Senior writer U.A. Khasim (74), who was one of the architects of the Beary Andolan passed away at his residence in the city during the early hours of Monday.
The deceased is survived by his wife, four sons, three daughters, and a legion of relatives and friends.
Writer Khasim has written stories, novels, poems, and various literary pieces in both the Beary and Kannada languages.
Apart from being at the forefront of the Beary Andolan, Khasim Ullal has also been a member of the Beary Sahitya Academy, he has also served as the office bearer of Kendra Beary Parishad and Beary Literary & Cultural Association for several years.
The sources close to the family of the deceased have informed that his funeral rites will be conducted at Kallapu Patla near Thokottu.
Many prominent personalities expressed their condolences and remembered Khasim Ullal’s rich contribution to the Beary movement and literature.
With his passing away, one more pillar of the Beary literary movement has crumbled. With his pioneering works in Beary literature by way of novels, poems, short stories, plays etc. he had given a big boost to the movement in its early years, said Umar Teekay, Chairman of Teekays Group in his condolence message.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavali / by Vartha Bharati / June 20th, 2022
Leading Bahrain-based Indian entrepreneur, Founder and Chairman of the Saara Group, Mohammad Mansoor was honoured for his enormous contribution to sports and international relations by the one of the oldest cultural organisations in Bahrain, the – Kerala Catholics Association.
Mansoor was presented the award as presented the award by Minister of Labor and Social Development H E Jameel Bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan at a glittering gala ceremony at the Crowne Plaza hotel, in the presence of Ministers, Ambassadors, VIPs, distinguished guests and community leaders including India’s Ambassador to Bahrain, HE Piyush Srivastava, Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Mar Julios, Peravur MLA Adv. Sunny Joseph.
Mr Mansoor, a serial entrepreneur and venture capitalist, is the Founder & CEO of Saara Group, which has a portfolio of operations across the domains of Information Technology, Energy, Oil & Gas, Digital Media, Sports Infrastructure, Seed Capital Investments, and Social Initiatives.
The operations of the group span across the Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC), United Kingdom, United States of America, ASEAN countries and India.
As an active supporter of an array of social and cultural initiatives to empower community relations and strengthen the social fabric, he has played and played a crucial role in supporting the sports initiatives in the Kingdom of Bahrain under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad AI Khalifa.
As a cricket enthusiast, he was the brains behind launching the first-ever franchise-based T20 Cricket Premier League which was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad AI Khalifa in 2018. In 2021, he was appointed as the advisor to the newly revamped Bahrain Cricket Federation and was instrumental behind giving the sport a much-needed boost in Bahrain. So much so, that the women’s team has already inked its name in the record books by scoring the highest score in an T20 International.
An active supporter of Bahrain’s flagship sports media property, BRAVE Combat Federation across multiple venues around the world. He spearheaded the KHK Heroes Foundation initiative assisting the economically vulnerable communities and expatriates throughout the Kingdom of Bahrain during the Coronavirus pandemic part from being a director of KHK Venture Holding.
In 2021, he was appointed to the prestigious World Youth Group as director of the Council. The WYG has been designed by Collegiate Congress, in association with United Nations Member States, United Nations Agencies, youth and student groups; All-African Students Union (AASU), European Students Union (ESU), Young Republicans National Federation (YRNF), Young Democrats of America (YDA), higher education institutions, the private sector, and individuals from around the world.
Of the most notable among the awards that he has been conferred with is the Hind Ratan Award.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Gulf / by Vartha Bharati / June 14th, 2022
Nammal Beypore will organise a Basheer Fest, a range of programmes in connection with the 28th death anniversary of writer Vaikom Muhammed Basheer, at the author’s residence at Beypore from July 2 to 5.
Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas, who is the patron of the fest, told reporters here on Sunday that there would be district-level and State-level programmes as part of the fest, with the help of the Chalachitra Academy, Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, Kerala Lalithakala Akademi, Folklore Academy and Sahitya Akademi.
A Basheer feature and documentary show in association with Chalachitra Academy, a literature camp for budding writers led by writer Subhash Chandran under the aegis of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi, a Basheer painting contest, photo exhibition, traditional food fest, plays and ghazal concerts are being held as part of the festival.
