Category Archives: Community Involvement / Social Issues

Award sought for Ibrahim

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KARNATAKA :

As 2022 marks the silver jubilee of the peaceful settlement of the Idgah Maidan row, the former Mayor and Congressman Deepak Chinchore has sought peace award for the former Union Minister C.M. Ibrahim for helping settle the issue.

Addressing presspersons in Dharwad on Monday, Mr. Chinchore said that when Hubballi was caught in the clutches of communal violence following the Idgah Maidan row over flag hoisting, it was Mr. Ibrahim who played a pivotal role in working out a truce.

He said that when Hubballi was burning in the aftermath of the Idgah Madian row, the city witnessed a series of violent incidents and protests. The violent protests had even led to police firing, resulting in the death of four youths. In fact, for close to six months, the residents spent their days in fear amid curfew and prohibitory orders, he recalled.

Mr. Chinchore said that Mr. Ibrahim, who was the Union Minister then, took the lead and held a series of meetings with members of Anjuman-e-Islam and others and finally resolved the issue amicably.

Subsequently, the members of Anjuman-e-Islam themselves started hoisting the tricolour on Independence and Republic Days, till the Supreme Court issued an order directing the Municipal Commissioner to hoist the national flag at the maidan.

Mr. Chinchore said that because of the efforts of Mr. Ibrahim, Hubballi returned to normality subsequently. Considering his role in the establishment of peace in the region in general and Hubballi in particular, the State Government should honour him with peace award, he added.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Hubballi, February 07th, 2022

Kerala Taxi Driver Provides Wedding Dresses to Needy Brides for Free

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Thootha Village (Malappuram District), KERALA :

Dress Bank: Started in April 2020 and so far Nasar Thootha has gifted free wedding costumes to around 300 underprivileged brides.

Nasar Thootha runs the charity called “dress bank” in which he collects used dresses from the rich and passes on the same to those in need.

New Delhi :

A Taxi driver from Kerala’s Malappuram is running a charity of providing expensive wedding dresses to the brides unable to afford them for free.

Nasar Thootha, who hails from Thootha village of Malappuram District, runs the charity programme called “dress bank” in which he collects used dresses from the rich and passes on the same to those in need. He took the initiative in April 2020 and so far gifted free wedding costumes to around 300 underprivileged brides.

Last year, Nasar, who returned from Saudi Arabia where he employed in a supermarket, invited the people through the social media to pass on their idle used wedding dresses to him for the cause. As his request spread far and wide, dresses started landing on his doors.

“Wedding attires are all about vanity. They are worn for a few hours and then never come out of the cupboards. Realising this, many families came forward to support our cause,” Nasar was quoted by Al-Jazeera as saying.

He receives all these donated dresses from across the state with the help of friends and charity organisations. He cleans and packs them to keep them into distribution racks.

“With God’s grace,” said Nasar, I personally don’t have to invest any money on the dress bank. I am just a channel through which women who need them the most receive them from kind donors”.

His initiative has met with massive success as he has around a thousand dresses in stock, which range in prices from Rs 3000 to 50000 rupees. Not just Kerala, people from neighboring states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka also started donating dresses.

“The bride and her parents can directly visit the Dress Bank and select the dress item that she needs irrespective of its cost. We never ask them to return the dress after use,” he told The News Minute.

Talking about the inspiration behind the initiative, Nasar said, “After returning from Saudi Arabia, I was helping state agencies rehabilitate the poor and homeless. During that period, I met many families who were struggling to arrange wedding dresses for their daughters, which are usually expensive. So I decided to help them”.

Nasar, who has four children, parents, and a handicapped sister, was helped by the family members in his work. Initially, he started the work from home. Later, a friend gave him a shop to carry on with his charity work.

Apart from the dress bank, he runs an ambulance for patients. He does not charge those who are unable to rent an ambulance.

source: http://www.clarionindia.net / Clarion India / Home> Features> India / by Team Clarion / January 24th, 2022

Eight Muslims Among 119 Honoured with Padma Awards

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INDIA :

Winners at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.

