Begum Hazrat Mahal’s wouldn’t have been an inspiring tale of patriotism had it not been for Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. The Royal Family of Avadh is in possession of testimony written by Begum’s descendant Prince Anjum Qader.
Great grandson of Begum Hazrat Mahal, Kaukab Qader was present at function to honour martyrs of 1857 revolution in Lucknow and was saddened that the contribution of his ancestor was second to none, yet she was ignored. He and his younger brother Anjum decided to meet Pandit Nehru. In Anjum’s own confession written two years after Pandit Nehru’s death, “I prepared a memorandum and, picking up our youngest brother Nayyer from Aligarh Muslim University, we arrived in New Delhi on August 15, 1957.”
Their claim to the 1857 legacy made news and attracted the PM’s attention. Anjum was bowled over by Nehru’s ‘disarming charm’. All praises for the Queen of Oudh, he inquired about her grave so that something to perpetuate her memory there could be done. In response, Anjum said it was government’s duty to search for it and honour the Begum’s final resting place. Jawaharlal Nehru frankly admitted the lapse and promised to do the needful.”
The 10-minute appointment lasted for an hour and ended with the family providing the PM some reference material. Two months later, Indian government informed the family that the Begum’s grave was found in Kathmandu city and Indian Embassy in Nepal was taking care of it.
On May 9, 1958, Indian government announced state recognition for 1857 Freedom Struggle leaders including Begum Hazrat Mahal. UP government too promised a memorial. “Although we are not aware of the happenings behind the scenes, Mr. Nehru’s hand could easily be felt in the changed attitude,” Anjum writes. Soon after, the famous Victoria Park in Lucknow was renamed after the nawab begum who never gave in to British. Months later, Nehru held his public meeting in the same park.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / by Shailvee Sharda, TNN / November 13th, 2014
Bird watchers at the Government Botanical Garden in Udhagamandalam on Wednesday. – PHOTO: M. SATHYAMOORTHY / The Hindu
As many as 25 species spotted at Government Botanical Garden
Spread over 55 acres and dotted with hundreds of trees and flower beds apart from many ponds, the Government Botanical Garden here played host to a birding session organised by the Nilgiri Wildlife and Environment Association on Wednesday to commemorate the 118th birth anniversary of Salim Ali, the father of ornithology.
With the undulating venue and the occasion complementing each other, members of the association and students of Wildlife Biology in the Government Arts College returned with the satisfaction of having spotted birds belonging to about 25 species.
Pointing out that the most prized sighting of the day was a Kashmir Fly Catcher, the association’s executive committee member K.Vijay told The Hindu that the migratory bird from the Himalayas, which has been classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, could not be seen here last year.
Pointing out that its presence now signifies the commencement of the migratory season, he said that among the other birds spotted were the Grey Wag Tail, the Black and Grey Fly Catcher, the Common Hawk-Cuckoo, Pond Heron, Great Pit and the Nilgiri Blue Robbin.
Responding to a query, Mr.Vijay said that the botanical garden with its wild fruits and flowers is an ideal bird habitat.
Birding destination
Expressing the view that it can be promoted as a responsible birding destination, he said that the authorities concerned should regulate the activity and restrict it to one or two days a week. Stating that birding is a very effective stress buster, he said that it also encourages people to walk. Volunteers including students of Wildlife Biology should be engaged to create awareness among tourists about the role of birds in protecting the ecology.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Coimbatore / by D. RadhaKrishnan / Udhagamandalam – November 13th, 2014
Murshidabad, 250 kilometres north of Kolkata and the erstwhile capital of undivided Bengal, offers an unparalleled treasure-trove of heritage to tourists, both domestic and international. But, thanks to years of neglect and indifference, the majestic buildings are falling apart and the art, crafts and cuisines of the past are fading into oblivion.