Besides, there will be seminars and cultural meetings in which noted writers are expected to take part.
School children can visit the Basheer residence at Beypore.
Mayor Beena Philip is the chairperson of the organising committee.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kozhikode / by Staff Reporter / Kozhikode – June 20th, 2022
Maulana Muhammed Manzoor Nomani (1905-1997), most arguably was one of the five prime most Muslims of the Indian sub-continent in the last century. He was the founding member of Jamaat-e-Islami and later got associated with Tablighi Jamaat and was also the member of founding committee of Muslim World League.
Maulana Khalil-ur-Rehman Sajjad Nomani is his son who gives every credence to his father, as that is what has made him, potentially what he is today; the most potent Muslim voice in the nation.
Sajjad Nomani’s command on Arabic, Quran, Hadith, Urdu, Hindi and English, in the same verve, depth and gravitas, apart from being an eloquent speaker, an indefatigable champion of Muslim cause, a voracious reader and a writer with an unquestionable command on the intricacies of linguistic theory and cultural praxis, are all the qualities he has embodied and imbibed from his late father.
Yours truly also did once saw Manzoor Nomani Sahab, at his Nazeerabad residence, Lucknow, as he sat on his wheel chair engrossed in an Urdu newspaper and also attended to his funeral at Aishbagh, Lucknow in 1997.
It would be worthy to recollect some of the anecdotes Sajjad Sahab shared about his late father, which all are a treasure trove to understand the ‘times’ about seventy-five years back.
He reminisced that Pakistan first Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan was very insistent that Manzoor Sahab visit Pakistan and become a part of Pakistan Constituent Assembly to ‘pave for the ingredients’ for Islamic Jurisprudence for the state of Pakistan, and ultimately even officially sought for it, as Manzoor Sahab was one of the most outstanding figures of Islamic Law and Jurisprudence at those times.
When India’s PM Jawahar Lal Nehru came to know of it, he communicated that though he does not want Maulana to volunteer it, yet if Maulana wanted then government of India was to facilitate it. But, there was no question of Manzoor Sahab even entertaining the idea as he was an unwavering Indian by his heart, not out of any chance but primarily for his choice, as Muslims after 1947 were to choose between India or Pakistan and Manzoor Sahab stood for India.
Maulana Khalilur Rahman Sajjad Nomani
Sajjad Sahab would also reflect that it was in 1976, when he was studying in Medina University, and had come to India on his vacations, that Manzoor Sahab kidneys collapsed all of a sudden and he went into coma. That was the time when emergency was in place. He informed that ‘intelligence inputs’ were given to PM Indira Gandhi that unless Maulana Ali Mian Nadwi, Maulana Manzoor Nomani and Qari Siddeeq Baandvi were to be arrested, Muslims were not relent to ‘vasectomy-sterilization’ and Indira Gandhi went to India’s President Fakhrudin Ali Ahmed, for his counsel on it, to which she was answered that all hell will break loose in the country in case of such an eventuality.
In the meantime, Indira Gandhi was also informed about the medical situation of Manzoor Sahab, and a chartered place to carry Maulana to Delhi was sent to Lucknow. The family members could not fathom for it, for they knew, that Maulana was be very angry once after the coma was to subside, the gesture of Indira Gandhi was hence refused, and fortunately by the midnight Maulana regained his senses, but then the next morning Indira Gandhi herself came down to Maulana’s residence. She would insist that Maulana may be flown to Delhi for his medical treatment, but all what Maulana sought from her was that she should implement justice as there was ‘tyranny’ all across the nation. He would address Indira Gandhi as his daughter and that when she played in her father’s courtyard, Maulana was to advice her father JL Nehru on critical issues.
Such has been the sense of belonging of Muslims for Manzoor Sahab , inherited too well by his son, is that while Jamshedpur raged under riots of 1979, Maulana went on to sit in a mosque for 21 days, draw into people and disbursed charity amongst the hapless Muslims, which continued for months. Maulana had an impeccable memory as Sajjad Sahab, relates, that shortly before his death, while he was searching for a Hadith, his ailing father, who was almost comatose, made him look for it on the exact page of Tirmezi- a great compendium of Hadith. Maulana Manzoor Sahab was a living authority and a luminary of Hadith-the sayings of Prophet of Islam.