Winners receive awards from President Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan

New Delhi :

President Ramnath Kovind on Monday presented civilian awards or Padma awards to 119 personalities at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan New Delhi. The list includes foreigners, artists, sportspersons, people from film industry, public servants, activists. The awardees also include eight Muslims from different walks of life.

Eminent Islamic scholar Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, who passed away in April 2021 of Covid-19 complications, was awarded Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award after Bharat Ratna. Prominent Shia leader and scholar Maulana Kalbe Sadiq, who passed away last year, got Padhma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award.

The Padma Shri list of 102 includes six Muslims. These are Ali Manikfan, Gulfam Ahmed, Lakha Khan and Ghulam Rasool Khan and two from Bangladesh Sanjida Khatun and Col Quazi Sajjad Ali Zahir.

Ali Manikfan has been awarded for hiscontribution at grassroots level innovations in Lakshadweep. He was born in 1938 into an aristocratic family on Minicoy Island of Lakshadweep. Manikfan is multi-talented — marine researcher, ecologist, shipbuilder, agriculturist, and a polyglot.

Gulfam Ahmed hails from Uttar Pradesh and has made contributions in the field of Art. He is a Sarod and Afghani Rabab player and is known for promoting Indo-Afghan cultural relations.

Lakha Khan, 80, who has been conferred with Padma Shri for his contribution in art is a Rajasthan-based musician who plays Sindhi sarangi and sings folk songs. He comes from the Manganiar community among Muslims that is traditionally associated with begging. He was born into the family of musicians and was trained from childhood.

Ghulam Rasool Khan is a handicraft artist from Srinagar, Kashmir. He is working to conserving Jamawar Patchwork, the oldest form of Kashmiri shawl technique. Before getting Padma Shri Khan won the National Award for Textile. Khan has a reputation of creating masterpieces and rare artefacts in the Jamawar craft.

Sanjida Khatun, Col Quazi Sajjad Ali Zahir from Bangladesh have been awarded for their contribution in art and public service respectively.

Snajida Khatun, born in 1933, is musicologist and teaches Bengali literature at the University of Dhaka. She was also one of the founders of Mukti Sangrami Shilpi Sangstha that fought Pakistani forces in 1971 Bangladesh war.

Col. Zahir who was a soldier in the Pakistani army rebelled and joined the forces fighting for Bangladesh’s liberation. He defected from the army and moved to India where he became a key person in the rebellion.

source: http://www.clarionindia.net / Clarion / Home> Big Story> India / by Team Clarion / November 08th, 2021

Third book of Haqqani Al-Qasmi’s single-theme series Andaz-e-Bayan launched

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NEW DELHI :

New Delhi:

Andaz-e-Bayan is the outcome of my passion, a passion which I did not allow to die even during unemployment and the pandemic. These views were expressed by renowned Urdu critic and writer Haqqani Al-Qasmi.

He was speaking at the launch of the third book of his famous single-theme Andaze-e-Bayan series at a cafe in Shaheen Bagh, New Delhi on Sunday, 6 September, 2020.

The present journal, which in fact, is part of a series of books, “discusses about those poets, litterateurs, authors and novelists, who, despite being in the medical profession, are serving Urdu in areas of research and criticism”, said Haqqani.


Speaking on this occasion Maulana Ajaz Urfi Qasmi, president of All India Tanzeem Ulama-e-Haq, who chaired the session, lauded the author for his powerful, creative style of writing which had won him global acclaim.

Haqqani Al-Qasmi is an accomplished and distinguished litterateur and critic serving Urdu with great sincerity and humbleness. There is an unusual amount of literary taste in his works which can be felt by the reader. He further said that Haqqani is not unaware of the social world. “From above the literary firmament, Haqqani surveys the mundane world”, Mualana Urfi said adding that one can see that in his literary journal series Andaz-e-Bayan as well.


