physics Lab (SPL). He took me to the Chief, Madhavan Nair, who handpicked me from Department of Atomic Energy (IPR comes under this department) to Department of Space. This was incredible,” recollects Ahmed.

Acknowledging the contributions of his teachers in his life, Ahmed, presently, apart from heading CIL, holds regular talks on Indian space programmes and also conducts training sessions for Science teachers.

“Schools have to ensure Science is taught with passion. The introduction of the subject is very important. It is very difficult to capture students’ attention for more than half an hour. I try to link the subject to day-to-day activities,” he points out.

He believes a bit of Psychology and sequencing of dosage where teachers ensure students understand the basics first before moving on to bigger things too is important in teaching.

“Students today are much aware of things around them. When they ask me well-prepared questions, I am forced to say I don’t know,” says Ahmed, who believes teachers need to be honest and prepared to bring their experiences and observations from life into the classroom.

According to him, India has failed to attract the best minds into research. “The reason US prospers in Science and research is because they have attracted the best minds and are providing incentives. Our people are doing programming at the same time,” he laughs.

On the CHACE-turned-MENCA, he offers, “It is a very sensitive instrument and I am confident that we will be the first to locate water on Mars,” says the proud scientist, who has been blogging about Mangalyaan for the past 18 months.

Rahul.v@newindianexpress.com

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Education> Edex / by Rahul V. Pisharody / Hyderabad – October 13th, 2014

When a lensman’s passion takes the driver’s seat

October 11, 2014Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Products, Travel & Tourism, World Opinionmpositiveone@gmail.com

Motor vehicle inspector Shefiq B.'s photograph of a leopard at the Parambikulam wildlife sanctuary won a prize at the State-level wildlife photography competition. Photo: K.K. Mustafah / The Hindu — Motor vehicle inspector Shefiq B.’s photograph of a leopard at the Parambikulam wildlife sanctuary won a prize at the State-level wildlife photography competition. Photo: K.K. Mustafah / The Hindu

A motor vehicle inspector’s commitment to wildlife photography

: His passion for photography almost cost him his life a decade ago when he was chased around by a herd of wild elephants in Thekkady. And that night in 2003, he stayed atop a tree to escape the wrath of the pachyderms.

For someone who took pictures with trembling hands and landed himself in trouble out of his ignorance about positioning, Shefiq B. has come a long way to grab the victor’s prize at the State-level wildlife photography conducted by the forest department.

A motor vehicle inspector by profession, Mr. Shefiq will receive the award from Forest Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan on Tuesday at the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Thekkady.

The picture of a leopard lying on a rock at the Parambikulam wildlife sanctuary won him the prize.

“Initially, the animal was behind a rock and was not fully visible before it stepped on to the rock. From its stomach I could gauge that the animal had had its prey just then and would be resting there for a while,” he said.

Photography became his passion after he took a five-year break from his job as a vehicle inspector.

During this time, he took up a job in the Middle East which gave him the opportunity to travel to the wildlife sanctuaries of Kenya, a photographer’s delight.

So much was he consumed by the passion that he didn’t think twice before taking a loan for purchasing a professional worth Rs. 2.5 lakh.

Since rejoining duty at the Aluva Regional Transport Office last year, Shefiq puts in extra hours at work, so that he can go exploring nature in the company of his camera on weekends .

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by M.P. Praveen / Kochi – October 07th, 2014

India: Freedom struggle’s first journalist Martyr, Maulvi Muhammad Baqir

October 4, 2014Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, World Opinionmpositiveone@gmail.com

[A sketch of Maulvi Baqir’s execution. He and other scholars were tied to canons and were publicly blown away]

Maulvi Muhammad Baqir was a great advocate of Hindu Muslim unity. When in order to weaken the freedom struggle the British started to sow the seeds of discord among the public Delhi Urdu Akhbar challenged them. On 4 June 1857 Maulvi Muhammad Baqir warned the masses of the conspiracies of the British and appealed to them to remain united. ‘Remember whoever misses this opportunity, falls prey to the tricks and is thumped by the inducements, tricks, and promises or is overwhelmed by the pomposity of the British, he is destined to face embarrassment in this world and the hereafter. No remorse will be of any help then and everyone will have to repent.’
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By Laiq Rizvi

History of the Freedom Struggle is a live and self-narrating tale of dedication and selfless sacrifices. No one knows how many mothers lost their sons, how many women got widowed and how many spent their lives in prison cells and died there in the struggle to get their motherland freed from the clutches of slavery. Urdu writers too played active and leading role in this struggle. Pens became the swords and words banners of expression. The first name among those journalists who did not hesitate in sacrificing their lives for their country’s liberation by all means is that of Maulvi Muhammad Baqir, editor of Delhi Urdu Akhbar.

An sketch of Maulvi Baqir. He was tied to a canon and was publicly blown away.
A sketch of Maulvi Baqir’s execution. He and other scholars were tied to canons and were publicly blown away.

Maulvi Muhammad Baqir came from a respectable and educated family of Delhi. His father Maulana Muhammad Akbar Ali was a known Shi’a scholar and a known Mujtahid of his time of Delhi.