Manzoor Nomani Sahab surely has left an indelible mark on Muslim civilization not across only in India but throughout the whole Muslim world. The best part however is that, it has all been very well innately translated into a relentless campaign for Muslim rights in India, by his son Sajjad Nomani, an activist always on his heels and one of the most credible voice of Muslims in the nation today. He is right now articulating the cause of Peace and Justice, a desperate call of the nation today. Sajjad Sahab is also the spokesperson of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, the Apex of Muslims in the country.
***
The writer is a former UP State Information Commissioner and writes on political issues.
source: http://www.mulimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Muslim Scholars / by Haider Abbas / June 20th, 2022
AR Rahman said as an artiste, it is a pleasure to be part of an innovative cultural program that supports creative excellence and artistic appreciation; and brings diverse audiences together.
AR Rahman named ambassador of Indo-UK culture platform / Image Source : INSTA/ARRAHMAN
Music great A R Rahman has been named the ambassador of British Council’s ‘India-UK Together Season of Culture’, which aims to boost collaboration among emerging artists. The ‘Season of Culture’ that marks the 75th anniversary of India’s independence was officially launched on Tuesday here by Britain’s Deputy High Commissioner to India Jan Thomson and Director (India) of British Council Barbara Wickham. Rahman said as an artiste, it is a pleasure to be part of an innovative cultural programme which supports creative excellence and artistic appreciation; and brings diverse audiences together.
“Today, creative expression and exchange can nurture young talent and create a global stage for fair and equitable access to arts,” he added.
Wickham said Rahman has been a significant adviser to the ‘Season of Culture’ and his work and professional journey truly embody what the ‘Season of Culture’ stands for – working together, and artistic output that captures the imagination of the world.
Over 1,400 artistes will showcase their collaborations to millions of audiences across India, Britain, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, through a wide array of arts such as theatre, dance, visual arts, literature, music, architecture, design, fashion, tech-art, and new media art.
The ‘Season of Culture’ aims to build on the British Council’s work in India and strengthen India-UK collaboration in the areas of arts, English and education.
Wickham said people in both the countries will have the chance to experience innovative and exciting creative work from some of the most promising UK and Indian artists pushing the envelope of creativity and the infusion of creative tech.
source: http://www.indiatvnews.com / India TV / Home> English News> Entertainment / by PTI / New Delhi – June 08th, 2022
The awards were constituted by the Indian American Muslim Council, a Washington DC-based advocacy group, to “highlight stories and amplify voices that are often missing from the mainstream/elite media”.
New Delhi:
Ismat Ara was among the winners of the first edition of the Human Rights Religious Freedom (HRRF) Journalism Awards, taking home the Young Journalist of the Year Award for stories that were published in The Wire.
She was a joint winner in the category with Scroll‘s Aishwarya S. Iyer.
The awards were constituted by the Indian American Muslim Council, a Washington DC-based advocacy group. The HRRF Journalism Awards strive to “highlight stories and amplify voices that are often missing from the mainstream/elite media”.
“This year our jury chose winners in the extremely troubled times when media in India is under immense pressure from the ruling government,” said Syed Ali, president of IAMC.
Ara was chosen as a joint winner of the Young Journalist of the Year Award for stories on a temple-mosque controversy in Delhi’s Uttam Nagar, the tragic consequences of the so-called anti-love jihad law and the lynching of a Muslim youngster in Haryana. She was a staffer for The Wire when the stories were published.
Iyer’s stories covered the aftermath of the Delhi riots of 2020, shrinking space for open namaz in Haryana and the arrest of a Christian pastor in Madhya Pradesh.
Newslaundry‘s Akanksha Kumar was declared the winner of the Best Text Reporting on Human Rights & Religious Freedom category.