Abid Anwar, a senior journalist with UNI remarked that to say anything about Haqqani would amount to explaining the obvious.

Urdu critic and Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Dr Noman Qaisar presented an overview of the author’s literary journey mentioning about some of his well-received and critically acclaimed books like Philisteen Ke Chaar Mumtaz Shu’ara, Tawaaf-e-Dasht-e-Junoon, La Takhaf, Takalluf Bar Taraf, etc which are full of literary aesthetics, creative imagination and academic insights.

It should be noted that the first issue of this book series (Andaz-e-Bayan-1, May-July 2016) was dedicated to literary contributions of women, especially of women from marginalized sections of society, with reference to biographical writings and their analysis.

The second one was dedicated to the creative facets of the police while the latest is an effort to unmasking the unrevealed literary contributions of doctors and medical professionals not just in Urdu literature but in English and Hindi literature as well.


Persons from media and different Urdu literary circles present on this occasion included Shahidul Islam, A N Shibli, Dr Khan Mohammad Asif, Ashraf Bastawi, Zubair Khan Saeedi, Majid Khan, Manzar Imam, Mohammad Alamullah, Nayab Hasan, Maulana Firoz Akhtar Qasmi, Shams Tabrez Qasmi, Ahsan Mehtab, Anwarul Haq, Abdul Bari Qasmi.


The launch programme was coordinated by T M Ziaul Haque. Salam Khan, head of Ibarat Publication which has published the book, presented the vote of thanks.

source: http://www.millattimes.com / Millat Times / Home> Education> National / by Md Irshad Ayub / Manzar Imam / September 11th, 2020

Book Launched on Shamim Ahmed, A Human Rights Activist

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BIHAR / Kolkata, WEST BENGAL :

Kolkata:

A book titled ‘A world Divided: Human Rights in an Unequal World’ written on the 25-year struggle of famous social activist Shamim Ahmed was launched on September 25 at a grand ceremony held at the Five Star Ruff Hotel The Park in the West Bengal Capital.

Former minister and congress leader Mani Shankar Iyer paid tributes to Shamim as he said there are very few people in the country who do great service for the restoration of human rights and to put a smile on the face of the people of the country.

He congratulated the author of the book and said that the author has researched the life of Shamim Ahmed and brought a book before us.

The book sheds light on the life of Shamim Ahmed and his work in promotion of Urdu language.

Shankar said that he had the opportunity to read a book, adding that he was very much impressed with his “Food for All” campaign.

“Rights and opportunities have not been found. Even today, people on the streets are longing for food.” Mani Shankar Aiyar said that India is a multi-religious country. “The destiny of this country lies in national unity.”

pix: goodreads.com

Former Member of Parliament and renowned intellectual Mohammad Adib, while acknowledging the services of Shamim Ahmed, said that coming from Bihar to Bengal and launching a movement to make Urdu the second official language is nothing short of a feat.

He said, “it is unfortunate that after India’s independence Later, Urdu was treated leniently. There was injustice with Urdu in Bengal as well. Shamim Ahmed raised his voice against this injustice.

Expressing his views on the occasion, Adib said that the 25-year journey of Shamim was full of difficulties, trials and tribulations.


On the occasion, renowned international artist and Bengali intellectual Shubha Parsna said that Shamim Ahmed is the pride of Bengal. “We are happy that there are people in Bengal who speak of humanity and deal with people on humanitarian grounds. That I have known Shamim Ahmed for the last many years. He had compassion for humanity in his heart.

Prasana urged books should be written on such personalities so that the new generation is aware of him. The event was attended by important personalities from different sections of the society.

source: http://www.millattimes.com / Millat Times / Home> National / by Millat Times Staff / October 05th, 2021

7-yr-old receives mention in the India Book of Records for being the youngest one to create 100 paintings in 3 years

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Bengaluru, KARNATAKA :

Mohamed went for it and most of the paintings were drawn during the pandemic. Out of the 100 paintings, 67 have already been sold.