After finishing his religious education Maulvi Muhammad Baqir went to Delhi College for further education. After completion of his education he took up several jobs such as teaching at Delhi College and as a Tehseeldar in the Revenue Department but that was not his final goal.

In 1836 when the Government, after amendment in the Press Act, allowed publication of newspapers, he entered the field of journalism that became his art and identity.

In January 1837 Maulvi Muhammad Baqir launched weekly Delhi Akhbar. After Jam Jahan Numa of Calcutta this was the second Urdu language newspaper in the Indian sub-continent and first in north India. This newspaper survived for about 21 years during which its name was changed twice. On 3 May 1840 it was renamed as Delhi Urdu Akhbar while on 12 July 1857 Delhi Urdu Akhbar was renamed after the Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah as Akhbar-al-Zafar. And then its ten last issues came out with this name.

Delhi Urdu Akhbar is the pioneer and founder of National Urdu journalism. Maulvi Muhammad Baqir used and introduced modern technology in the newspaper and shaped it to meet and fulfil contemporary demands. He focussed on news creating interest and newsworthiness in headline and newswriting and classified the news items. The section for Court (government) news was headed as ‘Huzoor-e-Wala’ while [East India] Company’s news was carried under ‘Sahib-e-Kalan Bahadur’.

In order to get latest news he had developed a network of authentic and reliable waqa-e-nigar [narrators or correspondents] who had access to higher authorities.

Delhi Urdu Akhbar was the proclaimer of the feelings of the nation. That was the period when there was no political party in the country. In such an atmosphere the newspaper played vital and leading role in creating political awakening in the masses and uniting them against the foreign rulers. It ignited the love of freedom and gave the courage and confidence to rally against the British Raj. An official report of 1853 described it as a wide-mouthed and outrageous newspaper.

Soon after the start of freedom struggle it became a freedom fighter itself. The fire of Freedom that got ignited in Meerut on 10 May 1857 helped Mujahideen [freedom fighters] reach Delhi by 11 May. Following this started a series of events of the magnitude that shook the ground underneath the feet of the Britishers. Maulvi Muhammad Baqir responding to this call to freedom was busy doing jihad with his pen. In its report of 17 May 1857 Delhi Urdu Akhbar carried a detailed report of the advance of Mujahideen. Following is an excerpt from the report.

’11 May 57 AD, due to the summer weather court proceedings were being held in early morning. Saheb Magistrate was busy presiding in the court room… At about 7 am Bridge In charge came and informed, “Some Turk soldiers have gone on a violent spree and started beating us. They wanted to plunder the collected revenue. Under some pretexts I engaged them in chatting and ulocked the barrage so that they could not advance further. They have burnt down the Revenue office and Saheb’s Bungalow at Sleempur Road.” As Saheb became thoughtful for a while and then stood up and went to Col Magistrate who was holding a session in the adjoining room. After some ghitpit [chatting in English] he went to the Treasury Room and in consultation with the Treasury Officer secured the treasury and ordered the treasury guards to get ready. As per order they loaded their guns and stood in a stand by position. Security was also deployed at the Jungi Darvazah at Kachehri. It spread panic in the court room and its staff. Then with that information Magistrate Saheb went to the Commissioner. In the meanwhile rumours said that the Turk riders had gathered under the Jharonka of the Fort… A little later reports were heard that Qiladar, Bade Saheb, Dr Saheb and maim log [English ladies] had been killed at the gate and the riders had managed to enter the fort. His Lordship, wearing the ritual turban and an English sword also came to the court.

‘Initially these were few riders who came to the city and slaughtering the Britishers in Daryaganj, setting fire to the bungalow sent Dr Chaman Lal to the real Darul Shifa [killed him]. They were later joined by more riders and voices were heard and [rumours] that such and such British had been killed here and another such and such is lying killed there.’

In addition to eyewitness report about Delhi this issue also carries the news of freedom struggle from various parts of the country including Meerut, Saharanpur, Lucknow and Ambala. Reporting the causes of the revolt it reads, ‘There was already discontentment among Turk Riders and the fact that cartridges are greased with pig fat and tallow… For refusing to carry orders 85 soldiers have been imprisoned and on Monday inspired by religious spirit [Islam] and the zeal to defend religion flared up. All of a sudden all those in the platoon and the riders, in whatever state they were, took up their arms and freed their brethren from the jail and attacked the platoon and the whites.’

In order to encourage freedom fighters Maulvi Baqar commended them strongly and persuaded the masses to cooperate with them and participate in their struggle. Such stimulating writings may be seen in several issues of Delhi Urdu Akhbar. ‘This gallantry of yours and the courage and zeal with which you have shattered the perversity of such a strong and arrogant empire and have humbled its Pharaoh like ego and Shaddad like pride will be remembered in channels of history…and you have relieved the masses of India from the unseen curse that had fallen upon them.

‘O my countrymen, Rule has changed; time has changed. System and management of government has changed. Now you too should change your habits, get rid of easy life style and your love for comforts that you have been accustomed since your childhood. Reform yourselves. Discard your habit of carelessness and fearfulness and embrace courage.’

