In a remarkable display of discipline and dedication, 15-year-old Hafiz Syed Zaid Sadiq from Nashik has emerged as the top scorer from the city in JEE Main 2026 (Session 2), securing an impressive 99.927 percentile.
A student of Ashoka College, Zaid has set a shining example by balancing rigorous academic preparation with deep religious commitment.
Zaid achieved the extraordinary feat of memorising the entire Quran by the age of 15. He completed his early religious studies through madrasas and, due to time constraints during school, finished memorising the Quran at home in Class 9 under the guidance of a tutor and his mother’s supervision.
His academic excellence was evident earlier when he scored 95% in Class 10. Maintaining consistency, Zaid scored above 99 percentile in both sessions of JEE Main. According to his family, months of focused preparation, supported by his father Syed Sadiq and mother Syed Zauqiya, helped him strike a perfect balance between studies and religious learning.
Coming from an educated family, Zaid is the grandson of the late Syed Sattar Ali Roshan, a respected former municipal school head teacher.
A teacher from Ashoka College praised his time management, saying, “He has shown that with proper routine and focus, students can excel in both academics and religious studies.”
Zaid is now preparing for JEE Advanced with the dream of securing admission into a prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). His success has drawn widespread congratulations from across Nashik.
source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Indian Muslim / by Muslim Mirror Desk / April 25th, 2026
Banner image: Images courtesy of Parveen Shaikh/Whitley Award.
Scientist Parveen Shaikh has been awarded a 2026 Whitley Award by the UK charity Whitley Fund for Nature, recognising her efforts to protect the endangered Indian skimmer along India’s rivers. The award comes with funding to expand her community-led conservation model from Chambal river to Prayagraj, where the Ganga and Yamuna rivers converge.
The Indian skimmer is identified by its vivid orange bill and its habit of flying low over water, skimming the surface to catch fish. India holds over 90% of the world’s population of the bird, with roughly 3,000 individuals, making the country critical to the species’ survival. The birds breed on seasonal sandbars and mid-river islands, making their nests vulnerable to changes in river flow, predators, and human disturbance.
When Shaikh, who works with the Bombay Natural History Society, began her “Guardians of the Skimmer” initiative on the Chambal river, the local Indian skimmer population stood at around 400 individuals in 2017. As of 2025, the population has grown to approximately 1,000. Nest survival has nearly doubled, rising from 14 percent to 27 percent, a direct result of community involvement and scientific monitoring.
“Local guardians help identify new sandbars, monitor nests, and prevent disturbance during the breeding season. Some now proudly refer to the skimmers as “our birds,” which reflects a growing sense of ownership,” says Shaikh.
With the Whitley Award funding, her team will now expand to Prayagraj in Uttar Pradash, a place of cultural significance and also home to breeding populations of Indian skimmers, river lapwings, and little terns. The challenges here include heavy boat traffic, fishing activity, religious practices along the riverbank, and urban pollution all increase pressure on nesting colonies. The team plans to appoint new local guardians, install predator-proof fencing, and use GPS mapping for real-time nest monitoring.
The Whitley Award, also known as the Green Oscars, is given annually to those achieving exceptional success in grassroots community-led protection for threatened species and habitats.
This year, the award includes two Indians among the six winners. In addition to Shaikh, the other winner from India is Barkha Subba who is leading the first grassroots movement to protect the Himalayan salamander and its fragile wetland habitat in the Darjeeling Himalaya, West Bengal.
Read about Parveen Shaikh’s work in Chambal river and the community champions that she works with in this 2021 story on Jagdish, one of the nest guardians.
source: http://www.india.mongabay.com / Mongabay / Home> Global> Beyond Protected Areas / April 30th, 2026
Dr Zareena Parveen, director, State Archives, and coordinator of the Cluster Centre, GBM, explained that the survey has identified 1,95,935 manuscripts, including those of the Telangana Archives, and a total of 29,871 images of 130 manuscripts had been uploaded till May 2.