The Murshidabad Heritage Development Society (MHDS), which has launched the revival project for Murshidabad through conservation of buildings, running of museums of family heirlooms, exhibitions of lost arts and crafts, cuisines, handloom and textile, have now planned to initiate the next level of heritage campaigns — converting some of the palatial buildings into heritage hotelsto attract tourists and generate a tourism-centric industry.
MHDS, along with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), on the occasion of World Heritage Week will hold a seminar at Palladian in Kolkata on November 22 to create awareness about the rich and vibrant heritage of Bengal encompassing architecture, arts and history and build a learning bridge between our past, present and future.
But, if you think that Murshidabad is only a hub of the Nawabi heritage, you should look beyond. Along with Nawabi culture, a powerful stream of rich traders and bankers, mostly from Rajasthan, had made its mark here. More than 400 years ago, they came, settled, prospered, built mansions, places of worships and even schools and colleges. They were known as ‘Sheherwali’. “We have identified 97 such heritage buildings with fascinating architecture and historical importance,” said Sandip Nowlakha, founder secretary of MHDS.
Murshidabad cuisine in general, or ‘Sheherwali’ cuisine in particular, is one such fascinating aspect of the heritage. “The love for food, especially all things sweet, is an apt description of any ‘Sheherwali’ cuisine. Food features prominently in the community, having evolved passionately through centuries of their existence in Bengal. ‘Sheherwali’ cuisine is possibly the finest vegetarian spread one can find, even in modern times,” said Siddharth Dudhoria, the founder president of MHDS.
The symposium aims at fine-tuning the heritage-tourism model being developed by the MHDS. It would put together experts across the country and bring forth some successful models. “Heritage can be a great revenue earner. Unless we drive this point home, we cannot make younger generation understand the value of our heritage. Several heritage buildings at places like Azimgunj, Ziagunj, Lalgola, Kathgola can be heritage hotels offering finest heritage experiences. Once heritage generates revenue and employment, the care for it would reach the zenith,” said Pradeep Chopra, president of MHDS.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kolkata / TNN / November 12th, 2014
National Education day commemorating the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was celebrated at Bearys Institute of Technology here on Tuesday.
As a part of this, BIT-Innovators club conducted an elocution competition for the students on the topic “Technical Education in India- Challenges and concerns”.
Prof Sheikh Moidin, head, Department of Information Science Engineering, gave an introductory talk. Speaking on the occasion, Principal of BIT, Dr Palakshappa K spoke in brief about the achievements of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first education minister of India.
Fayiz C.K of Seventh Semester Mechanical Engineering, who won the first place in the elocution contest, said there was a time in India when education was not everyone’s cup of tea. It is the result of the dreams of a great educationist like Moulana which all are witnessing today in the form of the great edifices of higher education in India. It is the responsibility of every student to make those dreams come true, he added.
Prof S Abdurrahman, Campus Director Dr.M.Sainath and the Heads of departments, along with the faculty and students were present at the occasion.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Mangaluru / by Stanley Pinto, TNN / November 11th, 2014
Mohammad Abdul Yaseen, 74, gives a fresh coat of paint to tombstone letterings at the Bene Israel Jewish cemetery in Mumbai.— Photo: AFP
The 74-year-old carefully chisels away at a slab of marble, engraving a passage that recounts the devout Jewish faith of the deceased.
On another tombstone he touches up a painted Hebrew inscription, undisturbed by the blare of car horns outside the central Mumbai cemetery.
Muslim engraver Mohammad Abdul Yaseen has for decades worked in this Jewish graveyard, inscribing memorials in English, the local Indian language Marathi, and Hebrew, in which he is fluent.
Mr. Yaseen serves the tiny Bene Israel or “Sons of Israel” community, whose origins in India go back about 2,000 years, as well as the Baghdadi Jews who came to do business in Mumbai in the 19th century.
While the country’s Jewish population is now dwindling, Mr. Yaseen has been in demand since he took up the trade in the 1960s after arriving in Mumbai from northern India.