Delhi Urdu Akhbar did not carry Maulvi Muhammad Baqir’s byline but researchers are of the opinion that most of the writings came from his forceful pen. At times Maulana Muhammad Hussain Azad also gave a helping hand to his father. The issue of 24 May 1857 includes his poem Tareekh-e-Inqalab Ibrat Afza [History of change is a lesson] that enthused in masses a new spirit and zeal. Some of the verses are:

Hai kal ka abhi zikr keh jo qaume nasara thi

Saheb-e-Iqbal o jahan bakhsh jahandar,

Allah hi Allah hai jis waqat keh nikle

Aafaq men taigh-e-ghazab Hazrat Qahar,

Sab jaohare aqal unke rahe sab taq pe rakhkhe

Sab nakhun tadbeer-o-khirad ho gai bekar,

Kaam aaee na ilm-o-hunar hikmat-o-fitrat

Poorab ke tilangoN ne liya sab ko yahan maar.

This forceful and armed resistance shook the British badly. In order to intimidate the masses notices from officials were displayed at various points. Maulvi Muhammad Baqir reproduced the text alongwith a strong and well-argued rebuttal. To defeat the British he uses their own phoney claims:

‘They [the British] call themselves the protectors and custodians of their subjects. Therefore it is incumbent upon them to return the trust, i.e. India back to the Indians unchanged and unaltered.’

Delhi Urdu Akhbar linked journalism to social issues as well. [Political] Situation coupled with the conspiracies of opportunists would lead to the shortage of food items and commodities of daily use. [Hence] Dishonest shopkeepers started charging prices as they pleased. It also created a situation of loot [illegal profiteering] and hoarding. Delhi Urdu Akhbar showed the mirror to those who were involved in such activities like this:

‘Shopkeepers of the city have gone on a rampage of high handedness and are behaving in a very cruel manner. With regard to cereals and other essential items people are suffering as most of the commodities are not available and if available then they are very expensive. In every market only small number of shops remains open and what remain open they present the [proverbial] scene of customers as ek anar sau beemar [one pomegranate for one hundred patients]. Similarly cereals [sold] are rotten and other commodities are of inferior quality. But hunger is powerful and lacks mercy and desperation worsens the situation. Helpless customers have no choice and buy whatever is available thinking it a blessing.

‘Because of this profiteering and black market masses are worried and confused. Be they the city dwellers or the outsiders most of them have resorted to plundering and the power and writ of police stations has become nil… The city is being looted. Many disguised as soldiers indulge in extortion and loot.’

Maulvi Muhammad Baqir was a great advocate of Hindu Muslim unity. When in order to weaken the freedom struggle the British started to sow the seeds of discord among the public Delhi Urdu Akhbar challenged them. On 4 June 1857 Maulvi Muhammad Baqir warned the masses of the conspiracies of the British and appealed to them to remain united. ‘Remember whoever misses this opportunity, falls prey to the tricks and is thumped by the inducements, tricks, and promises or is overwhelmed by the pomposity of the Christians [the British], he is destined to face embarrassment in this world and the hereafter. No remorse will be of any help then and everyone will have to repent.’

By the beginning of September 1857 when Mujahideen became weak and started facing defeats, somewhere along the lines Maulvi Muhammad Baqir also started losing heart. The issue of 13 September 1857 reflects this and this proved to be the last issue [of Delhi Urdu Akhbar]. Maulvi Muhammad Baqir was arrested for revolt and without being tried, on 16 September 1957 was tied to a canon and was publicly blown away in front of the Khooni Darwaza. But this martyrdom strengthened the ongoing freedom struggle and sharpened the resolve of Mujahidana zeal of Urdu journalism. Contemporary publications and later newspapers and magazines followed the same national spirit and the mission to fight for liberation that had been set by Maulvi Muhammad Baqir.

Maulvi Muhammad Baqir’s newspaper had played a key role in igniting the spirit and courage in his fellow countrymen to fight for freedom. Any description of the freedom struggle will always remain incomplete without mentioning this brave and selfless Urdu journalist. Garabchand Chandan writes, ‘The short comments in Delhi Urdu Akhbar criticised the nepotism of the British, inefficiency of its police and bad practices of government departments. Therefore this newspaper did a tremendous service in creating an environment for and in providing complete information about the great rebellion of 1857.’ (Urdu Sahafat, Urdu Academy, Delhi, Page 88)

Delhi Urdu Akhbar was part of a mission. It was not launched for financial gains or fame and recognition. After paying for the expenses whatever return remained Maulvi Muhammad Baqir used to distribute it to help the poor. Its issues from January 1840 to September 1841 are available in the National Archive. In 1843 Maulana had also launched a religious magazine Mazhar-e-Haq that lasted until 1848.

Translated from Rashtriya Sahara, 15 September 2014 by Urdu Media Monitor.Com
http://www.urdumediamonitor.com/2014/09/23/freedom-struggles-first-journalist-martyr/

source: http://www.muslimnews.co.uk / The Muslim News / Homepage> News / September 24th, 2014