Bijnor District / executed in Moradabad, UTTAR PRADESH :
Koi gul baqi rahega na chaman reh jaayega
Par Rasoolullah ka deen-e-hasan reh jayega
(No flower will be left, nor will any garden remain; but the beautiful religion of Muhammad (pbuh) will forever endure.)
Maulana Syed Kifayat Ali Kafi, a prominent Islamic scholar, poet, and freedom fighter, was executed by the British on May 6, 1858, at the crossroads of Moradabad. His execution marks a significant, yet often overlooked, chapter in India’s struggle for independence.
Early Life and Education
Born in Bijnor district, Maulana Kafi hailed from a respectable Sadat family. He pursued his education in Moradabad, Bareilly, and Badaun, gaining expertise in religious studies, traditional medicine (Hikmat), and poetry. His teachers included Sheikh Abu Saeed Rampuri in religious knowledge, Sher Ali in medicine, and Maulvi Mehdi Ali Khan and Zaki Moradabadi in poetry. Maulana Kafi was not just a scholar but also an accomplished poet, with works such as Diwan-e-Kafi, Diwan-e-Tanha, Kamalat-e-Azizi, and Naseem-e-Jannat to his name.
A Patriot’s Call to Arms
As British rule continued to oppress India, Maulana Kafi’s determination to see a free Hindustan grew stronger. When the First War of Independence erupted in 1857, Maulana Kafi actively participated in the struggle. His fatwa of Jihad against British rule, posted on the walls of the Jama Masjid in Moradabad, was a rallying cry for Muslims to rise against the oppressors.
Joining General Bakht Khan Rohilla’s forces, Maulana Kafi fought bravely from Delhi to Bareilly and Allahabad. After liberating Moradabad, he helped establish a local government under Nawab Majiduddin Khan, also known as Nawab Majju Khan. Maulana Kafi was appointed Sadar-e-Shariat, where he oversaw judicial matters according to the Sharia law.
Betrayal and Capture
Despite the initial successes, the freedom movement in Moradabad faced significant setbacks due to betrayals by local traitors and the Nawab of Rampur who had aligned with the British. As a result, the British recaptured Moradabad, and on April 30, 1858, Maulana Kafi was arrested, following a tip-off by a local informer named Fakhruddin Kalal.
Martyrdom
Maulana Kafi’s trial was swift and brutal. On May 6, 1858, after enduring severe torture and refusing to renounce his faith and commitment for his motherland, he was hanged by the British. His final moments were marked by an extraordinary sense of calm and composure.
Maulana Syed Kifayat Ali Kafi’s sacrifice remains a poignant reminder of the countless unsung heroes who fought and gave their lives for India’s freedom. His legacy, though forgotten by many, continues to inspire those who remember the courage and conviction of one of the nation’s noble martyrs.
source: http://www.themilligazette.com / The Milli Gazette Online / Home> News> Special Reports / by Sahil Rizvi / August 18th, 2024
Prof Farhan Ahmad Khan, Department of Pharmacology, JN Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University has been granted a certificate of registration by the UK Intellectual Property Office for a novel design of an innovative device that enables early diagnosis of rare genetic disorders in children.
He said that the design paves the way for understanding and solving some of the difficult challenges in medical science today. The device, when ready to use, will help in the management of rare pediatric genetic disorders.
Prof. Syed Ziaur Rahman, Chairman, Department of Pharmacology, congratulated Prof. Khan on the registration of the design of his device, adding that it is a proud moment for the department and the university.
source: http://www.amu.ac.in / Aligarh Muslim University / Home> AMU News / by Public Relations Office (headline edited) / October 25th, 2024
Tariq Ahmad Patloo, 51, says he is grateful to the PM for appreciating his efforts, yet, he remains unmoved by the fame because successive governments have done nothing for the Hanjis- the dwellers of waters in the Dal and other lakes of Kashmir Valley.
The floating ambulance by Tariq Ahmad Patloo on Dal Lake in Srinagar (Image: ANI)
Houseboat owner Tariq Ahmad Patloo, who converted his boat into a floating ambulance to ferry COVID-19 patients on the Dal Lake in Jammu and Kashmir, found mention in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s monthly radio address ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on June 27.
Fifty-one-year -old Patloo, who lives with his mother, wife and daughter, along with thousands of others in the houseboats stationed in the world-famous Lake of Srinagar, had designed the free floating ambulance service after he recovered from COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic in August last year.