Priyanka Thirmurthy of The News Minute and Shahid Tantray of The Caravan won the Best Video Story on Human Rights and Religious Freedom category and Syed Shahriyar was the winner in the Best Photo Story on Human Rights and Religious Freedom category.
Article 14 and the Mooknayak were declared joint-winners of the Best Media Organisation Covering Human Rights and Religious Freedom Journalism.
According to IAMC, the awards received more than 250 entries across five categories. The winners will share a prize pool of Rs 3 lakh.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Gypsy Guillen Kaiser, who is the advocacy and communications director at the Committee to Protect Journalists, said the watchdog’s annual prison census found that India set a country record last year for the largest number of detained journalists. “The vast majority of journalists detained in India as of December 1, 2021 are Muslims,” Kaiser said.
“The worrying trends in India make HRRF Journalism awards all the more important to uplift and celebrate the invaluable work of the Indian journalist and to remind us of the responsibility that we all share in working to keep them safe,” she added.
source: http://www.thewire.in / The Wire / Home> Media / by The Wire Staff / New Delhi – June 20th, 2022
Dr. Noor Amrohvi is one of the most important people in modern times for his knowledge of literature and poetry. Dr. Noor Amrohvi is a man of courage and many qualities. Apart from his immense love for literature, poetry and Urdu language, he also has a deep sympathy for the nation. They are popular among the people. He lives in the United States but his heart lives in India. They always strive for the development of the country, the welfare of the people and the promotion of Urdu language. And these are the things that make him stand out from others.
Dr. Noor Amrohvi belongs to a business family of India. He himself is also a businessman. Simultaneously, he is a renowned and popular poet and a literary figure. Although in the Dallas Texas Area there are a large number of poets and prose writers, yet the main difference between Noor and others is the level of popularity and fame that has come to Noor Amrohvi. He is certainly a distinguished and far more popular literary figure than others poets, speakers and writers.
Its manifest proof is proven by the release of his first book which has been released in a unique and charming manner. Although the release of this book has been carried out in an extremely distinguished and unique manner yet the most notable and enticing manner was visible in the celebration which was hosted by his admirers and readers in 2018 AD. Its salient features were that every listener and guest was given a precious diamond. Moreover, precious pens were gifted to Dr Noor Amrohvi by adopted sister of Noor In the light of all these festivities that party became one of the most unique and expensive functions which was neither witnessed nor celebrated.
Noor Amrohvi is also the chairman of the famous literary and social organization named “ALNOOR INTERNATIONAL “. Every year Noor Amrohvi conducts an international program named,” an evening for peace and unity).
Noor Amrohvi enjoys the distinction of being the only expatriate person for holding an international Mushaira (poetry presentation). Every big and renowned poet aspires to take part in the poetry Mushairas conducted by Dr Noor Amrohvi as an honor.
One can imagine the popularity and fame of Noor Amrohvi for his services for Urdu language,Asian community and poetry. That last in a Mushaira conducted at his residence, almost all the reputed and well-known celebrities of Dallas city were present.
It may be mentioned that Dr. Noor Amrohvi has received so many and numerous awards. The expatriate residents of Dallas and Fort Worth cities have acknowledged that no one has so far received so many awards as Noor Amrohvi has been awarded.
Noor’s Ghazals have been sung by singers. The lyrics written by him have been used in the movies and also sung by renowned singers in India. The city of Dallas is very fortunate that it has a poet of eminence known asDr. Noor Amrohvi who represents Urdu language in the United States and Dallas city as well as elsewhere.
Although Dr. Shamsa Qureshi is the spoken sister of Dr. Noor Amrohvi, yet there is a great deal of understanding between them to the extent that both seem to be the real sister and brother.
Dr. Shamsa has a very soft and kind temperament and is the author of a volume of poetry. She is the custodian and patron of the Al-Noor International literary union. She is like the backbone of this literary union.