“The handmade paper used for the farman is a rare example showcasing the royal practices of the time,” M.A. Raqeeb, assistant director, Telangana Archives, told Deccan Chronicle. (Image: X)
Hyderabad:
A royal farman, said to be the second oldest in India — issued by Sultan Feroz Shah Bahmani (1397–1422) in 1406 — will be among close to two lakh manuscripts identified as part of the survey by the Gyan Bharatam Mission (GBM) in Telangana. The GBM is a national initiative by the Union culture ministry to unearth, preserve and digitise India’s massive manuscript heritage.
This decree on Persian‑style handmade paper is 33 x 10 inches in size, with ink and royal‑seal authentication. The document was issued from Gulbarga, which was the seat of power for the Bahmanis before it was shifted to Bidar. The decree grants land as inam to Muhammed Ahmed, Qazi of Kalyani, and bears the distinctive tughra (monogram) and the Bahmani royal seal.
“The handmade paper used for the farman is a rare example showcasing the royal practices of the time,” M.A. Raqeeb, assistant director, Telangana Archives, told Deccan Chronicle.
Another well‑preserved royal farman is of Emperor Shah Alam II, issued in 1773 AD, appointing Maharaja Narayan Rao Bahadur as official caretaker of the riverbank near Allahabad. Believed to be part of preparations for the Kumbh Mela, the emperor issued clear instructions to officials not to levy fees.
“All expenses for maintaining the site and facilitating the pilgrims’ rituals are to be borne entirely by the Mughal government,” the decree says.
According to the decree, Hindu pilgrims (yatris) arriving from across the subcontinent — especially from Gujarat and Maharashtra — must be allowed to take the sacred bath and holy dip for spiritual purification without any fee or levy. The directive is to be strictly implemented and communicated to the commissioner of police and all present and future officers for perpetual observance.
“This farman illustrates the Later Mughal policy of imperial patronage toward diverse religious practices and underscores the state’s responsibility for safeguarding pilgrimage routes and sacred bathing ghats,” Raqeeb explained.
The cluster centre at the State Archives has identified and completed surveys of 17 institutions and individuals, while surveys for another 42 are underway. It has so far scanned 57,842 documents and exported 29,871 images.
Dr Zareena Parveen, director, State Archives, and coordinator of the Cluster Centre, GBM, explained that the survey has identified 1,95,935 manuscripts, including those of the Telangana Archives, and a total of 29,871 images of 130 manuscripts had been uploaded till May 2.
“At the State Archives alone we have over 1.8 lakh manuscripts, including 668 in book form, 155,000 paper items and 25,000 private collections (paper). Most of these are in Old Persian (Shikista) and cover varied subjects, including graphic pictures of Mansabdari, revenue and military systems of the Mughals in the Deccan region (South India),” Dr Parveen director explained.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Southern States> Telangana / by Md Nizamuddin / May 03rd, 2026
Bidar Deputy Commissioner R. Ramachandran after felicitating Arbaaz Ahmed of Shaheen College for his NEET success in Bidar. Arbaaz’s father Md. Saleemoddin is seen.
Mohammad Arbaaz Ahmed was in eighth standard when his father suffered a paralytic stroke. He remembers his brothers carrying their father Mohammad Saleemoddin to hospitals in Basava Kalyan and Bidar. Doctors said that it may be a result of an accident or injury in the past. They began a series of treatments, but little came of it.
He lost his job and was barely mobile. His wife started working as a house help to keep the hearth warm. Saleemoddin was a lorry driver handling goods vehicles between Mumbai and Hyderabad. He worked overtime to feed his large family and send his children to school.
But the illness affected the family badly.
This, however, did not deter the children from succeeding in school. His eldest son got into an engineering college, another got into medicine and the third became a dentist.
Arbaaz, who has obtained the 85th rank in the NEET all India rankings and the third rank in the State, says that his brothers who succeed in the face of adversity, inspired him. “My parents also supported me. Four years ago my father suffered a stroke and became bed-ridden for months. But he never asked me to quit studying or take up a job. He nudged me to keep studying so that I could become a doctor and help a lot of people,” Arbaaz told The Hindu .
He says he is likely to be accepted into the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi. The studious youth, however, does not want to stop at MBBS. “I want to complete my post-graduation and then, take up research to create low- cost treatment for the poor,’’ he said.