Farhan Mohamed. (File photo)

Bengaluru : 

As a seven-year-ol d artist, we assume that Farhan Mohamed needs his parents’ help to explain his art work, but Fiza Taj, his mother, assures us that Mohamed will be more than happy to do it himself.

The young artist from the city has received a mention in the India Book of Records 2021 which is recognised by the Government of India, for being the youngest one to create 100 paintings in three years.

The art works were exhibited at the Bangalore International Centre, Domlur. “100 is just a number for the record, but Farhan has painted more than that. He puts up many of his paintings for sale and the proceeds go towards charity,” say Taj, who was told by the team of the India Book of Records 2021 that Mohamed needs to have 100 paintings in hand for the record.

Mohamed went for it and most of the paintings were drawn during the pandemic. Out of the 100 paintings, 67 have already been sold. “We collected around Rs 28,000 from the sale of the paintings. Out of which, a certain amount went towards charity and a token amount has been kept for Farhan,” says Taj , who is a physiotherapist.

Mohamed, who showed inclination towards art when he was merely three months old, was introduced to Tempera paints when he was six months old. “He began dabbling with myriad hues and by the time he was three-anda- half, he had already completed his first art work titled ‘Sunset In Africa’, inspired by a trip to Africa,” says Taj.

Mohamed, who is in Class 2 at Neev Academy, Yemalur, is quite inspired by the works of Van Gogh and Monet.

“Painting relaxes me and makes me happy. Whenever I have a hard day or feel unwell, sad or angry, I just paint. It helps calm me down. As soon as I see a range of colours, my day becomes bright and colourful and I feel better,” says Mohamed, who wants to visit the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and wishes to recreate the famed artist’s series, Sunflower.

Mohamed loves drawing landscapes. “Last year I visited Kashmir with my grandparents. When I returned, I used to pick a picture that I clicked and would paint it,” says the prodigy.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Express News Service / January 31st, 2022

Maharashtra: Facing poverty, national bravery awardee works as banana loader

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Nanded District, MAHARASHTRA :

However hard Ajaj Nadaf (20) may try to couch it, disappointment lurks on his face as he displays his 2017 National Bravery Award as well as numerous mementoes, certificates and letters of appreciation for his heroic courage in saving two people from drowning.

Today, Ajaj works as a loader at a banana farm to sustain his family, earning Rs 300 a day.

Ajaj lives with his parents and older brother. They work as labourers and live in extreme poverty.

As a 16-year-old, Ajaj had risked his own life while pulling out a woman and a 12-year-old girl who had fallen into the river in his remote village in Nanded district.

For his bravery, he was bestowed with the National Bravery Award by President Ramnath Kovind and a cash prize of Rs 20,000.

Four years since his derring-do, promises by the authorities of a job and a house, among others, have fallen by the wayside.

When contacted, the Nanded district collector promised all the help he can extend and also initiated the process to fulfil the promises made to the National Bravery awardee.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> Videos> City> Mumbai / August 11th, 2021

Khader to be Deputy Leader in House

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Mangaluru, KARNATAKA :

U.T. Khader  

His appointment by Cong. is seen as an effort to soothe feelings of Muslims

Close on the heels of senior leader C.M. Ibrahim announcing his departure from the party, the Congress on Sunday appointed leader from coastal Karnataka U.T. Khader as Deputy Leader of the party in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.

While Siddaramaiah became the Congress Legislature Party leader and Leader of the Opposition since the fall of the Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress coalition, the position of his deputy had remained vacant. Mr. Khader’s appointment comes in the light of internal rumblings among Muslim legislators that the community leaders were being ignored in the party platform when it came for distribution of power.

With just over a year away from the Assembly polls, the party has been making crucial appointments keeping caste and regional demands. While KPCC is helmed by D.K. Shivakumar, a Vokkaliga, the party appointed M.B. Patil, a Lingayat leader from north Karnataka as the chairman of the campaign committee.