He has since received numerous invitations to go to Israel, but has preferred to stay with his family in Mumbai.
“It was not really meant to be a job. But work kept coming and I stayed. In any case, I did not want to sit at home and do nothing,” he said. — AFP
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National / AFP / Mumbai – November 12th, 2014
Bellary has come to acquire, in the recent years, a pleasing monument in memory of Turkish Prisoners of War (PoW) of the First World War (1914-18).
For nearly a century, hundreds of Turkish prisoners who were brought here in 1918, from the Suez Canal war zone by the British, have rested in the soil of Bellary Cantonment area. Thanks to the interest shown by the Turkish Embassy in Delhi, the
Turkish Martyrs Graveyard stands here now, commemorating their sacrifice for the nation, ten thousand miles away from their motherland.
The memorial raised over nearly two-acre site next to the Bellary Airport, and in the vicinity of Visveswaraiah Institute of Medical Science (VIMS), has a spiral column made in stone over a rectangular platform. Flags of Turkey and India flutter over high masts near the column. The memorial has been aesthetically landscaped with a number of fountains, trees, flower-beds and grass courts, lending it great charm.
Of the two marble-dressed graves in the complex, the memorial plaque on one
of them records the name of the person buried as General Agha Pasha Abdussalam. He is said to have been a prince from the Ottoman ruling family of Turkey.
The plaque mentions his date of demise in Persian as 10th Rajab 1336, of the Islamic Hijri lunar year. It is just 100 lunar years since then as the new Islamic lunar year 1436 started on October 25, 2014. [Note: The lunar century is shorter than Gregorian century by three years.
According to the old-timers, there used to be hundreds of graves of Turkish
soldiers in the area till 1980s. But they vanished as granite slabs were pilfered away and other remains were erased during the expansion of the Bellary Aerodrome.
Haji Abdussalam, a businessman of the Cowl Bazaar, wrote to the Turkish
Embassy in Delhi about the derelict condition of the graves.
Later, former municipal councilor, Haji Adam, took up the case and supervised the construction of the memorial at the direction of the Turkish Embassy in consultation with the Bellary Deputy Commissioner who allocated the site for the memorial.
Historical records say that nearly 2,000 Turkish soldiers taken captive at the Suez Canal were brought to India and lodged at Thane in Maharashtra and the famous Allipuram Jail in Bellary. But it is a mystery as to how so many soldiers died in Bellary.
According to the management of a Muslim graveyard in Banhatti locality, 2.5 km south of the city centre, dozens of graves of Turkish soldiers could be spotted in the graveyard a decade or two ago.
But over a period, granite gravestones were stolen and since the land had to be used and reused, several of these graves have disappeared and only seven or eight of these Turkish graves could still be seen surviving with mortar pillar standing over them.
Satyanarayana Rao, a retired professor of the local Veerashaiva College, says, it is a puzzle as to how such mass graves came to be located in Bellary. According to him, in normal course, so many soldiers could not have died. He says some historical records attribute these to several prisoners being mowed down by a trigger-happy British officer (like General Dwyer in the Jallianwalla Bagh) when they went on a strike at a worksite and knelt while doing namaz. Another report, according to him, links the mass deaths to a plague but adds that the plague struck the area in 1934, while prisoners died in 1918.
Whatever may be the reason, the new Memorial is seen as a picturesque locale for the local folk who come visiting the memorial.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> Spectrum / by M.A. Siraj / DHNS-Bangalore, November 11th, 2014
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
Diverse events are on the cards to celebrate the birth anniversary of renowned ornithologist Salim Ali, often observed as the National Bird Watching Day, on November 12.
The events are being organised by the Social Forestry wing of the Dept of Forests and Wildlife and World Wildlife Fund-India.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Express News Service / November 11th, 2014
Aeliya always had a passion for making things from scratch. “My romance with clay started when I was in college. I used to make jewellery with potter’s clay or terracotta and my creations were very popular on campus,” she recalls.