The people of Dallas have benefitted by this relationship of brother and sister that two Urdu literary and poetry sessions are held every year. These programs are held because of the support and patronage of Dr. Shamsa and Dr. Noor Amrohvi.
source: http://www.millattimes.com / Millat Times / Home> Opinion / by Saeed Qureshi, Editor – UprightOpinion.com / January 13th, 2021
Gazala’s interest in Sanskrit began at the government primary school in Nishatganj where her teacher ” Meena ma’am” taught her Sanskrit in class V
Gazala has been reciting Sanskrit shlokas, the Gayatri Mantra and Saraswati Vandana at cultural programmes in the University
Amid the row in Karnataka over Muslim students not being allowed to wer hijabs to college, a Muslim girl from Lucknow was adjudged the best Sanskrit scholar in November last year and was handed over gold medals by Dean Of Arts Prof Shashi Shukla during a faculty-level medal distribution ceremony on February 10.
Gazala’s achievement is proof that one’s skill has nothing to do with one’s religion, and everyone should have equal access to education. Gazala is the daughter of a daily wager who succumbed to cancer, and her two younger brothers and elder sister gave up their studies so that she could pursue hers.
Gazala has been reciting Sanskrit shlokas, the Gayatri Mantra and Saraswati Vandana at cultural programmes in the University.
She resides in a small one-room house located in the narrow lanes of Nishatganj. The 23-year-old wakes up at 5 am every day to offer namaz, do her household chores, and then study Sanskrit for seven hours straight to gain in-depth knowledge of the subject.
Gazala, without a doubt, wants to be a Sanskrit professor. She is now the winner of five gold medals for being the best student of MA (Sanskrit) at Lucknow University.
“These medals are won not by me but by my brothers Shadab and Nayab who left school and began working in a garage at the age of 13 and 10 years respectively so that I could study,” said Gazala.
Her elder sister Yasmeen, too, began working in a utensil shop while her mother Nasreen Bano took care of all of Gazala’s requirements.
“These five medals are for all five of us,” Gazala added.
When asked why she wants to be a Sanskrit professor, she said, “Bhashasu mukhya madhura divya girvan bharti. Satrapi kavyam madhuram tasmadpu subhashitam (Of all the languages, God’s own language Sanskrit is the mother: divine, and most lyrical. In Sanskrit, poetry is more melodious wherein good verses hold prime position).”
Gazala’s interest in Sanskrit began at the government primary school in Nishatganj where her teacher “Meena ma’am” taught her Sanskrit in class V.
“Thereafter I got admitted to Aryakanya Inter College and got a brilliant Sanskrit teacher, Archana Dwivedi. As a result, I scored very well,” she added.
“These are Nagma Sultan, who taught me Sanskrit during BA at Karamat Hussain Muslim Girls’ PG College, and Prayag Narayan Mishra, at LU during MA,” she said.
“My Sanskrit knowledge and interest often surprise people who ask me how being a Muslim I developed a love for the language. They ask me what I will do with it, but my family always supported me,” said Gazala.
She also said, “You can’t imagine how big these medals are for a person like me who just dreams of getting a study table and a laptop one day so that I don’t have to attend online classes on the phone.”
Gazala now wants to pursue a PhD in Vedic literature. Eventually, she wants to become a civil servant.
source: http://www.indiatimes.com / India Times / Home> Trending> Social Relevance / by Aishwarya Dharni / February 11th, 2022
Rural women of Bihar engaged in doing Kheta embroidery work. | Picture by author arrangement
Kheta is said to be a 500-year-old quilting heirloom practised exclusively by Shershahabdi women. Today, Kheta embroidery work is getting popular among non-Shershahabdi people with many women formerly associated with making Beedis taking to Kheta work to earn a decent livelihood.
Bihar :
Razia Khatoon of Kishanganj district of Bihar is getting 45 days of training in Kheta embroidery work. The training will be completed on May 14 and is done under Project Samarth, a scheme for capacity building in the textile sector carried out by the government of India. Earlier, she would make Beedi (plant leaf cigarettes) as a livelihood. She said Kheta has given her a chance to get rid of the health hazards that making Beedi brings on.
For several workers like Razia, the Kheta embroidery work, after acquiring proper training, is expected to be an alternate livelihood instead of the hazardous Beedi rolling job.