Both Mr. Siddaramaiah and newly appointed Leader of the Opposition in Legislative Council B.K. Hariprasad belong to backward classes. MLC Saleem Ahmed was one of the four working presidents appointed recently to balance caste and community equations.

Party sources said Mr. Khader’s appointment to the post served the representation to Muslims as well as coastal Karnataka, and that the appointment comes as a damage control exercise after the outbursts of Mr. Ibrahim when he announced that he is set to quit the party and resign from his membership from the Council. Mr. Khader is a senior leader and gets along well with everyone in the party, the sources said.

As Mr. Ibrahim continued his tirade against Congress leaders in Hubballi on Sunday, Janata Dal (Secular) sources said the leader was expected to join the party shortly.

When JD(S) leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy met the veteran Congress leader, the former is learnt to have offered the party president post or head of the campaign committee.

Meanwhile, a congregation of several community leaders that met here on Sunday, under the leadership of Amir e Shariat Moulana Sageer Ahmed Khan to discuss the recent Naragund incident, also discussed political representation for the community.

“The meeting did not discuss about any one party or individual. The community has concerns that were communicated,” Moulana Shabeer Ahmed Nadvi told The Hindu.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Bengaluru – January 30th, 2022

Vijayapura student gets first rank in Karnataka in unani exams

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Vijayapura, KARNATAKA :

Unani examinations were held by Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS)  

Unani examinations were held by the RGUHS

Students of the SECAB Luqman Unani Medical College in Vijayapura have got encouraging results in the unani examinations held by the RGUHS. As many as five students have got State-level ranks.

Among degree students, Farah Khatoon Parvez Ahmed got the first rank with 81.67% marks, Khan Batul Mazar got the 7th rank with 79.94% marks and Aseema Mahin got 8th rank with 79.83% marks.

Among post-graduate students, Salma Choush stood second in Karnataka in medicine with 66.83% marks, and Saba Parveen Alam got the third rank in OBG discipline with 70.45% marks.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Belagavi – January 31st, 2022

Congress veteran Ghulam Nabi Azad named among Padma Bhushan recipients

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JAMMU & KASHMIR :

Ghulam Nabi Azad, one of the top politicians of Jammu & Kashmir, has served as the chief minister of the erstwhile state between 2005 and 2008.

He was the Union health minister from 2009 and 2014, and subsequently served as the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha till February 2021.

Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad (PTI)

Former Jammu & Kashmir chief minister and veteran politician of the Congress party, Ghulam Nabi Azad, was included in the list of Padma Bhushan awardees released by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on January 25.

Azad, 72, will be conferred with Padma Bhushan by President Ram Nath Kovind for his contribution in the field of “public affairs”.

A total of 17 names were approved by the President for the conferment of Padma Bhushan — which is awarded for “distinguished service of high order”.

Apart from Azad, the list also includes another top politician – former West Bengal chief minister and senior CPI(M) leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

Azad, who served as the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha between June 2014 and February 2021, was lauded by the prime minister at the conclusion of his tenure in the Parliament’s Upper House.

“Azad has distinguished himself in Parliament. He not only worries about his Party but also had a similar passion towards the smooth running of the House and towards India’s development,” he had said.

Azad, a member of the Congress’ G-23 – an informal reference to 23 Congress veterans who had marked dissent against the party’s style of functioning, had apparently reciprocated the gesture last year by praising Modi for ‘not hiding his true self”.

Notably, Azad, before serving as the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha for close to seven years, was the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare in the second UPA government between 2009 and 2014.

He had served as the seventh chief minister of Jammu & Kashmir between November 2005 and July 2008.

The Padma awards, whose recipients are announced on the eve of Republic Day, are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions which are held at Rashtrapati Bhawan usually around March-April every year.

This year, the President has approved the conferment of 128 Padma awards. The list comprises 4 Padma Vibhushan, 17 Padma Bhushan and 107 Padma Shri awards.

source: http://www.moneycontrol.com / MoneyControl.com / Home> News> India / January 25th, 2022