Tariq Ahmad Patloo
Patloo, who owns the house boat named ‘Sea Palace’, apart from the ambulance, is grateful to the Prime Minister for appreciating his efforts. But, he is unmoved by the fame because of the grudge that successive governments have not done anything for the Hanjis- the ethnic community who are dwellers of waters in the Dal and other lakes of Kashmir Valley.”I can’t thank the Prime Minister enough for mentioning me in his address. But I would have been happier if the Centre, or the state, may have done something for the progress of our community.” Patloo told MoneyControl.
Hanjis living in about 900 houseboats, Patloo said, have been living in misery for years. “No one care for us. They talked about rehabilitation, nothing happened. They said they will relocate us, nothing happened. We do not have even a dispensary here. No one has been ever given a government job. We have had enough promises,” he said.
Patloo is not the only member from his family to catch Prime Minister Modi’s attention. In 2018, the PM praised his eight-year-old daughter Jannat’s efforts for cleaning Dal Lake.
“We don’t need money. We need to live a respectful life, like any other community,” he said.
During his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme the PM appreciated Patloo’s novel idea of a boat ambulance.
“Here a boat ambulance service was started at Dal Lake. This service was started by Tariq Ahmad Patloo ji of Srinagar, who is a houseboat 0wner. He himself has also fought the battle with COVID-19 and this inspired him to start the ambulance service,” the Prime Minister said in the 78th edition of the address.
Patloo said he thought of setting up the ambulance out of his personal experience. He had faced difficulties to reach the hospital from Dal waters when he contracted the disease. He was in home isolation for the first few days but had to be hospitalised at downtown Srinagar’s Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) hospital after his health deteriorated.
“I had a difficult time in reaching the shore of the Dal Lake. I cannot even tell you how my family managed to take me to the hospital,” said Patloo.
The ambulance comes equipped with PPE kits, stretchers, wheelchair and other healthcare amenities. It also provides oxygen cylinders to the needy besides generating awareness regarding COVID-19 appropriate behavior.
Jammu and Kashmir reported 415 new COVID-19 cases and eight deaths in the last 24 hours. As many as 46,148 fresh COVID-19 cases and 979 deaths were recorded across the country in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry said.
source: http://www.moneycontrol.com / Money Control / Home> News> India> Trending Topics / by Gulam Jeelani / June 28th, 2021
Maqbool Sherwani, a 19-year-old National Conference party worker, has been credited with singlehandedly stalling the advance of Pakistan-sponsored tribal raiders to Srinagar.
On 26 October 1947, Maharaja Hari Singh, the ruler of the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir signed the Instrument of Accession with the Government of India. Despite the official accession, the situation on the ground was in a real state of flux.
(Photo above: Left-Maqbool Sherwani, Right-Indian soldiers in the ’47 War. Source: Facebook/Wikimedia Commons)
There was an invasion by Pakistan-sponsored tribal raiders from the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP). The Indian armed forces were still days away from getting troops on the ground. At the same time, the Pakistan-sponsored raiders had already made their way to Baramulla, a mere 54 km away from Srinagar, just days before the signing of the Instrument of Accession.
If Srinagar had fallen to the tribal raiders, many commentators believe that the outcome of the 1947 war would have been very different. But it was the sacrifice of one 19-year-old political worker of the National Conference party from Baramulla, Maqbool Sherwani, ensured that the Indian armed forces had enough time to thwart the raiders.
One Hero, Many Versions
There are two popular versions of how he ensured that the raiders would not proceed to Srinagar. According to one version, Maqbool told the raiders that he would show them the way to Srinagar and led them astray. This gave the Indian Army time to land at Srinagar airport on 27 October.
Another version of the story notes that on 22 October, when the Pakistan-sponsored raiders stormed Baramulla, Maqbool thought of a ruse to put them off track. He told them that the Indian Army had already landed in Srinagar. This reportedly stalled their advance towards Srinagar. Eventually, they were intercepted by the Indian Army at Shalteng, a few kilometres outside Srinagar on 7 November and driven out altogether.
However, what’s not in question is that the raiders brutally executed him for misleading them. Sherwani was in Sumbal, which is about 35 km away from Baramulla when the Pakistan-sponsored raiders found out about his ruse and brought him back.
According to report filed by the Times of India correspondent, who visited Baramulla on 9 November, the day after the Indian Army captured the town, “the most popular local leader of the National Conference, Meer Maqbool Sherwani, went through torture for his politics and was finally bound to wooden bars and shot dead—14 bullet holes were found in his body.”