Believed to be a 500-year-old quilting heirloom practised exclusively by Shershahabdi women, today the Kheta embroidery work is getting popular among non-Shershahabdi people. Earlier, the intricate embroidery work was done on the layers of pre-used print Sarees and chequered Lungis etc, however, today the use of new clothes for making Khetas is widely done.
“Shershahabdi is a term used for Muslims of the Seemanchal area of Bihar who were settled in the region by emperor Shershah Suri. They are said to be ethnic Pashtuns mixed with local Surjapuris,” Ashraful Haque, a Shershahabdi, who co-ordinates with the Kheta weavers, told TwoCircles.net.
“Kheta is so intricate and organised that officials from Delhi first refused to believe it as a handcraft. When a live demo was done, they were immensely impressed. After the efforts of the local member of parliament Dr Mohammad Jawed, who raised this question of Kheta in the Parliament, we have got this opportunity to train our women not only in making more vibrant Khetas but also make them aware of its marketability,” he said.
To make Kheta embroidery work as a source of income, the artwork is being introduced in new forms with the use of new clothes. This embroidery work is now done on bedsheets, notebook covers, bags, pillow covers, mufflers, table clothes and handkerchiefs etc.
As of now, seventy thousand workers are believed to be associated with this artwork.
Noticeably, unlike other embroidery works, Kheta avoids figurative depictions which are considered to be forbidden in Muslim culture. The colours used for Kheta are generally bright like red, green, yellow, blue, and purple.
Razia, 24, is a Shershabadi woman, and like every other Shershahabadi female, she knew a bit of Kheta.
She expressed her happiness in learning new designs and colour patterns of Kheta. She used to earn around 1$ per day by Beedi making. She now hopes to double her income by part-time Kheta making.
More than the money she is happy as she considers Kheta work as “Izzat wala kam (a respectful job.)”
Another trainee Rulekha Khatoon’s husband is a migrant labourer. Khatoon is 25-years-old and is doing Kheta work regularly for the last six years. She learnt the technique from her mother and grandmothers. “Earlier we used to make Kheta only for family purposes like dowry and gifts etc. This training showed us that we can sell our work too. I hope to earn Rs. 3000-4000 per month with the work of 3-4 hours,” she said.
47-year-old Tajgara Khatoon is a top trainer of Kheta. She told TwoCircles.net, “A needle and some threads are required to do wonders in Kheta embroidery but not without great painstaking concentration. Shershahabdi women learnt it naturally but this training is giving them a wider range of patterns.”
Inderjit De and Saumya Pande of Zameen Astar Foundation write in their paper on Kheta embroidery, “The term Kheta stands for straight running stitches in the local dialect and refers to both embroidery and the product. In its similarity to the word, Khet meaning farm, the term Kheta may resemble the meticulous lines of the paddy fields.”
According to the website involved in the promotion and marketing of Kheta, “the array of designs offered by Kheta resonates with ripples of water, materials used in building make-shift huts, flowers, dry fruits, leaves, among many more.”
Yuman Hussain is the executive director of Azad India Foundation which is actively involved in promoting Kheta and arranging training for workers.
Yuman told TwoCirles.net that the “training helps in benchmarking the skill level and understanding the quality control. It formalizes the knowledge transfer and helps in keeping the next generation interested in continuing the quilting practice.”
The training also provides the trainees with an artisan card with benefits like insurance and access to participate in different exhibitions.
“On average, a Kheta artisan can make 4 to 6 quilts (96″ x 60″ size) in a year. They can earn anything between Rs 10000 to Rs 30000 per year depending on how many quilts they are making, sizes of quilts, the skill level of quilting etc,” she said.
Yuman rued that even though most Shershabadi women know how to make Kheta, the supply of skilled artisans is less. “The work needs to be done on both sides to build awareness in the market and a supply chain base for these quality quilted Khetas,” she added.
Sami Ahmad is a journalist based in Patna, Bihar. He tweets at @samipkb
source: http://www.twocircles.net / TwoCircles.net / Home> Lead Story / by Sami Ahmad, TwoCircles.net / May 05th, 2022
Modelling professional, rugby player and dermatologist among role models.