Arbaaz scored 97 % in PU and 92 % in SSLC exams. He joined the Bidar-based Shaheen PU College. The college admitted Arbaaz free, just as it had admitted his two brothers.
“This year, we have admitted 300 students free, against our intake of 1500,” said Abdul Quadeer, secretary of Shaheen PU College that has produced NEET toppers Karthik Reddy and Arbaaz.
Karthik Reddy’s father Rama Reddy is a professor of mechanical engineering in Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College in Bidar.
His mother Kalpana is a government primary school teacher. “My elder brother is an engineer. He is a student of M.Tech. But I was not sure of what to do after PU. I got interested in medicine after discussing with my friends at the college,’’ he said.
He was a day boarder who chose a semi residential model which meant he went to college at 7 in the morning only to return home at 9 p.m.. He says that he spent the lockdown period solving past question papers. The college staff came home to give the papers and collect the answer sheets every day. “We kept in touch with our teachers via phone and video conference calls,” he said.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by B Rishikesh Bahadurdesai / October 20th, 2010
From a cramped one-room chawl in Azmi Nagar to becoming a qualified doctor, Dr Adnan Shahabuddin Ansari’s journey is a powerful example of determination, sacrifice and steady effort under difficult conditions.
Born into a modest family, Adnan grew up in a small home where space and money were both limited. His father, Shahabuddin Ansari, worked in the scrap business. Despite having a low income, the family placed a strong emphasis on education and supported their children with whatever they could afford.
Adnan’s father said, “We always wanted our children to study and move forward in life. Even when it was difficult, we did not give up on their education.”
Adnan’s academic journey was not without its challenges. While studying in class eight, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis and had to undergo long-term treatment at Sion Somaiya Hospital. The illness weakened him physically, but it strengthened his resolve.
Instead of breaking his confidence, the experience made him more focused on becoming a doctor.
He completed his SSC in 2017 from Al-Hamd High School with 84 per cent marks. In 2019, he passed his HSC from KMES Junior College with 88 per cent marks.
After this, he aimed to clear the NEET and enter a medical college.
Adnan moved to Kota for coaching, but his preparation was interrupted due to a serious heart-related health problem. He had to leave coaching and return home for treatment and hospital care.
Even during hospitalisation, he continued studying daily. “I used to study from morning till night, even in the hospital. I could not afford to stop,” Adnan said.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, conditions became even more difficult. Coaching centres were closed and study material was limited. His father supported him by writing question papers by hand so that his preparation could continue.
Despite all challenges, Adnan cleared NEET in 2020 in his first attempt, scoring 585 out of 720 marks. He secured admission in a government medical college and completed his MBBS from Shree Bhausaheb Hire Medical College in Dhule.
His convocation ceremony was recently held, marking the completion of his medical degree.
Adnan and his father expressed gratitude towards the newspaper they regularly read, which played a role in encouraging their educational awareness.
Shahabuddin Ansari said, “For the last 25 years, we have been reading this newspaper regularly. Its education section, interviews and reports always inspired my son. He used to read them with interest.”
He added, “We thank this newspaper for its support and motivation.”
Dr Adnan Ansari now aims to pursue NEET PG and become an MD physician. He hopes to serve society through medical practice and continue his journey in healthcare.
His story reflects how consistent effort, parental support and determination can help overcome even the most difficult circumstances.
source: http://www.clarionindia.net / Clarion India / Home> Editor’s Pick> India> Indian Muslims / by Team Clarion / April 25th, 2026
Vision-2026, a project of NGO Human Welfare Foundation (HWF) has announced to bear all the future educational expenses of Muslim girl, who was a victim of Delhi riots but scored excellent marks in her Std XII examinations.
A labourer’s daughter, Nargis Nasim(17), who studied in Std XII in a government school in Northeast Delhi scored 62 per cent marks in two subjects of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) examination bringing smiles on the faces of her family members and relatives.
HWF’s chief executive officer(CEO) Mohammed Naufal said that the house of the girl that was completely gutted during the riots was reapired by the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind(JIH( at a cost of about Rs. 1.84 lakhs. “Our MNGO will now financie the educational cost of the girl”, said Naufal.