Other reports spoke of how the raiders had even posted a note on his forehead in Urdu stating, ‘He is a traitor, his punishment is death’ before nailing his body to a wooden plank. Many Indian commentators believe he is a hero who turned the tide of a 1947 war. After the raiders were driven out of Baramulla, his body was buried with full military honours.
Mulk Raj Anand, the author, wrote a novella in his honour called ‘Death of a Hero’.
Novel – Death of a Hero – author: Mulk Raj Anand / pix: amazon.in
“To his grandchildren, my grandfather, who was Deputy Commissioner (Wazir-i-Wazarat, as the position was known then) of the district from 1948 to 1954, described Sherwani as the one man who saved Kashmir for India,” notes Amitabh Mattoo, a Professor of International Relations at Jawaharlal Nehru University, in The Hindu .
As a political worker in Baramulla for the National Conference, a party established by Sheikh Abdullah, Maqbool idolised Sheikh Abdullah and did the party’s bidding in Baramulla.
In a conversation with Scroll.in , Khaliq Parvaiz said how one day when he was sitting on a ghat by the Jhelum river in Baramulla, he saw Maqbool being chased by some rival political workers.
However, he escaped their clutches after jumping into the river and swimming to safety. Although many didn’t agree with his politics, what people agreed on was that he was “something of a hellraiser, a swashbuckling character who could impress the crowds”.
In fact, Parvaiz adds, “He did not know how to ride a bike, he learnt in three days to lead the raiders astray. Kashmiris knew he was a khatarnak [deadly] person.”
Similarly, there are stories of how he tried to disrupt a public address of Mohammed Ali Jinnah, who had arrived in Baramulla on 25 July 1944.
Margeret Bourke White, a reporter for Life magazine, who visited Baramulla in December 1947, described Maqbool as an “a sort of Robin Hood character, from the stories the townspeople told me” and portrayed him as a staunch believer of religious tolerance who sought to frustrate the raiders in their advance towards Srinagar.
In fact, according to some accounts, moments before the raiders executed him, Maqbool is believed to have shouted “Victory for the unity of Sikh, Hindus and Muslims”. In a prayer meeting later, Mahatma Gandhi recalled how Maqbool’s act “was a martyrdom of which anyone, Hindu, Sikh, Muslim or any other, would be proud [of].”
Others, however, are less charitable in their description of Maqbool. Historian Andrew Whitehead, a renowned scholar of the region, writes about his encounter with Muhammad Yusuf Saraf, a rival political activist from Baramulla, who referred to Maqbool as a “semi-literate man of about 40 years” who had become “very unpopular for his goondaism.”
“Saraf, however, acknowledged both Sherwani’s devotion to Sheikh Abdullah and the courage with which he sought to impede the lashkar advance and approached his own death,” writes Whitehead.
In fact, Saraf went on to recall events as he remembered.
“He was brought down to Baramulla and after several days of interrogation, was tied to an electric pole in the centre of the town and nails were driven into his hands and forehead. Ultimately he was shot dead. How fanatically devoted he was to his leader and basically how brave he was, maybe judged from the fact that even while he was so nailed, he continued to shout ‘Sher-e-Kashmir Zindabad’ [Long Live the Lion of Kashmir – a title for Abdullah],” said Saraf.
Whitehead recalls another encounter with Pran Nath Jalali, who had spent time in the Maharaja’s prisons with Maqbool and went on to join the National Conference militia.
“Jalali told me that Sherwani was among those who offered to go undercover into areas controlled by the tribesmen. ‘In fact, there was a list of 22 volunteers which we framed to go behind the enemy lines. [Sherwani] was one of them. But being an adventurer and a bit showy—he held public meetings village to village and rode into the enemy on a motorbike. That motorbike undid him.’ Sherwani was, as far as Jalali recalled, the only one of these behind-the-lines militia volunteers to lose his life,” writes Whitehead.
The bravery and subsequent martyrdom of Maqbool Sherwani in 1947 and the story of his role during the Pakistan-backed invasion of Kashmir needs to be mainstreamed throughout India- Prof. @amitabhmattoo /National Symposium and Virtual Exhibition Live on the ‘Memories of #22OCT1947‘ pic.twitter.com/q17ljOjBAF
— Ministry of Culture (@MinOfCultureGoI) October 18, 2020
Whatever said and done, Maqbool lost his life in service of a nascent Indian nation that was still struggling to come to terms with the violence and chaos surrounding its birth. In risking his life, he significantly contributed to giving India a serious foothold in the Kashmir Valley when all seemed lost.