(From left) Bilkes Perveen, Saba Ali Firoz and Suraiya Rahman. Gautam Bose
A young woman set a condition to her would-be husband that she would marry only if she was allowed to pursue sports after wedding.
A girl whose neighbours once complained she wore jeans pursued her dream and became a fashion model, an entrepreneur and an anchor-presenter.
Several Muslim women who refused to tread the steps that many others wanted them to — get married, have children and live a domestic life — are now successful professionals. They came together at a gathering on Thursday afternoon.
The women will be feted by the NGO Friends of Alumni of Colleges Educational Institutes and Schools (FACES) and Mashriq Education Trust next week.
The Telegraph listened to some of their stories:
Bilkes Perveen
Anchor, model and entrepreneur
She was once frowned upon for wearing jeans. Bilkes, in her early 30s, who grew up on Convent Road in central Kolkata, said she was probably the only girl in her community in the neighbourhood who wore a pair of jeans.
“My neighbours were not happy with me wearing jeans. It was a very conservative space where I grew up,” she said. But she didn’t budge.
When she was 18, Bilkes took a night-shift job. She would go to her workplace wearing jeans or trousers. “I was 18. I wanted to be financially independent. Relatives and neighbours questioned why I took a night job. They wanted me to marry and have a kid instead of working. Fortunately, my parents stood by me,” Bilkes said on Thursday.
Life had better in store for her. At 19, she took up a job with a bank. It is while working there that she found her future husband, Tanmay Chatterjee. “Tanmay has always been very supportive. He wanted me to be a role model for others. After marriage I set up a company named Perveen and Chatterjee,” she said.
Bilkes wants to help women who have dreams but are afraid of defying the moral police. “My company trains Muslim women in personality development,” she said.
Bilkes herself hosts events as anchor and is also a model for a sari brand. “I am today happy with what I am doing,” she said.
Saba Ali Firoz
Rugby player and stylist
Saba had set a condition to her husband before marriage — she would pursue sports, her passion.
“My husband was fine with it,” said the 39-year-old mother of two.
She continues to do it despite unsolicited comments meant to fetter her. “I had to wear short skirts for playing, for which I had to hear comments like ‘you are not Sania Mirza’. Wearing a short skirt is a taboo,” she said.
Daughter of a retired police officer, Saba, a resident of Metropolitan off EM Bypass, got inducted into sports from her early teens by her father. “I did sprints and long jumps. It was my father who inspired me to take up athletics.”
Saba’s interest in sports spans disciplines. She has represented her club CCFC in rugby. She has played darts, badminton and tennis. She has also inculcated the passion for sports in her kids. Her 15-year-old son has represented the state in swimming and her 9-year-old daughter is training in swimming and basketball.
Imran Zaki, president of Faces, one of the organisers of Thursday’s get-together, said Muslim women were usually not encouraged by the society to take up sports and continue that after marriage. “It is to Saba’s credit and her will that she has managed to do what she loves. She is the one to emulate,” said Zaki.
As a professional, Saba runs her own studio at her home. She is a stylist and a make-up artist.
Suraiya Rahman
Gynaecologist and owner of a hospital
Suraiya earned her MBBS degree from Bihar in 1967. She was the only Muslim woman in her batch. She later completed her MD from Kolkata in 1975. Again she was the only Muslim woman in her batch.
“There were objections from relatives and acquaintances. They thought it was disgraceful for a woman to go to a convent school and a medical college,” she said. “But my parents never let those objections reach me. My younger sister is a gynaecologist,” she said.
If Suraiya was a rare example in her student days, she is one even now. At 76, Suraiya is running a hospital on Dilkusha Street near bridge number 4 in Park Circus. She does procedures, looks after the daily administration and advises junior doctors. “I am only 76,” she said when applauded for being so active at her age.
Farah Khan, director, Mashriq Education Trust, said: “Suraiya Rahman is a role model for the entire community. So many young doctors from our community, both women and men, look up to her.”
source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph, Kolkata / Home> My Kolkata / News> Women’s Empowerment / by Subhajoy Roy / June 10th, 2022