Slowly, Aeliya moved on to make things out of coal porcelain. “By then, I started using candle as a medium and would make flowers and insects like ladybirds and beetles on it,” she adds.
But once she graduated and started working in an MNC, she was left with little time to pursue her hobby. “But my hands would twitch even at work,” she laughs. So she would create things whenever she got some time off. “I also started making customised clay magnets and using my artwork on gel candles and started experimenting with different clays,” she says.
She then realised that she could do the same with edible ingredients. “I realised that there are certain food items that have the same quality and could be used for cake decoration. Slowly, I came across sugar or gum paste which is also known as fondant and thought why not make edible shapes with my passion. Also innovative cakes are a trend in the market nowadays and unique cake toppers add to their beauty,” she notes.
Soon after she had her second child, Aeliya left her corporate job and started pursuing her passion full-time. She used this period to sharpen her skills. “I didn’t go to any institute and learnt everything on my own,” she adds.
“My friends then told me that I might as well learn the art of baking. Though baking sounds like an easy process, it’s far from that. It requires a lot of scientific techniques which I learnt by reading. My brother-in-law, who is in London, sent me a book to learn more. He also started sending me cutters of different sizes,” she notes.
Today, Aeliya bakes amazing cakes and cupcakes with toppers that are equally stunning.
“Since cupcakes are in trend and a lot of people bake them, I like making unique cupcakes with floral toppings. I even make bouquets on them,” she explains. She even makes ‘Angry Birds’ and superhero-themed toppers like ‘Batman’. Name any theme and she can make a topper and cake as per that.
One her most beautiful works is the sandal topper. The delicate piece takes around two days to make. Explaining the process of creating the topper, she says, “I first cut the basic shape out on the paste with a knife and then fine tune it. I don’t use any mould to create the shapes. So on an average, each topper takes around two or three days. A shape like sandal takes a day to be created and then the finer details like fixing the buckle take another day.”
Aeliya’s toppers are so popular that she gets a number of orders. “If a person has something in mind, I tell him or her to send me a photograph. So I can make it according to their wish. My speciality is half-kg theme cakes,” she explains. She also enjoys experimenting with as many shapes as possible. “So far except one or two designs, I have never repeated myself,” she notes.
Another favourite design of hers, which is unique, is the handbag cake. “It’s something that college girls really like.” She gets a number of requests on her Facebook page — ‘Cake Toppers Shoppe Bangalore’ too. She perfectly sums up her love for making cake toppers as she says, “I have finally found my nirvana.”
A view of the burial place of Makthi Thangal at Calvethy, Fort Kochi. Photo: Thulasi Kakkat / The Hindu
Syed Sanaullah Makthi Thangal, one of the earliest progressive Islamic scholars of Kerala, lies buried in the ancient Juma Masjid at Calvathy
In the middle of the khabaristan or burial ground adjoining the historic Juma Masjid at Calvathy, among the many grave markers, weeds and grass is one ancient grave. The tombstone is worn out and cracked, a row of laterite bricks mark out the grave, and a small neem plant has grown right in the middle. This is perhaps the only surviving memory of Syed Sanaullah Makthi Thangal (1847-1912), the famous Islamist reformer and author.
Historical documents reveal that Makthi Thangal was born at Veliyankodu, Malappuram district. But most of his creative pursuits and death happened in Kochi. He studied Arabic from his father Syed Ahmed Thangal and then enrolled at the Chavakkad Higher Elementary School. He went on to become an expert in Islamic studies and an expert in Malayalam, Arabic, Hindustani, Persian and Tamil languages.
He began his career as an excise inspector in the British government. This was a period when the Muslims in Kerala had not opened up to public education, were bound by superstitions, were gullible to accept anyone as their spiritual leader. Added to this was the government supported conversion threats. Thangal quit his job and plunged into public life. His mission was to help his community rise from the social and cultural depths into which it had fallen.