Regarding the score, Nargis is surprised saying that she had thought of merely passing the exam and the first class score had left her wonderstruck. “Initially, I thought that clearing the exams alone would be difficult and during my second thought, I felt that I would only get through the exam,” she said.
Her house located in Khajuri Khas was burnt down the next day of February 24 when riots broke out in the locality. She had stepped out of her house along with her relative to appear for the physical education examination and returned home safely. However, the next day the rioters burnt her house and the entire family was forced to take shelter in a rented room in Chandu Nagar where other riot victims were also provided temporary relief shelters as protection from the mayhem and destruction. All her books were lost in the fire set to her house by the rioters. Her family members through donations managed to provide her news book for study.
Nargis could manage to appear only for two subjects-political science and physical education-as the outbreak of COVID 19 led to suspension of the exams till further notice.
Narrating about her harrowing experience, she said “I was with my relative at the time of appearing for physical education at Gokulpuri government school when I saw violence taking place in the area. We reached home at 4 pm but after a lot of struggle wading through the lanes as public transport had shut down,” she said.
On her impressive score, Nargis explained that an NGO helped her with books and guided her in studies which helped her appear in the exams with confidence. “During normal times, I would have done better than my current performance. The CBSE board has now declared that the students can reappear for the cancelled subjects. It is too late and one does not know how long it would take for the conduct of the exams by the board. Right now, I am preparing myself for the college admission,” she said.
Her uncle Salim, who stood rock-solid behind the family during the crisis, said, “ Her achievement is commendable as despite the odd and difficult situation, Nargis scored 60 percent. Her achievement is very important for the family as we have been running helter-skelter seeking shelter and survival during such dangerous and trying time”, he said.
source: http://www.indiatomorrow.net / India Tomorrow / Home> Cover Story> Society / by India Tomorrow Special Correspondent / July 21st, 2020
At its core, Muslim History Month is about building an archive, one that reflects the richness and diversity of Muslim experiences across time, space and geography. For me, as an Indian Muslim woman, this work is inseparable from the present moment.
A calligraphic panel installation. Photo courtesy: Karim Jabbar
As an Indian Muslim woman, I had long felt the dissonance of being spoken about rather than being listened to as an equal. In my experience, even in spaces that claimed to centre Muslim issues, Muslim voices, especially those of women, are often sidelined. The authority to narrate our own histories has routinely been denied. This experience is not mine alone.
When I began conversations with my friend and colleague Dr Ashwini K.P., a Dalit woman human rights advocate, and now UN Special Rapporteur on Racism, we quickly recognised the parallels in our experiences. Caste and religion operate differently, but both structure exclusion in similar ways, by determining whose knowledge counts, whose histories are archived, and whose voices are amplified.
Muslim History Month, launched in 2020 by our co-founded organisation, Zariya, emerged from this shared understanding and we celebrate it during the month of Ramadan/Ramzan. It is a community-led initiative that creates space to document, explore, and celebrate the diverse histories, cultures, and contributions of Muslim communities across the world. Through essays, articles and storytelling, it seeks to reclaim narrative authority by centring Muslim voices and highlighting perspectives that are frequently overlooked or misrepresented in mainstream discourse. In recent years, Islamophobia in India has shifted from the margins to the mainstream. It is visible not only in policy debates or organised hate, but also in everyday language, media representation, and cultural production. The repetition of distorted narratives, whether through films like Kerala Story 2 or everyday hate crimes, begin to replace reality. Against this backdrop, the absence of self-represented Muslim narratives becomes more than a gap, it becomes a form of erasure.
Muslim History Month was an attempt to counter this, by shifting the focus from what is said about Muslims to what Muslims say about their own histories, cultures, and lives, globally. The idea of dedicating a month to Muslim histories was inspired by earlier initiatives like Black History Month and Dalit History Month, movements that have long demonstrated the importance of reclaiming histories from erasure and distortion. These efforts remind us that history is not neutral. It is shaped by power, by who gets to record, interpret, and disseminate it. Muslim History Month builds on this legacy by creating a platform where Muslims, alongside allies, reflect on the diversity and complexity of Muslim histories and cultural practices.