(Edited by Vinayak Hegde)
source: http://www.thebetterindia.com / The Better India /Home> Stories> History> Jammu & Kashmir / by Rinchen Nobu Wangchuk / edited by Vinayak Hegde / October 21st, 2020 / Notes pix of Novel – Death of a Hero – author: Mulk Raj Anand, pix: amazon.in added /
(From left) N. Ram, chairman of Kasturi & Sons, Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali, Prince of Arcot, Gopalkrishna Gandhi, former Governor of West Bengal, and Padma Shri Hakim Syed Khaleefathullah Sahib — Photo: R. Ravindran
Former Governor of West Bengal, Gopalkrishna Gandhi, on Thursday, urged the Muslim Community to spread the system of Unani throughout the country.
Speaking at a function to felicitate eminent Unani practitioner Hakim Syed Khaleefathullah Sahib, on receiving the Padma Shri, Mr. Gandhi said it was popularly thought that Unani belonged to the Muslim community, and not used by everyone as much as Ayurveda or Yoga.
He said that though modern medicine had its place in healing, Unani and Ayurveda should be used in the treatment of chronic ailments.
Chairman of Kasturi & Sons, N. Ram, said the Hakim was a humble man representing a great tradition of indigenous healing, and he had combined his tradition with modern medicine.
He was an institution builder and wanted his knowledge to be institutionally sustained, enriched and developed. Mr. Ram also released a booklet about the Hakim.
Prince of Arcot, Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali, who received the first copy of the booklet, said the connection between the House of Arcot and the Hakim’s family dated back to 150 years.
Among those who offered felicitations were T. Rafeeq Ahmed, convenor, Committee of Hosts, S.K. Khadri, U. Mohammad Khaleelullah, P.S.M. Syed Abdul Khadir, and Akhtarul Wasey, commissioner for linguistic minorities in India.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Special Correspondent / September 05th, 2024
The research group has won an award worth Rs 20 lakh from Switzerland based world reputed company Typhoon HIL.
Jamia faculty receives award from Swiss company for smart solar inverter model
New Delhi:
In-charge of the Advance Power Electronics Research Laboratory, Department of Electrical Engineering, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), Dr. Ahteshamul Haque and his research group has won an award worth Rs. 20 Lakhs from Switzerland based world reputed company Typhoon HIL.
The research group comprising of students from B.Tech, M.Tech and PhD headed by Dr. Ahteshamul Haque has developed a model for Smart Solar Inverters with its control and submitted it for evaluation in a competition organised by Typhoon HIL.
Teams from various continents participated in this world level competition named ’10 for 10 Programme’.
Prof. Z. A. Jaffery, Head of Department, Department of Electrical Engineering, JMI encouraged the research group to take part in this world level competition, said a statement from Jamia.
In award, Dr. Haque and his research group got a powerful machine for research worth Rs.20 lakh.
Name of the machine is HIL-402 real time simulator, which is used in power electronics, microgrid and renewable energy applications.
Jamia Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Najma Akhtar, expressed her happiness on this achievement and congratulated Prof. Z. A. Jaffery, Dr. Haque and his team for taking university to new heights in the field of research and recognition by world reputed organizations.
Recently, Dr. Haque has also received R&D project grant under Ministry of Human Resource Development’s SPARC scheme.
source: http://www.ndtv.com / NDTV / Home> Education> Delhi / by NDTV Education Team / April 22nd, 2019
Dr. Muneela Khanam received the Bharat Ratna Award as Best Life Coach of the year for her exceptional services in the field of Education and Social work received from Padma Shri Awardee Shree Padma Reddy.
She has done her Ph.D. in Psychology, Handwriting Analyst, and Graphologist. Founder and Director of ANSZ Educare India, Member of the Institute of Scholars, an Educationist, Author, Motivational Speaker, and Inspirational Master Trainer
The Global Scholar Foundation has conferred her award recognizing her contribution, appreciating her efforts, and acknowledging her success as an Educationist who plays a major contributor to the economic development of our Nation.
She has already bagged many prestigious awards at State, National, International, and Global levels for her phenomenal performance in the field of Education, Training, and Development sector.