Thangal began writing, speaking and propagating his views that were bold, poetic, reformist and directed to benefit the Muslim community. Thangal wrote in the newspapers that were in circulation at that time, those that were ready to publish his articles and also published books on matters relevant to the community in British India. His speeches and all what he wrote turned out to be a clarion call to many who towed his line of thought. Thangal is considered to be the first Muslim to write, publish books and launch a daily newsletter.
Dr. C.K. Kareem, in his Kerala Muslim History, Statistics and Directory, Volume 1 (History of Kerala and of her Muslims), records that Thangal had to suffer a lot for his work. He quotes from Thangal’s concise autobiography, Makthi Manaklesham that gives a graphic account of his travails. The fierce attacks came from the conservatives within his community and from the British. But Thangal was not one to be cowed down by all this.
For nearly 30 years Thangal is said to have travelled the length and breadth of the State spreading awareness about the need for education, women’s empowerment, calling for a fight against superstition, conversion and non-Islamic beliefs.
Book cover of Makthi Thangal’s complete works / The Hindu
E. Moidu Moulavi, in his preface to the collected edition of Makthi Thangal’s works (Makthi Thangalude Sampoorna Krithikal) published by Kerala Islamic Mission, Tirur, states that Thangal must have written 40 books. Though he did not have the means, found no publishers, did all that on his own. Moidu Moulavi considers Thangal’s works as a value addition to the ancient Malayalam literary style and an invaluable historical document. What makes these works more important is when one considers the time during which they were written. The language may not have the finesse but certainly did not lack the power.
“Some of Thangal’s works like Kadora Kudaram, which was a resistance against the British supported religious conversions, Muslimugalum Vidyabyasavum that exhorted Muslims to embrace Malayalam and English education and Naari Narabhichari on the need for women’s education are all revolutionary, progressive works of a genius. As Dr. C. K. Karim observes and from what I have read they were brave views that shook the conformist mindset of the community. Thangal had to suffer a lot for his writings with many slapping court cases against him,” says M.A. Aboobacker, cultural activist.
What made Thangal unique was that he was the first reformist who studied the religious aspects of various religions before formulating his views. As historian M. Gangadaran notes Makthi Thangal as a reformist who used his vast knowledge to find a way out for the Muslim community from the darkness. He understood the significance of language and insisted that it should not be a barrier for Islam.
Failing health forced Thangal to settle down permanently in Kochi. He died on September 18, 1912. Among his many disciples and followers was C.V. Abdurahman Hydrose, editor of Malabar Islam. “Hydrose Sahib stayed at Darussalam Road. His father was also known to Makthi Thangal. It is said that Thangal presented his pen to Hydrose Sahib telling him that he has nothing else to give him and prayed that this pen would be helpful to him.
As Moidu Moulavi writes, Hydrose Sahib, true to the legacy he inherited, went on to publish many of Thangal’s works including Makthi Vijayam,” says Aboobacker.
Once in a while people visit Thangal’s grave, people who have read about him, who have read his works. “It was my friend Gaffoor who first told me about Thangal’s grave. I had read a lot about him and also some of his writings. In January 2013, when Gaffoor came down from Muscat, we went for the Biennale. We then decided to find out where Thangal’s grave was. It took us a lot of wandering, asking many people to finally find it. I feel Thangal who has contributed so much for nourishing and reforming the Muslim community deserves more”, feels R.P. Sivan, a Malayalam teacher at SRV High School.
Apart from a literary award instituted by an organisation in Makthi Thangal’s name there is nothing else to perpetuate the memory of this visionary reformer.
Perhaps, adapting Emily Dickinson’s lines, after a hundred years nobody would know this place. Weeds will rage triumphant, strangers will stroll past this lone tombstone, no one to tell them of the man buried there; lost to memory.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus> Hidden Histories / by K. Pradeep / Kochi – October 31st, 2014