One of the most meaningful aspects of this journey has been witnessing how contributors engage with the platform, not just as writers, but as individuals seeking space to reflect. One of our contributors this year, Mai Zarkawi, a Palestinian jewellery designer and visual storyteller, tells me she was inspired to contribute to Muslim History Month because “it creates space to reflect on the depth and diversity of Muslim cultural practices, beyond dominant or simplified narratives.”
The urgency of this work is evident in the dedication of its contributors. Writing from Beirut, Islamic art historian Rima Barakat chose to participate despite being the middle of the ongoing conflict. She reflects that war compels cultural action, noting that, like artists in past world wars, creative expression becomes a way to endure, sustain community, and measure survival through artistic resilience.
Across its three editions, the initiative has evolved in both scope and depth. The first edition brought together reflections on everyday practices and overlooked communities, challenging narrow understandings of what constitutes “history.” Contributions from authors who identified as Pasmanda, Roma, Uyghur and Tsakhur all featured in this edition. The second focused on Muslim women whose contributions have been marginalised or forgotten, seeking to address the gendered erasures that shape historical memory, from Haleema Beevi to Fatima Al-Fihri.
The third edition, which is currently underway, turns to Muslim art and architecture, but in a way that deliberately expands these categories beyond monumental structures or common artistic traditions. Performative arts, art as a means to resistance, light calligraphy, geometry and varied Quranic scripts all form part of this series. Academics, experts and activists in this edition have written about subjects varying from Roghan Art and Islamic Geometry to the importance of Amulets and devotional performative traditions.
The three editions have had contributions from authors from over 15 countries. From Sudan, Egypt and Palestine to India, Nepal, Tunisia and Canada. This global participation is central to the project. Muslims are often treated as a monolithic group in public discourse. Muslim History Month actively resists this by foregrounding differences in language, culture, geography, and lived experience. In the age of AI and tools such as Chat GPT, referencing and footnoting form an important part of these pieces.
This initiative tries to disrupt the idea that history belongs only to grand events or celebrated figures alone. It insists that culture, whether in the form of calligraphy, craft, food, identity, ritual, or storytelling, is central to understanding how communities endure and evolve. For me, this work is inseparable from the present moment. It is shaped by the realities of Islamophobia globally, by the distortions of media and popular culture, and by the urgent need to create alternative spaces of knowledge and expression. But it is also shaped by hope, the belief that by telling our own stories, we can begin to shift how we are seen, understood, and remembered.
As Karim Jabbari, a world renowned Tunisian light and calligraphy artist tells us in his interview, for him, “Calligraphy is the anchor of our history. It is the way our ancestors transmitted knowledge into written form, and it is the link that keeps us grounded. If we understand it, stay faithful to it, and keep our connection with it alive, we are essentially maintaining a living connection with our own history.’
At its core, Muslim History Month is about building an archive, one that reflects the richness and diversity of Muslim experiences across time, space and geography. For me, as an Indian Muslim woman, this work is inseparable from the present moment. It is shaped by the urgency of ensuring that future generations inherit something more than stereotypes about Muslims. We are more than the vengeful, violent, anti national beasts that we are shown to be by the media.
Because beyond the noise of headlines and the weight of propaganda, there exists another set of stories that need to be documented and preserved and this is a humble attempt towards this direction.
Mariya Salim is co-founder of Zariya. She is a human rights activist and an international sexual- and gender-based violence expert based in Delhi.
source: http://www.thewire.in / The Wire / Home> LiveWire / by Mariya Salim / March 19th, 2026
A teenager rescued a 10-year-old boy who was being swept away by strong waves at Someshwara Beach, police said on Sunday.
The incident occurred on Saturday evening.
According to officials, Muhammad Arshaman (10), a resident of Vitla Megginapete, had come to the beach with his family when he was caught in a strong current. Noticing the situation, Muhammad Ismail Faiz (16), son of Ashraf from Mudipu, immediately jumped into the sea to rescue him.
Faiz battled the waves for about 10 minutes before managing to bring the boy to safety.
Following the rescue, Faiz became exhausted and briefly lost consciousness. He was later admitted to a private hospital in the city and is recovering.