Her expertise has helped thousands of Students and Teachers achieve outstanding results over 14 years of experience. She has a strong vision of Transforming lives and strongly believes in “Empowering the Students and Strengthening the Nation”.
source: http://www.islamicvoice.com / Islamic Voice / Home> National New and Affairs / by Islamic Voice / October 2022
Tamkeen Fatima, currently pursuing M. Tech. in Computer Science and Engineering in the second year at the department of Computer Engineering, Z.H. College of Engineering and Technology, Aligarh Muslim University has qualified the UGC-NET (JRF) examination, 2024, with an All India rank 2 (99.9933 percentile) in her first attempt.
She completed her B.Tech. from AMU in 2023 with 9.703 CPI and has been a consistent recipient of merit scholarships from class X onwards, including UP STSE, University Merit Financial Award (AMU), and GATE scholarship.
During her B.Tech., Fatima participated in research internship programmes at ISRO, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada (Mitacs GRI), and The Fields Institute, Toronto, Canada (Fields Undergraduate Summer Research Programme).
She has also published a research paper in ACM Conference Proceedings.
source: http://www.amu.ac.in / Aligarh Muslim University / Home> AMU News / by Public Relations Office (headline edited) / November 05th, 2024
Podar Pearl School has achieved a significant milestone by being named the No. 1 Indian School in Qatar under the Education Unites World Initiative, as recognised by Education World’s (EW) Global School Rankings 2024-2025, the school said in a press statement.
These awards honour top schools in the EW India School Rankings, the world’s largest and most comprehensive school ranking survey, evaluating over 4,000 Indian schools.
The accomplishment underscores the school’s dedication to excellence in education and its commitment to fostering a nurturing and innovative learning environment.
In addition to its academic achievements, Podar Pearl School boasts world-class infrastructure and cutting-edge teaching technologies, including advanced 3D printing labs. The school is also expanding its focus on sports and physical education by building a large sports complex, which will complement its already impressive range of sports facilities.
The Indian Global School Ranking Awards celebrate exceptional educational institutions across the country.
Podar Pearl School’s top ranking reflects its strong emphasis on academic success, holistic development, and student well-being.
“We are deeply honoured to receive this recognition,” said Dr Maneesh Mangal, principal of Podar Pearl School. “This achievement would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of our staff, teachers, parents, and everyone who contributes to the growth of our school. I am grateful for their relentless commitment to excellence and for helping us create an environment where students thrive.”
C Muhamed Nizar, president of Podar Pearl School, added: “This award is a testament to the visionary leadership of our management, the dedication of our expert educators, the support of our parents, and, most importantly, the brilliance of our students. We remain committed to providing a world-class education that empowers our students to excel.”
source: http://www.gulf-times.com / Gulf Times / Home> Qatar / October 22nd, 2024
“I have decided to renounce my showbiz lifestyle, repent before Allah, and seek his forgiveness”, wrote Sahar Afsha in her Instagram note.
Sahar Afsha/Instagram
Popular Bhojpuri actress Sahar Afsha recently announced that she has decided to quit the showbiz industry to follow the religious path of Islam. She isn’t the first actress to take such a step as Lock Upp contestant Sana Khan and Dangal star Zaira Wasim also decided to leave the entertainment industry for Islam.
Taking to her Instagram on September 22, Sahar penned a long note that read, “Dear Brothers and Sisters, in the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful, I want to let you know that I have chosen to leave Showbiz and will no longer be involved. I want to live my future life in accordance with Islamic teachings and with Allah’s blessings.”
She continued, “I’m grateful to my fans for bestowing upon me many blessings, including fame, honor, and fortune. I had not even pictured this life in my childhood. I stumbled into this industry just by chance and kept on growing. But now I have decided to renounce my Showbiz lifestyle, repent before Allah, and seek His forgiveness. I intend to live my next life according to the commands and preachings of Allah.”
Concluding her note, the actress wrote, “Hence, I request everyone to pray that Allah accepts my repentance, blesses me with the strength to live in line with my resolve to spend my life upholding the laws of my Creator and serving mankind, and gives me the perseverance to do so. And I hope that I will be remembered not for my past life but for the life to come.”
Sana Khan also reacted to her note and commented, “MashAllah my sister so happy for you. May Allah give u isteqamah in every step of your life. May you inspire everyone around you and become zariya e khair for mankind.”
source: http://www.dnaindia.com / DNA / Home> English> Entertainment / by DNA Web Team / edited by Aman Wadhwa / October 08th, 2022