Arshaman is also reported to be out of danger, police said.
Faiz recently passed the SSLC examination and secured second place in a state-level karate competition.
Both Arshaman and Faiz are relatives and had visited the beach with their families when the incident occurred.
Local swimmers also assisted in the rescue after being alerted.
Faiz said that he knew how to swim, which gave him the confidence to attempt the rescue.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavali / by Vartha Bharati / April 26th, 2026
Parents and educators celebrate as girls achieve top marks, breaking educational barriers.
Aligarh :
Muslim girl students in Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh have defied traditional challenges, excelling in the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class X and XII exams. Their success has ignited joy and optimism in the community, encouraging parents to support higher education for their daughters.
Among the top achievers is Uzma Khan from Iqra Public School, who scored 96.8% in her Class X exams. “The marks met my expectations. I thank my parents and teachers for their support,” Uzma said. She now aims to prepare for the NEET exam.
Motida Nayab, the school’s second topper, secured 96.4%. “My parents are thrilled, and my teachers’ guidance was invaluable,” she said.
Iqra School’s principal, Tarannum Masroor Chowdhry, expressed pride: “Our results are consistently excellent. Our students’ hard work and the support from parents and teachers have been remarkable.”
source: http://www.clarionindia.net / Clarion India / Home> Editor’s Pick> Indian Muslims > Women / by Clarion India / May 18th, 2024
Once, in Bihar Dashrath Manjhi cut through a mountain for the love of his wife. Today, Sarfaraz Ansari has built a bridge over a river for the love of his mother. Neither had money; they had passion to face obstacles and do extraordinary deeds despite being men of small means.
Sarfaraz Ansari, who lives in a small village in Bihar’s Jhajha block (Jamui district), ekks out his livelihood by repairing punctures.
His earnings are just enough for his family, as he is landless and only owns a small shop. Despite his ordinary life, he has accomplished something that people with huge incomes and assets may never think of.
A day in the monsoon season of 2019 changed his life. One day, it was pouring heavily, and the river was overflowing its banks. At that very moment, Sarfaraz’s mother suddenly fell ill. Her condition was critical, and every moment was precious.
He had to cross the river in spate to take his mother to the hospital. Sarfaraz mustered courage and somehow carried his ailing mother in his arms across the dangerous river.
He braved the strong current and the darkness to beat time in saving his mother. However, by the time he reached the hospital, it was too late. His mother passed away the same night.
After his mother’s burial, Sarfaraz Ansari was constantly nagged by the thought that there is no bridge on the river. His mother’s life could have been saved if a bridge had been there.
This thought made him restless; he couldn’t sleep for several nights as he visualised his mother’s face the moment he slept.
Sarfaraz decided to build a bridge over the river.
On knowing this, people remarked, “You’re a puncture repairer, how can you build a bridge? Ask the government.”
Sarfaraz knew that knocking at the government doors would mean endless visits to leaders and officers and years of struggle. In the meantime, more villagers would die like his mother for want of access to medical care.
He didn’t wait for the government. He started saving small amounts of money from his earnings. After months of hard work, when he had saved some money, he shared his dream with the villagers.
The villagers not only praised him but also supported him. Some donated money, some worked as labourers, and others donated construction materials.
One day, the bridge was constructed, and it happened with government assistance; a bridge was built solely through the villagers’ labour and cooperation.
This 25-foot-long, 13-foot-wide, and 8-foot-high bridge, built for Rs 12 lakh, has become a source of hope for nearly 40 villages.
People of these villages had to travel several kilometres to reach the city or risk their lives by wading through the river water.
Today, with the bridge, children have easier access to school, and farmers can transport their crops to market on time. And most importantly, lives are saved as the sick can easily reach the hospital. N
Sarfaraz is happy that nobody has to go through the pain of losing his dear ones and the pain he suffered.
Sarfaraz says, “I’m not a big man, but one should have a big heart. I still feel the pain of losing my mother, but I’m relieved that no one else’s mother will have to endure that pain.”
He adds, “To the world, this is a bridge made of cement and iron rods, but to me, it’s a dream built in my mother’s memory that has come true.”
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by Amir Iqbal / March 02nd, 2026
